Over Jeremy’s shoulder, she saw James bend his arm and make a muscle. Be strong, it said.
“I’m going out.”
“Out where?”
“Just out,” she told him in a voice her children never dared to argue with.
Jeremy looked cowed for a moment but started after her when she returned to James’s side at the front door. He hadn’t spoken or come to her defense. He was leaving it to her to handle on her own.
“Prim, I can’t just let you go off with him,” her brother protested. “Shane will have my head. And you promised.”
“I did not. Besides, you don’t have to tell him,” she said, sensing James’s disappointment in the words nearly mirrored her own. It was a copout, an unnecessary deception. Squaring her shoulders, she tried again. “As I told you and the others, if Mr. MacKintosh cared to court me, it would be my choice only that mattered. Well, he cares to and my choice is to let him. As I am a grown adult, those are the only two things that matter.”
Out of the corner of her eye, Prim saw Nellie’s broad grin. Even her butler looked on with a touch of pleasure. Their silent approval bolstered her confidence.
“We’ll have our backgammon game another night, I promise.”
She squeezed his hands affectionately but turned away and took James’s waiting arm lest her brother might latch on to her and physically restrain her from departing.
“Do have a pleasant evening, Jeremy.”
Still James said nothing. He merely offered her brother a grave nod and tipped his hat back onto his head.
Wordlessly, he escorted her to the curb and handed her up into the waiting carriage. He climbed up and sat next to her instead of across from her, his solid male body crowding her on the narrow seat. But warming, comforting her at the same time. Finally, when the cab jerked into motion, he spoke, his eyes glinting with pleasure even in the dim light of the carriage lamp.
“Brava, Mrs. Eames. You aremagnificent.”
“I can’t believe I…oh, I feel so…” Jubilant. Powerful. Already it was the perfect evening and she’d hardly left the house! Elation welled up inside of her. “Oh, Jamie!”
* * *
She threw herself at him unexpectedly, but James caught her tight against him. Her lips met his, muffling her triumphant laughter. The kiss was regrettably brief. Prim pulled away, her lovely face lit with delight and awe taking his breath away.
“I did it.” She covered her lips with her fingertips as astonishment set in. “I did it,” she repeated more softly.
“I’m proud of you.”
“I’m proud of me, too.”
Then, to his surprise, she kissed him again. Her small hands cupping his jaw, not pulling him to her but lifting herself to him. The brush of her soft lips sent his pulse galloping wildly.
“Oh, Jamie,” she sighed against his lips, “thank you.”
“We’re not done yet,” he swore and covered her mouth more forcefully. Her lips parted beneath his, welcoming the stroke of his tongue, meeting it with hers.
“No, we are not,” she agreed in a saucy murmur and melted against his chest.
She tasted of caramel and peaches, so delicious he had to have more. His roughened hands stroked her silky nape, shoulders, and bare upper arms while he plied her lips with his. Using his tongue and teeth, he soon had her trembling with passion in his arms. Then he moved downward, licking, kissing, and nipping at her ear, her neck, over her shoulder and down to the tops of her breasts. His tongue dipped into the hollow between them until she was quivering from head to toe.
James kissed her again, his palm covering that tempting rise of her bosom as if by its own will. Prim moaned, low and needy. The vibration from deep within her sent his fingers tingling. He cupped her, kneading gently. Prim gasped but surprised him, not only by not protesting, but by arching her back to increase the pressure.
Bloody hell but he wanted to take her right there, toss up her skirts and plunder her like his ancient Scots ancestors. He wanted to consume and pillage…
Give.
God, he wanted to give her all the pleasure she was missing in life.
CHAPTER 21
