“The ride seemed interminable, but a few hours later, my brother and Mr. Gregory arrived on horseback. My horse had returned to the stables without me, and the stable master knew something must have happened. Andrew said the carriage was easy to stop because they had run the horses ragged, not chancing a stop for fresh ones. Apparently, the coachman easily gave up at first sight of their pistols. I was so relieved to see Andrew’s face when he opened the carriage door I burst into tears. He yanked Valentine out of the carriage and threw him to Mr. Gregory. He never glanced back. Just climbed in and gently untied me.”
Cage cupped her cheek. “Thank you for trusting me with such a traumatic part of your past.”
Caroline raised her hand to his and pressed her face into his palm. “Honestly, I feel better for telling someone. I kept it a secret from my family. I didn’t want to have to marry Valentine just because he ruined me. I refused to destroy my chances for a happy future.” A dry chuckle escaped her throat. “But the experience has had more control over me than I thought.”
“Our past has a sneaky way of leaving scars we don’t even realize are there.”
“Hmmm.” She frowned as though anything having control over her without her consent was unacceptable. “I have kissed other gentlemen, you know.”
“Who?” Cage barked out before he could censure himself.
Caroline’s lip quirked up to one side. “Elverson, Danville, and Gaylord.” Her nose wrinkled. “All were chaste and uninteresting. Gaylord’s was rather slobbery.”
A primal response to anyone else touching Caroline rose in his chest unheeded. He dug his fingers into the top of his knee. He needed to get his emotions under control. Caroline stared at him with that odd gleam in her eye. The one he’d begun to recognize always meant trouble.
Chapter 32
Caroline wondered if her plan to spend her life as a spinster was the right path. She still wanted the freedom to do as she pleased, but the idea of living a chaste existence had lost its allure. Five years ago, Valentine quite effectively doused any girlish fantasies she’d had about bedsport. It had seemed to her that the marriage bed would be only something a woman must endure to have children. But over the past two years, she observed her brothers and their wives. They were affectionate and playful and not at all adverse to spending time alone in their bedchambers. She longed to have that intimacy with someone as well.
Cage Morgan’s kisses were far from off-putting. Her insides melted like warm chocolate when she was in his arms. Her senses sparked and popped, and she wanted more of him. But would he want more of her now that he knew she had been compromised? Now that she’d fallen to pieces when he’d kissed her? Could he be careful with her?
Morgan raised one eyebrow. “What are you mulling over in here?” He gently tapped a finger on her forehead.
Caroline stood and paced a few feet across the carpet before turning to face him. “I was thinking about how much I like kissing you.” Morgan’s other eyebrow followed the first. Both arching in surprise. “I don’t want to go forward into spinsterhood without ever being properly ravished.” She crossed her arms then uncrossed them. This was harder than she thought. Usually, she excelled at making a strong argument.Just ask him, you ninny. She stepped forward. “I wondered if for the time that we are engaged, until my birthday, I mean. If you would be willing to show me…” She blew out a breath. “If you would like to have a proper affair.”
“Caroline, are you sure that’s what you want?” Morgan asked with his gaze serious and his expression neutral. Was he appalled at her forwardness? Was he interested at all?
She nodded. “Yes, I’m sure.”
“I don’t know if it would be wise.”
She took another step forward. Her feet bracketed his, her skirts brushing against his knees. “Perhaps. But my question was, would you like to.”
He grabbed one of her hands and pressed a kiss to her knuckles. His eyes smoldered. “Yes. I would most definitely like to have you in my bed, naked and writhing with pleasure. I want to taste every inch of you, from those delectable lips to the sweet heat of your sex. I want to erase every bad memory you have from that carriage and replace them with dozens of pleasurable ones. To answer your question, yes.”
He gave a tug on her hand. She let out a very unladylike squeak as she tumbled onto his lap. One strong arm wrapped around her waist. Caroline put her hand against his chest to balance herself. “A couple of ground rules. No tying me or pinning me down.”
Cage ran his knuckles down her cheek. “I do not usually participate in that type of bedsport. For some, it can be fun, but I like my partners to have their hands free to explore my body as much as they like. What else?”
“I would like you to be careful not to spill your seed inside me. I do not wish to get with child, and I heard that if the man pulls out in time, it can help prevent pregnancy.”
“You heard?” Morgan's eyebrows had disappeared into his hair again.
“I have lots of married friends. They often forget to censure their conversation when I’m the only unwed miss in the room.”
Morgan nodded. “I promise to be careful with you, in every way. In fact, I think the best strategy is for you to be in chargeat first. My only rule is that you must be honest with me about what you like and most especially what you don’t like. Silence has no place in lovemaking. I want to hear your sighs and moans of pleasure. And if you don’t like something I do, you must tell me immediately. Deal?”
She nodded solemnly. “Deal.” Then Caroline leaned in to kiss his lips, for this type of deal should be sealed with a kiss.
His lips parted as he kissed her back, his tongue darting on to tangle with hers. She sighed. What a pleasure it was to kiss this man. She cupped the back of his head to change the angle of the kiss. The fingers he had at her waist flexed, but other than that, he didn’t move. Just kissed her back with searing lips and wicked tongue.
Caroline pulled back to study his face. She ran a finger over his left eyebrow. Then traced the thin scar that marred his cheek. She needed to catch her breath. Kissing Morgan was like spiraling down a long circular staircase. Exhilarating, breathless, and a bit dangerous. He gazed at her with hooded eyes, waiting for her next move.
“Can I untie your cravat?” she asked.
“Anything you like. You’re in charge,” he replied.
She pulled on the white silk fabric to undo the knot. Then she unbuttoned the three buttons at the top of his shirt. She had liked when he kissed her neck at the bacchanal. Maybe he would like it if she did the same. She parted the fabric to expose his throat and bent her head to kiss his neck right at the curve to his shoulder. His skin was warm and smooth against her lips. She continued to place kisses up his neck until she reached his jawline. Then she pulled back to judge his reaction.
