‘So do you.’ She was panting now, her skin so hot, she thought her blood must be boiling in her veins.
‘It might hurt a little at first.’
‘I know.’ She dug her nails into his back, squirming against him. ‘I don’t care.’
Although maybe shedidcare a little, she thought, crying out as he settled between her legs, nudging gently at her entrance before pushing deep inside, causing a sharp, stinging sensation. He was too much and she was too tight, even though she had a feeling he was holding himself back.
‘Florence?’ He sounded as if he was the one in pain.
‘Wait a moment.’ She took a deep breath, letting her body slowly adjust to the feeling of him inside her, then cautiously rolled her hips, pulling away before pushing herself up again.
‘Florence.’ His voice was more urgent now.
‘Yes,’ she breathed as she wrapped her legs around his waist, drawing him deeper inside her. There was another moment of pain, but then it eased and the friction between them transformed into something else, a wet heat that soothed the ache and enveloped her in pleasure from the very top of her head to the tips of her toes. Their pace increased and the pleasure became even more intense. And then she couldn’t—wouldn’t—stop, so caught up in the feeling, she thought she wouldn’t even have noticed if all their guests had burst into the room at that moment. There was only the two of them and the friction still building between them.
‘Leo!’ She screamed his name as her inner muscles spasmed and contracted around him suddenly, making her whole body shake. Wave after wave of sensation flooded through her, tipping him over the edge too. He gave an incoherent shout, shuddering violently before collapsing on top of her.
It was some time before he twisted his head, pressing his lips into her hair.
‘Yes.’ She answered his unspoken question, still panting. ‘Yes, it was.’
‘Do you think anyone will notice if we don’t show our faces again?’ Leo drew Florence back against him, holding her close as he pressed a trail of kisses slowly along her shoulder blade, amazed by how relaxed and content he felt. No matter what his father would have thought, being with her felt right. Better than right. Perfect. And he wasn’t going to spoil the moment by thinking about his father any more…
‘I’m afraid they might,’ she murmured sleepily, turning around in his arms and slipping a leg over his thigh. ‘We should have at least one dance.’
‘I was afraid you’d say that.’ He pressed his lips to hers, plundering her mouth in a deep, searching kiss that made his body twitch with need.
‘Again?’ She broke the kiss as one of his hands trailed lower, curving over her buttock. ‘You wouldn’t be trying to get an heir in me, would you?’
‘I’m afraid my motives are more base than that.’ He caught her bottom lip lightly between his teeth.
‘Mmm, mine too.’ She sighed. ‘But we should dance first.’
‘You’re probably right.’ He moaned and pulled his hand away. ‘No regrets?’
She looked startled by the question. ‘None. Why? Have you?’
‘Only that we’ve wasted so much time. We could have been doing this two or three times a day for the past two months.’
‘Only two or three?’ She laughed, rolling away to reach for her clothing.
‘I meant at night. We could have been doing it during the day as well.’
‘Oh, really? Then maybe you should keep the chaise longue in your study?’
He gave a surprised laugh, though, as ideas went, it wasn’t a bad one. The thought of making love in what had once been his father’s study gave him a wicked surge of pleasure.
‘Do you think people will guess what we’ve been doing?’ she asked anxiously, pulling her chemise back over her head.
‘With any luck, everyone will have been too busy enjoying themselves to even notice we were gone.’
‘I hope so.’ She caught her reflection in a mirror and winced. ‘Although my hair might give me away. It’s a total mess, but if I call for Jane she’ll definitely know what we’ve been up to.’
‘You look beautiful.’ He propped himself up on one elbow to watch her. ‘But if you’re worried, maybe we should change your appearance completely. Why don’t you wear your ballgown from London?’
‘Do you think so?’ She opened her eyes wide. ‘Isn’t that a bit too much?’
‘We’re the marquess and marchioness. We’re acting our parts, that’s all. And I’ll wear evening clothes too. Then people will think we simply came upstairs to change.’
