“It mimics the act of lovemaking,” Marcus said in a voice that sounded gruffer than normal. “The mouths… opening up to another person. The tongue… penetrating.”
Emily moved her lips in a testing motion. She puckered them and then allowed them to fall back into their normal position. And then she did it again.
“What are you doing?” He watched her, shaking his head, eyes dancing.
“I don’t know. I don’t remember what I did when you kissed me before.” She really didn’t. How had his tongue managed to make its way into her mouth? “Usually, when I undertake an experiment, I take notes.”
“You mean you didn’t take any notes after I kissed you before?” He feigned shock. But then he dropped his foot back to the floor of the carriage and leaned forward. “Come here.” He moved his index finger in a motion to draw her closer to him.
Emily removed her glove and then scooted closer to him. When she turned her head, she found herself but a few inches from his face.
He reached up and touched her bottom lip with his thumb. “See here.” She wanted to pay attention to his words, but a sudden roaring sound filled her ears, and heated anticipation shot down her spine. She closed her eyes and focused on the pad of his thumb smoothing along her lower lip. “Relax.” He began tracing her upper lip as well. “I’m touching you with my thumb the same way I would use my tongue and lips.” And then the tip of his thumb slid between her lips, which had parted.
She hadn’t realized she’d parted her lips until her tongue tasted the salt of his skin.
Heaviness settled between her legs, and her heart raced as he skimmed along her teeth, back to her lips, and then back into her mouth again. When he pressed it in farther, Emily closed her lips around him.
He emitted a low growling sound but continued exploring her mouth with just his thumb. He pushed in and then drew it back out. In again, and then out.
Liquid heat raced through her, and she could barely hold her head up. The need to be closer to him nearly overwhelmed her. And she wanted more than his thumb to touch her. She wanted his mouth to touch her… everywhere.
She drew her tongue around him, exploring the sharp edge of his nail and then the thicker skin below it. When she opened her eyes, she was surprised to see he’d closed his. When she sucked him in farther, he inhaled on a tremor.
Sheaffected him as much asheaffected her.
Fascinating!
She reached up her own hand and touched the edge of his lip. Yes, his breathing was faster than normal. His tongue slipped out and moistened her fingertips.
The driver chose that moment to hit a bump.
Damn, damn, and double drat!
Emily dropped her hand from his face. As the carriage settled into its normal pace once again, they simply stared at one another, almost as though each of them was afraid to speak.
But Emily ached. Her breasts ached; her core ached. She squeezed her knees together in an attempt to ignore the heavy throbbing at her vortex. “I see,” she finally whispered. “What else?”
Marcus had expected her to try to discuss philosophy with him, or history, perhaps botany. He’d not in a million years expected… this.
Only, despite his reputation, Marcus had been raised a gentleman. “Tell me about your family.” Admittedly, he’d had his way with widows, married women, and even on occasion in his younger days, he’d utilized a brothel, but he’d left the innocents alone.
In addition to that, Miss Emily Goodnight was a lady.
Despite her occasional brash intellectual pursuits into the art of sensual delights.
His betrothed shifted uncomfortably in her seat and then pulled her feet onto the seat and hugged her knees. As he watched her squirm, he realized he didn’t know all that much about her family, where she lived when not in London—except for the aunt in Wales.
“Do you have any brothers or sister?”
She shook her head. “My mother… Um. No.”
Oh, hell. He suddenly realized exactly who her mother was. Why had he never made the connection before?
Her mother managed to keep one foot in upper-class society and the other in the demi-monde without drawing the ire of theton’shighest sticklers. He imagined this might be due to the Goodnights’ marginalized position as it was. Had she even attended atonevent in the last few years?
Mrs. Goodnight was known for providing a good night’s entertainment. She’d made eyes at him once, but he’d not been interested.
Thank God! He nearly choked on the thought.
