“Bastards!”
“Indeed they are, my love.”
And with those words, all resistance melted from her, and her arms circled his neck.
“I love you, Zachariel Deville. But you won’t have everything your own way, you know.”
“I know.” He kissed her softly as his hands traced slowly over every inch of her.
“I want us to marry soon,” she said.
“We can make a run for Gretna Green?”
“Let’s do that.” She sighed as his lips moved to her neck.
Since he’d last touched her, Zach had thought of nothing but getting his hands on her again. Feeling her soft curves pressed to his body and the lust that only she could stir inside him.
“Let me love you, Mary.”
“If you must.” She sighed.
His body hummed with need, and he was light-headed. He’d never felt this way with any of the women he’d had in his arms before. Was this how his brothers knew their wives were the ones for them?
“If I must?” He leaned down to nip at her bottom lip.
She gripped his hair and tugged until his lips were smashed to hers. She then kissed him with all the wonderful inexperience that was now his. It lit a fuse inside him.
His hands started moving, upward this time, and when they settled on her breasts, she arched into his palms with a moan.
“Quiet now, sweetheart,” Zach whispered. His hands brushed the hard peaks of her nipples through the single layer of her nightdress.
“More,” she whispered.
Zach felt her hands slide down and cup his buttocks.
“Do you know what happens between a man and woman, Mary?” Because he was fairly sure no innocent would do such a thing.
“I asked Aggie, my maid, once whether she’d been with a man, and she said yes. She then explained in great detail about the act.”
Zach’s snort was a bit desperate, as she was now squeezing his buttocks, pressing his erection into her.
“She has been talking to me on the matter ever since. I found a copy of theKama Sutrain my uncle’s library once and read that too.”
He lowered his forehead to hers. “You will be the death of me.”
Her fingers were busy tugging his shirt from his breeches. “But in a good way, I hope.” She then slid her hand beneath and stroked his back.
The feel of her fingers had him moaning this time. Rising, he pulled her upright with him and had her nightdress off in seconds. He then climbed off the bed to remove his shirt and breeches.
She’d moved to the edge of the bed, kneeling there like a rumpled goddess. Breasts full and heavy, hair a tangled mess of golden curls. Zach’s heart gave a tug.
“I have always been aware of you,” she whispered. Her fingers were tentative now as they touched his bare chest. “Perhaps that is why I pushed you away constantly because I never believed this, us could be.”
His hand held hers to his chest. “Because I am a fool, my love. This was always the way we would be if we got to this.” His fingers trailed down her cheek. “Fire and passion.”
“Yesss,” she hissed as he lowered his head and kissed her. He then rained kisses down her chest to her breasts. Once there, Zach ran his tongue in a long lick from one side to the other, stopping to tease the hard peak of her nipple along the way.
“You have beautiful breasts, Mary.” His breath was hot on her damp skin.
