Sophie couldn’t think, only feel. He surrounded her, each thrust better than the last.
“Let go for me again,” he ordered.
She wrapped her good arm around his neck and held on as he took her to another release. She flew again, pleasure crashing through her. He followed one thrust later and lowered himself to the bed beside her.
“Did I hurt you?”
“No.”
He pulled the covers over them, and his large hand settled on her stomach. Sophie knew she should leave and go to her own bed, but she would lay here for just a few more minutes until hewas asleep. Only when she heard the deep, steady rhythm of his breath did she slip out of bed. Grabbing her robe and nightdress, Sophie tiptoed across the floor to her room. Once there, she dressed and climbed into her cold bed and instantly missed Patrick. But this was the proper thing to do, she was sure.
“What the hellare you doing in here?”
Sophie came awake with a start, her heart thumping wildly as she looked at the large figure standing at the foot of her bed.
“Patrick?” She pressed a hand to her chest to ease the pain as it knocked hard against her sternum.
“Why are you in here and not in my bed?” the large naked male demanded in a menacing tone.
“I… I had thought it proper to leave you, Patrick. I believed this was what you would want. That it was the right thing to do.”
“Well, you thought wrong!” Patrick growled, moving to her side of the bed. He tore back the covers and lifted her into his arms.
“Patrick!”
“Sorry, did I hurt you?”
“No, but what are you doing?”
“Taking you back to bed.”
“Did you have to yell at me? My heart nearly stopped,” Sophie said.
“I think you’re more worried about the right thing to do than me,” he muttered, walking back to his room. “The only time we will sleep apart will be if you have a contagious disease, and even then, I believe there are masks I can wear.”
“But—”
“Be quiet.”
Back in his rooms, he slipped her beneath the still-warm sheets and climbed in beside her, pulling her gently into his side.
“You sleep here. Is that understood?”
“Yes,” Sophie whispered, sighing as she rested against him.
“We are not proper in here,” Patrick whispered, winding his fingers through a handful of her curls.
Minutes later, there was only silence.
CHAPTER 38
She’d woken to find Patrick gone and was told by Jenny, who brought her a breakfast tray, that he was out riding. Also, that she had an appointment to meet with Mrs. Pitt and Mrs. Gumbrill.
“Those two are right mean-spirited,” Jenny said as she helped Sophie dress after her meal. “Rude and domineering, or so Mr. Ribble, the butler, said.”
Sophie chose a simple cream muslin day dress embroidered with lavender flowers to visit with the staff.
“Remember,” Jenny said when she prepared to leave, “you are the lady of the house. Do not let them intimidate you.”
