Seth was tempted. He wanted her with a desperation he did not think possible, and as they were to wed as soon as possible, he gave up the fight to act with honor and placed his lips to hers.
Franny immediately relaxed against him. On a sigh, her lips parted and he plundered, pulling her against him as her arms lifted and her fingers feathered through his hair.
Slowly he backed her toward the bed until the mattress met her legs then lifted his head.
“Are you certain?”
“I have never been more certain of anything in my life.”
“You will be my wife,” he ordered.
“I would not be here otherwise,” she returned and pulled him down to kiss her again.
Seth made quick work of the fastenings at the back of her gown and as he slid the fabric of her dress and chemise over her shoulders and down her arms, he moved his lips from hers to her jaw, then neck.
He left the gown to drop as soon as her breasts were exposed then lifted them, caressing each erect nipple with the pad of his thumbs.
Frances sucked in a breath and he bent to suck a perfectly formed bud between his lips. Frances began to fall, and he quickly anchored an arm around her waist since her knees seemed to have given out. He then slowly let her sit on the bed and he dropped to the floor, supported by his knees and worshipped her perfect breasts.
Instead of being lost in desire, Frances busied her hands by pushing his suitcoat from his shoulders, which Seth shrugged out of while still trying to remain attentive to her breasts, until he was forced to give up.
She then yanked on his cravat, loosening it before she tossed it aside.
He then unbuttoned his waistcoat and tore it off before Frances reached forward and pulled his shirt from his trousers and then over his head.
Once it was gone, Seth returned to kissing Frances as his hand slid under her skirts and over the silk stockings until he encountered her garters. He smiled as he determined that they would remain. He then caressed higher, stopping only when he reached the apex of her thighs.
Frances sucked in a breath as he lifted his head, his fingers just hovering over her damp heat. He wanted to look into her eyes when he finally touched her.
Her breaths were short, nearly pants, and then he touched her, his fingers meeting the dampness of her desire before he found the point of pleasure and swiped his thumb across it.
Frances let her head fall back as her eyes closed on her moan.
She was nearly ready for him, but it wouldn’t be like this, with her seated on his bed and still partially clothed. And, as much as he hated to draw away from her now, Seth did so and stood, then pulled Frances to her feet and quickly removed her dress and chemise, leaving her naked before him except for the stockings and garters. He then quickly removed his boots and trousers, which freed his painful arousal, before he took her in his arms again and gently lowered her to the bed.
Once again, he caressed her breasts, her stomach and when he reached her curls brought her to pleasure, her moans echoing in his ears and encouraging him until she stiffened and cried out her release. Seth wanted to bring her to pleasure over and over, but his body would not be denied and he moved to rest between her parted thighs.
“Are you certain?” he asked again.
Frances held out her arms, welcoming him to her and Seth pressed forward, her heat surrounding him. He tried to be gentle, but it was too difficult and he surged forward and stopped and waited. Bracing himself above her with his palms pressed against the mattress, he looked down into her brown eyes. She stared up at him, a small smile on her lips. It was as if she gave him further permission and Seth began to move.
Over and over, he thrust, just as he had imagined when he was teaching her billiards until his release came upon him in such a force that he arched and moaned deeply, his seed filling her until he was spent and fell to her side.
Frances could barely catch her breath as she stared at the ceiling of the bedchamber.
She wasn’t certain Seth had recovered either as he nearly panted in her ear, his arm draped over her waist and leg over her thighs.
“That was…”
“Incredible,” he answered.
The act had been explained to her, though it was difficult to truly understand, but she now most definitely understood why Tessa and her husband snuck off so often and when they returned, why Tessa was flushed and her hair slightly mussed.
“I do not want a Special License,” Seth announced.
Frances’ heart nearly stopped before it began thumping against her sternum.
Was this all a ruse? Had he decided to get his revenge on her after she had cheated and won his club?
