That she was possibly capitulating had his heart racing. “Of course.”
She leaned closer, her mouth almost touching his. “And can we get a sling?” Her breath across his lips held his attention before her words registered.
The spike of desire that shot through him would not be denied, and he crushed her to him, taking her lips, demanding she submit.
But Lissa never submitted. Instead, her tongue dove into his mouth, fighting for dominance, even as he felt her hand on his growing erection.
With the need of a dying man for his last breath, he threw off the blanket and pulled her over to sit on his lap facing him, happy to allow her to have her way with him.
She didn’t release his mouth, but did release him from his pantaloons beneath her. She finally broke their kiss and rose on her knees to position herself above him.
He expected her to take him inside her, but she remained there looking at him, even as the coach jostled them.
His patience having evaporated with her kiss, he pulled her neckline down to free a hard nipple.
She yanked his head up, surprising him.
“You did not answer my question,mon amour.”
He tried to remember what she asked, but he couldn’t think with her bare, taut peak just inches away.
“Do you promise to get me a sling?”
“By Jove, yes!”
As soon as he agreed, she came down upon him in one hard thrust, almost sending him into his release. He grabbed her waist to keep her from moving as he struggled to stay in control, but the coach rocked them as it bounced along, his driver understanding his need to be away.
She rubbed herself against him even though she didn’t lift, and he groaned with his need to let go. Desperate, he sucked on her nipple, teasing it with his teeth, wanting her as ready as he was. If he could just hold on…
His decision was taken from him as the coach hit a particularly deep hole, jolting them both, breaking his tenuous control.
Shouting his release, he heard it echoed by Lissa as she arched hard against him, riding him like a wild horse, matching his fever with her own.
When he was spent, she fell forward onto him, and he wrapped his arms around her even as they hit yet another large hole.
“Oh.” Her exclamation was followed by her lifting from him, and he loosened his arms.
He didn’t mind, as he completely understood how sensitive it was for her.
She pivoted her body and flopped onto the seat next to him.
He let his head fall back on the seat and turned to look at her. “So your answer is yes?”
Her eyes remained closed as she relaxed into the cushions. She didn’t say anything, but her nod had joy filling him. Now, he just had one last monumental task to complete before he could be truly happy—help her see that she loved him.
Doubt crept into his head, but he refused to listen. Surely, over time, she would care for him like he did her.
Yet even as he rebuttoned his pantaloons, the harsh reality of what they were about to do and all the ramifications set in. Lifting the blanket from the coach floor, he spread it over them, already growing cold. His first order of business was to marry her and keep her safe. He would worry about the rest after he’d accomplished that much.
The coach slowed, and he looked out at the gray day to see them pulling into an inn. He had no doubt that either Leighhall followed them himself or his butler, if not others under his employ. A plan took shape even as his coachman opened the door.
Turning to Lissa, he found her asleep and reluctantly woke her. “We’re at an inn.”
She blinked a few times before gathering the blanket about her. He helped her down then gave instructions to his coachman to continue on to Bellamore without them once he and the horses had rested.
After entering the inn, he ordered hot soup in a private dining room.
Lissa clutched the blanket tight about her, despite the warmth of the room. But once the food arrived, she threw it back and repositioned her dress to hide her assets. “I wouldn’t want anyone to have a bad impression of your betrothed.” She grimaced as if being betrothed was the worst possible fate, besides prison. “I’d rather be in a warm pair of trousers and greatcoat.”
