His thrusts came faster, harder, and only then did she realize how desperate he was and how much he’d been holding back. Every other thrust took him deeper than he’d gone before.
Her fingers dug into his skin, her head rolling against the pillow as his possession tested her very limits. Instinctively, her legs circled his hips to draw him closer. “I—I…”
“God, yes.” His eyes smoldered into hers. “Come for me, Evelina. Come for me, now.”
The aching pressure built and built, and then… the release took her by surprise, and she came on a sudden blissful cry. Dorian’s mouth slammed over her, a gratified groan reverberating through his body just as he exploded inside her.
He surged into her once, twice, burying his face in her neck. His harsh groans were in her ear as he shuddered, thrusting deeply, drenching her insides.
His head was still tucked into the crook of her neck while he caught his breath. Ellie rubbed the back of his hair— the short, damp hairs showed his exhaustion.
Dorian gently pulled from her and lay by her side, before drawing her against him. Sated, she leaned on his shoulder, shifted to her side, laid an arm over his chest, and tucked a leg in-between his. Silence settled over them like a warm blanket.
“Evelina…”
“If you are going to make a fuss about taking my maidenhead, please don’t.” She nuzzled into his stubble. “Lest I find something hard and bang you over the head with it.”
A throaty chuckle left him. “I will not say another word.”
“Good,” she snuggled against him and drifted into blissful oblivion.
Dorian woke with Evelina still wrapped around him, his nose crushed against her temple. It pained him to pull away, but from the angle of the sunlight on the door, it was heading to noon. He needed to speak with Benedict about the attack last night.
He slipped away from her and kissed her forehead in a parting gesture as he went to wash. It was only when he was rinsing, he remembered that he had not used a prophylactic last night. The box of French Letters was back at the estate, and he rubbed his face in nervous agitation.
What if he had gotten Evelina with child before she was ready? As a matter of fact, he was not ready either. Besides, nothing of the sort had been in their contract.
Dressing quickly, he stepped out of the closet to find Ellie still asleep, only this time she was clutching his abandoned pillow instead of air. While fixing a cufflink, he perched on the edge of the bed.
“Evelina…”
She stirred but did not wake. He reached out and shook her softly. She peeled an eye open. “I have to go to the club to meet with Rothwell.”
She sat up and took the sheet with her. Ruffling her hair, she pouted. “I suppose I’d slept out the small time we had together.”
His lips curved, “Don’t worry. I’ll be back tonight.” Reaching over, he cupped the back of her head and drew her in for a kiss. “Take care of yourself until I get back.”
“Be safe too,” she implored.
“When I return, I’ll teach you how to defend yourself,” he promised while standing and pulling his jacket on. “Take as much rest as you need, I may be back late.”
Not even five minutes after he’d set foot in his office at The Labyrinth, Benedict was ambling inside with a grim expression coating his visage. Instantly, Dorian got on his guard.
“What is it?” he asked, forgoing the social convention entirely.
“The constables beat another confession out of the prisoner,” Benedict muttered. “He said he was ordered to kidnap Harriet. I was simply in the way.”
“Me too,” Dorian sighed, rubbing his face. “But why would my uncle want Miss Harriet?”
Benedict shook his head. “I have no idea.”
Leaning in, he braced his elbows on the table and steepled his fingers, thinking. Why would his uncle need Ellie’s cousin? Who would have a reason to kidnap her?
Not Edgar. Sterling. The two have a connection.
“It’s a way of getting to Evelina,” Dorian grunted. “My uncle and Lord Carrington are in each other’s pockets, deep pockets at that. I have no doubt about it. They want Harriet to get to Ellie,” he said. “Since I stole her from under his nose, I know he wants her back. I should have expected that he would never let her go so easily.”
Dorian felt Benedict’s gawk before he saw it and cocked a brow. “What?”
