“Don’t hide from me,” he murmured huskily, removing her hand. He lowered his head and took a nipple in his mouth.
As exquisite sensations flooded through her, Hetty gasped and raked her fingers through his dark hair.
*
Guy couldn’t resistkissing her full creamy-skinned breasts. Lust slammed into his body as he cupped a firm globe and teased the taut nipple with his tongue. It tasted deliciously of woman with a delicate floral scent. But he could not let it go far. Not when he feared he may not live long enough to marry her. He’d already gone further than he intended. Her long slender legs enticed him, and a wicked voice in his head urged him to settle between them and make her his own. Her soft words of encouragement made him want her so much he had to fight not to take her right there on the carpet.
“Mon dieu!” he groaned. “We must stop this, Hetty.”
“What? No.” Her beautiful eyes were unfocused, which made his blood run hot.
As his last shreds of resistance slipped away, Guy pushed her back, his mouth sliding over hers. He nipped at her full under lip, evidence of her passionate nature.
When Hetty gazed deeply into his eyes, revealing the trust and respect she held for him, he pulled away, making a valiant effort at restraint.
“This is not going to happen,” he said, his voice hoarse while aware the evidence of his body made a mockery of his words.
“You’re trembling,” she whispered. “I don’t think you mean it.” She pressed herself ruthlessly against him, hip-to-hip, her hands sweeping over his back. He gave a strained laugh.
“Hetty, have mercy!”
He struggled to resist as hot blood surged through his body. His hand stroked up the soft skin of her inner thigh under her petticoats and located the soft feminine folds at the apex. Hetty’s body tensed, she flushed, and with a small sigh of pleasure, gave herself up to him.
With a moan, Guy stroked her hot damp flesh while she wriggled, uttering mews of pleasure. His free hand went to his breeches as desire drove him to mount her. They were panting with need, and his brain, turned to mush, ignored the danger.
There was a time when he would have taken her and worried about the consequences later. But not now. Surprised at how much he’d changed, and knowing his love for Hetty had changed him, he pulled his hand away from his breeches and focused on her enjoyment.
Hetty clutched at Guy’s shirt and emitted small shrieks as he continued his rhythmic stroking. “Guy, oh that’s so…”
She moaned, sank back, and opened her eyes.
Guy smiled at her. “It was agreeable, my love?”
Hetty’s eyes had a dreamy look, and her pink tongue toyed with her bottom lip. Guy struggled to inhale as he moved to ease the discomfort of his swollen shaft straining against his breeches. He wanted her so much he fought for air. Somehow, the bitter reminder had found its way through the fog of lust enveloping his mind. What he faced tomorrow. He could die and leave her unmarried and pregnant. Withdrawal was never a guarantee. He moved to put distance between them.
*
Guy’s deep groanvibrated through her. She bit her lip, contrite. When he jumped to his feet, she saw with a small measure of satisfaction how she had affected him before he turned away to adjust his clothing. “Get dressed, Hetty,” he said, his voice tight. “I shall be back in a moment. And then I think we should leave.”
Filled with an odd languor, Hetty struggled with the ties of her gown. Her muscles seemed to have gone to water. Tears gathered, and a sob formed in her throat. He had proved remarkably un-rake like. Was he disappointed in her?
She climbed to her feet and straightened her clothes. She was struggling with the ties on her gown when he returned.
“Let me assist you.”
She studied his face as he helped her into her pelisse. He was so handsome, so wonderful, and her behavior had been appalling. “Thank you.” Despite her best efforts her chest heaved, and her voice trembled.
Guy sighed and placed his finger beneath her chin to raise her gaze to his.
Hetty gave a sigh of relief at the amusement she found there. He touched his lips lightly to hers. “What motivated this attempt at seduction?”
“I’m afraid I’ll lose you, Guy,” she murmured. “That you’re not telling me everything.”
“You aren’t going to lose me,” he said and pulled her against him, his hand cupped her head as he took her lips in a long passionate kiss. “Sweetheart. I would like nothing better than to make love to you. But I know more about life than you do, so please, just once, will you let me take care of you?”
“But I wanted to give you pleasure,” she whispered.
“You think you didn’t?” He laughed and tucked a lock behind her ear and bent to give her another brief kiss. “I plan to make love to you in the proper manner. In our marriage bed.”
