He pulled himself most of the way out despite how she clenched in response. “You have to let go,” he whispered hoarsely. “Although it is...” He struggled to breathe. “Rather good like this.”
Danielle finally understood his meaning, attempting to relax her inner muscles. She hadn’t even realized how she’d been clenching on his manhood. When he thrust into her, she inhaled sharply. “Oh! That’s much better,” she whispered, her hands moving from his shoulders to slide down his sides, her fingers barely skimming over his skin.
Andrew shivered. “That tickles.” He couldn’t help the burble of laughter that erupted as he shifted his back beneath her hold.
Danielle giggled, once again lifting her hips in anticipation. “Am I doing this right?”
Sobering, he took a breath and then retreated part way and pushed into her again. This time her hips met his, and he nodded. “Perfect,” he managed to get out as he repeated his retreat and thrust, glad when her hands tightened their hold on his back.
Watching how the cords of his neck appeared as he lifted his head and hearing his labored breathing, Danielle did her best to match his moves in the dance as old as time. She might have continued, but ceased her movements when Andrew suddenly stilled. His chest rising well above hers, he looked as if he’d been stabbed in the back, an expression of pain crossing his features before warmth spread inside her lower body.
“Oh!” Danielle said as he pushed once more into her. One of his hands cupped a breast. He lowered himself onto one elbow, his face ending up on the other breast. “Oh!” she cried out when his mouth covered a nipple and his tongue laved over it.
Andrew couldn’t help the chuckle that erupted from him. He nearly cursed but managed to swallow it before he moved to once again kiss her on the lips. “Thank you,” he whispered, right before he passed out.
Stunned, Danielle moved a hand to the side of his face, relieved when she could feel his warm breath wash over it. She wondered how he could sleep at a time like this, when every single nerve ending of her entire being was abuzz with excitement.
Bit by bit, she took inventory of her body, carefully lowering her feet to the bed. She was aware of how the fullness of his manhood seemed to slowly subside. Of how his body, only a moment ago taut with strain, was completely relaxed. Of how his hair felt like silk where it fell onto her upper arm.
Once her breathing returned to normal, she felt a kiss on the side of her breast. “Oh!” she said with a start, immediately chiding herself for sounding like her mother.
Andrew’s chuckle rumbled through her. “Your breasts are so plump and soft,” he murmured. “So perfect.”
She inhaled softly. “You don’t think they’re too large?”
The bed shook with his chuckle. “They’re perfect, my sweet. Everything about you is perfect.” He placed another kiss on the soft flesh.
Swallowing, Danielle stared at the painted ceiling above, contemplating what they had just done. Contemplating his words. “Are you saying that because you wish to make love to me again?” she asked. Not that she would mind. There was something positively wonderful about how her body felt at that moment. Alive. All buzzy and warm and aware.
“I’m saying it because it’s true,” he countered. “Although, now that we have made love, of course I wish to do it again. Again and again, for the rest of our lives,” he whispered. “I love you.”
Danielle gave a start, angling her head in an attempt to better see him from her vantage. “You really do?”
“Nowwill you marry me?” he asked as he lifted his head onto her chest again. “I do love you, Danny. I always have, and you know it.”
Danielle speared her fingers through his dark hair and sighed. “If I say yes, does that mean you have to take me home?”
Blinking, Andrew regarded her with suspicion. “Well, I was hoping we could have dinner together first,” he replied. “If you’d like to spend the night in your new home, we could send a note to Norwick House. Explain you’re spending the night with a friend—”
“Friend?” She giggled. “Oh, no, Andrew Comber. I’m going to send a note claiming I’ve been kidnapped, and that I don’t wish to be rescued.”
He chuckled a moment but quickly sobered. “As much as I like that idea—and I do think it’s a brilliant idea—I fear I might end up dead at the hands of the Earl of Norwick for having ruined you before I was given permission to do so.”
Danielle rolled her eyes. “Father gave you permission,” she reminded him.
Fearing her words had summoned the ghost of David Fitzsimmons, Andrew glanced around the bedchamber. Relieved the late earl wasn’t hovering about, he said, “Nevertheless, I think it’s best I take you home after the dessert course. Until then...” He left the bed to find his waistcoat and the pocket watch within. Opening the watch case, he aimed it so the dim light from around the drapes illuminated the crystal. “We have an hour until dinner.”
“And the rest of the house to tour,” she reminded him as she climbed off the tall bed. “I could use some more tea.”
“I’m starving,” Andrew agreed, his eyes darkening as he watched her gather up her petticoats and stays.
“There are some biscuits in the parlor,” Danielle said as she shook out her stays. She giggled when she realized he had entirely different biscuits in mind as he pulled her into an embrace.
“Marry me?” he whispered.
She nodded as she tossed aside the stays and petticoats. “Oh, all right,” she replied with a grin. “I’ll marry you. But first, I think I’d like to learn more about how to ride St. George.”
Andrew blinked. “Now?” He glanced over at the bed and then back at her. He stepped back and bowed. “My lady, I am honored to meet you. I am St. George.”
She gave him a teasing grin. “It’s very good to meet you, St. George,” she replied as she waggled her brows.
It was nearly an hour later before they dressed for dinner.
