Page 17 of A Marriage of Necessity

With a flourish, he yanked the tie free on his robe and sloughed it from his back, then came down on top of her. Her soft curves molded to his body as if made for him.He cupped her face between his hands and kissed her gently. Slowly, she slid her hands up his shoulders and wrapped her arms around his neck.

He broke the kiss and slid his mouth downward along her jaw, her neck, to the rise of her breasts and finally to the nipple that now pressed like a pebble against the fabric of her night shift. He took one bud in his mouth and suckled. She drew a sharp breath. Desire swept through him.

When was the last time a woman had excited him so quickly? Jacqueline? He thrust his cock against her abdomen. She fisted his hair. He gave a low laugh then switched to her other breast. There was something to be said about marrying a woman who knew what she wanted.

He really had to get that damned shift off her.

Kenney levered up on his arms and looked down at her. “What do you say, love? Are you ready to take off that shift?” Her cheeks colored and Kennedy laughed, then rolled onto the mattress beside her. He stuffed his hands beneath his head. “Go ahead, I will watch.”

Her mouth fell open. “You want to watch while I undress?”

He shrugged. “Why not? I let you watch while I took off my robe.”

Her blush deepened. “Aye, but you are-are, and I am—” She broke off.

“There is no need to be shy with me, love,” he said. “I told you. I don’t mind that you’re a woman who has already sought her pleasures.”

She blinked, then fury played across her features, and he realized his mistake. Kennedy set upright ad reached for her, but too late.

She scrambled off the bed and backed up two paces. “If you believe I am a loose woman, why did you marry me?” Before he could answer, she said. “Oh, yes, of course. I forgot. Your father commanded you to marry, and that is all that matters.”

An answering fury whipped through him and Kennedy shoved from the bed to his feet. Her wide-eyed gaze flicked to his erection, which jutted upward like a steel rod.

“Aye, madam, producing an heir is all that matters. Just as you needing money is all that matters to you.”

“Thank heavens for that,” she retorted. “Otherwise, I would be disappointed.”

“Then you are one of those women who expect love,” he said.

“Ha!” She burst out. “Thankfully, I do not suffer that malady.”

An odd pain stabbed at his heart. “Then you won’t mind if I carry on as I always have.”

“As will I.” She arched a brow. “You did say that you admired a woman who knew what she wanted and wasn’t afraid to pursue it.”

“You will not pursue your pleasure until I have an heir.”

“That is not a point stipulated in the marriage contract.”

He knew she was angry, knew the argument had gotten out of hand, but he couldn’t stop himself from saying. “Test me on this, my dear, and you will find your lovers meeting me at a dawn appointment.” With that, he quit the room.

* * *

Anne gave thanks when she entered the breakfast room the following morning to find Kennedy absent. Her mother and sister were having coffee, and she slipped into the chair opposite her mother.

“Good morning, Mama. Louisa. How did you sleep?”

“Very well,” her mother replied.

Anne kept her eyes on her cup as she poured coffee.

“I slept with Mama,” Louisa said. “This house has noises that ours doesn’t.”

Anne smiled. “I think it’s more accurate to say that Dover Hall has noises, while his lordship’s townhouse is too quiet.”

“His lordship?” her mother said.

Anne sighed inwardly. Leave it to her mother to notice the smallest slip. “It will take some time for me to grow accustomed to calling him by his Christian name,” Anne said.