Page 5

His smile spoke to his joy in hearing her speak those words. Wanting to reassure her, Darcy said, “Trust me, you need not fear unintended consequences.” He kissed her forehead and her cheek. “You are safe with me,” he whispered. “Utterly and completely safe. I will protect you. I know exactly what I must do.”

Thus commenced the ultimate act between a man and a woman. Unhurried and patient just as it ought to be on the part of the former—a man of sense and education, familiar with the ways of the world, and tentative and trusting on the part of the latter—a young woman whose secret desires she had kept buried for so long.

And when the ultimate act was over, and she knew she was his, if only for that one night, she suffered not even the slightest symptom of regret. At that moment, captured inside his tender embrace, she felt as though she was the most cherished woman in all of England.

Chapter 4

The ensuing passage of time saw a resurgence of their passion as well as the dawning on Elizabeth of what she was about in allowing herself to do all the things they were doing. Despite the pleasure of it all, surely some protest must be in order, if only for good measure.

Reaching up, she touched his face. She swept her fingers across his parted lips.

“I really do not think we should be doing this, sir,” she moaned, her naked body belying her words, his hardness and her softness as one.

“What if we should be found out? What if someone should come into the room and discover us? Not only will my reputation be in tatters, but yours will be as well.”

“You make an excellent point, my dear, but we ventured beyond that point some time ago, did we not?” he replied, pleasuring her with slow, deliberate strokes.

“Let us enjoy what we are doing with no thought of what is right or what is wrong. Think only of the present and all the pleasures we are deriving here and now.”

Darcy lifted her legs and wrapped them around his waist as he sat up just enough to allow for deeper more satisfying love-making.

* * *

This was by far the most sensual coupling of his lifetime. Decades upon decades might pass—nothing would ever compare. The knowledge that no man had enjoyed such wonderment with her made the experience all the more satisfying.

The thought that she might suffer a bit of discomfort in the morning did cross his mind, and thus he decided to temper his desire—not withdraw, but rather pause so she might be encouraged to find her pleasure while he filled her completely.

Her wetness was intoxicating. Darcy wanted nothing more than to bury his seed deep inside her, but he would not. She did not need that to add to what might possibly be a list of trepidations when morning light came peeking through the window pane. All he wanted her to take away from their chance encounter was the knowledge that she had been loved, worshipped, cherished, and adored.

He could give her that—something to keep her warm on those lonely nights when she returned to her home and her empty bed, awaiting what he could only suppose was a fate she felt unable to escape.

Indeed, this beautiful, beguiling woman deserves such a night.

She wanted it—her body informed him as much by its wetness, its tightness — the tiny waves of pleasure that ebbed and flowed with intoxicating delight— her sensuous moans and her nails digging into his skin.

We both more than want this. We both need this. And if during the course of our acquaintance, she so wishes it, then she shall have this—anytime she desires.

The mounting intensity rolling through him in intoxicating waves, he withdrew just in time and released his seed on the bed covers beneath her.

When he was recovered, he moved to lie beside her, and he recaptured her in his arms.

Wanting to hold on to this intoxicating feeling of pure and utter bliss, Darcy said, “Pray you will spend the rest of the night with me.”

Chapter 5

Elizabeth meant to sit up, but he would not let her. “Sir, it would not do for one of the servants to find me here with you in the morning.”

“That might be a distinct possibility were we to fall asleep and fail to awaken, but I have other plans for the remainder of our time together.”

Emboldened, she traced her fingers along his chest. “If it is yet another repeat performance that you speak of, I believe I can be persuaded.”

Her lips met his in a tender kiss. At length, he said, “I am more than happy to oblige you, but until such time as I am able to do so aptly, I thought we might talk.”

She bit her lower lip. “What exactly does a gentleman talk about after having made passionate love to another man’s intended?”

He arched his brow. “Is that how it is?”

Sensing she had wounded him, Elizabeth surmised he was not one to be teased. Regretting her choice of words, she said, “Forgive me, sir. I should not have said that. You and I both know that I wanted to be here as much as you wanted me here.