Earl of Sin (Lords of Scandal 6)

No matter what he did, there were no guarantees in life. She could be gone in an instant…ripped from his arms.

That thought was the only one that kept him sane. Insured that he didn’t undo the stays of his breeches and take her right here in the office.

Instead, he pushed his finger in deeper, taking pleasure from her reactions, her moans and cries of pleasure as he watched those lovely lips part. Her eyes dilated, her cheeks flushed, and her body writhed in tandem with his strokes inside her.

And when she came undone, she cried his name again, her neck arching. He kissed the slender column, his own body begging for more. Instead, he gently pulled his finger from inside her, closing her pantaloons, and pulling down her skirt. “How was that for your first experience?”

Her eyes, which had drifted closed, fluttered open and a sassy little smile played upon her lips. “What I am wondering is if that’s as good as it gets or if it gets better?”

He nearly spilled his seed in his pants. “Mary,” he pushed out between gritted teeth. “Do you want to make it to our wedding a virgin?”

Her eyes closed again. “Not particularly.” Then she skimmed her hand down his back until it reached his ass. She gave his cheek a light squeeze. “Do you want me to?”

He throbbed. “No and yes.”

She stiffened underneath him. Stiffened away. “What does that mean?”

Did he tell her that he was afraid to be with a woman again? That such intimacy frightened him after his loss? “I did promise your family there was nothing untoward happening.”

She relaxed again. “And there wasn’t. Now we’re engaged.”

She did have a point. And the part that wanted to be inside her was slowly but surely overruling his worries. “What if you get pregnant before the wedding?” Or at all.

She sighed again and he realized that he loved her little sounds. “We’ll have a baby that much sooner.”

He pulled back. “Is that a good thing?” He knew they’d discussed an heir but the more he considered the idea, the riskier it seemed.

She cupped his cheeks with her hands. “Does it make you feel better to know that the women in my family have very few problems with birthing?”

That did actually. A lot. Air rushed from his chest. “Even the small ones?”

She gave him a grin. “Even the small ones. We’re a tenacious bunch.”

He lifted her skirt again. This was less of the seductive caress and more of a needy yank. “And you’re sure you don’t want to wait until our wedding?” His grip on control was slipping away.

“I’m sure,” she said quietly next to his ear. “I’ve been waiting since forever.”

He fumbled with the fall of his breeches even as he peppered her neck with kisses. “Mary. It’s been so long I…” Did he want to tell her he couldn’t control himself? He took several deep breaths as he parted her pantaloons again, the silky fabric brushing against his thighs.

She slid her fingers into his hair, pulling him tighter to his chest. “I’m ready for you.”

His entire body responding to those words, hardening, lengthening. As beautiful as he found her, her voice might be the most erotic feature of them all and it undid his control as he pressed the head of his cock against her soft folds. She was so wet and ready that he slid inside her without much resistance, her tight channel wrapping him in warmth. A low groan slid from his throat, as he stopped, not wanting to hurt her. But her arms tightened, encouraging him to keep going so he tilted his hips closer to hers, pushing further inside.

She made a small whimper but he froze nonetheless, lifting his head to look into her face. “Mary.”

A thin smiled graced her lips. “I’m all right. I knew it would hurt the first time. Keep going.”

“Are you sure?” he asked, searching her face.

Her smile grew. “The benefit of age. A little pain never hurt anyone.” Then she leaned up and kissed him. “I want to be yours, Cole. All yours.”

Her lips, her voice uttering those words, unseated the last of his reserve. He thrust fully inside her, her maidenhead giving way. “It’s done,” he gritted out, even as she locked her arms about his neck and buried her face in his shoulder.

She let out a little gasping breath that sounded half like a laugh. “I never thought this day would come.” Then she gave his back a little tap with her hand. “Keep going. What’s next?”

He shook his head but slowly moved out and then back inside her. Starting a rhythm, she relaxed underneath him. A minute or two passed and his own control grew thin. “I’m not sure I can last much, it’s been so long.”

“Don’t last then.” She kissed the lobe of his ear. “Cole.”