Marquess of Menace (Lords of Scandal 10)

She stretched, a slight burning covering the pain.

“Does it hurt?” he asked, kissing her face between each word.

“Yes,” she gritted out.

“I haven’t fully seated myself—”

But she squeezed him. “Do it. Quickly.” She’d never been one to shy away from anything and she wouldn’t now.

He obeyed without question and gave a quick push all the way inside her.

There was a burst of pain but satisfaction too. They were together. Completely.

“Eliza,” he rasped against her ear. “Are you all right?”

Emotion rolled over her in pleasant waves. Despite the pain, she was. “I’m wonderful.”

He gave a short quiet laugh. “Not what most women say, I’d imagine.”

She pressed her cheek to his. “Thank you for listening to me without question. I needed that to be quick.”

He’d held still deep inside her but at that, he leaned back. “I trust you more than I trust myself.”

They had to work on that, she quietly amended. He’d given her what she needed, a seat next to him. But him…he needed to learn to trust himself. And he needed a family who didn’t tear him down but built him up. She would be that family. “I trust you too. Completely.”

He drew up on his arms, looking down at her. “Eliza.” Her name was rough as he looked at her a mixture of pain and pleasure etched on his strong features. “Be careful…”

“I won’t,” she said, pulling his head back. “It’s you and me now. Always.”

“But you’ve family depending on you.” His face tightened.

“And now, they’ll depend on you too.”

In response, Dylan pressed down against her chest again, slowly pulling out of her body and then pushing back in. It didn’t hurt nearly as much.

When he did it a third time and then a fourth, pleasure began to replace the pain and soon they were moving together in a rhythm that left them both breathless.

She held him tight to her chest as sweet tension built.

Words flitted in and out of her thoughts. Love, trust, need, fulfillment—but she couldn’t seem to form them into coherent thoughts that could be spoken out loud so instead she held him tighter and whispered his name over and over until she finally crashed over the edge of her passion.

He didn’t make it but a few more strokes before he cried out, his body shaking with his own release.

As he collapsed on top of her, she snuggled deeper into him. A contentment like she’d never known settled over her and as she drifted off to sleep, she realized there was nowhere else she’d rather be. She was home.

Eliza woke before the sun, warm and so cozy in her bed.

She smiled and glanced over at the pillow next to her only to find it empty.

Reaching out her hand, it was still warm. But Dylan was gone.

Where was he?

Had he left without waking her and saying goodbye? She sat up. His clothes were gone and hers were neatly stacked on her dressing table except for her chemise, which lay on the foot of the bed.

Something heavy settled in her stomach. Where had he gone?

Dylan sat on the seat of a carriage as the morning sun burned off the fog from the night.