Duke of Dishonor (Lords of Scandal 11)

“What do you mean it doesn’t matter?” She was hitting with more insistency. He didn’t quite know how to tell her the action was rather…exciting. “We have to go back. It’s important.”

He shook his head. “Emily, you are more important. I’ve made this decision. Your safety will come first always.”

She kissed him then as he slid out of her and then back in. He moved in a slow rhythm, giving her body time to adjust to him.

When her body began to meet his thrusts, he picked up the pace, pleasure rippling through him.

She locked her arms about his neck, as her legs tightened over his, and he felt the moment pleasure rocked through her. He couldn’t hold back any longer and his own finish washed over him.

They stayed entangled together for several more minutes, kissing until he finally slipped from her body.

She pushed back further into the mattress as she stared into his eyes. “I appreciate what you’ve done. Choosing me over your reputation in society.”

“I’m glad,” he answered.

“But we have to go back.”

“Bash is going to explain everything to our sovereign leader.”

She shook her head. “I’ll stay on the ship. Or you can bring me to Bash’s in the cover of night. But we have to go back. I won’t be afraid anymore and I won’t run. We’re going to restore your title and then we’ll face down these men. Together.”

He pressed his mouth into a thin line. “Em.”

She loved the endearment on his lips, and she might have basked in it, but she had something important to say now. “I can do this.”

He looked down into her eyes. “I’ve never doubted you. I was there when you rushed out of a carriage and took a man down with the door, remember?”

Pleasure flowed through her. “I need to do this for you. I need to prove that I’ll put you first and that I’m strong enough to stand next to you.”

“It’s proven. Now let’s go back. You’re a duke and we’ll claim your rightful place in society. Mine too.” Then she started pushing on his very large shoulders.

He conceded. Rolling off her and pulling them both to standing. “Fine,” he answered. “You win. Back to London we go.”

Chapter Fourteen

An hour later Brandon stood on the deck as the boat tacked to the left, making the mid-ocean turn. Emily was tucked against his side, looking quite warm and very satisfied as she snuggled deeper into his coat.

The captain had done a great deal of rumbling about his shipments that were going to be late, but in the end, he’d conceded.

Without a stop and with good wind, they’d make it back to London in the early hours of the morning. Which gave him time to decide what to do. He couldn’t warn Bash they were coming.

And, depending on how many men were still uncaptured, Bash’s home could be watched.

Which made this all the trickier.

He grimaced down at his bride.

What they’d just done had been…magical. Emotional and physical satisfaction had coalesced in a perfect symphony leaving him spent and wanting and…in love.

They should be in his cabin, still locked in an embrace. Exploring one another… He stopped.

Thinking about it did not change the fact that they were now on deck as he issued commands.

If the winds were with them, he’d take Emily below deck again and…

“Ship dead ahead,” the lookout in the mast called.

Brandon straightened, pulling Emily closer. “What?”