Feeling his hard erection through her drawers made her moist and warm and unable to think about anything but him. She closed her eyes and swallowed, trying to draw some strength from a deep recess in her. But as she opened her eyes again, her weakness for his kisses overcame her again. She didn’t want to be strong. She wanted to feel his hands on her bare skin, feel his strength as he entered her, and watch his face as he succumbed to the pleasure they would both experience.
She leaned in closer and brought her lips to his mouth. Instantly, his hand cupped her neck, bringing her tighter to him. His mouth opened to her and his tongue played with hers. With her desire rippling through her, she tugged at his cravat eager to feel his skin under her fingers.
His hands moved to her gown and finally lowered the bodice to her waist. Their kisses became frantic as passion overtook them. She wanted him now, deep inside her, stroking her, sending her higher.
With a groan, she broke away from his mouth and attacked the buttons on his waistcoat. As her fingers fumbled with the buttons, he pushed them aside and ripped at his clothing until he was bare chested with only his trousers in the way.
“Sophie,” he groaned and pulled her closer again. “This is insane.”
“I know,” she mumbled against his lips.
As he kissed her again, he loosened her stays and finally unlaced them and tossed them to the floor. He brought her close and moved her chemise down to her waist, allowing unfettered access to her breasts. Suckling her deeply, his fingers slowly bunched up her skirts. He fumbled with the bu
ttons on his trousers and shifted them both.
His hard cock rubbed against her bare skin, sliding against her wet nub until she moaned. He moved her hips upward and then down on the full length of him. Sophie gasped as he filled her. There was no stinging, no pain, only a sensual feeling of fullness that made her quiver.
“Oh, Nicholas,” she whispered.
“Better than last time?” he mumbled against her neck.
“Yes.”
He placed his hands on her hips and showed her how to move up and down the length of him. Each movement brought tremors of pleasure through her. As she increased the speed, tremors turned to full quaking. Knowing she was not about to control the climax rushing through her, she closed her eyes and shook with passion.
In the midst of such pleasure, she felt him bring her hips down on him one last time. He groaned her name as she watched his handsome face filled with satisfaction.
But as she stared down at him, she realized one horrible thing. She had done it again. She had let her passion override her sensibilities, and her knowledge of preventing a child. Now she would have another few weeks of waiting and praying she hadn’t gotten herself in trouble.
Nicholas leaned his head back against the chair as his heart thundered in his chest. What the bloody hell was wrong with him? He’d always been able to control his reaction to a woman. But with Sophie, everything was different. Her kisses tasted sweeter and her body softer than any other woman’s.
She rested her head on his shoulder, and he wondered at her thoughts. Most likely, she wanted marriage, he realized. But as he had that niggling notion, dreadful thoughts came to mind. Could she have known who he was in Venice? Was it possible that she had followed him in order to get him into bed? Women had been trying to trap him into marriage since he was eighteen.
A sad sounding sigh escaped from her. She lifted her head and stared down at him. “No,” she whispered.
“Pardon?”
“I said, no.” She kissed his lips softly. “I did not follow you to Venice. And we both know marriage is not a possibility.”
His muscles tensed. “How did you know what I was thinking?”
Her eyes twinkled in the dim light of the candles. “We are connected.” She shook her head as he looked down to where they were joined. “I meant emotionally. Whatever is between us allows me to sometimes read your thoughts, especially when we are this . . . intimate.”
He grimaced. “I am not certain I like that idea.”
“You should not worry overmuch about it. You are very difficult to read. Otherwise, I would have known you were English when we were in Venice.” She smiled at him seductively.
“I’m still not sure I like the idea of you reading my thoughts.”
“Why is that? Do you have secrets to keep?”
He tilted his head and stared into her gray eyes. “Don’t we all?”
She looked away and pressed her lips into a tight line. “Perhaps we do.”
He wanted to learn her secrets. Why she seemed so lonely when he knew she had several good friends. Who was her father? Nicholas had heard he was an earl who would not recognize her as his daughter. He cupped her cheeks and brought her lips to his. After savoring her sweetness once more, he said, “Will you ever tell me your secrets?”
“I think you had best leave now,” she said, then scrambled off him. Quickly, she grabbed her clothing and held them in front of her.