Page 24 of Dare to Tempt an Earl This Spring (Wedding Fever #1)

T homas loved Christmas. It had always been a happy time, and he usually woke up to a new saddle or some other treat when his grandfather and parents were alive. But this wasn’t Christmas; it was spring. And yet, he felt like a child waking up to the best present ever. He certainly hadn’t meant to seduce Ashley when he shamelessly hinted at sleeping in her room. And he most certainly hadn’t ever imagined she would seduce him!

She was his spring awakening.

He knew it wasn’t a dream, for nothing he could concoct in his mind could ever be so alluring.

Thomas’s strength melted away when she smiled up at him.

I won’t stop you.

Four words that robbed him of his damn breath.

He had pulled her into a searing kiss, his lips capturing hers with a hunger that had been dormant but suddenly roared to life. When her tongue darted into his mouth, he opened up, baring his heart and soul for her pleasure. He was at her pleasure and would always be, whether they were married yet or not. Her body had pressed against his, warm and inviting, as he guided her gently onto the bed, the satin sheets cool beneath them.

To his utter shock, and male delight, she did something that sent a thrill through him. She straddled him. Her confidence was intoxicating, and the sight of her above him, framed by the shadows and candlelight blazed into his memory.

Bloody hell.

So precious.

Their connection was tangible, each breath and heartbeat weaving them closer together. He understood that this was more than passion; it was an unspoken vow of trust.

Though she hadn’t yet learned to ride a horse, she needed no saddle. Her hands rested on his chest, an unbelievably magical feeling. A fierce protectiveness surged within him—he wouldn’t let her fall, not now, not ever. Their connection was a living, breathing pulse, each breath and heartbeat weaving them closer together. He understood now that this was more than passion; it was the rawest form of trust.

And love.

“Let me show you how I feel, all right?” he rasped, barely breaking the kiss. She gave a faint nod but clung to his mouth in the most delightful way possible. He cradled the back of her head, his fingers threading through her hair as she leaned back, eyes filled with a spark of roguery. No, not just a spark. A well.

A deep well.

He grinned, his lips tracing a deliberate path down her cheek, savoring the softness of her skin. He lingered at her ear, whispering “so delicious” before continuing his journey down her neck. As he reached her shoulder, he could feel her tension build, her breath soft against his cheek.

He cupped her breasts, and she gasped. His heart skipped when he caught her biting her lip as she looked at his hand on her breast.

So. Erotic.

So. Hot.

Her eyes met his. “So experienced. How many times have you engaged in such activities, hmmm?”

What? Was this a tease? “This is hardly the moment for such inquiries.”

“It is quite the opposite. It holds greater significance for me; this is my first time.”

Thomas inclined his head slightly. “I cannot claim a number.”

“Is that so?” She cupped his face, relying on her strength to remain reclined against his lap. The sight of her flat front, accentuated in this position, was utterly captivating, and a surge of pleasure erupted at the mere view. How could he focus when she seduced him like this?

“I don’t have a number. There was a girl once, the daughter of a neighboring estate, but we did nothing that came close to this.”

“You mean to say you have never…”

“Never,” he replied, leaning forward as he reached around her, deftly unfastening the back of her corset before casting it aside.

“Thomas!” She laughed.

He grinned as he dipped his mouth to her hardened nipples, cradling her back while teasing her delicate breast with gentle nibbles. Her head fell back in a shimmering blanket of golden curls as she groaned.

Oh, that sound.

His heart swelled with tenderness. He reached down with one hand, shifting to accommodate his movement, and he parted her folds.

His forehead fell on hers. “This can have consequences.”

She smiled. “Like what? Loss of chastity.”

“Children?”

“Well, being the man that you are, there are ways, are there not?”

He chuckled. “You really know how to test a man.”

“You’re so tight, but so wet,” he added.

“Yes, I’m ready,” she breathed. Her eyes sparkled. “I’ve only been waiting for you.”

“Minx.”

*

I can’t believe I’m doing this.

But, oh, yes, she could.

When Thomas shifted their position, rolling her beneath him, Ashley wanted to stop thinking altogether. If this was to be the irrevocable deed, she wanted to savor every second for as long as she could.

The weight of his body pressed against hers, a comforting presence that enveloped her in dreams and stars. The heat burned between them, making her deeply aware of every single touch. Her hands found his chest, the firm muscles beneath her palms protecting a heart that beat just as loudly as hers.

Tilting her head, she let her lips brush against his skin, tasting the saltiness of his flesh. In that moment, she sensed the essence of him, each shared breath weaving a promise she didn’t know if she could ever accept. Her lips traveled to his shoulders, blocking out anything and everything but him.

This.

And then he positioned himself between her legs, the firm evidence of his desire replacing the gentle pressure of his hands.

“Stop me now,” he rasped.

“Never.”

His exhalation sent a thrill through her, and she dug her fingers into his back when he pressed his body against hers. A sense of wonder bloomed within her, mingling with the excitement of the moment. This was more than she had ever dared to dream—an intimacy she hadn’t realized she craved so desperately until now. He hovered above her, and their eyes locked. The unspoken understanding deepened the connection that words could never capture.

With him, she felt safe, cherished, and, for the first time, completely herself.

He thrust forward, and Ashley held her breath, anticipation making her heart race. It felt as though he had breached the very fabric of their world. The initial pinch startled her, a sensation of being stretched in ways she hadn’t expected, and her body tensed momentarily, every nerve alight with sensation. But to her surprise, she found herself yielding, adjusting to him with a natural ease she hadn’t anticipated, and the chamber around them faded, narrowing their reality to just the two of them.

“Does this hurt?” he asked, his gaze lingering where their bodies began to meld.

“No.” It might have burned a little, but she craved more.

He thrust into her then, and a soft gasp blew past her lips. Yes.

Thomas paused, kissing her forehead and stroking her hair. “You feel so good.”

“You feel good, feeling good inside me,” she murmured back, arching into him.

“Bloody hell,” he breathed.

He didn’t hold back after that. He didn’t move with care anymore, and she didn’t want him to. She wanted every single thrust of him the way he gave it. She dug her fingers deeper into his back, clamping her legs around his waist, as if she could hold onto that moment forever.

His hand found her center again, his thumb stroking her with what she could only describe as a magical touch that sent her spiraling over the edge, and a wave of pleasure rippled through every nerve of her body. Just when the moment had ended, Thomas showed her it had just begun.

May tomorrow never come.

*

She was everything Thomas had ever hoped for and more than he could have imagined. Saving this for the right woman had been worth every moment.

An electric charge seemed to fill the air as they moved in unison, a silent understanding passing between them with each touch. Every nerve in his body was attuned to her—her warmth, the softness of her skin, the cadence of her breath mingling with his. His senses absorbed each subtle movement, every sigh and gasp she offered feeding his need to hold her closer.

His hands traced the delicate curve of her waist, each touch, each kiss as natural as breathing, but he was driven by one goal—to bring her pleasure. As their movements built toward the crest, and all that existed were her wild, soft cries, his pulse thundering in time with hers, like the rhythm of hooves across open fields. He felt himself swept into a rush of emotion, the surge as powerful and exhilarating as leaning into a gallop, the world blurring around him as he met her at the peak. They moved like horse and rider, in perfect stride, a wild harmony that went beyond words.

A spark of tension rippled through him, like the coiled power of a horse at full run. And then, as he reached that pinnacle, the world shattered into ecstasy, his release so fierce it seemed to consume him. He pushed deep, feeling her gasp, a faint cry muffled as he covered her mouth with his, the house far too full for her unrestrained voice. She opened to him, drawing him in, trembling as she clung to him, and he knew he’d never felt anything like this.

When the last waves subsided, he held her close, devouring the steady, quiet murmur of her breath against his skin, like a breeze rustling the leaves. Satisfaction washed over him—a calm contentment, like the peace after a hard ride, promising endless horizons and an unspoken certainty that this was where he was meant to be.

He couldn’t wait for tomorrow to come.