Page 20 of His By Sunrise (Disreputable Dukes of Club Damnation #3)

“Honestly? He wants you, wants to court you, and I wouldn’t put it past him or your father to have an agreement between them.” He met her gaze. Worry clouded those dark brown depths. “Do you want him to court you? If you do, I’ll take you back to London right now.”

She frowned. “Why? You have been so adamant that we spend time together and talk things out.”

A sound of resignation escaped him. “I want you to be happy, Char. If it’s not with me...” His voice broke, and her heart squeezed. After clearing his throat, he added, “Well, if the viscount can make you that, I’ll give up my claim.”

Hot panic rose in her chest. “Stop.” When she pushed to her feet and stood in the bathtub, he was there to lend a hand in support.

She took up the linen sheet and wrapped it around her body while her skin prickled from his regard.

“To be honest, I am no longer certain William has a place in my immediate future.” That was all because of Edwin and how, once again, his charm and charisma and determination had pulled her under.

Would she lose herself this time? That remained to be seen, but it left her with cold tingles down her spine.

His eyes brightened. “What prompted the change?”

“I think it was being here. I’m beginning to understand you better.”

“Then you’ve changed your mind about me?”

She frowned. “I don’t understand.”

“Everyone always thinks the worst of me. Thinks I’m a layabout, a scoundrel, a man with no future and no morals, but everything I’ve ever done was—is still—to take care of my family like any decent man would.

Because I wasn’t born into money or a title.

I must work for it, and I’m rubbish at labor. ”

Her heart squeezed again. “You are continuing to work toward taking care of Olivia?”

“Yes, and of you.” When he nodded, flutters went through her lower belly. “I’ve never stopped, not even when you left.”

Oh, dear.

The more time she spent with him, the more she was convinced she’d made a horrible mistake in letting her father take control of the situation instead of her talking out her concerns and fears with her husband.

And she wanted the freedom to make certain he had, indeed, changed enough that she might consider taking him back.

“You are definitely not a scoundrel, Edwin,” she managed in a choked whisper.

From the moment she’d woken up and given herself over to his ministrations, she’d been much a watering pot.

But then, perhaps she needed that outlet, needed to let herself feel all the things she’d denied over the past several years. It was helping her to heal.

“I appreciate that.” When he put his hands on either side of her waist and assisted her from the bathtub, he led her away from it and toward the adjoining dressing room.

“I’ve tried so damned hard over the years.

The goal was always to make a good impression on you in the hopes you might see some sort of worth in me, and perhaps you might change your mind. ”

Despite being married to him, despite sharing very wicked things with him over the years and so many of them in just the last day or so, heat sank into her cheeks.

“I have always known you had the capacity to be a decent man; I have merely been concerned with the company you keep or the ways you’ve chosen to make your money. Some of it has been scandalous.”

“Well, I’ve never been one to settle for proper. Haven’t I’ve shown you that recently?” With a grin that threatened to make her knees weaken, he lowered his head and fit his lips to hers.

Every time the man kissed her, Charlotte nearly lost herself.

The fact he never failed to ignite her desire each time they were together made her breathless.

After everything, after all the hurt feelings, the grief, the anger, the isolation, the one thing that had never changed was the connection between them.

And in that, there was security. It was only natural that she return his embrace, and in doing so, she slipped her hands up his chest to loop her arms about the broad breadth of his shoulders.

The raw feel of his solid body against hers, the warmth of his mouth on hers, the tender yet forceful way he held her and caressed his hands over her person worked to see her undone.

Oh, he claimed her mouth with authority and skill, as was his wont, but it was insanity how much she wanted to couple with him.

Again.

As she fairly melted into him, she realized being with Edwin was more than just having physical needs fulfilled. He made her feel protected, wanted, respected, and beyond that, being in his company was exciting, gave everything an erotic edge that kept things exhilarating.

Why did I ever let my father take all of this away from me?

Slowly, hoping to tease him, Charlotte drew one of her hands down his body cup the bulge that pressed against the front of his tan-colored breeches. When he stifled a groan, his eyelids flickered, and she smiled. “I want you.” Truly, with him, there was no need for flirting or coquettish behavior.

“God, I adore when you state your needs simply.” He briefly kissed her lips again, but there was a tiny flash of vulnerability in his expression.

Had seeing her father or William discomfited him so?

“Almost as much as I like to hear you beg me to send you flying.” As he spoke, he tugged at the edges of the linen sheet she’d wrapped about herself.

When it slipped down her form to the floor, she shivered, for she was already aroused.

“There is nothing to be ashamed of considering you have much skill.” As she spoke, Charlotte fumbled at the buttons of his front falls and freed his shaft.

When the hot, hard length of him fell into her palm, she moistened her lips.

“I won’t be denied in teasing you, Nottingham.

” Why she’d decided to use his honorary “ducal” title, she couldn’t say, but she was warming to it.

“Ha. Using flattery as a bribe to get what you want?” Yet the light of pleasure was in his eyes as he raised his hands and cupped her breasts, squeezed them, pressed them together. “Wicked woman.”

A moan escaped her throat as he brushed the pads of his thumbs over her taut nipples and wild sensation coursed down her spine.

“Is there a punishment in the offing?” She could hardly concentrate on conversation when all she wanted was to feel him moving against her.

Besides, her backside still stung a bit from what he’d put her through yesterday.

“Not just yet.” Then he dipped his head and took one of her sensitive nipples into the warm cavern of his mouth, suckled hard until she moaned, then he soothed the bud with the flat of his tongue.

“Oh, I...” There was no need to talk, for carnal communication was much more effective.

It always had been with them. As he teased and tormented her breasts and nipples, Charlotte curled her fingers around his thick shaft and slowly stroked her hand along his length.

The more she played, the more he responded in kind, and it took very little time to have them both panting and heated.

She clung to his lapels of his bottle green superfine jacket as the strength in her knees wavered.

“How will you claim me this afternoon, I wonder?”

Surely, she should be scandalized by how freely she talked about such things, but she wasn’t. In fact, it was very freeing to do so.

“Mmm, something daring and provocative, I think, something highly pleasurable for us both.” So saying, he urged her toward a settle in the dressing room, one with brocade upholstery and lovely stuffed bolstered arms on each end. “Though it will go quickly, we will be satisfied.”

Excitement buzzed at the base of her spine. “And isn’t that what we both want anyway?”

“Yes, and I’m still trying to convince you to come back to me, for then you’ll enjoy this sort of activity whenever you’d like.”

“That is part of the issues facing us, though,” she said in a barely audible whisper.

“Hmph.” Gently but with firm pressure, Edwin bent her over the bolstered end, and then caressed a hand over a buttock. “I’ll take you from behind, if my lady desires.”

A shudder of need ricocheted down her spine. “Oh, yes,” she managed to choke out. This position certainly reminded her of his dominant side and one which he only indulged in when he felt weak, vulnerable, or helpless.

Oh, Edwin, why can’t you understand that there is nothing wrong with your tastes in carnal exercise?

Or in the ways he’d chosen to support his family. Did that truly matter to her?

Difficult to answer just now.

“Will you indulge me?” When he caught her gaze once more, his eyes were dark with raw need.

“When have I ever bid you nay?”

“With the exception of our first coupling yesterday?”

“Cheeky.” With a grin and heat in her cheeks, she wriggled her hips, which made her naked backside brush against his erection.

He caught his breath. “Who’s the cheeky one now?” With a soft growl that sent awareness over her skin, he delivered a sharp smack to one of her buttocks. “How do you always know how to tempt me beyond measure?”

“Because I know you as well.”

“Arse out, Char.” The command in his graveled voice sent shivers down her spine.

“I can’t wait.” Tingles went between her thighs, brought her to the edge of bliss before he’d even manipulated her more sensitive parts.

With a grunt, he gripped her hips while she splayed her legs and wriggled her rear as her pulse raced in anticipation. Then he fit the wide tip of his length to her opening. Without warning, he thrust into her passage and speared so deeply into her body that they both groaned with appreciation.