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Her stomach did a silent tumble at the idea of people gossiping about her. But if she was being truthful with herself, she knew it was time to throw caution to the wind and live again, whatever the cost.

“I have lived my entire life cautiously and it is time I took control and did what I want to do.” She cupped his closely shaved cheeks with her hands.

“I am no debutante or blushing bride. I know firsthand the pleasure two people can experience when their bodies come together, and I want that with you.” Rising on tiptoes, her lips brushed his briefly.

“I want the ethereal connection that comes when two bodies, two souls come together in magical bliss.” She kissed him deeper.

“I want you to take me to the place where lovers go to experience the fulfillment of the flesh.” Her lips took his again.

His tongue joined with hers, and he made love to her mouth.

She experienced his desire, his need, his want.

Everything he craved was gathered up in that kiss.

The connection of their mouths, tongue and lips told her everything she needed to know.

Andrew wanted her as much as she wanted him.

Words were obsolete. His actions proved everything.

Breaking the kiss, Andrew placed his forehead against hers and groaned. “I don’t know if I can wait.”

Feeling bold, she grazed her hand across his groin, finding his manhood straining against his breeches, and she swallowed down a moan. “I’m just as ready.”

He stood back, his eyes wide as he ran his hands down his face. “Don’t say things like that. I’m barely holding on.”

Teasing, she batted her lashes again. “I know. My hand found the truth. I can’t wait to take it into...”

“Blackstone,” Caldwell’s voice rang out through the quiet garden, cooling Emmeline’s body instantaneously. “The dinner gong rang ten minutes ago. People are wondering where you two have gone.”

“We are here,” Andrew said as they hurried down the garden pathway, approached the veranda and faced Caldwell.

His eyes took them in, and he grinned. “No one is looking for you. I lied. But still, dinner is served.”

Andrew shoved Caldwell in the shoulder. “Don’t do that again.”

Emmeline inhaled and exhaled. The panic she’d felt at Caldwell’s words evaporated.

He hadn’t changed at all in the past six years.

He had teased her and Aiden relentlessly when they would sneak off for private moments.

It appeared he was going to do the same with her and Andrew.

Not that she minded, as it brought back good memories of her and Aiden.

Her heart stopped. Perhaps being reminded of memories of her and Aiden when she was with Andrew wasn’t a good thing.

Dinner was an informal affair served from a buffet where guests could eat as they pleased.

The games and charades began while Emmeline and Andrew were still picking at their plates, so they passed on charades and sat down to play backgammon.

They played several games with Andrew winning them all.

Emmeline’s mind had been playing around with what she hoped would happen tonight with Andrew.

Her body had as well. Her nerves hummed and her skin tingled, making her want to strip off her clothing and rub her naked body against Andrew’s equally naked body to ease the sensation.

All that stimulation made it impossible to concentrate on backgammon, making it easy for her to lose.

“One more game?” Andrew asked with a lopsided grin. “I know a proper gentleman shouldn’t take pleasure in beating a lady at a parlor game, but I’m not feeling very proper tonight.”

Her cheeks warmed at his insinuation. “No. Let’s sit here and watch the guests make fools of themselves playing charades.

” So that’s what they did. They watched charades, laughing at the antics of the other guests.

As the games began to wind down, Emmeline retired with a promise from Andrew that he would visit her around midnight.

*

Sitting up in bed, the hour close to midnight, Emmeline’s body trembled with nerves.

When would Andrew come? Would he come? When she’d retired to her room an hour ago, several people were still gathered in the game room playing cards and chess.

Perhaps he could not get to her room without being seen.

Eyes heavy, she closed them for just a moment, and the next thing she knew, the bed was dipping.

When she opened her eyes, it was to see the handsome face of Andrew illuminated by the one candle she’d left lit on the bedside table.

“I’m sorry to be so late. Several young bucks didn’t see fit to retire tonight.

I fear large quantities of drink and coin passed hands during their game of whist.” He kissed her lips.

“I gave up and left them to their own devices. They will no doubt be there in the morning having fallen asleep due to their overindulgence.”

“Do you always worry about others?”

“I do when it comes to gambling. I don’t want anyone to go through what I did. Gambling is all fun and games until someone bets their future away. I was lucky. Others are not.” He kissed her again. “But enough of that.”

He rose from the bed. His eyes were in shadow, but she could still tell he was unwaveringly staring at her as he began to undress.

His coat first. Then his waistcoat. Next came his cravat, and then he slipped his linen shirt over her head, and her mouth watered at the sight of his well-defined chest, arms, and abdomen.

He sat on the bed to remove his shoes and stockings.

Dressed only in his breeches, he peeled the covers back, exposing her in her sheer, pale-blue night rail.

She’d worn it just for him. She had packed it in the hope that this would happen.

His eyes traveled from her loose hair draped across her pillow to her toes peeking out the bottom of her night rail, and she shivered in her awareness of him. He hadn’t even touched her, and she was ready for anything he wanted to do to her.

He scrubbed his hand down his face. “You are... so beautiful. I’ve pictured you this way many times in my head, but reality far surpasses anything my imagination envisioned.”

The bed dipped again as he kneeled beside her, hitting her with a devilish grin and smoldering eyes.

Tingles danced up her spine as she stared back, knowing he witnessed her desire for him in her expression and in her eyes.

Reaching out her hand, she placed it on his chest, sprinkled with light hair, right over his heart.

The beat of his heart accelerated the longer her hand lay flat against his skin.

The knowledge that she caused it was exhilarating.

The proof of how badly he wanted her gave her courage.

Coming up to her knees, her eyes still connected to his, she pulled her night rail over her head with hands that trembled ever so slightly, making her realize she was perhaps not as courageous as she believed.

Andrew exhaled and his eyes narrowed, taking her in from head to toe, causing gooseflesh to break out all over her skin. Suddenly feeling vulnerable, she covered her breasts with one arm and dropped the other to cover her sex.

“Don’t,” he drawled. “Don’t hide your beautiful body from me.

” With gentle hands, he pulled her arms away until she was bare to him again.

“Nothing is more precious to me than you. And knowing you are willing to share yourself with me in the most natural, loving, and sensual way,” he paused as his voice cracked, “means everything to me. I am undeserving of you.”

The words he spoke and how he said them touched her. Yet he still had clothes on, making her uneasy in her nakedness. Her hands unbuttoned the front placket of his breeches. “You need to shed these.”

No sooner had she finished the last word of her sentence, than he’d jumped off the bed, pulled his breeches and undergarments off, and climbed back on the bed, barely giving her a glimpse of his engorged manhood.

He gently pushed her shoulders, laying her down, and his body followed, coming down heavily as he took her mouth.

He feasted—tongue, lips, and teeth. His mouth fit hers perfectly.

His tongue sparred with hers in a never-ending battle for control, a battle neither of them wanted to end.

His teeth nipped her bottom lip occasionally, making her that much more aware that what transpired between them was real.

The slight pain mixed with pleasure added to the intensity of the feelings bombarding her body.

Every tingle, every twitch, every shudder made her know she was alive, and she owed it all to Andrew.

“I’m afraid to open my eyes to find out I’m dreaming,” she moaned as his lips broke free from her mouth. His teeth scraped down her neck, and she felt the pull between her thighs setting her on fire.

“I know the feeling,” he groaned as his mouth found her nipple. His tongue swirled around her pebbled peak, and she arched her back, trying to get closer. “I have dreamed about you aplenty.” He took her nipple into his mouth and suckled, causing her to gasp. “Have you dreamed about me?”

Had she? More than she wanted to admit. “Yes,” she breathed out as his teeth clamped down on her nipple, nearly making her scream.

She needed to even up the sweet torture.

Her hand moved between them, and she took his large, thick erection in her hand and stroked him from bottom to tip and back again.

Her lips curled into a smile as his body tensed and shuddered.

“Oh, God. Do that again,” he said, his voice deep and throaty.

And so she did several times until he stilled her hand with his. “Stop... I can’t hold on.”

The one thing about being a widow instead of a virgin is she knew what he referred to—something she hadn’t understood on her wedding night. Do not think about your wedding night.