Page 21

Before she could remark on his comment, he had kissed his way down her stomach, and her eyes scrunched tightly. She stopped breathing as she waited, and anticipation built. The thrumming in her body increased. His lips found her sex, and he licked between her folds, sucking her nub into his mouth.

Shocked. Emmeline was shocked. Even though she heard this whispered of in private drawing rooms... Aiden had never.

Andrew’s hands nudged her legs open wider, and he buried his face between her thighs.

Embarrassment tried to push itself into her mind but was lost to the demands and needs of her body as Andrew did wonderful and unspeakable things to her.

Things that had her legs wrapped over his shoulders, and her entire body weighed down heavily with desire until she crashed.

It hit her like an untamed, stampeding horse.

Her body trembled and tightened. She fisted Andrew’s hair, holding him between her thighs as his mouth and tongue gave her the most exquisite, torturous orgasm she’d ever experienced.

When she reached the other side, her legs slid off his shoulders, her arms flopped across the bed, and she didn’t believe she could move.

.. ever again. She felt languid and satiated like she’d never been before.

Andrew climbed up her body, placing butterfly kisses here and there until his body covered hers, and he chuckled into her ear. “Did you enjoy that, my love?”

The truth was she’d enjoyed what he did. More than she’d ever thought was possible. How did one answer such a question? Not to mention, how did one function after being pleasured so completely?

“Hmmm, it was fine.” She went with an elusive answer after his playfully smug question.

Leaning up on his hands, he smirked. “Fine? Just fine?”

Laughter bubbled up from deep inside her. “Do you need your sexual prowess complimented so your self-esteem doesn’t become an issue?

His lips took hers in a punishing kiss, then he pulled away abruptly. His chest heaved as he inhaled deeply. “My self-esteem is just fine. Your screams were all the verification I needed that I saw to your complete and utter pleasure.”

She nudged his shoulder with her hand. “I did not scream. Do you think my mother heard? She is across the hall.” Oh dear, how embarrassing if she did.

Not that she had to worry about keeping it a secret from her mother.

She would be happier than happy. No one occupied the room beside her, so she was safe there.

“I hardly think your mother could hear you across the hall. But... I’m not finished with you yet.”

And he wasn’t.

His fingers skimmed up her thigh, and she couldn’t believe her body quivered with need again so quickly.

He spread her folds, circling her nub with his thumb as he inserted one finger inside, then another, sending her hips rising off the bed of their own accord.

He replaced his hand with his cock, pushing slowly an inch at a time.

His mouth returned to hers, and he kissed her deeply.

Not carnal and wild as before but gently, reverently.

He sipped from her lips as if they held the sweetest wines in the world, and then his tongue mimicked the actions of his member once he was seated to the hilt.

Emmeline moaned from the fullness of Andrew being inside her.

He was thick and long, and it took a moment for her body to adjust, but adjust it did until the fullness felt like it belonged inside her.

Their hips moved together as he pulled in and out faster and faster.

Her legs wrapped around his waist, his hips thrust over and over, his lips broke from hers, and their eyes locked together as they climbed toward release.

She crested over the precipice, biting her bottom lip to keep from yelling out.

At the same time, Andrew groaned and quickly pulled out, spilling his seed onto the sheets.

He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close then groaned, “The sheet’s wet. ”

She couldn’t help it and she giggled. “Move us over, there’s plenty of dry bed behind me.

He repositioned them and sighed. “Much better.”

Laying in Andrew’s comforting arms now, her head resting on his chest, Emmeline sighed with contentment and exhaustion. Neither spoke again. Words were not needed after what they had experienced together. They both knew what had transpired between them was beyond exceptional.

As she drifted off to sleep, she pushed back against the guilt trying to wiggle its way into her mind.

*

Andrew knew the moment Emmeline drifted off to sleep.

Her breathing evened out, and her head and hand resting on his chest sank further into his body.

The emotions and feelings inundating his mind and body were almost too much to handle.

He had known for ten years he loved her.

But until they’d made love tonight, he had not realized how intense that love was.

Never in his wildest imaginings had he known such a connection between two souls could genuinely exist. And she felt it, too.

He was as sure of it as he was sure he had two hands.

When midnight had passed tonight, he almost hadn’t come to her.

He’d feared it was too late, and he didn’t want to disturb her sleep.

Thank goodness he hadn’t listened to reason and had come anyway, regardless of the late hour—or rather early morning, as it was.

It had been a long time since he’d been able to elude the pain and guilt of the past. But cradling Emmeline close to his heart had erased it.

He wasn’t fool enough to think those emotions wouldn’t come back to him in the morning, but for now, he would relish the freeness and weightlessness his body and soul were experiencing.

Making love to—no, not to... with —Emmeline transcended the stars. His mind and body still had trouble comprehending how their bodies came together so perfectly. Where she ended, he began, and vice versa.

Two bodies joined together as a whole.

Two souls fading and blending to become one.

Two hearts beating in perfect rhythm.

If only he had known ten years ago what he knew now.

He never would have stepped aside for Aiden.

Pain pierced his heart. No. He couldn’t change the past. And truthfully, he wouldn’t wish to.

Ten years ago, perhaps he and Emmeline wouldn’t have been ready for what existed between them now.

Perhaps they needed the years of life’s experiences, good and bad, to become the people they were now.

To become people who were vulnerable and willing to put the pain of the past aside and love in the present.

Little mewling sounds came from Emmeline. It could be considered light snoring, but it was too pleasing a sound to really compare it to snoring. He kissed the top of her head and closed his eyes.

Not that he wanted to sleep. He wanted to hold her close and watch her sleep for the rest of the night. But his body and mind were drained. And nothing good would come tomorrow if he stayed awake. He would be too tired to enjoy the day’s events and activities. Too exhausted to enjoy Emmeline.