Page 29

The countess’s smile faltered for a brief moment.

Lady Beatrice’s once bored expression changed as she smiled, making her even more breathtaking.

“You are too kind, Your Grace.” It was apparent, by her wistful expression, that Lady Beatrice’s affections were engaged to some suitor, and Emmeline hoped it would work out well for them.

But with a mother like Lady Hartford, it was anyone’s guess what would happen to Lady Beatrice.

After the mother and daughter left, the four of them climbed the stone stairs to Blackstone’s private box, Andrew muttering, “Good Lord, what must I do for Lady Hartford to leave me alone? I’m not interested in her daughter, as lovely as she is.” When they arrived, he insisted on helping her sit.

As the lights in the theater were being extinguished, she placed her hand on Andrew’s arm, as he was seated next to her. “I don’t know how you can be so polite to that woman.”

He looked at her hand on his arm and shrugged. “Longtime practice, and my mother taught me well.”

She removed her hand from his arm after feeling the heat from his body radiating into hers.

His sandalwood eau de cologne enveloped her in its warm, woodsy scent, making her glad they were sitting beside each other.

She always loved how he smelled. If she’d possessed one of his worn shirts, she would sleep with it at night and inhale it whenever she missed him.

“Are the seats to your liking?” Andrew asked, appearing unsettled. Did she do that to him? If only things were not so confusing between them.

“They are perfect.” The curtain opened and Emmeline leaned forward in her seat and hung on every word and scene that unfolded before her.

She could barely breathe when Juliet was on her balcony speaking to Romeo.

Her favorite scene in the play. And as much as she wished the dying would not happen and Romeo and Juliet would live happily ever after, it wasn’t to be.

Her tears started when Tybalt stabbed Mercutio with a rapier and then Romeo killed Tybalt.

They got worse when Romeo, believing Juliet to be dead, drank poison and died.

Then Juliet awakened to find Romeo dead and stabbed herself with his sword to join him in the afterlife.

Her tears intensified and she covered her mouth with her handkerchief as sobs escaped from deep inside her chest.

As the curtain closed, Andrew gently touched her thigh. “Is there something I can do to ease your distress?”

She gulped down her sobs. “No. I’m fine. “It doesn’t matter how often I read Romeo and Juliet or see the play; I hope for a different ending and am heartbroken when there isn’t one.” She leaned around Andrew and saw Lilly in the same predicament as she, handkerchief out as she dried her tears.

As they exited the private box, she took Andrew’s offered arm, and he escorted her to his carriage.

Langford and Lilly were dropped off first, and when they pulled up to her townhouse she realized she didn’t want to be alone.

Her emotions were raw from the play and she didn’t want Andrew to leave.

Silly as it was, she could use his closeness tonight, even if she was still working through other feelings. “Would you care for a nightcap?”

One brow rose inquisitively, and he quirked a crooked grin. “I would like that very much. Thank you.”

Harrison met them inside the door and relieved Andrew of his cape, hat, and gloves.

Once in the drawing room, Emmeline splashed brandy into two crystal glasses. “Please have a seat.” She handed him his glass and indicated the settee. They sat at the same time. She turned to face him and held up her glass. “To good health.”

“To friends,” he said as he clinked his glass to hers, and they both sipped. The smooth burn going down her throat and into her stomach was most welcome. Brandy was her one vice, and she enjoyed it nightly. One small amount eased and soothed her before bed.

“I owe you an apology,” she said while looking down into the amber liquid that dipped and swirled courtesy of her trembling hands.

“I’ve been dreadful to you. I should have accepted your apology and moved on.

I made a mess of our relationship, and I’m sorry.

Nothing like a star-crossed lovers play to open my eyes to what is right in front of me.

” Afraid to look at him and see his expression, she continued staring into her glass.

As much as she wanted another sip, she was frozen and couldn’t move.

“I don’t want to waste any more time being angry at you. That is, if you still want me?”

Out of the periphery of her vision, she saw him down his drink and place the empty glass on the table.

He swung his body toward her so their knees touched.

His hand reached out, touching her chin and drawing it up so she would look at him.

Her head rose, but her eyes slowly closed.

She was both frightened and elated to move on from the past weeks.

Her heart sped up, causing her pulse to jump and her breath to suspend inside her lungs.

“Look at me.” The rhythm of his voice was so soft and endearing to her. Her lashes fluttered open, and she got lost inside his understanding eyes. “I’m sorry as well. You know I’d never intentionally do anything to hurt you.” He took a deep breath, “And God, yes, I still want you.”

Without breaking eye contact, she cupped his face in her hands and kissed him.

Home. She was instantly home. Andrew took over the kiss, devouring her, his tongue tasting all of her.

His hands settled on her hips, pulling her onto his lap so she straddled him.

As he did, he lifted her skirts, so she came down with only her pantaloons and his breeches between them.

He growled into her ear, his hands now squeezing her bottom. “You feel so good.”

Her body was alive and on edge. She rotated her hips and ground into him, gasping as he kissed down her neck.

One hand left her backside, and he pulled down the front of her gown, exposing her breasts to the cool evening air.

Her head rolled back as a moan escaped her.

Soft lips closed over one pebbled peak, and he sucked it deeply into his mouth.

The connection caused her to tingle between her legs, and she squirmed around on his lap.

“I’m not going to last,” he groaned. He lifted her off his lap just enough that he could fit his hand between them, unbuttoning his breeches, releasing his hard cock.

He found the opening in her pantaloons and sat her down, his member sliding into her channel. “Jesus! You feel so tight, so good.”

Resting her hands on his shoulders, she rose up and down, swirling her hips as she did, loving the sounds Andrew made.

Half groan, half growl, all animal. It fueled her desires.

Faster and faster, she rode him, desperately wanting him deeper inside.

Arching her back, her hips thrust forward.

His cock hit that spot inside her body, and she screamed out as her orgasm slammed into her, rendering her lifeless and gasping for air.

Her body draped over his, curling around him, as he thrust his hips up one last time before he tensed and groaned, spilling his seed inside her, which was a first. He had always pulled out before.

He blew out his breath. “That was amazing. I don’t think I can move.”

She snuggled closer. “Neither do I. But I don’t think my mother will appreciate finding us in such a way in the morning when she comes downstairs.”

Chuckling, he said, “No, I don’t suppose she will.” He peeled her off him and helped her stand on wobbly legs and pull up her bodice. “Let me take you to bed.”

She tucked him inside his breeches and buttoned him up. Then she brushed her skirts down and took his hand with a come hither smile. “Come with me?”

Up two flights of stairs, she opened the last door on the right. “Welcome to my boudoir.”

Laughing loudly, he suddenly stopped. “Where are your mother’s chambers?”

“At the end of the other hallway. She won’t hear us.”

“Good.”

Before she could move, he pulled her into the room, closed the door, locked it, and proceeded to strip her of every piece of clothing she wore, and she reciprocated.

Both naked, they fell onto the bed, laughing and kissing.

The laughter quickly turned to moans and gasps.

Emmeline’s hand caressed down his stomach until her hand curled around his thick erection; sliding her hand up and down, she smiled at the sounds coming from the back of his throat.

She scooted down his body and licked the drops off the tip of his manhood.

His hips jerked, and he fisted her hair in his hand.

“What are you doing?” he said, his voice raspy and tight.

“Pleasuring you.” She looked up and met his intense stare, her insides quivering. “Do you like it?”

*

“Hell, yes,” he groaned as she licked him up one side and down the other. When she took him into her hot mouth, he saw stars. He survived her delicious torture for several minutes, then tugged gently on her hair and murmured, “Stop.”

She crawled up his body, looking shy and uncertain, her cheeks bright red. “Did I do something wrong?”

He hugged her close to his side. “No. It was perfect. Have you never...”

She didn’t let him finish. “No. Never. The same with you... kissing me down there.”

He rolled on top of her and took her mouth in a deep, languid kiss where he sipped and nipped her mouth and lips. He would never tire of kissing her. Her taste was intoxicating—the sweetest nectar in the gardens.

Dragging his lips down her neck, across her breasts, and down her stomach, his destination was almost in sight.

Kneeling between her open legs, he covered her sex with his mouth, and her body quivered as breathy sounds escaped her lips.

He spread her wider and feasted. Emmeline’s pleasure was the only thing that mattered to him.

Her moans quickly intensified. Her fingers slid through his hair, gripping him to her.

Soft legs trembled and vibrated as she found her release.

He licked her slowly until she calmed, then slid up her body, taking his cock in his hand, and entered her in one deep thrust. This time, they both moaned together when he was seated deep inside her warm heat.

“I could stay like this forever,” he murmured into her ear right before he claimed her mouth in a sensual kiss.

All the love he had in his heart was conveyed in the kiss.

At least, he hoped it was. His hips pumped faster and faster; her hands gripped his shoulders, her eyes closed, and she panted.

She was close. So was he. Several more intense, deep thrusts and they both screamed out in pure bliss.

Rolling off her, his body spent and heavily sinking into the mattress, he whispered, “Thank you. That was beautiful.”

Her head turned to him, and she smiled shyly, her face pink. A deep sigh escaped her mouth. “Yes. What you said.”

His heart weighed heavily inside his chest because he needed to leave the warmth and contentment of her bed.

Rolling off, Andrew began to dress. “I’m sorry, I must leave.

I have a very early meeting with my assistant.

” He leaned over her and kissed her deeply.

It took all his willpower to pull away. “I’ll drop by tomorrow afternoon.

” He kissed her again. “Sleep well, my love.”