Page 26 of The Blind Lyon (The Lyon’s Den Connected World)
She didn’t protest when he urged one of her legs up to rest on his hip.
The head of his member rubbed against her sensitive skin as she opened to him.
A host of shivers fell down her spine to clash with the ones invading her insides.
“I’ll take you however I can have you.” Her stomach muscles clenched with anticipation.
No matter how much she desired Peregrine, or how much her body clambered to be joined with his, what if they truly didn’t have a future together?
“I can almost hear you worrying. This should help.” Without warning, he shoved into her passage, and then Annette’s world dissolved beneath a wave of pleasure.
“Damnation, you feel so good.” Though he pulled out, he quickly thrust again.
A groan escaped him and held his position, fully sheathed.
His breath stirred the loose hair at her temple.
“So do you.” Wanting him beyond what was reasonable, she grasped his shoulders and tilted her hips, wriggled them in order to take him in as far as she could.
His thick, long length filled her, stretched her.
Each tiny movement on his part set off a flutter of sensation through her core.
Her insides tingled and tightened. She pulled him closer, whispered words of encouragement.
“You are constantly surprising, Masterson.” Never had she felt such a bond with anyone before, not even Timothy.
The men were different and so was her relationship with them.
A tiny piece of her heart went into his keeping.
Peregrine held her steady with his hands at her thighs. His gaze softened and a mixture of awe and pleasure illuminated his expression. Seconds later, he closed his eyes behind the tinted spectacle lenses, and then he began to claim her body while glorious sensations streaked through her.
With each slow, gentle thrust, Annette lost another piece of herself to him. He’d been caring and considerate from the first. Nothing had changed now, and perhaps this new feeling would win out over the fear that lurked at the edges of her consciousness.
Peregrine could hardly believe his luck. Annette had not only responded to his advances, but she’d allowed him intimate access to her body in quite an unorthodox location. He slid a hand to her arse, holding her steady, while she clutched him closer with a leg around his hip.
“This is lovely.” Her throaty statement burned through his blood like wildfire. What he wouldn’t do to hear her voice first thing in the morning and the last thing at night, but would she consent to sharing a bed—a space—with him? Or would that prove too big a step for her?
Perhaps it didn’t matter, for they were together in this moment.
He grunted. “I don’t want our joining to be lovely.
” As it was, taking her with little pomp or circumstance was beyond the pale, but he couldn’t help it.
He’d wanted her, plain and simple. His rhythm increased as did his bid to claim her.
Stronger. Harder. Faster. Each slide into her honeyed heat sent him closer to the edge.
His stones tingled. “I want you to be so moved that you cannot consider a life without me.” Though he’d made no secret of his intent with her, it felt right to reiterate it now.
Did that give away too many of his feelings?
“I’m trying.” Desperation filled her voice. Annette dug her fingernails into his shoulders. “Send me flying.”
How could he deny her anything, let alone this?
With a hard kiss, he speared into her. Each thrust sent intense sensation racing along his length until urgency usurped his need to prolong the act.
Annette’s soft sounds of encouragement increased in volume.
But when it wasn’t good enough, he put a hand between their bodies and found the swollen nubbin at her center.
Rubbing it with varying degrees of friction, Allan didn’t stop until release was well and truly imminent.
“Peregrine!” She stiffened and shouted his name, clawing at his shoulders. Her inner walls squeezed around him in a series of frantic flutters.
It was the beginning of the end, for his member shuddered and pulsed. His stones drew close to his body. Peregrine moaned. He shoved deep through the contractions. Seconds later his own release roared through him.
“Annette!” Struggling to modulate his voice, he said, “Good God, you manage to demand everything from me.” It had been an age since he’d found such satisfaction with a woman on so many levels.
As his ragged breathing and erratic heartbeat returned to normal, he let her leg slip from his hip and backed slightly away.
Sharing the intimacy with her had been every bit as wonderful as he’d hoped, yet the euphoria of the moment faded all too quickly.
Annette’s skirts fell into place, but she swayed.
“I must have done something right if you’re weak at the knees.
” With a chuckle, Allan bundled her into his arms, content to merely hold her against his chest. Would this impromptu joining show her that he was beginning to cultivate deep feelings for her?
Will she ever love me as she’d loved Timothy?
When she stirred, he kissed the top of her head and then released her. His wife’s smile rivaled the heat of the fire in the hearth. “You were correct. That was more than lovely.” She cupped his cheek, her palm warm against his skin. “And so much more thrilling than our previous couplings.”
“Good.” His chest tightened. “Fair warning, though. I don’t plan for this to be our only carnal meeting this week.
” Peregrine claimed her lips in a gentle kiss.
Then he tucked his rapidly wilting erection back into his breeches and did up the buttons.
“Come upstairs with me. I have a feeling I’ll want you in some capacity or another before the night is over.
” And he gave her a swift smack to her arse that made her squeal.
Her giggle went straight to his stones. “Why, Your Grace, I rather believe I’m intrigued with your style of flirting.” Then she took his hand, led him through the drawing room, and on the way out, pressed his cane into his other hand. “My rooms or yours tonight?”
“Surprise me.” Truth to tell, she had been doing that since the first day he’d met her. Had she managed to leave grief and fear behind? Only time would tell, but he wasn’t ready to give up hope just yet.