Page 120 of The Paid Companion

He slid one hand down her waist to her hip and traced the cleft that separated the swells of her buttocks. His fingers dipped lower, finding the place where she was already damp and aching with need.

She kissed his throat and then his chest, tasting him. When she slipped lower and touched him experimentally with her tongue, wanting to give him the same pleasure he had once given her, he sucked in his breath. She felt his fingers clench in her hair.

“Enough,” he rasped.

Then he tugged her upward and positioned her so that she straddled his thighs. He stroked her, watching her face.

She felt her lower body tightened at his touch. She moved against his hand, twisting and clenching.

And then, just when she thought she could not stand any more of the glorious stimulation, he clamped his hands around her hips and drove himself deep inside her.

She gasped and gave a choked cry as the waves of pleasure rippled through her.

Together they tumbled into the sparkling whirlpool.

Reality returned a long time later. It struck Elenora with such force that she sat bolt upright in bed.

The wager,she though, panic-stricken.

“I beg your pardon, I must get up. Right now.” She tried to push herself free of Arthur’s arm and leg. “Please, let me go. I’ve got to get dressed.”

“No need.” Arthur tightened his arm around her waist and lazily pulled her back down beside him. “No one will be home for another hour.”

“You don’t understand. I can’t marry you unless I can find Mr. Fleming before... Never mind, it is very complicated and I don’t have time to explain.”

“Surely you would not be so cruel as to cast me aside now that you’ve had your wicked way with me yet again.”

“It’s not that. Arthur, listen, the most terrible thing is about to happen. I told Mr. Fleming to place a wager on behalf of some friends and myself.”

“Yes.” He gave her a stern look. “I heard about your scheme. You know how I feel about that sort of thing. Remind me to have a long talk with you about the perils of gambling.”

She stopped struggling. “You know about the wager?”

“Yes. I cannot tell you how shocked I was when I discovered that I was about to wed a confirmed gamester.”

She ignored that. “You understand why I must stop Mr. Fleming from placing it in the betting books.”

“Calm yourself, my dear.” He used one hand to propel her firmly back down across his chest and chuckled. “It is too late to stop him from placing your bet.”

“Oh, no.” She dropped her forehead down onto his chest. “My friends and I cannot cover our losses.”

“If it becomes necessary to make good on them, I will allow you to borrow the money from me. Think of it as a wedding gift.”

“I shall have no choice but to take advantage of your generosity.” She did not raise her head. “It was my fault. I convinced my friends that the outcome was a certainty. This is so humiliating. I am sorry to embarrass you like this, Arthur.”

“Mmm. Well, as I said, Bennett placed your bet as you instructed. But upon my advice, he altered the terms ever so slightly.”

Warily she raised her head. “What do you mean?”

“He also agreed to invite a few other people to join your little consortium of intrepid gamesters.”

“Good heavens.”

“The way things stand now,” Arthur said, “You and your friends, together with Roland Burnley, Margaret and Bennett all stand to make a handsome fortune if you agree to marry me by special license before the week is out.”

She was torn between laughter and the most profound astonishment. “Thatis the wager that Mr. Fleming placed in the betting books today?”

“Yes.” He speared his hands through her hair. “What do you think the outcome will be?”