Page 74 of The Paid Companion

“Does that mean that you are not going to finish what we have started?”

His face was fierce in the firelight. “I cannot seem to think clearly at the moment.”

She speared her fingers through his hair. “Then you must allow me to make the decision for both of us. I would prefer to finish if you feel that you are capable of doing so.”

“Capable? I am incapable of doing anything else.”

He braced his elbows on the carpet, caught her head between his palms and kissed her ruthlessly. She felt him begin to move, slowly, cautiously within her. She sensed that he was at the limits of his usually exquisite control, and she delighted in the knowledge that she had been the one to push him to this dangerous edge.

He rocked against her, driving himself deeper, moving faster now. The muscles of his back were rigid bands beneath her palms. A sweet tension built inside her. She clutched him closer, eager to explore this new, uncharted territory.

“Elenora. Elenora, I cannot hold back. Forgive me.”

Without warning he pulled himself free of her body, reared back on his knees, and grabbed the handkerchief that he had placed conveniently at hand a few minutes before. He wrapped the square of linen around the head of his shaft. His mouth opened on a heavy groan and his eyes narrowed into intense slits as he spent himself.

When it was over, he collapsed, sprawling partway across her breasts, one leg flung over her thighs, his arm curved possessively around her.

She lay quietly for a time, taking in the sensations of the moment; the weight of Arthur’s body, the warmth of the fire and the lingering tenderness between her thighs.

Arthur stirred eventually, raising himself on his elbows to look down at her.

“Not quite what you were expecting, was it?” he asked.

“It was... interesting,” she said.

He winced. “Talk about damning with faint praise.”

She had hurt his feelings, she thought. “Parts of the experience were quite... stimulating,” she assured him.

He bent toward her, resting his forehead on top of hers, and kissed the tip of her nose. “I must apologize, my sweet.”

Panic shot through her. She wriggled out from underneath him and sat up quickly, holding the bodice of her gown over her breasts.

She glared at him. “You must not blame yourself, Arthur.”

He rolled onto his back, folded his arms behind his head and studied her with an unreadable expression. “No?”

“Of course not. I encouraged you, if you will recall. My grandmother once told me about certain stimulating sensations that can only be experienced in the arms of a man. I have been curious about those feelings for some time now, and I assure you I was eager to discover the truth of her words.”

“You used me to satisfy your curiosity?” He raised his brows. “And here I was under the illusion that you were simply attracted to me.”

“Iwasattracted to you.” She was horrified that he might think otherwise. “Very intensely attracted. Indeed, I have never been so attracted to a man.”

“Kind of you to say so, but I cannot help but think that you are only trying to make me feel somewhat better about what just happened.”

“There is no reason for you to feel badly about it, I assure you, sir. It was all my idea.”

“You do realize, do you not, that if you had bothered to mention your own lack of experience at some point, things would have progressed in a somewhat different fashion?”

He was not going to let this go. He was still annoyed. She flushed, aware that she was starting to feel the pangs of an emotion that might well prove to be guilt.

She sighed. “Yes, I am well aware that if you had believed me to be inexperienced, your excessively strict sense of responsibility would no doubt have prevented you from making love to me.”

A smile ghosted through his eyes. “I didn’t say that.”

“There is no need for you to speak the words,” she muttered. “I am well aware that I had no right to put you into such a position.” Anger jumped within her. “But I must tell you that it is extremely irritating to experience such an exciting sensation one moment and then be obliged to feel so much guilt and responsibility about it the next.”

He startled her with a wholly unexpected, exceedingly wicked grin. “In that we are in complete agreement, Miss Lodge.”