Always the Rival (Never the Bride #7) - Emily E K Murdoch Page 0,39

regret taking this leap with Charles, a gentleman she trusted beyond any other?

She swallowed and saw Charles was still smiling.

As though he could read her mind and see the concerned thoughts mulling in her brain, he said gently, “Have I ever given you a reason not to trust me? I need you to trust me now. Priscilla, I would never do anything to hurt you.”

It was exactly what she needed to hear in that moment, and she leaned forward and kissed him hard on the mouth as she had done in the drawing room a week ago.

Now she knew. After weeks of wondering whether she would have to sit in church and watch the man she loved marry another, she would never have to worry about it again.

He was going to marry her.

As he tugged her close, safe in his arms, Priscilla knew she could trust him. Charles would never say anything unless he meant it. He was going to end his engagement with Miss Lloyd.

She pulled away to say the one word she knew he needed to hear. “Yes.”

Without any fuss, he gently pushed her back, so she was lying on the bed.

Charles joined her on the bed, immediately bringing her into his arms and kissing her passionately. She allowed herself to ignore all those voices telling her to stop, shouting that this was not what young ladies did.

She did not care. Young ladies did not have nearly enough fun.

She gasped as Charles placed his hand on her stomach. Even through the wet gown, she could feel the heat of his touch. It was like a brand, like she was marked by him and would never belong to another again.

“God, Priscilla,” Charles moaned as he kissed her neck.

Everywhere he touched tingled, every time his lips moved, she quivered. This was unlike anything she had known, but she was eager to learn more.

“More,” she panted, unable to put the entire thought into words. “I want more.”

Charles grinned. He leaned forward to kiss her on the mouth, his tongue ravishing, teasing, tempting, and as his lips drove her wild, she felt his hand move again.

It came down onto her breast, squeezing it gently, and a spark of intense pleasure jolted across her body.

Priscilla broke the kiss and stared at Charles in wide-eyed surprise. “Oh, that – that was…”

“I know,” said Charles softly. “Do you want it again?”

Priscilla nodded. She did not know what to ask for, but she wanted it so badly.

He lowered his head, and his hand teased and twisted her breast, Priscilla crying out in his mouth, her legs moving to entwine around him. She wanted him closer, far closer than he was, and there was only one way she could think of to make that a reality.

“Stop,” she moaned.

At once, Charles pulled away, breaking their physical connection by rolling onto the other side of the bed.

“I am sorry,” he said quickly. “Did I hurt you? Do you want to slow down – to stop?”

But Priscilla did not reply. She was too busy, her scrabbling fingers pulling at the wet gown that was doing nothing but preventing her from feeling Charles.

His eyes widened as she dropped the wet gown off the side of the bed, and his mouth fell open as her damp underslip followed it.

“Christ, Priscilla,” he croaked.

Priscilla felt her cheeks pink a little as she laid back down on the bed. She could not remember ever being so vulnerable with another. Her instincts made her speak the words she would never have countenance to in any other circumstance.

“Now, you.”

Charles stood up on the other side of the bed. First his jacket, then waistcoat, then shirt, and then breeches…

Priscilla gasped, unable to look away.

“Are – are you sure this will work?” she said aloud, hardly believing she was being so forward. “You are so…so large.”

Charles shuddered slightly, and for a moment, she thought she had offended him, but then he joined her on the bed, keeping a respectful distance.

“If we go slowly, and I make sure you enjoy every single minute of it,” he said jerkily in a voice that was barely contained. “Then, yes, this will work.”

Priscilla nodded, her heart thumping. Without saying another word, she reached out and touched his chest.

Charles closed his eyes and moaned. “How about…how about I just lie here, and you touch me as you want? Explore me, Priscilla. I am yours.”

He rolled onto his back, and Priscilla moved to be close to him. As her side touched his, Charles moaned again,