To Dance until Dawn - Emma V. Leech Page 0,87

her garters.

“I knew they were your favourites,” she said, laughter in her voice.

“They are,” he agreed, taking a step towards her. “So much that I think I shall have a closer look.”

Phoebe dropped her skirts and returned a coquettish expression. “Oh, will you? I do not remember giving you permission.”

A glint of appreciation lit Max’s eyes. He knew full well what she wanted of him tonight, and knew that she was playing with him, teasing him for the sheer delight of it, knowing what would come of it.

“But you are my wife, my property, mine to do with as I please,” he countered, a devilish look on his face that made Phoebe catch her breath, even though she knew he was only playing along.

“Indeed, I am not,” she retorted, enjoying this immensely. She put up her chin and tried to look prim and innocent, which was something of a challenge. “We are not married yet, my lord. Nor shall we be if that is your attitude.”

“As you wish,” he said, stalking closer as Phoebe backed up. “But here you are alone with me, so I think I shall take what I want whether or not you wish to marry me.”

“Oh, you villain!” Phoebe cried, running from him so that the love seat was between them, pressing the back of her hand to her forehead in a dramatic gesture. “I shall die before I give myself to such a wicked man.”

“Is that right?” he demanded, clearly struggling to keep a straight face.

Phoebe lunged away from him, rushing towards the bedroom door with Max in pursuit. He caught her—as she had intended him to—sweeping her up into his arms and throwing her over his shoulder.

“Oh! Put me down you horrid man. I shall never be yours, never, I say!”

“We’ll see about that,” Max retorted, giving her backside an enthusiastic smack.

“Ow! Max that hurt!”

“Good,” he replied, sounding as if he was enjoying the role of villain rather too thoroughly as he flung her down upon the bed.

Phoebe scrambled backwards, but he was on her before she could get far, pinning her hands to the mattress.

“Now I have you.”

Phoebe gasped as he pushed her knees apart, settling between them, the weight and warmth of his solid body making her shiver.

“I shall never submit!” she retorted, loving the way his eyes flashed.

“Oh, I think you will, wench.”

“Wench?” Phoebe repeated in outrage. “You said you’d marry me.”

Max shrugged. “Why buy the cow when I can have the milk for free?”

Phoebe gasped at the vulgar phrase, even knowing he didn’t mean it in the least. “Oh, you….”

“Villain,” Max supplied helpfully. “You said that already.”

Phoebe smothered a laugh at the idea of Max saying such a dreadful thing at all. He rolled off her then, much to her disappointment, and settled back against the pillows, his arms crooked behind his head.

“Well, wench. If you want to have a chance of me keeping my word to marry you, I suggest you please me.”

Phoebe watched him for a long moment.

“Please you how?” she demanded, trying her best to glower as heat pooled low in her belly.

“Firstly, you may disrobe.” He waved a negligent hand at her and she stifled a laugh and clambered off the bed.

She made quite a production of it, taking her time, enjoying the heavy-lidded gaze that settled upon her, weighty as a caress. By the time she stood before him in nothing but her stockings and garters, he was breathing hard.

“Come here,” he said, his voice low and dark.

Phoebe moved towards him, kneeling on the bed and Max pushed her down, climbing over her. His hand cupped her breasts, squeezing and kneading, pinching her nipples until she gasped.

“Mine.”

The word was fierce, possessive, the look in his eyes precisely matching the sentiment, and she was no longer certain they played a game. He lowered his body to hers and circled the hard nub of one nipple with his tongue, making her shiver, before taking it in his mouth and suckling hard. Phoebe cried out, clutching at his hair, uncertain if she had meant to drag his head away, but holding him to her as pleasure with a hint of pain lanced through her and made her whimper beneath him. One hand slid down her body, finding the place between her legs that ached for him, that had longed for him every time they had been together this way. He had always left her sated and replete, but never yet had he filled the hollow yearning that wanted