Wes . . .
Looked at her as if she were beautiful and fascinating.
Do not be afraid to seize happiness, echoed the dowager’s voice in her head. Viola knew she should be afraid. Not only because he was an earl and she was practically a servant, not only because an affair could cause her to become an unemployed almost-servant, but because Wes could break her heart. Somewhere in the last several days she’d gone and fallen in love with him, with his laughing blue eyes and droll sense of humor and wonderful wicked hands, which were currently exploring her body with exquisite effect.
But instead of choosing the prudent course, she dropped the atlas on the sofa beside her and clung to him, kissing him back with every fiber of her being. Being busy from morning to night as the duchess’s secretary hadn’t made her forget what it was like to want a man, to be wanted and held and loved by a man.
“Viola,” he breathed next to her ear, “I want to make love to you so desperately . . .” His hand cupped her breast, a heady sensation through the soft linen of her dressing gown.
She wasn’t afraid. She wanted to seize happiness. Even if just this once, she wanted to feel loved by him. She bit his earlobe gently, making him shudder, and whispered, “Please do.”
His hands shook as he unbuttoned her nightgown until it gaped open to her belly. She leaned her head back against the wall, breathing unevenly as he drew the sturdy linen apart, baring her to him. Her pulse felt like a drumbeat between her legs.
“Such beauty,” he whispered, his fingers tracing her collarbone. “Such sweetness.” His touch drifted lower, swirling over her breast. Viola moaned. “Such passion.” He brushed her ribs and Viola quivered. “Viola, I . . .”
She made her eyes focus on him. His hair was wild—from her hands—and his eyes burned as blue as flame. A fine sheen of sweat covered his brow, and he was breathing even harder than she was. “Take off your clothes,” she said.
He blinked, and a wicked grin curved his mouth. Without a word he stripped off his dressing gown, his waistcoat, his cravat. He kicked off his shoes and stepped out of his trousers, then pulled the shirt over his head. Viola’s throat closed up as he shed his undergarments to stand before her completely nude.
The Earl of Winterton was magnificent, lean and strong and bronzed all over. Only one part of him was untouched by the sun, and her gazed fixed on it. His erection stood straight and thick, and the pulsing between her legs grew stronger.
“May I?” Unabashed at her staring, he fingered the edges of her nightgown. Viola managed to nod, and he slid the garment off her shoulders. “May I?” he whispered again, his hands sliding around her hips. Again she nodded, and he lifted her against him. She put her arms around his neck and hiked her legs around his waist, and he carried her through the open door into her bedroom and rolled them both onto the bed.
He drove her wild with light, teasing touches, then firmer strokes that made her twist and writhe in his arms. He kissed her everywhere, his mouth hot and potent. Viola was the one who finally reached between them and wrapped her hand around his erection. “I want you,” she gasped breathlessly. “Wes.”
Wes moved over her. His arms bulged as her hand slid up and down his length. Her body humming, Viola guided him between her legs and hooked one leg over his hip. His entire body was taut, and she thought she might burst into flames if he didn’t take her then.
He pressed inside, making her gasp. He slid almost out and licked his thumb. “You’re so beautiful,” he rasped. “I’m about to spend myself just looking at you.” He touched her as he slid deep again. Viola arched off the mattress and gripped handfuls of the linens.
Again Wes pulled back. “Open your eyes.” His voice had gone ragged. His body was shaking. Viola forced open her eyes and saw that his face was tight with strain. “I want to see the moment when you find your pleasure . . .” He stroked again, his hips moving in slow, hard time with his thumb. Viola stared into his eyes until she couldn’t, until the waves of climax made her vision go dark and her body convulsed. She clutched at him and he