As she stood up, William gently turned her around and pushed on her back so that she was soon bending over the desk.
His hands ran up the back of her thighs and over her bottom. She shivered at the intimate touch, loving the feel of him.
The soft muslin of her address caressed her skin as William exposed her bottom. He lingered for a moment, causing Emma to hold her breath in anticipation.
When William stepped up behind her and finally thrust himself inside her once again, her body jolted and she cried out. Her hands grabbed the edge of the desk, her bare breasts pressed against the cool wood of the desk.
There was no preliminary this time, William’s thrusts were faster and even more powerful than before. Emma felt herself slipping over the edge once again. Her body tightened around him and she gripped the desk.
A powerful wave of desire ripped through her body as she climaxed with an unladylike scream, and William’s body jolted against hers.
His breathing was fast and loud in the room and as his hands came to rest on the curve of her lower back, his skin was warm against hers.
After a few moments of post-euphoria, William moved away from her, leaving an empty space where he had been moments before.
Emma pushed herself upright and turned around to face William. Her dress fell to the floor, softly caressing her sensitive skin.
William had already pulled up his trousers and looked at Emma with a smile.
“Emma, I—”
She reached out her hand to him and lightly pressed her finger against his lips. “There is no need to say anything,” she whispered. “Neither you nor I, are required to explain anything to anyone. We are consenting adults, and perfectly capable of acting accordingly. Do you agree?”
“Yes, Emma. I agree. But I must digress. This was rather extraordinary. Your lips,” William uttered, gently caressing her lips, swollen from his kisses, “are sweeter than honey, and I do wish I could taste them once more.”
Emma leaned in and kissed his lips in a sweet and tender kiss.
William sighed with deep satisfaction and stepped away for what felt like the last time.
As Emma watched him adjust his shirt, her euphoric feelings faded away faster than she had hoped.
Had she been naive to think that a man such as William would wish to have her any other way than he had? Bent over the desk, giving him exactly what he wished, what he thought he was entitled to.
Damn.
Despite their moment being consensual, Emma now blamed herself for falling into the trap of being caught up in a moment of passion and emotion.
Guilt came riding over her with the speed of a midnight stallion in full flight.
From the moment she had met William, he had managed to get a rise out of her, and now look what she’d gone and done.
“My lady? Emma?”
Emma glanced up.
“Is something the matter?” William asked.
“No, not at all,” she answered as she tied the ribbons together at the front bodice of her dress, covering her bosoms and her shoulders from his view.
A loud knock sounded against the door of the study. Emma jumped.
“It can only be my brother, ensuring that we have not killed one another. Although, judging from the ragged breathing I witnessed from you, I came rather close, my lady.” William smirked.
Emma, who did not find him amusing in the least, forced a smile and smoothed her hair as she approached the door.
“My lady,” William said with a smile, “shall we discuss what happened between us at a later stage?”
Emma stepped towards the door and glanced at William over her shoulder. “I already told you, we do not need to do such a thing. Also, I would request that no one knew of this.”
“I understand, Emma,” William answered. “I will tell not a soul.”
“I mean it, William.”
There was a beat of silence, then William inclined his head. “You have my absolute discretion, my lady. It will be as though it never happened.”
Emma nodded in agreement and turned to the door, knowing deep down that it had indeed happened, and it was not something she would, or could, easily forget.
Chapter Six
William’s gaze followed Emma as she made her way down the hallway, her steps rushed. She was followed closely by a concerned looking duchess.
William was still having trouble fully processing what had happened between himself and the confounding woman. He still tasted her sweet lips on his tongue and felt the warmth of her skin against his.
He shifted his weight uncomfortably. He noticed his brother glancing at him and sent his thoughts of Emma to the back of his mind. She would only be a distraction. They had both agreed that they would not speak of it again, and that it was something that was better forgotten.
But how was it possible for him to forget the best moments he’d ever had?
Despite not lacking in charm or confidence, his previous conquests and intimate endeavors had lacked depth. Lacked... heat.
William had not experienced such passion with a woman in his life as he had with Emma, and it was not something he could merely erase from his memory.
“I trust it went well,” the duke said, causing much-needed distraction from William’s thoughts.
A pulse of alarm rang through him, as the duke glanced at him strangely.
“Why on earth would you say that?” William asked defensively.
“You and Emma argued for a long while until things quieted down. I trust you and the young lady cleared things up,” James answered, his eyes narrowed. “Or that is what I hope.”
William lifted his chin. “Things are perfectly fine between us. We spoke, we agreed to disagree and be civil to one another. After all, she is your wife’s best friend and she will frequent the estate, whether I like it or not. We are bound to be in one another’s company sooner, rather than later.” William ensured that his expression and tone of voice were perfectly composed as not to raise any
