He kissed her then, long and deep as he repeated the movement against her most sensitive flesh.
She moved with him, her body matching his stroke for stroke.
He could feel the tension building in her body as he increased the tempo. She twisted, her hands grasping at his shoulders until her pleasure broke. He felt her shatter, her moans of pleasure filling his ears.
Brandon slowed his movement, as her body turned to jelly underneath his. He couldn’t help the small smile of satisfaction that played at his mouth as he moved his hand away, allowing the tip of his manhood to press into her soft, slick folds.
Her fingers threaded into his hair. “That was…”
“Wonderful,” he replied as he slid inside her just a bit.
He felt her tense a bit. “Brandon.” She tugged at his hair. “Wait.”
He stilled. He’d do whatever she asked, but had she changed her mind? Inside, he died a bit to think it.
Emily looked up into the hazel depths of his eyes.
She’d needed to say these words one more time before they continued. “I love you.”
One of his eyes squinted. “That is why we stopped? I was worried.”
“Apologies,” she answered, brushing his hair back from his face. “I’ve waited too long to say those words. I just want to repeat them over and over.”
He kissed her. “I love you too. And say the words as many times as you wish, I’ll never tire of hearing them.”
And then he pushed just a bit deeper into her channel.
She was wet but still tight for his large member, and he felt her stretching to accommodate him. She tensed and he knew he needed to keep her talking, distract her. Tension would only make it hurt more.
So he began to stroke her face, kissing a trail along her skin. “The first time I saw you, you were holding Abigail as she cried.”
Emily chuckled. “That could be one of many a time. She is rather prone to tears.”
“It was the day the groom left,” he told her, realizing that he may be making a mistake in sharing this particular memory.
She looked into his eyes. “You saw that.”
He nodded. “It was the first time I truly questioned my plan. Because I could see the pain it caused you and because…” He paused.
Her hands skimmed down his back and then rested on his backside, encouraging him a bit deeper inside. “Tell me.”
“Because I also realized that I might love you. You were so tender, kind, and patient in that moment, and you must have been hurting too, Emily. I’ve never had that sort of affection. Not in my entire life and…”
She encouraged him a bit deeper and he felt her maidenhead break, her body stiffening from the pain. “Keep talking,” she whispered.
“I didn’t want to be distracted from my goal. But I think I fell in love at that very moment.”
She gasped and he froze, worried he was hurting her even as her hand tapped on his derriere. “You’re meeting with the king. Tomorrow.”
He shook his head. “That doesn’t matter.”
“What do you mean it doesn’t matter?” She was hitting with more insistency. He didn’t quite know how to tell her the action was rather…exciting. “We have to go back. It’s important.”
He shook his head. “Emily, you are more important. I’ve made this decision. Your safety will come first always.”
She kissed him then as he slid out of her and then back in. He moved in a slow rhythm, giving her body time to adjust to him.
When her body began to meet his thrusts, he picked up the pace, pleasure rippling through him.
She locked her arms about his neck, as her legs tightened over his, and he felt the moment pleasure rocked through her. He couldn’t hold back any longer and his own finish washed over him.
They stayed entangled together for several more minutes, kissing until he finally slipped from her body.
She pushed back further into the mattress as she stared into his eyes. “I appreciate what you’ve done. Choosing me over your reputation in society.”
“I’m glad,” he answered.
“But we have to go back.”
“Bash is going to explain everything to our sovereign leader.”
She shook her head. “I’ll stay on the ship. Or you can bring me to Bash’s in the cover of night. But we have to go back. I won’t be afraid anymore and I won’t run. We’re going to restore your title and then we’ll face down these men. Together.”
He pressed his mouth into a thin line. “Em.”
She loved the endearment on his lips, and she might have basked in it, but she had something important to say now. “I can do this.”
He looked down into her eyes. “I’ve never doubted you. I was there when you rushed out of a carriage and took a man down with the door, remember?”
Pleasure flowed through her. “I need to do this for you. I need to prove that I’ll put you first and that I’m strong enough to stand next to you.”
“It’s proven. Now let’s go back. You’re a duke and we’ll claim your rightful place in society. Mine too.” Then she started pushing on his very large shoulders.
He conceded. Rolling off her and pulling them both to standing. “Fine,” he answered. “You win. Back to London we go.”
Chapter Fourteen
An hour later Brandon stood on the deck as the boat tacked to the left, making the mid-ocean turn. Emily was tucked against his side, looking quite warm and very satisfied as she snuggled deeper into his coat.
The captain had done a great deal of rumbling about his shipments that were going to be late, but in the end, he’d conceded.
Without a stop and with good wind, they’d make it back to London in the early hours of the morning. Which gave him time to decide what to do. He couldn’t warn Bash they were coming.
And, depending on how many men were still uncaptured, Bash’s home could be
