“Yes.”

“So I am. I’ll be anything you want.” I paused when he thrust, and I moved again to meet him.

“Don’t stop.” I don’t know who said it. It could have been both of us.

“Oh it feels so good, Richard. You’re so deep inside me, you’re touching parts I never knew existed before I met you. You’re part of me, I’m part of you. That’s how it feels, my love, when you’re inside me.”

I began to move in a rhythm reminding me of being on horseback, and I realised why Richard had asked me to ride him. “Can we do this on a horse?”

He laughed, and his breath caught. “I’ve never tried. I think we should try one day, don’t you? Riding for real?” He timed his thrusts to meet mine; effortlessly settling into a mutual rhythm as natural as breathing, but far more exciting. The warmth inside me grew, but I’d forgotten something made possible by this position. He touched me, his hand warmly caressing my wetness, and the jolt nearly sent me through the bed canopy.

I remembered, in time, to hold my breath to stop myself screaming.

I lost control, or rather, I let it go, driving him as ruthlessly as he’d driven me a short time before. He rested his fingers where I would ride over them when I pushed forward, held one hip with his free hand to steady me. My knees gripping his sides, I surged on, bringing joy to both of us, my hair wild about me, in my eyes and my mouth. I was totally lost.

Until, with a stifled cry of “Oh love!” Richard exploded inside me, helpless beneath me.

I knew the power of having brought this to someone I loved by my own efforts, and I, too, felt ecstasy wash over me, as helpless as he’d been a moment before.

I collapsed on to his chest. His arms held me close. With Richard murmuring endearments, with him still sunk inside me, I slept.

Chapter Fifteen

I woke up with a start. I saw Richard lying next to me, his chest peacefully rising and falling in sleep. It was daylight.

Sitting up in bed, I reached for my watch, the one I usually kept on the nightstand, and to my horror realised we’d slept too long. The household would be awake. There was no chance of us hiding what we’d done.

Turning, I saw his look of loving amusement. “Good morning, sweetheart.”

“Richard, it’s seven o’clock!”

“Come here and put that thing down.” He pulled me close and I dropped the watch. “First things first,” he murmured, and kissed me.

I couldn’t help but move to him, feel his warmth. He gentled me with the kiss, using his tongue and hands to soothe my agitation until I relaxed in his arms. “Sweetheart, I’ve been in worse situations, and I’m sure we can brush through this one. I can’t regret this and I don’t intend to try. What’s the worst thing that can happen?”

My initial panic had gone. “Martha gets to hear of it.”

“Quite. She’ll ask me to leave, which I must do anyway in a few days, and she gives you a lecture. Now how bad does that sound?”

I snuggled against him. “Not too bad at all.”

“Well worth the bliss of spending my first night with you, I’d say.” He pushed the hair back off my face, ran his fingers through it. “I can’t remember when I last slept so well.”

I chuckled, burrowing into his warmth. “Can we really do this all the time? It scarcely seems possible.”

“Believe it. It’s a certainty.”

We lay together until I came to my senses again. “Richard, what shall we do? Wait for the maid to come and find us?”

“Carier will work it out. I have no doubt he’ll arrive shortly.”

I lifted my head. “You’ve done this before, haven’t you?”

He grimaced. “Once or twice.” He curved his leg around me, touching my bottom with his thigh. It felt good. Too good.

“Richard!”

“We might have time to say good morning properly.” He captured my mouth in a deep, consuming kiss.

There was a soft knock on the door. “Madam?” I recognised Carier’s voice.

With a great deal of regret in his eyes, Richard released me. “Later, my sweet.”

“A moment!” I called to the manservant.

Richard flung back the covers and got out of bed. I watched him search for his robe, his beautiful, athletic body gleaming in the light filtering through the shutters. Finding his robe he flung it on and fastened it before fixing me with a gaze that burned into my soul. “You look so beautiful like that. Tousled hair, that sweet flush on your face—I won’t rest until I see you like this again.” He sat on the side of the bed and took my hand. “I have to go into Exeter today. I meant to tell you last night, but something took it right out of my mind.” He lifted my hand to his lips. “I need to see that the house is ready for my parents and Maria. They’ll be arriving in a day or two. I won’t stay, I’ll be back as soon as I can.”

He kissed me, then left. I waited, holding my breath until I heard the quiet click of a door closing further up the corridor. He was right. It wouldn’t have been so bad had anyone saw, but I was glad not to have to suffer one of Martha’s lectures.