Tempting a Gentleman, Smith, Ann [best ebook for manga TXT] 📗

A giggle escaped her. “Ye’re not serious, are ye?”

“Deadly.”

“Are ye ticklish everywhere?” She lowered her hand to stroke his manhood that poked against her stomach.

A flicker of alarm flared in his gaze. “Not everywhere.” A deep rumble escaped Christopher as she rubbed the tip of him with her thumb. He growled, “And that, my dear, will certainly not cause me to fall asleep.”

She rolled slightly forward to kiss him once more. Her grip tightened about his cock as his warm hand circled her bottom.

Easing her onto her back, Christopher loomed over her. “Are you sure you want to marry me?”

Hoping to lighten the mood, she blew the wayward strands from her forehead and answered, “Aye, ye’ll do.”

He chuckled. “Perhaps I’ll have to show you just how well I’ll do.”

Instead of kissing her again, he slowly ran a fingertip over her collar bone and then down the center of her body until he slipped a finger between her nether lips. He stroked until her eyes rolled back and a desire-filled moan escaped her. Christopher lingered, suckling on her breast and occasionally releasing her to flick his tongue over her nipple. Little bursts of light appeared behind her eyelids. Fingers continued to circle the sensitive nub at her core. Christopher shifted to place kisses down her middle. Emma's eyes popped open. He spread her legs wider to accommodate his shoulders. Poised over her, Christopher bent and gave her the most intimate kiss possible. His tongue slid along her nether lips.

Emma arched her back. “Chris… Christopher!”

The tip of his tongue circled the aching bud, mimicking his earlier motions with his fingers. She reached down to grasp his shoulder, but her hand landed on the back of his head, and she tugged on his hair.

He lifted his head and said, “We should stop.” Christopher shifted and rolled to her side. “We should wait until after we have said our vows.”

Eyes fluttering open, she glared at her husband-to-be. “Do ye love me?”

“Aye, with all my heart.”

“And I love ye.” She tugged him over her again. Bringing his head down to hers, she whispered, “I want ye.”

His gaze roamed over her face. She met his stare. Whatever he’d been searching for, he must have found it, for he positioned himself between her legs and ready to enter her. “I love you, Emma.”

Before she could reply, she bit down on her bottom lip, stifling a cry of surprise as he filled her completely. Their bodies, joined intimately, created a bond within Emma that was stronger than anything she’d ever experienced. When he moved slowly in and out of her, she dug her fingers into his bottom. In the few instances she’d spied couples mating, the man had been far more vigorous. Her inner muscles began to clench. Christopher deepened his thrusts but maintained a rhythmic pace. Emma’s heart pounded hard against her chest. She lifted her hips to meet his over and over. Her muscles spasmed, and the twinkling lights returned beneath her eyelids. Christopher grunted as he entered her one last time before a warmth radiated through her core, sending her into depths of bliss she’d never known.

Muscles quivering, Christopher fell on top of her, bracing his weight upon his forearms. “I was wrong. You have induced my body to seek out slumber.”

He rolled aside, facing her. Draping a leg over his, Emma settled herself next to him and closed her eyes, ignoring the pang of hunger. She was too exhausted to eat. The food would have to wait until later.

Chapter Twenty-Four

Emma wrapped her frayed coverlet tighter about her, tucking a corner in the valley between her breasts. She peered over at Christopher’s sleeping form, covered with one of the cotton sheets from her bed. He slept on his side, hand tucked beneath the bright-yellow silk pillow under his head. His dark mane was disheveled—no doubt from her fingers threading and pulling on his hair. A buoyant joy placed a bounce in her step as she crept on the balls of her feet to retrieve the parchment that lay next to the abandoned picnic basket. Carefully picking up the folded paper, she tiptoed to the window. Shifting the curtains aside to let in what little moonlight was left, Emma unfolded the list of Network members that were to journey with them. Squinting at the neat, bold letters, Emma sounded out the names but could not make out the other words on the paper. Bah. If she was to become a bloomin’ PORF, she’d have to learn to read.

She jumped as Christopher placed a kiss upon her bare shoulder. “Ye did a fine job.”

“My thanks. I had hoped you would approve of those on the list.”

Emma turned to wrap her arms around his waist. He was garbed in only his breeches. Resting her cheek against him, she said, “While we journey to the New World, will ye teach me how to read?”

“If you wish me to, yes. But now that you are accompanying me, there is no need.”

Emma placed a quick kiss on his chest. “Ye’re sweet to say that, but I’ll be needin’ to know how to read and write if I’m to succeed as a PORF.”

His relaxed features transformed into a scowl. “I don’t want you to change. I love you just as you are.”

“We will both need to change after we wed and receive the mark of a PORF.” Happy to see Christopher smile at her response, Emma continued, “And the good thing is we get to do it together.”

He bent to kiss her, and she rose up to meet him halfway. Instead of a long, drugging kiss Emma hoped to receive, Christopher broke away and slipped his arm beneath her knees. He carried her over to her bed and gently laid her down. Christopher surprised her again by not joining her. Instead, he left her and went into the loft. Emma beamed a smile at the rattle of plates. He was going to bring her food. She sighed—how lucky