Robert leaned closer, a hungry look in his eyes. “No, I meant that I'm feeling much better.”

Victoria wished he'd stop speaking so cryptically. “Well, then, she said, “I'm very happy for you.”

“I'm not certain you understand,” he murmured.

Victoria wanted to say that she was certain she didn't understand, but before she could get a word out, Robert had yanked her legs onto the seat, and she was lying on her back. She gasped his name, but he silenced her with a kiss.

“I'm much improved,” he said against her mouth. “Very”—kiss—“very”—kiss—“ much improved.” He raised his head and gifted her with the slowest and most languorous of smiles. “Would you care for a demonstration?”

Chapter 21

Here?” Victoria croaked. “In the carriage?”“Why not?”

“Because…Because…It's indecent!” She tried to pull herself away, then muttered, “It must be.”

Robert lifted his head a fraction of an inch. His blue eyes twinkled mischievously. “Is it? I don't recall your father ever delivering a sermon on the topic.”

“Robert, I am certain that this is most irregular.”

“Of course it is,” he said, nuzzling the underside of her chin. She was soft and warm and still smelled like his sandalwood soap. “Normally I would not indulge here in the carriage, but I did want to set your mind at rest.”

“Oh, so this is for my benefit?”

“You were so concerned about possible permanent effects of my injury…”

“Oh, no,” she said, trying to catch her breath. “I am confident of your recovery, I assure you.”

“Ah, but I want to make certain you have no lingering doubts.” His hands wrapped around her ankles and began to slide up her legs, leaving twin trails of fire that burned right through her stockings.

“None, I assure you.”

“Shhh, just kiss me.” He nibbled at her lips, his hands sliding up and over the soft curve of her hips. Then he rounded them behind her, cupping her soft backside.

“I thought—” She cleared her throat. “I thought you didn't want to do this again until we were married.”

“That,” he said, moving to the corner of her mouth, “was when I still thought we could be married this evening. I have discovered that there is a time and a place for scruples.”

“And this isn't one of them?”

“Most definitely not.” He found the bare skin of her upper thighs and squeezed, eliciting a gasp of delight. He groaned, loving the sounds of her desire. Nothing had the power to inflame his passion quite so much as the sights and sounds of her pleasure. He felt her arching beneath him, and his hands moved to her back, where they furiously worked at her buttons. He needed her…God, he needed her now.

He pushed down the bodice of her gown. She was still wearing the blue nightdress as a chemise. Too impatient to unfasten that as well, he instead captured her breast with his mouth, dampening the fabric around her peaking nipple with his tongue.

Victoria was thrashing beneath him, incoherent mumblings escaping her lips. He lifted his head for a moment to look at her. Her sable hair was wild and free on the bench cushions, and her dark blue eyes were nearly black with desire. Robert's throat filled with an incomprehensible choking sensation, and he was overcome by a feeling so strong that he couldn't possibly contain it. “I love you,” he whispered. “I will always love you.”

He saw her inner struggle and knew she wanted to say it, too. But whatever was holding her back still had a grip on her heart, and she couldn't. He didn't care; he knew she'd eventually come to understand her love for him. But he couldn't bear to see her so torn, so he pressed a gentle finger against her lips. “Don't speak,” he whispered. “We don't need words right now.”

He kissed her anew, his mouth hungry and wild. His hands found her drawers and within seconds the garment was on the floor of the carriage. He touched her intimately, his knowing fingers teasing the folds of her womanhood.

“Oh, Robert!” she gasped. “What—Last time you didn't—”

“There's more than one way to love you,” he murmured. He felt her more deeply, marveling at how responsive she was beneath his touch. Her body moved against him, drawing his finger in more deeply. She was whipping him deeper and deeper into his desire, and he felt himself straining against his breeches. He pressed his lips roughly against the pulse point in her temple and whispered, “Do you want me?”

She looked at him in disbelief.

“I want to hear you say it,” he said, his voice hoarse.

Gasping for air, she nodded.

Robert decided that that was good enough, and he fumbled with the fastenings of his breeches. He was too hot, too ready to get the damned garment off his legs. Instead, he just pulled himself out and nudged his way between her things, where his fingers were still tickling their way to heaven.

One of Victoria's legs slid off the bench, giving him more room to probe her womanhood. He pressed forward, sheathing just his tip within her. Her muscles turned hot and convulsed around him, and his entire body shuddered in reaction. “I want more, Torie,” he rasped. “More.”

He felt her nod, then he pushed farther, moving closer and closer to the very center of her being, until finally he was fully embedded within her. Robert pulled her tightly against him, silently savoring their union. His lips trailed across her cheek to her ear, and he whispered, “I'm home now.” Then he felt her tears on his face, tasted the salt as they rolled to his lips, and he was undone. Animal desire overtook him, and his mind and body separated. He pumped into her relentlessly, somehow managing to hold back his release until he felt her stiffen and cry out beneath him.