Page 44 of A Lady Most Hexing

It was inevitable, and wicked and she loved it.

Sterling captured her scream, his tongue lashing against hers. He thrust against her furiously, driving her into the mattress, and she couldn’t stop herself from digging her nails into the fleshy muscle of his shoulders. It earned a growl from his throat, and then he shuddered and rolled his hips against hers.

“Easy, Edie. Easy. I’m trying to be gentle.”

Edwina captured his face between her palms, gasping against his lips. “It doesn’t hurt. It doesn’t hurt anymore.”

A shudder ran up his spine. “Don’t tell me that. I’m trying to be a gentleman.”

A laugh burst from her. “Whatever does that mean in this situation?”

“It means”—he thrust within her again—“that a gentleman always finishes last.”

“Maybe I don’t want you to be a gentleman anymore.”

Sterling stilled within her. A considering look filled his eyes. And then he rocked against her, rolling his hips in exquisite, torturous circles that ground against her.

She came again. This time sinking her nails into the fleshy muscle of his shoulders. Every inch of her clenched tight until his next thrust caught her by surprise. Harder and harder. Until he pounded into her with desperate strokes that nearly obliterated what was left of her senses.

“Edwina.” It was a word taut with need. With desperation. And then his jaw locked tight, his face twisting in an expression of exquisite torture.

She felt a shudder work through him, and he growled deep in his throat, collapsing over her. Edwina ran her palms up the length of his spine, and Sterling gasped, his fingers digging into her bottom.

“Fuck,” he breathed, lifting his face from her throat and withdrawing from her body. “You are absolutely perfect.”

She’d never seen him look like this before. His hair all awry, his face flushed with pleasure, and his eyes half-glazed.

She was shaking all over, her thigh muscles quivering with shock and aching with pleasure.

“Marry me,” she whispered, cupping his face between her hands. “So that we can spend forever doing that.”

A growl echoed in his throat as he nipped at her lips. “Of course, I’ll marry you, Edie Marie.” And then he buried his face in her throat, smothering a laugh. “But you might have to give me at least a minute to recover.”

She brushed her fingers against his hand, her heartbeat slowly subsiding. “I love you,” she whispered. “I very much tried not to, but you were simply too charming.” She smiled. “I’m so glad I finally kissed you.”

Sterling’s breath caught as he traced her cheek with his thumb. “I’m glad you finally kissed me too.” And then he lifted his head so he could look into her eyes. “I have loved you from the moment you set foot in my house, scowling ever so fiercely at me.” A smile kicked at his lips. “And I know I’ll love you forever more.”

And then he kissed her again, the twitch of his body proving that he wasn’t going to need that minute, after all.