Phoebe realized his intent. "I beg—"
Fabric covered her mouth and blocked her vision. She brought her arms down in an attempt to thwart him, but heard a rip and relented. Kiernan yanked the nightgown from over her head, then pushed her onto the mattress. He snatched a handkerchief from his pocket and swung a leg over her hips. His weight pinned her to the mattress and Phoebe found herself facing the thick bulge in his trousers.
*****
Kiernan finished tying Phoebe's hands to the bedpost, then straightened to survey his handiwork. Her arms were stretched back over her head, causing her breasts to jut forward in daring invitation. The base of his engorged cock pressed her flat belly with a need that bordered on pain. For a horrifying instant, when he'd seen her in Arlington's grip, Kiernan thought he'd lost her and he'd gone out of his mind. Yet even her here, safe, he still teetered on the edge of losing his mind.
He braced his palms on each side of her and brought his face close to hers.
"Beware, my lord," she said in a soft voice.
His cock jumped.
Kiernan shoved to his feet and slid his gaze over the curve of her breasts and down her belly. When his gaze reached the blonde curls that disappeared into the juncture between her legs his erection beat against the constraints of his trousers as if it had a mind of its own. When it came to Phoebe that wasn't far from the truth.
He brought his eyes back to her face to find her staring with…boredom? Damnation, the little hellcat was challenging him. That's what she'd been doing when she chose the library instead of his bed. Kiernan shucked his coat then yanked loose the knot on his cravat. With slow deliberation, he slid the cloth from his neck, tossed it aside then unfastened the buttons on his shirt. When he shoved the fabric off his shoulders, her gaze dropped to his chest.
Kiernan let the shirt fall, then unfastened his trousers. He kept his attention on her face, but her eyes remained fixed on his fingers as he freed the last button and shoved the trousers down and over his hips. Her mouth parted and, when she swallowed, his erection pulsed. She gave a small gasp and it was all he could do to keep from mounting and fucking her like a wild bull. Kiernan forced his breathing to slow and lowered himself onto her.
Her full curves melted beneath him. His heart raced and he covered a breast with his palm. The nipple pressed into his hand and he watched her face as he kneaded the warm flesh. She wiggled beneath him and for an instant he thought he would spend himself on her belly.
"I think some movement is required, sir."
Kiernan stilled. "What's that you say?"
"You are awfully…large."
Was she talking about his body or his cock?
Kiernan urged her legs apart and settled his hips between her thighs. "We'll start with an heir," he said.
Gently, he reminded himself as he fitted the tip of his penis to the opening of her channel. God, but he wanted to drive into her until she screamed his name.
"Once he's safe in the nursery," he went on, "a daughter will follow." Her slick folds allowed easy entrance and her gasp when he inched inside caused his scrotum to contract. "After that," he kissed her cheek, "we'll get you fat with my third child." He slid a wet kiss from her cheek to her ear, and drove hilt deep in one hard thrust.
She drew a sharp breath.
Kiernan lifted onto his elbows and looked at her. "What have you to say now, wife?"
She stared up at him. "I say that puts me exactly where I predicted: at your beck and call."
He shook his head. "No, love. That puts me at your beck and call."
Kiernan reached up and yanked free the handkerchief that bound her hands.
Her eyes narrowed. "What sort of knot was that? A highwayman's hitch, I wager."
He lifted a brow. "Only a highwayman would use a highwayman's hitch?"
She nodded and Kiernan moved inside her in slow, easy strokes.
"By heavens," she said in a breathless voice that wound through him like a siren's song. "I suppose that'll do."
"Will it?" he asked.
She nodded and wound her arms around his neck.
"Do you think you might one day love me?" he asked.
Her breasts rose and fell with the quickening of her breath. "That depends."
"Depends on what?" Kiernan drew a nipple into his mouth.
She sighed. "Whether or not you can keep my ennui at bay."
Kiernan snapped his head up. "Ennui, you say?"
She nodded and he felt that same sense of helplessness he'd felt that moment he'd entered her coach. There was only one answer. He stroked faster in her channel. Pleasure mounted.
"Do you like that, love?" he asked.
"Yes," she whispered with an arch of her hips that met his thrust.
"Then I am certain I can keep your boredom at bay—and so much more."
Her gaze locked with his. "All right, then," she whispered. "I love you."
That was all Kiernan needed to hear.
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