Dark eyes blazing, his gaze centered on her parted thighs while he undid the buttons of his shirt collar. He managed two before frustration shattered his patience and he reached behind him to yank the thing off over his head.
The fabric slid up over his broad shoulders and down his arms, then stopped at the tight cuffs encircling his wrists. His gaze still on her, he tugged. The buttons of his cuffs gave way with a tear that sounded like a match striking.
Ada eyed the door behind him. Had they locked it? She had a vision of her purse knocked to the floor, the street boy lurking. She jerked her head toward the door. “Did we lock it?”
“Don’t move,” Edison commanded as he backed toward the doorway. “Not one inch.”
Legs splayed, Ada watched the muscles in his back work as he turned the key in the lock and shoved the marble-topped dresser in front of it for good measure.
He was back to the bed quicker than she could have imagined, making fast work of his boots and trousers as he watched her, his gaze moving from the dark curls at the juncture of her thighs to her hard nipples, visible through the thin cotton of her chemise.
Ada’s thighs trembled, as if his hands were already on her, as if his fingers toying with her nipples, his lips teasing, tasting.
The thick mattress fought her as she struggled to prop herself up on her elbows. Before she could lever her head and shoulders up, Edison was crouching between her knees, his hard shaft jutting out from the thick curls at the base of his flat stomach.
Desperate to have him inside her, Ada was barely aware that she was squirming out of her borrowed corset until a soft ripping sound reached her ears. In her haste, she’d knifed a fingernail straight into the thin satin. “Oh my.”
“We’ll buy her another,” Edison offered, before unfastening her corset with unsettling ease.
Her chemise disappeared just as quickly, and she lay before him, entirely exposed.
“You are a wonder.” His deep voice vibrated through the very heart of her, making her believe his words.
She wanted to touch him, to run her hands over his magnificent muscles, over the flat ridges of his belly and his thick shaft, but before she could reach out, he bent his head to her breasts, drawing each budding tip deep into his mouth, suckling, teasing, nipping, until she had to bite her lip to stifle a scream.
Ada’s hips jerked up. “I can’t wait. I can’t wait any longer.”
Edison lifted his head from her swollen breasts and grinned. “How fortunate.”
He levered himself atop her, his body scalding every inch as he moved over her.
Ada spread her legs, welcoming him between her thighs, and sighed. Such power. Such raw, masculine power. Much as she ached to have him inside her, she wanted to savor the anticipation.
But in the end, the reality was far, far better.
Propped up on his strong arms, he teased the edge of her ear with his mouth, making her shudder. “Your wish is my command,” he whispered, and with a flick of the hips, he took her.
The wave of passion that swept over her started at her toes and rolled up her body until she trembled with need. With one more sure thrust, he sent her flying into a thousand shimmering pieces.
The sensation—heat, then cold, then sweet, bone-melting pleasure—was like nothing she’d ever imagined.
“You are so very lovely,” Edison whispered before his mouth claimed hers. “I’ve never tasted the like.”
He thrust harder, deeper, until she imagined he was touching her very heart. She raised her hips to meet him, joining in that ancient rhythm. A last hard, powerful thrust and he pulsed inside her, his entire body shuddering with his own release.
Even before his shaft stopped pulsing, Edison fell on his side next to her and gathered her—still joined—into his arms. Content to nestle into his hard, warm form, Ada let her mind drift.
Edison smoothed damp tendrils of hair off of her forehead and kissed her tenderly. “You, Mrs. Templeton, are a puzzle. A delightful, fantastical puzzle.”
Ada pressed her cheek into his chest. She had no idea what in the world that meant, but from the tone, it sounded like something that pleased him.
As he had pleased—and astounded—her.
She splayed her fingers across his flat belly. She’d expected making love to him would be spectacular. She’d expected the passion, the exquisite sensations she’d always imagined went along with bedding a magnificent man like Edison.
She had not expected the hook now stuck so neatly into her heart.
Edison’s shoulders heaved as he expelled a great sigh. His body relaxed, the arm thrown across her chest growing heavy as sleep overtook him.
Ada laid a hand on his firm bicep. She’d known before they made love that sharing Edison’s bed would only make her want more. She’d decided that craving could be managed, when the time came.
Now she realized she hadn’t taken all the available factors into consideration before plunging ahead. It felt very much like she imagined diving into an icy river would.
One could prepare one’s self for the first jolt of cold, but it was the unseen currents that held the real danger.
Chapter 14
When he awoke, Ada’s arm flung was across him, her palm resting over his heart.
Sunlight filtered in through the dusty windows, drawing a bright rectangle of light on the faded carpet. He knew it was only his state of mind, but everything seemed sharper. Clearer. Lighter.
Ada sighed in her sleep and rolled closer. Their legs touched. Her bare breasts pressed into the side of his arm.
He couldn’t think of a better way to wake. Or could he? He brushed tangled brown locks out of her eyes. Eyelids still heavy with sleep, she blinked up at him.
The vulnerability in her sweet smile tugged at place suspiciously close to his hardened heart.
The smile bloomed into a satisfied little grin. “Good morning, Mr. Sweet.”
He liked it that she didn’t rush to cover herself. She didn’t tense with a new modesty now that the sun had risen above the treetops.
Perhaps she wouldn’t regret their coupling over much.
Edison swept another strand of hair off of her cheek. “It is at that, Mrs. Templeton.”
He cupped one firm breast in his hand and rubbed his thumb back and forth over the budding nipple.
Her gasp of pleasure made him instantly hard.
“It is a fine morning,” he repeated, as he continued to tease the pink tip. “Such mornings require certain… procedures, if one is to begin them correctly.”
“Do tell,” she prompted, in a sweet, breathy tone.
“With pleasure.” Edison chuckled and levered her over on her back.
“Edison?” A female voice called up the stairway. “Get up, you lazy goat. We brought scones.”
“Satan’s arse.” His fingers stilled on her breast. “The family’s here.”
Mouth open, Ada stared at the door still blocked by the massive chest. “But we locked—”
“They’re thieves, remember?” Edison threw off the covers and flew out of bed.