Chapter 21

It was so lovely to be dry. That storm truly had just exploded from the sky in the most unpleasant way, bringing back very triggering memories of the storm on the boat. Much as she was grateful for the night dress and the warm bed in front of her, there was a part of her that wished she could be at her own home where she was safe and comfortable.

It was not that she did not trust George's friend. If George trusted him, then there was a great chance he was a good person. She was more unnerved knowing that she was in the same house as George. Especially after the intensity of that kiss.

Sure, the kiss was not supposed to have happened. Not in London with all their staunch rules surrounding romance. It could potentially be reputation ruining, which would leave her with no marriage proposals. Sophie did not want to let her parents down in that way.

After brushing her fingers along her lips, recalling the tingling that tore through her body, Sophie lit a small candle to keep her company for the evening. She knew that she would feel a lot better with a light to keep her company.

Tap, tap, tap.

Sophie jumped at the light sound which she was immediately convinced came from her bedroom door.

Her heart raced hard against her rib cage as she tiptoed towards the door to be certain that this was a noise meant for her before she did anything silly.

Tap, tap, tap.

"Sophie, it is me." George's voice rumbled through the door, much to Sophie's relief. "I am just here to check in on you."

Even though she was in a night gown, she clicked open the door to see him. He had seen her in far worse states than this, so it hardly mattered.

"I am fine," she whispered back, but he must have been able to sense the hesitation in her voice.

"May I come in for a moment? I know this is not a fun night. Especially after what we went through on the journey to England…"

The fact that he was thinking about the night on the boat as well made it far easier for her to pull him inside. It was only when she clicked the door closed behind him that they were very much alone. Again. More alone than they were even when they were in the gardens together.

"What a day," he said with a low chuckle, which brought a smile to her face as well.

"You could say that."

It was almost as if there was a magnet between them, dragging them toward one another. It was an undeniable pull that neither of them could ignore, the heat burning between them ignited deeply inside of Sophie. The dizziness of desire took complete control of her. There was nothing that she could do.

Their eyes locked in on one another, and Sophie could see the passion flaring within George. The sight of him so full of desire made her whole body throb. It was a challenge to even catch her breath around him as he reached out to hold her, lightly brushing his fingers through her hair.

The hardness of his solid frame ignited something within Sophie that she knew she could not control.

She pressed her lips to George's, gently at first, sweetly just to let her know how much she appreciated him.

But very quickly the softness gave way to desire and passion. The desire they had both been trying to pretend was not there for far too long. Her tongue massaged his and the heat between them bloomed. Without even thinking about what she was doing, she grabbed hold of George and pulled him on to the bed with her, silently inviting him to lie down with her.

They held one another close, kissing and embracing one another as the storm raged over head. It was as if they were lost in their own little world again and nothing else mattered. Society rules and judgement, the lack of wedding ring… none of it was important. Only him.

George must have been able to sense how badly she craved him, and he seemed to be just as desperate for her, because every time Sophie rolled her body up against him, he did the same thing. He did not seem troubled by the fact that she was clinging on to him so tightly she would never let him go. He was as locked in this embrace as she was.

Sophie let out a little gasp of delight as his eager fingers started to glide up her inner thighs. A part of her body that she had never been touched before. An electricity careened through her body, she shivered as tingled of pleasure rocketed through her.

George slid up her night dress as the kisses deepened, until he finally managed to tug it over her head. Sophie's heart raced, it seemed to thunder through her whole body, but she was undeniably thrilled as well. She could not help it. George's free hand cupped her breast, heating things up to a new level, and his thumb stroked over her nipple until it was standing to attention for him.

He smiled, and that made Sophie shiver with excitement. It felt like everything had been culminating to this very moment. She turned on to her side and gasped as he took the hint and allowed that hand to travel down her torso, to find where she was throbbing for him.

By the time he found her center, she could hardly stop herself from screaming with desire. The way he caressed her sped up the burning hot blood that was now tearing through her body.

She did not know it would feel like that.

"Oh, George," she hissed as his fingers plunged deep inside of her. His thumb circled her center, just as it had been circling her nipples only moments before. Only this sensation was far more addictive.

"Does that feel good?" he murmured, his words tickling her ear lobe, so close to her that she was sure she could explode.

She could not find the words to answer him.

All she could do was nod.

The pressure of pleasure began to build within Sophie, fizzing in her veins, and curling her toes. Within the midst of this, she forgot how to be a polite young lady, and allowed her hands to trickle down his body also.

She ached to explore him in the same way. A sensation that even struck her as strange. She had not known she was able to feel that way at all!

Sophie could feel herself trembling all over. Although if that was from the anxiety as she reached to touch him, or from the pleasure he was building up within her, she was not sure.

In the breathless, dizzy, heady desire, she allowed her hand to slide into his under garments, to feel what he had for her.

A steel rod of desire.

Nervously, Sophie held on to him, grazing over his flesh, picking up the pace of her hand movements as his groans intensified.

Never had her heart thundered so loudly.

Never had her body felt so alive.

"I want you," she murmured before she even realized what she was saying. "I need you, George."

He balanced himself between her thighs, staring at her with a fire burning in his eyes. He said nothing as they finally peeled the clothing off of one another, while gasping with a desperate need to really feel one another in ways that they never had before, in ways that Sophie had never experienced with another person.

How could this be wrong when it felt so right?

"Sophie," he murmured in between kisses. "I want you too."

His words ricocheted through her just as he did with his very first thrust lightly inside of her. It was a strange and unexpected sensation that tore the air out of Sophie's lungs, even though he was clearly being very careful with her. But it was also a feeling that she could not get enough of.

She already wanted so much more from him.

With the next thrust, Sophie wrapped her legs around George's back so she could really cling to him. This also allowed her to control some of the speed and the depth of the way he plunged deep inside of her. She wanted more of him, all of him, every inch.

It did not take long before the toe-curling pleasure had started to creep up Sophie's spine once more. Every time their bodies met, filling the room with the sounds of their passion, Sophie could feel herself slipping into burning hot blissful joy all over again. It was a gorgeous, glorious feeling that George was intensifying with every passing second. She was in heaven, her heart pounded only for this man, and she absolutely loved this bond she had with him.

Only this time, she was not alone.

She was not the only one crying out with bliss.

The sensation of George's body stiffening as the pleasure started to claim him too was intoxicating. She could not get enough of touching him all over, trying to feel every part of him as they reached the peak of pleasure.

They cried out in unison as the tsunami of bliss swept through her once more, calling out one another's names as they burned in heavenly excitement. Feeling George vibrating with desire only amplified the heat rushing through Sophie. She loved having this soul-deep connection with him, it tightened their bond, and made her open up her heart to falling for him even deeper.

She felt like she was soaring, floating higher than air, drowning in a glorious sensation that she never wanted to end. Clinging to George, and feeling the intense safety that only he could give her only made everything so much better.

This was the man for her.

She knew it now without a shadow of a doubt.

This was the man she wanted to marry, to spend the rest of her life with, to love forever, and she could not wait to tell her parents that he was most definitely going to propose to her. Because how could he not after this? It was everything.