Chapter 13

Thirteen

Rose

I meant to seduce him. Instead, I fell asleep.

Some mistress I was turning out to be.

I blinked as the bedroom door opened. Moore strode in and I struggled to a sitting position. The book I'd been reading in bed fell off my chest and dropped onto the floor. As he came into full view, I could see Moore looked haggard, grumpier than usual. "Did you have a rough night?"

"You could say that," he murmured and tossed his overcoat onto a settee. Then he began ruthlessly attacking the buttons of his top coat.

Clad in only my silk nightgown, I slid out of bed and hurried toward him. "Here, let me. You're going to rip a perfectly fine garment." I shoved his hands out of the way and began to undress him.

His fingers traced patterns over my bare arms. "I apologize for coming here so late. I had errands to run after my supper concluded."

"Oh?" Maybe this explained his mood. "I hope everything is alright."

His chest rose and fell under my fingertips as I unbuttoned his vest. "Christ, you're beautiful," he whispered, his knuckles skimming my jaw. "I never get tired of looking at you."

"You are quite handsome yourself, Mr. Emerson." I held up his wrist and removed his gold cufflink. Then I repeated this on his other wrist and dropped the gold pieces onto the carpet.

He settled a hand on my hip. "You were worried about my coat, but toss the cufflinks like they're hairpins?"

"You can replace the cufflinks. But we both know you aren't mending that topcoat yourself."

"I'll be sure to tell my valet. He'll be pleased to know he has such a champion in you."

"He must suspect you have a lady friend, considering you haven't been sleeping at home." I set about removing his collar and studs.

Moore lifted his chin to allow my fingers room to work. "Darling, there is very little he doesn't know about my life."

"Does he know about me, then?"

"I believe I may have shared it. Does that bother you?"

I bit my lip, strangely pleased at the idea of Moore confessing his interest in me to his valet. "No. I spoke to my friend Flora about you today."

"Is that so?"

I nodded. "It was a very illuminating conversation."

His finger paused on its slow journey into my décolletage. "Meaning?"

A giddy excitement bubbled up inside me, a happiness I always felt in Moore's presence. Except tonight would change everything between us . . . and I couldn't wait. "I'm yours, Moore."

"Do you mean—?" He sucked in a sharp breath. "I need to hear you say it."

I met his gaze steadily. "I've decided to be your mistress."

"Oh, thank god," he said a beat before lowering his head to seal our mouths together. He kissed me hard, urgently, but with a singular focus and finesse. There was nothing like this man's kisses. I could drown in them and die happy.

Suddenly, he broke off and lifted me in one smooth motion. In seconds I was flat on my back, atop the bed, with him covering me. Leaning on one elbow, he swept the hair off my face, his eyes soft as he stared down at me. "You are aware that I adore you, that I can barely think straight when we're apart? I promise that I am going to make you so goddamn happy, sweetheart."

My stomach gave a little flip as my chest expanded with tenderness. "You had better."

"Are you ready for me to fuck you tonight?"

"More than ready, as soon as I put my womb veil in."

He rested his forehead on mine and closed his eyes. "Go. Hurry. And take off that dashed nightgown. I need you naked as quickly as possible."

I kissed his cheek, then edged away from him. "I'll return in a moment. You best be naked, too."

The last image I had of him before I shut the washroom door was of Moore shoving off his suspenders and wrestling with his shirt. Inside the washroom I hurried with the cream and contraceptive device, then I removed my nightgown and placed it on the hook fixed to the back of the door. Completely bare, I walked into the bedroom.

Moore paused in the process of shoving his trousers off his hips. "Fuck. You are an absolute goddess. Come here." He kicked off the fine wool and stripped off his socks, leaving him in his thin undergarment. As usual.

I gestured to his frame. "Completely off. I'm not playing this game any longer."

Coming up on his knees, he smirked as his fingers flew down his chest. Buttons popped and the edges of the undergarment soon parted to reveal his strong chest coated lightly in dark hair. I'd seen him naked, of course, but not until after we were finished, either while sleeping or in the bath. I couldn't wait to see him in a fully aroused state.

"Keep going," I encouraged. "I want to see every bit of you."

He stopped, then let his hands drop to his sides. "You want my cock? Crawl over here and get it."

I didn't hesitate, starting for him. I didn't mind taking orders from Moore in bed, a fact he was aware of.

Once on the mattress, I crawled on my hands and knees toward him. His eyes focused on my breasts, which were heavy and sensitive, as I moved slowly across the coverlet. When I reached him I kissed his bare stomach. Then I licked his thick erection through the thin cotton, teasing him. His hand slid through my hair and cupped the back of my head. "Show me how much you need it, darling."

I was an actress, so I could perform when needed. But this required no acting on my part. I really did need him. I was delirious for him, panting and dizzy, with my pussy wet and throbbing. Nuzzling his shaft only made it worse, because I knew this would be inside me soon. "I need it, baby." I nipped his cloth-covered crown with my teeth. "Fuck me, Moore. Fuck me and make me yours."

"Shit," he hissed as a shudder ran through his big body.

Suddenly, I was on my back, his lower half settling between my thighs. "I can't wait another second." He reached between us. A few more buttons popped and his undergarment was open. Then he had his shaft in his hand, angling the head toward my entrance. "Stop me if it hurts."

He nudged my opening, spreading my arousal over the crown, before easing inside, widening me. Stretching me. Filling me up with his glorious thickness. I threw my head back, enjoying every centimeter he gave me.

"Look at you," he whispered. "Sucking me inside for the first time. That's it, kitten. Let me in and I'll make you feel so good."

There was no pain, just wonderful pressure. "Keep going. I need all of you."

He groaned, a tortured sound. "God, you're so tight." He gave a small thrust, burying himself deeper, as his thumb began making circles on my clitoris. "So damn tight."

The little swipes of his thumb distracted me from the heavy length of him invading my body. It was quite a lot at once, and it quickly turned from nice to incredible. I angled my hips, rolling, eager for him, and then finally he was there, taking up all the space inside me. Goodness, it was better than any other experience in the past.

He angled over me to rest his palms on the mattress, then stared down at me, his concerned eyes studying my face. "Good?"

"Please, you need to move. I'm burning alive."

He began thrusting, slow at first, his hips barely moving. But the pace quickly increased, his length sliding across my sensitive tissues, then bottoming out again. Moore built up a rhythm, his big body moving, straining, and I joined him by rocking my hips to meet his. We were no longer two separate people; we were one, our muscles and limbs working toward the same goal.

My insides coiled, everything pulling tighter and tighter as the pleasure built. I clutched anywhere I could reach and dug my nails into his skin, desperate to hold on. Our grunts and exhales mingled into a single lewd symphony, and watching him use his body to pleasure us both sent me higher. He was fierce and relentless. His hips slapped against mine with each stroke, which caused the bed to rock and creak. I didn't care who heard us. I wouldn't have wanted him to stop for anything in the world.

This was nothing like the impersonal couplings of my past. This was intimate, with Moore deep inside my body as he surrounded me. It was the two of us, together. Nothing else mattered in this moment, such as labels or money or whatever the future might bring. Right now, I was his and he was mine.

The orgasm slammed into me, the wave dragging me under and tossing me about. My walls squeezed around his cock, my limbs convulsing, and my vision sparkled behind my eyelids. "Oh, god," I whispered before letting out a long moan.

Moore's hips stuttered and he shouted, "God, Rose!" Then he thrust deep, like he was trying to burrow inside me, and I felt him swell and grow thicker. He threw his head back and his whole body shuddered. I didn't dare miss a second of it—I loved watching Moore fall apart. He lost his society trappings, the rigidity and pompousness of being a wealthy tycoon. In this moment he was merely a man, my man.

Finally, he sagged, his chest heaving, as tiny aftershocks rocked his frame. "Damn it. I hope I didn't hurt you."

"I'm fine. Fit as a fiddle and ready to go again."

He chuckled, then withdrew and dropped onto the bed beside me. "I may need a few moments."

I rolled to kiss his jaw. "Then I will clean up and allow you to recover." I needed to deal with the womb veil. The midwife said not to leave it in for too long after a man spent inside me.

"Hurry," he said, eyes still closed and one arm thrown over his head. "I want to hold you."

My heart melted a little and I patted his stomach. "I'll be right back."

Once in the washroom it took me longer than anticipated to deal with the womb veil and clean myself. I knew it would get easier over time, though. When I returned to the bedroom I found Moore fast asleep.

I stood by the bed and tried to memorize every detail. He was so handsome, even while sleeping. The sharp lines of his face were relaxed now, the dark hair mussed from my hands. Lips slightly parted with his deep breaths. His union suit was open and pushed down his hips, his skin dewy with sweat. My heart melted, happiness threading through my chest like vines. I liked seeing him so relaxed, so comfortable. It was a far cry from the man who'd tried to kick me out of his office all those days ago.

Very carefully, I dragged his union suit off his legs, leaving him naked. Strong muscles roped his long frame, while dark hair dusted his arms and legs, as well as his chest. There were no flaws, no marks. He was perfect from head to toe, the ideal male specimen. Unsurprising with Moore being an Emerson and all. God forbid, they were anything less than the best.

Smiling, I crawled into bed next to him and drew the covers up. I moved closer to feel him and let his body warm me. The instant I was beside him he rolled toward me and threw an arm around my waist. "Look your fill, kitten?"

Ah, so he'd been awake. "No, not nearly. Will you walk across the room for me? Maybe turn slowly once or twice?"

He gave a weak huff of laughter. "Tomorrow, I promise. For now, sleep beside me and let me hold you." He kissed the back of my head. "Thank you for tonight. And thank you for being mine."

Being mine.

I liked that. Far too much.

No one had ever wanted me enough to keep me. The entire town, including my own family, had turned their backs on me during the scandal. So I came to New York alone and worked hard to become a successful actress. It hadn't been easy, but I made a name for myself—a new name that I'd chosen. Rose Doyle no longer existed.

I didn't know what the future held for Rose O'Donahue . . . but Mr. Alfred Moore Emerson III was a part of it.

"You're welcome," I whispered back to him. "And thank you for everything, baby."

"You don't ever need to thank me. I'm the luckiest man in this godforsaken city."

I snuggled closer to him. "You're very sweet after climaxing."

His chest shook with laughter. "Only with you." He rubbed my hip for a long moment, then said, "Come sailing with me on my yacht tomorrow. I want to have you all to myself for a few days."

This was surprising. "Can you miss work?"

"I can bring the work with me."

"Then yes, I'll come sailing with you." It sounded like heaven, and there was no reason to stay in the city at the moment. I wouldn't hear back about my audition for a few weeks, Mr. Martin had said.

"Excellent. We'll leave after my morning meeting."

"Oh. Did you need to wrap up at the office?"

"Something like that. Now, get some sleep. Because I will definitely need to fuck you again before I go."

Grinning, I let myself drift off, already anticipating tomorrow.