Page 74 of Love with a Notorious Rake

“I have ham sandwiches. Would four suffice? And some cheese?”

Aidan tossed coin on the counter. “As soon as you can gather them together.”

Standing by the counter, he glanced about the room. He recognized a couple of the men from the mill. They touched their forelocks in greeting, then turned their attention to their pints of bitter. The men had never acknowledged him before, and had never shown him any respect. Were they in the mill when Lottie was injured? He wondered if word had gotten around that he’d struck Meeker? That would make it all the more imperative he conclude this clandestine undertaking as soon as possible.

With the food in hand, Aidan wasted no time climbing the stairs. He turned the knob and slipped into his room. Cristyn stood by the window.

“I have food. It’s not much, but enough to take the edge off any hunger pains. Shall we eat?” He locked the door, then met her at the small table. Handing her a sandwich wrapped in brown paper, he also produced a jar. “Hot tea. Not fancy.” Giving her a smile, he unscrewed the lid and passed it to her.

“It’s lovely. I am rather famished.” She bit into the sandwich, and Aidan did the same, not taking his eyes off her. Even watching her eat caused his arousal to sizzle at full heat.

Once they completed their meal, Aidan stood and held out his hand. “It seems we can only collect moments alone here and there. Soon you will be in my bed all night, and we will take our time and savor.”

“But not at this moment?” she teased.

“No.” When she slipped her hand in his, he gathered her up in his arms and carried her to the bed. Cristyn laughed, her beautiful face reflecting pure joy. To think he was capable of providing the means of her happiness. It was humbling indeed.

Once he lowered her, they wordlessly removed their clothes. Aidan lay on the bed. He unfastened the fall of his trousers and pulled out his cock. “Sit here, sweet. And ride me.”

chapter 21

Ride him? He gave her a sly, sensual smile as she tried to work out in her mind how that could be accomplished. Ah. The picture took form. Facing him. Straddling him. His shaft nestled deep inside her while she…rode him. Aidan was temptation personified—one she could not or would not evade.

Cristyn gathered her skirt and climbed atop him, knees on either side of his slim, muscular hips. The hardness of him rubbed against her wet core. Her bodice was open, her breasts all but spilling out. How she trembled with yearning.

Aidan still wore his shirt, but it was undone, giving her a delicious peek at his sculpted chest. With a satisfied sigh, she spread the garment farther apart, trailing her fingertips across his hot, silky skin. He truly was a beautiful specimen of masculinity. Her fingers moved upward, tracing his full lips, the deep lines bracketing his mouth. Her father had told her he was twenty-six. He looked older, no doubt a result of all he’d been through. The weariness and hard living were apparent in the creases on his face, reflected in his summer-sky-blue eyes.

But Cristyn also saw hope there. And though he had not spoken the words aloud, dare she say…love? Certainly desire.

“Put me inside you,” he growled.

Reaching between her legs, she grasped him and rose up onto her knees, then slowly descended, taking all of him.

Aidan released another husky groan. “I will not come inside you. Take your pleasure. Move back and forth.” His hands gripped her upper thighs and he demonstrated the rocking movement.

Oh, the friction was delicious. Laying her hands flat on his chest, she found the rhythm as Aidan thrust his hips upward. How absolutely wonderful.

“Touch yourself. Show me how you give yourself pleasure.” His eyes burned with blue fire. “How you come when you think of me.”

Wicked, passionate man. Cristyn did not hesitate; she found that sensitive little nub and gasped at the sizzling contact. She soon became lost in the sensations of riding his shaft and rubbing her clitoris. Soft whimpers turned into throaty moans.

“Yes, Cris. That’s it. Come for me,” Aidan urged.

The motions between them became frantic, then she shattered, crying out in an explosion of utter bliss. Aidan groaned, then lifted her off him as he shook and shuddered. He covered his shaft with his hand. “Hell,” he rasped, “that was close. Nearly spilled in you.”

Cristyn curled up next to him as their breathing regulated.

“We had best clean up and return you to the clinic,” he murmured as he stroked her arm.

She caressed his chest. “I can manage.”

He kissed her forehead. “You can more than manage anything you put your mind to, but I also want to check in on the child.”

“What will happen to her…and Carter?” Cristyn whispered.

“I haven’t come to a decision as yet. But I’ll be damned if I see them returned to that miserable mill, or a workhouse.”

They allowed themselves the luxury of laying in each other’s arms for another five minutes, then rose, tidied, dressed, and were heading toward the clinic as the sun set. As she slipped her arm through his, she gazed at him adoringly, not caring if the villagers witnessed it. Most women—at least, women of the upper classes—would not be so patient with Aidan as he worked through his emotions. But she more than anyone understood the difficult journey he had been taking since he’d arrived at the Standon Sanatorium.