He deserved her scorn. She thought he was here out of obligation and guilt. But, he had to make her see he was lost without her. He had to prove that he had no life without her in it. She owned his heart . . . his very breath . . . his very soul.
Morgan knew she didn’t believe him, but he also knew she cared deeply or she would not have reacted so strongly, or tried so hard to send him away. He had never accepted defeat before and he would not start now. She gathered her skirts and darted past him.
His arm shot out. “Not so fast.”
He pulled her across the room and into the hallway. Ignoring her shouts, he bent down, and with one arm under her knees, hoisted her into his arms.
“What do you think you’re doing? Put me down this instant.” She pummeled his chest. “How dare you. You brute.” When he came to a halt at the top of the stairs, she glanced at him, then followed his gaze.
Stephen waited at the bottom.
“Oh, God, no. Stephen will kill you.” Kat pushed at Morgan’s shoulders and kicked her legs in earnest. “Please. You must let me go.”
He was not about to do that—today or any other. He cocked a brow. “It warms my heart that you’re worried about my welfare. You see, my sweet. I have every intention of abducting you again.
“Oh, no.”
Morgan started down the stairway.
Seeing her pleas did not work on him, she targeted her brother. “Stephen. Wait—Don’t—Stop—” She held her arms out as if her attempt would hold him off.
Braced in his usual stance, with feet apart and hands on his hips, her brother smiled.
Confusion creased Kat’s brow. “What are you smiling about?”
“You got your hands full.” Stephen’s tone implied he approved.
Morgan gave a beaming grin of his own. “Looks like I do. What are you going to do about it?”
“Why, I thought I’d open the door.” Stephen gave a hearty laugh and did exactly that.
From the look on Kat’s face, his chest rumbled with laughter. Smart man that he was, he kept his mouth shut.
Kat glared at one man and then the other. “Stephen. Aren’t you going to do something?”
“I am.” He gave her a wink.
“You can’t let him take me! Aunt Elizabeth. Uncle Albert. Do something.”
The couple appeared from the side of the stairs. Elizabeth dabbed her eyes while her uncle smiled, one arm draped around his wife’s shoulders.
Kat crossed her arms beneath her bosom and huffed—which wasn’t easy since Morgan held her so tight. “Traitors. All of you.”
“You’re welcome, Kitten.”
She had not said one solitary word to Morgan since he carried her from her uncle’s home. But she planned to give him a tongue-lashing the minute they got some privacy. To believe her family just stood there and allowed—no encouraged him—to take her. And if he thought for one minute . . . ooohh.
She bit her tongue and seethed with anger. When the carriage stopped, Morgan jumped out, and then reached inside, not giving her a chance to alight on her own. The salty air and shouts of men warned her they were at the docks. Yanking her in his arms, he marched up the boarded plank to a ship. The swaying motion had her snuggling closer against his chest. The devil smiled. He tightened his hold and carried her to a large cabin. Once inside, he kicked the door closed.
Finally, he set her free. Kat tugged at her clothes, trying to get them in some kind of order. Her twisted bodice exposed more of her bosom than she liked. Her gown was wrinkled beyond repair. She gave up trying to smooth her skirts. With fire in her blood she turned around and gasped.
“What are you doing?” Her breathing became irregular.
“Doing,” he repeated. “Why, I’m removing my shirt.” He smiled at her like the cat that smiled at the canary just before he ate it. Searching his eyes, she found them filled with wicked mischief and . . . the same yearning desire that she admitted must mirror her own.
“Morgan.” She breathed with longing. Then she was in his arms.
He gathered her to his chest inhaling her scent. “You feel like heaven. This is where you belong.” His words brought pure balm to her soul. She kissed him with all the pent-up longing she’d kept inside since she left Whetherford Manor. And Morgan kissed her as though he’d never let her go.
“Kat, I love you. You left before I had a chance to tell you.” He cradled her head against his chest. “Let me savor the fact that you’re really in my arms.” For long moments he held her. “I know it was unorthodox the way you came to me, but fate stepped in and took over. I am very glad it happened, because I met you.”
“Oh, my love,” she whispered.
“When I first saw your face, you took my breath away. I told you then, there had been a mistake. It was not a mistake that you came into my life. I also said you were the wrong one. You proved otherwise.”
He curved his hand along her jaw, tilting her face bringing her eyes even with his. “My very precious love, you were not the wrong one. When you came into my life, you turned it completely around and made me whole. You gave me light, peace, love. So much love I don’t even recognize myself.”
He thumbed the tears on her cheeks. She could not stop them. Morgan loved her. Hearing his heart-felt words made her cry that much harder.
The kiss Morgan gave her started out tender until her passion set fire to the flames he’d kindled. Groaning, he bent down, and in one smooth move, he lifted her and swung around toward the bed. His arms never left her as he lowered her down onto the feathered softness and crawled beside her.
Morgan tipped her chin up and stared down into her eyes as if he were communicating his love through his powerful gaze alone. With calloused fingers he smoothed the moisture from her cheek, his thumb drifted to the velvet softness of her lips. Ever so slowly, he bent his head to kiss her. His mouth lingered, caressed, and his hand drifted to the bodice of her gown finding the fullness of her bosom. His fingers teased. When he cupped a mound in his hand, he took her soft moan of pleasure into his mouth.
With one hand, Kat pulled his head closer while the fingers of her other hand slid in the opening of his shirt to dance and tangle in his furry matt of curls.
His shirt making her movement somewhat restricted, Morgan leaned up to take it off. She whimpered. “I’m not going anywhere, my love. I think we have too many clothes on.”
Kat watched in a daze as he rose from the bed and continued his sensual removal of his clothing. Her eyes followed his movements as his broad chest with dark springing curls came into view. She gasped in remembrance that her fingers were tangled there only moments ago. Her hands tingled and curled with a fierce longing to touch their velvety softness again. When he reached for the buttons of his breeches, her breath caught in anticipation at the proof of his desire. She nearly bit her tongue when his manhood sprang forth as if eager and proud. Her belly quivered and her mind cried, I want you.
Reaching up, she held her arms out to him. A slow grin spread across his face, then he stretched out beside her. Sliding her hands upward across bunched muscle, her finger-tips absorbed every inch of wonder as though she’d never touched him before. Eager fingers brushed his small nipples causing a slight tremor in him that in return, sent a delicious quiver on a path from her fingers, up her arms that curled around her chest. She caressed him, sliding down the soft pelt of fur to his belly. Hearing him suck in his breath thrilled her and spurned her onward.
Her eyes locked on his, she reached for him—her fingers gliding around his hardness.
Hot.
Hard as steel.
Soft as velvet.
His eyes became narrow slits and darkened, yet burned her with their fever. Blood surged from the throbbing under her hand to the pulsing veins protruding in his neck. Morgan gave a soft growl just b
efore he took her mouth with mindless desperation. His tongue delved and stroked every angle and crevice of her mouth.
Capturing her full breast, his thumb slid over her aching nipple. He teased it into a tight bud while—his eyes locked with hers—demanded her reaction. Though his eyes still held hers, he lowered his head and the tip of his tongue darted out to touch and lick. A jolt of pleasure pierced her chest when he drew the bud into his hot mouth. Short heavy gasps erupted from her lungs as she watched the dark head at her bosom—lavishing her breast—sending waves of desire down to settle between her thighs. Her hands clutched his dark curls and she pressed into his avid mouth, desperate to keep him captive—prolonging sensations she never wanted to end.
Morgan feasted on one breast and then the other—his swirling tongue and the hot haven of his mouth scattered her wits. She cradled his head and closed her eyes as he spread open mouth kisses on her flesh, arousing her further. His touch so gentle, it pierced her with his tenderness. His head nuzzled and his tongue blazed a fiery trail back up to the side of her neck. His teeth grazed a taut vein. A wet kiss, then a breeze settled on her ear, just before he enveloped it in his hot mouth. Good Lord. She turned into his heat and offered her mouth.
Moving his lips back and forth, Morgan opened her mouth with his and drove his tongue deeply between her parted lips. Their tongues did a mating dance, twirling, plunging, retreating, tangling together again and again, that turned to a fiercely erotic kiss. Swamped with desire, Kat moaned her pleasure and kissed him with all the passion that he had awakened in her. Her body so hungry, her mind so crazed, she clung to him as if her very life depended on him for survival.
Morgan kissed her almost roughly, and then swept his hand downward, skimming her waist and covered the soft mound between her legs. His fingers plied her flesh. He teased and tormented her making her part her legs in welcome, giving him access for the magic they both sought. Kat’s fingers flexed against his shoulders and her body arched against his hand. He inserted one finger with ease making her crazed, incoherent—the urge too great. Need surged through her like lightning bolts.
Morgan rose above her. He stroked his shaft against her wet mound, the rush of excitement making her breathless. Cupping her bottom in both hands, he positioned himself and with one shift of his hips he slid home. Sheathed inside of her, he brought their bodies together—skin against slick skin—opening her—burying himself as deep as he could go.
Kat spread her legs wider and arched one knee to bring him deeper. Slipping a hand behind his neck, she pulled him to her—aching to be closer. His rhythmic thrusts forced breathless gasps from her throat. Moaning, she threw both legs around him driving him to mindless obsession. With sure swift strokes, Morgan thrust into her, building the exhilaration—driving her insane. He pounded into her with furious strokes sending them both into oblivion. His body went taught and she felt his pulse with each beat of his thundering heart. She griped his shoulders and held on tight while her body soared. A savage burst of pleasure tore through her and she screamed his name.
Morgan kissed her with such tender ardor, moisture gathered at her eyes. She waited for her breathing to return to normal. Her legs heavy, her body exhausted, she languished in the aftermath of their pleasure. They had shared more than passion. She loved him with every fiber of her being. She would never let him go.
After some moments, Morgan raised his head, that unruly lock hanging across his brow. Surely the glow in his eyes meant . . .
“Kat. I love you with every breath I take. You complete my soul.” He lifted her hand and kissed her fingers. Then he placed them over the center of his chest. “My heart is yours. I will spend the rest of my life proving you are the right one for me.”
The Right One (One and Only Series) Page 25
