Saved by a Rake by Em Taylor

reached up to tangle her gloved fingers in his curls. Tentatively she touched her tongue against his, causing him to stifle a groan. He had been without a woman for over a month and now his pretty little wife had her arms around him, kissing him as if she had done it a thousand times. She was a quick learner as she explored his mouth with her tongue, pressing herself closer to him.
    Devil take it. He had been struggling all day to stop himself becoming aroused. Her wedding gown had been low cut , and her stays showed her breasts off perfectly. He had been distracted throughout the service and the wedding breakfast as images of disrobing her later had flitted through his mind. He wanted to see those breasts again.
    He unfastened the three buttons on her pelisse, peeling the material away to her side , then pulled out of the kiss and began to pepper light kisses along her jawline. God, he wanted her, and he was most definitely aroused now.
    He kissed her neck and was about to place his hand over that beautiful inviting orb, when he sensed her tens ing. He pulled away slowly, tugging the material of her pelisse back over her. When he looked into her eyes, they were bright with confusion, passion and fear, all clearly warring within her. He cursed himself for being too impatient. Then he cursed Newthorpe for what he had done and could not help thinking that death was too good for the blaggard.
    “ No. That’s the only word you ever have to say and I will stop,” he said simply.
    “ I am sorry, my lord. I just expected some time before… well I expected to wait until we were in the coaching inn tonight.”
    “ Yes, of course. It was very impatient of me. I beg your forgiveness.”
    Rebecca nodded and looked out the window.
    The streets of London rushed by as they headed for the Great North Road. He studied the view out of the other window, and they sat in silence for a long time. Eventually Rebecca spoke in a small voice which sounded as if she was on the verge of tears.
    “ I fear I will not make you a very good wife if a mere kiss frightens me.”
    He turned and took her hand in his. He wanted her to be comfortable and not think he was going to pounce on her and ravish her at any given opportunity.
    “I have no doubt that you will make a wonderful wife, Rebecca. You just need time and patience, and I have an abundance of both.”
    She turned large, tear-filled eyes towards him. “You should take a mistress as soon as we reach Scotland.”
    He could not possibly have heard correctly. She was giving him permission to have a mistress? Surely not. But her mouth was set in a firm line as if she had made up her mind. A stab of hurt hit him. She thought of him as a rake who would be unfaithful.
    H e pursed his lips and considered her. What should he do? He wanted to rail at her and tell her he had no intention of being unfaithful. He had taken vows only a few hours previously and yet now she was giving him permission to break them. But maybe the idea of him having a mistress brought her comfort. She was clearly terrified of intimacy between a husband and wife.
    “ We shall discuss it once we reach Scotland, my lady. I have no wish to think beyond our present journey.”
    “ Do you not see that I can only ever tolerate the marriage bed for the sake of giving you an heir,” she wailed, pulling her hand away from his. “He ruined me in more ways than you can ever know.”
    “ You are only ruined if you allow him that power. A skilful lover could make you feel very different about certain aspects of a marriage.”
    “ Well, I have heard enough tales to know that you are a skilful lover, Lord Ramsey. But I think you should save it for your mistresses.” Her tone was almost venomous but he ignored it, knowing that it was fear that drove her.
    She turned her head to look out of the window again. He was at a complete loss. She thought him almost as bad as Newthorpe. Well, not quite but she did not think he would be faithful. A