Tempest of Passion (14 page)

“
What are you hiding?”

William smiled. He crossed his arms over his chest and stared
out the window once more before speaking.

“
I am persona non grata in London,” he said bluntly. She said
nothing, forcing him to continue. “I was accused of certain crimes
and told to leave the city and never come back. I was told to never
come in contact with anyone in my family again, or I could face
death.”
“So now you choose to tell me that I’m married to a criminal.” To
his surprise, Emily’s tone was filled with amusement and not
accusation, however, he noticed, she had paled a bit at the news
that he had been accused of certain crimes.

“
I am not a criminal. I am innocent.”
“They didn’t believe you, of course.”

He shook his head, his lips twitching at the evident mockery
in her tone. Clearly she didn’t believe him … but at least she
didn’t seem to be angry anymore.

“
Of course not,” he agreed. “But I had to make sure that my
family was safe, so I left. I have been trying to discern who is
bent on destroying me. Initially, I thought that the person that
was after me would have been content to expel me from my family and
close ties … but then you were attacked…”

“
But I barely knew you when they started to happen,” she
interrupted, a small crease appearing between her brows.

William shrugged, choosing to remain quiet about the fact that
whoever was attempting to hurt him only cared she was his potential
mate, not that they hadn’t mated yet. “I guess it was more than
enough for whoever is trying to hurt us.”

“
So why are we walking into the wolves’ mouth if you’re not
welcome there?” she asked bluntly, crossing her arms over her chest
and inadvertently making his gaze slide over them. William’s cock
twitched and he hurried to look back at Emily’s face. A soft blush
grazed her features. He smiled.

“
Because if my father has fallen ill, then my whole family is
in danger … and if they are in danger, then it is my duty to help
them.”

“
You always want to help people that can manage perfectly
without you?” she snorted.

“
I always want to help people that I love.”

“
You always leave the people you love alone in bed after a
night of passion?” she snapped. Her cheeks blazed. She dropped her
gaze, clearly embarrassed at her outburst.

William breathed a sigh of relief, finally understanding what
had happened. She thought he’d left her. He was an idiot. After
what she’d shared with him, her concerns of becoming simply a
mother to his brood and nothing else in his life, he’d mounted her
like a mare and left her discarded. He hadn’t meant to run, but the
need had overcome him. He shook his head and pushed away from the
wall. He wanted her to understand his true nature … but the time
was not right. His wolf paced anxiously, eager to get close to her
again. William stood at the foot of the bed.

“
I couldn’t sleep and I didn’t want to wake you,” he said
softly.

She
turned to look at him, her gaze once more a stony mask of
anger.

“
Yet, you can’t sleep today either and you don’t leave,
instead choosing to pace the room like a caged animal and keeping
me awake in the process,” she retorted. “If you were so worried
about my sleep, you shouldn’t have bedded me in the first
place.”
“Emily.” The truth was on his tongue. He wanted to tell her. He
wanted to explain to her what he was and what that meant, but he
couldn’t, not until she agreed to mate with him and that wouldn’t
happen until she loved him back.

“
What?”

“
I…” He passed a hand over his face. “Forget it. I apologize.
I did not mean to hurt your feelings in any way. I’ve told you
before and I’ll tell you again until it enters that stubborn head
of yours. I love you. I didn’t marry you so you could give me
children only to leave you abandoned in an old house. I want you as
my wife, as my companion, as my mate.”

Emily
snorted, turning her face away from him.

“
You barely know me, William. You married me, God know why.”
She shrugged. “Out of a whim, or because the idea of conquering the
unconquerable appealed to you, or because you thought I needed help
and your hero complex nature went after me. I had my life set up
for me and you came and ruined it and now,” her voice wavered, and
she paused as if changing her mind about what she was going to say,
“…here we are.” She ended in a sigh.

William sat next to her. He reached for her chin, gently
tilting her head so she would look at him again. Conflicted
emotions seemed to vacillate in her gaze. He wanted to say so many
things to her. Things he couldn’t share, not yet at least. So he
did the only thing he could do, he leaned in and kissed her softly.
He didn’t want to possess her, didn’t want to claim her in that
kiss. He wanted to soothe her. He wanted her to feel his love
through his lips. She stiffened so he pressed his mouth against
hers, happy when she sighed against him, easily opening up for him,
as if she too couldn’t resist the connection that flowed between
them. He didn’t touch her tongue to his, choosing instead to simply
concentrate on their lips and their softness.

Excitement coursed through his body, his wolf coming wide
awake at the proximity of his mate. Her lips molded to his
perfectly, giving and taking in time with his. He wanted to touch
her but he kept his hands to himself. There would be no touching or
things would quickly get out of hand. His body was burning up, his
wolf coming slightly afore as it struggled to not mate against the
woman it loved. He pushed it back with a strangled groan. Emily
whimpered and his heart danced in his chest. She could deny it all
she wished, but she felt some connection with him. He ran his
tongue over her bottom lip and she opened her mouth, allowing him
entrance but still he hung back. Instead, he locked their lips,
tugging on the bottom bow with his teeth. She moaned, the sound
traveling straight to his already engorged member. He peppered her
lips with kisses and she made small whimpering noises. His hands
curled over the sheets in an attempt to not touch her. Emily pulled
back and he sighed. Her eyes were swirling with desire, her mouth
red and raw from his kisses.

“
Touch me?”

William shook his head. “If I touch you…”

His eyes
widened then closed as she leaned into him and kissed him, hard.
Her soft hands slid up his arms, squeezing lightly. As he had done
to her, she did to him, sliding the tip of her tongue across his
bottom lip, causing him to groan. However, she did not stop there.
Her tongue ventured into his mouth, sliding against his in an
intimate caress. Her inquisitive hands traveled further up, lacing
around the nape of his neck and keeping him prisoner to her
kisses.

William let her take control. He knew she needed it and he was
more than happy to let her measure the pace, yet still, he did not
touch her. Touching her would mean she’d be on her back with him
rutting between her legs and taking them both to paradise and back.
He wanted that. So much, that his cock leaked at the tip and
throbbed with need, but with morning coming so soon, he wasn’t sure
it would be a good idea. Emily moved in closer, her soft breasts
pressing against his chest and causing a tremor to run through him.
She pulled back, fire and determination in her gaze.

“
Touch me,” she repeated.

William
shook his head. Emily smiled. Not her trademark lopsided grin but a
real smile, the sort that made her lips curl upwards and reached
her eyes.

“
All right,” she whispered, leaning in to kiss him again. He
closed his eyes, enjoying her soft taste and her unique fragrance.
His wolf was wild with glee. His mate wanted to touch him––she
wanted him.

“
Don’t open your eyes,” she said softly. William’s lips
twitched. He could hear the smile in her voice as she moved around
in the bed. This was a side of Emily he didn’t know. He knew she
was direct and had an acid sense of humor, he knew she was stubborn
and had spirit, but this, this playfulness he felt was new. Perhaps
he’d never seen it before because he’d never had the chance. He had
had a glimpse of it though, during their first dance at the
assembly. There he’d seen her cheeks flushed and mirth in her eyes
as she danced to the merry tune.

William
groaned, his eyes snapping open as he felt her naked body press
against his.

“
Emily,” he growled.

“
Be quiet. You don’t want to touch me, fine, but I want to
touch you.”

“
And you have to do it naked?”

She laughed, the sound traveling straight to his heart and
curling up against it, both the muscle in his chest and the wolf
treasuring the coveted sound.

“
You’re wet. You smell like rain.” She nuzzled his neck, and
kissed it softly. William shivered. Her lips curled upwards against
his neck. She kissed his jaw and his temple. “You’re going to catch
a cold.”

Her voice was like a gentle breeze against his ear. Her hands
slid down his chest and started to tug at his shirt. William helped
her by lifting his hips. Her right hand eagerly snuck beneath the
material. William hissed out a breath as her warm hands touched
him. Her eyes trained on him, she gently ran her hands across his
stomach, leisurely lifting his shirt at the same time. William’s
breath turned labored. His cock hardened to the point of pain when
she leaned into him.

“
Lift your arms,” she whispered against his lips. “And don’t
say a word,” she added before he could issue a protest.

William swallowed and did as she asked. Carefully, she slipped
his shirt past his head, muttering something under breath when the
material snagged on his shoulders. He didn’t offer his help. If she
wanted to strip him, she could do it herself. After a second, the
material gave way and she threw the long white shirt carelessly to
the side. His wolf preened in pleasure as she feasted her eyes on
his body. The hunger on her gaze was vivid, her arousal almost
tangible on the tip of his tongue. She might not love him, but
Emily Bunsbury Dalton certainly found him attractive.

“
Someday,” she said softly, running her fingertips over his
ribs and some old scars he had, “you must tell me where you got all
these scars.”

William
nodded. He would tell her. Once she knew the full truth he would
tell her how he’d gotten many of those scars roughing about as a
rambunctious pup.

“
Just like the one below your eye.” She leaned in again, her
soft breasts pressing against his naked chest and making his heart
jump-start. His cock hardened further, liquid gathering at the top
and staining his trousers. He could feel her erect nipples rubbing
against him. She moved in closer, balancing herself by placing a
hand on his shoulder, and pressed her cheek to his.

“
I think I’ve wanted to touch your scar since the moment I met
you,” she whispered, so softly, he had trouble hearing her. Gently,
she pressed her lips to the thin line of uneven flesh that
stretched from below his eye to the side of his mouth, a memento of
a rough argument he’d had with one of his cousins. Sweat broke at
his back and he closed his eyes, emitting a strangled groan as the
tip of her tongue slid across the flesh, playing with the edge of
his lips before sliding against his mouth.

“
You still don’t want to touch me?” she murmured against his
mouth.

“
No. Not tonight.” How he managed to say that was beyond him.
His wolf whined in frustration.

Emily
graced him with one of her lop-sided smiles. William’s lips parted,
a groan sticking in his throat as she reached for the flap in his
trousers.

“
Emily,” her name sounded strangled even to his own ears. She
had a hold in him he couldn’t understand. It went beyond the mating
call. It was simply Emily. Beautiful, spirited Emily, touching him,
undressing him. Perhaps, he thought distractedly as she loosened
the flap and undid the buttons, he was dreaming. He growled low in
his throat as her hands caressed his engorged cock. Liquid seeped
from the top as she attempted to wrap her hand around
it.

“
This is what you placed inside of me yesterday?” she muttered
quietly. William gave her a curt nod, words escaping him as she ran
her palm across his member. He closed his eyes, the wolf inside of
him jumping with excitement. If she continued stroking him, he’d
lose control. He could feel his flesh prickling with his animal
awareness. His senses heightened, he could smell her fresh soap and
her musky arousal. She was excited, very much so.

“
I don’t see how it managed to fit.” She ran her thumb across
his slit, spreading the juices over the head. William groaned at
the sudden loss of her touch. He opened his eyes and emitted
another strangled sound as he saw her stick her finger into her
mouth. Her eyes widened as she noticed him looking at her. Giving
him a toothy smile, she scrambled out of bed. William gaped at her
as she kneeled before him. Taking one of his knees into each of her
hands, she spread them apart.

“
Tomorrow,” she said, placing herself in between his legs.
“I’ll let you know where I discovered this little
trick.”

William groaned. He shut his eyes tightly. Emily grasped his
cock, stroking it softly. The moment her mouth touched the head he
threw his head back and howled in pleasure. He felt her smile
against his cock before she rolled her tongue against the head,
licking it from top to bottom. William struggled to keep his hands
to himself when he wanted nothing more than to grasp her head and
set the pace. Emily wiggled closer and pressed tiny kisses across
his member. A drop of liquid flowed to the top and she quickly
swiped it off. William growled. He couldn’t seem to take enough
oxygen into his lungs as he watched her open her mouth and
tentatively slide the head of his cock into its warm
recess.