Later that night they crept out of the house and stole across the lawns down toward the river that ran through the Marquess of Aaron’s estate. The night was bright thanks to the full moon and very little clouds, although in the distance Hamish could see the flash of lightening and hear the low rumble of thunder.

The hot spring was a fortunate addition to the estate, and many years ago, the Marquess’s grandfather had the spring transformed into a location family and guests could use. Today the spring was lined with stone, and housed paving about the edges, so people could get in and out without making their feet dirty. Inside the spring there was a ledge that ran along the outer edges of the circular bath, giving those enjoying the warm water a seat to sit on while partially submerged.

“Oh my, this is amazing,” Katherine said, as the path gave way to the spring.

Steam rose into the night sky, and the closer they came toward it, the warmer the air became.

“If I were Cecilia I would live in this.” She let go of his hand and went over to the water, dipping her hand into it. “It’s so hot.”

A condition that Hamish was feeling most decidedly as well. Seeing Katherine under a moonlit sky, her skin translucent and flushed after their exertion of running toward the spring, left an odd ache in his chest. He untied his cravat, laying it on a bench that sat beside the spring. “Shall we get in?” he asked, removing his waistcoat.

Katherine joined him. He sucked in an audible breath when she clasped his shirt and pulled it over his head. “Most definitely.”

They undressed quickly, both helping the other with buttons and ties. Hamish stood back and watched as she dropped her shift about her legs, her figure more magnificent than he’d ever thought possible. He’d not thought he would ever want a woman as much as he wanted Katherine, and the emotion gave him pause. To feel more for someone other than merely like was dangerous ground. Such emotions led to marriage and then children, and the latter was an affliction that he would never submit his bride to. The woman he married would not want children. He had his heir, and he would not risk the life of his wife simply to have child. He’d already lost a sister, that was well and truly enough.

Her hand clasped his jaw, and he met her gaze, surprised to see concern in her rich brown orbs. “Is everything well, Hamish? You seem a little lost in thought.”

He pulled her into his arms, kissing her soundly. She chuckled through the kiss, before her arms came about his neck and she kissed him back with as much passion as she brought forth in him. Scooping her into his arms, he carried her into the spring, stepping down into the water with care. Releasing her, he allowed her to gain her feet, and watched in delight as she waded into the hot water.

“Oh, it’s heavenly. Thank you for bringing me here.” She kneeled into the water, covering her body and he missed her puckered nipples that had reacted to the cold night air.

Hamish went and sat on the bench, watching her as she floated about in the water, simply enjoying their time there before she joined him on the seat. She slid her hands up his chest and kissed him quickly on the lips.

“Now that you have me here, all alone and…naked, what are we going to do?”

Her grin was infectious, and he chuckled. “What did you have in mind?” Hamish knew what he had in mind, what he’d thought of all day and nothing else. When Katherine had played croquet, she had bent over to hit the little white ball he’d been decidedly conscious of the fact his buckskin breeches and day coat could only cover so much of his desire for her. He’d had to sit himself down and talk about London’s latest on dit just to distract himself. “Maybe you ought to straddle my lap, and we’ll go from there.”

Her eyes brightened with interest and she quickly did as he suggested. Her body fit him like a glove, smooth and silky in his hands. Her mons pressed against his cock and she sighed when she purposefully slid against him, her gaze darkening in arousal.

“And now what?” she asked, running her hands into his hair and holding him tight. Her breathing deepened, and he could see that her continual sliding against his rock-hard member was giving her pleasure, teasing her to do more.

“Now,” he said, his voice taut. “You’ll guide me within you. And then, my darling.” He ran his hand along her spine to clasp her nape. “You’re going to fuck me.”

She half gasped half moaned, and the idea of what he’d said threatened his sanity. She reached between them, and clasping his cock, moving it toward her cunny.

Katherine bit her lip , and with a torturously slow descent, she took him fully within her. Her eyes widened before hunger crossed her features. “I thought it would hurt.”

He shook his head, holding her hips and guiding her into a steady rhythm. “If we’re doing it right, it will never hurt again.”

Something shifted in her eyes before she blinked, and it was gone. She moved more forcefully and all thoughts of anything else vanished from his mind. He would have her like this for as long as she wished it. He could not give her up. “I knew one night with you would never have been enough.”

She shivered in his hold before she kissed him with sensuous heat. He reveled in the arms of a woman who wasn’t afraid to take or ask for what she wanted. To give her the control to take their lovemaking at her own pace. While it might drive him to insanity, he would ensure she gained her pleasure before he would take his.

Katherine arced her back, giving him a beautiful view of her breasts that rocked in the water. “You’re so beautiful.” He clasped one breast and leaning down kissed the rosy pink nipple. She moaned, increasing her pace and he fought for control. Damn it, he wanted to fuck her hard, sit her on the side of the spring, lay her down on the pavement and take her with his mouth. Wring every little amount of joy that he could while they were here, away from London and their normal lives.

Her core tightened about him, her pace increased, deepened and he groaned. “Yes, like that,” he said, helping her to keep her rhythm.

Katherine shut her eyes, threw back her head as she climaxed in his arms. Her satisfied sigh distracted him and at the peak of coming, he pulled out, wrapping his hand about his cock and pulled himself to climax.

She flopped against his chest and he held her close, running his hand along her back while they both regained their breaths.

“London will be so very boring when we return. Now that I’ve had you, how will I ever continue the life I had before? You’ve opened my eyes to what I’ve given up on, what I thought I didn’t need,” she murmured.

She laid her head against his shoulder and he met her gaze, leaning down to kiss her. He too wasn’t unaffected by their joining. Hamish had never had an emotional reaction to having a woman before, he’d never had an overwhelming need to protect, to worry and care about her thoughts, needs and desires. His past liaisons had simply been sterile, non-emotional contacts. But with Katherine, something was different. He was different with her.

He liked her. A lot.

“Tell me something that you’ve never told another soul,” he asked, wanting to know her better.

Her hand idly ran through his hair and she sighed. “I lied to you when I told you I wear breeches to work. I never wear them and had my father found out about my attire I would’ve been locked in my room until I expired of old age.”

Hamish chuckled, not expecting that declaration of honesty. “You were very comfortable in them. What made you do it?”

“I found out you were to be at the house that day and I wanted to shock you, tease you even.”

His hands ran down her back, sliding over one globe of her ass and his cock twitched. “Well, it worked. As I watched you walk up the stairs I thought of nothing other than whipping you into a vacant room, and removing those breeches.”

“Really,” she said, leaning up and kissing him.

Yes, really.

His heart thumped hard in his chest. “Maybe we could continue our affair in London, Katherine.” He was a cad, he should never ask her to continue such an affair. The risk was all hers being unmarried and not his social equal. But he could not help himself. There was no doubt their paths would cross in London, their mutual friends ensured that. How could he turn away from her, not want her every time they met.

It would be torture and he couldn’t do it. A warning gong sounded in his mind that he was going against his own rules, but at this moment, with the thought of not having Katherine in his arms again, just as she was now wasn’t appealing. Hamish shoved the rules aside. They would simply have to be careful, both with not being caught and not getting her with child.

Her hand fluttered against his chest, settling over his heart. “You want that?”

He nodded without hesitation. “I do. You are not rid of me yet, Miss Martin, and until you’ve had your fill of me, that is how things will stay.”

She sat up, squirming against him again. “What else can we do, Lord Leighton. I’m yours.”

Her words rang with sincerity and spiked his lust. What was so different about her? What made her so special. “You’re playing with fire, Katherine. Are you sure you want to know?”

She chuckled, her breasts grazing his chest and hardening his cock to rock. “Oh yes, I want to know and do everything before our time is up.”

The thought of not having her this way, then watching her walk out of his life and being only an acquaintance left a sour taste in his mouth. He would have her, care for her for as long as she wished him to. He hoisted her onto the side of the spring, sliding his hands against her thighs. “Lay back and open your legs. I want to taste you.”

She bit her lip and he inwardly groaned. “If I do as you ask, can you promise me you’ll allow me to do the same to you?”

Last evening she’d touched his cock, stroked it with her hand, but he’d not allowed anything else for fear of losing all control. The thought of her having her beautiful lips wrapped about his member, suckling hard, her tongue licking up his member almost made his eyes roll back in his head. “Very well, but first, it’s my turn.”

Katherine did as he asked. “Teach me,” she said, sighing as he kissed her mons.

Oh, he intended to.