Cinders and Ashes by Rebecca King

knew
what she was asking for, and began to move his hips slowly. His
blue eyes locked firmly on hers as he possessed her.
    “ If you were a whore,” Sebastian whispered as his rigid length
slid into her welcoming heat, “You would do this several times a
night, with several different men, and be a wee bit richer in the
morning.” He placed a kiss upon her parted lips, swallowing her
gasp of delight as he tipped her hips upwards to meet his deepening
thrusts. “You won’t be doing this with anyone else, Amelia.”
Sebastian’s voice hardened as he thought about any other man lying
with her as he was, and quickly closed the thought off as jealousy
and temper surged.
    “ The only lover you will have in your bed will be me,” he
declared boldly, before easing her legs higher and quickening his
thrusts.
    Amelia
didn’t respond, knowing he was quite right. For her, there could
never be another man. Nobody could ever recreate the wondrous
sensations she experienced with Sebastian. She didn’t know whether
to be happy she had this chance to experience such closeness to
him, or intensely sad.
    All
thought ended with a sigh, as Sebastian took possession in a way
that left them both panting and moaning as they raced towards
completion.

CHAPTER FIVE

    “ When does Sir Hubert leave?” Sebastian yawned widely, as dawn
broke through the night sky. Although they were exhausted, he knew
Amelia was still awake and lay sated and exhausted before him. He
could almost hear her thinking.
    “ I think he is leaving later this morning. I have said I will
be there later to pack a basket for them to take on the journey.
Then I will begin to clean the house and get ready to close it.”
Amelia’s voice quivered with tears she fought hard not to
shed.
    Her
senses were still reeling from the events of the past night.
Although tiredness beckoned, she hadn’t objected to any of his
demands. Instead she had given herself wantonly, without hesitation
and had thoroughly enjoyed her experiences throughout the night.
The one night she could share with Sebastian before her life
irrevocably changed once more.
    “ Then you shall do your chores, and return here when they have
gone. We have plans of our own to make.” Sebastian watched as she
slowly absorbed the import of his words, unsurprised when she
stiffened in his arms. Instinctively he tightened them to stop her
moving away.
    “ Plans?” Amelia’s heart thumped heavily in her chest as she
stared blankly across the room. This was it, a tiny voice inside
her cautioned. This is the time when he tells you that he is going
to leave too, and you will be all alone again just as you
predicted, although this time will be worse because Sir Hubert
won’t be there either. She closed her eyes and waited for his
fateful words.
    “ We have to make plans for our own departure,” Sebastian said,
feeling her jolt against him.
    “ Pardon?” Amelia’s tone was blank as she struggled to take on
the import of his words.
    “ You cannot remain here either, Amelia.” Sebastian tried to
keep his voice soft. He knew she loved her little home, and
although he couldn’t understand why she didn’t want to leave it, he
knew she was going to be upset.
    “ Why not?” Her tone was a mere whisper. She pushed against his
arms and turned to gaze at him, nonplussed. There was no way she
could go with him when he left. Was that what he was
suggesting?
    “ You have to come with me.” Sebastian sighed when she began to
shake her head, before trying to leave the bed.
    Instead
of letting her go, he pushed her deeper into the bed by leaning
over her. “You are in danger here.” He shook her slightly to
emphasize his words, urging her to look at him and understand the
significance of his words.
    “ Danger?” She knew she was parroting his words, but simply
couldn’t control the rising well of panic at the thought of leaving
her beloved cottage with him. “How?”
    “ It was Danvers, the coachman, in that cellar.