He leaned closer, resting his head against her breasts while she held the cloth to his temple. “You could have used your nightgown to stop the bleeding.”

She understood that his intention was to get her naked. “Were you trying to seduce me in bed?” A warmth blossomed within her at the thought.

“That was my general hope, yes. I seem to have blundered.”

“You should have announced your presence. I thought you were an intruder.”

“I meant to surprise you.”

“It might have saved your head.” Her hand moved to touch his temple. The bleeding had stopped, but a vicious swelling rose up.

“How are the children?” he asked.

“Well enough. Nigel is spoiling them, but Royce keeps asking when you’re coming back. I think he misses you.”

She ran her palm over his cheek. “Nigel wants to bring us to London. He spoke of reintroducing me into society.” She hadn’t yet made up her mind on whether to go. Her uncle kept insisting that she face her fears.

“No. I want you to remain here, out of harm’s way.”

She didn’t argue. “You seem to have brought yourself into harm’s way.” Lightly she touched the wound again, and he hissed. “I am so sorry for this.”

“You could kiss me to atone for it.”

As if a single kiss would heal all between them. She had longed to see him again so much, in spite of everything. Now that he was here, her willpower crumbled into dust.

Before she could think, he met her lips, tracing them with his tongue. Threads of desire spun a silken web of need through her skin.

Was it truly that horrible if she let him make love to her? Did that make her weak? Of course it did.

“What about the will?” she whispered. “You went to investigate it. Can we overturn the custody of the children?”

“We’ll talk about that later. For now, I want you to close your sweet mouth until I’ve finished ruining you.” His hands moved beneath her nightgown, cupping her warm breasts. And when his mouth lowered to torment her nipple, she lost the memory of everything she’d meant to ask him.

He hauled her to her feet before she could change her mind and lowered her upon her stomach on the bed. Parting her legs, he slid a finger inside her. Emily gasped, her body fully ready for him. He used his hands to caress her intimately, his fingers sliding deep within her wetness.

“I thought about you each day since I left,” he murmured.

And I thought of you, she wanted to say. But she could not speak at all when his hard length invaded her softness. The position made her completely vulnerable to him, powerless to move as he drove inside her.