“Are you ready?” he repeated, a whisper this time and directly into her ear. She whimpered in answer and he whispered again. “It’s all right, Diana. I’ve got you. You will be safe in my arms.
And then, with a flick of the wrist, they began to walk. She jumped, startled, and laughed. He laughed too, but he was desperate to bury his face in her hair, to kiss her neck, her cheek.
“Diana,” he breathed, “My Diana.”
“It’s wonderful,” she said, turning slightly to look at Isaac. Her hair, loosened by the wind, fluttered around his face, tickling him. She turned back and leaned forward to feel the tensing muscles in the horse’s neck—so strong, so powerful. “It’s better than I ever imagined.”
“I knew you would adore it,” he said. “Are you ready to go faster?”
“No,” she said quickly, and then she laughed, leaning back into him, into his strong, manly arms. “Yes. Let’s go faster.”
He flicked his wrist again, and the horse sped through the fields and into the woods. Isaac’s arms rested at her sides, so close to wrapping tightly around her instead of the loose and careful grip he had now, and she could feel his hard, muscular body behind her. His warm breath rushed past her every time he spoke, so different to the cold air that blew past them, and they were so close she could smell him—masculine and earthy.
“Isaac,” she breathed again, and he slowed the horse to a walk once more.
“My Diana,” he said back, letting his face fall into her shoulder, the crook of her neck. Her body tingled with want and desire, with everything he had and she couldn’t have…not yet; not here.
Their bodies rose and fell in time with the mare, steadily, rhythmically. Waves of movement came one after the other, and Diana thrilled in it, unable to keep the laughter and joy from her lips.
“This is freedom, Diana,” he whispered into her ear. “This is all for us.”
She felt herself fall back into his arms, her body fitting so perfectly within his, like pieces of a puzzle always meant for one another. She let herself lean against him, feeling his body beneath hers, and wanting, craving, yearning for more.
“Yes,” she said breathlessly, because she could not say anything more. She could only breathe and feel and embrace the sensation of being so near him.
“The horse, us, our love. Together, we are free.”
Diana felt tears begin to prickle in her eyes and she blinked them away. She felt, in her heart, such a pure joy as she had never before experienced, and she never, ever wanted to let that go.
“I love you,” she whispered, even quieter this time, her words barely audible over the wind that rushed by them. But she knew he had heard her, for his grip on the reins relaxed. His arms curled closer to her body, his chest against her back, his cheek next to hers.
“I love you too, Diana.”
They rode the rest of the route around the grounds in a silence that spoke so many words. It was a silence that reassured Diana all would be well, that their love would conquer all. His warm arms around her had made her feel so complete, and she relished the thought that soon, she could have his arms around her whenever she wished.
Chapter 26
“It’s been a lovely day,” Celine said, later, at dinner. Diana heard her, but she couldn’t pull herself away from Isaac.
After the ride, they had separated for the afternoon, and Diana had locked herself in her rooms, refusing to see even Celine. She wanted to relive that morning over and over, to never stop reliving it. She had not even changed for dinner, so caught up in her fantasies she was.
But when she arrived in the dining room, she saw that Isaac, too, had not changed. Poor Celine looked terribly overdressed compared to them, but Diana couldn’t even bring herself to be too concerned about that. All she could think of was Isaac.
They gazed only into each other’s eyes, barely even speaking. Diana could sense Celine watching them, smiling at them, but again, she couldn’t stop herself from focusing on only Isaac.
She had already known she loved him but now…now it was as though he can become a part of her, as though he had entered her and taken her and together, they were one. She knew they were not—not yet, anyhow—but she felt it in her heart, and she clung desperately to it, refusing to let go.
“This pheasant is perfectly cooked, don’t you think? Diana?” Celine asked, trying again to attract their attention.
“What?” Diana turned to her sister. She had a peculiar sensation that she had rather forgotten her sister’s presence, even though she had known all along she was there. “I’m sorry, Celine, did you say something?”
“Only that dinner is delicious.” Celine rolled her eyes at her sister and Diana grinned, unable to stop herself.
“Delicious is an excellent word,” Isaac said, not turning from Diana.
“Your Grace,” Diana said, gently reprimanding him for his innuendo. She turned back to look at him, a return to propriety in her manner. “Is there anything in particular you would like to do during your time with us at Estnell Estate?”
“No,” Isaac said, shaking his head and sitting straight in his chair. “Actually, I have business to attend to tomorrow. I am sure you ladies will be all right for a few hours, won’t you?”
“I’m sure,” Celine said. She cut another chunk of meat off and held it in front of her mouth as she spoke. “Diana can tell me all about her day.”
Celine shot Diana a meaningful glance before putting her fork into her mouth, and Diana flushed with embarrassment. She was sure her sister could see through her to her wanton thoughts and desires. She looked down at her own plate and cut her meat, the knife screeching on the porcelain. Isaac waved the butler over, requesting more wine.
“And you, Celine,” Diana said, not looking up at her. “What have you done today?”
“I had a letter from Lord Percival,” she said proudly. “Arrangements for the wedding are coming along nicely, and he says he is making some updates to the house.”
“Really?” Diana asked, surprised. “But his house is so wonderful already.”
“It is a magnificent estate,” Isaac agreed, cutting into his potatoes. “What updates could he possibly make?”
“I don’t know for sure,” Celine said with a shrug. “But he said he wants to make it worthy of my presence.”
“Oh Celine, that’s ever so sweet.”
“Isn’t it? My Lord Percy is terribly thoughtful. I suspect we shall have the grandest wedding society will see all year.”
“I don’t doubt it,” Diana said.
“It’s because he loves me so very much, you see,” Celine continued. “I do believe he thought he would never marry until he met me.”
“Of that, I am also sure,” Diana said.
“We shall be careful not to overshadow your own wedding. Of course, you’ll be married before us, as you are the eldest, Diana.”
“Yes, I suppose we will,” Diana said.
“But either way,” Celine continued. “We shall both be married before the year is out, and we shall be the happiest ladies alive.”
The satisfied grin on her sister’s face told Diana all she needed to know: Celine was as in love and as smitten as she.
How lucky we both are.
Diana glanced to the side, to Isaac, and found he was already looking at her, those eyes penetrating her, looking into her soul. She felt a frisson of excitement. She liked it when he looked at her, openly scrutinized her. It brought her alive.
“I—” she said, no clue what she had intended to say, but wanting to say something to break the spell. She turned away, her cheeks dusted with pink.
Being with Isaac was something truly special, and she dearly loved her sister, but being with them both at the same time felt peculiar for Diana, as though two different versions of herself were coming together.
“Perhaps we can take a walk in the gardens tomorrow, Diana?” Celine asked. “It seems too long since we last did that.”
“Yes,” Diana said. She smi
led at Celine and raised her wine glass, the deep-red claret shining in the light. “That sounds like a lovely idea. And we’ll take that plump little dog, too.”
After dinner, Diana claimed she had a headache and disappeared into her chambers without saying much more. Her mind was in such turmoil after the day she had had, despite her rest that afternoon.
All she could think was of his arms, around her, clutching the reins. The feel of his breath on her skin played over and over in her mind, the scent of him sending her wild with hunger. She needed to be alone, to put all her lustful thoughts to rest.
As she undressed, she thought again of how perfect he was—his smile, his humor, his wit and intelligence—and she thought of how perfect their marriage would be, their life together, their children. He made her feel so warm inside, as though everything was right.
She laid on the bed, sighing contentedly. From a life of loneliness and hopeful wishing to one of simple happiness, it had seemed such a short journey, and yet such a complete one. There was no doubt about the love between her and Isaac, and nothing would ever come between them.
As the sun set and the windows turned dark, Diana found her thoughts turning back to her riding lesson. She had never wanted to ride a horse but with Isaac—goodness, with Isaac—it was an entirely different experience. It became one of passion, of desire. It was one of anticipation and a taste of what the future held.
His touch had teased her, left her wanting more, craving him. She laid there, replaying every movement, every sigh and breath. She thought of the way his muscles moved as he did, she remembered the way he had nuzzled into the crook of her neck and she imagined all that, but with a flash of bare flesh.
Diana squirmed on the bed, hot with desire and thighs slick with need. She longed for his touch, for his kiss. She clenched the muscles in her legs, enjoying the sensation within her, and she bit down on her lip, trying to force away her yearning.
Finally, and with a loud huff, she pushed herself off the bed. She blew the loose strands of hair from her hot face, flustered from her thoughts and frustrated by her lack of ability to do something about them.
Except—
An idea came to her, and she gasped. There was something she could do about it. Isaac was in the house, and by that hour most—if not all—of the servants would be in bed. It was a bold move, unladylike and most definitely improper, but the need in her was so great she didn’t think she would be able to stop herself.
Her body yearned for his, cried out for it, and she followed its calling.
She crept out of the door, looked both ways down the corridor to ensure no one was there, and then, in her night-rail and nothing more, she tiptoed to Isaac’s room.
She rapped gently on the door.
“Isaac,” she hissed urgently, but there came no answer. Diana closed her eyes and waited a few moments, before trying again.
This time, he opened the door, but with such caution she almost burst out laughing.
“It’s me,” she said, chuckling. He had relaxed his dress and seemed half-asleep.
“I—” he stuttered, looking her up and down, his eyes wide with surprise at the state of her. “Yes,” he said finally. “I can see it’s you. What are you doing here, Diana? In the middle of the night? And in your night-rail?”
“Won’t you let me in? I dread to think of the trouble I would be in if I were caught out here like this?”
“Oh, yes, of course,” he said, then he opened the door wide. “Come in.”
Diana looked around the guest room she had seen so many times before. Except now, it was enhanced with Isaac’s belongings. A shirt was thrown carelessly over the back of the chair, the trunk left open and half spilling over with belongings. At the jug and bowl there stood a razor, a little soap.
And most of all, the room smelled of him. His scent had permeated everything, and she breathed in deeply.
“Seriously,” he said. “What are you doing here? This is most—”
“Improper?” she asked, looking at him with an eyebrow raised. She looked at him coquettishly, and then couldn’t stop herself from laughing.
“Yes,” he said, eyes wide but laughing. “It’s most improper. You really shouldn’t—”
“I know,” she said. “But I couldn’t resist it. I have not been able to stop myself from thinking about earlier, about—”
“The horse ride? No, me neither. It was—”
“Exciting?” she suggested. She took a bold step forward, so that they stood mere inches apart, breath mixing with breath, heart mixing with heart.
“Can I kiss you?” Isaac asked, his cheeks tinging pink.
Is that from passion or from embarrassment?
“Do you really need to ask?” she said, and she moved that extra inch forward, so that her chest was pushed up against his, her breasts compressed between them, so that she needed to tilt her face up to see him.
He tilted his down, his nose against her nose, his eyes looking into her eyes, and he raised his arms up until they stroked hers, bare and tingling with his touch. And then he leaned forward, and he kissed her.
It set a series of fireworks off in her body, each part of her soul screaming out for him, her body thankful she had hunted him down and found him. She pushed herself up against him, hungry and full of need, and his arms went around her body, his hands stroked her back, her shoulders, her neck, her hair.
How she wanted him, more than she had ever wanted anything. She would follow him to the ends of the world if he asked, and she knew, without doubt, without fear, that he would do the same for her.
Without taking her mouth from his, she took another step forward and in doing so, pushed him back a step. He laughed, his lips tensing and a rush of air pushing from his nose, but he did not pull away. And then she laughed too, and they finally broke apart.
“What is so funny?” she asked, a mask of mock irritation on her face.
“Nothing,” he said, shaking his head in bewilderment. “I…I don’t know, it’s nothing. I suppose this is just not what I expected to be doing this evening.”
“Nor I,” she admitted, turning away a little to hide her blush. “But I was alone, in my room. And I couldn’t stop thinking of you and I…goodness, I don’t know what came over me. I had this overwhelming drive to search for you, to find you.”
“Well you’ve found me.”
“I found you.”
His smile had a hint of mischief, something that called out to her, and that her own smile answered. She took another step forward and he, another step back, and then he was falling, landing on the bed with a gentle thud. She stood over him, peering down at him.
“Have I ever told you how incredibly handsome you are?” she asked.
“I don’t know,” he said, his voice barely a whisper. “For right now, my mind can think of nothing but your beauty.”
With a grin, she climbed onto the bed next to him, and she leaned down and kissed him. He quickly propped himself up onto his elbows and pushed back as she pushed him. It was a passionate kiss, not unlike their first ever, although this kiss was bolder, stronger, fiercer. It was a greedy kiss, a hungry one. They took as much as they gave and they grasped at one another with an animalistic appetite.
She ran her hand over his chest, wishing the shirt was not there to hamper her progress and in response, as though he could read her thoughts, his pulled it over his head. She touched his flesh, warm and hard, let her fingers trace the outline of his muscles, and she watched wherever her hand went, fascinated by this new sensation.
When she looked back up at him, bottom lip caught between her teeth, she let her hand snake around his neck, entwine itself in his hair, and she pulled his face closer to her, kissing him harder, faster.
And then she felt it, and she gasped with delight. His hand, against her breast, eager, searching, barely disguised by the thin cotton of her night-rail. Her nipple hardened under his teasing thumb, while her tongue probed into his mouth, tasting him, lic
king him, enjoying him.
“Diana, are you—”
“Hush,” she said, raising a finger to his lips. “This is not a time for talking. This is a time for action.”
He looked at her and she could see the surprise and the delight in his eyes. She was hungry for it, she wanted him, and she would have him, no matter what.
She let her hand run down his chest, over his waistband, lower still. Through his thin summer trousers, she could feel the outline of his hardness, strong and rigid for her, because of her, and she moaned. This was what she wanted. This was why she had come.
He put a hand roughly behind her head, eager, and pulled her forward, kissed her hard. And then his mouth moved, exploring her cheek, her neck, nibbling at her ear. She tingled all over, and she could feel his manhood swelling further.
Games of Desire for Lady Hellion: A Steamy Historical Regency Romance Novel Page 21