Chapter Twelve
UNTANGLING HERSELF FROM CHARLES’S arms, Raina slid herself off the bed. As she looked over her shoulder, she watched as Charles slept on. Picking up his discarded shirt, she slid it over her body. It hung down to brush across her mid-thighs. As she buttoned the shirt, she walked over to gaze out the window.
Pulling the lace curtain aside, she saw nothing but lush green hills surrounding them. When looking below, she realized they were not at an inn after all. Charles had told her the truth. It looked to be a private home. There was a lovely garden below her room, filled with flowers and food. Raina took notice of the quietness. Not only outdoors but inside as well.
Curious of their whereabouts, Raina opened the door to explore. Her bare feet wandered over the cold hardwood floors as she made her way along the hallways. She stopped to peek inside the rooms for any other visitors. Every bedroom looked empty, except for being filled with familiar knick knacks to the owner of the room. It must be a family home of the Mallory’s.
Raina made her way downstairs to continue her search. Where she found the library and parlor filled with comfortable but worn furniture. Obviously, this place didn't host guests, but was used for a family. She saw small miniatures of young children on the side tables. Picking one up, the frame showed two young children dressed in their Sunday best, frolicking on the ground with a puppy. She could tell from the picture of their joy and the love they shared. They were adorable children with blond hair and green eyes. Brother and sister. Charles and Ivy. Raina touched the photo, her fingers lingering over the boy. A sadness overcame her in that moment. The loss of her own brother at this age coming to her mind. It was never far from her thoughts; it is what fueled her revenge. But seeing this photo, brought back her memories of happier times with her own brother.
With shaking fingers, she sat on the settee holding the picture in her hands. Her thoughts were a jumble between imaging how Charles acted as a child to how her brother would have been if he had the chance to live.
Startled by footsteps coming into the room, Raina set the picture on the table. An older woman came bustling into the room carrying a tray filled with tea and sandwiches. Raina embarrassed at her state of undress tried pulling the shirt past her knees, when that failed she grabbed at a pillow to cover herself.
“I thought I heard somebody awake in here. You must be famished my dear,” the old lady said as she set the tray on the table in front of Raina.
Raina sat in silence as the servant rattled on about insensitive men driving women through the night.
Mrs. Hobbs saw how unsure the young lady was in her discomfort from her lack of clothes and tried not to draw attention to the obvious. She could also tell how nervous she was. As soon as she had a private moment with the young man, she would give him a lecture on his list of priorities.
“I am Mrs. Hobbs dear, me and the Mr. are the caretakers of this cottage. If you are ever in need of something you let one of us know. I take it young Mallory is still abed. He always was one to laze around in the mornings. What is your name dearie?”
“I am…” Raina paused, she almost told Mrs. Hobbs her true name. Running through the possibilities in her head of how safe it would be, she tried to think of an alias swiftly to tell the nice servant. As in all avenues of her life the fewer individuals who realized her real identity the better. Raina could never forgive herself if something would happen to this innocent old lady because she knew her to be Raina LeClair.
Before she told her one of her aliases, Charles himself sauntered into the room wearing nothing but his breeches. His devilish smile shone at the predicament she had gotten herself into from wandering from the privacy of the bedroom. He had no decency in flaunting his body in front of the servant.
“Lady Raina Mallory is her name, my dear Mrs. Hobbs,” Charles answered for Raina with a kiss upon the servant’s cheek.
Raina became very still at this announcement. How dare he? Her anger began to boil, underneath her calm façade. One of the many tricks her father taught her, never let them see your anger, that way they would not recognize when your fury would strike.
“Oh, you have finally settled down. First Ivy, now you. And this must be your honeymoon. Now I understand the rush to get the cottage ready. Here I am thinking the worst of you. Congratulations my dear boy, I must get started on a grand dinner for you, then Mr. Hobbs and I will make ourselves scarce for a couple of days.” Mrs. Hobbs gushed on as she left the parlor.
Charles laughed at Mrs. Hobbs excitement. Snatching a sandwich from the tray he ate it while waiting for her reaction.
“Will you pour the tea my dear Lady Mallory? Please eat a few sandwiches too, I would hate for you to waste away on our honeymoon.”
Raina calmly poured his tea. She saw he waited for her to explode, but she did not show him her rage. Laying a couple of sandwiches on her plate she sat back with a lady like precision and ate her small respite. Setting the plate on the table, she finished her tea. Patting her lips with a napkin, she sat back and folded her hands in her lap and waited.
Charles sat in a chair across from her and waited while she ate the sandwiches and drank her tea as a meek wife would appear. But he knew different. Just as Raina was not his wife she was not a meek lady. She was fire and ice combined in one. Raina impressed him with her icy demeanor she thought she presented to him. She was cool, composed and under control. But he knew she was waiting to explode on him, he had a taste of her fire earlier and noticed it brimmed underneath the surface at this moment.
Deciding that he wanted the fire to explode and burn out of control, he rose and closed the doors to the parlor. He locked the door and slid the key into the pocket of his breeches. Sitting on the settee next to her, he angled his body, so that his chest pressed against her shoulder.
Bending his head, he whispered in her ear, “Shall we continue with our honeymoon dearest?” he baited her.
Raina understood what he was doing. He wanted her to explode in anger at his audacity. He wanted her to confide in him and explain her plans for revenge. As much as he portrayed the lover upstairs, he was still the spy who put his country before everything else. She was not ready yet to put her trust in him. She may have given her body over to him earlier, but he did not have her heart. How would he respond if she turned the tables on him instead?
His warm breath caressed her neck, sending a warmth to spread over her body. She was aware of him as soon as he entered the room and flashed his smile at her. But it did not compare to the feelings she was having with him pressed against her side. Her body appeared hot and alive, aching for his touch again.
She felt her nipples harden against his shirt, the rough fabric scraping them. With the heat pooling between her legs, she shifted on the couch at her awareness of her need for him. Raina closed her eyes and breathed in deeply hoping to ease the ache for him again already.
He sensed what Raina was suffering, Charles smiled at her discomfort. He saw her nipples harden underneath his shirt. Ah, the sight of her in it was making him hard for her. He wanted to unbutton his very own shirt and peel it from her body. When she shifted on the settee, he knew why and smiled, realizing her need he pressed a kiss to the back of her ear.
Wanting her to discuss her feelings with him, he kept the pressure of their attraction building to new heights. Knowing she would pull away at any moment he baited her again.
“I locked the door, so we can continue on this settee.” Charles patted his hand on the cushion next to him.
Turning her head, she brushed her lips across his. At his stillness, she traced his lips with her tongue. When he still did not move, she gracefully slid across his lap. Sliding her legs on both sides of his body, she rose on her knees. Her fingers trailed through his hair, sinking into the soft thickness. Rounding the back of his neck her fingertips came around to the front and slid across his chest. They traced lightly up and down.
As she bent over, her lips traced across his ear, slowing drawing hi
s earlobe between her lips. Gently she sucked, feeling his hardness grow and press into her. Raina smiled as she whispered in his ear, “I thought we were continuing?”
Charles was as still as Michelangelo himself. He didn’t dare move while she straddled his lap. It was heaven and hell combined. While he wanted nothing more to do than rip his shirt off her body, he needed answers. But heaven was overruling his thought process and would most definitely win. The temptation she was providing for him, was a reward for months of agony in trying to find her.
He made a promise to himself, this moment, this time. Then he would get the answers he wanted from her. But for now, he needed her. And she needed him. He sensed their need for each other from her touch to his body. Each stroke of her fingers setting him aflame.
When he slid one hand up his shirt, he caressed her need. She was already wet and ready for him. With his other hand he pulled her head back and sank his lips on her throat. He took a deep breath and inhaled her passion radiating off her neck.
His finger slid deep inside her, finding a rhythm which made her cry out. She gripped his shoulders as he stroked her passions. His mouth found its way to her lips, where he drank in her sweetness and desire. Her body was shaking in his arms. Slowly unraveling bit by bit.
Raina knew she was playing a game with her taunt, but she no longer cared at the outcome. Her need for him was the same need she had for breathing. She realized when she whispered those words what could happen.
Their kiss ignited their passions higher. Charles ripped the buttons off the shirt. They flew and scattered all over the parlor floor. The tiny buttons pinged across the hardwood floor like dice rolling across the table, landing where they rolled.
When he tugged his shirt down, he trapped her arms at her side. Her breasts spilled out for his delight. Urging her to her knees, he brought his head in between her breasts. His tongue tracing the valley which dipped between them. He followed the different paths they traveled to. His hands moved to cup her breasts and brought them to his mouth to enjoy.
Mmm. She was delicious.
One path led to her tight nipple begging to be kissed. His tongue traced the red tip. As she wiggled on his lap, one of his hands clamped on her buttocks to hold her still. As he tilted his head to the side he looked up and saw her eyes half closed. The look in her eyes was begging for him to kiss her. He took her nipple into his mouth and gently sucked. Charles watched as she closed her eyes in the pleasure of his kiss and moaned.
He sucked her nipple harder and watched as her eyes opened in surprise. Moaning louder she pressed her wetness into his chest. He experienced the slickness as she moved against him. He trailed his lips across to the other breast to please her there too.
As he sucked on her tight nipple, he had to touch her. Sliding his fingers into her core, they sunk into the honey sweetness. Her wetness dripped between his fingers at the onslaught of his passion towards her.
He needed to be in her now. His cock ached to slide deep into her center. Reaching up he ripped his shirt off over her head and undid the placket of his pants. His cock sprang forward brushing across her wetness.
Charles gripped her by her hips as he guided her onto his hardness. He moaned as her wetness surrounded him as she sunk down around his cock. When she had settled as far as he could sink, he held her still on his lap. His fingers digging into her hips as he kept their bodies from moving. If he moved now, he would come. She was tight and wet, gripping his cock like a glove.
Raina was surprised at this position, but she did not show her innocence. He thought she was an experienced spy in every act. She saw his shock this morning when he realized she was a virgin, but he never spoke a word.
She yearned to be an experienced lady for him at that moment, but she had no clue on how to proceed. He was holding her still, when she looked at him to question him with her eyes, she noticed his were closed. He was breathing deeply, and it seemed like he was trying to keep himself under control.
Raina hoped he wasn’t done. Her body felt so alive with him inside her. Moving her hips slightly, his fingers dug into her hips more. Ah, that felt so good. She tried it again, but this time she moved them more into a circle. Hearing a deep moan vibrate up his chest, Raina realized her power. As she kept moving her hips, she realized she was the one who had to set the tempo of this pleasure.
Her fingers sunk into his shoulders as she found her grip. She moved her body up and down, her wetness gliding against his hardness. Charles threw his head back against the cushions as his hands helped guide her rhythm on his cock. She was a natural.
Her breasts teased against his chest. Her tight nipples brushing across as she rose up and down. Raina’s body moved faster as her body began to reach climax. He sensed her need as she tightened around his cock.
“Charles,” she moaned.
He could hear the need in her voice as her body tightened in his arms. Pulling her close he moved his hips with her. He gripped her buttocks as he slid deep inside her. Holding her still, he rotated his hips into hers. He felt her wetness clinging to him and knew she was ready to explode.
“Kiss me Raina,” he demanded.
Her lips kissed him hungrily. Over and over they laid claim to her need to taste him. That was all it took for him to drive himself into her. He slid in deeply then pulled out and repeated himself. Her kisses became more erratic. Her need spilling forth as she devoured his lips. He slid out and waited. Her lips stilled against his.
Waiting. Wanting. Needing.
He slid inside her so slow, he felt every moment as her body exploded around him. Her kisses turning slow and sweet as she melted into his arms. When he entered her fully and completely with her desire enveloping him in sweetness, he came alive in her.
Chapter Thirteen
CHARLES PULLED RAINA IN close to his body and held her. Softly running his fingers through her long dark hair which trailed down her back. They lay there wrapped in each other’s arms content in the moment. Neither one of them wanting to break the spell; they kept to their own thoughts. Afraid words would break the fragile bond they shared moments before.
Raina closed her eyes as Charles moved out from underneath her. He gently laid her on the settee. She opened her eyes as she felt a light blanket covering her body. Charles knelt in front of her, brushing her hair back out of her eyes.
“I will have Hobbs run a bath for you, then we will enjoy the wonderful dinner Mrs. Hobbs is making for us. After that, we must talk Raina.”
Raina nodded her head to him. She was too choked with emotion from the passion they shared to argue with him. Especially when she knew he was correct.
Charles rose to answer the knock on the door. She stared as he slid his trousers up his long muscular legs. As he buttoned up the placket, Raina saw the evidence of his desire. Looking up in question she caught his eyes as he watched her looking at him.
Smiling, he winked at her, “Yes, my love,” he answered her unasked question.
Raina blushed and looked swiftly away. She heard him laughing from the doorway. He was impossible.
Charles laughed at her innocence. He thought nothing would make Raina LeClair blush, but obviously his desire for her caught her unaware. Oh, he would have great pleasure in showing her all the delights they are going to share.
Charles opened the door a crack and directed Hobbs to ready a bath for Raina. He lowered his voice and directed Hobbs on other matters to arrange. They needed to prepare for any obstacle that would come their way in the next couple of weeks. While only family had knowledge of the cottage, they still remained in danger. Because if anybody wanted to locate somebody they could with the right information and money to make it happen.
Walking back to her, he held out his hand for her to take. As she slid her hand into his, their fingers entwined. It was then he knew he had gained her trust. Wrapping the blanket around her delectable body, he covered her up. Her hair was a tangled mess which hung around her shoulders, mussed to the right degree.
Her lips were full and pouty from their kisses, begging for him to kiss them again. But it was her eyes that captured his attention. He noticed the weariness leaving them to be replaced with hope. Hope that he needed to bloom. Bloom into the love he wanted to share with her.
He lifted her into his arms and carried her from the parlor. Walking up the stairs, he carried her into the bedroom. Pulling the blanket from her body, he gently lowered her into the steamy tub. The steam floated through the air as the scent of roses filled their senses. The water was sprinkled with rose petals floating across the water.
Charles lowered himself into the water with her, pulling her back into his arms. Lifting a petal, he traced it over her body. He stared as the silky-smooth petal glided over her figure. Her body was as smooth as the petal. When he guided the petal over her nipples; he looked as they tightened into soft buds, begging for more. His fingers drifted across them with the water lightly brushing them. He felt her relax back into him, sighing softly.
Lifting a bar of rose scented soap off the chair next to the tub, he washed her body. He slid the soap across her curves, molding the soap to his hands at his attentions. She was so soft and supple and fit his body to perfection.
Raina closed her eyes at his gentle care. While his hardness pressed into her back, she knew this was not about giving into his desires. He was taking care of her. The way he held her and washed her, showed her the feelings he had for her.
The touch of his hands as they cleaned her body, were protective and loving. Raina let herself relax against him. It had been so long since anybody had cared for her. Savoring the feelings to remember after she left him. She would remember this memory more than all the others. It was the moment she finally realized the depth of what he felt for her. It was too much for her. But she was selfish and wanted more, so she lay there and soaked in their time they had together into her memories.
Rescued By the Spy Page 10