Raina sensed the strength of his passion from the first touch of his hands on her hair. His eyes told her of his desire for her, but nothing compared to the touch and taste of him. She needed to be with him, to have his body join hers. As she slid her hand through his thick hair, she pulled him closer to her body. Pressing her hips against his, her breasts against his chest she understood his need for her. She gently pressed her hips against his again, he moaned and pressed his hardness into her. Raina wanted to touch his body against hers, so she started to unbutton his clothes.
Charles pulled back from their kiss and took a deep breath. This was moving too fast. He wanted to savor her all night. Nice and slow. Every kiss, every touch lasting forever. He laughed at her moan of impatience. She was as eager as he was.
He pulled her hands into his and kissed each palm, his lips tracing a path to her wrists then to the bend in her elbow and back again. When he stared into her eyes, he saw everything. Love. Desire. Need. Want. Passion.
“I want to take this slow tonight.”
Her only answer was a moan. He chuckled. After he turned her around, he twisted her hair to drape down the front of her dress. Kissing the back of her neck, his lips made their way to the buttons of her dress. He unhooked each button, his fingers leaving a trail along her back as the dress spread open wider.
“You look exquisite in this dress. A vision in white. I have been aching for you the entire evening,” he whispered in her ear.
Another moan.
With her buttons unhooked, he swept the dress off her body. When he turned her back around she stood before him in a red chemise. Her breasts were cupped with a thin piece of lace, her dark nipples peeking through. The chemise cupped her body tightly. White lace stockings graced her long legs held together at her thighs with tiny rosebud clips. Now he was the one moaning. This would be torture, but he would give her a wedding night she would never forget.
Raina watched the effect she had on Charles and secretly smiled. Slow. We shall see. While the idea of sweet romance for their wedding night was endearing, it would not be possible. For either one of them. If his moan was any sign her touch would ignite him. She knows she already was. His soft touches and kisses had her ready to explode.
“My turn Lord Mallory,” Raina told him, as she untied his cravat. Slowly untying the knot, she moved closer to him, so her breasts could rub against him. Her fingers next worked on the buttons of his vest and shirt. Once they came undone, she lifted the shirt over his head. Her nipples brushing across his bare chest. Now he was the one moaning.
Her fingers trailed across his chest, touching his scars and muscles as she went. Kneeling on the floor, she undid the buttons of his trousers. She slid open one button and her hand brushed across his need for her. Her head was bent so he could not look at her tease of a smile. She gently placed a kiss on his hardness, so softly it felt like a soft whisper of wind. When her fingers slid along the length of his cock and wrapped around, slowly stroking, she realized the game was over when he bent and lifted her in his arms.
His mouth crushed hers in a passionate kiss as he carried her to the bed. Lowering her to the mattress, he swiftly followed. His lips devoured hers, their hands touching, sliding, caressing each other. Every single moan was kissed away and followed by more. There was no touch or kiss enough for either one of them.
His hands stroked her breasts while his lips brought her nipples to stiff peaks. While she writhed under his touch, hungry for more, he fed her hunger with more kisses. More touches. More passion until she begged for more. When he slid his finger into her wetness, stroking her passion higher, she cried out her need for him. But he wanted more from her, needed more from her. So, he continued to stroke her, his fingers sliding in and out of her as her body climbed higher and higher. When he noticed her body start to crest over, he slid inside her. Slowly. His body claiming hers as she had claimed his long ago. He felt her tighten around him. Her body clung to him as he gently stroked in and out of her hot wet heat.
Raina was clinging to Charles’s body. Her body floating along as he made love to her. It was more than love he made. There were no words to describe how he made her feel, how he made her body come alive. Her fingers dug into his shoulders, wrapping her legs around him, she moved her body with his. Lost in each other as they became one.
Charles lowered his lips to hers and kissed her gently. Each pull of his lips against her was of softness. Gentle kisses as his body took her with him into a passionate eclipse. His fingers slid around her cheeks as he gazed into her eyes.
“I love you Raina for eternity.”
Tears leaked from her eyes as he spoke those words to her as their bodies exploded around each other. He kissed her tears away and pulled her close. As he wrapped his arms around her he continued to whisper words of love to her as she cried in his arms. They were not tears of pain or regret. They were the tears of love, a love which made her complete in her love for him and the love they share.
…..
Gradually coming awake in Charles’s arms, she rolled over and pressed a kiss to his neck. He moaned and tightened his arms around her. Her lips continued a trail towards his lips where she pressed her lips to his.
“I love you too Charles,” she whispered.
His eyes opened at her words and he pressed his lips to her as softly as hers were to his. Soft and slow their lips entwined, tasting, and relishing in each other.
Raina sighed at the touch of his lips against hers. When she pulled away, she rested her hands on his chest and watched him come more fully awake. He smiled affectionately at her, his fingers brushing the hair back from her face. They laid this way for a few moments, gently touching each other while stealing kisses.
Raina knew they needed to talk, but they needed this even more. A closeness they would share forever, but a newness they cherished experiencing. To wake every morning in his arms would be a delight as every evening would be a passion she could not wait to share with him. The acceptance she felt in his arms this morning, she realized he would always be there for her no matter what. Now all she had to do was to tell him the full truth of her involvement with Shears and Maxwell. She learned Thorn had told him of the threat to her life by the Crown, but nobody knew of the full extent of her deception. It was time to share it with Charles.
Rolling out of the bed she saw his shirt lying across a chair. She slid the shirt over her naked body and wandered over to the wine. When Raina lifted the lid, she saw a plate full of delicacies. She poured them both a drink and carried the plate over to the bed and offered them to Charles.
He eyed them skeptically, “Poisoning me again already my dear. I promise to make love to you longer next time.”
Raina throatily laughed at his wry sense of humor, “Mm, I will take you up on that promise later. I swear everything is safe. This time anyhow,” she added with her own bit of humor.
That set Charles to laughing as he grabbed the plate and his wine glass. He set out to show her he believed in her and ate the small sandwiches and sweets. If it was one thing she could take it was the humor at her past misgivings towards him. He realized she needed to talk, but he wanted to make the atmosphere as lighthearted for her as he could. The topic was heavy, and they needed to move past it. But for that to happen, Raina needed to confess her lies to him. He reached out to pull her beside him and offered her a repast. As they dined, Raina told him of her involvement with Shears and what led her to working with Maxwell.
Throughout the whole telling of her story, Charles never once interrupted her or condemned her actions. He showed his continued support by holding her hand and stroking her arm when she needed comfort. She started with the death of her mother and brother. Then continued with her father’s murder, how she believed Thorn killed him and she swore revenge. She had known of Shears through her father and sought him out. Shears made her do inconceivable crimes against people to earn his trust. After she had earned his trust, she volunteered on Charles’s kidnapping.
She had led Shears to Ivy and planted the seed in Shears’s mind on absconding with Ivy. She had watched Maxwell undercover in London for Shears and that is when she first learned of Ivy. As she had instigated herself amongst the ton, she heard of Ivy’s love for Thornhill. Raina gave Shears this information involving his sworn enemy and hers, she helped Shears concoct a plan to kill Charles and kidnap Ivy to draw Thornhill into their trap. By this time Maxwell worked for Shears and Raina didn’t trust him. But she could not give her doubts to Shears about him, because of the things she witnessed Maxwell partaking in, left her in doubt of his true allegiance.
“After Ivy was kidnapped, and you left for dead, I finally saw Shears’ evilness. I started to fear him. When nobody came to your rescue, I loaded you in a cart and drove to the cottage I had been renting. But you would not come around and your health declined. More time had passed, and I nursed you the best I could. Then I heard Maxwell sniffing around my place. He found me and saw the shape you were in. At that moment I knew the true line Maxwell was playing,” Raina continued to explain.
“He cared too much for you and threatened to kill me. When I convinced him, I was trying to save you and I no longer was working for Shears, he helped me to keep you safe. He told me of Ivy’s kidnapping and how he knew of the part I played. I had never felt guiltier. You see, I had come to care for you during that time. We talked; I know you do not remember. Most of the time you were incoherent, but you would talk about your family often. When Shears set out to kidnap Ivy again at her ball, we decided to stop him. I went to the ball, and that is where Thorn discovered me, but as awful as it was for me, it was a godsend for you. You were rescued and received the medical help you needed.”
“But through all the deception I realized the man I was working for was also the man who had my entire family murdered. I swore I would seek my revenge. In doing so, I contacted Maxwell who put me in contact with the Crown. I pledged my life to destroy Shears. Since I was wanted for crimes against the Crown, they agreed to work with me if I could bring Shears to an end. In doing so I set about bringing Shears’s operations down. There wasn’t a plan I wouldn’t do, I stole, I lied, and I pretended to be many characters doing everything to stop him. I am not proud of my behavior, but they were a means to an end. And I would do them over again to destroy him. But destroying Shears isn’t enough for the Crown, they have a bigger agenda at hand. They needed the jewels Maxwell has. I was to help him gain them. If he fails with his plan and does not complete his mission, then I am to kill him. He knows too much information they do not want him to tell, so you see I had to help him succeed. I could not kill him, he has helped me too much with destroying Shears. He has helped me find out information I needed, and he helped me destroy every building holding Shears’s weapons. I cannot take his life and I must help him achieve his goals. I know how he deceives you and your family and I know I am asking an awful lot, but will you help me, help him?”
Raina waited in silence for an answer from him. He had not spoken through her whole story. At times she saw in his eyes how he wanted to, but he held back. Not once did he let her hand go and cease touching her. The only behavior that changed, was the look he bestowed on her. His eyes were expressive, changing from pity, to anger, to comfort, to fear, to pride. Through her whole story they always held his love.
“I am sorry for the heartache I caused your family from my hatred to my lies. I hope one day you will forgive me.”
“There is nothing to forgive Raina. I love you through all your faults as I hope you will love me through mine. What you have endured over the course of time and you are still fighting strong, is amazing. I am beyond proud of you my dear.”
“Will you help me?”
“Yes,” he whispered as he pulled her in close to hold her.
They lay there holding each other as they thought of how if it were not for Shears they wouldn't be where they were today. How a villain constructed evil across all bounds but still played a hand in their relationship was a parody.
As they whispered through the night of each other’s unanswered questions, their words were interrupted often with touches and kisses. Each kiss becoming longer where there were no words existed between each other. Just their passion. If was long into the evening when Raina whispered, “I think I will take you up on your promise now.” Where in return Charles did. He loved her long into the night and through the next morning.
Chapter Twenty-Four
IT WASN’T UNTIL MIDAFTERNOON the next day before they made their way downstairs. Holding hands and whispering secrets, they were two young newlyweds in bliss. Sims directed them towards the parlor where the Duke, Thorn and Ivy awaited them. Charles sat Raina next to Ivy on the divan and he sat in a chair nearby.
“I trust you slept well last evening,” the Duke teased.
Charles muffled a chuckle after he saw his wife blush a delightful shade of pink. In the entire time he had known her, he had never seen her embarrassed. She had been subjected to a rougher crowd than his sister Ivy, so he did not think such words could shock her, but they had. It would appear his wife still held onto a bit of innocence after all. It was a refreshing thought. He would have to see if the shade of pink traveled over the course of the rest of her body. Of course, he would have to explore her reaction another time. Charles decided to take pity upon his wife and poured her a spot of tea, brushing a kiss across her cheek.
He whispered in her ear for only her to hear, “You are very becoming in pink my dear.” Which only made her blush deepen.
She swatted him away while she busied herself with her tea. Adding sugar and honey, she averted her eyes from them.
“Charles, leave her alone,” Ivy said taking pity on her new sister.
“Ignore them Raina, you will get used to their teasing in time.”
Raina smiled her appreciation at Ivy and inquired of her health. Ivy was near her time and everybody showed concern for her well-being. She had not slowed any. Still involved in the day-to-day activities of running the townhome and taking care of Tommy their adopted son, she never knew when to stop and rest. Thorn was forever following her, begging her to rest.
“What do we owe the pleasure of your company Father?” Charles asked.
“My connections have sent word, Shears plans an attack tonight. It is time for us to move. I am afraid this time, your wife who will have to be the bait,” Thorn informed them.
“Absolutely not,” Charles declared.
“There is no other way Charles and you realize it. Raina is the only one who can draw Shears out in the open and force him to play his hand.”
Raina laid her hand on Charles, “You know it is the only way,” she told Charles.
Charles squeezed her hand and sighed, “I know, but it does not mean I have to enjoy it. What is the plan?”
Thorn explained to them how they would make their presence tonight at the Pennington Ball. Where they could put in their first public debut as a married couple. It would send shock waves through the ballroom because everybody expected him to be dead, not alive, and married. While they were there, they would split up and stop the attack. The Crown’s agents would be in position. It was Raina’s job to draw Shears out in the open. Once she did, the agents could swoop in to capture Shears along with the other players in the game. Their plan was to be cautious and no gentleman or lady was to be trusted.
After the plans were made, with directions to Thorn’s men everybody made their way to prepare for the ball. Ivy was to remain at home after several persuasive arguments on her part to join them. Thorn decided Sammy would stay and keep her company until their return. More like keep her guarded. The only flaw with the plan was Ivy had Sammy wrapped around her fingers. But with Thorn using their unborn child as an incentive, she agreed to await their return.
Charles returned home to dress for the ball as Raina prepared upstairs. When Charles returned for Raina, he made his way to their room. Upon entering the bedroom, he was unprepared for the
vision waiting for him. Standing in the middle of the room was his wife dressed in the red dress he seen only a glimpse of all those months ago. The red silk hugged her body in layers. Every curve of her body was on display. The red top clung to her breasts, filling them out, as they teased the imagination. Nested between her breasts was the ruby necklace he gave her. The dress dipped into her waist and hugged along her hips over her thighs where at the bottom of her legs the dress flared out into dark red skirts.
She did not wear her hair up, but let the dark black tresses hang down her back, with one long tress, curled over her shoulder. Her creamy skin glowing. Charles swallowed, tongue tied into silence. There were no words to describe how stunning she looked. She stood watching him nervously, waiting for his approval.
Raina stood anxiously waiting for him. She had dressed in a hurry awaiting his return. She wanted tonight over. Her nerves had never bothered her in all the months she had been in danger. But tonight, was different. Raina considered she had more at stake than ever before. Charles.
When he came rushing into the bedroom and stopped in silence. She felt calm but anxious in this instance; if the emotion was possible. She did not like feeling this vulnerable. He was so handsome. From his thick wavy blond hair, to the way he filled out his suit. He was everything she had always dreamed about. He took the few steps to her side. Charles reached for her gloved hand and bestowed a kiss on her knuckles.
“While I loved you in your white wedding dress, which is nothing to what I feel for you in red. You are a vision in red my dear.” He then leaned over to whisper in her ear. “I cannot wait for later to peel this creation from your body. I have dreamed of you in this dress for months.”
“Oh, Charles,” she whispered.
He took her mouth hungrily under his and devoured her. Their kiss grew uncontrollable as their passion reached new heights. Charles wanted her now, wearing this creation of red. He wanted to feel her wetness glide him in as they comforted each other for the danger they were headed into. He knew he needed to pull back, but the fear only enticed him more. The fear of losing her drove his kisses more desperate.
Rescued By the Spy Page 19