Improper Match: Scandalous Encounters

by Reed, Kristabel

  “Selina,” Edmund whispered, his voice strangled.

  The harsh sound of her name sent lightning heat through her. He rolled them to the side, still cradled against her. His hands slipped down her back, over her thin chemise, and gathered the material up, his fingers trailing over her bare skin. Curved over her hips and spine, slowly tracing every inch.

  Edmund pulled back only long enough to yank the chemise over her head, leaving her bare before him. For a heartbeat, Selina wanted to close her eyes and shy away from his heated gaze, his touch.

  His fingertips were feather-light against her smooth skin, cupping her breast, his thumb circling her already taut nipple.

  She opened her eyes and met his. He leaned forward, slowly, carefully, and Selina knew he gave her the choice. But there was no choice. She wanted him — had always wanted him. And while she only just accepted she could have him again, she would not, not ever again, deny either of them the love and comfort of each other.

  “Edmund,” she sighed and kissed him.

  Her hands flattened over his back, pulled him closer. He still wore his trousers, and Selina wrapped her leg over his hip. His hardness pressed against her now-bare belly; she felt the cool scratch of his wool trousers against her. Selina gasped in arousal, shuddering.

  She felt his hardness press to her inner thigh, and rocked against him. His fingers continued to tease her nipples, draw out every thread of desire.

  “Edmund,” she sighed again, the word a breath against his mouth. Her hands tangled in his hair, holding him closer to her.

  She never wanted to let him go.

  Selina felt the pain of these last months, it coiled through her. Her breath caught, but she looked up into his eyes, saw his love, saw the truth there. No, he held no resentment toward her — he never had.

  She did not know why she was worthy of this man’s love. What she’d done to deserve it. When she released her breath, it felt as if she released all the strain of the last months. As if she finally breathed freely.

  Desire built slowly; this was not a quick, desperate kiss or a rush to touch and taste and feel. Edmund’s large hands slipped down her belly, unhurried and deliberate. His fingers teased her wetness, drawing her pleasure out in slow caresses.

  She pulled back and opened her eyes to watch him and study his face. One finger traced his brow, down his cheek to his chin. Over his lips, now moist from hers. He sucked her finger into his mouth, his dark gaze never leaving hers.

  Passion and adoration shone from his gaze, and Selina shivered again. Not from fear, but from love and acceptance.

  Edmund released her finger and pulled back, quickly shucking his shoes and trousers. Stretching atop her, he cupped the back of her head again, his other hand twining with hers. His kiss was harder now, possessive. He took and took, and Selina offered everything she was to him.

  Always had and always would.

  Breathing heavily, he broke the kiss. Eyes focused on her, he kissed down her body. “You are my love, Selina,” he whispered, his teeth nipping her sensitive skin.

  Her desire tightened within her, and she arched into his touch. Her nails dug into his shoulders, holding him to her as he kissed her core and slipped a finger into her.

  “Edmund,” she moaned, her body ready for him.

  All at once the band tightening through her snapped, and Selina cried out. Pleasure crashed through her, wild and hot and perfect. Her hips jerked against his touch, and she clutched his shoulders.

  “I want to feel you,” she whispered.

  Shocked at her own boldness, her body tingling with her orgasm, Selina opened her eyes and stared at Edmund. A wicked grin curved his lips, his eyes dark and promising. Never had she spoken so brazenly — she never thought she ever would.

  But when Edmund looked up at her from between her legs, his fingers still stroking her wetness, Selina suddenly didn’t care.

  He was hers.

  This man, this beautiful, strong man, stood by her through everything.

  “I love you,” she whispered and drew him up.

  Her legs wrapped around his hips, and Selina reached between them to guide him into her. He moved slowly, stretching her more with each shallow thrust. Once fully seated, he kissed her.

  A feeling of completion spread through her, and Selina held him closer. She didn’t move, didn’t rock her hips against his, didn’t seek her own orgasm.

  She simply held him. Her lover, her love.

  “Edmund,” she sighed, breaking the kiss and looking up at him.

  He moved then. Long, slow thrusts that drew her pleasure out and built it higher. Selina raked her nails down his back, pressed him closer to her. Edmund braced himself on his hands and watched her. His mouth found hers again, kissed down her neck, but he always, always watched her.

  As if he couldn’t believe she was there any more than she.

  Selina wrapped her legs higher around his hips, pulled him deeper into her. His thrusts grew faster and harder, and she moaned with every one. One hand slipped between their bodies and found her nub, stroking it as his thrusts became even more erratic.

  Her climax crested and she cried out, tightening around him even as he pounded harder and faster. Body humming, awake as she hadn’t felt in months, Selina forced her eyes open to watch him.

  He moved faster, deeper, and suddenly threw his head back, his own orgasm tightening through him. Breathing heavily, limbs languid and heart full to bursting, Selina traced her fingertips over his cheek as he came.

  When he eventually slipped from her body, his arms tight around her, as if afraid she wouldn’t be there when he woke, Selina finally let herself accept this.

  She was home. Whether in Scotland or in Edmund’s manor house, or her townhouse. With him, she was home.

  “I love you, Edmund,” she whispered into the quiet bedroom.

  “Don’t leave me again,” he mumbled into her shoulder, one hand possessively over her hip, holding her close.

  “Never,” she promised.

  Epilogue

  He’d been a married man for all of six days, and Edmund never thought a piece of paper would ever matter as much to him as his marriage certificate to Selina did.

  With a calmness he hadn’t thought he’d ever feel again, he waited in the foyer of his townhouse for his new wife to hug Octavia good-bye. They returned to London barely two weeks ago, and he’d wasted no time procuring another special marriage license and marrying Selina at the first opportunity.

  It hadn’t been cheap or easy, but every farthing was well spent, as far as Edmund was concerned.

  Now they were on their way to their country estate for a summer of privacy and solitude. He wanted time with Selina, just the two of them. Since finding her in Dumfries, their days had been a rush of making love and talking.

  But trust between them still lay fragile and tenuous, and though they laughed and kissed as if the previous months had never happened, there was still that air of waiting. However, Edmund had no intention of leaving, and Selina had promised she’d not run from him again.

  They were in this life together. Through everything, no matter what happened next.

  Of course, his manor was close to Strathmore Hall and both Selina and Isabella, the Duchess of Strathmore, had expressed a sincere interest in meeting each other. Edmund planned to forestall that meeting for some weeks; he wanted time with his wife.

  Though Hamilton was correct — Strathmore’s wine cellars were far superior to anything else. It was not, however, a good enough reason to visit his closest friend during his honeymoon.

  “Oh look,” Hamilton said as if he’d planned his entrance. Edmund thought he may have, knowing him. “I’ve arrived just in time for the emotional display.”

  Before Edmund could do more than offer Hamilton a scowl, Selina crossed the foyer. She leaned up and hugged him, her lips barely a brush along his cheek.

  “Thank you,” she whispered.

  Stepping back, as if hugging
Hamilton was the most natural thing in the world, she once more stood beside Edmund. He found he couldn’t be jealous of Hamilton, not given the flustered way the other man blinked at Selina.

  Edmund had to hold back a snicker at Hamilton’s wide-eyed stare. Hamilton cleared his throat and quickly brought his shock under control.

  “I came for the display,” he drawled. “Not to participate.” But then he took Selina’s hand and made a courtly bow over it. “My lady.”

  “There will always be quite the display here,” Selina said with a wide grin she hadn’t been able to temper since their reunion.

  Edmund swallowed hard and subtly cleared the lump of emotion in his throat. They’d been through too much not to feel something, and if these last months had taught him anything, it was not to ignore that emotion.

  His hand settled on her waist, and he pulled her near. He didn’t care if it was a proper display or not; Selina was his wife, and this was their townhouse. If he wanted to hold her, he damn well would.

  He merely raised an eyebrow at Hamilton’s knowing look and ignored his friend.

  “And there has been since they arrived,” Octavia said with a laugh.

  Annabelle stepped into the foyer just then, and Edmund turned to her

  “Thank you for agreeing to chaperone my sister,” he said to Annabelle. “Do see she does not overtax you.”

  Octavia gave him a baleful glare, but Annabelle merely laughed. They were well matched when it came to having energy for London society.

  “Enjoy the season,” Edmund said to both of them with a nod. Turning to Hamilton, he narrowed his gaze. “I leave them in your completely inappropriate hands.”

  Hamilton sketched him a mocking bow and turned to Selina. “When you arrive at the estate, locate the footman Gibson.”

  Puzzled, Selina nodded.

  “He has a talent for liberating the best wine from Strathmore’s estate.” Hamilton leaned in and grinned. “Trust me, you should not ignore that talent.”

  Selina laughed, a bright, musical sound that warmed Edmund’s heart. He’d never grow tired of hearing her laugh.

  “I’ll be sure to avail myself of his unique skill,” she promised. Looking up at Edmund, she added with a happy smile, “And then I’ll send a gift to Isabella.”

  They quickly said their good-byes, and Edmund ushered her out of the foyer. He wanted to begin their journey, but mostly he wanted quiet time with his wife. He didn’t care they were in a carriage for two days; he wanted that time together.

  “It’s too late, Selina,” he said as the carriage started forward.

  She tilted her head and asked, “Too late for what?”

  “Too late to ever leave me again,” he said and leaned down to kiss her. He pulled away and watched her for a heartbeat. “Too late to not be my wife.” He kissed her again, longer this time. “Too late to not have all my love.”

  “Yes,” she agreed, her fingers combing through his hair. “It’s far too late.”

  She pulled him down for a longer kiss, her tongue sweeping against his, and Edmund felt her sigh against his mouth.

  “I love you, Edmund,” she whispered against his lips before kissing him again.

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  A Note to my Incredible Readers

  I hope you enjoyed this second book of my new Regency series: Scandalous Encounters. I loved writing them! Coming next month will be Improper Christmas followed by my second Christmas story, Improper Duke.

  Improper Christmas: Miss Lillian Norwood lost everything she had. Her father’s estate passed to a distant cousin, the man she hoped to marry loved and married another, and all she has is the charity he offered. Now she lives in a new and unfamiliar town in a cottage rented for her out of pity.

  When she’s introduced to Mr. William Pennington, Lillian believes her fortunes may finally change. Perhaps there is a man able to look beyond her circumstances. With the Christmas feast she’s helped plan drawing closer, Lillian wonders if her poor luck will haunt her forever. Or perhaps the winter season will warm her heart.

  If you have enjoyed my stories, I’d greatly appreciate you sharing your views on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, or Goodreads. I’m always available through email if you have any comments, questions, or requests.

  If you’d like to sign up for my newsletter, I post news about my stories, excerpts, and historical recipes exclusive to the newsletter. You can also find me on Twitter, on my Blog, on Facebook, and pinning like mad on Pinterest.

  As always, thank you so much for reading!

  ##

  About Kristabel Reed

  Kristabel Reed lives on the East Coast and loves to explore the steamier side of historical romance. She loves all romances, but historical ménages particularly which add an element of danger and discovery not seen in contemporaries.

  She loves reading, watching old movies, random quotes, and anything Cary Grant.

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  Also by Kristabel Reed

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  Two years ago, Isabella Harrington defied her parents and society, and ran off with her lover to Milan. They thought they’d conquer the world at the gaming tables. But her dream of happily-ever-after led to nothing but debts and a shattered heart. Isabella needed a way back into the society she shunned and what better way than through a proper, aristocratic marriage? Improper Wager is a 64,000 word m/f story about a ruined woman who knows her own mind but isn’t sure about her heart.

  To Purchase: Scandalous Encounters

  Countess Curvy: A Curvy Girl’s Earl

  Audrey Mills is in London to organize a charity fashion event, where she meets Duncan Collins, the Earl of Thronhill. Confident in her curves, Audrey doesn’t expect Duncan to want more than a holiday fling. But when things begin to heat up, will she panic and run? Countess Curvy is a 36,000 word m/f story with explicit sex scenes and a curvy leading lady that’s curvy-licious!

  Boss Likes Curves: A Curvy Girl’s Billionaire

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  Curvy’s Cad: A Curvy Girl’s Mistake?

  Eliza Lyons knows she has a bit more plump on her frame than Craig Gran’s normal tall, ultra-skinny type and decides to school Mr. Grant on the pleasures of a full figure. She is in it for the fun, the sex, the bragging rights. But when she discovers he wants more, will she take that final leap? Or will Eliza bolt right back to the comfort of the uncomplicated fling? Curvy’s Cad is a 36,000 word m/f story with a sassy curvy woman and the debonair cad who wants her.

  Christmas Curvy: A Curvy Girl’s Holiday Fling

  Laura Dixon doesn’t leap. She planned her life and career the way she wanted them to go. And does her best to ignore her family’s advice on how to lose weight and catch a man. Maybe it was the ice skating or the Christmas music, or possibly the hot chocolate, that finally made her say yes when smart, handsome, and totally out of her league Tyler Kamari asked her out. Whatever it was, it was the right recipe for the holidays! This is a 38,000 word m/f story with explicit sex scenes, copious amounts of holiday cheer, and a curvy girl’s Christmas to remember.

  Princess Curvy: A Curvy Girl’s Italian Affair

  Natalia Dolcini hadn’t expected Adam Clayworth to bring her into a banking intrigue he investigated. Or for Adam to become her lover. But then Adam’s investigation turned dangerous. Natalia finds it difficult to keep her own heart safe as they race from Milan to Portofino and back again. Will their Italian affair end after the danger does? Or will it be an
affair to remember? Princess Curvy is a 36,600 word story with a fashion designer curvy woman and the banker who wants her.

  To Purchase: Curvy Girl’s Guide to Love.