by Becky Lower
“Sounds as if we have a plan. Let’s get married tomorrow.” Eleanor cupped his cheek and kissed him soundly. “We should get back. It’s nearly daylight.”
Chapter Twenty-Eight
E leanor, how nice to see you again,” Daniel, the sea captain, came forward and took her hand.
Eleanor smiled up at him. “I’m guessing you thought I’d run back to England at the first opportunity, right?”
Daniel grinned. “That’s the option I would have put my money on.” He ushered forward a striking blonde woman. “May I introduce my wife, Pippa? She also came from England on my ship, several years ago.”
Eleanor gave her a tentative smile and dropped into a curtsey at the elegant and high-bred woman in front of her. “My lady.”
Pippa put her hand on Eleanor’s elbow, raising her from her curtsey. “There are no ‘My Lords’ or ‘My Ladys’ here in the United States, so there will be no more curtseying, Eleanor. We are all equal.” She held onto Eleanor’s arm. “Did my husband tell you when I came across on his ship, I was dressed as a young boy?”
Eleanor gasped. “He did tell me the story, but I’d forgotten it until now. You had to disguise yourself?”
Pippa grinned, her eyes sparkling. “It didn’t take long, though, for Daniel to see through my disguise.” Her gaze slid from Eleanor when she heard noises coming from the entrance of the church. “Ah, here comes Libby. We’ll help you ready yourself for the ceremony.”
Eleanor’s breath left her when Hawk ushered in his wife, Liberty. She was surely the most stunningly beautiful woman Eleanor had ever laid eyes on. She started to lower herself into a curtsey again, but a quick glance from Pippa and a slight shake of her head made Eleanor’s spine straighten. “Hello again, Hawk.” Eleanor grasped the outstretched hand of the woman beside Hawk. “You must be Libby, the woman Hawk was so eager to get back home to that he only spent one night with us in Groton.”
Libby wrapped her fingers around Eleanor’s hand. “Hawk told me about meeting you in Groton. I’m glad you, Patterson, and the children are back in Boston. And that you’re going to marry him now.” She glanced around the nave of the church. “Where is Patterson?”
“He went back to our home to gather up the children. I need to change and be ready for when he returns.” Eleanor couldn’t quite control the squeak in her voice.
Pippa took hold of her other hand. “Let’s get you prepared, then. Come on, Libby. Let’s work our magic on Eleanor.”
They led Eleanor into a small room and began sorting through the bag of clothing Eleanor had with her. Pippa raised her head. “Just as I thought. You escaped from Groton with very little. Wait here.” She left the room.
Libby opened her reticule and ushered Eleanor to the only seat in the room. “I’ve got some makeup here. Let me add some color to your lovely face.” Eleanor lost her voice. This stunning woman thought she had a lovely face?
“Can you do something to diminish my freckles?” Eleanor whispered.
Libby grasped Eleanor’s chin and turned her head, first one way and then another. “I’ll do no such thing. Your freckles are part of what makes you beautiful. And your russet hair is the envy of every woman in Boston, I’ll wager.”
Libby applied some powder to Eleanor’s face, and placed a bit of kohl around her eyes. Pippa returned to the room, bustling in with an armful of gown. “This moss green dress will look far lovelier on you than it ever did on me. Let’s try it on.” She glanced at Eleanor. “I see Libby worked her magic on you.”
Libby laughed lightly. “And the gown is perfect, Pippa. Let’s help Eleanor get dressed for her wedding.”
Eleanor gave herself up to these two forces of nature. She’d never had lady friends before and had a feeling these two were going to be part of her life here in Boston. Daniel had regaled her with stories of Pippa and how she’d come from England, but she had no such knowledge of Libby and how she had arrived in the States. Her cultured English accent gave Eleanor a starting point, though, and she couldn’t wait to hear her story. Or to see what magic she’d worked on Eleanor’s face for this, the biggest day of her life.
• ♥ •
Patterson had no reason to be a nervous groom, yet here he was, with a jumping stomach. Surrounded by his children, he entered the church where the ceremony was to take place. Hawk and Daniel were talking quietly in one corner, and Patterson joined them.
“Where are your ladies?”
Hawk and Daniel shared an amused glance. “They are helping your lady prepare herself for her wedding day.” Daniel spoke.
“Well, do you think they can hurry things along? I’ve reserved us a room at the inn for the night.” Patterson began to pace.
Hawk placed a hand on his shoulder. “Patience, my friend. I know it has been a long time since you have been with a woman, but you can wait a few hours more.”
Patterson grinned. If Hawk only knew what had transpired the previous evening in his loft over the smithy shop…
He could wait a few more hours, since his intention was to keep Eleanor awake all night.
The door from the small room alongside the nave finally cracked open. Libby and Pippa emerged with huge smiles on their faces. They strode to their respective husbands and they stood, along with Patterson and his children, awaiting Patterson’s bride.
The minister stood alongside Patterson as they waited the few moments until Eleanor appeared. Patterson’s heart had been beating fast before he caught a glimpse of her. Now, in a moss green gown and some artfully applied makeup, she was more stunning than he imagined. The breath whooshed out of him, and he swayed on his feet. The minister grabbed his elbow to help right him.
“I agree, man. Your bride is quite fetching. Let’s get you two married.”
Patterson could not find his voice. He nodded at the minister and took a step forward to Eleanor, placing her hand on his arm. Elizabeth came forward and handed her a bouquet of wildflowers. Eleanor leaned down and kissed the little girl. As she stood back upright, Patterson caught a glimpse of her décolletage and nearly swallowed his tongue. Wherever had that gown come from? And how soon could he remove it? He turned toward the minister.
“We are ready, kind sir.”
Yes, he was ready. Finally. Ready to leave his past life with Margaret behind, and begin charting a new course with his lovely new bride. He only hoped he could keep up with her.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
P atterson led Eleanor into the luxurious room in the hotel. Food would be sent up later, but all he wanted to taste right now was his bride. As soon as the door closed behind them, he took her into his arms, kissing her with all the passion that had been building since they had climbed down from the loft at Hawk’s shop. The years of hardship since Margaret’s death fell away as he explored Eleanor’s mouth with his tongue.
He ran his hands up her arms and lowered the gown from her shoulders. “Your gown is lovely, Eleanor, but it would look much better in a puddle on the floor.”
“I agree, Patterson,” she replied in an uneven breath, untying his cravat before turning in his arms. “Can you undo my buttons?”
The long row of pearl buttons gliding down her spine to her lovely bottom excited him as much as they frustrated him. “Of course, my love.” His fingers fumbled in his haste to free her from the cloth, but he finally undid a few buttons, exposing Eleanor’s back to him. He kissed the nape of her neck, delighting in the way she shivered under his mouth. As each inch of skin was revealed to him, he kissed his way down her back. Before the night was over, he intended to kiss every inch of his bride. He finally freed her from the gown and turned her in his arms again as the dress slid from her body, and she stood before him, clad in only scant underthings. His gaze dropped to her breasts, which were already peaked, waiting for his mouth, which watered as he perused her.
She was busy undoing the buttons on his trousers, and his already hard shaft grew as her hand grazed him. He suckled her breast as she freed his cock and w
rapped her fingers around it. “I want you inside of me right now, Patterson. Take me to those same heights I was at last night.”
One hand was busy teasing her nub while his mouth remained on her breast. She hissed out a breath and tightened her hold on his manhood, sliding her fingers up and down his shaft.
He raised his head and stared into her eyes. “I plan to take you to those heights every night of your life, Eleanor. Beginning right now.” He tugged his shirt over his head, kicked off his boots and let his trousers fall to the floor. He picked her up, and strode the couple of paces to the bed, where he laid her gently, and removed her shoes. He positioned himself between her legs and ran his hard cock between her folds. “You are so damp for me, Eleanor.”
“Only for you.” She raised her bottom off the bed, and he cupped her backside as he slid into her completely. She gasped as his entire shaft filled her and then let out a moan. She wrapped her legs around his torso and met him, thrust for thrust, until they came at the same time.
As Patterson spilled his seed into her, he groaned his contentment and rolled to one side, bringing her with him. His shaft was still buried inside her, pulsating slightly as they both came down from the heights of climax. He cupped her cheek and kissed her deeply. “That was fast, my love. I promise I’ll take longer next time.”
She smiled and returned his kiss. “As long as the next time will happen within the hour, I’ll accept your apology.”
He could feel himself hardening inside her as she spoke. “I think I can accommodate you.” He wrapped his hand around her bottom and began thrusting into her. She ran her hand down his chest, tweaking his nipples, seeming to delight in making him groan. He wanted her groan to match his, so he lowered his hand, placing it between them and massaging her nub. Her sharp intake of breath brought a smile to his lips. He’d denied himself the pleasures of the flesh for much too long, and he had every intention to make up for it, right here, with Eleanor. She was every bit as responsive a lover as Margaret had been. Maybe even more so. His thrusts became frenzied, as he rolled on top of her. Her legs came around his neck as he lifted her off the bed. Her shouts of delight made his belly tighten, and he came once more. Finally, he was empty and laden with sweat. He laid down beside her as they both fought to level out their breath.
His hands roamed over the hills and valleys of her body. He mapped every curve and indentation as he lay there, attempting to catch his breath. “Hawk may have been right.”
Eleanor raised an eyebrow. “You spoke about me to Hawk?”
Patterson nodded. “The man is very intuitive. He is half Indian, you know.”
Eleanor wrapped an arm around Patterson. “And half French, so he understands the language of love. But exactly what did he say that was right?”
Patterson grinned. “He said I might not be able to keep up with you, since you are so much younger than me.”
She raised a brow again. “I think I may not be able to keep up with you. Shall we see who falls asleep first?”
“Since I plan to stay awake all night, kissing every inch of your body, I’ll take you up on your dare.” Patterson could feel her shiver in his arms at his declaration and he smiled. He’d wasted months fighting his attraction for her. When he thought of how much he’d denied himself, he wanted to cry. All he could do now was make it up to her, every day and every night, for the rest of their lives. He threw one leg over her and began to make good on his promise.
• ♥ •
Since Eleanor had not had any lady friends until today, when she met Pippa and Libby, she had no idea how a wedding night should spool out. But she thought her wedding night was splendid so far.
Patterson’s exploration of her body had been interrupted by a knock at the door. He threw on his pants to answer it and returned with a plate of food and drink. He tossed his trousers to the floor again before joining her in bed with the platter. She ate lightly, her gaze roaming over the hard planes of his body as he stretched out on the bed while they dined. Having only a bit of experience with a man’s body, she had little to compare Patterson to, but she thought him most exquisitely formed. He was all muscle and lovely skin. His wheat-colored hair and dark brown eyes were a perfect complement to her own red hair and light brown eyes with flecks of gold. She couldn’t wait to see which eye color their children would have.
She grew damp again before their meal was demolished, just by gazing at him. She reached for the last green grape the same time he did, and their fingers met. She raised her gaze from their joined fingers to his face and lost her breath. He was staring at her as if she were the only woman in the world. Her gaze drifted from his face to his mid-section and she lost her breath again as his shaft sprang to life once more. He tossed the platter to the floor and devoured her instead. His lips grew insistent as his hands roamed over her. He rolled over so she was on top of him and her eyes widened as his shaft poked her. He took hold of her hand and wrapped it around his hard cock, helping her find her opening. As she sank onto him, he hissed out a breath and held onto her bottom, raising her up and down. She soon caught the rhythm, and began to tease him, nearly pulling away and then returning to him. This position felt so different from the previous ways they had coupled, and she wondered how many more ways they could find. Finally, every thought she’d had left her mind as she crashed over the edge with a cry. After one more thrust, Patterson followed, his shaft surrounded by her pulsating muscles.
“I enjoyed that, Patterson. You felt different inside me when I was on top.” Eleanor snuggled against him, a hand on his heaving chest.
“There are many ways we can enjoy each other.” He raised his head. “For instance, I can bend you over yonder table and take you from behind. Or I can sit on the edge of the bed and you can straddle me. That way, I can play with your quim while we couple.” He leaned down and kissed her. “I can’t wait to try them all with you.”
Her body quaked as she pictured the various methods he was painting in her head. She could feel her inner walls tightening yet again and wondered if she’d walk around for the rest of her life in a constant state of arousal. Patterson must have sensed her body’s reaction, since he cupped the apex of her legs, warming her as she oozed moisture around his fingers. Surprisingly, he did no more than that. She turned to him, finding his eyes had closed. She grinned. Youth had won out. She nestled in his arms and he surprised her again. His idle fingers began caressing her. Her gaze lifted to him, and his brown eyes gleamed with laughter.
“Thought I was sleeping, eh?” He put a finger into her, and she emitted a long sigh. The finger in her curled toward her sensitive nub, which was being caressed by his thumb. The friction of those two forces nearly made her leap off the bed. He bent over her prostate form and suckled her breast, tweaking it to erectness. His tongue glided over her taut nipple, bringing her close to the edge once again. She let herself go, crying out her pleasure. He lowered himself to between her legs, lapping up her moisture as she slowly came down from the heights of her climax. She was limp as a rag doll and loving every second of the onslaught that was Patterson.
“Are you keeping count, my love?”
She brushed his hair back from his forehead. “When you touch me, I can’t begin to think, much less count.”
“I’ve had years of abstinence to make up for, so I am keeping count. If I can bring you to climax twenty times tonight, I feel I will have begun to make up for my years of being without.”
Eleanor’s body warmed at his words. “Where are we now?”
He laughed. “A long way from twenty. But we do have all night.” He rose from the bed and dug into his pants pocket, emerging with a small jar of cream. “I had the apothecary add some more spice to your scent. I figured tonight the added spice would be appropriate.” He opened the jar and loaded his finger. Beginning at her forehead, he massaged the sweet and spicy scent into her skin, spending an inordinate amount of time caressing her earlobes and the tender, sensitive spots under them. He moved on to
her neck, running his thumbs over her pulse points and causing her to groan. She tried to wind a hand around the back of his neck in order to kiss him, but he laughed and removed her hand from him. “Patience, my love. Lay back and enjoy.”
When he massaged his way down her torso to her breasts, she thought he’d stop there and suckle her again, but no. Only his fingers toyed with her, rubbing her taut nipples between his thumb and forefinger, making her gyrate. He straddled her body as he rubbed the cream down one arm and then the other. He dipped a finger into her belly button and moved lower. Finally. She emitted a sigh and parted her legs. And opened her eyes with a start when his weight left her.
“What are you doing?” He was crouched at her feet.
He laughed. “Patience, my love.” He took one foot in his hands and began massaging it. Her breath hissed out of her as he kneaded her insole. He slowly, agonizingly, worked his way up her calves to her knees, where he lingered before moving on to her thighs. Her body pulsated with lust and his every touch brought her higher and higher until she was gasping. “Please, Patterson.”
“Please, what, my love?” He teased her by blowing softly on her quim.
She thrashed around, grabbing fistfuls of the sheet. “Please take me now. I can’t bear it.”
“With pleasure, my love. But the night has just begun.”
Epilogue
September 1783
E leanor smiled down at her newest child, Gabriel. Faith had been born in August of 1782, and was now a big sister to her son. Hers and Patterson’s. She’d conceived Faith on her wedding night. Or so she thought, although Patterson kept her so busy in the bedroom, it could have been a few weeks after they finally married. She only thought she’d been in love with him before they wed, but his lovemaking expertise provided another level of excitement to her daily life.
He joined her in bed now, kissing the top of the baby’s head. “Another fine son.” He wrapped his arm around mother and child. “The rest of the children are abed.” He leaned in and kissed Eleanor, nuzzling her neck. Despite being sore from the birth, Eleanor’s body reacted to Patterson. She sighed contentedly.