by Peyton Meri
“Is it? If it were, you wouldn’t have run away. You wouldn’t be out here in this cottage with me. You wouldn’t have invited me in. You’d be back at the mansion, smiling sweetly at your groom-to-be, and eating, filling your belly with Fana’s hearty delicious offerings.”
His voice dropping to a husky drawl on the latter sent her gut grumbling in agreement. She’d not eaten since dawn and that had been a single bite of boring dry toast. Her nerves had been too raw to stomach much else of the plentiful breakfast Fana, the Sutton’s fantastic cook had sent up.
“I’m no longer that naïve woman I once was. I may still feel the passion I had for you three years ago, but much has happened in the time since you’ve been gone.”
Knowing he shattered her heart ate at him. If she never forgave him, never saw him again, turned him away, at least he’d know and would be able to finally walk away with some dignity this time. Even though his heart would be broken, he’d be able to close this door, this chapter of his life once and for all.
Even as he thought it, Coltin knew he would never ever forget this amazing woman.
Lovers, was the first thing that came to his mind. Had she taken on lovers? Was that the true reason behind her engagement to Wainbridge? Was she enceinte? Jealousy swiped a harsh blow through him. Coltin could not stop the hard edge in his tone when he put to her, “Does that lots has happened part of the reason you’re wedding a chap you’ve only just met?”
“I’d just met you when we were alone that night together. Besides, we’ve not just met. Pierce and I have known each other for six months,” she said coolly.
“The same thing.” Coltin’s words came out hard. Hearing her call the young lordling by his Christian name clenched his heart in a vise and sent an unsettling pit of nausea to his gut. Six months was more than enough time for a virile and randy young buck to learn how passionate Fairly could be, and attempt a play at seduction. Jealousy was a bitch. Coltin clenched his jaw until his teeth ached.
“Some unions are shorter than that.” She narrowed her gaze on him. “You don’t know him. He’s quite the gentleman,” she said with a swallow. Then she tilted her head, giving him a quizzical look. “How do you know how long it’s been?”
Silence. His gaze still on her face, Coltin saw the wheels turning behind her eyes. Her lovely amber-gold eyes widened in surprise. Then she slowly uncrossed her arms and shook her head. “The earl,” she scoffed, more of an angry hiss. “Is that what you two were discussing in the study?”
“No,” Coltin said. Damn. Sweat broke upon his brow at his lie.
“Then how? No lies, Coltin, you promised.”
He shrugged. There was too much at stake for even one small falsehood. He would keep his promise. Shaking his arms at his sides, he stared her straight in the face. “I am not lying. I gave you my word. Do not be mad with him, but it was in one of his letters—the announcement of your engagement.”
Shock and disbelief flitted across her face. “You’ve kept in touch with Edward?” she asked on a breathless gasp.
Coltin gave her a curt nod. It was the first time tonight she’d called her cousin by his name instead of earl. The truth about the letters would hurt her, he knew. But they had agreed. Truth.
“Yet, not me?”
There it was. The anguish, her pain, once again he’d caused. Coltin closed his eyes for a brief moment, then reopened them. “He was my connection to you. My lifeline, Fairly. I tried to stay away. How I left you…unfair. Dastardly. You deserved a better man. No matter how hard I tried to put you out of my mind. No matter how hard I tried to stay away—your face—you…haunted me. Day and night. Wherever I looked—I saw you. God, Fairly, I am a fool!”
Silence. He watched her watch him. He waited.
She shrugged. “You aren’t the only fool nor are you the only one to blame, Coltin. My inquisitive mind and brazenness was partly the blame too for what happened that night. Deuce take you!” she yelled and shot up so fast, she nearly clocked him but good on the jaw with her head. “Why are you here?”
Anguish blazed in her eyes and clear exasperation laced her tone. He thought to tell her all he’d thought, all he felt, but simple words left his mouth. “For you,” he breathed, and hoped that it was enough.
She stared at him. Not blinking, not breathing. Time stretched. He feared if he blinked the beautiful vision before him would disappear.
She closed the single step between them, reached out, and touched his cheek. Coltin groaned and turned his cheek into her warm palm. It felt like he was coming home.
“Oh, Coltin. How I’ve missed you and longed for the day you’d return. I thought it would never happen.”
It was more than enough.
CHAPTER SIX
Coltin dragged her to him in a starved clasp. Their bodies crushed to the other. He licked the outside of her lips. Her soft moans sent him reeling. She opened her mouth and took him inside. He kissed her deep then gave her control.
They tasted, breathed the others breath, licked, pulled and sucked. When he let her go, she fell against him just as breathless as he was. He moved his fingers over her hair, his chin resting against the top of her head. “Fairly,” he started, “you need to tell me now to stop.”
She drew back but not out of his embrace. Her amber-gold eyes told him his answer before she spoke the words. “I can’t tell you to stop what I want you to do. What I want us both to do. I’ve dreamed of this night, Coltin.”
He kissed her hard, then lifted her and carried her behind the screen to the bed. He didn’t care if she had given herself to Pierce or had had any other lovers. Tonight, this moment, their future was now and she was his.
It wasn’t as if he’d abstained in the past three years. He’d not been a lush by any means. On the few occasions he’d indulged, had his release, it had been just that, release and nothing more.
Fairly was a beautiful, passionate woman. At her age, it would not be shocking that she no longer was pure.
It no longer mattered. In his mind, he would always be the last one to make her scream. And the first one who had given her the first taste of sweet release.
Fairly wove her fingers into his thick black waves. Another one of his captivating traits that made her heartbeat race. Soft. Lustrous. Full. Both his hands covered her derriere and pulled her between his splayed thighs where they stood on the side of the bed. She could not stop her hot gasp into his mouth as he slanted his lips against hers over and over.
His fingers kneaded her flesh, holding her prisoner, tighter against the hard length of his erection. The ridge of it poked her intimately and she could not help but grind her hips against him eager for more of the wonderful sensations coursing through her. The trousers she wore made her feel every inch of him as if they were naked. God, she wanted him.
Her legs went weak as the feelings built inside her and she would have fallen if he hadn’t lifted her up. Her breasts smashed against his chest, her arms wound around his neck.
He wrenched his lips from hers to slide them down over her chin, her throat then back up again in hot sucking wet kisses.
Fairly shivered, melting as she clung to him. “Oh, Coltin,” she muttered, trembling hotly with anticipation.
She wanted to say more, but his seeking mouth covered hers again. Then his hands were in her hair, unraveling her loosened braid. Like a blanket, it fell around her shoulders and against her back. Somehow, bodies clenched in that tight embrace, she felt them falling backwards onto the bed. His body took the brunt of their weight. She lay atop him with a chuckle.
“You all right?” he asked her, smiling and his eyes dark.
A light twitter escaped her. “I should be asking you that.”
“Oh, sweet, I’m fine.”
To punctuate his words, he lifted her legs on either side of him so she sat astride. The move put her sex flush against that hard part of him and Fairly could not control her pleasure drenched cry at the shock of the sensations to her womanly core.
His hands tore at her shirt, pulling it out of her trousers. In seconds, he had her upper half, naked for him to take his fill.
“Oh my…my…you’re lovely,” he murmured huskily and closed his fingers around her breasts.
He teased her nipples until the peaks ached. Fairly arched into him with a throaty groan.
Coltin sat up a bit, the jostling and friction sent waves of lust crashing over them both and left them gasping and breathless.
Hungry and aching for him, Fairly ground her hips harder against him as pleasure shot to every nerve inside her quaking body. She held onto his head when he kissed her breast, taking one rosy peak into his mouth, then the other. The feeling sent her soaring, squirming from his wet mouth for more. Pleading moans escaped her lips.
Coltin knew what she wanted. Lifting her, he set her aside quickly and planted a kiss against her lips at her disappointment.
He stood and removed the rest of his clothing. For a brief second he took in the disheveled look of her lying naked and bare for his eyes only. Her fine smoky blonde strands seemed to gleam in the dim shadows from the lamplight. His breath stuck inside his throat.
Her body, flush with her excitement, the hairs of her mons glistened with proof of her arousal and readiness. He hardened more, something he’d thought impossible as he took his fill of every inch of the treasure before him. His cock ached to feel her hot silky heat wrapped around him. He knew she was not aware of the enchanting picture she presented with her innocent pose.
Her slender legs, he lifted one foot, and brought it to his chest. She moaned as he massaged the inner side of her sole. Dainty. Arousing. She trembled under his touch and her sweet lips dropped open. He groaned, for the position he had her in now gave him a fantastic view of her womanhood.
“C-Coltin?” she began, hesitantly.
“Just let me touch you. Relax and feel. There are so many areas of the body to feel. Just feel. The other will come soon,” he reassured her just as much as he was reassuring himself. He wanted nothing more than to climb on top of her, thrust himself inside…He was too randy, too near that end. And he wanted it to last.
Trust shone in her eyes as she nodded her understanding. He pressed her back on the bed and pushed her hands above her head.
His hands went everywhere. Fairly’s disappointment waned as the heated magic his hands were creating, overwhelmed her. His fingers dug into her hips, then moved around to her bottom. She wondered if he would do that French kiss on her again. He did.
She was whimpering like a fool by the time he made his way to her mouth. He had touched, kissed and used his fingers across every inch of her it seemed. She felt drenched in sweat and a languid heavenly bliss so intense that she thought she just might faint. The tenderness and sweeping attention he gave to her body made her heart love him even more, and made her want to return the favor to him.
When he pulled back on his knees beside her, unable to resist, she reached out to touch his jutting engorged sex. A deep groan exploded out of him. That hard part of him felt smooth, silky. Last time she’d not seen it, but had felt it against her hip when he’d found his glory. The tip of his erection jerked in her hand.
His deep groan had her look up at him. His tanned face was flush with color, his excitement. His lips parted, his jaw flexed with control and those ash-blue eyes dark and locked on hers. “Do you like that?” she asked him.
“Too much,” he replied through gritted teeth and took her hand in his.
Coltin came over her, positioning his body over her as he gently spread her legs wider. Her musk of arousal was driving him mad and he hoped he could hold on when he entered her. He dipped his fingers down into her pink folds. She was very wet, quivering and ready.
He pressed into her. Her juices made her entry easy to slip into. Clenching his teeth to hold onto his control, he thrust home to the hilt and through the hymen, he was not expecting to be there. He found himself not only surprised, but immensely pleased.
He kissed away her concerns and whimpers of shock at the pain, but she did not shove him away. Her lush velvety softness gripped the length of his cock and he waited for her to adjust to him.
Coltin smiled when she moved first. It was all he needed. He tried to be gentle at first, but she would not allow it.
His thrusts increased, went deep. Faster. Harder.
Fairly blinked with each one as the crescendo built, rushing to her every limb. Then it happened. Clutching his neck and shoulders, moaning loudly with wild abandonment, she let the bliss he’d created take her away.
Coltin joined her shortly with a final thrust, then another, his seed pulsing inside her, holding her shuddering body tightly against his own.
CHAPTER SEVEN
Afterwards, nestled against his side and still basking in newfound passion, Fairly smiled, her fingers caressing his chest hair. He had wet a cloth and wiped the smear of blood and his seed from her before climbing back into bed with her after they’d caught their breath.
The look in his eyes as he’d cleaned her body had made her embarrassment less. She had no regrets over what they’d done and in his smoldering gaze, she’d seen the same. “You were surprised I was still a virgin, weren’t you?” she probed.
They had promised truth. Coltin cracked a half smile as he looked deeply into her eyes. “It’d entered my mind, yes.” He turned more onto his side and outlined her plump breasts with his finger. “You are a very sensual and passionate woman, Fairly. Only a fool would not believe men were panting after you. You’re also quite the catch. Not just because of your wealth but for your wondrous personality.”
“Would you have been upset if I had not been pure?” She asked hesitantly, her cheeks turning red as she turned her head aside.
Coltin captured her chin with his fingers to hold her so she could not only hear the seriousness in his tone but also see it in his eyes. “No, Fairly. I admit, I felt a pang of regret we had not given in to our amorous feelings that night we were together, considering the nightmare, the heartache, the false rumors and conjecture that followed. Many a night after, I wished I’d made you mine back then. Marked you.”
“Oh you did leave quite the mark, Coltin. I was yours from the moment we met.”
It was his time to flush. Coltin kissed her hard. When he pulled back, he added, “I was not pure that evening,” he confessed quietly.
She smiled beautifully. “I was well aware that night you were not a virgin.”
His brows shot up. “How did you know that, minx? The French’s kiss could well have been all that I knew,” he teased.
Her face turned scarlet this time. “I saw you once,” she confessed.
Coltin’s brows dipped. When her blush deepened down into the column of her throat, his brows shot back up as her meaning struck him. “Good god, when? How?” he was near shouting in disbelief and sat up partially.
Fairly laughed over his reaction and his own face reddening in embarrassment. “At Madame Pentak’s masked ball.”
Coltin’s cheeks burned. The night the earl had chased the countess. The night he himself had another woman on his mind as he’d plunged his engorged cock into another off in one of the side rooms. Assured discretion, the dowager duchess Pentak, had vehemently preached, my ass! Coltin thought. Fairly had been out and about celebrating her upcoming seventeenth birthday. He, just shy of twenty. A week that should have been wonderful for her. Unfortunately, a few days after that night, tragedy had struck and changed the course of her life forever.
Coltin looked at her. “How much did you see?” he asked, nearly choking on his words. He’d not been the most experienced lover back then. He’d been relatively green, just learning to master his stamina and the right pumping rhythm.
She rubbed a hand down his chest. “Enough to say you’ve vastly improved.”
“What?” he began, then noticing the teasing gleam in her eyes, he covered her body with his and drew her under him. “Is that so?”
“Yes.
A great deal, I dare say. Though I watched until the end, I must say you did not make the noises you make now in that, uh, moment. You were silent, albeit, I could tell you found pleasure with that woman.”
“I found release. With you, I lose a part of myself. Every time. I’ve no choice but to shout my pleasure when I come. It’s because I’m with the right woman.”
“And I’m glad of it,” Fairly leaned up and kissed his soft lips. Then she pulled back and worried her bottom lip. “Think a rescue party will come looking for us?”
“If the earl has any say, I doubt one soul will set foot off onto our trail.”
“Oh, Coltin, you might be right.”
“Oh, my sweet darling, I know I’m right,” he said matter-of-factly. Then kissing her temple, he spoke against her damp skin. “I’m sorry I left you to the horrors of what your friends and the ton, must’ve heaped upon you.”
“Oh, Coltin. There’s not much to be sorry for. Had they been true friends, the gossip mill would not have started. I never had any real friends after my parents’ deaths. I no longer care what the ton thinks. I nearly became a recluse because of them.” Fairly caressed his cheek when he winced at her words and shut his eyes. “The countess was by my side the next years after that. She coaxed me out of my reverie of what I believed was comfort, and just like that I was back in the circle of busy society’s life. A merry-go-round of vultures smiling, grinning. I just wanted to get off it.
Now that I recall, some of the nights before an event, her and the earl’s arguments appeared the most heated. Only on those nights. I never thought of it before, but…you don’t think—”
“Yes. I do.” Coltin cut her off. “Edward is a strong man. But when it comes to his wife, her wishes, no matter his disagreement with them, he gives her what she wants.”