Major Wyclyff's Campaign (A Lady's Lessons, Book 2)
Page 25
She stiffened, suddenly worried. "And now?"
He grinned and shifted his hands to brush across her breasts which made her knees shake with desire. "Now, it is too difficult to contemplate spending a lifetime apart." He lowered his head, and she raised her lips to meet his, eagerly sharing the emotions that flooded her senses. But all too soon he pulled back and his hands stilled and fell away. Soon he was not touching her at all, and his expression was grave. "Sophia," he asked as he dropped onto one knee. "Will you marry me?"
She took a deep breath. This was an important moment. She knew that when she said the words, she would commit herself to a lifetime spent by this man's side, traveling the world as part of his entourage. She would be his wife, giving up everything she thought she'd wanted. But she would be at Anthony's side, and they both knew now that she would never be so simple a thing as his ornament. After all they'd been through, she found the words were simple to say.
"I love you, Major Anthony Wyclyff. I have loved you from the moment you teased me into sitting on your bed and holding your hand. I loved you when you showed up at my breakfast table as my terribly insolent butler and when you lied to protect my honor after our night in gaol. I love you, and I cannot understand why I fought it so hard." She reached out, touching his face as she finally faced her deepest fear. "But what if I lose you?"
He grabbed her hand, pressing a kiss into her palm. "I can't predict the future, but I have no intention of returning to a battlefield, my love. There is no reason to expect I will live anything but a long and happy life."
She bit her lip. "I cannot watch you die. Not again."
"They say there is a potion for immortality in India. Perhaps we should go find it." His words were glib, but his expression was not. He drew her into a tender embrace. "We must love while we can, Sophia. There are no guarantees. But I love you, Sophia. And I believe that nothing, not even death, could keep me from your side."
She looked into his eyes, and for the first time ever, she found the courage to believe what he said. "I love you," she whispered. "I will marry you." Then she began to smile. "And I intend to seduce you at the earliest possible convenience."
He grinned, and she could see joy light his dark eyes. Then she was not looking at anything, but feeling a hundred different sensations. She had meant to seduce him, but she found she was the one being seduced. His hands were everywhere, stroking her body through her nightrail. She quickly became impatient with the barriers between them, and she began tugging at his clothing. Thankfully, he helped her, his movements as urgent as her own. Soon they were together, naked upon her bed.
She marveled at the feel of his glorious body. "This is wonderful," she whispered as she wriggled against him. She felt his smile as he kissed her face, lovingly teasing each one of her features before easing down the side of her neck.
The stroke of his tongue on her nipples, her belly, and the inside of her thighs surpassed anything she had ever experienced before. He did not need to exert pressure to spread her legs. She arched willingly into his embrace, aching for whatever he chose to do.
His nibbling bites traveled from the back of her knee, up the inside of her thigh, at last ending in the most intimate kiss she had ever known. Her body bucked and strained with a pleasure she had not thought possible.
She was totally exposed to him now, open as she had never known. Once, she would have fought such an experience with every ounce of her strength. Now, it all seemed natural and perfect. She felt her icy walls melt, and she was overwhelmed with heat and love. She was with Anthony, and she was safe. She was cherished and protected and loved. And, in return, she would give him her all.
His fingers were inside her now, stretching and stroking and doing things that had her writhing beneath him. She whimpered with the feel of it, the wonder.
"Anthony," she cried. "My love!"
She felt him look up, placing tender kisses at the base of her belly. "My love," he echoed, his voice deep and hungry. Then he pulled himself up, lifting her hips as he moved, placing himself at her entrance.
She did not wait for him. Wrapping her legs around him, she pulled him forward crying out in pleasure as he pierced her. Caught off guard, he fell forward, dropping onto her as he buried himself inside. She reveled in his weight.
"Sophia," he rasped.
"You are mine now, Major. I will not release you. Ever."
He grinned, though the expression was strained. As he began to move, she felt him shift and pulse inside her with each incredible stroke. "My love," he gasped. "You are mine."
"Yes. Oh, yes!"
Not slowing his rhythm, he pulled back and looked at her. She gazed back into his eyes and was caught there. With every thrust, she arched to meet him, feeling the brush of his chest against her breasts, the heavy weight of his hips, and the heated push of his body. But she never lost sight of his eyes.
This time, unlike the first, she knew what she wanted. She knew where they were going. And this time, as the coil wound tighter within her, as her breath came in short gasps and his hot breathy moans heated her face, she knew he sought the same thing.
Looking into each other's eyes, their bodies moving as one, together, they soared, and found joy.
* * *
Nearly dawn, Sophia thought as she stretched languidly in her bed. Turning to gaze at Anthony's serene face, she smiled in wondrous memory of their night together. Slowly, as she watched, his eyes opened, his gaze fuzzy with sleep, his body warm and tempting as he drew her closer against him.
She wriggled deeper into his arms, feeling his body come awake wherever they touched. "You have turned me into a wanton," she said happily.
"I have turned you into a woman who feels and laughs and loves."
She grinned. He never seemed to tire of hearing those words, just as she never tired of hearing him say them to her. She loved him, and he loved her. "You realize I cannot change back," she said. "I will never go back to being the Ice Queen again."
He shrugged, sending waves of sensation through her body. "I never liked her anyway."
"But, if I am not the Ice Queen, then I shall always be releasing caged animals and going to rescue mistreated young ladies."
He groaned, but rather than argue, he caught her hand and began kissing her fingers, one after the other, surprising her by the sheer eroticism of such a simple act. But she had to stop him. There were things they still had to discuss. She reluctantly drew her hand away.
"Anthony, you know there are a thousand impediments. I have no dowry."
"I do not want your dowry."
She shook her head, forcing him to listen by shifting slightly away from him. "I gave it all to Geoffrey. He is trying to rebuild the family estate."
"I do not care."
"He will."
Anthony sighed, apparently resigned to the discussion. "I will speak with Geoffrey when the time comes."
"But what about—"
He stopped her words with another kiss, and she found herself melting into his arms, her fears forgotten. He was willing to work through anything, everything. When he at last raised his head, she smiled up at him.
"We should be married very soon," she said dreamily. "There was no babe before, but there might be one now."
He paused, his expression uncertain. "Does that upset you?"
She grinned. "Of course not. I would simply adore having your child. And since you have turned me into a wanton..."
"We shall be married today." His words were a crow of delight.
"Geoffrey will insist on giving over my dowry," she said, her smile fading with the thought. "Anthony, he does not have it. The property was sold. The money spent."
"My dear," responded Anthony as he began to caress her intimately. "After what we have been through these last weeks, do you believe a lack of dowry might stop me? Besides," he added with a grin, "it appears I have won my wager with Lord Kyle."
Sophia pulled back far enough to peer into her love's eyes. "Wager?"
she asked, suddenly suspicious. "What wager?"
He didn't answer, choosing instead to try and distract her with a deep kiss. It worked. For now. She was far too happy to worry about any male nonsense—with either Lord Kyle or her brother.
She knew her idyll would not last for long. There was still their true wedding to accomplish, not to mention preparations for their journey to India. And her brother would probably make a fuss about trying to provide her with a dowry. But all that paled beside her love for Anthony. Especially as he reached down to stroke the fire that blazed between them. In that heat, she found their love had burned the last of her fears away.
The End
Want more from Jade Lee
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MISS WOODLEY'S KISSING EXPERIMENT
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Excerpt from
Miss Woodley's Kissing Experiment
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Geoffrey mulled over the situation, a wicked thought stirring his loins. She was beautiful. And curious. He could do no less than teach her that Harry was definitely not representative of his gender. In fact, was that not what riding instructors taught—to get directly back on the horse that threw you?
Lifting his brandy, he kept his voice lazy with just the slightest hint of a challenge. She would not know that inside his ears, blood pounded in anticipation. "I would not worry overmuch," he said. "It was just one kiss, you know, and a bad one at that. There are other men who are less, um, wet in their attentions. One might even say you could find someone who makes you tingle." He smiled at her, a long lazy smile borne of too much brandy and a beautiful girl turning to him for advice on kissing. She responded in kind, her sweet lips lifting in a delicate curve, her eyes alight with curiosity.
He watched her take a sip of brandy, her perfect mouth pressing against the edge of her glass. "Do your ladies tingle when you kiss them?" she asked.
He set down the glass, only vaguely aware of the impropriety of this conversation, more deeply aware of the rosy glow of her skin in the candlelight, the gentle lift and lowering of her breasts as she breathed, and the slight part to her sweet red lips. "I have never thought to ask," he replied as evenly as possible. "Perhaps we could try an experiment."
Miss Woodley's Kissing Experiment
A LADY'S LESSONS
Book Three
by
Jade Lee
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To purchase
Miss Woodley's Kissing Experiment
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Discovery how the A LADY'S LESSONS series began.
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Rules for a Lady
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by
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USA Today Bestselling Author
RULES FOR A LADY
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"...comparable to notable Regency author Marian Devon."
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What was she—Gillian Ames, bastard and lowly housemaid—doing wearing emeralds? She should be thrilled at finally starting on the path to her dreams. She had wealth, support, and most of all, the opportunity for a fine marriage that would establish herself and her mother for the rest of their lives. She should be dancing on the rafters in excitement. Instead, all she could think was that she was a thief and a liar living someone else's life. Her breath caught on a sob, and she felt Stephen's hands tighten on her shoulders in surprise, turning her around so he could look directly into her eyes.
"Amanda? What is wrong?"
"I—I do not belong here," she gasped, then felt her eyes widen in shock. "I mean—"
"Shhh, it's all right. You are Amanda Faith Wyndham."
"No—"
"Yes. Amanda, listen to me. You are an earl's ward and a beautiful woman who has already become an Original even before your come-out."
She blushed. "Do not be absurd," she whispered, not comprehending the husky timbre to his voice or the almost desperate sound to his words. The mesmerizing golden flecks in his eyes filled her thoughts, and she felt her heart beat faster as he drew a ragged breath.
He leaned down, his dark hair brushing against her forehead as his breath mingled with hers. And then without even realizing that she was the one who moved, she found herself in his arms, straining upward as his lips descended to hers.
Rules for a Lady
A LADY'S LESSONS
Book One
by
Jade Lee
~
To purchase
Rules for a Lady
from your favorite eBook Retailer,
visit Jade Lee's eBook Discovery Author Page
www.ebookdiscovery.com/JadeLee
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JADE LEE has two passions (well, except for her family, but that’s a given). She loves dreaming up stories and playing racquetball, not always in that order. When her pro-racquetball career ended with a pair of very bad knees, she turned her attention to writing. An author of more than 30 romance novels, she’s decided that life can be full of joy without ever getting up from her chair.
A USA Today Bestseller, Jade has been scripting love stories since she first picked up a set of paper dolls. Ball gowns and rakish lords caught her attention early (thank you Georgette Heyer), and her fascination with the Regency began. Now an author of more than 30 romance novels, she finally gets to play in the best girl-heaven place of all: a Bridal Salon! In her new series, four women find love as they dress the most beautiful brides in England. Look for the first books in Feb/March 2012 with Engaged in Wickedness, an e-book novella, and Wedded in Scandal, a Berkley Sensation novel.
And don’t forget KATHY LYONS! She’s Jade’s lighter, contemporary half. Kathy writes for Harlequin Blaze. She loves the faster pace of category books and that her humor can really let fly. She leaves the dark, tortured love stories to Jade.
If you’re wondering where Katherine Greyle comes in, she’s Jade’s first persona. Sweet, funny, and with a love of all things regency, Katherine started publishing back in the 1900s. (She won’t say how long ago!) But never fear, the romantic soul is the same whether it’s Jade, Katherine, or Kathy!
So if you love that special feeling when two people just fit, then email her through her website www.jadeleeauthor.com. She’s also on social media at Facebook - JadeLeeBooks and Twitter – JadeLeeAuthor.
Other Titles by
Jade Lee
The Bridal Favors Series
Engaged in Wickedness, a novella
Wedded in Scandal
Engaged in Passion, a novella
Wedded in Sin
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The Way of the Tigress Series
White Tigress
Hungry Tigress
Desperate Tigress
Burning Tigress
Cornered Tigress
Tempted Tigress
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The Regency Rags to Riches Series
No Place for a Lady
Devil's Bargain
Almost an Angel
The Dragon Earl
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Rules for a Lady
Major Wyclyff’s Campaign
Miss Woodley’s Experiment
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The Jade Lee Fantasies
Seduced by Crimson
Sexy Bites
A Magic King
Dragonborn
Dragonbound
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Anthologies, Short Stories and other Novels
Winter Heat, anthology
The Time, a short story
Wicked Surrender
Wicked Seduction
The Tao of Sex
Getting Physical
The Concubine
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Titles by Jade Lee writing as
Kathy Lyons
Night After Night
Living the Fantasy
Under His Spell
Office Ups and Downs
In Good Hands
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Titles by Jade Lee writing as
Katherine Greyle
Playing with Matches anthology
By Fate’s Hand anthology