“Are you all right?” he asked.
Needing a moment to compose herself, Emma remained still and unresponsive. She allowed herself to become accustomed to the feel of his thick shaft wedged deep inside.
Aaron was between her legs, pinning her down, and gradually, as he eased onto his elbows to take the weight from her, she began to relax.
The pain lessened and a warm, radiating heat followed.
His breath brushed against her cheek, and when he lowered his head and captured her lips, she gave a sigh of contentment.
Aaron nuzzled along her jawline toward the hollow at the base of her neck, and as his hands reached for her hardened nipples, she shuddered. A tingling sensation spread throughout her body, and for the first time in her life, she knew she was completely and totally alive.
So this is what it’s like to be taken by a man, she thought.
The burning heat. The passionate kisses. And then to be impaled upon his manhood and feel as if she was one with him. No wonder all her friends wanted a husband. If this was what happened when couples retired to their bedchamber of an evening, she could now understand why everyone was keen to marry.
Thinking their lovemaking was over, Emma started to move from under him, but he held her fast.
“What’s wrong? Where are you going?” he asked. His lips touched hers.
His shaft jolted inside, and she could feel it pressing against the sides of her wet cavity. She ached, but it was a good ache.
“I was going to return to the inn. I thought we had…finished.”
“Finished?” he asked, puzzled.
“Well…have you not done what men are supposed to do?”
He chuckled, laughing softly. “No, I have not. But if you want me to stop…”
Raining feather-light kisses on her lips, he moved down to suck on her taut, hard nipples. A sharp, burning wave of pleasure flashed through her groin. It coursed all over her body, sending wave after wave of delicious warmth throughout.
She gasped, and her fingers splayed through his dark hair, pulling him to her breasts. “I don’t know what is supposed to happen.”
“Then let me show you.”
And he did.
With slow, steady movements, he began to plunge his shaft in and out of her cavern. He withdrew his rod, and just as he was about to leave her, he once again thrust deep inside. His pace increased, and as the friction grew, so too did the heat spreading from within. Her body throbbed and quivered. And when he grasped her hands and held her spread-eagle in the hay, she was helpless to prevent what was coming.
What he was doing to her body was so overpowering. Never before had she experienced such intense feelings of emotion. With no control over her reaction to his touch, and powerless to resist his demands, she gave herself over to the moment and was his to do with as he wished.
She moaned and withered beneath him. Instinctively, she lifted her pelvis, raising her hips to meet Aaron’s thrusts. He was ramming his shaft in and out, plunging into the hilt until he was embedded deep within her wet opening. Slowly withdrawing, he repeated this action over and over again, and the friction was almost too much for her to bear.
No longer able to hold back, she burst into glorious spasms as her orgasm drew near. Her juices were flowing, and as she climaxed, Aaron withdrew from her womanly cavern and released his load.
Lying entwined in the afterglow of their lovemaking, he held her close, and with her arms wrapped around his waist, she felt safe and secure.
With a moment to think and a chance to realize exactly what she had done, Emma came to the conclusion she’d done no wrong. Aaron had taken her virginity. She’d given him what was supposed to be held in trust for the man she would marry, but she had no regrets. In the truest sense of the word, she had become a woman.
Wantonly, she had chased him, and in her own way, she’d seduced him into giving her what she desired—a night of sensual gratification.
Aaron had taken her to heights she’d never known existed, and although forceful, he’d been a gentle lover, showing her the true delights of lovemaking.
The pleasure Aaron had given had been immense, and if she never experienced this again with another man—with a husband, or with a lover—at least she would have the memory of tonight. There were no pangs of guilt, only a sense of deep satisfaction. Having captured her prey, she had devoured him wholeheartedly.
“Thank you for being so tender with me,” she said. “Not every gentleman would have been so thoughtful of my needs.” She smiled and asked, “Are you sure you will not reconsider my offer of marriage?”
He gave a gentle laugh and smoothed her disheveled hair away from her cheeks. Held in his arms, with her head upon his chest and with her ear pressed against his torso, she could hear the steady beat of his heart. She loved the sound of its rhythmic thud. It made her feel close to him. As if her heart was beating in time with his. As if they were one.
“As I pointed out before, the arrangement would not be fair to you. I have nothing to offer. I would gain everything, and all you would have would be Windhurst Hall…and me. Neither of us are what you would call a prize. Windhurst Hall is in need of repair and rejuvenation, and so too am I.”
Aaron reached for her hand and placed it against the rough, jagged edge of the scar on his cheek. Her fingers traced the harsh, red line, and then daringly, she pressed her lips against the wound.
“Your scar will soon fade, and with my money, we could restore Windhurst Hall.”
She arched her back, pressing her body closer to his.
“Are you trying to tempt me?” he asked.
She curled a leg daringly around his and snuggled closer. “Yes, I am, and although I know it is wrong of me to do so, I wish you would accept the invitation.”
“I cannot.”
“Is it because you could never bring yourself to love me? Or is it because someday you wish to marry and your wife will have to be beautiful? She will also need to have the right family background, and―”
Aaron placed a finger against her lips. “You do yourself a disservice. You have a lot to offer a man. One day you will find the right husband.”
“So I might. But the men I admire have no desire to marry a merchant’s daughter. And of the men wishing to marry me…well, I have no desire to wed them.”
“Men like Lord Stratton?”
“Exactly.”
“Then what are you going to do?”
Emma smiled up at him. “I will live my life one day at a time and see what tomorrow brings. But for now, I will be content for you to teach me more about how to please a man.”
Wantonly, she rubbed her groin against the swell of his penis. He was flaccid, but she was sure there was some life in him yet. And she was right.
Aaron pulled her close. “Come, let us return to the inn. For I have no desire to spend the night making love to you here in the barn only to be found in the morning by a stable hand, or worse, by Gresham.”
“Now you have disappointed me.” She laughed. “I have so enjoyed the experience of making love in the stables. It is not every day I have the chance to bed down between bales of hay with a man.”
“You hussy!” he said and smiled. “Perhaps we will do this another time. But for now, it is bed for you…and for me!”
“Together?”
“Together,” he answered.
With her naked body wrapped securely in the blanket, and having left the loft behind, they crossed the cobblestoned yard and headed toward the inn. Without mishap or detection, they reached the safety of Emma’s bedchamber, and then they made passionate love until dawn broke upon the skyline.
Chapter 7
Having traveled through the gently rolling hills of Wiltshire’s countryside in the phaeton, Aaron and Emma soon reached the town of Bath. The journey had been free from mishap, and a change of horses had not been needed. With the turnpikes paid and the weather unexpectedly mild, Aaron had found the journey with Emma to be surprisingly
pleasant.
Not accustomed to entertaining females with frivolous conversation, he was delighted she hadn’t bored him with idle chit-chat. Occasionally they shared a remark about a village they passed or a landmark spotted in the distance, but thankfully, no awkward silences had prevailed.
Discounting the fact they hadn’t known one another until yesterday, and taking into account the awkwardness that could have followed after such an ardent, passionate, and heated night of lovemaking, Aaron felt remarkably at ease in Emma’s company.
She seemed not at all embarrassed by their shared experience of fervent coupling and was, in fact, glowing with noticeable confidence.
The only uncomfortable moment throughout their stay at The Stag and Hounds posting inn had been when the landlady stopped them before their departure. Mrs. Griffin had kindly informed them that the stable hand had found a discarded shirt and a crumpled chemise in the hayloft. She had then asked if by any stretch of the imagination, the items could possibly belong to them, and if they did, would they like the clothing washed, mended, and then forwarded to their separate abodes?
With difficulty, Aaron had maintained his composure. But Emma, unable to keep her countenance, had blushed profusely and turned away, coughing and spluttering into her handkerchief.
No one was fooled by their adamant explanation that the clothes were not theirs. And with a nod and a wink, Mr. and Mrs. Griffin had waved them off on their journey, entreating them to return to the inn at their leisure, whenever an evening alone was desired.
Leaving the outskirts of Bath and entering the city proper, Aaron noticed the streets were bustling with traffic. Having left The Stag and Hounds reasonably early, they had made good time and had reached Bath just as the abbey’s clock chimed the hour of noon. Carriages and carts of every sort were to be seen upon the road, and the fine weather had brought residents and traders of Bath out in droves.
“I have no notion where I am to set you down, so you must direct me. Whereabouts does your father live?” he asked.
With a flick of the whip over the horses’ heads, Aaron steered the phaeton to the side of the road to avoid a collision with a black sedan chair. The chairmen were undoubtedly carrying an invalid to Bath spa so that the waters might be taken, and with the heavy weight of their cargo, they appeared to be staggering.
It was that time of year when well-to-do people from London and surrounding cities tended to flock to Bath for health reasons and to drink the spa water; and also of an evening, to socialize at the pump rooms.
Emma lifted her hand to her bonnet, shading her eyes from the bright sunlight, and she smiled at Aaron. “We have a house on Lansdown Crescent,” she told him. “It is not too distant from Pulteney Bridge. And you? Where do you stay when in Bath?”
Keeping a diligent eye on the various carriages on the road, Aaron glanced at Emma as she sat graciously at his side. She was indeed prettier than he had first thought her to be. Before, he had considered her passable. But this morning, with a glow of serine contentment about her and a smile that lit her face, she was beautiful.
Beneath Emma’s straw bonnet, her dark curls framed her face exquisitely. Her white, sprig muslin dress with matching spencer was tailored to enhance her figure to perfection. And her flawless, peach complexion and wide, excited eyes were a delight to behold.
Memories of the passionate encounter they had shared sprang to mind. He recalled how her body had looked, felt, and tasted, as she lay beneath him. She had clung to him with desperation as they made love, and the thought of what had passed between them stirred the need to possess her once again.
Aaron had to control his desires. They were soon to part, and it was best if he put all thought of their lovemaking from his mind and concentrated on the matter at hand.
“For some years, I have had rooms in St. James’s Square,” he said. “They are nothing much to speak of, but suffice for when I come to town.”
Spurring the horses on, they soon reached Lansdown Crescent. With a tug on the reins, Aaron brought the phaeton to a halt outside a row of elegant terraced houses. The honey-colored, stone-fronted buildings were four-stories in height and curved in a gentle quarter-moon shape. There was a wide slabbed paving pedestrian walkway, and across the road, beyond the gardens, clear views over the city of Bath were to be had. It was a prestigious neighborhood, and Aaron was impressed.
Aaron turned to Emma. “I’m afraid I am unable to assist you down and escort you to your door. I’m sure you realize I cannot leave these horses standing.”
“Of course,” she said. Hurriedly, Emma prepared to climb from the phaeton. “I’ll have a footman come to collect my belongings. It will take but a moment, and I shall try not to detain you much longer.”
It was then that a door to one of the elegant town houses opened and a gentleman of senior years emerged. He was dressed in a long, padded, velvet dressing gown that was a deep red in color. Careless of who might observe his state of near undress, the gentleman hurriedly approached with his arms held wide in greeting. His dressing gown flapped open in the breeze, displaying a striped, cotton nightshirt beneath his robe, and the fact that the slippers he wore barely stayed on his feet seemed not to bother him in his haste to reach his morning callers.
“Emma, I spied your arrival from the bedchamber window. Where have you been, and what are you up to? Why are you with this fellow and not with Gresham? Speak. Tell me what has happened. Where is Gresham? And where is our carriage? What in the world is going on?”
The gentleman seemed truly concerned, and it was clear he was worried for Emma’s welfare. As he paced back and forth on the wide, stone slabs of the pavement, waiting for Emma to climb from the phaeton, his annoyance appeared to build.
“Papa, do not fuss so. All is well. As you can see, this kind gentleman has returned me safe and sound to you.”
Mr. Brentry came to a halt beside the carriage. With an angry stare, he looked up at Aaron and asked, “You sir…who the devil are you? And why are you with my daughter? How dare you abduct her in this atrocious manner!”
“Papa, may I introduce you to Mr. Aaron Trent.” Emma’s voice was calm and had the desired effect. Mr. Brentry visibly relaxed. “Mr. Trent very kindly came to my aid and offered assistance when a wheel of our carriage broke. Without his help, I would still be stranded and completely alone on the Bath Road. Mr. Trent, as you may have gathered, this is my dear father, Mr. Winston Brentry.”
Both gentlemen nodded, acknowledging the introduction.
Mr. Brentry, having been calmed by Emma’s assurances, realized his daughter had encountered some difficulty and that Aaron had come to her rescue.
“It seems I’m in your debt, sir.” Mr. Brentry bowed his head. “I beg your pardon if I was a little abrupt. But a parent does tend to worry if their child returns home with a stranger. No slight was meant to you in person, Mr. Trent.”
“None was taken. I fully understand your concern. Emma…I mean, Miss Brentry…is back, and that is all that matters.”
“Indeed it is,” said Mr. Brentry. “As long as she is unharmed and intact, nothing else matters.”
Intact! Aaron’s gaze collided with Emma’s. And at that moment, their thoughts veered to what had transpired in the hayloft and bedchamber as they had made love long into the night.
Safe…she might be. Intact…that could no longer be said of her.
“I am home, Papa. Be thankful Mr. Trent has brought me to your door.”
“And where are Gresham and the barouche? What has become of them?”
“They are safe. They should arrive by this evening, or tomorrow at the latest. Before leaving Corston, Mr. Trent kindly sent for a wheelwright. And you need have no concern for the horses. They have been well cared for. I can personally vouch for the quality of the hay and bedding in the stables at The Stag and Hounds. Everything in the barn was most excellent, and I would be very happy to stay there again.”
Aaron smiled at her words and hoped Mr. Brentry r
emained oblivious to the innuendo behind them.
Two footmen appeared and stood respectfully at a distance. They were waiting to receive orders from Mr. Brentry.
“Mr. Trent, would you care to come inside and take refreshments? You must be weary from your journey. You’re most welcome to stay for a while.”
Mr. Brentry gestured to the footmen, signaling for them to assist his daughter.
Emma had climbed from the phaeton and was now directing the servants to remove her portmanteau and baggage. Instructing the footmen to take her belongings into the house, she then turned and held up a hand toward Aaron.
He was surprised by this gesture, but taking her proffered hand in his, he held her fast.
“I wish to thank you,” she said. “I do not know what I would have done without your assistance. It was an enjoyable encounter, although in my opinion, much too brief. As a reward for your excellent services, I would like to invite you to the rout party we are holding next week. I hope perhaps we can meet and come together once again before you have to return to Windhurst Hall.” Emma glanced teasingly up at him, and he had no problem understanding her innuendoes. “You will be most welcome to join us. In fact, I think I must insist you do so. Papa, do you not agree that Mr. Trent must attend our party. After all he has done for me, we cannot let him vanish from our lives so easily.”
“Are we holding a party, my dear?” Mr. Brentry looked perplexed.
“We are,” Emma said. “And I believe a friend of Mr. Trent’s will also be in town next week. Papa, remind me to send an invitation to Lord Stratton. I’m sure he will be more than interested to know under what circumstances Mr. Trent and I met, and to discover how well we have come to know one another.”
“Ah…Lord Stratton,” Aaron said.
“You know Lord Stratton?” asked Mr. Brentry with keenness. His enthusiasm was clear. “An excellent fellow, is he not? Someone once told me he was on the hunt for a wife, and upon making his acquaintance, I’m certain he will make a first-rate husband for Emma. His pockets are well-lined, and he comes from a good family. A lord’s title is not to be sniffed at. Mr. Trent, you must come and see his lordship. I believe his estates are in Berkshire, which means I shall sorely miss my Emma when she is a married woman and living there. But if that is the price one must pay for her to become a lady, then so be it.”
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