“Thank you,” Elizabeth grinned as she opened the package and started to use it. Darcy came up close behind her and wrapped his arms around her middle, staring at their reflection in the large mirror. Elizabeth’s breasts were full and round, brushing his upper arm.
“You seem happy,” she observed around her toothbrush.
“I am,” he told her. “I’ve waited so long for this, to see you like this, to touch you.” He smiled and hugged her tight. “It was amazing to wake up with you.”
Elizabeth leaned forward as far as she could and spit out her toothpaste. She was a little embarrassed, but Darcy didn’t seem to mind. She leaned back and kissed him over her shoulder, leaving a trace of toothpaste on his lips.
“Is that coffee I smell?” she asked as a familiar scent hit her. Darcy smiled and nodded slowly to her. “For me?”
“Well, I’m certainly not going to drink it.”
Elizabeth smiled gratefully then looked down. “I didn’t think you would have any in the house. I know you don’t drink it.”
“No, I don’t,” he said as he started brushing his teeth. “But my assistant does, and my cousin does, and,” he stopped, spit out his toothpaste, and stared at her eyes in the mirror, “my lover does.”
“Oh,” she said, moved by the intensity in his eyes.
“You are the only one who is sharing my bed, Elizabeth. Don’t worry.”
Elizabeth’s cheeks flamed. She hadn’t realized she was that obvious and she was embarrassed.
Silently, Darcy walked around her and turned the shower on. “Is this hot enough?” he asked, moving aside for her.
Elizabeth was grateful he hadn’t said anything more. He seemed to understand her uneasiness. Elizabeth tested the water and then stepped in. It was very hot, just the way she liked it. Like Darcy, she giggled to herself. She watched him step in with her, still not quite able to believe this beautiful man had made love to her. The shower had a half-dozen heads mounted at different angles. Elizabeth was glad Darcy was here, because she would never have figured out the knobs and switches by herself.
“It’s not that complicated,” Darcy told her, seeming to read her mind. “I usually just use one shower head, but this is a special occasion.”
Elizabeth smiled uneasily. Darcy gently turned her away from him and started massaging her shoulders. “Talk to me,” he told her gently. “What’s bothering you?”
“I don’t know,” Elizabeth answered honestly.
“Is it me?”
“No,” she replied. “You’ve been amazing. It’s me, I guess. I just don’t have a lot of experience with this whole morning-after thing.” She felt herself blushing again. “I don’t know what I should do or say or when I should leave or what.”
Darcy moved her long mane of hair to the side and kissed the nape of her neck. “I love this spot on you. It’s very sexy,” he breathed as he dragged his lips slowly over it, and Elizabeth felt her pulse rising. “As for the rest of it,” Darcy continued, “I think we don’t need to worry about traditional roles, Elizabeth. You and I are different. We’re artists and we make up our own roles. We don’t live the everyday lives that other people do.” He kissed her again, his lips lingering on her neck. “And besides, I don’t have much practice at this morning-after thing either,” he said in a rush.
Elizabeth laughed, her tension ebbing away. She turned, twined her arms around his neck, and kissed him happily. “Thank you,” she grinned.
Darcy smiled back radiantly. “Any time. I want you to feel completely welcome here.”
“You do?”
He nodded, his expression pleasantly earnest. “I like having you here. It’s an experience I want to repeat.”
Elizabeth smiled, pleased that he had seemingly effortlessly relieved a number of her questions: Was this a one-night stand? Did he want her to leave? And so on.
Darcy reached behind her and picked up a plain white bar of soap. His eyes asked permission, which she silently gave, and she relaxed as his hands moved over her body. Slowly he washed her, starting with her arms then moving to her chest and tummy. She opened her eyes when he tickled her slightly and she shyly asked what he was thinking.
“I was thinking about all those times we were swimming together and I wanted to do this, to touch you all over.”
“You did?”
Darcy stopped and looked up at her, puzzled. “Of course, wasn’t it obvious with the way I was staring at you?”
Elizabeth looked away. “I thought you, I don’t know, I didn’t realize.”
Darcy stopped his careful bathing and stood up. “Lizzy, don’t you know I’ve been crazy about you for months?”
Elizabeth met his gaze with difficulty. “I’m not sure. I thought that you might like me, but you were so… I wasn’t sure.” She frowned then. “And then when George talked to me—”
“Stop!” Darcy told her, “You will not think about him in my shower.”
“But I was so wrong. I believed him, and I was so cruel to you.”
Darcy took her face in his large hands and gently forced her to look at him. “Lizzy, I told you before, it’s not your fault. George is a master at lying, and he knew that you would be the one I would care about. He knows me well enough to know that I would be attracted to you. That is why he targeted you.” Darcy kissed her lightly. “But it doesn’t matter now, does it?” He lifted an eyebrow to indicate their current setting and Elizabeth nodded.
She rose up on her toes and kissed him, opening to him the feelings that she couldn’t talk about yet. Darcy released her face to wrap his long arms around her body and pull her closer. Elizabeth was heady from the sensation of his bare wet skin against hers. She moved back and smiled wickedly as he became erect against her belly.
It was Darcy’s turn to be embarrassed. “I’m sorry, Lizzy. I don’t know what you do to me,” he told her. “If you want to go and—” The words died on his lips as Elizabeth, with large hungry eyes, sank to her knees and drew his hard cock into her mouth.
“Oh my God!” Darcy growled as she took her time, blissfully sucking and releasing, nipping his head and planting featherlight kisses on his balls. “Lizzy,” he moaned between labored breaths. “Damn it, Lizzy!”
In a rush Lizzy felt movement and found herself being lifted. Darcy took her and placed her on his lap as he sat on the bench that ran along the rear wall of the shower. “Oh?” she gasped, then Darcy thrust upward and entered her, and Elizabeth found that she was beyond intelligent conversation. Darcy was pleased to find this position left her breasts at the perfect height and he helped himself to her hard nipples, sucking and teasing them with his teeth.
Elizabeth buried her fingers in his thick, wet hair and arched herself back, trying to improve her position. She enjoyed the feelings of Darcy inside of her, and his mouth was making her lose her mind. She raised her hands over her head, stretching herself against him, allowing herself to savor the full length of him. He suckled harder as she ground herself into him. She could hear him moaning softly as she felt herself getting closer. She felt sexy and wicked, enjoying the knowledge that literally the sexiest man she knew couldn’t get enough of her. Finally she exploded in a fantastic rush. Darcy’s hands clamped tightly to her hips as he pounded himself into her. Elizabeth relished the sinful feeling of his body slamming against her again and again until she felt him pause and then come in her with a ragged gasp.
They separated, Darcy sitting on the bench, and Elizabeth, panting, leaning heavily against the wall. When he could speak, Darcy said, “I’m sorry, Lizzy. I promise someday I’ll make love to you properly.”
Elizabeth looked at him disbelievingly. “What was wrong with that?”
He grinned shyly. “I want to taste you.”
“Oh,” Elizabeth smiled wantonly, “I’m sure we can arrange that.” Together they washed, deciding that washing themselves would be a safer course of action, and soon tumbled out of the shower in a wet, happy, steamy pile.
Darcy took
great delight in drying her off, while Elizabeth took her own turn drying his back. When they entered the bedroom, Elizabeth was pleased to see Darcy had laid out her shorts and a Slurry T-shirt. As she dressed, she giggled. “I guess it’s official. I’m a Slurry groupie now.”
Darcy looked at her, his eyes lingering over her unbound breasts, which were plainly outlined by the T-shirt. “No, you are the Slurry groupie,” he said lustfully.
“I hope that doesn’t mean I have to do the whole band,” she replied, deadpan.
“Oh no!” Darcy said playfully. “No sharing.”
He led her to the kitchen area and let her fix her coffee while he operated the remote and opened the shades.
As the morning light flooded the room, Elizabeth looked around in surprise. In everything that had happened the night before, she had never really seen Darcy’s home. “Will,” she breathed, admiration apparent in her voice, “this is amazing. Look at the view!” She stepped to the far end of the living area where there were windows on three walls. “This is so beautiful,” she told him.
He looked at her, his face an expression of pride and joy. “I’ve wanted to bring you here, to share this with you for so long, Elizabeth.”
Elizabeth was touched and she hugged him close. “Tell me what I’m looking at.”
Darcy took the time to point out all the landmarks from each window. Then he led her back to the bar, where they sat, discussing getting a plaque for “The Stool” when he said, “You know, it’s silly for you to go back up to Meryton and then turn around and come back here.”
“Yeah, I was thinking that. Would it be okay if I called home and asked Jane to bring my stuff?” she said. “I should probably tell them where I am anyway.”
“You are home,” he told her softly, his eyes cradling hers.
“What?”
“My home is yours, Elizabeth.”
Elizabeth was very uncomfortable with what he said, so she tried to hide it in a joke. “Oh, that’s all? No prenup, no wedding, just three or four quick ones and I get the house?” she grinned teasingly. “Your attorney must love that.”
Darcy rolled his eyes. “You have no idea.”
She grinned, glad the moment had passed, and reached for the phone.
***
Richard nodded to the doorman and entered the elevator. When the doors stopped, Richard was immediately struck by something odd. The smell of coffee was there when it shouldn’t be. He walked toward the voices coming from the living area.
He stopped and gaped when he saw Darcy wearing nothing but a pair of cotton drawstring pants and Elizabeth wearing shorts and a Slurry T-shirt. Their hair was damp, and if that wasn’t enough, it was clear from their body language they had been “close.”
Darcy was explaining to Elizabeth that Richard seemed to live in his fourth bedroom when Richard recovered the power of speech. “Lizzy! I didn’t expect to see you so soon.”
Elizabeth blushed slightly and smiled. “Hi, Richard.”
“Good thing I got extra croissants this morning,” he said lightly. “Have you eaten yet?”
“No,” Elizabeth said with an embarrassed chuckle.
“Will,” Richard said as he put a bag on the table, “could I have a word with you?”
Darcy followed his cousin into his office and waited. “That’s great, Will, that’s just fuckin’ great,” Richard observed. “You dumped me with Charles, who spent all night moping over Jane, getting drunk, and then barfing, while you’re back here shagging her sister!”
“Richard, believe me, this wasn’t planned,” Darcy replied calmly.
“Damned amazing timing then.”
“As a matter of fact, you can thank Wickham for that. He called her last night and got Lizzy so worked up, she drove down here to read me the riot act.”
“Well, I can see that was one of his more successful plans,” Richard commented dryly.
“Indeed,” Darcy grinned, taking a sip of his tea.
From the table where Elizabeth was setting out the food, she could hear every word. She wondered why they had even shut the door.
“Fine, you enjoy your playmate, but I suggest you give Charles a call later. It’s your fault he’s in this mess.” He opened the door and announced, “I’m going to bed,” and walked to his room.
Elizabeth looked at Darcy with open curiosity. She figured it was his house, he must know the walls were as thin as tissue paper. “What did he mean about Charles?”
Darcy shrugged as he crossed over to her. “Truthfully, I don’t know. Charles was depressed last night over Jane. He’s been missing her terribly.”
“Really?” Elizabeth asked. “Jane thinks he wants to break up with her.”
Darcy looked confused as he walked with her to the table and sat down. “Why would she think that?”
“Charles has been distant from Jane lately, he’s been keeping things from her,” Elizabeth told him as she sat down. “And when they talked Sunday night, he said he needed to talk to her face-to-face and that it was something bad.”
Darcy nodded knowingly. “He’s not going to break up with her.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes,” Darcy took her hand. “He is going to tell her about his father.” Darcy took a sip of his tea and continued. “Charles’s father was just released from jail, where he served twelve months for insider trading.”
Elizabeth was shocked. “Why didn’t I hear about this before?”
“Because we’ve been working like crazy to make sure that nobody heard about it. I told Charles not to tell Jane.”
Elizabeth froze. “So, why did you tell me?”
Darcy looked at her warmly. “Elizabeth, you know about Georgiana, there can’t be any secrets between us now.”
“But why did you trust me when you didn’t trust Jane?”
Darcy stopped, put his cup on the table, and turned to her, taking both her hands in his own. “Because I love you, Elizabeth. Don’t you know that? I ardently love and admire you, with all my heart.”
Elizabeth felt chilled. She pulled her hands back. “Wait,” she told him. “Will, you’re going too fast.”
“Elizabeth,” his voice was filled with wonder, “did you really not know?” He studied her eyes and found the truth of his words. “I’m sorry, Lizzy. I didn’t mean to startle you, but it’s true. I do love you. And I have for the longest time.”
“No,” Elizabeth breathed and got up. She moved away from the table and faced the window.
“Lizzy,” he said gently as he placed his hands on her shoulders.
“Will, I told you, you have to slow down!” she told him, pulling away.
“Lizzy, I’m not trying to rush you. I just want you to know how I feel.” He held up his hands in a nonthreatening way. “Besides,” he grinned, “you can’t tell me that after last night, you don’t feel the same way.”
“What?” Elizabeth exclaimed. “Will, how can I know if I love you? I feel like I barely even know you!”
“Elizabeth, you know me!” he snapped. He could sense they were getting into trouble again. He fell back on the one thing he could trust. “You may not know the stupid details of my life, but you know my music. You know what counts about me.” He stepped closer. “You can’t tell me that you would have touched me, have comforted me the way you did last night if you didn’t love me. You wouldn’t have done that for anyone else.”
Elizabeth looked up at him, her expression confused and troubled. “Actually, I don’t know that. What you shared was so horrible, and you were hurting so badly. I don’t know if it was love or what. I just wanted to comfort you. So I don’t know if I would have done the same for someone else. If it was someone I respected and liked, and I had no other reason not to, then maybe I might have slept with someone else if they had shared something that painful with me. I don’t know.”
“No, Elizabeth, I don’t believe it.”
“Will, it’s true. Look, please, you’ve got to slow down. I like you,
you’re a good friend and a great lover, but I don’t know if I love you, not yet.” She looked saddened by the realization.
“You cannot make love the way we did and not be in love!” He shook his head in stunned disbelief. “I love you! Only you! Of all the women I have known, I want you! Can’t you see that? You have seen all the women I could have. I could be worse than Richard, for Christ’s sake, but I don’t want anyone but you, Elizabeth,” he said, his words vibrating with intensity. “Don’t you understand? Didn’t you hear it when I played for you?”
“You’re not listening to me.” Elizabeth stepped back slowly, her face shocked. “I’m sorry, Darcy. I’m very, very sorry. But… I need time.” Then she turned away and quickly moved toward the elevator.
Darcy followed her. “Stay!” he told her as the doors began to close.
Elizabeth only shook her head, unable to look at him, tears forming in her eyes.
***
Elizabeth found herself walking, not knowing what to think. Her truck was parked in the Village, but Elizabeth soon realized that she was heading north and figured she might as well keep going, rather than double back and have to find another parking space. In fact, she frankly didn’t care if she ever saw her truck again. She felt like she could simply keep walking for the rest of her life.
What had happened? In twelve hours, her life had changed completely. Oh, she could deny it. She could pretend that it was just a meaningless fuck with no consequences, but nothing could be further from reality.
No, nothing was the same.
She slowed as Darcy’s face appeared before her eyes. How could she have been so blind? No wonder he was stunned by her ignorance. He had been offering his affections to her for so long, she realized now. With the remarkable clarity of hindsight, she was able to see it all: the kindness he had shown her when performing, the way he comforted her when she was troubled, the solo he had played just for her. She shivered in the July heat as she saw his eyes again as he looked at her, as he fucked her, as he professed his love for her.
No, she told herself, quickening her step and trying to push the image away. Don’t think about that. She laughed out loud like a madwoman. When else was she to think about it? Realizing the necessity of putting her thoughts in order, she found one of the ubiquitous coffee shops, got herself a triple vanilla latte, and sat down by herself to sort things out.
Fitzwilliam Darcy, Rock Star Page 31