by Laura Martin
He had to break away as she lifted it off him, but after no more than a second his lips were back on her skin, his hands running over her body.
‘I need to see you,’ he whispered in her ear, gripping the hem of her nightdress in one hand and beginning to lift it up, exposing the bare skin underneath.
Caroline held her breath. No man had ever seen her like this before. She knew she wasn’t beautiful, but the way James’s eyes raked over her, his gaze hot with desire, it made her feel like the most attractive woman on earth.
Slowly James ran a single finger over her skin, starting at her navel and working his way up through the dip between her breasts before settling at the base of her throat. Caroline felt as though her skin were on fire, she wanted more, she wanted everything. As his fingers began their journey back down again she arched her back, pressing herself up, inviting him in.
‘You’re perfect, Cara,’ he murmured as he lowered his head, making her gasp as he caught one of her nipples between his teeth. Little jolts of pleasure shot through her and she felt a low heat begin to burn deep inside. Leisurely he kissed her, then trailed his lips across to her other breast, nipping until she gasped in pleasure again. ‘I think that might be my favourite sound ever.’ He raised his head and grinned at her. ‘I’m going to enjoy hearing it again and again.’
‘You sound confident,’ she managed to say.
‘I feel like I know every inch of you already, Cara. I know where to touch you and where to kiss you and how to make you shout out in pleasure.’
‘That sounds almost arrogant.’
‘Would you like a demonstration?’ He didn’t wait for her answer, instead lowering his lips to the spot just beneath her ear and kissing her. ‘I know if I kiss you here you close your eyes and drop back your head.’ As he kissed her his hands moved across her body, making her arch and writhe underneath him. ‘I know you will moan if I touch you here...’ His fingers rested on one of her breasts for a second before doing something exquisite to her nipple that made her cry out. ‘And I know I can make you scream my name if I touch you here.’ Caroline stiffened as his fingers moved down over her abdomen and settled on her most private place. Slowly he started to caress her, responding to the minute thrust of her hips, the little gasps of pleasure. Caroline felt a wonderful pressure building up inside her. She wanted to be lost in this feeling for ever, with nothing more than James’s touch making her call out with desire.
Gradually his fingers became faster and just when Caroline thought she couldn’t cope with the pleasure any longer something burst inside of her and she felt a wonderful flood of warmth shoot through her body.
‘James,’ she cried out, holding him to her, aware only of her heart pounding in her chest and the warmth of his touch between her legs.
He kissed her until she was breathless, his body on top of hers, and as she felt her senses begin to return she knew she wanted more. She wanted this night to never end.
With shaking fingers she began to pull at the fastening of James’s trousers, pushing them from his hips and feeling his hardness pressed against her.
‘Are you sure?’
She nodded, knowing she would always regret it if they stopped now, always wonder what it would have been like to give herself to him completely. There was a wonderful pressure as he pushed against her and then a feeling of fullness as he slipped inside. He moved slowly at first and Caroline could see by the strain on his face it was taking a monumental effort to hold himself back, but when her hips started to rise to meet his he began moving faster and faster. Caroline gripped the sheets with her fingers and let herself go, feeling that wonderful pressure build again until the heat flooded through her. At the same time James stiffened and let out a low moan, before collapsing down on top of her.
For a long moment neither of them moved, both too breathless to do anything more than let their bodies recover. After a minute James rolled himself off her, looping an arm around her body and pulling her with him so her head rested on his chest. Gently he stroked her hair back from her face then let his hand drop to her arm where he traced lazy circles on the warm skin.
‘Perhaps I should go,’ Caroline said when her heart had stopped thumping in her chest and her breathing returned to normal.
‘Don’t do anything of the sort,’ James murmured into her hair as he placed a kiss on the top of her head. He reached down and pulled the bedcovers up over their bodies and Caroline felt a warm contentment. It was a dangerous feeling, one she had no right to feel.
‘I can’t sleep here.’
‘Why not?’
‘You know why not.’
James kissed her hair again and pulled her in closer. ‘Just stay a little while at least, Cara.’
It was a request she could agree to quite happily. She wanted to stay in his arms for ever, but she knew sooner or later she would have to return to reality. A reality where James didn’t love her.
Don’t think about that now.
She shut her eyes to try to block out the negative thoughts. This was her one night of pleasure, her one night of happiness with James, she didn’t want to ruin it. Tomorrow she would have to face up to her actions, to work out what her future held, but tonight she could just enjoy the sensation of lying in the arms of the man she loved.
* * *
A weak, wintery sunlight was beginning to filter through the gaps in the curtains when Caroline opened her eyes. She felt panic seize her, the light meant it was morning already and morning meant she should be back in her own bed. The household might already be awake and that made the likelihood of being caught coming out of James’s room much higher.
Turning over in bed, she paused for a moment, taking in every detail of James’s face as he slept. He looked young and carefree, his dark lashes long on his cheeks and his expression peaceful and serene.
‘I love you,’ she whispered, leaning in and placing a kiss on his forehead. She didn’t want to wake him, didn’t want to work out what was left between them in the cold light of day. Instead she would slip away and gather her thoughts in private.
Chapter Twenty
It was late when he woke, well after nine o’clock, and he felt better rested and more contented than he had done in a long time. As he rolled over his subconscious expected Caroline’s warm body to still be in bed beside him and he felt bereft when he realised she had already left.
With a smile he sat up, indulging in remembering everything that had happened the previous night. He’d been dreaming of Caroline for a while, but last night had proved even his dreams hadn’t been able to imagine how amazing they were together.
‘Hurry up, married life,’ he murmured to himself. Of course they would marry, there was no question of them doing anything else, but instead of feeling trapped and unsure as he had expected to he just felt a wonderful anticipation. He was going to spend his life married to his best friend who also happened to be the woman he could quite happily ravish morning, noon and night.
Rising from the bed, he freshened himself up with the bowl of tepid water one of the servants must have brought up a while earlier. He dressed quickly, eager to find Caroline and somehow whisk her off so they could be alone for a while. His mind turned to all the things they could do while alone, but he knew the first was to decide when to announce their engagement. Caroline would have to let Milton down gently, but after that they would be free to set a date for the wedding.
Four weeks, that was plenty of time for Caroline to prepare for a wedding and would allow the banns to be read. Although four weeks was a long time to wait to tumble Caroline back into his bed. Perhaps it would be better sooner, with a special licence. Two weeks, or maybe one.
As he stepped from his room he caught himself whistling. He wasn’t sure he could stop himself being so exuberant but he would have to try for Caroline, it wouldn’t do for anyone to work out what had happened last nigh
t.
‘Good morning,’ Lady Yaxley greeted him at the top of the stairs. She was trying very hard to look casual, but he had the impression she had been waiting for him. ‘I trust you slept well, Your Grace.’
‘One of the best night’s sleep I’ve had in a very long time.’ It was the truth—after weeks of waking taut with desire for Caroline, he’d slept peacefully when he knew she was lying there beside him.
He had to remind himself that she could have no idea what had transpired the night before and was waiting for him to discuss something else.
‘It was very kind of you to carry Caroline back here yesterday.’
‘She was in too much pain to walk.’
‘Quite. Her poor ankle. Although this morning she seemed to forget which ankle pained her for a few minutes.’
James stiffened, then suppressed a smile. It didn’t matter if Caroline slipped up with the deception, soon their engagement would be announced and one or two little indiscretions smiled on indulgently.
‘How unusual,’ he murmured.
‘She’s always recovered from injuries fast, but this seemed nothing short of miraculous.’ Lady Yaxley glanced sideways at him. ‘Although perhaps I’ll hold off informing the church a miracle has occurred.’
‘That might be wise. Caroline probably wouldn’t like the attention.’
Lady Yaxley stopped and turned to face him, waiting until he did the same before continuing.
‘I don’t like to see my daughter upset, Your Grace. And she has been particularly flustered these last few weeks. Perhaps it is time to make a decision and stick with it and then we can all get on with dealing with the consequences.’
‘I plan on doing exactly that, Lady Yaxley.’
Caroline’s mother nodded in satisfaction and then walked away, leaving him to follow her into the dining room.
There were only three other people at the breakfast table, four when Lady Yaxley sat down. Caroline was sitting at one end of the table, deep in conversation with Lord Hauxton. A few seats further down was the elder of the Wellington daughters, sipping a cup of tea and looking as though she were trying her hardest not to eavesdrop on Caroline and Milton.
James hesitated before sitting down. At first he thought Caroline might be letting Lord Hauxton down, informing him that she was going to accept James’s offer of marriage instead of his, but as Milton’s deep laugh rang out over the breakfast table James paused. Looking up, he saw the other man smiling. He didn’t look like a man who’d just been told the woman he’d proposed to was turning him down.
Patience, James cautioned himself. Caroline was probably just taking her time. She’d encouraged Milton for the last couple of weeks, it would be hard for her now to admit their courtship wasn’t going to go anywhere.
Standing, he pushed out his chair from the table, crossing over to the sideboard where the breakfast food was laid out ready for the guests to select what they wanted. He passed by Caroline’s chair on his way, resisting the urge to lean in and kiss her on the cheek.
‘Good morning Milton, Miss Yaxley.’ Soon she wouldn’t be Miss Yaxley. She would be his Duchess, although always Cara to him.
‘Morning.’ Milton barely looked up from his toast and Caroline gave him a weak smile over the cup of tea she cradled in her hands. He hadn’t been expecting a greeting filled with intimacy and affection, but as she avoided eye contact he felt the first bite of worry in his gut.
‘I’m looking forward to the games we have organised in the garden this morning,’ Miss Wellington said as James came back with his plate piled high with eggs and toast.
‘Mmm,’ he agreed, his eyes locked firmly on Caroline. She was definitely avoiding looking at him. In the course of the last minute she’d looked at Milton, the table, her cup of tea and even the ceiling rather than straight ahead where he would be in her line of sight.
‘We have pall mall, archery and a treasure hunt set up, although if people would prefer just to enjoy the gardens, of course, there is no requirement to join in,’ Miss Wellington said, trying valiantly to engage him in conversation.
‘Who doesn’t love archery or pall mall?’ he managed to reply before his eyes were back on Caroline.
Lady Yaxley took the seat on the other side of Caroline and James was surprised to see she didn’t even manage a smile for her mother. Something was seriously wrong. He thought back over the night before—she’d been eager, as overcome with desire as he. He had to concede that it wasn’t normal behaviour for a well brought-up young lady to give herself to a man outside marriage, but it didn’t matter too much given that they would marry soon.
He frowned. Surely she knew he would marry her. He’d asked her twice already and that was before they’d spent the night in each other’s arms.
‘Fool,’ he muttered to himself.
‘Excuse me?’ Miss Wellington looked confused.
‘Talking to myself,’ he said gruffly. He hadn’t actually said the words last night, hadn’t told Caroline they would marry as soon as possible. Surely she couldn’t think he would seduce her and then abandon her, surely she knew him better than that.
Glancing down the table, he couldn’t be certain. She looked pale, drawn, worried, not like a young lady who was about to marry her best friend.
He almost stood, placing his hands on the table and half-pushing out his chair before stopping himself. The breakfast table wasn’t the place to go to her, to reassure her he wouldn’t abandon her now.
‘Will you be participating in the games, Miss Yaxley?’ He spoke loudly, causing everyone in the dining room to look down the table at him.
Five seconds passed, then ten and for a moment he thought she wasn’t going to answer him.
‘Probably.’ She didn’t even look at him as she spoke, her eyes focused on the dregs of her tea. ‘Please excuse me, I forgot something from my room.’ The teacup rattled as she stood abruptly and James could only stare in surprise as she almost ran from the room, cane tapping on the floor and the theatrical limp looking less and less convincing.
Silence followed and James felt Lady Yaxley’s eyes on him, probing and accusing. Milton rose, too, stalking along the length of the table. Before he left the room he paused by James, leaning in close. ‘I’ve no idea what you’ve done to upset Miss Yaxley, but make it right. She deserves at least that much from you.’
James took a bite of his toast once Milton had left, but it tasted papery on his tongue and even his tea was tepid and unappealing. His plate of breakfast only half-eaten, he stood and excused himself, retreating back upstairs to his room to gather his thoughts before confronting Caroline.
* * *
Caroline eyed the selection of weapons in front of her. The bow was traditionally the more lethal, but the mallet used in pall mall could cause substantial damage if wielded correctly. Perhaps she could arm herself with both.
‘You’re looking at those with a worrying gleam in your eye, darling,’ her mother said as she came up beside her.
‘Just deciding whether to play pall mall or go for the archery.’
‘Good, just remember murder is a capital offence.’
Caroline reached out and took her mother’s hand. Lady Yaxley could not know what had transpired the night before, no one but her and James would ever know, but she was sensitive to Caroline’s moods and had shown her support ever since she had joined Caroline in the dining room earlier this morning.
‘Pall mall might be a bit difficult with your cane,’ her mother said.
Damn the cane. Already today she’d forgotten which side she was meant to be limping on at least five times and it was only eleven o’clock in the morning.
‘Archery, then.’ She selected a bow and a couple of arrows, testing the string for tautness.
‘I hope you’re not looking for a human target.’ His voice was low, almost seductive, and Caroline was
immediately transported back to the night before. She could almost feel his lips on her skin, the weight of his body against hers. A warmth began to spread inside her, a carnal reaction that she desperately tried to halt, but couldn’t.
‘Are you volunteering?’
‘I trust you, Cara, but I’ve also seen you shoot.’ His tone was so familiar, his smile so genuine she felt herself swaying towards him. It would be so easy to be swept along, to allow herself to agree to whatever arrangement he would propose.
Marriage. Most likely. He’d already proposed twice and he was a man of honour, he wouldn’t leave her vulnerable after last night. It was so appealing, even more so now they’d spent the night together. Now she knew what it would be like to be his wife, at least at first until his desire for her wore off. They would spend long nights wrapped in each other’s arms, exploring one another’s bodies. At the thought something deep inside her clenched and burned and she almost accepted his silent proposal then and there.
Instead she took a wobbly step away. He would desire her for a while, but she was astute enough to know that might well wear off. Men often conducted affairs or changed their mistresses—the allure of a woman wasn’t enough to hold their interest. What they would have was their friendship, companionship, the compatibility that had bonded them together these last five years.
‘Perhaps he could stand with an apple on his head and we could take a shot at him until one of us hits the apple,’ Milton said as he approached the table. Lord Hauxton’s attitude towards James had cooled over the last twenty-four hours and Caroline had to wonder how much he suspected.