"I'm sorry... Would you prefer if I were less forward?" Elise's voice was unsteady. She thought he was complaining?
"God, no!" Gilles released a cork from the bottle of champagne. Elise jumped and then smiled. She sat up, tucking her knees under her. Gilles' eyes widened and he froze. In that posture, her shoulders were back and her breasts thrust forward. She truly had no idea. Women spent years perfecting the gestures and poses Elise naturally adopted. Gilles poured two glasses and returned to the bed. He placed a glass in her hand and then pulled her against him. Her, on her knees on the bed and he, standing. Gilles touched his glass against Elise's.
"My wife." He whispered and raised his glass.
"My husband." She returned and sipped from hers.
"I have to know, Elise. Very little about you suggested you were still a virgin, yet you were. How is that?" He let his fingers glide through her hair, freeing pins as he went.
Elise sighed, causing him to tighten reflexively.
"I'm not sure what I did to give you the impression. I will tell you this: you have a very efficient and devoted household, my lord, but it is hardly a convent. I think even you would be shocked at some of the things I've heard whispered about among the maids, stable hands and gardeners. Everyone assumes they're safe if they're whispering. I've received quite the education over the years." Elise sipped her champagne and licked her lips.
Gilles was spellbound. He kissed her shoulder.
Elise sighed and feathered her fingers through his hair.
"I've had years of listening and imagining. I may not have been with a man before you, but I did think about what it would be like." She licked her lips again and Gilles stopped breathing. "Sometimes, I would touch myself as a man might touch me..."
Gilles groaned and his lips crashed against hers. His tongue slid along hers and he used his free hand to grab her behind and pull her against him. His cock was hard again and pulsed between them. Gilles pulled away.
"You have none of the shyness or hesitancy of a maiden. You carry yourself like a damned courtesan." His voice rasped against her neck as his lips explored her throat.
"I don't know why I can't bring myself to feel shy around you. I want you to look at me and touch me. I don't want to hesitate, I want to touch and feel all of you. I spent so many years, so many nights wanting to feel someone next to me, to know what it felt like to be touched in that way." Her voice was becoming unsteady and her head fell back as Gilles' tongue flicked her nipple.
"I've never known a woman that uses her body the way you do. You're like an instrument of pleasure." He suckled her nipple and then lifted his head. Gilles stepped back causing Elise to whimper and reach for him. He took her hand and placed it on her stomach.
"I want to see you touch yourself. Show me what you did all those nights while you were waiting for me." His voice was low and gravelly.
This time, Elise did blush. She shook her head.
"I can't, Gilles!"
"Don't be shy now, darling. Cast your spell upon me, siren." He took the glass from her hand and set it on the nightstand with his.
"Siren? Is that how you see me?" Elise's head cocked to the side and she licked her lips.
Gilles chuckled.
"Siren, Venus, succubus, Calypso... Take your pick. You are all these things and I am helpless."
Elise slid her hands up her stomach and cupped her breasts. She squeezed them and Gilles groaned.
"Like this?" She asked, a lazy smile on her lips.
"Yes! More!" Gilles begged.
She separated her fingers and brushed her hands across her breasts, letting each finger strum her nipples. She squeezed her breasts again, letting her nipples peek between her fingers. Gilles bit back a moan and almost reached for her. Elise brushed each tip tentatively with a fingertip. A breathy little moan slid past her lips and she pinched her nipples.
"Dear God!" Gilles whispered. His cock was throbbing angrily against his leg. He had to see this through, he thought. Whatever it cost his sanity.
Elise's head fell back and one of her hands drifted down her stomach. She shifted her knees further apart as she pushed through her damp curls. She bit her lip as her fingertip brushed against the tight knot of flesh hidden deep in her soft, wet folds. Elise sent her hand deeper between her thighs and tilted her hips forward. Gilles heard her gasp and knew that she had slipped a finger into her hot, wet tightness. He saw her hand slide back and forth and knew what she was imagining.
"Are you thinking of my cock sliding in and out of you right now?" He whispered urgently. Elise nodded frantically.
Elise tugged on her nipple and moaned, her hips bucked against her hand.
"Do you feel my lips on your breast, sucking?"
She nodded again, the hand between her thighs began moving faster, her fingers pushing deeper. The hand at her breast shot down and began rubbing the most sensitive spot and Elise began gasping, her breath hissing in and out.
"That's it, love. Make yourself come for me." Gilles urged her on.
Elise began swaying forward and back and her moaning became louder. She bit her lips as her body began to tremble.
"Gilles!" Elise sobbed as she convulsed around her hand.
He had her in her arms and was kissing her before his name died from her lips. He held her tight as the last tremors of her release faded. Just as Gilles thought she was nodding off, her hands brushed his chest. She lifted her head and kissed him as her hands drifted down his stomach. Elise found his aching cock and filled her hands.
"Your turn." She whispered as she let go and pulled him onto the bed and pushed him on his back.
Gilles groaned, trying to find a way to avoid reciprocating. His cock wanted to be buried deep inside of Elise, not wrapped in his hard dry hands. She must have sensed his hesitation.
"I want to know what you did all those nights while you were waiting for me." A teasing smile played about her lips.
Gilles sighed, knowing he had no choice.
He placed one hand on his cock and the other on his sack.
"Place your hands on mine." He commanded. At the feel of her delicate hands on top of his larger, stronger hands Gilles' cock pulsed. He began stroking slowly as her hands rested on his. He picked up the pace and gently squeezed his balls from time to time. Elise learned his rhythm and was able to stay with him. He turned his head to the side and licked her nipple. Elise moaned and her hand squeezed the one stroking his length. Gilles shifted his shoulders so his face was closer to her breast and pulled her into his mouth and began suckling. She began panting as he began pulling harder and faster.
Gilles let go of himself and his hands closed about Elise's waist. He lifted her and pulled her on top of him as he thrust upwards, seeking her entrance. As soon as he found her, he slid in. Elise was heated and wet, gripping every inch of Gilles' erection as he pushed into her.
He felt her knees and thighs grip his waist as she seated herself fully, moaning in relief once her bottom connected with his hips. Elise leaned forward and grabbed Gilles' shoulders and began riding him hard. She rose and forced herself down on him, taking his entire length and grinding against him in one smooth motion. Elise kept increasing her pace. Gilles felt her muscles spasming around him and her body become taut and knew she was trying to find her release. He raised his head and caught her nipple with his lips and pulled her in. He grazed her with his teeth and she yelled. Elise clasped his head to her breast as he began sucking and he felt her body begin to tremble. Gilles increased the pressure at her breast as he grabbed her hips and rocked her against him as he thrust upwards. It took two strokes before she threw her head back and shouted his name. Elise shook so hard that Gilles thought she might faint and she squeezed him so hard he saw stars. He felt his balls tighten and his cock swelled before it erupted within her. Gilles arched his back and yelled as his climax ripped through him in waves.
Elise slumped onto Gilles' chest, boneless and barely conscious. The only thing he was capable of
was draping his arms around her. Both drifted off, the occasional satisfied sigh would be heard but otherwise, both were utterly still.
Chapter 37
Mirabelle tapped lightly on Elise's door. It was more than obvious she was in Gilles' chambers and they were either murdering each other or having a ripping good time. She blushed and bit her lip as she carefully pushed the door open. Elise sobbed her brother's name.
"He's right there, I'm sure he can hear you." Mirabelle murmured and she scanned the room. She'd worn her favorite shawl this morning and had misplaced it. She was certain it was in Elise's room. It was almost time for lunch and the afternoon was beginning to get breezier. Mirabelle looked at the chaise and saw it hanging off the edge.
"There you are!" She whispered as she retrieved it. Quick to leave the room she dashed to the door and winced as she heard a shriek. Good lord, what was going on in there?
Silently closing the door, Mirabelle stepped back and turned, almost running into Lucien.
"What are you doing here?" He asked as he gripped her shoulders, steadying her.
"I left this in Elise's room this morning." Mirabelle replied waving the end of the shawl at Lucien. "What are you doing here?"
"I saw you entering Lady Elise's room and wanted to make sure you weren't up to any pranks." He teased but Mirabelle had a feeling he wasn't completely joking.
"I'm not a child anymore, Lucien." She attempted to push past him just as another shout came from Gilles' rooms. This time it wasn't Elise. Mirabelle looked at Lucien as she felt her face warm. He was staring at her lips and for a moment she thought he might have been about to kiss her. She licked her lips and felt herself sway forward.
Suddenly, Lucien cleared his throat and grabbed her elbow.
"You shouldn't be here. Were you on your way to your room?" He led her down the hall.
"Why? Would you like to join me?" Mirabelle's voice sounded confidant but it had required all of her nerve to ask. Lucien froze, looking stunned. A moment later he shook his head.
"I swear, brat, one of these days that mouth of yours is going to get you in trouble." He chuckled as they crossed the gallery.
Mirabelle thought about stomping her foot and telling him that she wasn't being sarcastic and that she wanted Lucien to do something to her, anything, really. Instead, he stopped at her door, nodded and then left her. She watched him as he went four doors down, on the opposite side of the hall, opened a door and disappeared.
Sighing and fighting back tears of frustration, Mirabelle walked to the window. The wedding picnic had already been cleaned up and the garden looked as it always did. Perfect.
Despite her disappointment with Lucien (really, she was used to it), this had been one of the best days of Mirabelle's life. She adored her brothers and their happiness was one of the most important things in the world to her. Seeing Gilles so haunted and broken after the war had been almost physically painful for Mirabelle. He was more than her brother. From a young age, he had been like a father to her and a best friend as well. Not being able to help him, to bring him back from whatever battle he'd been injured had pained her. She'd feared he was lost to them when he left for Longwood. Seeing Gilles so changed and in love had been a miracle for Mirabelle.
She truly loved Elise. Not just because Gilles loved her. And she wasn't drawn to her and fascinated because she was amazingly gifted with her senses and almost clairvoyant, like Alastair. Or because of how deeply she loved Gilles and all the things she did for him on top of being perfectly lovely, like her mother. Mirabelle loved Elise because she was brave, smart, funny and honest. All things that were often whispered about herself and not always favorably. But when combined with Elise's generosity and kindness, Mirabelle couldn't help but love her. She knew the moment Elise had made fun of herself and all of the rugs at Longwood that they would be good friends and that she would be worthy of her brother.
Seeing Gilles and Elise exchange their vows was like seeing two halves become a whole. Gilles was happier than he'd ever been and back from whatever horrors he'd experienced and Elise was saved from a lonely existence. The picnic breakfast would be one of Mirabelle's most cherished memories.
But she felt guilty. While Mirabelle's heart overflowed with happiness for her brother and new sister and while she laughed at the picnic, part of her felt left out and jealous. Gilles had Elise and Longwood. Mirabelle had years of pining after a man that treated her like a very young little sister while he shared himself with just about every other available woman.
Year after year, Mirabelle heard rumors and read the gossip pages. Lucien was reputed to be London's most skilled and elusive lover. "The ton's most talented and wicked rake", she'd once heard him called. With her, he might as well have been a blind uncle. Now, her brother was finding sensual bliss (or destruction), while at six and twenty, Mirabelle had only read and heard about what was possible between a man and a woman.
Is this what her life was to be? Living in her brother's homes, retiring to the life of a spinster because one man didn't see her as more than a child? Before she'd seen how complete and content Gilles and Elise were at the picnic (and in his rooms), Mirabelle had told herself that she couldn't marry without love. Now, a husband, a home and children of her own started to eclipse her need for Lucien. Could she be happy with someone else?
Sighing, she stepped away from the window and reached for the bell pull. Perhaps it was time to be realistic. She might do well to take suitors more seriously next season.
Chapter 38
An indeterminate time later, a brave soul knocked on the door. Gilles cursed as he lifted Elise off of him. He rose and donned his robe before opening the door.
"Good evening, my lord!" Anna pushed her way in. "As the two of you missed lunch and it's near dinner time, I thought I'd bring a tray and see if you needed anything." She placed the tray on the table and began picking up the discarded clothes, sucking her teeth when she noticed the state of Gilles' garments. "It'll take days to find all these buttons..." Anna mused as she looked about the room. "Everything seems to be as expected, not too much damage to the room itself..." She looked at Gilles and winked. He felt himself blush as he cleared his throat, signaling that it was time for her to go. "Will you or Her Ladyship require anything else?"
"Water!" The plea was muffled by bed clothes and accompanied by a waving hand.
Anna chuckled and bustled out of the room, returning a moment later with a pitcher. She set it on the nightstand and relocated the champagne glasses to the table.
"If that's all... I'll be downstairs, if I'm needed." Anna bowed and shut the door softly.
Elise balked at the idea of leaving the bed but Gilles prevailed. He sat her on his lap and fed her roast meat, potatoes and a strawberry custard until she begged him to stop. They lingered and discussed the family.
"What do you make of Mirabelle and Lucien?" Gilles asked knowing that Elise would have sensed much more than he and Alastair could see.
Elise smiled and threaded their fingers.
"Mirabelle loves Lucien, deeply. It's very real and very strong. Much like what I feel for you." It was the closest to a declaration she'd made so far. Gilles held Elise tightly for a moment and rested his head on her shoulder. She continued. "Lucien is aware of her feelings and they don't unsettle him. He's just mindful and cautious. I sense that he's effected by Mirabelle but he isn't sure what to do about it. He keeps setting it aside, trying to maintain the relationship they've always had. I think he could develop feelings for her, if he allowed himself to. I can't say if he will or not though. It would be as easy as falling asleep, if he did but he may avoid it because he feels it's a violation of your family and everyone's trust." Elise finished her water. "You know him better than I do. Do you think he would pursue her if he had feelings?"
Gilles stared for a moment then shook his head.
"I couldn't say. I've never know him to pursue a woman. They've always come to him. Lucien's always loved women, and a lot of them.
He's never been one to limit himself by attaching himself to any one for very long. I think he's avoided attachment. He acts the lothario within the ton. Mostly for appearances but I think it keeps his personal life uncomplicated. He might see courting and marrying Mirabelle as too complicated. On the other hand, he's completely devoted to those he loves. He's a different person with us than he is in society. I can't imagine him marrying the sort of woman he'd find in the ton and being happy. If he loved Mirabelle, he'd have something more." Something like what he'd found, Gilles thought as he toyed with Elise's hair.
"Would you and Alastair accept him for Mirabelle?" She asked as she turned in Gilles' lap.
Again, he had to think. He grimaced.
"Alastair and I have been so concerned with Mirabelle refusing suitors because of Lucien and that she was setting herself up for heartbreak, that we never discussed the possibility he might return her feelings. I have to admit, I would be uncomfortable. He's cultivated quite a reputation. Alastair and I have witnessed things that would be considered outside of acceptable. Alastair could have serious objections. We love Lucien but I'm not sure if it's enough to turn a blind eye when it comes to our sister."
Elise took his face in her hands and pressed her forehead to his.
"Shame on you two! First, you sell Mirabelle short. She's beautiful, intelligent, strong and funny. What man wouldn't want her? You'd do better to assume that Lucien does want her, he's just avoiding it. Second, I don't need to know your past to know that you have not been a saint. If I had a father or brothers, would they approve of you? Would your past prevent you from being a good husband to me? Lucien is a good man. He cares for Mirabelle and he would be a wonderful husband to her."
Gilles kissed Elise and pulled her close.
"Je te aime , ma chérie." I love you, my darling. He whispered against her lips. He'd never said the words directly. He knew she became uncomfortable when discussing emotions but he couldn't stop himself. "Thank you for caring for my sister, for my whole family. You're right, we aren't looking at her as a woman. We still see her when she was six and want to protect her." Gilles kissed her deeply. "And thank you for not holding my past against me. If the time comes, I'll try not to judge Lucien too harshly."
Saved By A Siren: Spencers in Love Book One Page 20