by Gayle Eden
She wore the thin chemise only when she slid into bed. Lying propped on her side a moment, simply looking at him, tracing his closed thick lashes and wondering that the man was hers. Four years ago she had simply lusted for him, admired him in all those sexually awakened ways—and now she wanted him in every way.
Reaching out her hand, she carefully stroked back his hair. His face turned toward her. It was silken and cool, his masculine skin warm and soap scented, wonderfully invading the bed she had slept in for a week alone.
The pad of her fingers went down his temple, his jaw and chin. She was still looking at those eyes when his lashes lifted, the jasper hue warming in the amber moonlight. Alex let herself touch the corner of his sensual mouth then lay her palm at his jaw, her thumb brushing over his cheekbone.
“Don’t stop,” he whispered.
She slid down in the bed and let her palm run slow from his nape, across his round muscled shoulders, down the division in his back, to his spine. She touched him in unhurried caresses and strokes that swept over the warm smooth skin and muscle. Alex watched his eyes drift closed again, and kept stroking him. He was nude under the covers. She swept lower, down across his spine and over each hard, rounded, buttock, making her way back up each time to his shoulders.
She did this a long time, thinking from his relaxed breathing he was asleep. At some point she stopped, her hand resting low on his spine and her own slumber beckoning.
Somewhere at the edge of sleep, she felt him turn. He pulled her closer, his arm around her and her cheek against his chest.
Alex found sleep to the sound of his heartbeats, feeling his lips brush over her hair.
Chapter Eleven
“You should have awakened me,” Alex declared fixing the tie holding her hair back. She found Edmund already at the stables. He had apparently been up for hours.
In her trousers and linen shirt, her boots, she had grabbed a hasty breakfast, gulped coffee, and gone in search of him.
“You’ve been working hard around here.” He waved toward the stables. “The grooms were showing me around.”
She saw one saddling her mount. Edmund's was in the shade, looking as if he had already gone for a ride earlier.
When the mount was brought over, she climbed in the saddle, noting Edmund wore a fresh linen shirt, buckskin trousers and wine boots. He looked bloody good.
“Wait. I’ll ride out with you.”
“You don’t have to.” She shook her head.
“I planned upon it.” He arched his brow, amused at her grumpiness, obviously. “I knew that the stud would be chaffing for a run however, and took him out hours ago.”
Alex waited and after he joined her, they took to the woodlands. It was still lush and shaded, smelling earthy. Spying several creatures whilst they rode, for more than a mile, she forgot her mood and was enjoying herself, as Edmund seemed to be also.
Half way on the trip back, they stopped and watered the mounts in a stream. Securing the reins afterwards, Edmund sat against a tree on the bank, watching Alex whilst she pulled off her boots and waded.
Her hair tie slipped and she chased it downstream a bit, hearing Edmund laugh as she slipped on mossy rocks and nearly fell a dozen times.
Smiling, she made her way back, tossing a wet twig at him.
“I thought gallants were supposed to chase down a Lady’s hanky or hair ribbons for her.”
Still grinning, Edmund fingered the twig and eyed that mane of curls falling around her face and shoulders. “I was too entertained watching you do so.”
Making her way upon the bank, she used his bent knee to steady herself and then lowered beside him. “I’ll check that off my list of expectations.”
He tossed the cheroot and turned his head to meet her gaze. “Those trousers you are wearing are nearly indecent.”
“Is that a complaint?”
“No.” His hand came up and tangled a bit in the back of her hair. “It’s a warning.” He brought her head close even when he leaned to meet her. His kiss was full and lush, tongue intimately relaying his lust.
Panting soft when he released her, Alex studied his half-mast eyes. “We may do whatever we like, whenever we like here.”
Nostrils flaring a bit, he stood, reached for her hand to haul her up—then had her pinned to the tree.
Both of her hands linked with his above her head, Edmund husked, “You don’t have to tease me, Alex. I have wanted you from the moment I walked in the door.”
“There is nothing wrong with teasing.” She felt herself trembling, felt the blood rush of wanting him. Given his feline look of desire, Alex hoped he would ravish her.
She held his gaze. “I liked that. Your laughter. Just that few seconds of hearing it did something to me.”
“You’re a funny little thing, Countess.” He lowered his head and kissed her soft on the brow, the nose, and each cheek.
Breathing his scent, feeling his arousal when he was leaning into her, Alex whispered, “That’s not the least of it. I don’t know if I want more, to make you laugh and smile again—or just have you take me, the sooner the better.”
Having been kissing her ear, his deep chuckle vibrated. He bit at her lobe and whispered, “That—is the blunt Alex I know.”
She arched her hips to rub against him, turning her neck so he could nibble and suckle. “If you loosen my hands, I’ll be more than happy to strip necked.”
He eased back, waiting for her to look at him. Something wicked in his eyes, Edmund said, “I’m not going to ravish you in the woods. At least not this time.”
She pretended a pout.
He kissed it, that pretty pout, and loosed her hands, then walked toward the horses. “Come, Alex. We’ve the lake to explore and—”
She came up behind him, her arms around his waist. “I didn’t mean that kind of teasing.”
“I know.” He turned when she slid her arms back. Reaching a hand out, he covered her breast, the nipple hard under the thin linen. “The woods are too thin here for privacy.”
Covering his hand, she sighed and then nodded. Turning, Alex mounted and they rode out. On, toward the lake where they dismounted and walked a bit, sitting there too, and enjoying the wildlife that crept out of the underbrush.
At the manor once more, they ate light and then strolled this time, taking a path up the knoll that over looked the grazing stock.
Alex glanced at Edmund whilst the sun was low, a scant half-hour from setting.
“It really doesn’t matter where you are, does it?” He murmured scanning the scene below.
“No. It helps that one is not under prying eyes and in a setting where you’re expected to be reserved and on guard.”
He turned and gazed over her face and hair, the orange sun playing over his sensual visage. Alex knew he was going to take her in his arms and kiss her.
He did, but it was not hot and intense, rather it was silken and slow while his hands dragged up her back.
One hand settled at the back of her head, the other going low and to the inside of her buttocks. It was sinfully stirring. The kiss held an unhurried eroticism while he shifted. His knee went between her legs. The hand at her backside played low and lifted slightly, rubbing her sex against his knee.
Alex, hands fisted in the linen shirt at his shoulders, moaned and captured his tongue, suckling it until he was the one pulling back for air.
Those amber eyes reflecting bits of sun, Edmund’s fingers pressed between her buttocks, his thigh flexing, fully aware of how moist and hot her sex was. She was running her tongue over her kiss-swollen mouth.
He watched, a bit mesmerized, before kissing her again.
“Edmund,” she whispered against his parted lips when his hand moved around and he loosed the latches on her trousers. Fitting his hand inside the snug space, he nibbled her mouth and found the slick inner lips with his fingertips at the same time.
Fire shot through her. Alex captured his lower lip, bit it, and then pulled his hair.
“Christ,” he muttered tight and aroused. Moving back, enough to fit his hand lower and sink a finger into her sex.
Her teeth set. “Please.”
“Yes.” He thrust it deep over and over, but confined by the material, skimmed his hand out later, and over her whimper of disappointment assured, “I’m just finding us a better spot, love.”
She latched her trousers and let him take her hand, leading her below to the courtyard. It was one of the chaises he found, just under the eaves that he lay in, and pulled her down with him. On his side, slightly over her, he tugged her shirt free and slid his hand under it, rubbing her nipples with his fingertips while he kissed her senseless.
Alex arched and moved her legs restlessly. He fit his knee between and arched against that. Lifting his head for air, Edmund skimmed his hand down, unlatching those trousers again, tugging them a bit down to make room. Their eyes locked in the half gloom when he found her slick entry again and began to thrust.
Breathing hard and hot, Alex moved subtly, reading the fire in his blood too. Their breaths mingled in the night air.
He sat up more and moved his hand away, glancing at the house to make sure they were alone. Edmund tugged the trousers over her hips and pulled them off and down, laying them on the grass.
He undid the buttons of her blouse and spread it wide; eyeing her lithe frame when she raised her arms over her head and arched sensually.
“You’re beautiful, Alexandria.”
“Edmund.” She watched his fingers trace her quivering nipples and then trail down her ribs and stomach. “Touch me….”
Reaching the hair between her legs, he tugged it. His eyes rose to hers. “Open your legs.”
She did so, but he spread them wider, so that her feet touched the ground on either side of the chaise. Watching his finger touch her, thrust inside her slowly, seeing the glisten of her juices on it, was terribly arousing for them both.
Edmund smelled her musk, watched her face change while the hunger and pleasure took her. She lifted her hips subtly to his touch. Her hands grasped the rim of the chaise over her head. The small breasts chilled, quivering on her harsh breaths. It was one of the most erotic sites he had ever seen.
Adjusting his seat, he turned astride the chaise too. Reaching for her hand, he had her hold herself wide while he rubbed those swollen nerves in between thrusting his finger deep. Then he leaned down and licked across them, licking her fingers too, before rising and playing more.
Her eyes feverishly watching him, going from his face to her fingers and his, Alex choked his name. However, Edmund continued to tease her. He moved her own fingers to rub there the next time, letting his tongue thrust into her sex and then lave upwards. On one glide, she fisted his hair and held him to her. Edmund grunted, sexually delighted and aroused by her aggression. He stretched to kiss her, exchanging her flavor in a wild and loose kiss that left their mouths wet.
He had set back and was reaching again when she leaned forward, her hand cupping over his aroused sex. He met her gaze while she whispered, “Let me touch you.”
Edmund stood enough to undo the flap of his trousers. Standing astride the chaise, he watched her hand fist him and groaned through grit teeth, knowing he could not take it for long. Her pale fingers wrapped around his cock, gliding over it.
Edmund was aware that he would lose control far too fast. “That’s enough,” he managed tightly, starting to adjust the cloth again.
Alex arose more and grasped the front of his shirt. “You lay on the bottom then.” She pulled herself up, and too easily, he was as she had been, and Alex sat on his thighs, her legs wide and over his.
Hair mussed and falling over his brow, blood now rushing, Edmund growled softly, “Alex, I can’t be teased. I bloody don’t have that control tonight.”
She fisted him anyway, and afterward slid up, so that she could mock ride him, the hot flesh rubbing between her legs. He cupped her head and drew her down for a rough kiss. Their lower halves rocking, rubbing, chaffing each other. When the kiss broke, Alex slid back and ran her tongue over the head of his sex.
Edmund’s grit teethed curse was followed by sharp gasps. She took him in her mouth for several moments of up and down suckling. When she lifted her mouth from him, he grit, “Turn around.”
She stood and turned. He pulled her down on his shaft and leaned her back to his chest while she was still gasping. His teeth bit at her ear. His fingers reached around, rubbed at her swelled clit. Filled with his flesh, her muscles clamping at his slightest movement, Alex moved subtle with him and pressed his fingers harder with her own. Their climax followed by seconds, both of them groaning and shuddering through a searing release.
* * * *
Two hours later, Alex climbed out of her bath whilst he was still lying there soaking. She dried and padded nude to the chamber, pouring coffee and thick cream in a cup, half through when he emerged, his hair towel dried and finger combed, toweling around his hips, she watched him pour a cup and then sit on the edge of the bed.
His gaze felt hers whilst he sipped. Her perch on the window seat to the side with her knees bent. His eyes moved up, traced her, and flowed over her arms, her hip and down her shapely legs, studying her face a long time next. Her damp hair was in a loose braid, not quite containing the curl, but he did not mind.
She regarded him with the same silence.
There was such an expression on his face, that when his eyes shifted up her body and met hers again she asked softly, “What is wrong, Edmund?”
Setting his coffee on the side table, he moved himself to lie against the headboard, his gaze toward her and one knee up. He intoned gruffly, “Sonja thinks you are in love with me.”
Alex stilled for a second. Then she turned her eyes to the cup in her palms. She could feel his intense gaze on her. “Does she?”
“Yes.” He waited a beat, and then uttered softly, “Come here, Alex.”
She sighed long but arose, leaving the cup on the ledge. She walked to the bed. Seating herself by his hip, Alex dragged her eyes up his muscled chest to those half-shielded jasper ones.
His hand lifted and captured hers, laying it on his stomach. “I will try to be what you need you me to be when I can, Alex. But my flaws are as much as what you’ll get, as the rest.” His hand rubbed over the top of hers.
“I don’t doubt your character, Edmund.”
“No. I know that you do not. But believe this, Alexandria…” His hand lifted from hers, fingers touching under her chin, to make sure their gazes held. “No one knows me as intimately as you do.”
When he dropped his hand, Alex moved to lie beside him, leaning over him this time, it was her hand on his cheek, and her eyes searching his. “I am not simply in love with you, Edmund. I am mad for you. And as much as I crave the emotions you stir in me, I cannot stand the doubt you make me feel when you close yourself off.”
He rose and rolled her to her back. “You are—mad for me?” He repeated in amazement.
“Edmund—”
He dipped down and kissed her, hard and deep, before he raised and removed the towel from his hips.
Laying his graceful body between her legs, he cupped her head. “You will just have to tolerate my arrogance and quirks, Countess.” He kissed her again, getting a moan before he parted and husked. “Just as I will tolerate your headstrong ways—”
“Headstrong? Edmund, I—”
Kissing her again, he bit soft at her lips and ran his hands up her sides, cupping her breasts. Against her mouth he rasped, “I thought you were leaving me, Alex.”
Everything in her melted. “Oh, Edmund….”
He suckled and bit her neck, glided down to tease her nipples, and then came back to her mouth. In much huskier tones, he muttered, “I wanted to hold onto my pride when you invited me to join you, but I found myself too damned relieved to think straight.” His hand slid down and wedged between her legs.
“Wait, Edmund…I am trying to talk to
you.” She moaned. He teased there and stirred her arousal.
“I am talking, Alex.” He shifted higher, his eyes looking into hers while he sank his finger deep inside. “You like this side of me.”
“Yes.” Her teeth sank into her lip and she arched to his touch.
“I’ll laugh with you, Alex. I will answer your questions, whatever it is required to soothe your doubts. But you bloody well will return the favor.”
“You don’t like your birthday gift?”
“I like it. I think it a wonderful gesture, Countess. But my point is, I thought you hated me, and were angry with me.”
“I was.”
“Not that angry.” He moved his finger softly in and out and kissed her sensually.
Mouth freed again, she gasped, “I can’t think with you doing this.”
He eased his hand away and parted her thighs, his sex sinking into her even while he slid up, snug and tight. Cupping her head again, Edmund uttered tensely, “Raise your legs higher, love.”
She shifted her knees high on his sides, her nails biting into his flexing arms. “We need to talk,” she whispered on a moan. His sex swelled and her inner muscles rippled in reaction.
“Your husband needs this…” He thrust into her long and deep, and then panted, “And so do you.”
She did.
Alex made love with him for the next hour, feeding her desire for him, and satisfying his in return. During a second bout when she sat astride him, Alex pushed her sweat damp curls from her face and witnessed the sensual pleasure on his. Sinew tight in his neck, his eyes glittering amber, and muscles flushed and filled. He grasped the headboard and undulated with her.
White teeth sank into his lip; he found her gaze at the moment of his climax. Alex felt his big frame shudder under her. She felt his pleasure, saw it spread over his skin, the mimic of that intense pleasure lightening his eyes, before his lashes closed.
Cleansed again, she lay in her robe across the bed, on her stomach.
Edmund had pulled on trousers, and was lounging at the window seat, smoking a cheroot, shutters open and night breeze ruffling his dark hair.
Alex recalled the days she used to watch him on his balcony. Inwardly she smiled, congratulating herself for being right in guessing he was a sensual man.