by Connie Mason
“What about Fannie?” retorted Alexa tartly. “I haven’t forgiven you yet for bedding that slut.”
“I haven’t bedded Fannie since I moved into Ashley House.” Adam admitted grudgingly. “I wished only to make you jealous, my love, when I thought you had taken a lover. How could I bed Fannie after making love to you?”
Alexa’s eyes grew wide. “If you’re lying to me, Fox. I’ll run you through,” she warned with a twinkle. “I may have birthed a child but I haven’t forgotten how to duel.”
“I bested you once, or have you forgotten?”
Her chin tilted stubbornly, Alexa retorted pertly, “A lucky thrust.”
“The only lucky thrust I’ve ever managed was the one that claimed your maidenhead.” Adam grinned diabolically.
“Adam!” exclaimed Alexa, blushing furiously.
His lips were so close his name was lost, mingled with his own breath. Then his mouth claimed hers in a kiss that seemed to go on forever. Her lips parted and she savored the taste of him, his tongue moist and hot as he searched her sweetness. Slipping his hands beneath her robe he cupped her breasts, freeing them from the loose garment, bringing his head down to flick lightly at the nipples with his tongue, then taking them into his mouth to suck gently at first, then more vigorously.
Alexa moaned low in her throat as he quickly stripped off her robe to press feathery kisses on her stomach, tracing her navel with his probing tongue, then burying his face against the crisp curls between her thighs. She trembled beneath him as he drank deeply of her honeyed essence, tasting, savoring, prodding her until she cried out in supplication.
A sweet fire between her legs caused her to moan and move her hips as he continued to probe her with his tongue, flames kindling within her with every movement he made. Cupping her tightly his tongue moved faster as she writhed in his grasp. He pushed relentlessly against her until she surrendered helplessly to the ecstasy he brought her.
Watching her lovely face contort with passion was more than Adam could bear as he swiftly shrugged out of his clothes. “I can wait no longer, my love,” he panted as he crouched above her, his hands moving to part her thighs. “I want to feel you close around me, to caress me as I stroke. God, you’re marvelous!”
“Quickly, my darling,” urged Alexa breathlessly.
Groaning loudly he thrust wildly into her, wanting to claim her once and for all, to proclaim his ownership in the most primitive way. As if in complete agreement she thrust up her hips to meet him and heard her own moans of pleasure over his raspy breathing, the impetus of his thrusts increasing with the sound of his deep, ragged gasps. He was piercing the very core of her. Then Adam felt the wild shuddering of her body as the power of her climax triggered his own. He cried out, burying himself deep within her.
After a few minutes Adam rolled to the side, bringing Alexa into his arms. “I never dreamed anything could feel so good.” He sighed contentedly. “How could I ever want another woman with you in my arms? We’re a family now, my love—nothing and no one will ever part us.”
“I’ve waited so long to hear those words, Adam, I prayed you’d love me again.”
“I do, my Vixen, and I will. All night long if you’ll let me.”
“As long and as often as you want, my darling.”
“Then we’d better make the most of the time we have left,” he teased, his hands and lips beginning the slow art of arousal once more.
Only this time he was rudely interrupted by a commotion coming from below stairs. Alexa jumped up but Adam was faster, pulling on his pants and shirt and rushing out the door in record time. It took Alexa a little longer to dress as she listened to the voices wafting up the staircase. She was at the top of the stairs when she recognized Mac’s voice.
“I came as soon as I could when I learned where you had gone, Adam,” Mac said grimly. “What have you done to Alexa?”
“Nothing I haven’t done many times before,” replied Adam, amusement tugging at the corners of his mouth.
“You haven’t harmed her?”
“Should I have?”
“Damn it, Adam, don’t play games with me! Have you seen your son?”
“You know about David?” Adam asked sharply, scowling darkly.
Mac flushed guiltily. “Aye.”
“How long? How long have you known?”
“From the beginning.”
“And you didn’t tell me? What kind of friend are you?”
“I promised Alexa that I would give her time.”
“Time for what?”
“Time to make you fall in love with her again.”
“Good God, man, I never stopped loving her!”
“You certainly went to great lengths to make her believe otherwise,” Mac challenged. “That little subterfuge you carried on with Fannie was reprehensible. I fully intended to tell you about David until you flaunted that whore before Alexa. That and your refusal to believe Alexa made me change my mind. I decided you deserved to suffer a little. Besides, I had Alexa’s promise she would tell you about Davie when the time was right.”
“Between the two of you I didn’t have a chance, did I?” Adam laughed, his mood suddenly lifting. “I’m surprised you didn’t try to take Alexa for yourself.”
“I would if I thought I had half a chance.”
“What are you two arguing about?” Alexa intervened saucily. “Adam, don’t be angry with Mac. He’s the best friend we’ll ever have.”
“Aye, Alexa,” Adam agreed soberly. “I’ll give you no argument on that score.”
Mac looked from Adam to Alexa, leering slyly when he suddenly noticed that Adam was barefoot, his shirt buttoned crookedly and hanging loose outside his pants. Alexa did not look any less disheveled; her face was flushed, her lips passion-swollen. “Did I interrupt anything?” he asked innocently.
“Damn right you did!” Adam thundered, feigning anger.
“Adam!” protested Alexa, flushing becomingly.
“It’s all right, my love.” Adam laughed. “By now Mac knows we’ve settled our differences in bed.”
“Good news indeed,” Mac concurred heartily. “But I have a bit of welcome news myself. The peace treaty we’ve been working on has been ratified. The ministers signed it this morning. It needs only the royal seal. We’re free to leave, Adam, anytime we please.”
Adam turned to Alexa, waiting for her reaction. “It’s up to Alexa, Mac. We can stay in England if she wishes, or return to America.”
“Adam, how could you even ask?” Alexa scolded. “I fought for my adopted country. I was ready to die if need be. Our new country has great need of men like you, darling. Men to mold and guide her as she glides into a new century.”
“God, I love you, Alexa.” Adam said, eyes glistening suspiciously. “I hoped you’d say that. But what about all your holdings here in England—Ashley House, the country estate, all your lands?”
“Hold them in trust for Davie and his brothers and sisters. Lawyer Carter can see to everything for us. I trust him implicitly.”
“Are you planning on a big family, my love?” Adam asked, vastly amused.
She looked at him coyly. “Your virility was never in doubt, darling.”
“I think I’d better get myself back to London.” Mac smiled indulgently. “But not until I’ve seen Davie. He must be quite a young man by now.”
“You’ll have dinner with us and spend the night,” Alexa insisted, poking Adam until he echoed her invitation.
“Of course, it’s senseless for you to return to London tonight. We’ll all go back tomorrow and prepare for our trip home. I’ll have Maddy show you to your room. Alexa and I have some … er … unfinished business to attend to.”
Then to Alexa’s chagrin and Mac’s amusement. Adam scooped his wife up in his strong arms and carried her up the stairs to the bedroom. He set her on her feet and immediately began pulling frantically at the fastenings of her dress. “Just what is this … unfinished business. Adam, that is so impor
tant to cause you to forget your manners? It was rude to leave Mac like that.”
“My business, my love, as well as my mission in life, is to take a Vixen,” replied Adam huskily, pushing her backwards onto the rumpled bed. “and to make love to her endlessly.”
“And mine is to keep a sly Fox happy and content, but never bored,” purred Alexa in a breathless whisper, wrapping her arms about his neck as their lips met in a long, delicious, lingering kiss that was as sweet as honey, warm as springtime, and full of promise.
EPILOGUE
Preliminary articcles of peace, signed on November 30, 1782, were followed by a definitive treaty concluded September 3, 1783. The south. Savannah and Charleston were evacuated in late 1782; New York on November 25, 1783.
There were many reasons for Great Britain’s misfortunes and failures. Among them were misconceptions by the home government on the temper and reserve strength of her colonists, a population of mainly good English blood and instincts; disbelief in the probability of a protracted struggle covering the immense territory in America; consequent failure to dispatch sufficient forces to the field; the generalship of Washington; and finally, most decisive of all, the French alliance and European combination by which at the close of the conflict Britain was without a friend or ally on the continent.
About the Author
Connie is the bestselling author of 60 books and novellas and counting. Her tales of passion and adventure are set in exotic as well as in American locales. Connie has won awards from Romantic Times and has been listed in Who’s Who of American Women for several years. Connie makes her home in Tarpon Springs, Florida.
Connie is a world traveler. She has visited every country in Western and Eastern Europe, Greece, Asia and Northern Africa. Also, countless islands in the Mediterranean and Caribbean Seas. Connie enjoys spending time with her three children, nine grandchildren and three great-grand-children. Visit her Website and www.conniemason.com.
Table of Contents
Copyright
Prologue
Book One: The Lady
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Book Two: The Vixen
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Epilogue