You Never Forget Your First Earl

by Ella Quinn

  “Hmm. A scientific experiment?” She slid her hands over his hard chest, and around his neck, pressing her breasts against him. Her body tingled wanting his attention.

  He claimed her mouth again. “Very scientific. I can already note that your breathing has sped up.”

  “Are you not concerned that you will ruin your cravat? It is very nicely tied.”

  “I have more.” He nibbled her neck and jaw. “Are you afraid?”

  “No.” She was too excited for words, but she was enjoying his seduction. When Elizabeth wiggled against the hard ridge hidden by his pantaloons, he groaned. She had been told it had many different names, and she wondered which one he liked best. He did say she could ask anything. “What do you call it?”

  Taking her hand, he moved it over his member. “This?”

  She nodded. It really was hard. Would it feel like wood or steel, perhaps?

  “I call it a cock.” His breathing quickened, and his voice became rougher. “What do you call it?”

  “I have only heard it called a member.” That seemed to be the most dignified name she had heard.

  “I like your term better.” Geoffrey claimed her mouth hard, as if he would perish if he could not possess her.

  Elizabeth felt it swell even more under her hand, and had to ask, “May I stroke it?”

  “Yes.” He groaned as she slid her fingers down and back up again, keeping her touch light.

  This was the part that would join them together. “It is very stiff.”

  “You are going to be the death of me.” Geoffrey’s hand cupped her breast, gently squeezing.

  “I do hope not.” She moved her other hand down over his derrière. “That would make for a very short marriage.”

  “Minx.” Suddenly, he swept her up into his arms. “It’s to bed with you, my dear.”

  Laughing, she hung on as he maneuvered through the doors and into his room where he tossed her onto the bed.

  In no time at all, her shoes were off, and he pulled her to her feet. “I want to see you. All of you.” Her gown sagged and a moment later fell to the floor. She raised her hands to lift her petticoats off. “Allow me. This is better than unwrapping a Christmas present.”

  Unable to stand still, she removed his tie pin, and then untied his cravat, pulling the long piece of linen off. Next, she unbuttoned his waistcoat, but she could not remove his jacket when he was unlacing her stays. Reaching behind her, she groped around until she found the buttons to his pantaloons, releasing them as her stays hit the floor.

  He hissed sharply as his member sprang free into her hand.

  “I never knew it was so soft.” Like the finest satin.

  “Come pull my jacket sleeves. I should have worn a looser one. At least I don’t have to bother with my boots.”

  Elizabeth had wondered why he’d worn pumps. Now she knew. “You planned this?”

  “I prayed for this.” His voice was husky sounding as he stared at her. “Beautiful. I have never seen a woman as beautiful as you are.”

  She could not stop herself from blushing and feeling embarrassed. But she stayed still as Geoffrey explored her with his hands and eyes. Lifting her breasts and slowly running his fingers to her waist and over the swell of her hips.

  She gasped as he buried his hand between her legs. “You are already wet for me.”

  Elizabeth had no doubt she was, but she wanted to touch him, too. “My turn.” Unable to resist, she spread her fingers through the soft, curly hairs. Indulging herself in the feel of the taut skin spread over his hard muscles. “This feels wonderful. I had no idea you had hair on your chest.”

  “Many men do.”

  Spearing her fingers through his chest hair, she found the flat disks that were his nipples. She scraped one of them lightly with her teeth before licking them, then gave the other nipple the same treatment.

  Geoffrey’s muscles tightened as if he was having trouble holding himself still. Elizabeth moved her hands over his taut belly and reached his member, taking it into her hands. Again he groaned.

  “You like this?”

  “Yes. Just as you like when I stroke you between your legs.” She’d had no idea it was that sensitive.

  “I need you.” He picked her up, kissing her as he placed her on the bed. “I wondered what color your nipples were. I have only seen them in the dark.”

  “The same color as yours.” She grinned as she ran her nail over the one she could reach.

  “I am trying to take this slowly,” he ground out. “And you are making it very difficult.”

  “Should I apologize?” Even to herself, she sounded sultry.

  “No. I adore that you want to touch me.”

  Geoffrey slid down her, his sleek well-muscled body lighting fires where he touched her. Elizabeth thought she would die of pleasure as he licked first one tightly furled nipple then the other before sucking. The ache started at the apex of her thighs, and she rubbed against him, like a cat.

  “Do not stop.” She tried to pull him back up and he chuckled when he released her breasts and moved his lips down over her stomach. Licking and nibbling as he went lower.

  His broad shoulders spread her legs apart. Then he licked her there. The sensation was so exquisite, her body lifted off the bed, but Geoffrey held her down. The aching tension was stronger than it had been even last night. If she didn’t come soon she was sure she would die of wanting.

  He entered her with his finger. “Come for me, my sweet.”

  Waves crashed over her as she convulsed around him. Then she felt his member at her entrance, nudging, and tried not to tense. She knew this part would hurt, but not for long. She had to remember that.

  “Please forgive me.” Geoffrey kissed her. “There is no other way.”

  “I know.” She was ready, Elizabeth told herself.

  He deepened the kiss, and she tried to concentrate on tasting him until a sharp pain edged the pleasure aside. His hand moved between them and he rubbed the spot he’d rubbed last night. Soon desire spread through her and he moved thrusting inside her, and she wrapped her legs around him. This time when she came it was from even deeper inside, and she never wanted to let him go.

  Chapter Twenty

  Elizabeth contracted around Geoffrey, bringing him to completion, and knew he had died and gone to Heaven. It must be because she would be his wife that he experienced so much satisfaction mating with her. Nay, happiness. He did not ever remember wanting a woman as much as he wanted her. Strangely, he desired her even more now than before.

  He had given a great deal of thought to what he could do to lessen the pain she would experience, and he hoped he had succeeded.

  Nuzzling her hair, he asked, “Are you all right?”

  She turned her head, brushing her swollen lips against his. “I am better than I expected to be. It won’t hurt the next time, will it?”

  “No. It will be much better.” He rolled off her, tucking her next to him before reaching for the cloth and bowl of water he had placed on his night table. He pressed the cloth gently to her nether parts before wiping himself and putting the linen back in the bowl.

  Her hand lay on his chest, and Geoff tried to think of something to say, some conversation to start. He knew women liked to talk after copulation. But what would she wish to discuss? Then her breathing deepened.

  Damn. She is asleep.

  Geoff had never had a woman do that before. Now he would have to be the one to watch the time. They had hours yet. They would, however, be expected to join his grandmother for tea. And the housekeeper still had to come and take notes on which fabrics Elizabeth wanted and where.

  They would have to dress soon. He could play lady’s maid for her, but she, likely, had no idea how to help him. Although, it couldn’t be that difficult. Still, he ought not to have let Nettle have the entire afternoon off.

  One of her curls tickled his jaw. He’d wanted to take her hair down, but they had been so hot for each other, he’d forgotten. C
arefully, he removed the ribbon that was threaded through her curls. Next he dropped the pearl-tipped pins on his night table. He found as many of the rest of the pins as he could before running his fingers through her hair, loosening it. Taking one lock, he pulled it down to her waist and let it go. Marveling at how it sprang to the middle of her back.

  It became cooler in the room, but they were on top of the bedcover. Reaching over her slender shoulder, he pulled the fabric to him and flipped it over her. When she snuggled closer, Geoff tightened his hold. He’d never been this content with a woman. Generally, he wanted a short nap and couldn’t wait to leave.

  If only they could remain here the rest of the afternoon. Hell, the rest of the night and all day tomorrow.

  Sometime later, a knock sounded at the bedroom door. Who the devil could that be? “I left instructions we were not to be disturbed.”

  “My lord.” Nettle’s voice filtered through the door. “Your parents will be here within the hour. His lordship’s and her ladyship’s valet and lady’s maid have just arrived.”

  Deuce take it!

  Geoff thought they would arrive just before the wedding. “That’s devilish bad timing.” Then he remembered he’d given his valet the afternoon off. “What are you doing here?”

  “I had nothing else to do.” Nettle sounded apologetic. “So I thought I would make the acquaintance of Miss Turley’s dresser. She wished to view the dressing room. May I enter, my lord?”

  The door opened a crack. “No! Give me a few moments.” At least Nettle had knocked. Geoff shook Elizabeth’s shoulder. “Sweetheart, you have to wake up.”

  Her eyes fluttered open. “Is something wrong?”

  You could say that. “My parents are about to descend upon us.”

  She glanced around the room as if looking for someplace to hide. “What are we going to do? They cannot see me like this.”

  “Fortuitously, your maid is here.” She opened her mouth, but he hurried on. “She can tell you how that happened.” Jumping out of bed, he looked for her chemise and found it across the room on the floor. “Here.” He handed it to her. “Put this on and I’ll help you to your dressing room. We should have just enough time to dress and call the housekeeper.”

  Elizabeth nodded as Geoffrey assisted her with her stays and petticoats and gathered up the rest of her clothing. As promised, Vickers was waiting in the dressing room. Thankfully, without comment, she took one look at Elizabeth and began to help her with her gown.

  It wasn’t until her maid was rearranging her hair that Vickers finally spoke. “It’s a fine dressing room. I’m glad Mr. Nettle took the time to introduce himself and agreed to let me come look at it.” One giggle escaped Elizabeth and the others followed until she was laughing so hard, tears came to her eyes. “Sit still, miss. I’ll never get your hair right if you keep moving.”

  She struggled to get herself back under control. “I cannot tell you how happy I am that you are here.”

  “We don’t need to discuss that. You’re betrothed, after all, and will be wed soon enough.”

  Just as Elizabeth rose from the table, Geoffrey ambled into the room, coming straight to her and kissing her on her cheek. “The housekeeper will be here any moment. Please do not ask me her name, because I don’t know it. She has only been here a few years.”

  “In that case, we shall meet her at the same time.”

  Vickers harrumphed as she picked up the comb she had got from somewhere. “I’ll be in the dressing room for the next few minutes, but I expect Mr. Nettle will want to introduce me to the rest of the staff.”

  Elizabeth’s cheeks flooded with heat. Did the whole house know what she and Geoffrey had been doing?

  “If you can stop blushing, no one will take any interest in what you and his lordship were up to.” With that piece of advice, her maid strode out of the bedchamber.

  “Thank you,” she managed to choke out.

  Geoffrey turned her around and into his arms, his face full of concern. “Are you unhappy that we—”

  “No.” She placed her fingers over his lips. “Never. I was simply shocked to hear your parents would arrive so soon.”

  “As was I.” Bending his head, he kissed her. “Thank God, our servants are here. I don’t know that we could have been fully dressed and ready to greet them if they were not.” A knock came on the door. “That will be the housekeeper.”

  A few minutes later, Mrs. Droughty, the housekeeper, was taking notes and exclaiming over the changes Elizabeth was making. “I only wish you could see the changes before you leave, miss. If there is any way to make that happen, I’ll do it. You have my word.”

  No sooner had the housekeeper left, than the house seemed to come alive with servants bustling about.

  “Shall we go downstairs?” Geoff held out his arm. “I believe my parents have arrived.”

  She smoothed her skirts before placing her fingers on his arm. “I hope they like me.”

  “How could they not like you?” He gave her a smile meant to reassure. Still, Elizabeth was nervous.

  They could very easily not like her. She was well aware that he’d had to travel to his family’s estate to receive permission to marry Charlotte who was an earl’s daughter with a large dowry. Elizabeth’s father was a viscount, and her dowry was modest in comparison.

  It was not as if Lord Markham could stop the wedding. No gentleman would cry off absent malfeasance on the part of the lady. And she had done nothing wrong. Not only that, but the settlement agreements had been signed, and Geoffrey had the special license. The one she’d wanted to see and hadn’t had the chance to look at.

  Still, if his parents did not like her, they could cause problems. No one was more aware than she of the misery an unhappy parent could and did cause. Still, they would be overseas for several years. And if she could give him an heir his parents might like her better.

  Elizabeth gnawed on her lower lip. Trunks of all sorts were being carried out of the hall. She and Geoffrey had just reached the bottom step when a fashionable lady with blond hair stepped through the door, followed by an equally fashionable gentleman with light brown hair. Geoffrey had his mother’s coloring, but looked almost exactly like his father.

  Lady Markham glanced up. “Harrington, and this must be Miss Turley.” Her ladyship held out her hands to Elizabeth. “I am delighted you are here. Do let me welcome you to the family, my dear.”

  For a moment she was so shocked, she could do nothing, but Geoffrey led her forward, slipping an arm around her as they approached his mother. “Elizabeth has spent the last several minutes convincing herself you would be disappointed in her.”

  Really, she could have hit him. “How—”

  “You’re biting your lip raw,” he whispered.

  “Oh, my dear child!” Suddenly, she was smothered in a warm lavender-scented embrace. “You need not have worried. We are thrilled with Harrington’s choice of bride.” Lady Markham stepped back. “How could we not be? My mother-in-law writes that you are everything we would wish for in a daughter. She was extremely impressed with you.” Her ladyship hugged Elizabeth again. “I hope I may call you Elizabeth.” Not waiting for a reply, she narrowed her eyes at Geoffrey. “That was not well done of you to expose Elizabeth so. Do not do it again.”

  Elizabeth bit off a laugh as he took on a suitably humble mien. “Yes, Mother.”

  “At least I am not the only male to incur your mother’s wrath,” Lord Markham drawled as he strolled toward them. “Welcome to the family, my dear. We are indeed pleased you agreed to wed our feckless son.”

  Allowed out of Lady Markham’s embrace, Elizabeth curtseyed to her future father-in-law. “Thank you, sir. I am happy to finally meet you.”

  “Now then,” her ladyship said, “I know it is early for tea, but I am parched and hungry. We shall meet you in the morning room as soon as we have had a chance to wash and change. Elizabeth, I wish to hear about the changes you plan to make to that dreadful dark green room. I
do not know what I was thinking when I had it done in such dismal colors. I am sure you will make it much prettier.”

  Her ladyship was still talking as she ascended the stairs, this time to her lady’s maid who had come out on the landing. Elizabeth felt as if she had just been in the middle of a whirlwind.

  “She is very energetical.”

  “You have no idea. She was the one who would tramp around the home wood with us and never tired. We visited the Lake District one year and she wore us all out.” Geoffrey held her hand as he led her toward the back of the house. “You see why I said you had nothing to worry about.”

  “I suppose not, but I agree with your mother. I wanted to hit you when you told her how nervous I was.”

  “Did she wish to strike me?” He tilted his head as if he was thinking about the idea, then said, “I believe you may be right. Fortunately, she would never do so.” He smiled ruefully. “She decided years ago I was too old for spankings. Although, she found other ways to make me regret some of the things I got into.”

  This was a side of Geoffrey she had never seen before and Elizabeth liked it. “I will have your word, my lord.”

  “Yes, of course. I shall never embarrass you again. At least not around others.” He pulled her to him. “When we are alone, that might be another matter.”

  She leaned back and raised her brows. “I beg your pardon?”

  “I meant something you have not experienced before in our bed.” His voice caressed her like velvet, and his mouth claimed hers.

  It wasn’t until she heard footsteps that they broke apart. This time she wasn’t the only one who was flushed. Her wedding day, or rather night, could not come soon enough.

  His parents entered the parlor followed by two footmen carrying trays. Lady Markham patted the space on one of the small sofas. “Elizabeth, please sit with me. I want to hear all about your plans to change your bedchamber and for the wedding.”

  After receiving their cups of tea and plates of cake and tarts, Geoffrey and his father took chairs at a small round burled walnut table.