Her gasp slashed straight through his heart. “I’m so sorry, darling,” he whispered, somehow finding the strength to remain perfectly still. “Did I hurt you?”
“Only for a second. Mostly, you surprised me.” A small smile played around her lips. “Wonderfully surprised me. Please don’t stop.”
He needed no second invitation. Propping his weight on his hands, he slid slowly in and out of her wet heat, withdrawing until he almost left her, only to plunge deeply back into her warmth. Her gaze remained riveted on his, and he watched every nuance of pleasure flicker in her golden brown depths. Her hips moved in rhythm with his and he gritted his teeth, fighting for control, determined to bring her to pleasure before he found his own release. But for the first time in his life he found that to be a nearly impossible task. Sweat beaded on his skin and his shoulders ached with the strain expended to delay his climax.
When she tightened around him, he watched, mesmerized. She arched her back and gave herself over totally to her passion. Her uninhibited reaction was so incredible, so erotic to watch, he lost his battle for control. Incapable of further restraint, he plunged into her, pulsing for an endless, mindless moment, spilling himself into her warmth.
When his throbbing finally subsided, he gathered her into his arms and rolled them onto their sides. They molded together in a perfect, breathtaking fit. She hugged him and nestled her head under his chin, pressing her lips to the damp skin of his throat.
Her tender kiss caressed him and his insides constricted with the “Elizabeth feeling.” His breathing was still ragged and he forced himself to take slow, deep breaths. She laid her hand over his thudding heart and snuggled more securely against him.
God. She felt so damn good. And she was his. All his. A satisfied smile curved his lips. Smoothing his hand up and down her back, he waited for his pulse to return to normal.
It took quite some time for his heart rate to resume its regular speed, and since she was so uncharacteristically quiet, he thought she’d fallen asleep. He leaned back a bit, to look down at her, and was surprised when she raised her chin and looked directly into his eyes. Her golden brown gaze was serious and unflinching.
“I must tell you, Austin, that nothing in my studies of anatomy prepared me for the wondrous sensations we just shared.”
Nothing in my previous experiences prepared me, either. He gently brushed a wayward curl from her brow, not sure what to say. Truth be told, his wife had rendered him quite speechless.
She captured his hand, pressing his palm against her cheek, then kissing it. “It was as if I were on fire, and you’d lit the match. Like I’d fallen off a cliff and drifted slowly back to earth surrounded by soft clouds. It felt as if our souls had joined.” She shook her head and furrowed her brow. “Does that make any sense?”
He’d never felt anything that remotely resembled what he’d felt while making love to this woman. Never before had he been consumed by this wave of fierce possessive -ness. Or this incredible feeling of tenderness.
“It makes perfect sense,” he said. “And it gets even better.”
She looked startled, then intrigued by his words. “Better? Heavens, how much better can it possibly get?”
“I’d be delighted to show you.”
Elizabeth gasped in surprise when he rolled onto his back and she suddenly found herself sitting astride his muscular thighs. Looking down at him, her heart stalled. Dear God, he was the most beautiful man she’d ever seen.
“It would appear that you have the upper hand, wife,” he said with a wicked half smile. “I wonder what you plan to do about it?” Linking his hands together behind his head, he watched her with glittering, smoky eyes.
Her gaze traveled slowly downward, studying his fascinating male body. The whirls of dark hair covering his chest narrowed to a thin line that ran down his abdomen, then spread again as it continued lower.
Gazing upon that part of him, her breath caught in her throat. His arousal rose hard and erect, the sight utterly captivating and intriguing. She longed to touch him… touch that part of him… touch all of him. She slowly brought her gaze back to his heated stare.
“Touch me,” he invited, his voice a soft, raspy caress. “I’m completely at your disposal. Explore all you like.”
She needed no further urging. Leaning forward, she placed her hands on the undersides of his raised arms and dragged her fingers slowly down his body. Fascinated, she watched his muscles flex beneath her touch. He groaned and gazed at her through half-closed lids, his eyes stormy and dark.
“Do you like that?” she whispered.
“Hmmm…”
Thus encouraged, she allowed her curiosity to take over. Running her fingers through the crisp hair on his wide chest, she marveled at the combination of textures. Springy hair on warm skin over hard muscle. With each ripple of his muscles and each moan he emitted, her confidence grew.
Eager to bring him as much pleasure as he’d brought her, she imitated his earlier actions. Leaning forward, she kissed his chest and was rewarded with a sound that resembled a growl. Flicking out her tongue, she lightly caressed one of his small, flat, brown nipples. His groan let her know he liked that. Her tongue grew bolder, laving first one nipple then the other, drawing each one into her mouth and circling them slowly with her tongue. As his groans grew more lengthy, a surge of feminine satisfaction swept over her that she could affect this powerful man so.
Austin clenched his jaw and prayed for strength. When he’d invited Elizabeth to explore his body, he hadn’t realized what sweet torture he’d suffer. His painfully aroused body ached to be buried inside her, begged for release, but if he gave in to his raging need, he’d no doubt scare her. And he’d definitely disrupt her wide-eyed exploration of his body, a double-edged sword to be sure. He didn’t know how much more he could stand, but he bloody well didn’t want her to stop either.
He somehow managed to keep his hands linked behind his head, but his fingers were numb from gripping them together so tightly. Until tonight he’d considered himself a man of extreme self-control—his mind ruled his body, not the other way around. He was always able to defer his gratification for as long as he pleased.
But not tonight.
Not with Elizabeth’s gentle hands running over him. Not with her soft tongue caressing him. Not with his arousal straining, rock hard and about ready to burst. Not with—
Her fingertips brushed over the head of his arousal and a sizzling bolt of desire shot through him.
He gritted his teeth and clamped his eyes shut as her hands softly caressed him, moving up and down over that part of him that ached and throbbed for her. Desire washed over him in ceaseless waves, drowning him in a sea of sensations. If she didn’t stop soon, he was going to explode in her hands. Seconds later she wrapped her fingers around his shaft and gently squeezed and he knew he was done. A man could only take so much.
He could take no more.
Emitting an agonized groan, he flipped her onto her back and buried himself in her with one deep, powerful stroke.
“Austin!”
“God, I’m sorry.” He couldn’t believe that he’d just plunged into her with all the finesse of a green boy. And all because he couldn’t help himself. Couldn’t control himself. Holding back was beyond him. But, he realized with deep chagrin, if he’d waited any longer to sheath himself within her, he would have disgraced himself in a way he hadn’t since he was a lad. Some force he couldn’t control and didn’t understand had him firmly in its grip. Dropping his forehead onto her brow, he fought to control the uncontrollable.
She surrounded his face with gentle hands. “Did I… displease you in some way?” Her voice held confusion and worry and Austin would have laughed at her ludicrous question if he’d had the breath to do so.
“No. You pleased me greatly. Too much,” he whispered, his voice a hoarse rasp he didn’t recognize. He began moving within her, his strokes long and forceful. “Elizabeth… wrap your legs around me.”
/>
She brought her long limbs up and clasped her ankles together behind him. She matched him stroke for stroke as he drove into her, faster and faster, harder and higher until he was lost in a vortex of sensation. He heard her murmuring his name over and over again, felt her pulsing around him, squeezing him in her velvet warmth.
Completely lost, he drove himself into her again and again, his heart slamming against his ribs. His climax pounded through him, so strong that the force of his final thrust nearly drove her into the headboard. He collapsed on top of her, his head falling limply into the crook of her shoulder. Perspiration dampened his skin, and his ragged breathing burned his lungs. He couldn’t have moved if his life depended upon it.
After several moments she shifted beneath him and he somehow managed to lift his head. He looked down into her beautiful eyes—eyes soft with tenderness that reached inside and touched his heart.
She brushed her fingertips across his lips. “You’re wonderful,” she whispered.
Her words flowed over him, surrounding him, and his heart rolled over. You’re wonderful. Words he’d heard before from the lips of a satisfied lover, but this time he somehow knew they were different. Because of who said them. And because he sensed she wasn’t talking about his lovemaking skills.
You’re wonderful. No other woman had ever spoken them to him and meant him. That he was wonderful. Hell, he knew he wasn’t, but pleasure rushed through him just the same.
A sense of… what was it?… enveloped him. Well-being? Yes, but something else. Some other feeling he couldn’t quite place enveloped him, leaving him warm and content. It took him a moment to realize what that feeling was. It had been so long since he’d felt it, he didn’t recognize it at first.
It was happiness.
She made him happy.
But he forcibly reminded himself that there were still unanswered questions about his wife. There were secrets about her past that she hadn’t shared with him. And their marriage was only one of convenience.
But it would be so easy to believe otherwise.
Chapter 13
Robert stood in the drawing room at Bradford Hall, his ears still ringing with the shocking news the magistrate had brought. Half his face was blown off impossible to identify, but he was clearly a Runner. Wore the red vest of Bow Street. Looks like a robbery, but we ’ll have to conduct an inquest. Gave your groom quite a turn, finding the body like that. We ’ll need to notify his grace immediately.
“I cannot imagine why a Runner would be at the ruins,” Robert said to Miles, who stood near the mantel. “But whatever the reason, the entire episode has given me a bad feeling.”
“Perhaps Austin knows the man,” Miles said. “We’ll find out tomorrow when we arrive in London.”
“Yes. I’ve arranged for the coach to be brought around at first light. I didn’t tell Mother or Caroline why we’re going, but they are always eager for a trip to Town, thank God.” Robert dragged his hands through his hair. “I couldn’t very well tell them Mortlin discovered a dead body in the bushes and there may be a murderer on the loose. Of course, Mother balked at interrupting Austin and Elizabeth’s wedding trip, so I appreciate your inviting us to stay at your town house.”
“My pleasure,” Miles said, tossing back his brandy.
“I’m relieved that the last of the guests, including Lady Penbroke, departed this morning,” Robert continued, “so it wasn’t necessary to make awkward excuses to them.”
“Indeed,” Miles said, pouring himself another brandy and downing it.
Robert stared at him. “Are you all right?”
“Fine. Why do you ask?”
“Because you’ve practically emptied the brandy decanter in the last five minutes.”
“Just a bit unnerved, I suppose.”
Robert nodded. “I understand perfectly.” He glanced toward the mantel clock. “It’s almost midnight. I’m going to retire. I suggest you do the same.”
“I’ll be along shortly. Good night.”
The instant Robert left the room, Miles poured himself another hefty brandy. Leaning against the mantel, he stared into the flames, trying to figure out what a Runner was doing at Bradford Hall and why someone killed him. Nothing was clear other than the fact that Robert, his mother, and Caroline had to leave here until the mystery was solved. His stomach turned over. If anything happened to Caroline—
He swallowed half his drink and squeezed his eyes shut. No. No harm would come to Caroline. He would personally see to it. But first he would have to survive the five-hour journey facing him tomorrow.
Five hours in a coach with Caroline. Five hours of her sitting close enough to touch, five hours of breathing in her delicate fragrance.
Five hours of pure torture.
His guts tightened at the very thought. It was one thing to avoid her in a crowd, but how the hell could he hope to pretend indifference in a carriage? And with her brother and mother looking on, no less.
Damnation, when the hell had she grown up? He’d looked at her a thousand times and had never seen her. She’d always been “Little Caroline,” until that night two months ago when he’d waltzed with her. Since then it seemed he could not stop looking at her. She’d fit in his arms as if she were made for him alone and no matter how hard he tried, he’d been unable to erase the feel of her, the scent of her from his memory.
He closed his eyes, picturing her in his mind. What would her beautiful mouth feel like? Taste like?
His eyes snapped open and he gulped his brandy. Hang it! What the hell am I thinking? If Austin even suspected he was entertaining carnal thoughts about Caroline, he would snap his fingers and decree, “Off with his head!”
He simply had to push these insane urges aside. Caroline was not a woman to trifle with, and the “trifle” sort was what he liked best. Caroline would have a husband— and as he had no intention of being one, he simply needed to forget this madness. No wife for him, no indeed. He had no intention of being leg-shackled as his father had been to his second wife, a nagging harpy who’d made his life miserable until the day he died.
He would endure the carriage ride tomorrow and Caroline’s presence in his home for several days, and then he wouldn’t have to see her again until the start of the next Season, thank God. And even then, he could easily avoid her.
A knock sounded at the door.
“Come in.”
Caroline entered, closing the door behind her.
It felt as if all the air had been sucked from the room.
“Good evening,” she said, joining him by the fireplace and offering him a tentative smile. “I was looking for Robert.”
“He’s gone to bed.” He tried to force his gaze away from her, but failed completely. The fire’s glow highlighted her delicate features and shiny golden hair. The memory of the feel of her in his arms washed over him again, bringing with it a heated rush of desire.
“Don’t let me keep you from retiring, Caroline,” he said, inclining his head in a meaningful fashion toward the door.
“Are you angry about something, Miles?”
He tore his gaze away from her and stared into the fire. Yes, he was angry. Angry for being unable to talk himself out of this unwanted, insane desire for her. Yes, he was very angry indeed.
“No, Caroline. I’m not angry.”
“I don’t believe you.”
His gaze snapped over to glare at her. Looking at her proved a big mistake. Her blue eyes probed his, studying him with tender concern. Her breasts curved above her bodice and tendrils of golden hair curled in a beguiling fashion around her face. His loins clenched, and he swelled against his trousers. She was so damn beautiful. And he wanted her. God, how he wanted her.
“Are you calling me a liar?”
“No, of course not. I was just concerned that I’d done something to anger you.”
“You haven’t.” He swallowed the rest of his brandy and continued to stare at her, helpless to stop himself. He knew he should stop drink
ing with such haste. He was beginning to feel light-headed.
Caroline watched him, her heart thumping against her ribs. On the outside she strove to appear calm, but on the inside her nerves jangled with tension and uncertainty. She’d known Robert had retired. She’d been waiting for an opportunity to be alone with Miles, hoping that he might make an encouraging move toward her, but his fierce scowl made hope of that outcome die a slow, withering death in her breast.
Well, she was prepared to take matters into her own hands. She’d loved him her entire life. It was time to show him she wasn’t a little girl anymore. She had nothing to lose except her pride, and she would happily sacrifice that if it meant having Miles.
“I’m relieved you’re not angry with me,” she remarked with what she hoped sounded like a carefree laugh, “because I wish to ask your advice about something, if you don’t mind.”
He didn’t answer her.
“It’s a rather delicate matter,” she went on doggedly.
“Ask your mother,” he suggested, his tone anything but friendly.
“Oh, I couldn’t ask Mother about this.”
“Then ask Austin. Or Robert.”
“Impossible,” she decreed with a wave of her hand. She leaned forward and spoke confidentially. “They’re men, you see.”
He turned his head and stared at her. “And just what the hell am I?”
“Oh! Well, you’re a man, of course,” she replied, not even batting an eye at his use of an obscenity. “But you’re different. You’re not my brother, you see.”
Miles didn’t see. Not at all. He knew he wasn’t her brother, damn it. He knew it all too well. “What do you need advice about, Caroline?” he asked in a tired voice. Maybe if he humored her she’d go away and leave him in peace. Then he could concentrate on something other than her.
“I need to know about kissing.”
Jacquie D'Alessandro Page 16