by Allison, Kim
A desperate moan escaped Daniel's lips as his breathing quickened at the feel of Elyssa lying soft and pliant beneath him. He had to have her again. And again and again. Suddenly she pulled her mouth from his, their breathing harsh. Daniel was startled to see the mistiness in Elyssa's emerald eyes and asked her what was wrong.
"Please stop," she pleaded. such a thingg">CHAPTER
Daniel graced her with a rakish grin, replying, "Oh, darling, you have no idea the new tortures I have planned for your sweet body this morning."
Elyssa started at the feel of his warm fingers tracing the inside of her thigh, his teeth gently nipping at her neck before he began kissing agonizingly close to her bare breast.
"Stop!" she softly cried, her palms flattened against his hard chest in effort to prevent his amorous onslaught. The urgency in her voice gave Daniel cause for alarm and he stilled at her request.
"What is it, sweetheart?" the smooth, silky voice caressed.
"We need to discuss last night’s disturbing conversation. That is to say, I need to explain the duress I was under when I admitted to the things I did." Exhaling a sigh, Daniel wondered silently why it was that women always felt the need to talk about feelings at the most inopportune times.
"There is nothing to explain, darling. My father has merely been using you as he has done me for most of my life."
"But you see, he has not planned for me to be your downfall. If anything, he did his utmost to keep me away from you."
"Your point exactly?" came the bored reply.
"I had no right saying that I hate Percy, that I wish him dead. How could I have agreed to such a horrible thought?"
Guilty that he'd been the one to coerce her into admitting something she obviously wasn't comfortable facing, Daniel replied, "Do not worry your pretty head over it, darling. I have wished him dead myself many times."
Elyssa looked at Daniel, suppressing a shudder at his cold words. Did she truly know Daniel, this charming, gorgeous man who managed to say all the right things, made love to her with such expertise and fervency? How could she be in love with someone so cold and unfeeling that he wished his own father dead? But then again, how could she possibly understand the heartbreak of a Greystone for a few days.thiyoung boy whose father had shown him no affection, a young man who had striven to earn his father's respect, only to be shunned time and again? Her heart reached out to Daniel in that moment. Vulnerability shone in his eyes, though his features were set in stone.
Daniel looked accusingly at her, as if he knew the thoughts conflicting within her mind. For all that Elyssa seemed different from other women he'd been with, would she too end up thinking him nothing but a cold-hearted man, unworthy of love, only a temporary diversion until a more respectable man came along to offer true and lasting happiness?
Slowly Elyssa reached out her hand, brushing her fingers against his cheek in affection. A harsh sigh of relief escaped Daniel's lips at the gesture, so simple a touch, yet its intimation enormous. He grabbed her fingers to his lips, kissing them as his eyes closed in the near desperation he'd unwittingly experienced. For if Elyssa had spurned him after his damning confession, Daniel didn't feel he would ever be whole again. For whatever reason, she was already beyond special to him. She was so much more than that.
She’d filled his every thought since the moment he had seen her in the storm, all lush beauty and sweet vulnerability. Elyssa had touched him so deeply, so profoundly, that he could not imagine a life without her. She had become an obsession, and his fixation with her was not a thing likely to vanish anytime soon.
With loving impatience, Daniel pulled Elyssa's face to meet his in a blinding fervent kiss. She boldly met the thrust of his tongue with her own, her fingers splaying across his chest. Impatient to bury himself deep inside her, Daniel pulled Elyssa beneath him, stealing her breath at his urgent entrance. Elyssa's loud gasp only further served to feed the fire building within Daniel and he began to thrust deeper and harsher until short moments later they both reached exquisite rapture together.
"I knew you would be incredible," Daniel said moments later, breaking the comfortable silence. "From the moment I laid eyes on you in that decadent nightgown."
A self-conscious smile tugged at her lips. She was not used to flowery compliments from a man. “I fear I must be quite inept compared to all the experienced women I have heard about."
Daniel knew not whether to grin or groan at the observation he had heard countless times by women wanting, hoping to feel they'd made a lasting impression in his mind over and above all the other women he'd lain with.
CHAPTER ">"You are anything but inept, Elyssa," Daniel replied as his fingers slowly crept up her thigh. He smiled at the shuddering breath she drew in, was delighted that he was the only man to ever bring her to satisfaction.
A timid smile graced her lips until she abruptly remembered her mother and how she must be worrying. Confiding her distress to Daniel, he told Elyssa he'd had a message sent already to set her parents' minds at ease. Had told them that his host, Lord Blake Edmonton, had insisted on Elyssa remaining overnight after a late night dinner.
“It was the best I could do on a moment's notice. I only meant to keep your parents from having the authorities come after me for kidnapping I assure you I will return you to your family after we have eaten breakfast.”
Daniel went downstairs and was gone for quite some time. Talking with his friend, Blake, no doubt. Roughly a half hour later Daniel brought up a tray full of eggs, fruit, and bread dripping with butter. Elyssa was flattered that the notorious rake, known for having women do his every bidding, and that by their own choice and not his, was humbly serving her breakfast and pouring her hot tea.
Elyssa was loath to eat the last of her food, for it meant leaving Daniel. Possibly forever, for all that he seemed confident they would be together. Of course, not once had he mentioned that ominous word of marriage, and that most likely because Daniel's idea of being together meant keeping her as mistress. And hating herself for her slacking morals, Elyssa feared that did Daniel press her, she would be unable to deny him that sinful plea.
An hour later Daniel was seeing Elyssa off. He left her breathless with a heated kiss full of promise, of hope, just before ordering his driver to see her back safely to her parents' home. He apologized for not making the ride back with her but confided that he planned to pack his things at once and head back to Greystone. Unaware of how he meant to straighten things out for them, Daniel knew only that the sooner he confronted Percy about the situation, the better.
Elyssa begged Daniel not to confide their unplanned tryst, at which Daniel replied he had no wish to be murdered in his own home. He would attempt to reach Percy's practical side regarding his farce of a marriage to Elyssa. He would ask Percy to consider annulling the marriage. It would be a start.
"Hopefully when you return in a day or two, everything will be such a thingg">CHAPTER looking brighter for us, darling.” A tear trickled down Elyssa's cheek as she returned Daniel's wave, the sight of him growing faint as the carriage moved farther and farther away. An overwhelming rush of hopelessness assailed her and Elyssa prayed that everything would work out right. It seemed so futile, though, to actually give hope that Percy would acquiesce without a scandal ensuing. Already, only several minutes without Daniel's presence, it seemed a ridiculous thought that they could actually pull it off. A sadness crept into Elyssa's expression and she had to force a grand display of innocence and happiness once the driver opened the door at her parents' residence.
She despised herself for having to lie to her family, but proceeded nonetheless to regale them with details of the Edmonton mansion, for all that she'd seen nothing but the inside of a grand bedroom.
Elyssa spent the remainder of the day talking with her sister and playing with their younger brothers. A brief lecture from her mother later that evening as Elyssa readied for bed left her denying her mother's prying questions in regard to any feelings for the young Lord Fr
edrickson. It was clear from the look on her mother’s face that she did not believe Elyssa, for the young duke was infamously exciting, and her mother knew firsthand the dangers of falling in love with someone so unpredictable. “I love your father, dear, but the path has not been an easy one these many years. Dashing men may bring excitement, but there are unexpected problems along the way, and I don’t want that for you.”
The next day Percy's carriage arrived mid-afternoon and Elyssa took her time packing her belongings, for although she longed to see Daniel again, the reality of returning to the loneliness of Greystone, to a husband that already despised her, painted a bleak picture. Her life would be absolutely unbearable if Daniel managed to further alienate her from Percy's graces, and suddenly Elyssa regretted her rash actions with Daniel. Surely she would be made to pay for her weakness.
Her father kissed Elyssa on the cheek after she'd hugged the rest of the family goodbye, and hinted that she ask Percy for a stipend on their behalf, confiding that their finances weren't looking too favorable presently. Her mother’s expression silently suggested Elyssa remember her warning about carefree men. Forcing a halfhearted smile, Elyssa tried to ignore the ache her father’s request caused to her heart. She told her father she would ask Percy, though Elyssa knew that would be the last thing she'd be doing if he had any inkling about her feelings for Daniel.
Elyssa had taken so long packing her things that it was nearly dark when the carriage pulled up to Greystone's imposing presence. Her heart was nearly beating out of her chest at the speculation of what might have already taken place between Percy and Daniel in her absence.
Her fingers shook as she reached out to open the front door, almost feeling as if she ought to be knocking, no matter that it was her own home. She had always felt like an intruder, truth be known, and now she felt undeserving of calling the fine mansion her home.
As the last of her bags were brought in, Elyssa's eyes lit up at the sight of Daniel approaching. Where she had just been hopeless and lonely, the handsome rogue walking toward her with a sensual heat in his hooded gaze, made her desperate to be in his arms again. Her breathing instantly became shallow, and Elyssa was grateful no servants were about. For it was certain they would see the telltale signs of love on her face. She longed to run into his arms and kiss him with abandon, but knew she must refrain from any and all emotion where Daniel was concerned.
Daniel barely managed to suppress a satisfied smile at seeing Elyssa, though he was helpless to restrain the look of adoration in his eyes as he reached her. "Lady Fredrickson," he warmly greeted, "it is good to see you back home where you belong."
Whispering a dictate that Elyssa follow him, Daniel turned and headed toward the study. Glancing about furtively, Elyssa followed, all the while fearing to see Percy's appearance or hear his footsteps following, but she and Daniel remained the only ones about. Perhaps Percy was already abed for the night, for if Daniel was leading her to the study, where Percy spent most of his evenings, then he must be absent.
Seconds after Daniel disappeared into the dark study, Elyssa entered, barely able to see anything, for no candles were lit. She gasped aloud at the sound of the door closing behind her, hearing the turn of a key in the lock. She turned and met with a solid wall of chest.
Daniel slowly backed Elyssa up against the wall, his mouth covering hers lazily. The erotic touch of his fingers invading her coat to seek the roundness of a breast left Elyssa feeling weak-kneed and she whimpered as her hands helplessly clutched at his arms. He managed to pull her coat halfway off before his hand greedily returned to her bare skin beneath the expensive gown.
His other arm pulled her leg up against his side and he yanked Elyssa so close she could feel his hardness jutting against her thigh. He continued his wickedly sweet kisses, his tongue thrusting boldly toward the back of her throat as her leg instinctively wrapped about his waist. Daniel was near to taking her right then and there. With utmost difficulty, Daniel forced himself to stop before he was beyond all reasoning. Their breathing labored, Daniel finally spoke.
“I have be such a thingg">CHAPTER en looking forward to this since I last saw you.” He was pleased to hear the shuddering indrawn breath. Knew that she was as vulnerable toward him as he was for her. "I cannot wait to be inside you again,” he mouthed against her ear, his fingers making their way over her breasts. His expert touches teased her, slowly sliding downward over her body. “I have missed you so and it has scarcely been more than a day,” he whispered.
The shadowed sight of his face nearing hers, the titillating feel of his fingers brushing downward, until his hand came to cradle that most intimate part of her, sent a trembling within to her very core. She was embarrassingly ready for him, and she hoped Daniel didn’t find her inexperience unappealing. It was blissful agony, this dark encounter with the man of her dreams.
Forbidden desire, to be sure. Elyssa struggled to keep her hands to herself, to deny them both the pleasure of her fingers caressing his bare flesh, for it was utter madness to be in such a dangerous predicament within the walls of Greystone.
Daniel grabbed her hand and boldly, slowly, pulled it down over his chest, her fingers flexing at the touch of him. He shuddered a sigh at the feel of her soft hand claiming him as her own. It had not been his intention to go this far, to start this tortuously intoxicating pursuit, but Daniel was having the most damnable time trying to control his desires.
This was not the place nor time, however, and cursing softly, he claimed Elyssa's mouth in a scorching kiss before removing her hand from his body to quell the seductive torment he'd foolishly started. He entwined his fingers with Elyssa's and held them up against the wall on either side of her as his kisses began to slow.
Elyssa barely remained standing, her breathing coming in short gasps at the unexpected onslaught. How was she to ever get over Daniel when being alone with him for mere moments left her abandoning all decency and virtue. She would have let him have his way with her on the very floor if Daniel had but asked, everything else be damned.
Forcing the shaky words, for Elyssa dared not encourage another kiss or touch, she breathlessly asked, "Did you talk to Percy?"
Raking his fingers through his hair, Daniel replied, "We talked a bit yesterday although I have yet to see him today since breakfast."
for a split secondg">CHAPTER "And? What happened?" came the fearful question.
"I told my father I know your identity, that I tracked you down in London. He was furious, of course. Accused me of seeking to badger you and said he would see me punished if I had caused you undue duress." Taking a step even closer to Elyssa, his soft words caressed her entire body as his fingers tangled in her long tresses. His grasp on her hair was tight, his lips against her mouth as he wickedly asked, "I trust I haven't caused you any undue duress, Lady Fredrickson?"
Her voice soft and unsteady, Elyssa replied, "You have done nothing but, sir, since I ever first ran into you." Daniel chuckled at the fond accusation, his lips covering her mouth in a steamy kiss.
"I carefully approached him on the subject of an annulment. The old man nearly had apoplexy, insinuating that an annulment would be physically impossible. I, of course, could not divulge the fact that I was lucky enough to discover he is lying."
"Daniel, it is dangerous to pursue this. I could not bear it if anything happened to you."
An amused sound of feigned offense escaped Daniel's lips and he teasingly replied, "Such as my father blowing my brains out?"
"Daniel, do not speak such things!" she cried.
"I have no cause to worry about him," Daniel said, his voice clipped and suddenly aggravated. His ominous words sending a shiver down Elyssa's spine, he whispered harshly, "You shall be mine. One way or another."
Daniel went to the door and listened for any sound before opening it a crack. Seeing no one about, Daniel instructed Elyssa to go upstairs to her bedroom. The next morning she should go down to breakfast as if nothing was wrong. He made Elyssa promise
aloud that she would not give up on him. That she would continue to believe in her love for him, and have faith that things would work out.
"For you, Daniel. her dark tresses ed to ">CHAPTER I shall believe and hope because of you." She didn't voice aloud her fears that when all was said and done, he would eventually leave her side for the next woman that happened to catch his eye. Daniel's reputation was infamous and although he seemed genuinely taken with Elyssa, she feared it was just a temporary dalliance, and that she would one day be left alone in misery without him.
Grabbing her to him for one last kiss, Daniel willed his strength into her. His gray eyes spoke of promise, of rapture. And suddenly Elyssa dared give hope to the gloriously beautiful man who was smiling warmly at her. "I shall do whatever is necessary, Daniel. Good night, my darling."
Daniel watched her departure up the stairs, a satisfied smile on his handsome face at the thought of how easily Lady Elyssa Fredrickson was making his goals that much more attainable. A small niggling stab of guilt mingled with the unfamiliar feeling of an overwhelming emotion he'd never known. Daniel frowned as he struck his fist against his chest, willing his heart to stop the traitorous rush of what he feared might actually be love.
escaped her lips and ">
CHAPTER 8
The next morning Elyssa dressed nervously, dreading the coming confrontation with Percy. The last time she'd seen him he had angrily ordered her presence gone as a result of removing her wedding band for a short period of time. Glancing down at the small scar on her right hand, Elyssa recalled the similar mark Daniel was cursed with on his palm. His wicked words came back to mind, Tell me you can look at that and ever forget that my blood runs through your veins.
Her heart skipping a beat at the thought of Daniel, she finished dressing and headed downstairs. Percy would still be having breakfast, though he would undoubtedly forgo his normal routine of ignoring her presence to interrogate her over Daniel's confrontation.