by Gayle Eden
Lisette swallowed the urge to weep. She could see Marston release a tense breath before he looked up at Drew and Pamela, who were standing just behind the settee.
“Do you understand?” he asked them.
“Yes.”
“Yes.” Pamela echoed Drew, but looked very apprehensive.
Drew’s arm went round her. He was looking between Marston and Lisette when he offered, “I must be honest also. I have accepted friendships from them, and from the Marquis, while being less than truthful. My name, my father…” He looked at Lisette. “I have to confront the ghosts at some point. If I am judged by who he was, it is my battle to prove I am my own man. I have something to offer of value, and no reason to hide in the shadows.”
Smiling, Lisette murmured, “Here, Here.”
They all laughed when Pamela sighed and intoned dryly, “Love is much more difficult than I thought.”
On their feet now, Lisette and Elisha reached out, and were holding hands. “Truth frees us. Even if it does not wipe away what was. It frees us to love, deeper and stronger.”
Pamela and Drew slipped out of the room.
Lisette gazed up at Marston. “I love you.”
“I know.”
“This need to speak with my father, and do things properly—does it mean you intend to do um—everything properly?”
He was nodding his head yes.
She groaned.
Elisha laughed and drew her into his arms. “When I next make love to you, it will be as my wife. I can hold you without worrying about for how long. We can make love until we are sated. I never left you that I was not still hungry for you. I want to love you as my wife, feel you make love to me, as the man you now know I am.”
She had her arms around him. Tears stung Lisette’s eyes. The beat of his heart sounded under her ear. “You are a difficult chap, Marston, but doubtless that is why I am so daft for you. I shall, of course, wait. And cherish you all the more, because you made us both do so. I shall die, at some point, having loved and been loved by the most wonderful man on earth.”
One of his hands stroked her hair at the back of her head. “As shall I feel, each day with you. But to save us both from waxing too poetic—I should tell you—I have the most vivid dreams and fantasies of what our intimate life will be like.”
She pushed back so she could look at him. There was a twinkle in his eyes. It was absolutely beautiful. Lisette retorted, “Thanks to seeing your beautiful arse today, I will be so restless and sleep deprived I will look the hag when you finally do make me your wife.”
“Never.” He kissed the tip of her nose, and then murmured in her ear, “And I know you, my Lisette. You will think of me and ease that restlessness.”
“For shame, Marston.” She breathed in and let it out. When he lifted his head and their eyes met, she finished, “You are playing your own naughty games, I see.” Her brow rose and excitement rushed through her.
He kissed her, slow, languid and deep, and when he lifted his head, lashes half-mast, he confessed, “I had a very good tutor.”
She groaned in his mouth on the next kiss, and then pushed away from him. They were trying to calm themselves.
“Don’t make it too long after they arrive.”
He said as she was leaving, “I’ve had the license since you took my virtue in that cottage.”
At the doorway she turned, chuckling. “I did, didn’t I?”
He nodded, grinning.
She obviously found that exciting.
He supplied, “I was seduced on site, tutored in the most erotic foreplay, and ravished by an exciting and adventurous woman.”
Snorting, she turned again and called, “Ravishment indeed. I am just getting started.”
When she was no longer in site, Marston released the tension in his breaths and murmured, “As am I.”
* * * *
The duke and duchess arrived two days afterwards, the initial meeting taken up with welcomes and introduction to Pamela, who bravely stood outside holding Lisette’s hand when they alighted. She executed a graceful curtsy, and then oversaw getting them settled in their chambers.
Lisette found herself blissfully happy about what Marston had told her on the one hand—on the other, pacing and chewing her nails in the back garden after dinner—whilst brother, sister, and Drew, met privately with the graces in the study.
This was not easy for either of them, and to imagine how much sleep Elisha must have lost, how hard it was for him to tell the tale to her parents—and Pamela.
Lisette looked up about an hour afterwards and heard her mother’s voice. The duchess had Pamela’s arm through hers and they were walking the walkway together, talking quietly. As much as she wanted to rush over and ask how it went, she stayed where she was and watched them pause by a bench and sit. Her mother would know how to draw Pamela out and would take her into her heart, she did not doubt. The duchess was like that. She tried not to think about what her father was experiencing sitting still inside with Drew and Marston.
She knew they would approve the match, but she was worried about Elisha.
Lisette didn’t get her curiosity satisfied until Pamela had retired and She was in her bedchamber—her father and Drew and Marston were still in that study. Her mother came in as she was combing her damp hair, fresh from a bath and in her gown and robe.
Coming over, the duchess leaned down and kissed her brow, and when the maid left, walked over to the bed and pat it for Lisette to join her.
“Well?” Lisette scarcely breathed, searching her mother’s face.
Cupping Lisette’s face the duchess looked into her eyes. “Do you love him?”
“Yes. Yes. I do.”
The woman smiled. “I will admit it was a difficult thing to sit through. So painful that it took all of my years of training to hide my tears at times. Your father, it shook him. However, all of them, Marston, and dear, dear Pamela, Smith—er Drew, they were holding up better than we were.”
She dropped her hands and took one of Lisette’s. “Of course I always felt there was something behind Marston’s aloofness. To think it was this terrible thing. In truth, Lisette I wanted to hug him and hold him and comfort him.”
Lisette smiled back. “Yes. There is that side of him. When the story was told to me, that is what I ached for. However, it is very important to him, how others see him, who know. And he is… ah, a very passionate man.”
Her mother’s brow rose. “Passionate indeed. When he came to the point of stating his intent to marry you, his love for you, it transformed his whole face. There was no doubt in either the duke or I that the depth of his love for you is endless.”
Chewing her lip a moment Lisette asked, “And Papa gave his blessing?”
“Oh, yes. They are tonight working out details. Your dowry is substantial. Marston of course is very wealthy in his own right, so I did not hang about for that. I felt the need to spend a quiet moment with Pamela. I gather Marston wants you the sooner the better, thus we’ll speak to the local vicar and have it done by week’s end.”
“Oh, famous.” Lisette grinned.
“You’ve come quite a ways since I first introduced him.”
Lisette shrugged, “You were right. We are perfect for each other. I feel, everything I should when I with him and more. Though he is a complex man, when it counts, he is my lover in every way I imagined. I know that our lives will be filled with wonderful things, and that there is much more to share with him, show him, just as he will teach me more about understanding him.”
“Yes, well. There will be a ceremony and then he suggests us, the entire family gathers here later in the year for a celebration and party. I have coaxed Pamela into coming to London with me…”
“You have!”
“Yes. Not for the social season. But I think being around the girls and the pets, and she said you had told her I would help her decorate a suite in Marston’s townhouse.”
“You have lovely taste mother.
“Thank you. She needs a bit of mothering, and I hope that as her brother will be my son in law, she will come to realize she is part of the Wimberly clan now too.”
Lisette gazed at her. “You are a wonderful woman.”
“As are you, Lisette. She feels very close to you.”
The duchess arose. “Now then, we have much to do in a short time, even if the nuptials are to be brief and local. I am sure your father will also speak with you after breakfast in the morning. He won’t be comfortable speaking of men things, but he’ll want to assure you his feelings about Marston.”
They stood and for some time Lisette was in her mother’s embrace. Feeling that comforting hand on her hair, she murmured, “Thank you for trusting your instincts and bringing him into my life.”
“You’re welcome. But it was you who opened your heart to him.” Before leaving she said, “There are times you will have to go after him, my dear. Times you will have to lead him back into the sunlight. However, your love will be deeper for it. He will love you with his dying breath.”
“I know. It feels…amazing, to know that. But deep in my heart, I do. I shall never forget it.”
The duchess left and though Lisette slept, it was not until the deep hours.
She saw her father after breakfast. They rode together when Marston and Drew departed to the local church to speak to the vicar.
The only sign she had gotten from Elisha was a rather roguish wink, which she enjoyed immensely.
Her father said, “I can see you are happy, my girl, and I am happy for you. I look forward to having Marston as a son in law. I am most happy with gaining more family, you know. It gives your mother and I hope we will have many grandchildren to dote on.”
“I’m glad you approve of him, Papa.”
“My dear, there was never any doubt of that. Even before our talk. He looks like a hard and aloof man to some, but he always seemed a hurting one to me.”
“Perhaps I’m more like you than I thought.”
“You are the best of your mother and I, Lisette. I am very proud of what you have undertaken. Your love is true when you can care for everyone the man you love does. You’ve grown up, and come into your own.”
After the ride, he hugged her and held her in his embrace. “You are my own darling, Lisette, and I will be most proud to give you to a good man.”
“No one is as wonderful as you.”
He laughed a bit unsteady and when they pulled apart, smiling, his eyes were damp. “Go prepare for the wedding.”
She went, letting him have his time alone.
* * * *
The Wedding Day…
At the quaint church, Lisette’s breath was stolen anew by the darkly handsome man who waited for her in formalwear; Elisha seemed taller, larger, but perfect. She had chosen a silver and sapphire gown, and had her hair piled up with a crown of diamonds and sapphires on it, and curls flowing down her back. The way those eyes watched her approach, and how he looked at her when she reached Elisha, melted her bones and her heart.
When they were kneeling, Elisha found her hand and held it tightly, and when they kissed—ah—the world faded away for the both of them.
Before they walked back out, and past Drew, Pamela, the duke and duchess’s beaming faces—Elisha cupped her cheeks and said quite clearly whilst looking into her eyes, “I will never take your love for granted, Lisette. You may have to tutor me in how to be the husband and partner you desire, but you know, I am most eager to learn. I love you.”
The second kiss turned a few cheeks red. They laughed upon parting, eyes smiling into eyes. Her arm slid into his and they walked back down the aisle.
Lisette caught her mother’s wink. She also saw her father nod to Marston with a wink of his own.
At the manor, Marston swept her up into his arms and carried her across the threshold, much to the joy and amassment of the staff, who had worked hard to make the house cheerful and prepare a celebratory meal.
A gay and happy luncheon commenced. Changed into more comfortable clothing, Lisette, Pamela, and the duchess, spent a few hours talking afterwards. Pamela’s wardrobe was outdated so it was decided she would buy new in London, under the duchess’s guidance. Lisette could tell, as could Marston, that the duchess had taken Pamela under her wing and into her heart, and there was a deep bond forming already.
Pamela was the first to retire in order to rest for the trip. Her mother, Drew and the duke were quietly chatting in the study when her husband took Lisette’s hand and she was led out of the room.
At the bottom of the shadowy stairs, he looked down and husked, “For the next lifetime, we will ascend these stairs as husband and wife.”
“Yes.”
He caressed her cheek and then back under the curls that though down were tied at her nape. Elisha then picked her up off her feet and carried her to the master chambers.
Arms around his neck, cheek against his shoulder, Lisette sighed at the romantic gesture. Yes, he knew her very well.
The chambers were lit by a low fire in the grate, and warm lighting from candles in their globes. Setting her on her feet by the bed, Elisha stepped back and began removing his clothing, his eyes seldom leaving hers.
When he stood there, warm, nude, so masculine, she looked over his body and husked, “I will never tire of looking at you.”
He grinned. “You will have plenty of opportunity to see it.” He began divesting her of her gown, the chemise, and then knelt down to pull off her slippers and stockings. Hands on her waist, her lifted her to sit on the edge of his high bed. “Once everyone departs in the morning, I intend to spend the rest of the week making love to you.”
Her body responding, flooding with need and desire. She took his deep sensual kiss and let her hands feel his warm muscled flesh. He liked being touched—he needed physical touching and lovemaking.
One hand found her breast. The other nudged her legs apart for him, and falling back onto the mattress, she murmured, “I want to feel and taste and kiss, every part of you, darling.’
“Mmm.” His gaze was heavy when he moved his hand away from her slick heat and the crown of his cock was positioned at her entry. “This time, I need to be inside you. I ache for it. But the next….” He was filling her by inches, and reached to hold her hands above her head before surging all the way. “Ah, the next, my beautiful wife, I am going to kiss you between your pretty thighs until you beg me to stop.”
Gasping at the feel of him, the fullness, she managed, “I can hardly wait.”
Elisha thrust several times, and her knees went higher, wider, and their breath got louder, terser. Her neck arched, she rasped, “How can this feel so exquisite and fill me so, that there is no other sense but you, inside of me. And yet I want to scream more…more.”
Face tense, his arse flexing with the glide out and harder thrust in, Elisha husked, “For the same reason, your sex around mine feels exquisite and hot, and tests my control, but I want more and more.”
They gave themselves up to the erotic emotions and feelings. Her silken limbs held him. Her hips arched, and he drove into her welcome heat, taking them both to a place of almost mindless hungers. His climax was as glorious to her as the act itself. Lisette decided there was nothing more sexual on earth than Marston when he came.
Later after washing, she was treated not only to those sweet kisses between her thighs, but Marston did it by rolling to his back and sliding down in the bed, driving her daft in every erotic way. He suckled, laved, and told her he liked her flavor, the feel of her soft skin there, and her climax was amazing. What made it more so was the masculine chuckle he offered up to her string of moaned praises at his skill.
“I’ll need more practice.” He rolled his lips, eyes twinkling as they looked into hers. “All the ways my mouth and hands can pleasure you. All the places and positions we can join our bodies.”
Her husband was going to be quite the adventurer in the bedroom.
They had to rise at dawn
to see everyone off, but after he had doused the candles and they were lying nude in each other’s arms, Lisette simply laid there, absorbing the sated feel of her body, and the strength of his that surrounded her. His hand cupped her breast.
From above her head, she heard him confess hoarsely, “I want you again.”
“And I you.” After a moment, she added, “Pamela will be fine, I think. Mother has taken to her.”
“Yes. I—I don’t know how I got so lucky in my new family.”
“Oh, well, there’s a few who will think you have gone bloody daft to wed a Wimberly.”
His lips touched her hair. That hand then went over her ribs. It left chills and tingles behind. He said, “There will never be a doubt in the eyes of anyone who knows me how much I love you, Lisette. “
She sighed and covered his hand. “I love you too. I think I shall fall in love with you quite often in the years to come.”
His sex was hard against her buttock. She was not all that surprised when he lifted his muscled frame and after rolling her to her side facing him, then drew her leg over his hip, his cock nudging her damp sex.
“I can’t wait until tomorrow.” His dark gaze was both begging and apologizing.
Nevertheless, her eyes showed her desire for him, and she whispered, “Neither can I wait for you. Take me, now, my lover. Take all of me you need.”
He did, and one more time, with Lisette on her stomach, so long and hot, she felt her blood burning, her bones melting. He would drag his hand up her back, grasp her hair and pull out slow, go in fast and hard, and Lisette begged a little. She lost herself, lost everything but the feel of her husband taking his pleasure inside of her.
On a last long thrust, he husked, “I don’t think we will sleep tonight after all.” He climaxed with a groan.