by Daye, Elissa
“Are you ready to go?”
“About as ready as I can be right now.” Malinda put a hand to her tummy and rubbed it awkwardly. “Remind me to eat less tomorrow.”
When a few chuckles teased her Malinda eyed Desiree and Grant. “Oh, hush!” She poked a finger at Grant’s stomach and flashed a wink at Sophia, who was watching the display with wide eyes.
Instead of taking a carriage to the dressmaker they decided to take a leisurely stroll. By the time they made it to the large shop Malinda’s stomach had settled. She looked up at the shop, which had large display windows decorated with yards of silk dresses lined with lace and ribbons, all set on top of wire framed bodies that resembled the female form. Hats were hanging on the walls near the dresses with large feathers, flowers, and small replicas of fruit that were perched precariously on top, all of which Malinda found to be quite bizarre. Why would someone wear fruit on their hat? Then her eyes caught on a hat that looked very much like a bird’s nest, including the tiny feathered bird and small blue eggs, and Grant noticed it too. “Why in the world would someone wear that on their head? I would be afraid a real bird would land on top of my head.”
Malinda did not miss the teasing merriment that lingered in Grant’s eyes. She smirked at him and sniffed. “Do explain that please?”
“I could not. I, myself, have always wondered why women chose to wear such contraptions on top of their heads.”
“So you would not prefer to have your wife wear a bird’s nest on top of her head?” Malinda looked up at Grant, a small glint of a challenge entered her head. Perhaps she should purchase the hat just to spite him when he teased her so.
“No, I would not. But alas, if you want to look like a cuckoo’s nest, I’ll not stop you.”
They all entered the shop and two women hustled over to them immediately. Malinda was adamant that Sophia be measured first, for the child had very few clothes at the manor. She watched them bring many different dresses over to Sophia, each one crafted in a pastel silk and layered with yards of lace. The child looked so much like a porcelain doll with her dark brown hair and vivid blue eyes, when she was dressed in such frills. Sophia’s face lit up with each new dress, and she twirled around in the mirror. “Pretty!” Her delighted squeals ruptured the silence around them and everyone melted under her excitement.
When they had finished picking out clothes for Sophia the dear child had at least ten new fancy dresses that made her look like a veritable angel. She had pantaloons, silk stockings, silk slippers, small white gloves, a white velvet fur-lined cloak for colder weather, and several simple calico dresses for when she played outside. Malinda had also made sure to pick out hair ribbons and hats to keep her small curls from continually getting in her eyes. When they were done fitting Sophia, Grant suggested that Desiree take the child for a walk in the park and then return to the inn for her nap.
As soon as they left it was Malinda’s turn to be ogled by the women. Within moments Malinda found herself swarmed with three other women who started to take her measurements. She was pulled into the back room and the women assisted her out of her clothing. Malinda stood with her arms crossed over her chest, feeling more vulnerable than she had ever felt in her entire life. She was not accustomed to strange women sizing her up while every inch of her was as open as a blank canvas. The women quickly brought her undergarments that fit her bottom and a corset that felt like it was two sizes too small. They had assured her that was the fashion and that it fit her perfectly. She stood there, looking in the mirror at the woman in front of her. She had no idea that proper clothing could enhance her body so much. Her breasts were almost cascading over the top of the corset, so ripe and plump that she thought they would burst through the contraption.
She did not turn at the sound of the curtains moving. She sensed his energy before he had even touched the curtain. He sat in a chair near her and she assumed this must be commonplace for a husband to watch over his wife’s fittings. The other women shuffled about her nonchalantly, holding up different colors of silk.
“No pastels. Try the darker colors.” He nodded at the ladies when they brought in vivid reds, blues, greens, and purples.
Malinda felt almost as if she were not even part of the process as the day proceeded in a blur. There were three dresses in the shop that currently fit her stature, and she would be leaving with those today. Silk stockings, long silken gloves, under garments, corsets in an array of colors, hats and shoes were ordered along with a massive amount of dresses, so many that Malinda stopped counting. When the women had her order under control they left Malinda in the room to dress in the deep blue dress. The black velvet trimmed bodice with small black stripes sewn deep into the blue silk came into a v-shaped curve before connecting with the flounces of the skirt.
Malinda went to step into the dress, but was interrupted by the sound of Grant’s husky voice. “Wait.”
She turned to him, looked deep into his eyes and was mystified by the golden heat forecasted within. She walked over to him, for his hands had beckoned her closer. She stood before him, her chest bound tightly, her legs covered in silk stockings that were tied to the corset, and even though he sat in the chair with his legs crossed Malinda was fully aware of his arousal. “Yes?”
She felt his gaze roam over every inch of her. He gathered her into his lap and Malinda sucked in her breath when his mouth met hers. She squirmed in his arms as his hands delved below the corset to stroke the nipples trapped within its confines. He pulled her breast loose and teased her nipple with his fingers before releasing her mouth. He leaned her backwards with one arm and captured her breast in his mouth. Malinda thrashed under the heat of his silken tongue that teased her relentlessly. Malinda raised her hands to his head and tempted him closer, as close as one could without smothering into her. Her moans became so loud that Grant moved his head back up to capture the sound within his mouth.
Malinda felt his fingers pulling against the fabric that covered her bottom and felt them run across the small nub before her entrance. She grabbed onto his shoulders as his fingers created a delicious rhythm that matched the movement of his tongue within her mouth. Soon, her breath was coming in short hot gasps and Malinda had to pull her mouth away to catch her breath. She could feel a swarm of energy humming through her, a precursor to the rapture she was soon to feel if Grant continued to work her so.
When Grant stopped the movement of his fingers and removed them from her, she rebelled against their absence. She ground her hips into his legs, so far gone with her passion that she had no grasp over time or place. Grant lifted her from his lap and helped her to stand. Malinda looked at him with a tortured look on her face. He had never teased her before; he had always made sure that he finished what he started, but today something about his demeanor was different. He helped her dress into her gown and she refused to meet his gaze.
When she turned to face him she saw that he was not as unaffected as she thought he had been. She went to kiss him, but he pulled away. “All in due time, my dear.”
“Why?”
“Because I can.”
Malinda felt his wicked grin follow her as she walked away from the curtains. She had no idea what he had planned, but while she was irritated at him for frustrating her, she was intrigued by the situation. She would allow him to continue on this course until she could no longer tolerate the depth of emotions that swarmed through her body. If he took it too far she would have to take things into her own hands.
After they left the dressmakers they went for a stroll in the park across from the church. Malinda was still struggling to control the pink flush that covered half of her body. When no one was looking Grant pulled her into a long kiss that sent her senses reeling. She hit him on the shoulder when he let her go, but his grin told her that he was playing a game with her. She decided that two could play that game. When he kissed her again she brought her knee up to his groin and rubbed up against him. She could feel his hardness through the fabric, and whi
le his clothing hid his desire well from the world it was no longer a secret to her. She continued to run her knee against him and smiled sweetly up at him when he let her go. “Is there a problem, husband?”
“I think it’s time to eat.” It excited him that his wife had decided to play along. They would both get great satisfaction in the end.
Malinda smirked at him in answer and let him grab her hand to lead her back to the Regency. When they sat down to eat Malinda felt his hand reach her lap under the table. She eyed him suspiciously. He had already teased her within an inch of release. Now what was he up to? When she felt the ruffles of her dress moving she looked down at his hand. “What are you doing?”
“Shhh. You don’t want to draw attention to yourself.” Grant continued to move his hands up her thighs to where her legs met her most intimate places.
“I’m not the one…oh.” A small moan caught on the tip of her tongue as his fingers had once again found that one spot that sent electricity through her body. She looked up at him and his eyes almost darkened when she licked the bottom of her lip with her tongue.
He continued to work his magic until she was almost ready to climax, then removed his hand. “Ah, ah. Not yet.” The dark angry glare that she sent at him almost had him chuckling, but to make fun of her state would probably not bode well.
Malinda felt the fierce pounding in her loins and closed her legs tightly against the dull throbbing. She closed her eyes and let her mind agonize over the longing that was racing through her body. Thankfully the food had arrived, so she put her concentration into enjoying the food before them, but while she had an appetite her desire was distracting her from it. Malinda ate everything that was put in front of her, but could not remember what it was she ate, or even what it had tasted like. She sniffed with irritation when Grant’s hand made its way back up her skirt. She clamped her legs shut hoping to keep his fingers away from her, but he was quite artful in his persuasion. Again he stoked fires that had just started to still within her. Malinda tried to keep up with the sound of people talking around her, tried to distract herself from the liquid heat that was pouring out from her, and she only hoped that her dress would not show the pool of wetness that was sure to be covering her. Grant attempted to move his fingers away before she finished, but her legs held him in place.
“Not a sound.” His command echoed in the space between them. He continued to move his fingers. The excitement in her eyes made him spring even harder.
A loud moan threatened to break free from Malinda, and when she was about to find her release a waitress came to the table. “Do you all need anything else?” Malinda was so startled by the interruption that her legs released his hands enough for him to pull slowly away.
“I think we’re finished here.” Grant extracted his napkin from the table and wiped his hand before placing it lightly onto the table. “Are you ready, my dear?”
Malinda looked up at him with wary eyes. Her legs could not be trusted to move for her, much less help her stand without falling over. Grant helped her rise from the table and she held fast to his arm, but her eyes refused to meet his. No words could describe her feelings right now. Inside she was screaming at him for making her want him so fiercely. Malinda ached to take him deep within her and let her body suck him, and she wanted to do it right here, even with all the people who were staring curiously at them. Walking away from him and letting him deal with the hardness that lined the front of his trousers would be a great revenge, but as they climbed the stairs to their room, Malinda knew she would let him do whatever he wanted to her body as long as he finished what he had started.
When they entered the room Grant slammed the door behind them. He walked her over to the bed and pushed her onto it. Malinda barely had time to catch herself before her face planted into the mattress. Malinda turned her head toward him as she felt her dress being lifted up from behind her. She saw that he had freed himself from his breeches and she had never seen him so hard.
“Turn around.” Grant forced her head to face forward. He wanted nothing more than to bury his heat within her, but he did not want it to be over too fast.
Malinda was like a puppet, her strings were being manipulated by the unknown force that ran between them. A delectable energy jerked the strings that carried them both through their passions. She felt his hand on her behind, the sliding of fabric as the silk stockings and lacy panties were slid slowly down her legs. She felt him move her so that her knees were just at the edge of the bed before he pulled her up so that she was on her hands and knees. He then parted her legs and brought himself closer to her body. Before she knew it his length delved into her slowly. Malinda sucked in her breath when he rubbed up against her core, for his length went so much further than before as he hit some secret part of her that seemed to have been hidden up until this moment.
Malinda pushed her body against him when he thrust inside her again, but he stilled the movements of her hips and tortured her as he changed momentums on her, changed the angles, changed the very depth of his probing. It was as if he had decided that no matter how much they both ached to find completion he would master it all, and master it he did, as their pent up energy forced them way past their breaking point, way past sanity, way past the point of no return. When they both finished they came so hard and fast that the room seemed to tilt and Malinda’s head spun like a dizzy top. She collapsed onto the bed and her breaths came in shallow ragged bursts. She saw bright spots of light dancing around the room as she tried to regain the focus of her eyes. She felt gentle hands washing away their lovemaking, and when Grant rolled her over onto her back she smiled up at him. He gathered her in his arms and stroked her head until she fell asleep.
Chapter 21
When they returned to Wickford Manor Malinda was surprised to find that it was brimming with visitors who had arrived the evening before, and that a darkness had fallen over her husband’s face. They had spent the last few days exploring Tir Marquette. It had been such a grand adventure and Grant had loosened up a little while they were out, but now that they were back she could see the tension working its way up his shoulders. She longed to put her hand on his face and bring the Grant she knew back to the present, but she dared not touch his face. His jaw was clenched and his face was fiercely determined as he walked to the study.
She followed after him as swiftly as her feet would carry her. “Grant?”
“Not now, Malinda. Please leave it be.” He opened the door enough to enter, then closed it firmly behind him.
Malinda could not help but stand close to the door. She heard two separate voices greet her husband, but neither of them seemed to strike up a friendly banter with him. She heard one voice talking about the Lair and its party of bandits, as they had slithered across the countryside of Glendale. The Lair? The very thought sent a chill up her spine. Her grandfather had told her tales of a band of men who shifted into beasts so easily that they seemed to be more animal than man most of the time. Tinley Faire had never known the devastation of the Lair, for they had never reached across the borders that separated them.
She put her ear as close to the door as she could and heard her husband’s voice just barely entering the conversation. She heard Maria’s name called out and a hush settled across the room. Then the men started talking about when they would be leaving Wickford’s gates to continue their fight. The door opened unexpectedly and Malinda almost fell through it. A strong hand reached out to steady her and she looked up apologetically into green eyes that looked hauntingly familiar. The man before her had short grey hair that waved around his tired face. His green eyes looked at her curiously, and looked back to Grant. Malinda tried to pull her hand free, but for some reason he did not release it.
“Excuse me, gentlemen. May I introduce my wife, Malinda Timberlin.” His eyes were cool when he looked at her.
Malinda almost shrank under his gaze. “The pleasure is mine, gentlemen.” Malinda performed a curtsy before the men, trying not to flush
with embarrassment. “Please forgive my intrusion. I have not met any of my husband’s acquaintances and I found myself dying of curiosity.”
“Aiden Quinn, my lady. Pleased to make your acquaintance.” The man to Grant’s left bowed politely before her. He had hazel eyes and short brown hair that curled around his forehead. His face was lit with amusement. “I daresay my wife, Lysandra, would have been standing outside the door too, Grant. Perhaps we should get them together some time.”
“That would be lovely!” Malinda could not remember the last time she had visited with another woman besides the women who worked tirelessly at Wickford Manor. She had also spoken with the women in Wickford Village, but none of these women would feel comfortable calling Malinda a friend, not with her being the lady of the manor. It would be nice to talk to someone else for a change, to make a friend that with whom her husband would be acquainted.
“I am Marshal Madigan.” The older gentleman bowed before her. “Excuse me for saying this, but I feel as if I know you from somewhere.”
Malinda was at a loss for words. She had never met the man before, but he was right when he said she felt familiar. There was something eerily familiar about his face, and she could not put a finger on it. “The feeling is mutual, good sir, but alas, I do not think I have been fortunate enough to make your acquaintance before this evening.”
“Mayhap, I have met your father?”
“It’s possible, but then you would have been the first one I know who has met him. I’m afraid my mother died before she could inform him of my birth.” Malinda noticed the curiosity in her husband’s eyes at her admission. They really had not talked about her life before Wickford so he really had no idea what her past was like.