Page 29 of The Earl's Reluctant Bride
Elizabeth took a sip of wine to hide the flutter she felt at his possessive tone.
“Elizabeth, as you know marriage, along with its financial implication, is a family business. Much of the time spent with your parents was discussing a settlement. As is customary you will receive an annual allowance for your personal needs and it will be generous. If you should pass before I do there are provisions for a jointure, money and land for your future, and the security of our children.”
Elizabeth accepted that marriage appeared to be more a union of rank and property rather than of love. Her parents did not give a fiddle about her feelings when they decided she should wed the Duke of Rochester. Money and status could not guarantee love or happiness. Those popular ballads and plays praised true love, but in reality,practicality ruled more heavily than affairs of the heart.
She was deeply moved by his compassion. If thehaute tonknew of her circumstances, they would say her uncontrollable passion violated good judgment, disregarded propriety, and disgraced the family name. It was a bad way to begin a marriage, yet Alexander had been nothing if not caring and warm. She thought of the highest ideals of marriage, devotion, sacrifice, and family. Alexander epitomized them. She could not ignore the depth of his feelings. She was pleased that he was home. She wanted him near.
“Alexander, I am grateful—”
Elizabeth was cut off when Alexander’s eyes bore into hers as if he were searching for the core of her.
He leaned forward and his lips captured hers in a tender, dewy kiss. Elizabeth felt her hands tremble. Alexander broke the kiss, took her glass of wine, and left the bed momentarily to place it on the table. He returned to her side and rearranged the pillows behind Elizabeth’s head before he laid down beside her. He touched her face and held her jawline gently as he sought her mouth for a kiss. He claimed her mouth as his own. She quivered at the sweet tenderness of his kiss.
Elizabeth felt his breath hot against her ear as he whispered, “Elizabeth,” sending a shiver through her as he nibbled her ear lobe. She gasped, a sweet sound before she bit her bottom lip. His mouth covered hers once more, throwing her deep into a fire she had never felt. His tongue stroked deep, wanting more, as if he could not get enough of her. Elizabeth responded with fervor. She matched each deep stroke of his tongue with one of her own. She followed all his movements for she wanted to give him everything he needed, and more.
She was conscious of Alexander’s warm hand roaming her body as the heat enflamed her. She raised her hands and cradled his face to pull him even closer to deepen the kiss. He kissed her with such intensity she was breathless. He kissed her cheeks and the angle of her jaw. She sighed at the pleasure of it and tightened her arms around his neck. She was eager for him, just as much as he was for her. His groan filled her ears. Alexander slipped her nightgown from her shoulders and kissed her exposed flesh as he moved it lower. She felt the cool air on her breasts before the warmth of his lips. He claimed one nipple while his hand found the bud of the other which was swollen to its fullest. Elizabeth gave a wicked sigh and writhed against him. Alexander groaned.
Elizabeth settled into her pillow enjoying the sensation that made her quiver, the caress of his lips along her body set her aflame. He released her nipple, trailed kisses across to the next, and took it into his mouth, sucking it until she gasped, “Alexander.” He raised his head to claim her lips before he turned to her other nipple with tantalizing possessiveness. He sucked one after the other until she thought she could not bear it. She caressed the strong tendons at the back of his neck barely able to breathe.
Elizabeth was shocked at her own eager response to the touch of his lips. Her fingers were tangled in his hair, clutching him, pulling him when he covered her mouth in a deep kiss. She felt a warmth between her thighs and she arched toward him for somehow, she knew that he needed to be there. Slowly his hands moved down skimming her thighs before he lifted her nightdress above her hips. Alexander removed her undergarments while his featherlight touch explored her skin. His hands moved over her silken thighs but avoided the center of her. She gasped. He was so close to touching her there. Right there … where she ached for him. She sighed as his lips returned to her neck and her ears. She raised her hip in the direction of his hands, writhing against him, and shivered when he finally found the softness of her folds. She cried out when he parted her tenderness and stroked her. Heat rippled in the center of her as she recognized the flush of sexual desire she had not felt the first time he took her.
He stroked into her wetness, long and deep, as they groaned into each other’s mouth. She had never imagined that desire could make her body weep with need. “I am burning for you, Lizzy,” Alexander whispered against her neck.
Just as she basked in this newfound desire, Alexander spread her legs. She felt his hot breath on her folds before his tongue gripped her there. She gasped in sweet agony. Gripping his shoulders and pulling him closer, she cried out, “Alex, please—”
Her scream was cut off by his tongue moving insistently over her mons, he aroused her passion, and she thrust her hips against him needing more. He alternated between a light feathery kiss and a deep, demanding probe. She grabbed his hair as his tongue stroked her to a fever pitch. As he kissed her there his teeth grazed her and she lost all control. She writhed against him and cried out for relief as waves of ecstasy throbbed through her.
Alexander cradled her in his arms and Elizabeth heard her labored breath as if she had made a mad dash to safety. She savored the feeling of satisfaction that he left with her and she was oddly content. Elizabeth heard his gentle, soft, quiet breathing so when she gazed up at his face, she was not surprised to see him sleeping. She knew that there was more to lovemaking for on this occasion he had not entered her wetness. She remembered he gained immense pleasure when he had entered her softness again and again when he took her. He had moaned with pleasure on his release but this time he had not. He sought to please her, yet forgo his own pleasure. How strange. He had travelled a great distance today and she did not wish to wake him. She snuggled closer to him, comforted by his warm and musky scent.
Elizabeth needed to reevaluate exactly what she wanted. At first, she believed she was in love with Lord Salisbury and thus she could not care for Alexander. She was selfish when she resented him for the dilemma she found herself in, for this entire conundrum was truly of her own making. Alexander had done the honorable thing. He was the one who cared and was so thoughtful toward her. She knew that she needed to put Lord Salisbury from her mind. He was gone. Never to return. Alexander wanted her. He chose her. He made personal sacrifices and endeavored to keep her happy. What had she done? She resolved that she must open her heart to him. Although he was fond of her, she wondered if one day he could learn to love her. “Can you, Alex?” Elizabeth whispered as she drifted off to sleep.
CHAPTER13
Alexander woke with a start when he felt the movement of a warm body up against him. He slowly opened his eyes to see Elizabeth sigh before she turned on her side and nestled her backside against his cock. He stilled as he listened and heard nothing but her even breathing. He was reassured she was asleep. She had not tempted him to waken so that he could slip inside of her warmth. It took a great deal of restraint for him to just lay there and cuddle her. The way that she responded to him this night warmed his heart, and gave him some hope, but he took nothing for granted.
It had given him immense pleasure to present her with the pups and all the art material she could possibly need. He was gratified when he beheld the look of delight on her face and the twinkle in her eyes when she examined the easel. Furthermore, she was quite fond of the pups, Teague, and Princess, she named them. Alexander smiled to himself. Elizabeth was quite protective like a bear protecting her cubs. He believed she would be a good mother.
Alexander decided to return to his own chamber otherwise he would break the vow he had only just made to himself. If he was to get rid of the hardness of his manhood, or have any real prospect of rest, he must go to his own bed. He had matters to attend to and it was likely that in his absence there were other issues he was not even aware of. He would start addressing them at first light for he had already decided that he would spend some time with Elizabeth. He slowly extricated himself, being careful not to wake her, she murmured in her sleep before she was still again.
Alexander moved stealthily to his bedchamber closing the adjoining door softly behind him. He collapsed onto his bed but sleep would not claim him. He was still enveloped by the scent and taste of her. He tossed and turned. In frustration he threw the covers from him and decided to dress himself and proceed to the library. When Alexander entered the library, he found several letters on his desk. He was relieved to see there was one from his man that was charged with keeping an eye on Salisbury.
He broke the seal and read the contents of the letter.
“You fool. Will you never learn?” Alexander murmured to himself. Apparently, Salisbury had settled his debts but he had done nothing more than to start gambling afresh, acquiring new liabilities. Salisbury was not a man with good sense, not enough to know when he should quit or when he should keep his head down. At any rate he had kept his mouth shut, which was a part of their bargain. So long as Salisbury kept up his end of the bargain he need not be concerned about him.
Alexander continued to work until the light of dawn seeped into the library. He rubbed his bleary eyes and walked over to the window. There was a pearly glow in the sky and he hoped for good weather.
He noted it was time for his morning ride and proceeded to the stables inhaling the cool morning air. Alexander’s horses and stables were a source of pride and joy and he spent a considerable sum funding and maintaining them. He had recently availed himself of a pair of a larger breed of black horse from the fens of Lincolnshire. They were immensely strong, highly coveted and he had already decided which one he would present to Elizabeth. Alexander hoped she would be pleased with his gift as he had such a love for these animals and he was hoping they could enjoy them together.
Alexander mounted and led his horse from the stable. He inhaled the morning air as he rode through the meadows. It was exhilarating, for when he went riding, he felt as though he was riding the sky, a whirlwind home in its mane. The animal’s sensitive ear, alert as a flame, in its every fiber, hearing the familiar song from above, all in one accord the stallion strained its bronze chests and, hooves barely touching the ground, turn into straight lines cleaving the air, and all inspired gallop as it rushes on.
He was conscious of the time and he wanted to ensure he broke his fast with Elizabeth. He returned his horse to the stable and entered the manor. The butler informed him that Elizabeth was already awake so he bounded up the stairs to have a quick wash and change his garments. Once ready he descended the stairs to join her in the dining room.
He opened the door and his breath caught when she gazed up at him. “Good morning, Elizabeth. I trust you rested well,” He pulled out his chair and sat. When next he glanced at her she was flushed pink, and he wondered if she thought of the pleasure he brought her last night and how she had abandoned herself to him. He felt a quickening in his loins and he was pleased when the butler appeared with more fare. He gave his attention to the meal until Elizabeth spoke.
“Thank you, Alexander. I slept well for I was quite content last night. As a matter of fact, more content than I have been in some time,” she replied with a coy smile.
He was not expecting such a reaction from her. Alexander had just taken a sip of tea and he gave a quick cough lest he choke. When he glanced up Elizabeth was putting clotted cream and jam on a scone. She raised her lips, bit into it and a sliver of jam fell just above her bosom. She raised her finger to wipe it from her chest before she licked her finger. He was sure her action was purely innocent for at that moment she was more interested in the scone.
