Page 31 of The Earl's Reluctant Bride
“There is such mastery in your touch. Just as there was last night.” Alexander held her gaze and Elizabeth’s lips slightly parted before she closed them again. He promised himself not to think of when he touched her, when he tasted her, but he was failing miserably.
Redness crept over Elizabeth’s face. “Alexander,” she said and quickly lowered her eyes but not before he saw her lick her lips.
Alexander shifted his gaze to the bottle which was made from glass, “They are called demijohns and they are used for storing wine. We seal them with cork stoppers. Wine that is stored in glass bottles is best stored sideways so that the cork stays moist and does not dry out.” Alexander was doing fine until he said the word moist. It made him think of how wet Elizabeth had been for him last night. Her light and tentative touch had been remarkably potent, devastating his senses. He could hardly remove the thought of her silky and hot feel when his fingers explored her. He thought to blame it on the darkness of the cellar or her floral scent, and the rather confined space.Liar. He knew that was not true.
He could feel his member stirring even more so he quickly moved to the wine tasting area. There were goblets stored on wooden shelves for this specific reason. He placed the candle on a shelf, uncorked one of the demijohns, and poured Elizabeth a spot of wine.
“Please, try it,” he offered her a goblet. As she reached for it her hand touched his and she hastily drew it away. Alexander gave her a knowing smile as Elizabeth looked down at the goblet. She swirled the goblet and sniffed its contents before raising it to her lips. She took a tentative sip, swallowed, and savored it.
“Hmmm, it has a pleasant, sweet, fruity flavor. I like it.”
“You have sharp tastes, my lady. It is a Cabernet Sauvignon from Bordeaux, France.”
Elizabeth took another sip and her tongue darted to her lips. “Blackberries.”
Alexander was about to reach for another demijohn when the flames danced and suddenly went out. They were immediately plunged into darkness and he waited for his eyes to adjust to the blackness. Everything was oddly quiet, like the moment of silence between a bolt of lightning and thunder.
Alexander heard Elizabeth’s sharp intake of breath and it stirred something in his belly. He reached out until he felt her hand and he took the goblet from it then found the shelf and rested it there.
“I cannot see you, Elizabeth. I will have to feel for you. I have wanted to touch and caress you all morning. Would you like me to caress you?”
“Yes. I want ….” Elizabeth started, then stopped.
Alexander raised his hand and touched Elizabeth, first feeling her bodice before he moved his hand upward to her face. His sense of touch was heightened by the darkened enclosure and her skin felt silky smooth.
“Say it.” Alexander cajoled.
“I want you to touch me, taste me.” Elizabeth sighed.
Alexander groaned as he lightly fingered her jaw and trembling lips before he gently brushed his lips to hers. He curved his fingers under her chin and lifted her head as his mouth covered hers hungrily.
Alexander whispered against her lips. “Touch and taste you like this?”
Elizabeth’s breath was shallow. “Oh, yes. And more.”
“Your lips and tongue taste as sweet as fine wine.” Alexander demanded more of her. He wanted to be intoxicated by her taste.
Elizabeth parted her lips to let him in and he ravished her mouth exploring her tongue and lips until they were both breathless. His lips searched, demanded, coaxed, and punished. His kiss was desperate, wild, and wicked. Elizabeth leaned into him, running her hands through his hair, as she moaned against his mouth. Alexander’s lips left hers, nibbling at her earlobe before they searched a path down her neck and shoulder. She tasted so good. She was perfect. Alex returned to take her mouth with a savage intensity that did not diminish as he kissed her again and again. Their tongues tangled, battling madly for dominance and he could feel the thud of his heart. Elizabeth’s breathing grew rapid and soon she was panting, her hands slipping from his hair to his neck. Her hands were like warm embers, raising a fire from within him. It threatened to consume him. His hand crept to her waist, he pulled her closer and his chest pressed against hers as he nibbled on her lips.
Alexander had kissed many a woman but none had robbed him of his senses. Not until Elizabeth. The more he kissed her, the more he wanted. He feared that he would never be satiated. Now he knew. All the other kisses he had before were all so wrong because this felt so … perfect.How could he think that he could wait to make love to her? He could not keep his hands off her, yet he wanted to try.He started to pull away then suddenly he felt Elizabeth’s hand slip from his neck as her fingers gripped his hair, pulling his lips back to hers. Alexander groaned.
Elizabeth pressed against him, begging him to pleasure her. Alexander reached down to the small of her back and gathered her snugly to him. Their clothes rustled as he molded her against his hard form. He could feel the heat of her through their clothing. His lips recaptured hers more demanding this time. His cock was hard and screamed for release, but he knew that he must stop if he did not wish to take her right there in the wine cellar. It took all his strength to pull away. Alexander lightly kissed her jawline, cheek, nose, eyes before he satisfyingly kissed her soft mouth. His arms encircled her waist and she rested her head against his chest.
Alexander thought to take her back to the house but his thoughts were thrown into disarray when he felt her hand on the front of his breeches on his hard cock. She claimed his lips as she gently stroked him through his clothing, tentatively at first until she grew more insistent with every stroke.
“Touch me, Alex.” Elizabeth pleaded with a breathy sigh.
He fought to free her breast over the top of her bodice and took a nipple into his mouth. Elizabeth gasped and it sent shivers through him. She loosened the flap of his breeches and he was relieved to be free. To feel the caress of her soft hands against his hardness. Her light, tentative strokes were torturous. He felt a frenzied need and it would not wait. He dropped his hands to lift the layers of her clothing to find her split drawers. He eagerly found her folds and moaned at the smell of her wetness. He felt her knob and stroked it deep. Her hands squeezed his cock as his fingers grazed her nub and she moaned with desire. He was fit to burst with pain and pleasure.
Alexander inserted his fingers deep within her in a single, deep stroke and Elizabeth gripped his shoulders. He moved his fingers in and out as he grazed her nub until she was slick with need. He broke the kiss and spun Elizabeth around against her cry of protest when his fingers left her warmth. He hoisted her dress, found the slit in her drawers, and guided himself until he was positioned at her opening. With one hand on her hips and the other on her breast, he drove deep into her with one stroke and she groaned with pleasure.
“So wet, so tight.” He whispered in her ear as she sighed his name. Such wicked pleasure as he stroked her again and again. He kissed the side of her neck and kneaded her breast as he stroked deeper inside her. He found the core of her, wanting to savor his pleasure, but he was too desperate for her. Elizabeth groaned as he increased his tempo. He moved his hand to find her nub, massaging, flickering his thumb as he drove deep inside until she screamed her release and he found his pleasure. Alexander braced himself against the wall, his knees weak with pleasure.
Elizabeth leaned into him and he spun her around to face him. She drew his face to hers in a renewed embrace and found his lips for a deep kiss. Their labored breathing slowly began to return to normal. He gave into the tender feelings, the type that those who speak of love proclaim, yet love is the very thing he said he did not believe in.
Elizabeth’s voice sounded in the dark, barely above a whisper. “Whenever you caress me, you make me feel like you and I are the only people in this world.”
Alexander kissed her lips and jawline. “That is because you are my wife and the most important person to me in this world. I will forever cherish and protect you.”
