Page 51 of First Impressions
“No, ahh… you’re right. We need to talk,” her mouth managed to stammer, as her eyes begged him otherwise.
“Later,” was his curt reply, just as she could see the hard mask descend on his face, just as she heard Mrs. DeBourgh from beside her.
“William! So good to finally see you,” she said enthusiastically, trying to keep her voice low as the auction was coming to a close. “I was hoping we would have had the pleasure of your company throughout this past week, but Anne said you were nowhere to be found.” Even though it wasn’t a question, the look she gave him indicated that she was expecting an explanation.
“Ah, yes. Well, unfortunately, I had an unforeseen business complication back in the city so the day I made it here, I had to turn around and go right back.” Even though he responded, his eyes were mostly still trained on the auctioneer, signaling that he wasn’t in the mood to be interrogated right now. Beth stayed silent, focusing her gaze on the pieces being auctioned, trying to be invisible in the conversation taking place around her.
“Duty calls, to be sure,” she acknowledged. “I see you’ve purchased the most expensive piece of the event.” Here, Beth saw her eyes twinkle with unabashed excitement and expectation. “I do hope you are planning on putting it to good use very soon.” With that statement, she gave him a sly smile and a wink before nodding her head off in Anne’s direction.
Fortunately, the auctioneer had finished with the bidding and looked to Mrs. DeBourgh to make some closing remarks so the party continued, forcing her to leave Darcy and Beth to themselves before getting any sort of response from him to her insinuation.
With the auction finished, those who won their bids were invited to the library where they could indicate which charity the funds would be donated to, as well as retrieve the pieces that they had won.
They both stood up with the rest of the crowd, Darcy turning towards her, running his fingers down the her back, following the side edge of her dress. Her sharp inhale elicited a small smile as he leaned his head close to her ear.
“I’ll find you,” he whispered as he moved fluidly into the crowd that had begun to return inside.I’m sure you will.
She stood for a moment, letting her senses calm from being on edge the past fifteen minutes. She looked around and saw Anne, who raised her eyes in question at her, clearly having seen her interaction with Darcy. Anne gave her a quick smile before turning to some of the staff and directing them where to move the table and chairs to open up some more space for the full band and dancing.
Needing some space from the crowd and more than a little concerned about running into Mrs. DeBourgh, Beth headed in the opposite direction of the crush of guests. Meandering around the side of the house, she found herself on a side patio that was enclosed in a wire canopy which supported a nest of climbing trees and vines, interspersed with tiny LED lights. Standing in the center, looking up, it felt like she was in a forest tent, looking up at the stars. She closed her eyes and let her mind wander as she slowed her breathing.
Her mind registered the faint footsteps coming up behind her, the rich masculine spice aroma infusing her nose signaling who was approaching her. He didn't say anything; he came up flush behind her, his arm snaking around to rest on her lower stomach, pulling her hips tight against his; his breath warm against her ear as he teasingly pulled her earlobe into his mouth.
“God, how I want you,” his words came out harsh with pent up desire. She moaned and laid her head back against his shoulder, giving him full access to her neck.
“We can’t. Not here.” Stepping away from her, he grabbed her hand and led her around to the front of the building, the driveway empty now all of the guests were arrived and settled. He pulled keys to a golf cart from his pocket and ushered her onto the passenger seat.
“Where are we going?”
“To the guest house.”
They drove in silence down the drive. Beth was barely breathing, the alcohol and expectation of what was going to happen overwhelming her senses. Darcy, on the other hand, was focused intensely: his mouth a hard line of determination that sent goosebumps over her skin. Beth unlocked the front door and they barely made it inside before she was spunaround, her back against the front door and Darcy’s mouth on hers. He kissed her like he’d been starved of her for a year, when it had only been a week, and she kissed him back encouraging him to take all the sustenance he needed.
His hands gripped her buttocks and pulled her hips flush against his. Her hands managed to reach up between them and lock around his neck. His mouth broke from hers, both of them panting trying to replenish their oxygen when a moment of clarity struck her and she pulled her head back to look at him.
“Why did you leave?” she asked quietly.Why did you leave me;that’s what she wanted to say.
His jaw clenched as he struggled to control his desire long enough to respond to her. “I don’t know. It was too much,” he bit out.
“What do you mean ‘too much’? Did you separate Charles from Jane? Did he leave because of you?” her brows furrowed as the hurt she had felt began to seep back into her heart. She felt a tear well up and slip down her cheek.
His breath came out in a rush as his face leaned in and he kissed the tiny, wet reminder from her cheek. He rested his forehead against hers, struggling to find words. “Beth, I need you now; we both need this. I have my reasons; can we please talk in the morning?” His breathing was labored and she could tell how on edge he was; every muscle was taut, there was a sheen of sweat on his forehead, and his erection was as hard as a rock pressing into her stomach.
He’s right. You do need this.Before she could get the better of herself, her hands grabbed his face pulling his mouth to hers.
This time, he seemed intent on not letting her mouth go. Kissing her, he picked her up and carried her up the stairs to the master bedroom. He entered the room, kicking the door shut behind him. Setting her down, her back facing the door, his palms came to rest on either side of her head as he finally let her mouth go. His face looked strained like he was in exquisite pain from holding back his lust, and he was panting harshly.
“Beth, I can’t go slow...” he trailed off as though he wanted to say something else but couldn’t hold focus long enough to do it.
She relaxed, content knowing that he was restraining himself so he didn’t hurt her. The problem was, she wanted him just as badly. Her hands slid from around his neck to grasp both sides of his face.
“So don’t,” she replied. She saw primal need flare in his liquid bronze eyes for a second before his mouth crashed mercilessly onto hers.
He moved so fast, she could hardly keep track of every touch as he kissed her voraciously. His hands moved from the door, over her shoulders to palm and squeeze her aching breasts. Moaning into his mouth, she pushed herself into his hands just as they continued their journey south. He found the slit in her dress and spread it to the sides of her legs, reaching between them to her core. He groaned as he felt her underwear that were completely soaked. He quickly moved the material to the side of her folds as she heard his other hand unzip his pants and free his erection.
His whispered ‘I’m sorry’came a moment before she was lifted off the ground and he was impaling her, sheathing himself to the hilt inside of her. He had lost all control of his lust, his body pounding into hers, slamming her back against the door as he entered her again and again. His powerlessness over his hunger for her fueled her own desire as she rapidly climbed the peak to her own orgasm. She moved against him, aching for release. Finally, his mouth tore from hers.
“Now, baby.”And that was all it took to send her catapulting over the edge, taking Darcy with her. Her hips flexed against him as her vaginal walls contracted over and over, pulling his orgasm from him as he coated her core with his release.
