The Geek Girl and the Scandalous Earl (19 page)

“Mike,” she panted, opening her hips wider. “Oh God, please.”

She was burning up. She was on fire. The slick motion of their bodies together, the sweat on both of them, the friction of his chest against her painfully hard nipples—all of it. She was going to explode, and there wasn’t a damn thing she could do to stop it.

Her hips strained against his, her body aching for that peak. He drove deeper into her, higher, their bodies crashing against each other wildly. He got even harder inside her, his shaft thickening, lengthening, filling her deeper and more thoroughly than she ever had been filled before.

Cries ripped from her throat as he pounded into her. She tried to muffle them by biting against his shoulder, but it was too much. He buried his face in her neck, reached beneath her to cup her ass, and thrust his hard length inside her to the hilt.

She exploded.

Bits of her consciousness flew everywhere as her body shuddered, nails digging into his back, pelvis thrusting up against him. She shook all over, her movements becoming uneven, uncontrolled as she crested the wave of pleasure Mike had given her. She throbbed all over, the beat concentrated in the juncture of her thighs, her body rippling around his erection. He held her for a moment when she collapsed. He was still achingly hard inside her.

Jamie let out a mewl of sadness as he pulled out of her. He rose to his knees, fisting his slick, wet erection as his dark eyes looked down on her.

“So beautiful,” he groaned. Three strokes, four, and his breath stilled as he spilled himself on her stomach.

She smiled a little as he collapsed on the bed beside her.

Even
in
bed, such a gentleman
. She laughed to herself before snuggling against his shoulder and falling asleep.

***

Micah stared at the ceiling. A sleeping Jamie was tucked beneath his arm, her head pillowed on his chest. Tangles of blond-streaked hair covered his shoulder. Satiety, content, and sheer panic warred in his brain.

He’d done it. He’d taken her to his bed. She’d been no virgin, of that he was sure, but it mattered not. He’d surrendered to his baser whims, and for that he must do the honorable thing.

She sighed and hitched a leg over his knees. He couldn’t stop the smile that climbed unbidden to his lips. Would it be a burden to take her to wife? He thought not.

Tenderly, he brushed a lock of hair back from her cheek. She was incredible. Clever, strong, tenderhearted, beautiful, bull-headed, and completely insufferable, but so wonderful that she made his teeth ache. He’d never felt this way about a woman before.

Careful not to wake her, he extracted his arm from beneath her head. She rolled onto her back with a soft mewl and fell silent. Her lovely breasts rose and fell evenly with her sleeping breaths.

Micah stood at the foot of the bed and looked down on her. Even now, he grew hard again thinking of her soft curves pressed against him. He shook his head and slipped into his dressing gown. She would need time. He dipped a cloth in the basin of water and gently sat beside her. He’d wash his seed from her and cover her to keep her warm. He’d take care of her now, and she’d want for nothing for the rest of her life. The thought was oddly pleasing to him.

Despite the care he’d taken to warm the cloth, her eyes fluttered open when he gently wiped her belly.

“I am sorry,” he whispered. “I did not mean to wake you.” When her skin was pink and clean, he rose and put the cloth back beside the basin.

“It’s okay,” she said, yawning. He smiled at the sight of her crawling, nude, up to the head of his bed to snuggle against his pillows. She breathed in deeply and relaxed with a happy sigh.

Unable to resist the lure of her soft flesh, he sat on the edge of the bed and caressed her hip gently, lovingly. “Are you awake, dearling? I must speak with you.”

“Seriously? You give me the best, most incredible, most mind-blowingest sex of my life and you want to have a long, in-depth discussion afterward?” She peeked at him with one eye over the pillow.

He crooked a brow and curled his lip at her. “Mind-blowingest?”

“It’s an expression.” She buried her face in his pillow. “C’mon, Mikey, let’s talk tomorrow.”

Using both hands, he rubbed her derriere gently, massaging the rounded muscles. His blood heated at the feel of her soft skin. Her sigh was muffled by the goose-down pillow. “Okay, you win.” She rolled over and looked up at him, the cross resignation on her face looking patently adorable. Sitting up, she scooted closer to him, letting her fingers play on the vee of skin that was exposed by his dressing gown. “What’s on your mind?”

He took a deep breath, suddenly unsure of himself. “We must discuss our future.”

“Future?” Her voice was wary.

Micah nodded, stilling her shaking hand by taking it in his own. “You must not worry that I will insult you by casting you aside. I will do the honorable thing.”

She shook her head, forehead furrowed. “What do you mean, honorable?”

“As I have lain with you, the only proper thing to do is to wed…”

“Wait, wait, wait,” Jamie said, pulling her hand from his. “You would marry me just because it’s proper? That’s what I’ve been trying to prevent you from doing all along, you stubborn, overly noble man!” She shoved off the bed, pacing alongside it, seemingly completely unaware of her nudity. The curls of her hair swished across her bare back, and her nipples were peaked in the chill of the room.

Mike sat on the edge of the bed, perplexed. This was not going at all as he’d imagined. “What do you mean, trying to prevent?”

She turned to him, hands propped on her bare hips. “You were going to propose to Miss Lyons. Today, in fact. You didn’t love her, you were just going to do it because of society, because of your position, and numerous other reasons that don’t matter at all.” She ticked off the points on her fingers. “She wouldn’t make you happy. She is all wrong for you. I had to show you that. And now that you’ve realized you and I have something amazing, something way deeper than society, position, wealth, and all that crap, the reason you’re going to propose to me is to protect my nonexistent reputation?” She shook her head vehemently, eyes snapping in anger. “No. Not happening.”

She walked past him, not paying the slightest bit of attention to his gaping mouth or shocked expression. Scooping up her nightgown, she swam through the layers, attempting to pull it over her head.

“Jamie.” He stood when he finally found his voice. If not for the gravity of the situation, he’d have been amused that she was being drowned in her own night rail. He helped her pull the uncooperative garment on. “Please, wait for a moment.”

“Why? So you can convince me that my fragile reputation is critically wounded by our having had sex? Not buying it. Sorry.” She pulled free of his grasp, heading over to the puddle of her robe in front of the fireplace.

“No,” he said, raking a hand through his hair. “So I can tell you that I love you, damn it!”

She stopped, half stooped, frozen. Had he really said that aloud? He must have because she was standing slowly, her eyes wide as she looked at him. “You…love me?”

Did he? He’d told Louisa that he loved her, and he’d not felt a quarter of what he now felt for Jamie. If this was not love, then what was? Did a stronger feeling exist than what he now held for her? It couldn’t. Not on this earth.

He nodded, sure that his internal consternation was bleeding out all over his features. “Yes, I do. Despite everything. I have tried to deny it, to ignore it, but I am helpless against it. I love you, Jamie Marten. I love your beautiful body, your brilliant mind, and even your foul mouth. It makes no sense. I have tried long and hard to convince myself of the contrary, but I cannot. I would have you as my countess. Will you wed me?”

Oh, shit.

Had Mike really said that he loved her? What did she do now?

First things first.

She threw her arms around him, holding him close. Emotions swamped her—happiness, terror, excitement, fear. “Oh, Mike, I love you too.”

He kissed her again, their lips tangling passionately. She let his tongue possess her mouth, opening for him when he probed at her lips. She held his shoulders as he loved her, lips and hands roving where they would. She tried to shut down her buzzing brain, but it kept shouting things like
home, Leah, cars, showers, computers, sundresses
, over and over again.

Shut
up!
she screamed at herself when Mike’s hands wandered to her breasts again.

That did it. Pleasure overrode the worries, and a rush of heat flooded her limbs.

Her nightgown pulled off much easier than it had gone on—probably because she let Mike do it.

After several minutes of moaning, touching, and kissing, they collapsed on the bed. Mike pulled her body over his. Something inside her had unlocked his confession. She wanted him even more than she had earlier that night. He loved her. She loved him. And she wanted to give him every little piece of her to prove that.

“I want to enter you this way,” he groaned, palming her breasts. “I want to watch you.”

“You’re the earl,” she said with a deliciously wicked smile. She rubbed her wet heat against his shaft, reveling in the growly moans that ripped from his chest. She was so wet, so ready for him, that she decided not to delay either of them pleasure any longer.

She rose up slightly, reaching between their bodies to palm his hardness. A gasp wrenched from him at the touch of her hand on his length.

“Like that?” she asked, rubbing the slick head against her.

“Oh, yes,” he hissed, hips twisting beneath her.

“Want more?” She gripped him harder, rubbing the tip against the tingling nub of flesh at the apex of her thighs.

“Yes.” He grabbed her hips, positioning the opening of her body against his erection.

“Okay,” she said, impaling herself on his length.

Both of them gasped then, the intense feeling of the depth surprising them both. He was even deeper inside her now than he’d been before.

Bracing her hands on his chest, her hair fell forward as she began a slow, steady rhythm atop him. He was so hot, so hard inside her. She swiveled her hips a little, heightening the sensations.

“Yes.” Mike’s stare was intense as he looked into her eyes. “Don’t stop.”

Jamie sat up, cupping her breasts as she quickened the pace of her movements. Watching his face for clues, she pinched and rolled her nipples.
He
seems
to
like
that
, she mused as his hips bucked hard beneath her, wrenching a moan from her lips.
Honestly, I like that too.

Faster she rode him, harder, her breasts bouncing when she released them to grip the strong thighs at her back. He reached upward to grip them, squeezing so softly, then harder when she cried out for more.

“Ah, Mike,” she cried, the rhythm driving her hard. “Touch me, please.”

She didn’t have to explain further, bless his heart. He let his hand rub from her breast down to the wet nub that screamed out for him.

His thumb caressed it, soft at first, then harder as she panted out, “More!”

The pleasure racked higher within her, her belly burning with lustful heat. He filled her so deep. He was so thick, so hard, and hot with lust for her. She clamped her hips harder around him, pumping fast, straining for that peak.

“I’m going to come,” she cried when the pleasure reached its zenith. “Oh God, Mike!”

Jamie couldn’t stop the scream that wrenched from her when he pressed hard against her clit. That was it for her. She crested the wave of pleasure, her movements frantic against him, body shuddering inside and out.
What
have
you
done
to
me, my lord?

She collapsed on his chest, her breathing ragged.

“Jamie,” Mike rasped against her ear, hips still pumping slowly against her, “I cannot wait much longer.”

He was right. He was growing harder within her, body rigid as he tried to control his thrusts. She tried to lift her head, but pleasure had wrung every last ounce of strength from her body.

“Don’t wait,” she whispered against his neck.

“Are you sure?” His voice was almost frantic as he struggled with his desire.

“Yes.” She pressed a kiss to his shoulder.

His hands grasped her hips, fingers digging into the soft flesh there. She held onto his shoulders, her body still thrumming with the last vestiges of her orgasm.

Three thrusts, four, and his own orgasm overcame him. She nearly came again at the erotic feeling. His movements slowed, his legs stretching out beneath her as he finished.

“I love you, Jamie,” he whispered, pressing gentle kisses on her mouth.

“I love you too, Mike.” She smiled, happier than she’d ever been before.

He rolled them to their sides, still cradling her close. She snuggled against his strong chest as he pulled the covers over them, happy to be there with the man she loved.

***

Jamie woke hours later when the fireplace was nothing but embers and weak rays of dawn were reaching through the windows. Mike’s arms were still wrapped around her, and her inner legs were sticky from their lovemaking.

Her brain finally opened the channel of communication she’d shut down last night.

Oh
yes, Jamie. Glad you finally joined us. The rest of your brain was just thinking WHAT THE FUCK HAVE YOU DONE? You’ve had unprotected sex with a guy that LIVES TWO HUNDRED YEARS IN THE PAST! For this particular gem in your otherwise stellar record, you receive an impossible decision, a broken heart, and a pregnancy scare. Excellent work, moron!

Oh shit. Her brain was right. That had been an incredibly huge mistake.

Mike blew out a sigh behind her, his breath tickling the curls at her cheek.

Wrapped there in his arms, she couldn’t regret it. She wouldn’t. She’d never felt as connected to anyone as she had to Mike last night, and as she moved closer to him, she tried to cover her worries with that feeling.

So, what are you going to do? Give up your house, your shower, your friends, your entire life to be a countess in a society that will probably shun you?

For
Mike
, she thought as she turned over to stare into his now-open eyes,
I
think
I
might.

He smiled at her sleepily. “Good morning, dearling.”

“Morning.” She snuggled into his chest, loving the way his arms pulled her closer. “I like it when you call me dearling.”

He laughed softly. “I hope to call you that for quite a while.”

She gave a tight-lipped smile. “Me too.”

He squeezed her for a moment, then released her when she pulled away to sit up. She shoved a long hank of hair back over her shoulder.

“You did not answer me last night.” He propped up on one elbow, looking at her.

“Answer what?” She turned to him, picking at tangles in her hair.

“When I asked you to wed me. You did not give me an answer.”

“Oh.” Jamie looked at him. Decision time. She had to say something; the worried set to his forehead told her that much. If she stayed, then both society and Collette Dubois would be out to get her in a very real way. If she left, then paralyzing heartbreak was almost certain. A flash of thought cut through her confusion.

“Okay. Why don’t we say this: Yes. Conditionally.”

He pursed his lips, eyebrows lowered. “Meaning?”

“One, I need to see if I can fit in here. I mean, besides you and me. If I’m going to be living here for the rest of my life, I need to see if I can find things to make me happy other than you. If you are the only thing that makes me happy here, then that’s putting unfair pressure on you, and I don’t want to do that.” She held up a second finger.

“Two, I don’t want to run to a Vegas-style wedding chapel to do this. I want to be engaged for a while, to make sure we can live together happily. I’m pretty sure divorce in this time is way harder than it is in 2012, and I don’t want either of us to have to go through that because we rushed things.” She reached out and took both his hands in hers, reassured at the way his touch grounded her.

“Three, I love you, Micah Alexander Axelby. It has nothing to do with the fact that you’re an earl or that you’ve got buckets of money or anything like that. I love you, the man. I want the same from you—respect, mutual admiration, and partnership. That’s what marriage means to me, and if you’re in it for any other reasons, it’s a no. Think you can agree to all that?”

His expression had changed from consternation, to distaste, to calm in the space of one minute. After a long while, he nodded.

“I agree to your terms, Miss Marten.”

She smiled. “Good.” She brushed a quick kiss across his lips. “Now, I’d better get back to my room before the whole house knows I didn’t sleep there last night. See you at breakfast?”

He nodded, pulling her close for another kiss, this one lingering, soft, and sensual.

“Mmm,” she said as she pulled back. “We’d better stop that, or I won’t make it back to my room.”

He winked at her as she hopped from the bed to put her clothes back on. “I intend to spend much more time doing that in the near future.”

She knotted the robe at her waist. “Be my guest, your lordship.” She bobbed him a mock curtsy and left the room, almost skipping with the lightness of her gleeful heart.

Her levity ground to a quick halt when she got to her bedroom and saw Muriel and Mrs. K conferring in whispers at the foot of her still-neatly-made bed. Jamie stopped dead when they locked eyes with her.

Oh, crap.

“Morning, ladies!” Jamie chirped, doing her best to appear bright-eyed, bushy-tailed, and completely chaste. “Thought I would get up early today. How are you guys?”

Muriel hid a giggle behind her thin hands. Mrs. Knightsbridge raised her brows. “If you were sleeping here last night, then why did Muriel fetch me when you were not in your bed at two of the clock when Baron roused her to allow him entrance to your room? And why did we hear, ahem, some telling sounds from his lordship’s bedchamber?”

Jamie’s ears, cheeks, and neck burned bright red. She’d been discovered.

“Well, it’s your fault.” Jamie pointed at Mrs. K. “You’re the one that talked Thornton into lying for you about that damn pink punch. You intentionally got me drunk!”

Muriel squeaked, looking rapidly from the housekeeper to Jamie and back again.

“I did nothing of the sort.” Mrs. Knightsbridge fidgeted with her apron as she replied, avoiding Jamie’s accusing stare by looking at the floor.

“You did too. You’re lying, and not very well at that.”

“Well, I did tell you I would do whatever I deemed necessary.”

Check and mate. “Fine.” Jamie stalked into the room, pushing the door shut behind her. “You won. Congrats. Can I have a bath now?”

Mrs. K smiled victoriously. “I think, under the circumstances, that can be arranged. Muriel, please go inform the footmen. I will assist Miss Marten.”

Muriel’s face fell as she realized she wasn’t going to be in on the hot new gossip. She bobbed a disappointed curtsy and left the room. Jamie guessed this was the most excitement the poor girl ever really got. A real live scandal in her own house? How much more thrilling could it get for a teenaged maid? Jamie made up her mind to make it up to Muriel later.

“Now,” Mrs. Knightsbridge said, smiling a knowing smile, “I trust you were successful in your efforts?”

Jamie shook her head vehemently. “I wasn’t successful because I didn’t set out to
do
anything. I had a few too many, and Mike escorted me up here, and after I changed, well, stuff happened.” It was honestly worse than having to confess to her sixth grade teacher that she’d started her period for the first time. The awkward knot of embarrassment swelled in her throat.

Mrs. K’s smile turned into a full-out grin.

“There. See? Are you not glad that I did not open the portal and send you back yesterday?”