‘She looked as charming as I’ve ever seen her. Poor Piers! He only remembered at the last moment to give my hand to the clergyman.’
‘Did he?’ he said, raising his brows a little. ‘I confess I did not register his omission because I was too busy staring at my bride.’ He grinned. ‘What a pair of moonlings we must have looked! But Henry fared no better: even he was lost for words at the lovely picture you presented.’
‘Oh yes, the squire,’ she said, taking a sip of wine. ‘I’m pleased he could attend, although I was not sorry Mrs Nash and Caroline were unable to leave Bath at short notice.’
Gil chuckled. ‘Henry tells me Caroline is exceedingly busy there and has secured the attentions of a gentleman, who, much to Henry’s chagrin, is quite as high in the instep as his daughter. I understand he is only the
second
son of the Marquis of Fairfax, which will be a slight blow to Caroline’s plans,’ he said sardonically. ‘Nevertheless, Lord Storey is an excellent catch. Moreover, his conceit and the consequence he feels he is owed because of his family name and wealth are apparently insufferable.’
‘Oh dear, he sounds odious,’ said Alyssa, amused.
‘Perhaps notice of their betrothal will have been posted when we return,’ he said, regarding her from under half-closed lids, a lazy smile curving his mouth. ‘We shall be out of the county for some weeks.’
‘Oh?’ she queried, with a look of surprise. ‘Where are we going?’
‘Once our affairs are in order here, I intend to take you on a short tour of the Continent.’ Lifting her hand to kiss the soft skin on the inside of her wrist, he asked, ‘Should you like to see Rome, Vienna, and Paris?’
‘I would love it above all things!’ she exclaimed.
‘Then we shall go, but
en route
, we will travel to London; as you know, we have something we must do before journeying to Europe.’
‘Of course! We have to see Mr Bartley. It is only three weeks until the end of the period I was required to live at Hawkscote.’
‘Just so, my love; I received a similar letter from him, if you recall,’ he said serenely but with a faint tremor at the corner of his mouth.
The ready laughter sprang to her eyes. ‘Gil, have you sent Mr Bartley word of our marriage yet? I confess I have had no time to do so.’
He shook his head and acknowledged with another chuckle, ‘No. I considered advising him, but thought it is news best kept until we meet him in person. Mr Forde agreed to keep our secret a little longer and assured me there is no issue in relation to the terms: officially, you are still resident at Hawkscote even though our time is currently divided between there and Eastcombe. Naturally, now we are married,’ he added, grinning at her, ‘we are dining together
more
than once a week.’
Alyssa smiled. His dry humour was one of the many things she adored and for some moments, she studied the face she loved. His features were capable of appearing hard, almost ruthless, at times, but they were also mobile and
expressive
, with laughter lines that creased the skin around his eyes when those
bluegrey
irises glowed with warmth. She held her breath at the love and desire she saw there now, and whispered, ‘I will never willingly move far from your side.’
Gil’s gaze held hers for a long moment, and then drifted slowly to her lips; soft and pink, they quivered invitingly under his scrutiny. The pale skin of her throat swept down to the enticing curves just visible above the bodice of her gown, the silk fabric clinging provocatively to her figure. Sliding one hand to her waist, he moved the other to brush against her breast; she sighed and shuddered, and he felt the crest immediately peak and harden against his palm. Gil swallowed. Dear God, she was bewitching and already he wanted her with an all-consuming aching desperation.
‘Alyssa, take your hair down for me,’ he said, drawing in a steadying breath.
She reached up to pull out the pins until it lay about her shoulders.
‘Beautiful,’ he breathed, and ran his fingers through its silken chestnut mass. ‘I have dreamed of doing this so many times.’
With her hair down and curling around her face, she looked wildly sensual and yet her eyes held a note of artless candour alongside the desire lurking in their depths. Why had he never noticed how thick her eyelashes were, or realized that flecks of green nestled among the brilliant blue of her eyes?
‘Wait here,’ he muttered thickly, before he took both wine glasses and placed them on the table.
Alyssa, watching as he returned to sit beside her, saw that his tender smile did not disguise the longing in his eyes. She eagerly returned the light teasing kisses that followed but, pleasant as these were, she needed more and when at last he tightened his embrace and crushed his mouth fiercely against hers, she welcomed it and instantly reciprocated, surrendering to the desire sweeping her along.
She arched her neck as he kissed the sensitive skin beneath her ear, and began to nibble softly on her earlobe. Slowly, seductively, his mouth reached the exposed flesh of one shoulder and Alyssa gasped as he nuzzled along the lace edging her bodice, the faint stubble along his jaw gently brushing against her skin as he did so. She shuddered with delight when his hand cupped her breast, his thumb grazing back and forth over its crest until it peaked and strained against her gown. Her breathing quickened and with a soft moan, she uttered in a ragged voice, ‘That feels wonderful!’
‘Good,’ he said, with a tiny smile of satisfaction.
He kissed the base of her throat and along her collarbone, cupping her other breast as he did so, caressing the soft flesh with his fingertips until he bent his head and, with exquisite yet agonizing slowness, teased at its peak through the sheer fabric with his lips. Another moan of desire escaped her.
He murmured approvingly, ‘Your skin tastes of honey and roses, and I need to sample more of it.’ Pulling her closer and continuing the tantalizing, seductive exploration of her breasts, he unfastened three buttons of her gown and eased it off her shoulders to reveal the smooth skin beneath. ‘You are so beautiful,’ he breathed. Then, he kissed her again and, eyes burning with indigo fire, asked softly, ‘Will you come to the bed with me now, love?’
She nodded and unfastened his shirt with fingers that trembled slightly. The garment fell open and, finally, she could touch the warm skin beneath.
‘So many times I have dreamed of doing this,’ she echoed with a little sigh, as she let her fingers glide over his chest. Another searching kiss, full of sensual promise, followed and she arched closer, desire rippling through her as her breasts craved his touch without the distraction of barriers.
‘Slowly, my love,’ he said, smiling into her eyes, already dark with passion, ‘we have the whole night before us.’
A flush stole over her cheeks. ‘But Gil, I want….’ Her whispered request died away. It was impossible to articulate what she was feeling; her body ached for something intangible, an instinct her body understood perfectly even if her mind did not.
‘All in good time,’ he said gently. ‘I want to pleasure you first.’
She shivered again and then murmured, ‘How shall I bear more pleasure than this?’
‘This is only the beginning,’ he replied, trailing yet more kisses over her skin.
Entwined, they moved to the bed, and Gil dealt with the delicate pearl buttons of Alyssa’s silk chemise one by one. He let it slide to the floor before staring in frank admiration at her body.
‘Dear God, you are delectable,’ he said, in a husky voice. Her breasts, now fully revealed, were ripe and full with beckoning rosy tips, her skin luminescent in the fading light.
Alyssa looked away, suddenly self-conscious, but he placed a finger under her chin to draw her gaze back to his. ‘My love, you are perfect – from the top of your head to the tips of your toes. I could look on you forever and not be sated.’
Captivated, Alyssa watched as he removed his remaining clothing with lithe efficient movements. He too was beautiful: naked, his body was as lean and
well-defined
as a marble statue. Fine dark hair covered his chest and arrowed down his stomach but it was the expression in his eyes which quickened her heartbeat still faster.
He slid into the bed and gathered her close, and in the midst of so many new sensations, Alyssa discovered simply lying next to him – skin touching skin, the hard ridges of his body against her soft curves – was incredibly erotic.
Gil kissed her slowly while his hand caressed her body, skimming her leg from ankle to thigh, over the curve of her hip until he reached her breasts. He teased and honoured each in turn by cupping them gently and brushing their sensitized taut crests with his fingertips before lowering his head to lingeringly caress each pink tip with his mouth.
Alyssa gasped and murmured on a rapturous sigh, ‘Don’t stop….’
‘I won’t,’ he promised, huskily, ‘I want this to be as perfect as it can be.’
Her body shivered again with pleasure in response; she was lost to his
relentless
sensual exploration.
He ran his tongue tantalizingly along her lips, deepening his kiss before moving to capture the erect peaks of her breasts again as he made lazy circles on her stomach with his fingertips. Gradually, he drifted lower, and she drew in a breath and opened her eyes.
‘I love you,’ he whispered, against her lips. ‘Trust me, and relax.’
A smile curved her mouth and, as he continued to weave his beguiling aura, she surrendered to bliss on a long shuddering sigh, luxuriating in the feelings he was creating. Her hands strayed with increasing assuredness and Alyssa discovered by exploring his body she could give pleasure as well as receive it. Adrift in a sea of sensation, she barely recognized her own voice as it murmured rapturously on some distant shore.
‘Please,
Gil,’ she implored eventually.
Her murmurs of pleasure and the movement of her body against his made it increasingly difficult for Gil to control his own arousal. His breathing came fast and ragged but he fought to hold on a little longer.
Moving above her, he whispered, ‘Look at me.’
Her gaze found his. ‘I’ll try not to hurt you,’ he murmured. Her reply was a desperate whimper of longing and he entered her moist heat, every muscle and sinew straining as he fought against the desire to bury himself completely. He waited, allowing her body time to adjust and gritting his teeth against the exquisite feeling of it tightening around him.
Alyssa’s mouth sought his as she lifted her hips in eager welcome and her hands roamed over his shoulders urging him closer. Wave after wave of sensation began to radiate outwards from her core until she suddenly tensed.
‘Alyssa?’ His breathing was rasping and uneven as he searched the flushed face inches from his own.
Through a haze of passion, she whispered, ‘It’s all right … I….’ Another deep quiver ran through her body and she wrapped her arms around him tightly, saying, ‘Please, I need you so much.’
Gil whispered her name again, this time as a benediction, and immersed himself in her warmth with a guttural moan. It felt unbelievably, astonishingly good but not nearly enough to sate his desperate need – or hers: she clung to him, breathless with yearning. Love overwhelmed and consumed him. He wanted to pleasure her, possess her, and never let her go. With another fevered groan, his mouth captured hers as he moved in the age old rhythm, slowly at first and then with relentless urgent passion as her movements and gasps of pleasure matched his. Bound together, their desire soared to impossible heights and to that dizzying explosion of ecstasy. Her cry of joy was followed a second or two later by his, as he relinquished the last shreds of restraint to reach his own shuddering release.
The quiet that followed was broken only by their unsteady breathing.
Slowly, by degrees, Alyssa floated back to reality, still entwined with Gil, still with his warm weight above her. Lying in dreamy contentment, she realized this was how it felt to be truly loved. He had been the gentle and considerate lover she knew he would be, arousing feelings she was unaware she even possessed until tonight.
Stroking a strand of hair back from his forehead, she sighed with pleasure and said simply, ‘I love you.’
He moved his weight on to his elbows to gaze down at her. In the aftermath of their lovemaking, her pupils were dilated, the wild silken mane of her hair was spread over the pillow and a flush tinted her cheeks; she glowed with sensual satisfaction. Arms around her, he rolled on to his side, taking her with him. ‘You are breathtaking,’ he said, a look of wonder on his face. Then, kissing the tip of her nose, he whispered, ‘I hurt you, didn’t I?’
‘A little but I wanted you so much the pain was fleeting.’
‘Next time will be even better,’ he said, brushing his lips against hers.
‘Then I shall think I have died and gone to heaven,’ she murmured
incredulously
. ‘I can scarcely believe the pleasure we have just shared exists, let alone imagine it could be transcended.’ Alyssa felt him chuckle at her words.
‘So how do you feel now, my darling?’
‘Wonderful,’ she mused, smiling. Then, trailing one fingertip down his chest, she added softly, ‘And very glad you obtained that licence.’
‘An infinitely preferable arrangement to waiting three weeks until you could share my bed!’ he said, kissing her again with consummate thoroughness. ‘Your description reflects my own feelings; there is no happier man than I now we are truly man and wife.’
They lay in each other’s embrace and enjoyed long wordless minutes of communication as lassitude engulfed them. Through the window, Alyssa could see that the sun had almost disappeared below the horizon and above the
spectacular
red and gold streaked sunset sky a few stars were already visible. It was the perfect end to a perfect day.
Sated with love and contentment, she felt her eyelids growing heavy. ‘Gil?’
‘Hmm?’ he replied, his eyes closed and his voice already mellow with sleep.
Seeing he too was drifting off into slumber, she snuggled closer, saying, ‘Never mind.’
He tightened his hold, and asked, ‘What were you going to say?’
‘Oh,’ she muttered into his chest. ‘Well, I was going to ask – that is, I was just wondering when we can … when can you—’ She broke off, leaving the sentence unfinished.
He opened first one eye and then the other and, seeing her expression was one of blushing confusion, he grinned. ‘Love you again?’ he whispered.
‘Yes,’ came her husky reply.
His gaze ran over her possessively before lowering his head to bestow a passionate kiss. ‘I will be more than ready whenever you wish, my love.’
With a contented sigh, Alyssa tucked her head into the hollow of his shoulder and replied, ‘That is all I wanted to know.’
Two weeks later, Letty and Piers were scouring the hedgerows near Hawkscote. They had dismounted from their horses during their afternoon ride to search out early blackberries and cobnuts. This activity provoked a great deal of laughter from both, along with the occasional scold from Letty, who pointedly accused her grinning companion of eating more berries than he placed in her
handkerchief
which served as an improvised container.
‘Piers, you
are
eating them!’ she protested, laughing, ‘If you continue, we will only have a few to eat when we reach the top of the hill. Wretch! You will be well served if you suffer stomach pains.’
‘But I haven’t eaten any,’ he said, giving a guileless look as he placed his hand behind his back.
‘Truly?’ she asked, lifting one brow quizzically.
‘I would never lie to you, Letty.’
‘Then where have the berries you have just picked disappeared to?’
He grinned. ‘I assure you I haven’t eaten them.’
‘Oh? Then perhaps you are hiding some to eat later,’ she said, with a gurgle of mirth. ‘Let me see!’
Letty tried to peek behind his back where he now held both hands, rolled into loose fists.
‘For the price of a kiss, you may,’ he announced, moving out of reach.
She shook her head and cast him a prim look. ‘You must think me shockingly
volage
to agree to that! Will you show me, Piers? Please?’ she begged, with
laughing
eyes.
Unable to remain impervious to this plea, he declared, ‘Only if you take pity and grant me one small kiss – before I go out of my mind.’
She nibbled on one fingertip, giving the matter some thought. ‘Very well, but a kiss on the cheek will have to suffice.’
‘Is that all?’ he said, crestfallen.
‘No more until I see what you are hiding.’
He sighed, and said in an anguished tone, ‘You force a hard bargain.’
Piers kissed her cheek and opened his hand to reveal five large blackberries, announcing with a grin, ‘I was saving these as a surprise, my love.’ His face fell in ludicrous dismay when he realized two of the fruit were squashed and his hand was liberally smeared in blackberry juice. ‘Deuce take it, how did that happen?’ he exclaimed, staring at his palm in disbelief.
‘You held them too tightly, you goose!’ said Letty, laughing. ‘Never mind, it was a sweet thought. Here, put the remaining berries into my handkerchief and we’ll eat them together when we reach the top.’
He did so, joining in her laughter as he wiped away the sticky residue from his hand. They tethered their horses and climbed the remaining distance to stand in silence admiring the vista before them. The hill overlooked the slight valley where Hawkscote was situated and in the late afternoon September sun, the mullioned windows and fine architecture of the house displayed to advantage against the tapestry of the countryside.
‘Come and sit down,’ said Letty. Rearranging the skirt of her riding habit, she patted the grass invitingly, a flush rising to her cheeks as she smiled up at him.
Piers’s heart turned over at that dazzling smile. He needed no second invitation and, tossing his whip aside, sat down beside her.
They studied the landscape while they shared the blackberries and cobnuts.
‘A wonderful view,’ exclaimed Letty. ‘It was well worth the effort to get here. I’m sure I can just see Eastcombe in the distance. Do you see it?’
Piers, narrowing his eyes against the sun, looked in the direction she was pointing. ‘Yes.’ Then, he indicated another landmark and said, ‘That collection of buildings to the south must be Frampton Manor.’
‘Of course.’ She turned to study his profile, and enquired, ‘Did Squire Nash speak to you about what happened with Draper?’
‘Lord, yes!’ he admitted, ‘and I was mightily relieved when he had finished.’
‘Oh dear!’ An anxious furrow clouded her forehead as she covered his hand with her own. ‘Was he very angry and unpleasant?’
He glanced down at her. ‘No, quite the contrary – he gave me a glass of port and spent a full hour dispensing the most convivial tongue-lashing I’ve ever endured,’ he said, grinning ruefully as his fingers stole around hers. ‘Plenty of jovial tut-tutting, shaking his head, and saying “very foolish of you, m’boy” and “what were you thinking of?” and “don’t want to hear of you being involved in any tomfoolery like this again” until I felt five years old again, and utterly
chastened
.’
She began to laugh. ‘There’s a clever man lurking beneath that easygoing exterior.’
‘The squire is a good sort. I can see why Gil and Alyssa like him so much; he’s nowhere near as much starch as his daughter, or his wife.’
Letty agreed and they sat in companionable quiet until she ventured, ‘Dorset is beautiful. I shall be sad to leave.’
Piers’s expression changed instantly. A crease appeared between his brows and his eyes were troubled as they scanned her features. ‘So you still intend to go to London for the winter and stay until the end of the Season?’
‘Yes – I leave in two days.’
‘Two days,’ he uttered, faintly. ‘Must it be so soon?’
‘I’m afraid so. Alyssa and Gil travel to the Continent shortly and I could not stay here. It was good of Melly, my old governess, to keep me company at Hawkscote since Alyssa’s marriage – she is naturally spending a great deal of time at Eastcombe while she and Gil sort out their affairs – but I want to visit my aunt, and have at least one London Season.’