The Unlikely Lady (35 page)

He grinned and quirked a brow. “If it's not too much trouble.”

With shaking hands, she gathered her chemise in both fists near her knees and slowly pulled it up.

Garrett's eyes turned a mossy green.

She pulled the garment over her head and tossed it aside, shivering as the cool air found her naked flesh.

He moved up to sit beside her, his eyes focused on her breasts. “Jane, you are … magnificent.”

Magnificent? She closed her eyes and smiled to herself. That was a promising start.

He leaned over her and followed her down. His mouth finding hers, his sleek, warm tongue sliding against hers.

“Can I touch you, Garrett?”

“All you like,” he whispered into her hair.

She wrapped her arms around his neck first, sliding her fingers through the dark curls. Then she skimmed along the broad column of his neck and across his muscled shoulders. His skin was bundled silk beneath her fingertips. She trailed her hands down his chest and pride swelled in her heart as his muscles jumped in response to her touch. He closed his eyes and Jane stroked his rough cheek. She ran her thumb along the firm line of his jaw.

“Stopping there?” His voice sounded strained.

Jane kissed his chest. She reveled in the feel of his hot skin beneath her lips. He smelled like soap and masculinity. “You want me to go lower?” she asked, the hint of a smile in her voice.

“If you insist,” he replied in a mock-resigned voice.

With pleasure, Jane resumed her exploration. She pushed her hand along the hard outline of the six muscles that stood out along his abdomen. Then she let her hand trail lower, and lower still, until she wrapped her fist around him.

Garrett groaned.

Instinctively, she slid her hand up and down. He groaned again. His forehead bunched into a look resembling pain. He pulled her hand away. “You are too good at that,” he said in a shaky voice that made Jane's insides melt. “Let me touch you first.”

She trembled but lay back against the pillow and allowed him to scan her from top to toe.

“I was wrong,” he murmured, his tongue flicking against her nipple. Jane gasped. “You are beyond magnificent. You're perfect.”

His other hand didn't remain still. It cupped her opposite breast and played with the pink crest. Jane pushed her fingers through his hair, holding his mouth to her aching breast. She arched her back to allow him to draw the swollen bud deeper into his torturous mouth. She moaned.

His hand moved lower, skimming the outside of her waist, playing along the rise of her hips, and finally, sweeping between her thighs to find the place she desperately wanted him to.

He stroked between her cleft and parted the springy hairs there. He stroked again, once, twice, before settling in the exact perfect spot. The spot that made her entire body tremble.

He lowered himself between her legs. His head moving down until his mouth was at her navel. “Jane,” he whispered against the soft skin of her belly.

“Yes,” she managed, but she could hardly think with his finger doing magical things to her, let alone speak.

“You're really going to enjoy this next bit.”

She sucked in her breath. “I am?”

“Yes. A lot.”

“Show me,” she breathed.

He continued his slow movement down her body until his hot, wet mouth hovered above her most sensitive place. He drew his finger away. She cried out at the loss but the location of his mouth promised better things. Surely he didn't mean to—

“Are you about to…?” Jane couldn't bring herself to say the words.

“Yes.” The feel of his warm breath against her sensitive skin made her shudder. She was about to come off the bed. She hadn't ever read about
this.

“Do you mind?” he asked.

“Not at all,” she answered. Then she couldn't think because his mouth was on her, his tongue owning her. She grabbed the bedsheets with both fists and arched her back off the mattress. “Oh, God,” she murmured, her head tossing against the pillow. “Upton, I swear, if you stop now.”

His warm laugh touched her thigh. “I wouldn't do that to you, Jane.”

The use of her first name was her undoing. There was something so sweet, so lovely, so sincere about it. His tongue nudged once more in her center and she came apart, grabbing his head and crying a keening wail.

He pulled himself up and his mouth was on hers again, insatiable. “How did I know you'd be a screamer?” he said against her mouth between ravenous kisses.

“I can't believe what you just did … what you made me feel.”

“You haven't felt half of it yet.”

A shudder racked her body.

His mouth moved to her breast and he teased her, played with her, sucked her until her back arched off the bed again and she wrapped her fingers through his hair. “Upton.”

“Will you please call me Garrett when I'm making love to you?” His voice was piqued, but heavy with lust.

“Garrett,” she breathed.

He groaned and slid one finger into her hot wet warmth.

“Oh. God. Yes.” Another keening wail from her that he covered with his mouth.

His finger touched the most sensitive spot between her legs, rubbing her in tiny circles, and her hips matched his movements. “Garrett, I—”

“Don't talk. Just feel.”

“I'm feeling too much.” Her hips kept up their circular motion. She was a puppet on his string.

“That's not possible.”

She pressed her forehead to his, hard. “What are you doing?

“Stop talking.”

“Tell me.”

“I'm going to make you come again.”

Her eyes rolled back in her head. His finger was magical, perfect. He knew exactly where to touch, how long, and how much pressure to exert. Her hips bucked. She sobbed against his shoulder. She wanted to bite him. “Please,” she whimpered. “Please.”

“Please who?” he whispered fiercely into her ear. “Say my name.” He slid another finger into her and Jane came apart in a thousand pieces.

“Garrett,” she cried as she came. “Oh, Garrett.”

*   *   *

Garrett lay with her head against his shoulder for a few moments, allowing the self-satisfied smirk to remain on his face. He'd never been half the rake he'd been accused of, but tonight he was bloody proud of the experience he did have. Jane had come twice, and they hadn't even made love yet. Happy wedding night to her.

There was still much left to teach her. His cock ached. He wanted to bury himself in her, but he didn't want to frighten her.

Jane was beyond gorgeous. He'd nearly spilled his seed just watching her take off her chemise. Her skin was like porcelain, her breasts full and round and perfect. Her waist was small and her hips flared enticingly. And her backside. Oh, her backside. Poems should be written about Jane's backside.

“How about another lesson?” He drew his finger across her pebbled nipple.

She stretched her arms over her head and arched her back. “Yes, please.”

“Let's start by you kissing me, here.” He pointed to his shoulder.

Jane smiled a lazy, satisfied smile. “Yes.”

She moved to her knees and pushed him back against the pillows. Then she leaned over him, those full, gorgeous breasts making his mouth water. They pressed against his chest, making his skin tingle as she bent her head to kiss his shoulder.

His breathing hitched. “Now, here.” He pointed to his nipple.

Jane's dark eyes flared. She moved lower and her pink tongue darted to lick his nipple. She was learning fast.
Thank God for intelligent women
.

His voice wavered a bit this time. “Now, here.” He pointed to his abdomen.

Jane gave him the most sensual smile he'd ever seen, before lowering herself even farther, letting her tongue find its way to the spot he'd pointed out. She nipped at the tight skin there.

He clutched the bedsheets and swallowed hard. She might be learning a bit
too
fast.

“Now.” Damn. His voice shook like an untried lad. “Here.” He took his cock in his hand and stroked it once, twice.

The sound Jane made was a throaty moan. His hand moved away and her tongue dipped again. She closed her entire mouth around his tip.

“God,” he breathed. “That's so good.”

Her lips began a slow descent and he clutched both hands in the bedsheets. “So damn good,” he groaned, his forehead beading with sweat. Yes, she was a fast learner, his wife.
His wife.

Her mouth rose and fell, and rose and fell again, her hot, wet tongue rubbing against his scorching skin over and over until Garrett was mindless. His hips arched off the bed and he clenched his eyes shut.

“Grab my balls,” he demanded, and Jane complied, squeezing them in her torturous hand.

The ache between his legs was unholy. “Jesus, Jane, I—”

Her lips came off his cock with a sucking noise that was strangely erotic. “You what?”

Her scent was driving him mad. “I can't wait,” he breathed, pulling her roughly into his arms and rolling on top of her. He grabbed the back of her head by her hair and tugged, exposing her neck and nipping at it. “I have to have you
now.
”

He pushed his rough thigh between her soft legs and Jane spread open for him. “I'll do my best to make this as painless as—”

“Take me!”

He pushed into her warm wetness and took a deep breath. He wanted to control himself, but the overwhelming feeling of being inside her made him mad. He thrust again, rocking a bit farther this time. Then he kissed her mouth and slid in to the hilt.

Jane winced.

Not moving inside of her, he kissed the side of her eye, her ear, her cheek. “Are you all right?” he whispered.

“I will be. Show me the rest.”

That was all Garrett needed. He pulled out slowly and plunged in again. He repeated the action, watching her face for any sign of discomfort. Instead, a slow smile soon spread across her face.

He pressed his forehead hard against hers and stroked into her again and again. He clenched his jaw. He needed to make this good for her too.

His hand worked its way between her legs and found the little nub of pleasure there. Jane's eyes widened. He rubbed her up and down, over and over until she slid into another climax.

Her inner muscles clamped him and Garrett was lost. He pumped into her again one final time and wrapped his arms around her fiercely. He groaned her name while shudders racked his entire frame.

*   *   *

“That was … incredible,” Jane said moments later, tugging the sheets over her still-trembling body.

He pulled her into his arms, cradling her against his belly. “That's what you said the last time we were intimate.”

“I'm much more eloquent when you're not touching me.”

He traced his finger along her collarbone. “That's too bad, because I find that I cannot stop touching you.”

“You're v—very good, you know.” Jane did her best to concentrate, despite the fact that he was already making her hot and wet again.

“Are you saying you prefer a rake after all?”

“I suppose I do.”

“Then I hate to disappoint you, but I am not and never have been a rake.”

She leaned up on one elbow to look at him. Her dark hair fell over one shoulder. “What are you talking about? Lucy always said how popular you were with ladies and—”

“Popular as a friend, yes, and I do admit to a certain amount of experience, but hardly of the sort you convicted me of in your head.”

Jane fell back to the mattress and bounced slightly. “I suppose that's what I get for being such a know-it-all.”

He buried his nose in her hair and nipped her ear. “I never called you that.”

“No, but you were thinking it.”

He rested his chin atop her head. “You do tend to pontificate upon every subject. However, if you weren't such a know-it-all, Isabella may have thought she'd got away with her handwriting subterfuge.”

Jane smiled. “That's true.” She smoothed a hand over the pillow and sighed. “Being a know-it-all was how I dealt with being different when I was a child. I tried to impress people with my knowledge rather than my appearance.”

He lifted the sheet and stole a quick peek. “You're doing a fine job of impressing me with your appearance.”

She laughed and swatted at his hand. “Be serious, you rogue. No one ever … wanted me the way a man wants a woman.”

Garrett's face sobered and he pulled her back into his arms and kissed her forehead. “You are as lovely as you are intelligent. I love you for both.”

Her eyes filled with tears. “You love me?”

“Of course I do, my darling. I think I've loved you since you argued with me about
Much Ado About Nothing
. I'd never met a woman I couldn't charm before I met you.”

“And I never met a man who argued with me so vehemently. I cannot tell you the number of times I dreamed of tripping you.”

His crack of laughter bounced against the far wall. “Do I need to watch my step?”

“Never.” She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him soundly. “I love you, Garrett. I love you very much.”

“And I love you, my Jane.”

She pulled away and gave him a sidewise smile. “So, no knives or tying me up tonight?”

He cocked a brow. “Interested?”

She shrugged. “Perhaps.”

Garrett pulled her into his arms again. “Whatever you say, Lady Blue. Why don't we—” He whispered something positively indecent in her ear.

Jane shivered with delight. “Ooh, as you wish, Lord Green.”

 

CHAPTER FORTY-NINE

One month later

“You cannot possibly have an objection to the plot of
Much Ado About Nothing
any longer, Garrett,” Jane said as they sat in the gardens behind Julian's town house playing cards. Julian and Cass had recently returned from their honeymoon trip and Jane and Garrett had come to visit, along with Lucy and Derek.