Angel in Scarlet: A Bound and Determined Novel (25 page)

He held himself a moment longer, and then, with a violent shudder and a loud cry, he came, pounding harder and faster, until with one long thrust he collapsed upon her.

She lay still, her body miles away, drifting on a sea of spent pleasure, warm, content, boneless.

His weight grew heavy, but she did not mind; to speak, to move, would have taken more effort than she was capable of. And so she closed her eyes and let her mind go, following her body into that endless sea.

“We should move,” Colton said, when at last he felt capable.

She grunted beneath him, cute and breathless, tickling the hairs upon his chest. Rolling to the side, he cradled her and pulled her with him, never wanting to let her go.

“What did you say?”

“I don’t want to.”

He did not want to either. “But we must. I don’t think we want to be found like this.”

“You said we had hours.”

“Better safe than sorry.”

This time she snorted. “I thought we were done with being safe.”

“There is taking a risk and there is simply being foolish.”

She lifted her head, her blond curls, long escaped from their braid, falling all about him. “Now you tell me.”

“Are you sorry?” He asked, his eyes scanning her face.

“Never.”

“Are you sure?”

She wrinkled her nose. “Are you trying to make me doubt?”

“Never,” it was his turn to respond.

With slow effort, she pushed herself up and reclined on her elbow. “What comes next?”

“Next we wash with the water in the pitcher and then head off to meet at the folly. I will happily play your lady’s maid before we go.”

She sighed. “I had heard that men were very bad at the sweet words a woman wants at such a moment. I think every female conversation I’ve ever heard on the subject has remarked on just that.”

What had he missed? What more did he need to do to make this better for her? “Did you want me to spend time telling you how wonderful you were, how beautiful you are?”

“It certainly would not be a bad idea.” She sat up fully in the bed, glancing about to see if there was anything she could cover herself with. It felt strange to sit naked after all was done, but the coverlet was still smooth and impossible to move beneath their double weight.

“I could write odes to both your breasts and ass—but, alas, I am not a poet. I think it would sound more like a drink song than a poem.” He said it as a joke but hoped she could hear the serious undertone.

Men truly did understand nothing. She needed to be reassured. Why could he not see that? She might be joking, but some acknowledgment that what had just happened between them was important—not to mention the best he’d ever experienced—would have been helpful.

She grabbed her chemise and corset and pulled them on. Her corset wasn’t quite as tight as her maid would have made it, but it would do. She followed with her gown, turning her back so that he could work on her laces.

She paused for a moment as she felt his hands upon her back. She had wanted this to be easy, had hoped that once they made love everything would be resolved. Was she being too emotional and demanding? Being unreasonable?

She had certainly seen that he cared—and perhaps more. But, still, she wanted…She didn’t know what she wanted, but she wanted something. It was hard to feel this vulnerable, this unsure.

Colton knotted the laces behind her and then, placing a hand on each shoulder, he turned her.

“Angela, I am sorry for whatever it is that I did or didn’t do, did or didn’t say. I never expected to find what we have just experienced, and it has left me without the proper words.” He pulled her forward, pressing her against his naked body, letting her feel every inch through the thin fabric of shift and dress. “I do want to marry you. I do want to spend my life with you. It is not simply circumstance but fate that has brought us together, and I am not a man who normally believes in fate. I asked you to marry me because I truly wanted to, because I sense that I need you to be happy.”

Now, that was much better, closer to what she wanted, what she needed. She tilted her head up, staring at the underside of his chin. “I know I am not being fair to you. I don’t know what I want, so how can I expect you to know. I thought that all I wanted was for you to ask me to marry you, but when you did, it was not enough. Then I thought that I simply wanted us to both want to be married. And when that became true, still I wanted more.”

He looked down at her, bent, and placed a kiss upon the end of her nose. “I do think we will get to what I expect you want, but for now we must be content with what we have—and with the dream of more. Why don’t you rinse your face and then I will do my best to play lady’s maid with your hair. Afterward I will meet you at the folly and we can walk hand in hand up to Lady Perse’s and announce our engagement. Does that suit you?”

And, strangely enough, she found that it did.

That had gone much better than she’d expected. Angela sat before the low-burning fire in her room and waited for Bliss to appear. Her friend had not said she was coming, but Angela knew she would be here. The announcement of her marriage had taken all by surprise, and there was not the slightest chance that Bliss would not be by to talk.

There was the lightest scratch on the door, and then Bliss slid in without waiting for an answer. “And how did you manage that? You’re not with child, are you? That would explain everything, but…”

“No, I am not with child.” Or if she was, it was too early to tell—much, much too early.

“Then why are you marrying him?” Bliss fell into the chair across from her, all grace forgotten.

“You know I wanted to marry him.”

“Well, I am not sure that I did know that. I know that you wanted to earlier, but I thought that now all you wanted was to make him want to marry you.” Bliss stared across at her, her eyes burrowing.

“I did—but perhaps not really. I mean, I always wanted him to want me, to want to marry me, but I think perhaps I never really meant to say no.”

Bliss straightened in her chair. “And this is really what you want to do?”

“You are full of questions.”

“Then answer them.”

“I do want to marry him. Truly, I do. I just wish there was more time to be sure.”

“Then take more time, delay the marriage. I know he spoke of a wedding before Christmas, but you could say you wish to be married in the spring.”

“It is too late for that.”

Bliss’s glance sharpened. “I thought you said you were not with child.”

“Well, I don’t know that I am.”

“Oh. But still you could wait and see.”

“But if I am not, I imagine I would be soon. I cannot imagine stopping what we have begun.”

Bliss blushed slightly. “Oh dear, I do understand that. No, I don’t think Duldon would have been content to go back once we…”

“Exactly. And there are other complicating factors that I do not wish to discuss.”

Colton stared across the room at Thorton, determined in what he must do. He nodded to the terrace door, now firmly closed against cold and wind.

Thorton shook his head. “It’s miserable out there. The wind’s been rising all day. Why do we not retire to the billiards room?”

“No, outside.”

Thorton looked as if he was about to protest, but something in Colton’s gaze must have stopped him. “Let me fetch my hat.”

“No, now.” Colton strode to the door and shoved it open, letting it rattle behind him. He did not look to see if Thorton would follow.

He stood for a moment, staring across the dark lawns down toward the lake, which twinkled under the stars. Was he really prepared to risk everything? He finally had what he wanted and imagined that he was close to giving Angela what she needed. This morning had confirmed his feelings, and he knew the words were there inside him, waiting, but this must be managed first.

He heard the crunch of Thorton’s boots behind him.

He turned. “Do you prefer swords or pistols?”

“What?”

“Do you prefer swords or pistols?”

“Have you been drinking?” He could hear the disbelief in Thorton’s tone.

“No.” He spoke as coldly as he could, although his blood still boiled with anger at what Thorton had tried to do. “When we spoke before, I had no true standing. Now Miss Ripon is my betrothed, and I will not have her name or her reputation slandered. Swords or pistols?”

“There is no need for that. Whatever threats I made are unnecessary now. Everything is as it should be; you are both following the rules. Miss Thorton will not be working to entrap another man, pretending to be what she is not.”

He curled his hands into fists. He would pound Thorton to the ground, if that would not cause further talk. “I do not think you understand me. I no longer care what you think is necessary. None of my actions have been based on what you want. Everything I have done is because it is what I want.”

Thorton looked at him with some disbelief. “If you had truly wanted to marry the girl, you would have done it earlier. Once you’ve had her on her knees, why—”

“I would suggest you stop speaking right there or we will have to wait for months before you can stand well enough to meet me at dawn.”

“Dueling is illegal, against the rules.”

“Do I look like a man who cares for rules? Or do you take back everything you have said about Miss Ripon?”

“I haven’t said anything to anybody. And what does it matter if you’re going to marry the chit?”

“It would matter to her.”

“There is no reason to for me to say anything now.”

“But do you take it back? Admit that you spoke without cause?”

Colton could see the war on Thorton’s face. He did not want to take back what he had seen, but neither was he a man who wanted a dawn meeting.

“What exactly is it that you want me to say?” Thorton asked.

Colton considered. He sensed that the man might not be willing to push a falsehood from his lips, and in truth that was not what Colton wanted. “I want you to say that Miss Ripon is a woman of fine character and any man would be proud to wed her.”

“I can’t…” Lord Thorton grew silent as he met Colton’s stare.

“I believe you will find that you can.”

Thorton remained silent, but his eyes were filled with consideration.

“Speak.”

“I do not believe you would indulge in a duel,” Thorton said at last. “That would cause speculation as surely as anything I might say.”

“I find I do not really care. Miss Ripon will be my wife regardless, and speculation will fade with time. Do not test me.”

Thorton took a step away. “Very well. Miss Ripon is a woman of fine character, and any man would be proud to wed her. As in the end you both did observe the rules, I suppose I can accept that.”

“What is it about rules that has you obsessed?” Colton asked the question that had been in his mind since the beginning. “I could have understood if you were pursuing Miss Ripon yourself and were disappointed, but I have no comprehension of why you care so much about things that do not concern you.”

Thorton’s face became absolutely still, a strange light in his eyes. “My wife and my mother both died because they did not follow the rules.” He stalked off into the dark garden.

Colton paused, ready to follow, to demand more answers. He had no idea how Thorton’s mother had died. Lady Perse might know, or he could ask his own mother. But Thorton’s wife had died in a riding accident. How could that have anything to do with rules?

Did he really want to know? No, at least not right now. All he wanted right now was to return to Angela.

Giving one last look into the dark of the garden, he turned and headed back to the house, back to his angel.

Angela lay in her bed, staring up at the canopy. She was happy but strangely unsatisfied—and that wasn’t even thinking about her body, which hummed with longing for Colton and his touch. It seemed that she began to long for him within minutes of his leaving. If only he’d given her some clue as to when they’d be together again. He’d said house parties were conducive to secret rendezvous, but she didn’t see how they could be together before late tomorrow afternoon. Ever since they’d announced their engagement, someone was always stopping her to say congratulations. Even when she’d tried to slip off to spend a moment alone, her mother had followed.

And Bliss wanted to walk early in the morning. She claimed that if she rose early enough, her stomach didn’t have time to give her trouble, and how could Angela say no to such a request? Then there would be lunch and a shooting competition and…

She sat up in bed as her door creaked open.

What?

Colton.

There was no mistaking that long, lean silhouette.

“How—” she began.

But held up a finger to his lips, silencing her.

He walked toward the bed, his eyes roaming over her in the moonlight.

She expected him to join her, but instead he gestured for her to rise. Slipping from the bed, she stood before him. He smiled slightly, then waved her to the window, where the light shone brightest.

Ahh, that she understood. She positioned herself with care so that the light shone through the thin linen of her shift. Raising her hands, she pressed them against the cold glass, high above her head. Without waiting for his command, she let her feet slide wide.

For a moment she just stood there, staring out into the darkness. Despite the wind, it was a beautiful night, clear and cold, the stars sparkling like a sea of diamonds.

He moved closer. She could sense him before she felt the heat of his body against hers. His lips brushed the side of her neck, gently, softly, the barest touch of flesh on flesh. His hips moved forward until she could feel him pressed long and hard between her buttocks.

A soft moan escaped.

“Didn’t you say your mother was next door, my sweet angel?” He whispered so quietly it was hard to be sure he had actually spoken.

She nodded.

“Then perhaps we will have to find something to fill your sweet lips to keep them quiet.”

With a smile she turned, letting her face come to rest against his chest. She placed a soft kiss just above his heart, wishing it were possible to say the words she had come to know deep in her soul. Another kiss. And then another, each one slightly lower.

Her mouth watered with what she knew was coming. She tilted her chin, looking up at him, slicking her lips with moisture.

“You are an eager little angel, aren’t you?” he said again in that magical low tone. “Do you think you deserve your reward?”

One of his hands came forward, catching her between her legs, pressing the fine linen against her, his fingers sure and steady.

She had to bite down hard to keep another moan from escaping. The linen felt rough against her delicate skin, despite its fineness. His foot pressed against one of hers, pushing it wider. His fingers worked the fabric against her, the abrasion sending a thousand needles of delight through her. His other hand was at her back then, gathering up the shift until it was well above her waist.

His fingers cupped her behind, massaging and separating her cheeks. She leaned her face tight against him, burying it in his chest, as she could not hold back her very audible groan of pleasure and need.

He stopped moving instantly, his hands stilling. He pushed her from him slightly. “Now, that was very naughty, my angel. I think you may have earned a punishment—at the very least you must now finish your task before you get your reward.” He placed a hand upon her shoulder and gently pushed her down.

As she slid down to her knees, Angela wanted to tell him that this was no task; it was as much a reward as anything else. She blew softly against his flap, seeing him jerk and grow.

Looking up for permission, she reached for the buttons and released him, so thick and heavy. With one finger she traced the vein that ran along the underside of his cock, before reaching with her tongue to taste the single drop of fluid that clung to the end.

Her lips parted and she slid her mouth forward, taking him inch by inch, reaching forward until breathing was almost impossible. She pulled back and then slid forward again. This time when she pulled back, she looked up, seeing the strain and effort on his face. His lips were tight and pressed together.

He was having as much trouble suppressing a moan as she had. She sucked her lips tighter, drawing him as deep as she could, feeling the pressure on the back of her throat. Her tongue flicked along the underside, each movement causing his whole body to jerk.

There was such power in this—and such pleasure.