Lady Beauchamp's Proposal (22 page)

* * * *

Rothsburgh lay face down beside Beth,
gasping and sweating, and so damned replete, so beyond satisfied,
he could barely think. In his long history of carnal indulgence,
he’d had all types of amazing sex. But this, what he had just
shared with Beth, had transcended every single one of his past
experiences.

And the reason for that decided difference,
he definitely didn’t want to think about.

He turned his head to the side to steal a
glance at her, this woman that affected him like no other. She was
lying on her back, her blonde hair spreading in tousled abandon
over her naked breasts and his arm that still lay possessively
across her slender torso.

His
.

Beth was his at last. Perhaps that was the
reason—simple as it was—that he felt the way he did. He’d wanted
this woman for weeks, and now that she’d agreed to be with him and
he’d sampled her abundant delights, he felt like the richest,
indeed the most blessed man alive.

Too spent to do anything else for the
moment, he let his eyes drink in the sight of her. And he thought
he’d never seen her look as beautiful as she did right now. His
gaze wandered across her perfect face—her eyes were still closed
and her cheeks were flushed—down to her luscious breasts, their
rosy peaks rising and falling with her breathing, just beckoning
him to take them into his mouth again. Despite his bone deep
satiation, he felt his cock begin to stiffen at the thought.

He knew it wouldn’t be long before he had
her again.

He had no doubt she had reached her peak
more than once, and the base male in him was gratified no end that
he had satisfied her so well. Indeed, he’d never known another
lover to be so aroused and responsive. He was in awe of the fact
that when he’d touched her sex for the very first time, she had
come almost immediately. And then when he’d been inside her, he had
felt her clench so tightly, so forcefully about him, he’d nearly
lost control and expelled his seed into her.

Rothsburgh smiled to himself, thinking of
all the other ways he would make her climax, again and again before
the night was over.

He pushed himself up onto one elbow, and
reached out to caress her face. The back of his fingers touched her
flawless skin and then he froze. There were tears on her cheek.

Horror gripped his heart.
Oh no, no,
no
.
Have I done something wrong?

“What is it, Beth?” His voice sounded
strained with a panic he couldn’t hide. He couldn’t bear it if she
hadn’t enjoyed the experience; that she would not want to do this
again. “Please, tell me I didn’t hurt you.”

He heard her sigh before she turned her head
slightly and looked at him, her grey eyes shining like liquid pools
of grey moonlight. “No. It’s not that at all.” She smiled then—a
small, sad, almost broken smile that tore at his heart. “I…I have a
confession to make…” Her voice was barely above a whisper.

He searched her eyes briefly, trying to find
the answer in their solemn depths. What in God’s name could she
mean? Whatever it was, it was certainly bothering her. It occurred
to him that she was about to reveal something deeply personal about
herself, which meant perhaps she trusted him a little. And even
though anxiety gnawed at him, he also found the idea that she would
confide in him, more than a little bit pleasing.

She was watching him with the type of
expression that suggested she was summoning her courage to speak
again. Perhaps it would help if he could lighten the moment. He
forced himself to pull a crooked, nonchalant smile.

“Hmm, Mrs. Eliott, it would appear that you
have a deep, dark secret.” He leant over her and kissed her lightly
on the cheek, tasting her tears before he whispered against her
ear. “I’m not sure if a confession sounds ominous or
intriguing.”

She sucked in a sharp breath, and he drew
back just in time to catch a fleeting look of fear in her eyes
before her eyelids fluttered downward. “It’s about my
relationship…with my husband…”

The image of her in the grip of one of her
nightmares, calling out to someone to leave her alone, suddenly
sprang into his mind. Had her husband abused her? Was that what she
was about to tell him? His jaw clenched and his hands fisted. If
that was the case, he was sorry the bastard was dead because he’d
really love to kill him slowly with his bare hands.

He sought her eyes and steeled himself to
ask the question as gently as he could. He had to know. “Beth. Did
your husband hurt you? I know you’ve had bad dreams—when you were
unwell—and I’ve wondered…”

Her eyes widened a fraction and she shook
her head. “No…no it’s not that. He…he never physically abused me if
that’s what you mean. No…you’ve misunderstood me. I’ve been very
unclear. I’m sorry.” She closed her eyes for a moment, clearly
trying to reassemble her thoughts before she met his gaze again. A
shy smile touched her lips and she reached out a hand to cradle his
rigid jaw. “I just wanted to tell you that tonight was the first
time in my life that I’ve ever felt…that I’ve ever had…I mean, you
gave me the gift of my first ever truly satisfying sexual
experience…and I just wanted to tell you that, James. And to say
thank you.”

“
What?”
Holy hell. His jaw dropped.
It couldn’t be true.

She’d been married for how long? He realized
he really didn’t know even that basic fact. But regardless of
whether it had been a month or several years, how could her husband
not have been able to satisfy such an innately sensual, responsive
creature? It defied all logic. The man must have been a completely
useless dunderhead in bed.

He cleared his throat. “Apologies for my
bluntness, Beth, but just so I’m clear, you’re actually telling me
this is the first time you’ve ever come.”

“Yes,” she said simply, her mouth curving
into the same, small broken smile she had given him before. He
searched her face and he could see she was utterly sincere.

His poor beautiful Beth. No wonder she had
exploded under his touch.

“I…I’m truly astounded, Beth.” But that
wasn’t quite true. He was more than astounded. He was humbled. His
heart swelled with an unfamiliar feeling of tenderness. And for
once he welcomed the feeling.

He lowered his mouth to hers and kissed her
gently taking his time, savoring her sweetness.

His.
Yes, she was undeniably his
after a confession like that.

Forcing himself to break the kiss, he caught
her gaze again. He needed to say more. He wanted to let her know
how much her revelation meant to him. “You do me great honor, Beth
by telling me such a thing. That I am the man that has brought you
to climax for the very first time.”

She smiled, then rather surprisingly,
blushed. “Well, it was twice actually.”

He smiled back. “Even better.”

He felt his cock stiffen and he gently
pressed it against her hip. Her breathing quickened and he saw
something spark to life in her eyes.

He had an idea. Instead of kissing her mouth
again, he lowered his head and ran a trail of slow, teasing kisses
across her flat belly, down to the thatch of blonde curls
concealing her sex.

“James,” she gasped and he felt her hand
grip the back of his head. “You can’t…”

He raised his head and smiled his
deliberately rakish smile. “Why not?”

“Because…”

He stroked a finger along her cleft; it
already glistened with moisture. It appeared she wasn’t as
perturbed as she seemed. He caught her gaze and licked his finger,
pleased to see her blush again. “You tasted me. Now it’s my turn.”
He gently spread her legs and she didn’t resist.

“You are quite wicked, you know that, don’t
you?” she said, but to his relief, there was now laughter in her
voice.

“Entirely.” He grinned up at her from
between her silken thighs, his mouth mere inches from her quivering
center. “Now, my sweet angel, lie back and let me see if I can make
you come a third time.”

* * * *

Elizabeth
almost
lost count of how
many times she reached her peak as night turned into early morning.
As she lay thoroughly sated in the circle of Lord Rothsburgh’s
muscular arms, breathing in his now familiar masculine scent, she
marveled at the fact that her body was capable of feeling such
exquisite sensations over and over again.

All thanks to James—she was almost used to
calling him by his first name now. He was…a miracle. She couldn’t
think of any other way to describe him after what he’d done for
her.

Equally amazing to her was the fact that she
had been able to completely satisfy a man like him—the very epitome
of masculine virility—in return. Her lips curved into a soft smile
against the warm, smooth flesh of his bare chest as she recalled
how he’d seemed more than happy with her efforts at love-making
during the night. She hadn’t known that it was possible for a man
to be so aroused for so long. It seemed as if he couldn’t get
enough of her. He made her feel wanted. And powerful in a wholly
feminine way, like she was the most desirable woman in the
world.

Elizabeth felt like she had been made anew,
that she truly was a different creature; that she was indeed
deserving of the title
Lord Rothsburgh’s mistress
.

She’d managed to push away all of her
troubled thoughts for the last few hours as she’d given herself
over to the completely addictive pursuit of giving and receiving
physical pleasure. And given that she could barely keep her eyes
open, she was not likely to think about anything at all for a while
longer.

The fire in her room was now no more than a
pile of red glowing embers, and all but one of the candles had
burnt out. Despite the coldness of the predawn, she was warm and
content. She snuggled further into James’s embrace and let
delicious exhaustion begin to claim her.

“Beth.” James kissed her temple. “As much as
I’d love to stay with you all night, I really should go, my angel.
Before the staff are up and about.”

Her eyes flew open, all traces of sleepiness
gone. “Of course,” she said, starting to disentangle her legs from
his and push away from his side. It wouldn’t do for Lord Rothsburgh
to be seen exiting her chamber. As it was, there would undoubtedly
be raised eyebrows about the injudicious use of candles. James had
been able to save the sheets of her bed by catching his seed with
his shirt. Though she really didn’t want to think about what
Roberts would make of the garment’s state.

Rothsburgh caught sight of her naked breasts
as the gold damask counterpane fell away and he growled, pulling
her on top of him. “On second thought, I don’t think I can let you
go just yet—”

Panic fluttered in her belly. “James, you’re
right. You can’t stay.”

He chuckled softly and brushed a loose
strand of her hopelessly disheveled hair behind her ear. “I know, I
know, sweet Beth.” But he didn’t let her go. The amusement in his
gaze suddenly ebbed away to be replaced by some other emotion that
was more serious, and intense.
Intimate
. “I want you to know
that I don’t want to leave this bed. I do it only because I know
your reputation matters so much to you.”

“Thank you,” she whispered. “I don’t want
you to go either—”

He suddenly dragged her down for a ravenous,
open mouthed, soul-searing kiss. When he pulled away, his gaze
locked with hers—his eyes were a burning, ferocious black. “Then
let’s leave here, Beth. As soon as the tide is out, let me take you
away from here, to Edinburgh or Bath or London—wherever you want to
go, my love. Then we needn’t give a toss about what anyone else
thinks. I will buy you a house, jewels whatever your heart desires.
Let me worship you, Beth.”

Terror seized her. She couldn’t leave here.
Here was safe. Here she was hidden. Even though James was looking
at her with such expectation and wonder, she just couldn’t accede
to his request. The risk of discovery was too great. If anyone from
the
ton
caught a glimpse of her…Hugh would find out. And he
would come for her.

But James wanted to treat her like a queen,
a goddess…

No. No, matter how tempting his offer, she
couldn’t accept. Not when certain danger and ruin lay ahead.

Oh, but how hard it was to turn her back on
the gateway to Paradise.

“Beth?” James caressed her cheek with gentle
fingers.

She felt breathless, as if there was a great
weight upon her chest, but somehow she managed to drag in enough
air to speak. “I…I am honored, my lord…I mean, James. But living
like that…in such prominent splendor. That is not me…I don’t
think…I mean, I can’t do it…I’m sorry…I just can’t do it.”

James frowned. He raised a hand and cradled
her cheek. “Shhh, my sweet Beth. It’s all right. If you want to
stay here, we will…for now. And I promise we’ll be careful around
the castle staff.” He gave her a crooked smile. “I’m afraid you’ll
soon realize that I’m a very selfish man though. When I want
something, I set out to get it. And make no mistake, it won’t be
long before I’ll want you in my bed every night, all night. Hell,
to be perfectly honest I’m going to want you all day as well, bed
or no bed.” He ran his thumb over her bottom lip and his voice,
when he spoke again, was husky with need. “I just want you,
Beth.”

He kissed her again, but tenderly this time
and rolled her body beneath his. She felt his manhood harden
against her belly, but he didn’t press her for more. Even though
she was grateful to him for being so solicitous, part of her—the
wanton part—wanted him to stay.

“Goodnight, or should I say good morning, my
beautiful mistress,” he murmured against her cheek. He raised
himself and rolled away from her, and she immediately noticed the
absence of his warm lean body. It was as if a piece of herself had
suddenly been detached.