Scarlet Kisses (23 page)

“Robert?” she whispered against his hair.

“Mmm,” he mumbled.

“Was that…did we just?” He chuckled and she gasped as she still felt him inside her.

“Yes,” he murmured. Then with a groan he lifted his head and look at her. “We just had sex.”

“Oh,” she whispered

“And that was great sex.” He moaned as he leant in and placed a soft kiss to her lips. “You’ve exhausted me.” He grinned.

Alyssum gasped as he slid from her body. She missed his heat instantly. As if knowing just how she felt, Robert lowered back over her body, pressing into her soft curves and placed his face between her breasts with a long sigh.

She smiled and began running her hands up and down his back, her fingers tracing the crisscrossed scars.

Robert turned his head to the side and listened to Alyssum’s pounding heartbeat. He lightly grazed his fingers over her nipple and smiled as her heart jumped. His eyes closed in pleasure as she ran her hands over his back. He had wanted her touch for years.

“When did you take your breeches off?” Alyssum asked.

He smiled and looked down at himself. He still wore his boots and breeches. They were just tugged over his hips.

“I got a little impatient,” he told her with a smile. He rose over her, his gaze on her flushed cheeks, swollen lips, her long hair flowing around her on the chaise. “Have I ever told you I think you’re beautiful?”

Alyssum smiled. “No.”

“Well, I do, very much.” He lowered himself and kissed her smiling lips. As he moved back, Alyssum caught his face between her hands and kept his mouth on hers. They kissed slowly then pulled back with smiles on their faces.

A loud rattling knock came at the door. Robert looked towards the noise with a frown as Alyssum gasped in fright.

“My butler won’t come in without permission,” he assured her. She nodded, but then they both jumped in surprise as the knock came again. This time Robert swore the person kicked the door.

“What?” he snapped.

“Harry!” Robert heard Jackson call out from on the other side of the door.

“Shit,” Robert exploded and dove off Alyssum. Alyssum gave a small cry as she jumped from the chaise and pulled her dress up over her breasts. She pulled the sleeves up and reached around the back to try and fasten it. She fumbled in her haste.

“I can’t button my dress,” she said frantically. “Did you break the buttons?”

“Maybe,” Robert muttered as he picked up his shirt and pulled it on. They darted their gazes to the door as they heard Harry’s mumbled voice on the other side, talking to Jackson.

The door then opened and in walked Harry.

Everyone froze, eyes wide, mouths parted. Jackson stood in the hall outside the room, gave a sympathetic look to Robert then ducked out of view.

Harry’s stunned eyes stared at Alyssum. He took in her scarlet gown, her disheveled, unbound hair, her flushed cheeks. He slowly turned a murderous gaze to Robert who stood only wearing his breeches, boots and his unfastened shirt. Sweat misted his skin and he was just as flushed as Alyssum. Harry must have noticed how they were both out of breath.

“Harry,” Robert spoke calmly. He put his hands out towards Harry, warding him off. “Remain calm and let me explain.”

“Is Alyssum Scarlet?” Harry said quietly.

Alyssum stood frozen, unable to move as she saw how furious Harry was.

“Yes,” Robert answered. “But please let me explain.”

“No,” Harry said in a deadly voice and stepped forward.

Robert turned and ran for the window with Harry chasing after him.

Robert yanked the window open and dove out, straight into the hedges surrounding the house. He rolled off the hedge and onto the drive, his boots kicking up dirt as he ran. He heard Alyssum’s shout then heard Harry chasing after him.

“Jackson!” Alyssum screamed as she ran out of the office, holding the bodice of her dress for the back wasn’t buttoned and it was falling down.

“I had nothing to do with Harry’s appearance,” Jackson defended himself quickly from where he stood in the foyer.

“Help me,” she ordered.

“I’m staying out of this one.”

Alyssum paused at the door to turn and give Jackson the same murderous look Harry had given Robert.

“All right.” Jackson sighed and moved forward.

They ran down the front steps and around to the side of the house.

They both paused as they saw Robert and Harry running around a small hedge. Harry changed directions and Robert skidded to a halt then ran the other way.

Alyssum ran forward with a chuckling Jackson behind her. Before Alyssum could stop them, Harry dove over the waist-high hedge and tackled Robert to the grass.

“Stop it,” Alyssum shouted as Harry punched Robert.

As they rolled on the grass Harry hit Robert again before Robert managed to shove Harry off him. But before Robert could make a run for it, Harry grasped his boot and tripped him.

“Harry, enough,” Alyssum shouted.

Robert hit the grass with a whoosh of breath and Harry scrambled over and threw another punch. This punch landed solidly between Robert’s legs.

Robert howled in pain and curled onto his side, cupping himself and cursing profoundly. Alyssum panted for breath as she reached them. Harry stood to his feet and ignored Alyssum as she smacked his arm.

Jackson reached them too and looked down at Robert. But when Alyssum moved forward for Robert, Harry grabbed her arm and held her back.

“Let go,” she ordered.

“You’re coming home with me,” he said angrily. “Now.”

“No.”

“Alyssum, now is not the time,” he growled furiously. “Now move it.” As he spoke, he took off his coat and drew it around Alyssum.

Alyssum slipped into it silently. She looked over to Jackson, who nodded and waved her away. Robert groaned and rolled to his knees.

“Haven’t had enough, huh?” Harry moved towards him and Alyssum jumped in front of him.

“Stop it,” she yelled.

“It’s all right, Alyssum,” Robert groaned.

“You don’t talk to her.” Harry pointed a warning finger at him while stepping before Alyssum again. “Ever. You don’t come near her, or my family. Understand?”

“No.” Robert refused to cower. He raised his chin, defying Harry while kneeling on the grass and cupping his injured manhood.

Harry pulled back his arm and punched Robert again. Alyssum squealed and covered her eyes as Robert hit the grass unconscious. Harry shook his pained hand then turned to Alyssum.

“Let’s go.” He grabbed her arm.

Alyssum pulled against his hold as she looked at Robert lying still on the grass. She went to argue but saw Jackson shaking his head at her with a stern expression. She sighed deeply then allowed Harry to pull her away.

“Upstairs. Now,” Harry ordered as he slammed the front door shut behind them.

“Stop ordering me around.” Alyssum pulled her arm free.

“Go change out of that dress.”

“No.”

“Now, Alyssum. Then I want to talk to you. You’ll meet me in my office…” He stopped, anger crossing his face as he obviously remembered walking in on Robert and his sister in an office. “Meet me in the front parlor.”

“You didn’t have to hurt him.”

“Alyssum, please. Go. Change.”

“Oh my,” her mother exclaimed as she walked into the foyer and ran her gaze over Alyssum, taking in her rumpled appearance, scarlet dress and Harry’s coat. “Oh my, my, my.” She shook her head.

Alyssum turned bright red and pulled Harry’s coat tighter around her. Violet stepped into the foyer beside their mother. Her eyes widened in shock as she looked at Alyssum. Alyssum then moved willingly up the stairs and to her bedroom to change.

Once inside her bedroom, she dropped Harry’s coat then her dress to the floor. She stepped over the material and walked to the wash area. She stood behind the screen and poured water into the light blue basin. She paused after wetting the washcloth to look down at the small splotch of blood on her inner thigh. She slowly wiped the blood away then cleaned between her legs. Her cheeks burned as she felt tender and sore, the evidence of her ruin and the most pleasurable experience of her life.

After washing, she took a purple day dress from her wardrobe and drew it on. Her hands began to shake as she buttoned the back. She had never seen Harry so mad. Before she left her room, she wondered if Robert was all right.

Jackson raised his palm then let it fly. It met Robert’s cheek with a resounding crack.

Robert woke with a startle. He looked around lost then blinked up at Jackson through his black eye.

“Morning, governor.” Jackson smiled.

Robert looked around him and found he was lying on the foyer floor. “Where is she?”

“Harry dragged her home.”

Robert sat up with a groan. His body ached.

“Harry throws a decent punch,” Jackson muttered as he inspected Robert’s bruised face.

“I know,” Robert growled and dragged himself to his feet.

Jackson steadied him with a hand to his shoulder. He let go when Robert nodded.

“How did you know she was here?” Robert asked.

“The whole house knew she was here. Or should I say heard?” Jackson grinned broadly.

“I have to go talk to Harry.” Robert sighed.

“You might want to dress first.”

Robert looked down to his dirt-and-grass-stained shirt. He grumbled, nodded and then walked upstairs on wobbly legs to change for round two with Harry.

“Robert and I are none of your concern,” Alyssum snapped as she stood before Harry in the front parlor.

“None of my concern?” Harry shouted and Alyssum glared. “It is my concern when my best friend deflowers my sister in his office.”

“It was my choice. I chose to be with him.”

Harry growled and spun on his heel. He took a deep breath before turning back to Alyssum.

“What was your first time like?” Alyssum asked him abruptly, catching him off-guard.

“What?” Harry sputtered.

“Who was she? Did you love her? You didn’t marry her, we all know that.”

“That’s different.”

“How?”

Harry sputtered for an answer. “It just is,” he finally said. “And what were you thinking, purchasing a dress like that? Where did you get it? Why? Ladies do not wear gowns like that,” Harry shouted.

“I’ll wear whatever I want,” Alyssum yelled back.

“Not while you’re in my house.”

Robert walked through the front door and entered the foyer. He paused as he saw Violet and Caroline with their ears pressed to the parlor door. Then he heard Harry and Alyssum shouting.

His riding boots clicked on the hard floor and caused Violet and Caroline to turn towards the noise. Violet stared at his bruised face while Caroline stepped away from the door and placed her hands on her hips. Robert took a deep breath and stepped up to her.

“Are you going to let me see her?” he asked.

“Are you going to marry her?”

Robert smiled. “If she’ll let me.”

Caroline gave a curt, satisfied nod then stepped aside. “You should treat those bruises,” she advised before he opened the parlor doors and stepped in.

Alyssum and Harry turned to see who had entered the room. Alyssum’s heart jumped at the sight of Robert and his bruises.

“Are you going to let me explain now?” Robert asked as he moved towards them.

“No,” Harry replied, then threw his fist.

Alyssum gasped in shock as Harry’s fist connected with Robert’s jaw. She stepped forward and shoved Harry hard. “Stop hitting him,” she screamed.

Robert touched his jaw then flexed it. “That was your last one,” he told Harry firmly.

Alyssum exhaled deeply as she found she was exhausted from yelling at Harry. The man was a stubborn as she.

Robert tugged on his coat, straightening it.

“Are you all right?” Alyssum turned and asked him gently.

“I’ve been worse off.” He grinned at her.

“You don’t speak to her,” Harry snapped and he nudged Alyssum away from Robert.

“I think I just did. Oh look, I’m going to do it again.” He turned his body to face her. “You left most of your clothes at my house.”

Alyssum eyes widened at his audacity then Robert disappeared from her sight as Harry tackled him to the ground. She threw her hands up in surrender and stepped around them as they scuffled and rolled over the carpet. She was making her way to the door when their voices stopped her.

“You ruined my sister!”

“I love your sister!”

Alyssum turned quickly and looked down to see Harry pinning Robert to the ground by his coats lapels.