Season For Surrender (A Danby Family Novella Book 2) (7 page)

She stopped in front of him, fragrant
and flawless with her bright blue eyes and alabaster skin. She leaned close,
the neckline of her wedding dress offering a lust-sparking display of her ample
curves. He struggled against the desire to take her in his arms and vow to
protect her for the rest of his life. At this moment, a seduction seemed a
rather good thing.

She wet her lips before speaking. “Might
I have a word with you in private before we marry?”

She could have more than a word. Damn.
His control was more than slipping. He felt divided in half, the two parts of
himself battling against each other. The part of him that wanted to touch her
triumphed. He took her cold hand, and a startled hiss of breath escaped her. He
led her to the door at the side of the chapel where the reverend had come from.
After she went through the doorway, he turned to face Salisbury, his wife, Drew
and Charlotte. “If you’ll excuse us, we’ll be back in a moment.”

Everyone smiled and nodded. Tension
coiled through Nick, knotting his muscles in his neck. Lillian faced the
window, her face hidden from his view. With one glance at her round backside
and long, slender neck, desire gripped him. He wanted to press his lips to her
silky skin and hear her moan. Shoving his increasing lust aside, he said, “You
wished to speak with me?”

She swung towards him. The wariness he’d
recognized a moment ago in her gaze appeared to have increased. Her hand
fluttered at her neck and then rested open-palmed on the side of the slope. “Why
have you done all this?”

He considered for a moment how honest he
should be. The thought of lying to her was repugnant. She’d been lied to
enough, he was certain. “I wanted to make you happy.”

Her shoulders sagged. “We had a deal.
You agreed to a marriage of convenience. I cannot marry you if you want any
more than that.” Her gaze searched his. “If you want more from me, tell me now
or vow that you’ll stick to our bargain. If you can’t, I’ll walk away.”

“What about the theatre? You’d lose it.”

Her lips pressed into a thin, hard line.
“So be it.”

He had no right to want anything from
her or for himself. Whatever longings were trying to surface he would fight
them. She needed him, and he would not fail her. Besides, denying his own
desires for Lillian was small penance for what he’d done to Amelia. “I promise
you an utterly loveless marriage.”

Her mouth fell open, and then she
twitched as if she realized how she must look. She snapped her lips shut, her
oval face shimmering like a hard pearl. “Do you have the marriage contract?”

He reached into his coat and handed it
to her. As she read the document, her tense and drawn features relaxed. Some of
the knots of tension in his neck uncoiled. He stepped closer to her. “Are you
satisfied?”

“Perfectly. Let us marry.”

He followed her out the door, unsure
whether he’d just gained a victory or set himself up to fail them both.

Despite the stoked fire warming the
opulent pale blue bedroom appointed to her in Nick’s home, Lillian was
freezing. She should be at home yet Nick had insisted she stay the night with
him. How could she refuse? She had promised to acquiesce to conjugal rights,
and true to what she knew of men, Nick wanted his rights tonight.

Yet he didn’t seem like most men she’d
known nor did he act like them. She could not rid herself of the trembling that
had taken hold of her since the moment she stepped back into the chapel and
took a good look at what Nick had created for her. Her dream had been brought
to life perfectly by the handsome man who’d stood beside her and in a deep
voice, smooth as silk, taken her as his wife and had lied to God and all present,
to honor and protect her for the rest of his life. Men didn’t protect women and
they certainly didn’t honor them, did they? And they confused love for lust as
far as she could tell.

Lillian clenched her chattering teeth as
she sat on the edge of the elegant bed and removed her slippers from her aching
feet. She never should have worn shoes that were too small just because they
were the least frayed.

She pulled her right foot towards her
and winced as her bruised big toe hit her knee. Her cheeks burned with mortification.
She’d have to apologize to Nick again when she saw him for her two left feet
when he’d attempted to lead her in a waltz. Heaven above, the man was daft
orchestrating a wedding at night with a dinner all so he could ask her to dance
after dinner. Despite herself, a smile tugged at her lips.

Bless Nick. He’d tried to patiently
guide her, but her embarrassment of having never learned to dance had taken a beastly
hold and made her unable to follow his movements. She dearly wished she’d seen
that tray of champagne
before
she’d twirled into it. Whatever must he
think of her? No doubt Nick was second guessing their marriage now. That would
work in her favor if he was regretting things, yet she found the idea of
causing him humiliation made her heart ache.

The rapping on her bedroom door sent her
scrambling onto her feet. “Who is it?”

“Nick.” His tone was low and held the
same huskiness that he’d spoken his wedding vows with. Her heart sped in fear
and surprising anticipation. Part of her had been unsure if he’d require her
wifely submission tonight or if she’d so mortified him he’d not want to lay
eyes on her until tomorrow―or maybe never.

She ran a smoothing hand over her dress
and tried to calm the tumbling of her stomach with a steadying breath. “Come
in.” Her choked tone made her frown. For heaven’s sake! She had to get control.
He was merely a man, and a seemingly nice one at that. Whatever transpired tonight,
she would survive.

The door swung open with a gentle swish.
Nick strode in and stopped a few feet away. His bright green eyes darkened to
the color of winter moss as he assessed her, and a smile, as intimate as if
he’d caressed her, lifted the corners of his lips. As she took in his
appearance, her pulse spun out of control.

Gone were his black silk trousers, black
silk coat, fine cambric shirt and the elaborately tied neck cloth he’d worn for
their wedding. In his earlier attire, he’d looked handsome, like the picture of
a perfectly dressed gentleman who had every confidence in the world. Now,
though…

She blinked, conflicting emotions
pounding through her, and drank in the sensuality of the picture he presented. He
looked dangerous and wicked wearing a thin cotton shirt open at the neck to
expose the skin of his chest. She allowed her gaze to travel lower to his
trousers, which appeared to be made of a thin loose silk unlike anything she’d
ever seen. Still lower, his feet were bare.

Heaven help her. She swallowed. Desire
and fear made her knees tremble with weakness, but she locked them in place and
stood firm. She raised her gaze to find him watching her with hungry eyes that
obliterated the safe distance between them. Icy fear twisted around her heart. “Are
you here to take me?” Good Lord above. Had she really just asked that and in
such a quaking tone?

His scorching gaze turned hard and
filled with distaste. A muscle flicked angrily at his jaw, and she feared her question
had annoyed him terribly. Her body tensed as she prepared for the worst.
Without a word, he closed the distance between them and stood so close to her
she smelled the faint trace of soap that lingered on his skin and felt the heat
coming off his powerful body. “I’m here to teach you to dance. It’s why I asked
you to stay the night.”

She couldn’t stop the snort of laugher
that escaped her. “You can’t be serious! I’ve embarrassed myself and you quite
enough for one night.”

A flash of humor crossed his face, but
then an emotion she couldn’t quite place flickered in his eyes. He stepped near
her and ran one finger down the side of her arm to settle his hand on her waist
and draw her near. “You didn’t embarrass me. Nor will you ever. Never forget
that.” It sounded like a command and she found herself nodding. He squeezed her
waist before releasing her. For once she wished he’d lingered just a moment more.
His touch was so deliciously warm and oddly reassuring. “Dancing on your
wedding day was your dream and by God, I intend to make it happen.”

“Thank you.” Her words were breathless,
but she was just glad she’d gotten them out. Her senses reeled.

“Once you’ve been taught to dance you’ll
be exquisite. I’ve been watching you. You’re naturally graceful.” His voice had
dropped low and throbbed with emotion. “Come.” He didn’t grab her hand again
but simply motioned her to follow him. She walked silently behind him, studying
him. He strode down the corridor with a commanding air of self-confidence. And
no wonder! His powerful legs carried him down the hall in steps that required
her to triple her own to keep up. Yet she didn’t mind. She enjoyed being able
to scrutinize her new husband without his knowing it.

The muscular outline of his shoulders
strained against the fine white shirt he wore and made her pulse flutter. His
thick dark hair curled around his neck and invited her to plunge her fingers
into his silky tresses.

Goodness. She fanned herself as she
walked. She couldn’t believe she was having these thoughts. They descended the
stairs in silence, and as they continued through the portrait gallery she
became distracted looking at all the paintings, so that when Nick stopped she
was surprised. He turned to her and gestured towards an open door. “The
ballroom, if you please.”

She took his hand and allowed him to
lead her into the most breathtaking room she’d ever seen. Beautiful crystal
chandeliers glowed above, which allowed her to drink in the details. The floor
was a rich gleaming wood in a parquet design. Golden columns lined the archways
of the walls and reached towards the ceiling, where an amazing glass structure
kept the dark night at bay. She couldn’t wait to see this room in the morning
with the sun blazing through the cut glass. “My goodness, it’s beautiful.”

“Not near as lovely as you.” Nick’s breath
caressed her neck as he encircled her waist and her back met with the
unforgiving hard flesh of her husband’s solid body. He turned her to face him
with gentle care, yet as he did, every inch of her skin reacted to him. Heat
poured through her with exciting, frightening swiftness.

His sensual smile indicated he knew he
affected her. Blasted man. He pressed one hand against her back, grasped her right
hand and moved it to rest against his chest. His heart thumped underneath her
knuckles for the space of a breath before he raised their hands slightly into
the air. “Put your other hand on my upper arm.” The deep sensuality of his
voice sent a ripple of awareness through her.

Shaking, Lillian set her hand on the
curve of his arm. “Like this?”

“Perfect.” It was one simple word, but
it was the way he said it, as if she could do no wrong. The trembling of her
body eased as he spoke to her and told her when and where to step. At first, she
followed his lead awkwardly, but after a while, she forgot to concentrate and
let herself relax.

They didn’t speak. They didn’t need to.
The silence was comforting, as if they’d known each other for years. Once Nick
no longer had to instruct her, he started humming a tune, or at least she
thought he did. As dreamy as she felt, an entire orchestra could have marched
into the ballroom and she probably wouldn’t have noticed it.

Nick swirled her around the room, and
whether it was the way he led her, or how he’d taught her to move, or his
uncanny ability to make her feel at ease, she was having so much fun that when
he eventually brought them to a stop, she had to force herself not to beg him
to continue.

His gaze danced with amusement as he
glanced down at her. “I hope the frown on your face is because you didn’t wish to
stop.”

She blushed but grinned. “Nick, that’s
the most fun I’ve ever had.”

He offered her a sudden arresting smile.
“I’m pleased to hear it. All I wanted for this day was to bring you joy.”

In this moment, she wanted more. She
wanted him to kiss her. The thought shocked her. Would she tense up or melt in
his arms like she had moments ago? “Is that truly all you want?”

He touched her trembling lips, her
already erratic pulse jumping wildly with the contact. “I’d like to kiss you, but
I’m fighting very hard against my desire.”

They were both fighting themselves, it
seemed. Her whole body flooded with the longing to be kissed on her wedding day
by her husband, but she was too afraid to voice how she felt. Instead, she
licked her lips, her body swaying toward Nick’s. His hand tightened around hers
and he groaned. “Lillian, I’m struggling to resist you.”

Her heart roared in her ears. “Quit
struggling.”

“God, Lillian.” Nick slid his hands into
her hair, his fingertips curling around her head. A light pressure moved her
face closer to his until their lips were almost touching. His eyebrows rose in
question. “I have to know you trust me.”

Her pulse pounded like a drum. She
swallowed. “In this moment I do. I truly do.”

He brushed his knuckles down the side of
her cheek. “Then I’ll take this moment and cherish it.”

Before she could respond, his lips
pressed light as a feather against hers. Not threatening in any way but
inviting, enticing. He massaged them with his, until she moaned and leaned towards
him in hopes he would deepen the kiss. He responded with such blinding speed
and intensity that for one second she was startled, but not afraid. A strangled
groan came from him as he touched his tongue to her lips. She parted them
eagerly and nearly melted with need when he delved deep into her mouth and
slowly circled his tongue around. She touched and retreated while enjoying the
silky warmth of his mouth.

He moved one hand to her neck where his
fingers traced back and forth over the exposed skin of her chest. Unable to
help herself, she arched her back towards him, little whimpers of desire coming
from her. When his hand brushed over her breast, she tensed and he pulled back
ever so slowly to end the kiss.

“I’m sorry.” His words hummed with
restraint.

She laid her palm against his beard-roughened
cheek. “No, I’m sorry. I―” She looked past him towards the door and
searched for how to tell him what she was feeling. She wanted to be as honest
with him as he’d been with her tonight. “I enjoyed every moment of tonight.”

“Even the kiss?” Doubt filled his voice.

She glanced at him sharply and curled
her fingers around his strong jaw. Something inside her opened a little wider
at his display of vulnerability. The man was nothing like she’d ever expected.
He was so much more and better. “Especially the kiss. I’d like to try another
tomorrow if you don’t mind.” Egad, she felt foolish, slightly scared and happy.

His burning gaze held hers, and her
heart turned over in response. “I think I can arrange another kiss.” His voice
was like the most seductive caress that left her shivering. He inclined his
head towards the door. “I’ll see you to your bedroom. I instructed my servants
on penalty of losing their position not to step a foot out of the servant’s
quarters until the morning, but it’s nearing five and they will be stirring.”

“Five!” She gasped. She’d been so
preoccupied by dancing with him and kissing him, she’d not noticed the lack of
lurking servants or the sky lightening above them or her aching feet or heavy
eyes. Yet now, exhaustion claimed her. She smiled, then promptly yawned. By
tacit consent, they grasped hands and strolled slowly down the corridor and up
the stairs.