Betrayal (22 page)

A knock on the door broke the spell and saved her from herself.

His bright eyes dimmed, and he stepped out as an entourage of footmen and maids arrived with a tub, water, and bathing necessities.

After the bath, she took her dinner in her room. It was weak and childish, but facing her fellow hunters was unbearable. She was the property of the master and could do nothing about it. The less she knew about upcoming Company plans and strategies the better for them all.

Bone weary, she stared at the high ceiling, got up, and looked out into the garden. Jamie left through the garden gate. Perhaps she should follow. A good demon fight without Reece might be just what she needed. Was it his strength or her own that kept her from running into the gate? If he didn’t stand beside her, holding her in the world, she would know the truth.

He could have died by the tritor’s hand while she wasted time longing for the demon she despised. A war brewed inside her and it raged beyond her power. But some things she could control. In only her shift, she padded down the hall and eased open the door to Reece’s bedroom.

He sat up, dagger in hand, hair wild around his face with the moon gleaming in his eyes. “Lizzy? Are you all right?”

She closed and bolted the door before taking the dagger from his hand and placing it on the bed-stand. “I love you, Reece. I have loved you since you lay dying in Scotland, and my love has grown with every passing day.”

His smile alone could have lit the room. He tugged her into his arms. “Thank you.”

“I’m sorry I was silent earlier. I still do not see how we can be together, but should anything happen to me…”

“Shhh. Do not talk like that. Nothing is going to happen and we will be together. You make trouble where there is none. We have plenty of problems and none of them include societal restraints. You worry over my parents, when they are not relevant. Say you will marry me, Lizzy.”

His cheek chafed rough against her palm, and the three-quarter moon illuminated the room. He was like a Greek god sitting naked on his bed. His scarred body was almost returned to its former glory. He’d saved himself using his own strength, and she took some pride in that. “If we survive and can find a way to break my bond to the master, I will marry you.”

He whooped and pulled her into the bed, tucked her against him, then laid one leg over both of hers. “I am going to make you very happy, my love. I will make it my life’s mission. Nothing will hurt us. You will see.”

“I hope you are right.” Her heart pounded.

“Of course I am.”

She kissed his chin and along his jaw and welcomed the marks his beard would leave. It would remind her where she belonged when the madness of the master gnawed at her to follow.

His hand slid along her back to her buttocks and drew her tight against his shaft. “You are mine. No one man or demon will change that.”

She kissed him, plunging her tongue in his mouth and taking in the words she wanted to be true. Pressing her hips and demanding more, she reached down and tore the shift over her head, then tossed it to the floor.

“So beautiful.” He gripped her thigh before moving to where she needed him most. Small circles around her most sensitive spot drove her wild with the pleasure. He dipped his finger inside her wet core, and she bucked against him.

Reaching for him, she threw her head back and dug her nails into the flesh of his arm. His mouth drowned out the cries trying to escape. This was what she wanted, needed. Ecstasy came in waves like the ocean, slow and rolling before the crash.

His mouth trailed down her chin to her neck before continuing a path downward.

Each touch of those full lips sent a shiver through her and settled between her legs. Already she longed for more, wanted him buried deep inside her. Shameless and desperate, she grabbed at his shoulders to bring him back up.

Kissing the swell of her breast, he drove her desire higher. He sucked her nipple, and madness raced up her legs, throbbing at the juncture and driving her to wantonness. But she did not crave the lust of all young men, only this one. She wanted Reece Foxjohn with a terrifying ferocity stronger than anything else, stronger than her desire to join the master.

She stilled.

“What’s wrong?” His breath puffed out short and erratic but a wicked smile spread across his face.

“Nothing. Everything is perfect, but I need you inside me, Reece. I need you now.” She reached between them, gripped his cock, and massaged the taught flesh.

Eyes closed, he moaned her name.

Nothing had ever sounded so wonderful, nothing else ever could. She guided him home and the lunacy ignited. Every thrust seemed deeper than the last and brought her more joy. Her legs gripped his hips and clutched and released with the cadence he set.

She trembled with the oncoming rapture as it spread through her and became her. Bliss tightened to a point and exploded. Her core tightened around him, bringing him with her over the edge.

Their cries mingled, muffled only by a kiss.

“I love you.” Those words muted as well.

He leaned on his elbows. “Then do not let the master rule our lives. Marry me now. I will get a special license, and we can be married this week.”

Brushing his wild locks from his sweat-dampened cheek revealed his tight jaw.

She hated the demon that made her doubt herself. “What will you do if your wife runs into the arms of a demon? It would be better to wait, Reece.”

He rolled to the side and pulled her to lie on top of him. “I do not believe you will leave me. I know you, Lizzy. Maybe better than you know yourself.”

“Then why the rush? If you truly believe I will choose you over the master, why must we marry immediately?”

“So you will believe it too. Marriage is a holy bond. Our union will live inside you no matter what comes.”

“Are you marrying me to protect me, Reece?”

“I’m marrying you because I love you. If in addition the covenant protects you, I see no shame in that.”

How had he managed to manipulate the situation so thoroughly? She shook her head and laughed. “Get the license.”

She had agreed to marry him. Not only that, she had said she would allow a special license. Reece gushed with elation, and he struggled to form a coherent thought. The woman lying beside him would be his wife. His wife. He treasured the sound of it rolling around in his head.

The dim light of dawn filtered through the window. He kissed her shoulder.

She murmured incoherent words and snuggled closer.

“My dearest, we have a busy day, and you should go back to your own room before the house awakens.”

The most satisfied grin spread across her face. “Are you worried about my reputation?”

“It would be unseemly for you to be found in my bed.”

Her sigh lifted her breasts in the most delicious way. “I suppose that is true.”

“If you do not go soon, I will be forced to ravage you again.”

“Mmm. Tempting.”

He grabbed her waist, tickling her into a fit of laughter. Imagining listening to that musical sound for the rest of his life, warmth spread down to his soul.

She sprinted, naked from the bed. “I hope this will not be the way you always wake me.”

With her hands on her hips and those pert nipples pointing at him, she reminded him of a wood nymph from mythology, magnificent, fierce, and brimming with amusement. “I will think of a thousand different ways to rouse you from our bed.”

She grabbed her nightgown and pulled it over her head. “I will look forward to how clever you can be.”

He wrapped his arms around her. “No regrets then?”

“No regrets.” She cupped his cheek and lifted on tiptoe to kiss him.

Every inch of her seduced and delighted him even when she wasn’t trying. He wrapped his arms around her and plunged his tongue into her willing mouth.

She made love to his mouth.

His hands slid down, gripped her backside, and pulled her tight against his hard shaft.

She jumped up and wrapped her legs around his hips. Did she know what she did to him? She clung to his neck, devoured his lips, all while her slick folds teased him.

He wrapped one hand around her bottom and the other around her back. The wall stood only a few steps away, and he pressed her against it. “I warned you.”

Bright-eyed, she grinned at him. “You most certainly did.” She wiggled her hips until he hovered at her center.

He had to close his eyes to steady his desire.

She loosened her grip and eased down, engulfing the head of his cock.

“Dear god, Lizzy.” He pressed deep inside her.

A low moan puffed from her lips. “More.”

Reece held back the madness that assaulted him when she was in his arms, but she pushed and pulled against him, demanding more. He kissed her throat and pressed deeper, kissed her chin and pulled back. He slammed forward.

“Yes.” She clawed his shoulders.

He smothered her cries with kisses and pumped harder and faster until his orgasm tightened.

Her canal pulsed around him, and he spilled his seed deep inside her.

With his forehead pressed to hers, he stilled until his breathing steadied. “You are amazing.”

“That was exciting, Reece. Are there other ways of doing this?”

He kissed her nose and eased away from the wall. “Yes, my love, many other ways.”

She tightened her grip around his hips. “Mmm. I cannot wait to try them all.”

“You have to go back to your own room before we are discovered.” Even though his words were stern, his own body would not comply. He grew hard again.

She smiled. “You say one thing, but at least part of you has no care about being discovered.”

He lifted her away from him and tossed her on the bed.

Her pretty bottom bounced on the mattress, and she filled the room with laughter.

“You are trying to lead me astray.” He covered her sweet curves with his bulk.

“I have no idea what you mean. You are the great Reece Foxjohn. However could I lead you anywhere?” She widened those big brown eyes.

He never stood a chance against her. He pressed her to the bed and trailed kisses down her chest, licked and sucked her nipples until she panted and squirmed.

She bit her lip and gripped the sheets.

He knelt on the floor next to the bed and tugged her to the edge. Her thighs hung over his shoulders, and he buried his face into her sweet folds. He sucked her most sensitive bud until she thrashed wildly. Tiny sounds puffed from her lips as she bucked against him. Never stopping in his ultimate goal of bringing her to a glorious climax, he thrust his fingers inside her and circled her bud with his tongue.

Elizabeth let out a squeal as he pushed her over the edge. Clutching at his finger, she quivered with the orgasm. She pulled away from his mouth and rolled to her side while the shuddering passed.

Sitting on the edge of the bed, he pulled her onto his lap and cradled her through the orgasm. He kissed her forehead, eyes and cheek telling her how wonderful she was. “You make me very happy, Lizzy. I intend to watch you come every day for the rest of our lives.”

“What a lovely reason to live a long life.”

Dawn had given way to full daylight. “The house will be awake by now.”

She sighed, got off his lap, and pulled her nightgown over her head. “I will go and dress.”

He wrapped his robe around himself and pulled her into a hug. At the door, he took her hand before checking the hallway. “I think you are safe to return to your room.”

She kissed him and ran down the hall.

* * * *

Before breakfast, the butler informed Reece a footman and two maids from his father’s home had arrived.

Reece met them in the parlor.

One woman wept and the other stared at the rug. The footman shuffled from foot to foot.

“Can I assume my father dismissed all three of you?”

The footman said, “Yes, sir. He gave no reason and refused to give any of us references. Maggie has been with your family for almost ten years. I can understand why he would refuse Gretta or me, but Maggie.”

Maggie was the older of the two maids. She worked hard and had indeed served his family a long time. Gretta trained and had great potential for an excellent maid, and Bert, the footman, had never given him a moment’s trouble. He was efficient and could double as a valet when needed.

“No fault lies with any of you. I have made arrangements for you to stay here until I find a new house here in London. However, if you would like a letter of reference, I will write you one. I know it will not have the same impact as one in my father’s hand, but it is all I can offer.”

Maggie met his gaze. “Do you want us to go, sir?”

“No, Maggie, but I will understand if you prefer to get as far away from the Foxjohn name as you can.”

She stood taller. “If you don’t mind, sir, I will wait for you to find a home. I can help the staff here until then.”

“Thank you.”

Bert and Gretta also agreed to stay on until a new house could be obtained.

Lizzy rushed into the parlor. “What on earth is going on?”

“My father has begun to release the staff.”

“Already! Oh no. Maggie, are you all right?”

“I’m fine, miss.”

“Gretta, Bert?”

Bert answered, “It’s been a trying morning, but we’re all fine, miss.”

Of course, she knew all their names. It shouldn’t have surprised him. “The three of you should get settled in. I will keep you informed about my house-hunting progress, and you’re pay will continue. Do not worry about a thing.”

They thanked him and left the room.

“Why would your father toss them so soon after taking over the house?”

“Because he intends to close the house, and he does not give a fig for anyone beneath his station.”

“I do not know what to say. I owe you an apology.”

“Oh? What for?” He ran his finger along the soft skin of her jaw.

“I thought you were exaggerating about your father.”

“I wish I had been.”

“I know he’s your father, but he’s horrible.”

“I agree, but he is no longer relevant to us. I will find us all a new home within the week, and as he releases the staff, they will come to us. All will be well in a month or so.” Reece took her elbow and led her toward the door.