SoundsofLove (8 page)

She wanted his magic touch everywhere but today would have
to be brief. She reached for the front of his trousers, but he interceded with
one hand and slowly withdrew the object of her desires. “I should like to make
love to you for hours, but today we have limits.” She gasped at his girth and
weight as she took him in her hand.

“I don’t think I can—”

“Yes, you can. It will please you, Cat, I promise, or I’ll
stop…posthaste.”

She smiled at his humor, and he moved his hips as his staff
grew larger and harder in her hands.

Emboldened. Williamesque.

She shuddered as she felt the length and breadth of him. If
one of his fingers felt snug inside her, how could this massive silken rod not
tear her apart? She was panting with fervor when she remembered that Fanny had
done the deed with even larger men, and she’d been a young virgin. Of course,
that had been fiction, and from a man’s point of view.

Julian lifted her skirts with one hand as he edged her
backwards to the settee. She glanced at the clock. He absolutely could not stay
more than twenty minutes, and it had been ten already.

“Lie back and I’ll propose properly.”

She reluctantly released his engorged member and resumed her
position on the couch as he knelt before her, his face just showing above the
folds of her gown. He reached between her thighs and probed gently as he gave
her a lusty smile. “You’re full of sweet wetness already.” His intimate touch
sent shivers of delight coursing through her. He stroked her slick lips and
circled her pearl with his thumb, and she nearly screamed from the pleasure. He
pressed a finger deep inside her, and she savored the foreign fullness. “How
long has it been since you’ve been with a man?”

Taken aback by his question, she thought of Geoffrey. “Four
years.” When the words were out she remembered her shameful encounter two years
back with one of the physicians—a lustful man all too eager to comfort a
grieving, sedated wife. Only once and very brief. She’d nearly forgotten about
the unfortunate episode, and she was not about to mention it now.

Julian knelt between her legs and positioned himself at her
sex. She felt an exquisite pressure as he entered her, and then he paused and
asked in a strained voice, “Will you marry me, Cathryn?”

“Yes.” She shifted her hips to take more of him, as Fanny
instructed, and he groaned his satisfaction.

“Slowly, you’re very tight.” He pushed forward slightly and
the pressure within her was nearly intolerable. With a grunt, he backed away
and she felt a wave of pleasure as he toyed with her slick lips. He moistened
himself and the sensations were new and excruciatingly delightful.

“Yes, yes, yes,” she murmured as he continued his slow
movements. She felt her pleasure building and a loud moan escaped.

“Shhh.” He leaned over her and began to suckle on her nipple
as he continued his slow entry. “You’re so tight, love.” He withdrew and
entered a little deeper, and she moaned again at the exquisite sensations. “Shhh.”
He leaned over and covered her mouth with his, but his energy was focused on
gaining entry. With a short series of thrusts, each stretching her gloriously wider,
he sent jolts of pleasure throughout her body.

“I’m nearly there, love.” One firm thrust and he was
sheathed completely inside her, a delirious pleasure. “I’ll be true to you,
love.” His gazed raked over her breasts and he lifted her skirts to watch as he
withdrew slowly. “We are wellpaired, Cat.”

He began a driving tempo and the pressure built inside her.
A stroke of his finger across her pearl made her cry out at the explosion of
glorious sensation.

He absorbed the sound with a kiss. “I want to make you
scream, Cat, but this is not the place.”

She shakily nodded her agreement, and he spread her legs
wider and proceeded to thrill her with long thrusts of his most impressive
cock. Covering her mouth with her hands, she attempted to muffle the evidence of
her extreme delight.

Anyone listening at the door would know what they were
doing. Mating.

His breathing changed to a deep throaty groan as he began to
empty himself into her, and without warning, he backed away from her and
withdrew, spilling his seed into a waiting handkerchief.

The suddenness of his loss made her whimper, and the ache
inside resumed as soon as he moved away. She wanted more, but she was at a loss
for words.

“That was lovely, pet,” he said as he stared at her spread
thighs. “I should like to spend years exploring you from every angle.” She was
still panting from the exertion when he leaned over and kissed her. “Did that
please you, love?”

She whimpered a “yes” as he brushed across her nipples.

“You didn’t finish though, did you?”

She shook her head slightly, astonished at the question. Her
eyes met his and saw only sincere concern. Perhaps he thought she’d not enjoyed
the coupling, which she had in the extreme. Perhaps she should lie and tell him
she was completely satisfied.

Her hesitation betrayed her and he pressed on. “Would you
like your own satisfaction now?”

Not certain what he intended, she nodded slightly.

He settled beside her and drew her near, reigniting the
flames of her ardor with his masculine scent and strong arms. “I should have
done this before I took my pleasure, but I’m a beast sometimes.” He began to
stroke her expertly, and she nearly wept with joy when she realized his intent.
“Hide your face in my shirt if you need to make a sound.” She pressed herself
against him as he rubbed back and forth across her most sensitive place. “Relax,
love. Let the pleasure come.”

She took a deep breath and tried to relax, but it was
impossible. Only a few strokes and she felt the pressure burst from deep within
her, bringing delirious waves of indescribable delight that transported her
outside of herself. When her cries of completion came, she called his name into
the warmth of his broad chest.

“Good girl,” he murmured, as she recovered her breath. “I’m
hard again already, but our time is past done.”

She reached down and found that he was indeed rigid as a
poker. Geoffrey had never made love more than once in an evening, but Fanny had
opened Cathryn’s eyes. Some men could come many times in a night, at least in a
novel, and she suspected Julian was one of those.

He started working on her hooks even as she held his
burgeoning shaft in her hand. “Do I please you, my lady?”

“Very much.” She smiled up at him. “I’ll be true to you.”

“And I, to you.” He stood with obvious reluctance. “Your butler
will be at the door in a minute.”

Disentangling himself from her, he turned away and she heard
him muttering something about bread pudding.

Julian was supremely satisfied. He had just claimed his
mate, and she was superb in every aspect. It had been ages since he’d been with
a woman he wanted to cherish. The idea of a lifetime spent protecting Cathryn
and his children suited him. He’d enjoyed his bachelorhood and was ready to
settle down and continue the line.

He adjusted his trousers and reached for his jacket. Cathryn
had her skirts and bodice in order and he wished he could have her again
already. Such deep desire was a very good omen for the success of their union.
He withdrew a velvet cloth from his pocket, smiling when he opened it to reveal
his grandmother’s favorite piece of jewelry, a round cameo with a lovely female
profile. “I’ve brought a piece from the Ahlquist collection to reinforce my
intentions.”

Her eyes widened as he set the cameo in her hand. “Oh, my
lord, thank you. It’s the most beautiful brooch I’ve ever seen.”

“I share your opinion, although there are many others I know
you’ll enjoy equally.”

She examined the workmanship with a satisfied sigh. “This
will always be my favorite.”

He took it from her and pinned it on her dress. “Mine, as
well. It’s a very rare shell, and the likeness reminds me of you.”

She headed to the mirror to look at her new acquisition. “It’s
beautiful, exactly what I would have chosen. Thank you.”

Her response pleased him. “Do you trust your staff?”

“Yes, implicitly. The Lewin family has served the Sibleys
for generations. Why do you ask?”

“Servants often make the best allies when affairs become
complex.” He walked over to unlock the door.

“Are our affairs complex?” She bore the languid air of a
satisfied woman, and he smiled as she approached him.

He could come to love her, and he was uncertain how he felt
about that fact. The only love he’d known was Fiona, and that was unrequited,
which was a blessing and a curse. What if Cathryn also failed to return his
deep affections? Love made men vulnerable, but surely it wasn’t a bad thing to
love one’s wife?

He wrapped his arm around her waist and nuzzled her neck as
she straightened her hair in front of the looking glass. “Hedges should not be
underestimated, and the courts are fickle when it comes to annulling marriage
contracts.”

She smiled at his reflection. “Well, Lewin will be your
ally. All the Lewins seem to dislike Percival.”

“With good reason, I’m sure. I want you to tell them of our
understanding as soon as possible.”

“They probably know already.” With a slight laugh, she
turned and began to comb her fingers lightly through his hair. “You are a
sight, my lord.” Her dark-brown eyes scanned him as she made him presentable,
and his heart began to pound wildly at her touch. “I believe you are the
handsomest man of my acquaintance.”

He pulled her closer. “You are the beauty, Cat. I am more of
a beast, truth be told.”

She leaned forward and brushed her lips across his. He felt
his desire rising as she said, “I’ll try not to break your spirit.” She nibbled
on his lower lip for a tantalizing moment. “Truth be told, your wild streak
matches my own perfectly.”

He dared not deepen the kiss, or his animal nature would
overwhelm his years of genteel domestication. “Let’s descend before I drag you
back to the fire and ravish you again.” She cast him a daring look and he
smiled. “I don’t want to give the staff reason to dislike me.”

“Oh, you’ve charmed Lewin already.”

“Good.” He opened the door and ushered her out into the
chilly hallway. “I would like to have my solicitor review your contract with
Hedges.”

“Thank you. I didn’t want to take it to the Sibley man of
affairs for obvious reasons. It’s in the study.”

Lewin waited at the bottom of the stairs. From the pleased
look on his face, he must have overheard the last of their conversation, at
least. He was not holding Julian’s coat or hat, and he glanced at the cameo as
he addressed Cathryn, “Mrs. Lewin has a fine roast nearly ready.”

Julian’s hunger must have shown because Cathryn beamed. “Lord
Ahlquist has asked me to be his countess. I think an early lunch is a fine
idea.”

“Congratulations, my lady, my lord.” Lewin bowed deeply. “I
had Victor take your carriage for a ride around the park.”

Julian grinned. “Is he wearing my coat and hat?” The
delightful half an hour in the parlor was a grievous breech of etiquette. Lewin
seemed to have saved Lady Sibley’s reputation with some clever thinking.

Lewin nodded. “Several of our neighbors are notorious
gossips, milord.”

An earl’s carriage would cause a stir in a quiet
neighborhood such as this one. Three days in a row could start a scandal. His
desire for Cathryn was clouding his thinking.

“Well done, Lewin. Let’s hope we don’t make the columns
until after we’ve settled with Sir Percival.”

* * * * *

The Ahlquist solicitor’s demeanor was discouraging as he
scanned the short contract. “I’m sure you are aware that such agreements cannot
be broken for pleasure alone. Both parties must agree.”

In spite of the cool weather, Cathryn began to flush as she
turned to face Julian, seated beside her in the cramped quarters. She couldn’t
lose a life of bliss with him for the dull security of Percival.

Julian smiled reassuringly reached for her hand. “Were you
under duress when you signed it?”

She nodded. “It was my husband’s dying wish that his sister
and I be cared for properly. Percival was the most expeditious way to secure
our future. I’m not certain any of us was in our right minds.”

“I would consider that duress, wouldn’t you, Mr. Curtis?”

The solicitor picked up the line of questioning. “What were
your thoughts at the time you signed the paper?”

“Geoffrey wanted it…Hedges is not hideous…and Mrs. Pickering
and I needed assistance.”

Julian squeezed her hand, reminding her of his offer to
provide for Mrs. Pickering.

Mr. Curtis continued, “Did Hedges make a settlement on you?”

“Yes, he gave us five hundred pounds towards our house, but
only Mrs. Pickering and I share the deed.”

Julian spoke tersely. “The man has abandoned her. There has
been no correspondence outside the necessary for estate business for over two
years.” He waved his free hand at the slim file on the untidy desk. “No love
letters, no acknowledgement of their agreement.”

“And there was no consummation of the contract?”

“Consummation?” Cathryn started at the casual manner in
which the solicitor asked the intimate question but quickly recovered her
composure. “No. Sir Percival never even kissed my hand.” Julian stroked her
fingertips, and she shot him a quick smile.

“I see.” Mr. Curtis rose from his desk with the file in
hand. “Please allow me to consult with my partners. I’ll only be a few minutes.
Lady Sibley, Lord Ahlquist.” He bowed slightly before he scurried out the door
and closed it behind him.

Julian shook his head in bemusement and shifted his chair
closer to hers. “I can’t fathom Hedge’s lack of interest in you.” He raised her
hand to his lips and kissed each knuckle slowly.