Taming A Duke's Reckless Heart: Victorian Historical Romance (25 page)

Piper crept out of bed again, and tiptoed across the floor. Then she slowly opened the door and peeked her head out. The house was silent. She closed the door again and padded across the thick carpet to the stairs. She tried to move without making a sound.

She crossed to the drawing room and moved to the French doors. Her hand reached for the door latch. She paused for a second taking a deep breath. She undid the lock. Nerves fluttered in her stomach.

She took another deep breath and grasped the handle. Barrett appeared before the other side of the glass and she gasped, even though she was expecting him.

He opened the door and took her hand. “Don’t be afraid.” He pulled her outside. The nights were still cool and the air hit her skin, sending a shiver down her body.

He pulled her into his arms, his body heat instantly warming her. “I’m just a little nervous. I don’t want to get caught…”

She didn’t know how to tell him she was also just a little afraid of what they were about to do. At least she thought that is what they were about to do.

He pulled her into the shadows. “We’ll hide. Come on.”

They moved along the garden path. Towards the very back of the garden, there were several dogwood trees in full bloom. Between their trunks, Barrett had laid a few large furs on the ground. “Where did you get those?” she gasped.

He chuckled. “Hunting trip. I’ll tell you about it later.” He sat in the middle of the furs and pulled her down onto his lap.

“I mean; how did you get them here?” She sucked in her breath as his lips found the hollow spot on her neck. His tongue began dancing little circles on her skin.

He lifted his head for a second. “Threw them over the back fence.” Then he dropped his head back down. Barrett drew one of the furs around her back and Piper had never felt cozier.

His lips moved up her neck and found hers. She only had on a night shirt and dressing gown. His hand travelled to her breast.

Piper was suddenly nervous. She pulled away just a little. “Are you sure…”

He smiled against her lips. His hand left her breast and travelled to her hair. She had loosely braided it and tied it with a ribbon. His fingers pulled the ribbon out and then began to undo the braid. “Forgive me, love. I am rushing. The way you kiss me, I sometimes forget how inexperienced you are.”

She blushed then and turned her face away. “Does it bother you I am not experienced?” She had always been afraid he would prefer a woman like Mrs. Fox to her.

“My love, it brings me more pleasure than you could possibly know, to have you be only mine.” He turned her head back towards his and kissed her slowly and fully. She wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him closer.

“Really,” she mumbled when their lips finally broke.

“I can hardly wait to teach you. And what you learn will only be ours.” He kissed her again. “Besides, the way you kiss, I’ve never wanted a woman more than I want you.”

His lips crashed back down on hers as he opened her mouth and their tongues mingled. He gently pushed her dressing robe off of her shoulders. Piper felt her entire body heat as one of his hands slipped between them to massage her breast. The pad of his thumb gently rubbed the nipple. Piper moaned, desire shooting through her body and down to the center of her being.

His lips trailed down her neck to replace his hand. The feel of his tongue increased her desire. Her hands curled into his hair pushing him closer.

He shifted them so she was laying on the fur. His hands skimmed down her nightgown and then he began pushing it up her body. Once he had it over her chest, his lips came down on her nipple and he gently sucked. Piper arched up against him, writhing under his mouth.

His fingers slid down the flat of her stomach and paused when they reached the curls between her legs. Piper felt herself straining upward as she moaned again. She wanted his hand to slide down further.

He chuckled as he lifted his mouth from her breast. “Just a little patience, my love.”

She huffed but he pulled her nightgown over her head. She lay naked before him as his eyes roamed up and down her body. She reached for a fur to cover herself but he stilled her hand with his own. “Don’t cover yourself. You are stunning, Piper. I never dreamed…” He stripped off his shirt and then slid down to kiss her belly.

“I’m sure you say that to every girl…” His lips travelled further down her stomach and Piper stopped talking. She held her breath as he planted a soft kiss on her lower lips. His fingers spread her open and his lips and tongue came down on her most intimate place.

“Oh, Barrett,” she moaned out as her body writhed underneath his touch. Piper’s body was tightening and pulsing, and without realizing it, her head moved back and forth.

He moved away rising up on his knees. Piper grabbed for him. She didn’t want him to stop. He grinned at her. “I won’t leave you unsatisfied.” He stopped talking, his eyes raking up and down her body.

His hand reached out and gently trailed the length of her torso. “I meant what I said, you are the most beautiful woman I have ever…” he paused as his hand skidded down her arm.

She smiled at him. “I’m cold. Come warm me up.” She reached her arms up to him and he grinned again, stripping down his pants.

Piper gasped at the sight of him. Her arms dropped. He only chuckled, “You trust me love?”

Piper took a steadying breath. She reached her arms back up to him and arched her body towards his. “Yes, I trust you. You would never hurt me.”

His eyes sparkled as they looked down at her. Then he leaned down and kissed her again. His arms wrapped around her, holding her tightly to him. “I don’t know what I did to earn your trust but I am humbled by it.”

She wound her fingers through his hair as he slid his lips to her ear. “You’ve kept me safe, taken care of me. I don’t understand why anyone is afraid of you.” She gasped as he nipped her ear.

“They sense I am a man who would do whatever I had to do to protect the ones I love.” His lips kissed a trail down her neck as his tip gently parted her folds.

“And to the ones you love? Would you hurt them?” Her body tensed slightly and his hand reached down between their bodies, stroking her. She quickly forgot her fear and writhed underneath him. It felt so amazing. He pushed in a little further as he continued to touch her.

“I would never hurt you. I am so very sorry, love, but this will sting for a moment.” She felt him grimace against her neck.

“Do it. I want to be yours.” He groaned then his lips claimed hers, as he thrust inside her.

Piper felt the pain but somehow she also felt more connected to Barrett than she ever had to anyone in her life.

“Are you all right?” He was still inside her.

“I’m wonderful.” Her lips sought his. “Are you?”

“Only you would ask that, Piper. That is why I love you.” He moved inside her and she gasped. He stilled.

“Don’t stop.” She wrapped her arms around him. “You love me?”

He slid out of her and then back in, they both groaned. “Sweetheart, I am practically turning myself inside out to marry you. How could I not love you?”

He started moving more rhythmically and Piper couldn’t think to answer. Her body was meeting his as passion built inside of her.

She held on tighter trying to hold him even closer as her breaths came in short gasping moans. Never, in her wildest dreams, had she imagined it would be like this.

When she thought she couldn’t take another second, her body shattered into a thousand beautiful pieces. At the same moment, a groan ripped from Barrett’s throat.

Piper released a long breath. Their eyes met. “I love you, too.”

He stroked her hair back from her face, still inside her. “We have another problem.”

“What?” She held her breath, afraid of what he might say.

“We have to find a way to get married soon. I don’t want to be in bed without you.” He kissed her but she gave him a playful swat.

“You had me worried.” She kissed him back.

“We will marry here just before we leave for England. When we get there, we will announce our marriage. Then when we get back here, we will announce it again. That is the benefit of living in two countries. No one will know the difference.”

“Your mother will,” she sighed in frustration.

“Let me worry about her.” Barrett slid to the side and pulled the fur up around them. While the days were warm, the nights were still cool. He tucked her next to him and Piper snuggled in. She was warm and cozy despite lying on the ground.

“She will never like me.” Piper closed her eyes. She took a deep breath. Contentment washed over her as she lay against him. Like being at home. She hadn’t felt this safe or secure in a long time.

“She barely likes me; I wouldn’t worry about it too much.” He kissed her softly. “Either way, I don’t want to talk about it now. I want to talk about us.”

“Fair enough.” She laid her head back down and closed her eyes again, snuggling close to him. “How long do you think we can meet in the garden before someone notices?”

“Not very long.” He kissed the top of her head. Even her toes felt relaxed.

“My aunt will not be happy either,” her last few words slurred.

“Get some sleep. I will wake you in a little bit to return to your bed.” She nodded once and shifted a bit closer to him. She could sleep forever like this, she thought as she drifted off.

***

Piper woke late the next morning. She smiled to herself and as she stretched in bed. Last night had been everything she dreamed it would be.

She called for a bath then dismissed her maid and soaked in the water. It helped the aching between her thighs.

After she had dressed, she headed for her mother’s room. Her mother was making a wonderful recovery but she realized she would not be well enough to make the journey to England. Piper’s stomach filled with butterflies at the thought of travelling with Barrett’s mother to England without her own mother to help her through.

The door was already cracked open and Piper stopped at the sound of a familiar female voice. It took Piper a few seconds to place it but then she realized it was Barrett’s mother. Fear trickled down her back and she shivered despite the warmth.

“I know you understand this. Barrett is a duke. It just wouldn’t do. But I do understand your predicament. You have a lovely daughter. She is so very gracious. You want her taken care of.”

“It goes beyond that, Francie. They have a connection. They are in love. That is what I want for my daughter,” her mother’s voice trembled slightly and Piper closed her eyes. Her mother didn’t have the strength to square off with the Duchess. She needed Barrett here.

“Posh. You married for love. Look at you now. Don’t think ill of me, Carolynn, but love is a temporary feeling that gets in the way of sound decisions.”

Her mother’s voice was barely a whisper, “It is difficult to argue.”

“I am not without a heart. Thomas could wed her. He is only a lord and then Piper would be taken care of. It is the perfect solution to all of our problems,” Her Grace’s voice rang with confidence.

“I do see your point. You really think that is best?” Piper stomped her slippered foot on the thick carpet. Her mother was too weak to resist Her Grace knew it. Piper bit her lip. Did she march in there and set that woman straight?

If the Duchess was able to convince her mother, could she and Barrett fight both of their parents? Her Grace had found the one weak link in the chain. Barrett’s face rose in her mind. After what they had done, she couldn’t imagine being married to anyone else. But to be married to his brother? To see Barrett and not be with him. That was unimaginable.

She paused on the threshold. This was to be her mother-in-law. She had best notify Barrett and allow him to take care of it.

She hurried down the steps and crossed the foyer into the office. She pulled out a piece of parchment. She would write to Barrett to come immediately and explain everything herself. He would know how best to handle this. She sat down and wrote the first few words when the butler entered the room.

“A letter for you.” He handed her an envelope.

Piper looked at it, cocking her head to one side. It looked like Barrett’s handwriting but it was shakier. The letters were rougher.

She ripped open the envelope and found a brief note.

Piper,

Come quickly to the docks. Meet me at The Destiny.

Barrett

She stared at the letters for a few minutes. Barrett was usually gruff but this was ridiculously short. He didn’t say anything about the night they shared, nor did he express any feeling for her. Something must be wrong. Was he having second thoughts? Did he know what his mother was up to?

Piper didn’t give it another thought. She wanted to talk to him in person. She would meet him and find out what was happening.

She grabbed her hat and gloves and called for a carriage to be brought around front. She took a deep breath. Hopefully everything was all right.

***

Barrett sat at his desk, attempting to balance some ledgers. He was trying to figure out how much liquid cash he and Ethan had. He was hoping to give his brother a large enough sum that it would appease the Earl and Tom could marry Penelope.