To Catch a Countess (18 page)

Victoria turned in his embrace, their bodies touching from breast to thigh, and entwined her arms around his neck. “I missed you, too.”

Their kiss was long and languorous, leaving her breathless. He surprised her by lifting her into his arms and carrying her into his chamber.

“I want our son conceived in my bed,” Alexander said, setting her down on her feet.

Victoria felt a melting sensation in her lower regions, his intimate wishes touching her physically, emotionally, spiritually. A yearning grew within her to become one with her husband and nurture his seed in the warm safety of her body.

Was it only a few weeks since she had asked her sisters to teach her to flirt? The days seemed like years, the weeks like decades.

Victoria knew she loved her husband.

Alexander reached out and pulled one of the lace ribbons on her gown. The gossamer silk dropped away from her body, revealing one plump white breast with a temptingly pink nipple. It hardened into arousal beneath his gaze.

Tugging at the other lace ribbon, Alexander let the silk pool at her feet and then studied his bride from her fiery mane of curls, cascading to her waist, to her lovely face with her flawless alabaster complexion. Her neck was delicate and her shoulders finely boned. She was slender without being thin. Her breasts were full and ripe, swelling proudly beneath his intense gaze, and her hips curvaceous.

Victoria reached out and tugged the sash of his black bed robe. It opened slightly to tease her with the well-muscled body hidden beneath. When her husband shrugged it off, she caressed his chest with the palm of her hand.

With a low growl of arousal, Alexander pulled her against the hardness of his body and lowered his mouth to hers. Their kiss was long, wet, and slow. He slipped his tongue between her lips and stroked the sweet softness of her mouth. She leaned heavily against him in response, eager to surrender her body, her heart, her soul. His for the taking.

Alexander scooped her into his arms and placed her on the bed. He paused for a moment to admire what now belonged to him.

“My husband,” she whispered, and opened her arms to him.

Alexander could not resist. He went into her arms, the weight of his body covering hers. She was so wonderfully soft. Arousal hardened him and softened her, until she melted into him, his to mold however he wanted.

Their lips met in a passionate kiss. A soft sigh escaped her.

Alexander slid his lips down the slender column of her throat. And then lower. He cupped a ripe breast in each hand and placed dozens of kisses on each before his lips captured a nipple to suck upon it.

“I love your nipples,” he said, when she moaned with the pleasure. “Your nipples were made for me, made for my pleasure.”

Alexander knelt between her legs. He lifted one and ran his tongue down and then up the sensitive inside until he reached her upper thigh. Setting it down on the bed, he gave her other leg the same loving attention.

“Take me, husband,” she moaned. “I want to feel you inside me.”

“I see you haven’t learned patience,” Alexander said. “Today I will not be rushed. I intend to savor every inch of your sweet flesh.”

Refusing to be denied, Victoria cupped her breasts in her hands and held them up in offering. Her beaded peaks tempted him, and he leaned down to sample—his lips sucking, his tongue licking, his teeth nipping in a gentle torment.

Victoria wrapped her legs around him, but Alexander slid down her body until his face was at the juncture of her thighs. He caressed her softness, his tongue sliding up and down, making her moan. Slipping between her pink folds of flesh, he thrust his tongue inside her and stroked her velvety flesh before flicking his tongue back and forth across her swollen nub.

“Alex,” she cried, and clasped his head against her. She melted into his tongue, her body shaking with spasms of pleasure.

The instant she stilled, Alexander rose up between her legs and lifted them over his shoulders. He pressed his hardened shaft against her and slipped inside her trembling body. Then he stilled, savoring the incredible feeling of her wet velvet, drawing upon his manhood, enticing him to spill his seed deep within her.

With her fiery mane fanning the pillows, Victoria wore an expression of ecstasy. Never in her virginal daydreams had she ever imagined the fullness of a man inside her, the power and the strength of his dominating force, the pleasure to be had in surrender.

“Ride me, Alex,” she whispered.

Alexander pulled the extra pillows beneath her head. “Open your eyes, and watch me take you,” he ordered, his voice thick with passion.

Victoria opened her eyes and looked down to where his manhood joined her body. And then he moved. Slowly, he pulled himself out until only the head of his shaft was inside her. He watched her face as he inched himself deeper and deeper until their groins touched. He stroked her rhythmically, drawing himself almost out of her trembling body and then dipping, thrusting forward, letting her surround him and caress him.

The tempo of his strokes quickened. Harder and harder he thrust until she melted around him.

Alexander ground himself against her and shuddered with a groan, flooding her with his hot seed. He lay on top of her as they floated back to earth from their shared paradise. Finally, Alexander moved to the side and pulled her with him, leaving their bodies intimately joined. And then they slept.

Victoria awakened later when someone tapped on the bedchamber door, and she felt her husband move to rise from the bed. “Don’t leave me.”

“I’ll be right back,” Alexander said, slipping into his bed robe. He crossed the chamber to open the door a crack and spoke in a low voice to someone. Closing the door again, he returned to their bed and lay down on top of the coverlet.

“Who was that?”

“Bundles wanted to know if we required supper.”

“I don’t need food,” Victoria said. “I have you. Take off that robe.”

Alexander planted a kiss on her lips. “I think I have created a monster.”

“I’m a dutiful wife,” she corrected him.

Alexander smiled. “You certainly relish your duty.”

Victoria pushed several wisps of fire away from her face. “Don’t deny me, husband.” She reached for his sash. “Take off your robe.”

“You can perform your duty later,” Alexander said. “Bundles is setting a table for supper in your chamber.”

Victoria sat up and drew the coverlet up to cover her bare breasts. Alexander put his arm around her shoulder, keeping her imprisoned against his body.

“Don’t hide your charms from me.” Alexander drew the coverlet down and cupped a ripe breast. Lowering his head, he kissed her while his thumb caressed the sensitive tip of her nipple.

Victoria moaned and arched her body toward his hand, the secret spot between her thighs throbbing for him. Slipping her hand between the sides of the robe’s opening, she caressed the long length of him. He felt like hot silk covering steel.

“What a naughty chit,” he murmured against her lips, which parted for his tongue.

A light rapping on the connecting door interrupted their love play. “Thank you, Bundles.” Alexander rose from the bed and offered his hand. “Come, love. The food will be cold later, but you will still be hot.”

“I’ll eat without dressing,” Victoria said, rising from the bed, unashamed of her nudity.

“You will do no such thing.” Alexander picked her nightgown off the floor. “I won’t be able to eat if you do that.” Alexander drew the gown over her head and tied the lace shoulder ribbons.

A small table for two had been set before one of the open windows. The June evening was warm and alive with the garden’s intoxicating perfume.

A light supper had been left for them. Alexander ate everything, but Victoria nibbled at her food. Her nerves still trembled from their lovemaking, stealing her appetite.

“I can’t believe we are married and can spend every minute of the rest of our lives making love,” Victoria said.

Alexander choked on his wine. “Though I do appreciate your enthusiasm, I don’t believe I have the stamina for that. Besides, once you get with child, I doubt you will want to make love as often as every minute of every day.”

“I meant that as a figure of speech.” If her husband was making love to her, he wouldn’t be warming another woman’s bed. It wasn’t that she didn’t trust him. She simply didn’t trust other women.

“I have instructed Bundles not to allow any visitors into our home for the next five days,” Alexander told her. “I am at your disposal until then, Madame.”

Victoria sighed. “I’ve gone from being a girl to a madame in less than a month.”

“You were only a girl in your mind, sweet.” Alexander covered her hand with his. “Your delectable body positively screamed your womanhood.” He rose from his chair, saying, “Wait here. I have a gift for you in the other chamber.”

When he returned, Alexander carried two boxes, one was rectangular and the other was long. He set the rectangular box down in front of her.

“I hate surprises,” Victoria said, her eyes sparkling with excitement, “but yours have all been pleasant.”

Lifting the box’s lid, Victoria dropped her mouth open in surprise. On a bed of black velvet lay a dazzling diamond collar. More than sixty carats of white diamonds had been attached to a delicate, gold collar framework highlighted by a centerpiece diamond drop shaped like a pear.

Victoria knew the necklace had to be worth an obscene amount of money. She lifted her gaze from the necklace to her husband. “Is this real?”

Alexander smiled. “I designed it myself.”

Victoria glanced at the necklace again. “Can we afford this?”

Alexander laughed out loud. “Darling, I am a very wealthy man.”

“Its real worth is that you gave it to me,” Victoria said, and set a small box in front of him. “I want to give you your gift.”

Alexander opened the box. Inside sat a heavy gold ring set with an enormous star ruby. “This is magnificent.”

“This ruby is special,” Victoria told him. “A spirit lives within the star ruby and protects its owner. It darkens to the color of oxblood whenever danger threatens its owner.”

“I will cherish it always.” Alexander slipped it onto the third finger of his right hand. He set the long box in front of her. “You may as well open this before you try on your necklace.”

Victoria opened the box and smiled. Inside was a magic wand, which she immediately lifted to point, circle, point.

“The wand is made from pussy willow and the pentacle on top is crystal.” Alexander walked around the table and lifted the diamond collar from its box. He pushed her hair aside and fastened it around her neck. “Come and see yourself in the mirror.”

Victoria set the wand down and rose from the chair. They crossed the chamber to the cheval mirror.

Alexander stood behind her and unfastened the lace shoulder ribbons, letting her gown drop to the floor. Then he fanned her fiery mane around her.

Victoria stood naked, her only adornment the diamond collar. Alexander shrugged out of his robe and stood, naked, behind her.

“You are a goddess sprung to life,” he whispered against her ear.

Victoria sighed and leaned back, her head nestled against his chest. She watched in fascination as he slipped his arms beneath hers, his hands cupping and lifting her breasts. His thumbs slid across her nipples, and he smiled at her in the mirror when her breath caught in her throat.

“You belong to me.” Alexander dropped one hand to the juncture of her thighs and one long finger caressed her dewy pearl.

Her breathing grew ragged, her breasts rising and falling. When she closed her eyes, he stopped her.

“Open your eyes. I want you to watch what I am doing to you.”

Victoria watched him in the mirror. One large hand squeezed and rolled a pink nipple while his other hand stroked the wetness between her thighs. She moved her hips and rubbed herself against his fingers. Feeling his hardness pressing against her, she felt surrounded by his strength.

“Let yourself go,” Alexander whispered, his voice husky. “Watch me bring you to paradise.”

His words sent her crashing over the edge of control. Struggling to keep her eyes open, Victoria leaned back against him as waves of contractions shook her. She closed her eyes in a near swoon.

Alexander carried her to his bed and lay down on top of her. “Wrap your legs around my waist.” When she did, he pounded himself into her, rousing her to meet him thrust for thrust. They cried out together as he spilled himself inside her.

They lay still for long moments. Then Alexander rolled to the side, taking her with him, and unfastened the diamond collar to place on the bedside table.

“Sleeping in it could prove uncomfortable.” He drew her back into his embrace, and she cuddled against him.

“Where do I sleep each night?” she asked.

“Where do you want to sleep, love?”

“Beside you.”

“I was hoping you would say that.” Alexander tightened his embrace and planted a kiss on the crown of her head.

He loved her.

That thought startled Alexander. He’d only agreed to the match to make amends for Charles Emerson.

Love was for fools. Lydia Stanley’s betrayal had taught him that.

Yes, he loved the woman in his arms, but she would never know. That was the only way to protect himself.

Chapter 9

“I wish we could have remained in Winchester,” Victoria said, as their coach picked up speed on the last leg of their journey to London. She looked at her husband and sighed with disappointment.

“Like plants, my businesses need tending lest they wither and die.” Alexander put his arm around her and drew her against his body. “You don’t want to live in the poorhouse.”

“Living in the poorhouse doesn’t bother me as long as you’re there.” Dropping her hand to his groin, Victoria heard his sharp intake of breath and murmured, “Some of life’s luxuries cost nothing.”

Alexander tilted her face up, and his lips captured hers in a passionate kiss. That melted into another. And then another . . .

Desperate to escape the deluge of uninvited guests who descended on them the day after their wedding, Alexander had changed his plan to remain secluded at the Grosvenor Square mansion. The newlyweds had packed their bags and hidden at his country estate along the Itchen River in Winchester.