How the Earl Fell for His Countess (Matchmaking Madness Book 2)

by Laura A. Barnes

  He lowered his mouth and possessed hers. Nothing gentle, but a powerful connection that he dominated. His mouth plundered hers over and over, taking and demanding everything from her. His hands slid in her hair and held her mouth to him as he drank from her sweet lips, sucking out every succulent drop until nothing but dark desire remained.

  Reese’s kisses demanded Evelyn’s utter devotion. He controlled her senses with each stroke of his tongue. Every emotion Evelyn possessed, Reese demanded her to surrender to him. He seared a path of fire along her neck to her breasts. When he met a barrier to what he most desired, he took it upon himself to bare Evelyn before his eyes. He stripped the robe from her body, leaving her standing before him in a nightgown made of the finest silk.

  Reese trailed one finger under the strap and slid it off her shoulder, then he trailed the finger back up again against her bare skin. Evelyn shivered. Not from the cold, but from the sensation of Reese’s sizzling touch.

  The white temptation of sin covering Evelyn left nothing to Reese’s imagination. The glow from the fire highlighted every dip and curve of his wife. His devilish smile made her shake more. Reese pressed a kiss to her bare shoulder, and Evelyn shuddered at the simple gesture. His lips trailed lower to the lace covering her breasts.

  He stopped, staring at the decorative buttons lining the front of Evelyn’s gown. They may have been for decoration, but to Reese, they were an enticement to rip the gown from Evelyn’s body. He needed to get his emotions under control. Evelyn shook his very foundation. She brought forth his fury at her betrayal, yet Evelyn revealed her vulnerability at his touch, making him protective toward her. How could a mere slip of a lady set his emotions ricocheting out of control?

  Evelyn stood still, confused by why Reese had stopped. His hands hovered over her nightgown as if he contemplated ripping the garment. When they shook, Evelyn placed her hands atop his.

  “Worthington?”

  He stared at their hands and didn’t know who shook more. He tore his hands out from underneath hers, then ripped the front of the negligee apart. The delicate buttons scattered across the room, rolling about on the uneven floor. Evelyn stood bare before him, and her body glowed from the fire, tempting him. He pulled her flushed against him, her creamy skin silk under his touch.

  She gasped when he lifted her into his arms and carried her to the bed. Before he laid her down, he whispered, “When my lips touch yours, you are to whisper my name. When my hands caress your silken skin, you are to moan my name. And when I make love to you, you are to scream my name.” He touched his lips to Evelyn’s. “What do you call me?”

  “Reese,” Evelyn whispered.

  He caressed Evelyn’s body, his hands brushing across her breasts, down to her stomach, lowering to her curls. Reese whispered in her ear, “What do you call me?”

  Reese’s hands slid between her thighs, opening her up to him. He sank his fingers into her wetness, sliding a finger inside.

  “Reese.” Evelyn moaned.

  Reese felt himself slipping further out of control. He stroked his finger in and out of Evelyn, her wetness coating him. He lowered his head, sliding the tight bud of her nipple between his lips. Reese suckled the sweet berry as his tongue stroked back and forth. Evelyn moaned his name over and over at his attention, her fingers running through his hair, holding his head to her breasts.

  Evelyn’s ache grew. She needed Reese to love her now. She wanted to scream his name as he’d demanded. Evelyn lost herself to Reese at his first touch. When he flew across the room and showed her his vulnerability, Evelyn wanted Reese to take her in that moment. She moved her hips with his hand, building her desire. Her hands started clawing at his shirt to remove it. She wanted his heat to burn her. Her entire life, she had hidden in a shell, too afraid to live. Now she only wanted to fly in Reese’s arms.

  Reese pulled his shirt over his head, and Evelyn reached out to run her fingers down his chest, sliding them across each hardened ridge. Her hands lowered to his trousers and brushed across his hardness. He let out a hiss, drawing her gaze to his. His blue eyes darkened into sapphires. With trembling fingers, she unbuttoned the placket of his trousers. Before she could reach inside, he grabbed her arms and brought them above her head, holding her wrists with one hand.

  If she touched him, he would lose the remainder of his control. Evelyn’s body trembled under him with anticipation. After only having her the one night, he already knew what she craved. He knew her body better than his own.

  With his other hand, he pushed his pants down and kicked them to the side. He ran his hand up her leg, pushing her thighs farther apart. He needed Evelyn now. Needed her like he needed to breathe.

  Evelyn opened herself wider, hooking one of her legs around Reese’s hip. The turbulence of emotion in the air clung to them, begging the storm to rage. He slid slowly inside her, dragging out each sensation of bliss. He filled her, his need throbbing, and held still. She moaned his name.

  Reese listened to the moan of his name whispered from Evelyn’s lips. He was between heaven and hell at this very moment. He lived in hell for his fury toward her, but her sweet body welcomed him into heaven. Her wetness tightened around him, holding him hostage. A hold that he never wanted her to release.

  He stared down into her eyes, watching her emeralds darken with desire. Evelyn’s need for him beckoned him closer. Her luscious breasts heaved with her need. Her nipples tightened under his stare. His gaze traveled lower to where they were connected as one.

  He pulled out slowly to see how her wetness coated his cock. Evelyn arched her body, begging for him to fill her again. Reese paused, waiting for Evelyn to writhe underneath him with a need only he could fulfill. When her hips pressed into his, he could no longer hold back from fulfilling both of their desires.

  He slammed into her, filling her to the brim, and whispered, “What do you call me?”

  “Reese!” Evelyn screamed his name over and over each time he slid out and filled her again.

  He released Evelyn’s hands and held her body upright, loving her. His passion was relentless. It drew her soul away and into him. With each stroke, he slid in deeper, and his lips seared fire across her body with each nip. Evelyn screamed his name with each stroke, clinging to him with her head flung back.

  “Look at me, Evelyn.”

  She opened her eyes and stared at him. She saw the madness in his eyes, his uncontrollable desire, and knew in that moment what he wouldn’t admit to himself.

  As much as he would deny it, he loved her, too.

  She lifted her hand and soothed the tension away from his eyes. He closed them at her gentle touch, fighting what he saw in her stare.

  Reese wanted to declare that she would never make a fool out of him again, but one touch from her and his anger fled. Anger he must cling to. After tonight, he would, but for now, he only wanted to revel in the pleasure of holding Evelyn.

  He lowered his head and devoured her lips as he took their bodies over the brink of desire. When they went flying, Evelyn let forth a scream of his name that left Reese in no doubt of who he made love to this night.

  Chapter Three

  Reese sat dressed, watching his wife sleep. His heart tried hardening, but it kept softening every time his gaze fell upon Evelyn.

  He needed to continue their trip to his estate in a hurry to escape her company. At his home, she wouldn’t bother him the way she did in such close confines. He could pawn her off on his mother and siblings. And he could spend his time in the stables.

  Once he received Evelyn’s dowry, he would head to London to settle his accounts. During the trip, he could purchase more livestock at Tattersalls for his program. Losing out on Sapphire’s offspring came as a blow, but it was one he would recover from. There were other offspring that came from excellent lines available for purchase.

  Evelyn lay naked under the covers. They had spent their wedding night reaching for each other to love until the early dawn when she fell into an exhausted slumb
er. But not Reese. Instead, he’d watched his wife sleep. Evelyn appeared sweet and innocent. While she may have a sweet disposition, her innocence rang false. That was what Reese needed to remember. However, it was her sweetness that kept his heart from hardening.

  Even now, he wanted to lift the covers and drink her in. Slip beneath them and awaken her with his body sliding into hers. Listen to her whisper, moan, and scream his name again. He wanted to learn what pleased her and teach her how to please him.

  But instead, he sat there like the fool she played him to be, allowing her the rest she needed.

  Evelyn stretched, her tender body protesting. She reached her arm out for Reese. She might be wanton, but she ached for him to love her again. When he made love to her, he kept his resentment at bay. While his anger dictated how he loved her, it made their lovemaking more intense.

  When she felt the cool sheets, she opened her eyes and searched for Reese. She found him sitting in a chair facing the bed, staring at her. A frown rested on his face, and she realized their truce had come to an end. Her husband had returned to his resentful self.

  Still, Evelyn tried to reach him. She held out her hand. “Reese?”

  His dark laughter filled the room. “Madam, I have only given you leave to address me by my Christian name when I am kissing you, caressing you, or sticking my cock inside you. Since I am doing none of those acts at this time, you can refer to me as Worthington.” He stood and motioned for her to rise. “I have given you ample enough time to rest. A maid will arrive with a tray for you to eat, then she will help you dress. You have one hour, then we must depart.”

  Reese’s coldness settled over her. She wouldn’t show him how it affected her. Evelyn would allow him his bitterness for a time because she still held guilt for her deception. But their marriage wouldn’t stay like this forever. Evelyn had spent her life cowering from anything uneasy, hiding herself away. But she no longer wished to live her life in that regard. Reese made her feel alive. Her new agenda would be to live a full life. As Aunt Susanna always said, kill them with kindness. And in the meantime, Reese wouldn’t see what was coming.

  Evelyn nodded her acceptance. “Thank you for allowing me the extra hours to rest. I am most grateful. I shall be ready to leave in one hour’s time.”

  Reese strode to the door, frustrated that Evelyn hadn’t turned teary-eyed at his cruelty. Instead, she accepted it without a word of protest. Before he left the suite, her words stopped him.

  “And, Worthington?”

  He stood in the open doorway, facing the hallway, not wanting to see the determination he heard in her voice.

  “I wait with anticipation for when I can whisper, moan, and scream your God-given name while you pleasure me with your body,” Evelyn purred.

  Reese gritted his teeth at the seductive sound of her voice. His wife’s reply showed proof that he held no power over her.

  He slammed the door and stomped down the stairs to distance himself from her. Reese needed to get himself under control before the long carriage ride ahead of him. Once he reached the dining area, he barked an order to the innkeeper at the request of a maid and ordered a bottle of brandy for the ride. Once the maid had given him one, he carried the bottle to the carriage, where he waited for his wife to join him.

  Evelyn was proving to be the bane of his existence.

  Evelyn sighed, rising with the blanket wrapped around her. She searched for her robe, and when she found it in the corner, she pulled it around her naked form. She took a step toward the fire and stepped on the tiny buttons of her ripped nightgown. Evelyn lowered herself to the floor, gathering as many of them as she could find.

  With her hand full, she carried them to her valise, where she placed them inside. She looked around for the torn garment and couldn’t find it. She lifted the covers on the bed and searched the room, only to come up empty. Reese must have discarded the garment to save Evelyn the awkwardness of explaining the reason for its destruction.

  Evelyn sat on the bed, thinking over the matter of her husband. It would appear Reese had reverted to his charming self, she thought sarcastically. However, his thoughtfulness contradicted his harsh behavior. Reese was proving to be a confusing gentleman.

  She laughed before she rose to get ready to leave.

  THE CARRIAGE RIDE SLOWED to a crawl along the long driveway to his estate. Worthington swiped a hand along his face. His gritty eyes tried to open wider before they came to a stop. He sat up straighter, shaking the grogginess from his head. A weight settled against him, halting his movements. He looked down to see Evelyn snuggled against him, a blanket covering them. His wife lay curled in his lap with her head on his chest.

  In his hazy drunkenness, he remembered waking up to see Evelyn asleep with her head hitting the carriage window with every bump in the road. He’d taken pity on her and lifted her to sit next to him. Her body had trembled from the cool weather. They had traveled into a light rain, leaving the air damp. Worthington settled a blanket over them and dropped his head back against the seat.

  When Evelyn’s body continued to shake, he’d settled her on his lap. At her sigh of contentment, he’d lifted his bottle to drink his courage of enduring the rest of the ride. He took a drink each time her curves settled against his cock. After he finished the bottle, he wrapped the blanket tighter, his hand sliding under her dress to settle between her thighs, and fell asleep. That was the last thing he remembered.

  The carriage stopped, and a footman opened the door. Worthington pulled his hands from under the blanket and motioned for silence. He nodded his head for the footman to take Evelyn from his arms. Once he alighted from the carriage, Worthington looked to the stars for guidance, but he knew he wouldn’t find any.

  Worthington stretched and held his arms out for Evelyn. They had ridden through the night on his orders to reach home. The hour had grown past a reasonable time. The butler held the door open, and Worthington strode into the entryway.

  Jenkins, the butler, held a lone candlestick in the surrounding darkness of the house. “Lord Worthington, we were not expecting you home so soon.”

  “Yes, well, I need a place to store my bride for the duration of my marriage,” Worthington slurred, his body swaying.

  “We have a new Lady Worthington?” squeaked Jenkins.

  “Shh, do not wake the house with the news. I will announce my marriage in the morning. For now, my bride requires a bed, one preferably far from mine.”

  Worthington strode off toward the staircase with Jenkins following him, trying to keep up. However, even as drunk as he was, his long strides were no match for the aging butler. Worthington slung the door open to the bedroom for the mistress of the house. The bedroom had been closed off because of their low funds, as were most of the rooms at Worthington Hall. He had ordered the staff to cover the rooms since they couldn’t afford to hire enough servants to keep them cleaned.

  “Jenkins!” Worthington bellowed.

  Evelyn stirred in his arms, but continued to sleep.

  Jenkins arrived at his side, gasping for breath. He held his side in agony. The trek up the stairs was tiring for the butler. “On your orders, my lord. The staff closed the room. The only available bed for Lady Worthington would be yours. Shall I send for Mrs. Stickler to help the lady?”

  Worthington stared at his wife and realized the torment of being in Evelyn’s company would have to continue until tomorrow morning. She slept soundly. How much would she bother him, anyway? Tomorrow, he would have a room prepared for Evelyn, then her sleeping in his bed wouldn’t be an issue anymore. Now, he just wanted to rest. Yes, tomorrow he could figure out where Evelyn fit in his life.

  “That will be all, Jenkins. Return to your bed. And remember, do not breathe a word of my marriage.”

  The butler nodded, then opened the adjoining door to Worthington’s bedroom and lit the candle near the bed before he left.

  Worthington carried Evelyn and laid her on his bed. His wife never moved. She was dead to the w
orld. Her light snores were the only sign that she lived. The past few days had caught up with her, leaving her exhausted. And through their ordeal, she’d never once complained.

  Worthington slid her shoes off and went to work on her clothes. He undressed Evelyn, leaving her in a chemise. After he finished, he stripped his own clothes off and collapsed on the bed next to her, his own exhaustion taking hold.

  Before he fell asleep, she rolled into him. “Reese?” Evelyn mumbled in her sleep.

  “Shh, love. Rest,” Worthington mumbled, drawing her into his arms and falling asleep.

  A FORCE FLUNG THE DOOR open and hopped on the bed, jostling the sleeping occupants. Reese groaned in misery, pulling the covers over his head. However, the interloper ripped them from his hand. He yanked them back before any prying eyes were exposed to his nakedness.

  “Wake up, Reese. I want to meet your new bride.”

  “Maggie, leave him alone. Mother will have your hide. She told us to wait,” Noel hissed from the hallway.

  “Nonsense. Our brother gets married, then lies in bed all day and we must wait? Most rude.” Maggie jumped up and down on the bed to emphasize her point.

  The blanket was tugged from Reese’s grip again. However, this time, it wasn’t his sister trying to grab the blanket. Evelyn was frantically trying to cover herself, a blush spreading across her body. A look of horror rested upon her face. Her wide eyes stared at him in panic, and Reese gave her a devilish grin before pulling Evelyn to his side and lowering his head to kiss her.

  “If there is a reason for a delay in my rising, it is because I wish to spend time alone with my bride.”

  Evelyn tried to squirm out of Reese’s hold, which only made him squeeze her tighter. “Reese,” she whispered.

  “Mmm, I shall allow it since I am about to do this.” He lowered his head and kissed his bride good morning.