by Sadie Bosque
Annalise frowned at him. “But he’s your friend. Don’t you ever talk about things like that?”
“About women?”
“Yes. Did you never tell him about me when we were courting?”
Blake grinned. “No. I married you so fast nobody had time to open their mouths. Good thing too. If I had delayed proposing, I would have been too late, and you would have married Kensington.”
A silence hung in the carriage, and Blake bit his lip. Devil had him mentioning Kensington in the current company.
A few minutes later, they escorted Lady Lavinia to her townhouse and settled back into the carriage homebound.
Blake sat next to Annalise and scooted even closer. “Annalise.” He put two fingers beneath her chin and lifted her face to his. “Can we talk about the note? I know you saw it.”
“All right.” Annalise raised her eyes to his.
“I can’t change the past, darling,” he said as softly as he could. “You have no idea how much I regret hurting you. I have no intention of ever doing so again. You have my word.” He looked into her vulnerable eyes and let out a self-deprecating laugh. “You have no reason to trust my word either, do you? You will.” He leaned closer to her and brushed her lips with his.
It wasn’t even a kiss. He simply touched her lips with his and gave her a nudge. It was a gesture of affection, a reassurance, a promise.
Annalise turned to him more fully. “Was this woman one of your mistresses?”
“In the past, yes. Before we started courting. Before I even met you.”
“But was she one of the women you were seen with after our wedding?”
Blake swallowed hard. Annalise was looking him directly in the eyes, not flinching, her features unfathomable. Why are you asking this? Just let the past be in the past. But he couldn’t stay silent, and he wouldn’t lie to her either.
“Yes,” he said.
“Thank you.” Annalise lowered her eyes, and Blake blinked in astonishment. “For not lying to me.”
Blake cleared his throat. “I shall never lie to you. I promised, didn’t I? And it means a lot to me that you are giving me this chance.”
Annalise nodded but didn’t say anything, and Blake scooted closer to her.
“You are the only woman I want. The only woman I have ever wanted this much. Let me prove it to you. Let me atone for all the hurt I’ve caused you.” He took her chin between his thumb and forefinger and softly turned her to look at him.
“How?” she asked quietly.
“Let me replace all the bad memories with the good ones. With pleasurable ones,” he whispered and kissed her on the lips.
Annalise’s eyes filled with tears. “I don’t think it’s enough,” she whispered.
“Probably not,” he agreed and wiped a stray tear away from her cheek. “But it’s a start.”
He lowered his head and kissed her softly. She didn’t pull away, so he sipped on her lips, drinking her in. He trailed his hands down her sides, and she moaned sweetly into his mouth, feeding his excitement.
Blake picked her up and placed her on his lap. Annalise immediately wrapped her arms around his shoulders. Blake nudged her nose with his before kissing her hungrily. He licked the seam of her lips, and Annalise moaned. Blake repeated the action. This time, taking advantage of her parted lips, he swept his tongue inside her warmth.
He took her face between his hands and angled her head for a deeper kiss. Annalise’s hands were in his hair, massaging his head. Blake moaned and broke the kiss. He breathed heavily, holding Annalise tightly in his arms.
Blake lowered his forehead to hers and stared into her downturned eyes. Their breaths mingled as they both panted, holding each other. Annalise’s fingers curled into the lapels of his coat. He was about to kiss her again, but she leaned out of his reach.
Annalise bit on her lip and regarded him with a thoughtful expression on her face. “Is it different?” she asked. “With a mistress?”
Blake choked on his tongue. How did one answer such a question? “Well…” He uncomfortably shifted in his seat as Annalise continued studying him thoughtfully. He’d promised not to lie, hadn’t he? “Yes,” he finally pushed past his throat. “It is.”
“Different how? Better?”
Blake’s mind went blank for a moment. “No.”
“You promised not to lie to me,” she said innocently.
“I am not lying. The mistress usually is… more experienced in the art of pleasuring a man. She knows what to do and what men find arousing, but…” He raked a hand through his hair. “It isn’t better, Annalise. At least not for me. The moment I laid eyes on you, nobody else occupied my thoughts. Even when we were… estranged. I wanted only you.”
Annalise leaned forward so that their noses were almost touching. The closeness drove Blake wild. He closed his eyes and swallowed hard, soaking in the feel of Annalise in his arms, the warmth of her breath on his face.
“Tell me what to do,” she whispered.
Blake opened his eyes and looked at her in confusion.
“I want to please you. Like a mistress would. Can you teach me?”
Blake gave a choked sound between laughter and astonishment. “No mistress could ever please me as you do.”
Annalise nudged Blake lightly with her nose, and Blake took a deep breath. His heartbeat accelerated, and his groin hardened even more.
“I want to experience passion the way I haven’t experienced before. If only just once.”
“We’ll have a lifetime of passion, my darling,” Blake whispered.
Annalise ducked her head and didn’t answer. Blake put a finger under her chin and tipped her face to his.
“Starting now,” he said before planting his lips on hers.
Annalise opened under the onslaught of his mouth, and Blake smiled before sweeping his tongue into her warmth. This was what he had been dreaming of all those days in captivity, all those months sailing back to English shores: Annalise, willing and pliant in his arms, the feel of her under his fingers, warm and soft.
He ducked his head and buried his face into the crook of her neck, not quite ready to believe this was actually happening. He breathed in her dear scent, then nipped on her silky skin. Blake trailed his mouth up to her ear and swirled his tongue around her earlobe, then licked the outer crescent.
Annalise whimpered and pressed herself closer to him. Blake helped her rearrange her skirts as she shifted to straddle him. His hands gently grazed her thighs, and they both groaned in pleasure. Blake shut his eyes tight and threw back his head. It was all he could do to not unfasten his breeches and impale Annalise hard upon his erect length. His cock was hard as steel and strained against the confines of his breeches.
But Blake didn’t want the quick release. He didn’t want this to end before it had time to begin. He wanted to drive Annalise mad with lust, to see her face when she cried in pleasure. He wanted to make her writhe and moan in passion. He wanted to remember every minute change of her features as she discovered previously unexplored levels of bliss. And he wanted her to experience all this in his arms, slowly, unhurriedly, and preferably, not in the carriage.
But she ran her hands up his arms and wove her fingers in his hair. She looked into his eyes, her own smoldering with a fiery passion, and he was lost.
His hand traveled up the inside of her thigh until he encountered her hot center, and he groaned. Annalise threw her head back, exposing her silky neck. Blake lowered his head and put his mouth on her, ready to devour, her salty skin awakening all his senses.
His eyes closed, and he moved his fingers, separating her folds, spreading the wet evidence of her desire while she writhed on top of him. With his other hand, he thrust his fingers into her hair, collected them in a tight fist, and pulled until she tipped back her head. Her mouth was slightly open, her eyes half-lidded, her lips wet.
Blake put his lips on hers and swept his tongue inside, scraping her lips with his teeth, licking at the silky interi
or of her mouth. Annalise took his face in her hands and pulled him closer while her hips started moving, guiding his fingers to where she was most sensitive.
She tore her mouth away and looked into his eyes, panting. “Tell me what to do,” she whispered.
Blake leaned closer to her, then nipped on her lower lip. “Whatever you want,” he said hoarsely. “Whatever feels like it’s going to drive you to the farthest corners of bliss. Use me for your pleasure.” He covered her lips with his, and she moaned into his mouth.
Blake trailed his mouth lower and suckled on her neck. And lower still until he encountered the sweet, soft mounds of her breasts. He swept his tongue inside the bodice, and she moaned, holding his head closer to her, her hips moving, pressing her quim against the heel of his palm.
Blake removed his hand from beneath her, and she whimpered in frustration.
“Wait a moment, love,” he said hoarsely. “I want to see you.”
He put his hands on her bodice and tugged it down until he freed her breasts and could see her nipples rising proudly against the cold carriage air. Blake hugged her closer and devoured her breasts with his mouth. He sucked on her sweet, soft flesh, his tongue flicking her hardened nipples.
Annalise writhed on top of him, moving her hips against his hard cock, and he hissed. He wanted to rid them both of all the clothing between them. He wanted to feast on her naked flesh, drink the evidence of her desire, lick every inch of her body.
Blake threw his head back in frustration. But then he saw Annalise. She was magnificent in the dim light of the carriage, her breasts naked to his gaze, her lips swollen from his kisses, her eyes half-lidded with passion.
Blake slowly placed his hand under her skirt and slid it against her leg until he reached her core. Annalise’s hips bucked before she rubbed herself against the heel of his palm, writhing and taking her pleasure. Blake smiled and plunged one finger inside her core.
Annalise whimpered, but didn’t stop, didn’t even slow her movement. She was hot and tight, her inner muscles working on his finger, her nub rubbing against the heel of his palm. Blake kissed her urgently, swallowing her every moan, every breath. His other hand traveled to her breasts, pinching, playing with her nipples.
Annalise tore her mouth away and placed her forehead against his. “Blake, I…” She stopped as a pleasure-filled moan ripped from her throat. Her fingers curled harder into his shoulders.
Blake plunged a second finger inside her tight core and closed his eyes. Her scent, the sounds she made, the constant movement of her hips were driving him insane. He wiped the sweat off his forehead and watched Annalise as she moved on him, chasing her orgasm.
Blake couldn’t take it anymore. He undid the falls of his breeches and took himself in hand. Annalise started moaning as her inner muscles contracted, and she started pulsing from the inside. Blake rubbed his hot, hard length in his hand, matching the rhythm of Annalise’s hips. She screamed and sagged against him, and in a few moments, he was filled with bliss as hot liquid covered his hand.
Blake’s chest rose and fell frantically with his every breath as he tried in vain to quiet his raging heartbeat. He rested his head against the carriage seat, and Annalise moved closer to him, burrowing her nose in the crook of his neck.
Blake slowly withdrew his fingers from Annalise’s core, and she whimpered. He hugged her closer to him, inhaling the sweet scent of her hair.
The carriage suddenly drew to a halt, and Blake swore. Annalise sat up, her gaze panicked. Blake hastily helped raise her bodice, covering her beautiful breasts. He cuddled her cheek and placed a soft kiss on her mouth. The carriage door opened then, but Blake didn’t let go of Annalise. Instead, he deepened the kiss.
When he raised his head, the footman was standing there, awkwardly looking away, still holding the door open.
“Close the door,” Blake barked, and the servant obeyed.
Blake gently set Annalise aside and cleaned himself with a handkerchief. He buttoned up his breeches while Annalise adjusted her clothing. Her bodice was rumpled, and her coiffure was permanently ruined. Blake carefully took his coat off and covered her shoulders with it. He then rapped on the door and escorted Annalise out of the carriage.
They made their way through the townhouse in silence. Annalise’s arm in the crook of his. Her warmth was along his left side, her scent luring him to her. He paused beside Annalise’s door. She turned and looked up at him. Another pause. His entire body buzzed in anticipation. He wanted to take her into his arms, throw her on the bed, and have his way with her. Slowly this time, unhurriedly, leisurely.
But he just held his breath and waited. Because he didn’t want her for just one night, he wanted her forever. And in this case, he’d have to wait for her to come to him. Even if it killed him.
She opened the door, looked over her shoulder, and said, “Come.”
Chapter 14
Annalise entered her room and stopped in the middle. Blake slowly came up behind her and placed his hands on her waist. The heat from his hands traveled throughout her body, dulling all the other senses but the awareness of him. He softly kissed her ear, then her neck. Annalise tilted her head to give him better access, and he kissed her open-mouthed before grazing her skin with his teeth and sending shivers down her body.
He slowly turned her to face him and looked at her as if mesmerized. He then proceeded to take the pins out of her coiffure. He ran his hands through her hair when he was done, spreading it about her shoulders.
“You are beautiful,” he whispered.
Annalise lowered her eyes.
“Are you certain you want to do this?” he asked.
Annalise took a deep breath. She wasn’t certain. She still shook slightly from their interlude in the carriage. Her mind was reeling with excitement. She wanted more. But she was also scared out of her wits. Scared of what? Trusting Blake again or falling in love with him again? If she continued down this path, would she ever be able to leave him?
She smiled shyly and looked into his eyes. “I think so.”
“I want you to be certain, darling.”
“I don’t know if I can be certain of anything right now.”
Blake returned her smile and brushed the lock of hair from her shoulder. “We don’t have to do anything more tonight, then. I’d rather you be certain.”
Was he about to leave? Panic gripped her at the thought. Yes, she wasn’t certain whether she wanted him or not, but she was certain she didn’t want to be alone.
Lavinia’s words rang through her mind.
All I know is that if I were given two months to spend worry-free in blissful happiness with Kensington, if I was told he’d marry and I’d be miserable after, but I’d have the memories of these two months… I would take it.
And you could end up with a babe, her heart whispered. Having made the decision, Annalise took his hands and tugged him closer.
Blake placed a soft kiss on her forehead. He was about to move away, but Annalise tipped her head and captured his mouth with hers.
Annalise kissed him deeply, desperately. She ran her hands up his hard chest until she encountered his cravat. She untied it with Blake’s help and threw it to the floor. Next went his waistcoat.
“Annalise,” he whispered, trying to take hold of her hands to slow her down.
“No, Blake. I am certain. Please, do not stop me.”
Blake nodded and removed his hands. Annalise unbuttoned his shirt and ran her hands over his hard, naked chest, feeling his warmth. She ran her fingers through his coarse hairs, his muscles bunching under her touch. She placed her hands over his heart, feeling the wild beating inside. Something metallic got caught under her palm, so she took it in her hand and raised it to her face. A locket.
Could it be? She raised her gaze to his but had trouble reading his expression in the dark room. Annalise went to the bedside table and lit a candle. Blake followed her close behind.
Annalise perched on the edge of the bed and tug
ged Blake to stand before her. She took the locket and rubbed it slowly.
“You kept this all this time,” she whispered.
“Kept it?” Blake huffed. “It’s the only thing that kept me sane.”
She opened the locket, peered into her miniature, and smiled.
“It’s a good likeness. I looked at it so many times during the past year and a half that I think it is engraved under my eyelids by now,” he said quietly. “It is nothing compared to reality, though.”
Annalise didn’t take her eyes off the locket. She swallowed before speaking. “I didn’t think you still had it,” she said, matching his quiet tone of voice.
Blake put two fingers under Annalise’s chin and lifted her face so she would meet his eyes. “You saved my life. I looked at that locket every day, and I swore I wouldn’t die without seeing you again.”
Annalise’s heart made a curious jolt while her eyes filled with tears. Blake slowly lowered his head and kissed her. Annalise’s hand went up to the nape of his head, and she pulled him closer, locket still in her hand, trapped between their bodies. She kissed him hungrily, enthusiastically, clinging to him and shaping her body to his.
With a groan, Blake lowered his torso and swept Annalise off the bed. He sat on the bed and gently lowered her to his lap.
Annalise let go of the locket, and her hand was in his hair, sifting through his locks. Blake pressed her closer to him, devouring her mouth, licking into her warmth, tasting her. She moved on him then, her bum brushing against his erect length. He was hard as a rock. Annalise’s entire body hummed with the tension of an inevitable release.
Blake dragged his mouth away from her lips, and she whimpered. “Wait,” he said, his voice hoarse. “You don’t want this.”
“I do, please. I want this. More than you know.”
Blake groaned and swept his coat off her shoulders. He unbuttoned her bodice, then started working on the corset. Annalise ran her hands up and down his back, then lowered her head and bit on his neck and collarbone.
