by Anna Macy
Taking her mouth with his, William’s lips were sweet against her. They pressed her into the blankets as his hand reached down her hip down to her bottom, where he pulled her thigh up against this. Juliet broke the kiss, panting, as she opened up to his body. With the smallest movement, she and William would be one.
Instinct drove her to raise her hips, begging for the pleasure she knew awaited her. The slick head of William’s length pushed against her. Butting her with his nose, William kissed his way across her face, even as his fingers on her thigh tightened. In a smooth, possessive move, William thrust forward, filling her with all of himself.
Gasping, Juliet clutched at his shoulders, crying out quietly as she buried herself in his arms. William froze, his body completely still, as he allowed her body to adjust to his invasion. He swept her face with soft kisses.
After catching her breath, Juliet found herself returning his kisses with more of her own. Pressing her hands into the small of his back, she reveled in the feeling of being completely, uniquely one.
Carefully watching her with his nearly black eyes, William began to move, rocking his hips back and forth. At first, Juliet braced herself for pain, but the slick slide of his body against hers began to rekindle the fire of passion that quickly consumed her body. Digging her nails into his skin, Juliet begged him for more, her body meeting his thrust for thrust.
His lips captured a nipple, tugging on it lightly with his teeth as his hips continued to set a rhythm against her body, his body glowing in the firelight. Juliet felt herself going mad, her mind filled with the pleasure he was giving her. Biting down on her lip, she gave herself over to the passion, the instinct, letting her hips rise to meet every thrust, her eager body begging for release.
William’s motions were speeding up, becoming less gentle as his torturous lips again captured her breast. Tugging gently with his teeth, he wrung a cry from her lips, teasing the peak with his tongue. She was so close to oblivion; she could feel it threatening to overtake her with every surge of his body. William’s voice panted in her ear as strong hands urged her to wrap her legs around his waist.
“Fall with me,” he rasped, the sound rumbling through her body as he reached between their bodies. Finding where her core hummed, his fingers circled it, rubbing, even as his thrusts filled her.
Juliet shouted his name as her body shattered below him, clenching tightly around his shaft as the waves of exquisite pleasure rolled through her again and again. Distantly as if from far away, she felt William curse darkly, his powerful body straining against hers as he threw back his head in his climax.
As Juliet came back down to Earth, her limbs turning to a delightful languid state, she trailed her curious fingers over his heaving chest, his wide, powerful shoulders. She smiled coyly as his skin jumped, twitching at her gentle touch. William watched her actions through heavy-lidded eyes, dark hair loose and wild around his face. Finally, Juliet untucked her legs from his waist, letting her legs fall to the pile of blankets.
William lowered his face, brushing affectionate, light kisses across her lips even as he continued to stare into her eyes. Juliet’s body was sated, but her heart trembled at the open adoration that he looked at her with. Sliding from her body, William pulled Juliet to his chest, pressing her body against him, as if unhappy that any space dare separates them. She didn’t mind.
“I didn’t know it would be like that.” Juliet blushed, her eyelashes fluttering against the warm skin of his chest.
“Neither did I.” William’s fingers traced patterns down her back.
Glad that he wouldn’t see her face, Juliet couldn’t resist asking, “But haven’t you been with other women? It’s not uncommon.”
His chest rose and fell before he answered. “I’ve been with other women, Juliet. Some I regret. But it has never felt, even a bit, like what we just shared. That was something else entirely.”
“Really?”
“I wouldn’t lie to you,” William chuckled, tightening his hold on her body. “You should rest for a bit, my love. I’ll wake you when the storm passes.”
William gently wrapped his arm around her shoulders, tucking her into his warmth. Not getting a response, he leaned forward.
“Juliet?” She was fast asleep; her lips parted in a dream as her body curled around his own. His silver eyes crinkled at the corners as he leaned forward to press his lips to her forehead, covering them both with part of the quilts. And that is where they stayed. Juliet was dozing against the head of his body as they let their clothes dry.
“Hello beautiful,” William’s rich voice settled over her, rousing her gradually from her dreamlike state. She raised her eyebrows. Based on the hunger she felt that it must be past dinner by now and the darkness was settling over the estate.
“The rain has stopped. We’d best get a move on.” William said, gingerly getting to his feet. He did not bother to cover his naked body, and Juliet’s eyes immediately drank their fill. William’s body was striking.
Long, well-muscled arms and legs from his riding were drawn together by a thick, powerful chest and torso covered by a fine layer of silken dark hair that matched what was on his head and between his legs. And speaking of that part, his body seemed aware of her eyes as it began to thicken and grow.
Juliet swallowed, stretching her body as best she could without letting her quilt drop. Even still, she blushed when she felt his hot eyes on her again.
“You’re right.” Standing quickly, she dashed to the bedroom, where her clothes were drying. As she got to the door, she heard his voice.
“That’s probably best. If we stay here any longer, I might be convinced to ravish you again.” She trembled at the heat that flashed through her body at his words. Taking a deep, steadying breath, Juliet stepped into the tiny bedroom and quickly closed the door, leaning her burning face against the cold wooden door. Laughter bubbled in her chest, even as she pressed a hand to her face, letting her fingers wander across the seemingly permanent smile there.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
It took more time than even she’d imagined getting dressed in her still damp clothing, the heavy fabrics sticking to her warm skin. By the time she yanked her clothing into place and exited the cottage bedroom, it was dark outside. William stood by the door and smiled at her when she walked in, his whole face lighting up at seeing her. Which, of course, made her face pink up in pleasure.
Walking slowly to her, she boldly let herself lean against his side. Without breaking his gaze out the window, his arm curled around her, hugging her tenderly. “It’s time for me to go.”
“What?” Juliet said sharply, her upturned face searching his.
“Only, for now, love, I don’t think that being found haphazardly dressed in an abandoned cottage will do much in our case to say that I’m the best choice for you,” He said, his finger gently brushing an errant curl away from her face.
“It would keep the other suitors away?” Juliet pushed back, her heart pounding at the prospect of him leaving already.
William chuckled but stepped back from her. “Not the one we are worried about, it won’t. I’m going to go just back down the road and stay at the closest inn.” Juliet’s brow wrinkled as she waited for him to explain.
“Then tomorrow, I will come to Greystone and surprise you,” William said with a wink. “I’m hoping that shortly after my associate will be here with everything, we need to assure your engagement to Lord Henry Faber is over.”
“Your plan worked?” Juliet whispered, her voice sounding frantic as William adjusted the damp cloak of his shoulder. “You know we can convince Marshall?”
“Faber’s offer for your hand is not only inappropriate but invalid,” William finished, his face growing dark. “We can approach Marshall, as you call him, together. Talk some sense into him. Maybe he will change his plans without having to get any authorities involved.”
“Authorities, William, what is this all about?”
“I promise I will reveal
everything tomorrow,” he said.
“But tomorrow, Faber will be at Greystone as well. He arrives first thing via carriage,” Juliet pulled a face. “I scared him away the other week, but I worry he’s grown tired of Amelia’s tricks. He won’t be so easily fooled into leaving this time.”
A cunning smile crossed William’s face. “That, my love, is what makes it all the better.” He walked to the door, turning back, his face still clouded. “I’m sorry to keep you in the dark, but know that everything will come together as quickly as possible. And I’ve called for reinforcements during Faber’s stay.”
Juliet gave him a tight-lipped smile, crossing her arms and rubbing the flesh of her arms vigorously as if to ward off the idea of a marriage to Lord Faber. “I trust you, William.”
William strode back to her with a curse, pulling her tightly against his body in a rough embrace. “I-,” his voice cut off gruffly, “I-I know you do. Stay safe and stay away from your stepfather. I will be back before you know it.” William set her back, his expression solemn.
Juliet nodded, her traitorous eyes filling with tears. “Goodbye, William. For now.” He walked out into the inky fall evening; his boot steps muffled against the wet leaves on the ground. She heard him slap his leather saddlebags across Athena's back, and then the gentle jingle of the metal bit in the mare’s mouth.
And then they were gone, carefully picking their way back up to the main road. She waited by the door until she could no longer hear the rhythmic hoofbeats taking William back down to the local Inn. Juliet shivered, already missing his warmth, his voice.
Juliet gathered the quilt back around her body and went to recline by the fireplace, her fingers running over the wooden floors where just hours ago she had been laying beneath William. The thought brought tingles to her belly and a smile to her face. She knew she could ride home, but she and William had decided that feigning a small injury might be the best explanation for the time that had elapsed since she had left that afternoon.
She bought time milling around the house, finding some pins left in a drawer, she attempted to smooth her hair. She had liked the old groundskeeper, Randolph, and wished that they had been able to keep him here.
With a pang, Juliet realized how badly she wanted to free not just herself from Marshall’s reign but the entirety of Greystone. It weighed heavily on her shoulders as she listened to the darkness of the night.
She was refolding up one of the heavy quilts when the front door flew open with a deafening bang. Marshall stood in the doorframe, his usually coiffed blonde hair unruly around his wind-whipped face. Seeing her, he strode up to her and grabbed her upper arm in a rigid gloved fist.
“We have been looking everywhere for you,” he snarled at her, spittle flying, “What are you playing at?”
Juliet wrenched her arm free, twisting away with a flourish of her skirts, “I wasn’t playing anything! Sterling and I fell. We just came here to dry off,” she shouted back.
“We?” Marshall growled.
“The horse and me. We.” Juliet said, sarcasm slipping into her voice. If possible, Marshall’s face grew redder.
“Do you have any idea how important you are?” Marshall’s voice rose, filling the cottage. The volume made Juliet want to cringe away, to retreat, but she planted her feet against the onslaught. She would not give him the satisfaction of cowering.
“Important to you? Or important to Faber’s offer?” she spat back at him. His face blanched, and he seemed to freeze for a moment. Breathing deeply through his nose, Marshall looked down at his mud-splattered coat, straightening it with jerky motions.
“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” he said, eerily calm.
“Don’t lie to me. I know I’ve never been anything but a payout for you. And the only reason you would deny the Marquess would be if Lord Faber has made a better offer,” Juliet twisted her face, her heart cold. “That or if it just pleases you to continue to deny me a chance at real love.”
Marshall stood above her, looking down his long nose at her. Whereas she had always seen the vain, handsome but hateful man her mother had married, she realized now that all she saw was a monster. The man who changed her family changed their home and spent the past decade isolating and ignoring her.
Raising her chin, even as it quivered, she turned and brushed past him and out of the room. Walking to a dry but muddy Sterling, she heard Marshall slam the cottage's door and join her on the porch. Looking him straight in the eyes, she clambered onto Sterling’s back, unflinching, even as a variety of pains tightened her chest.
Without a word, she steered the stallion down the path and up to the road and past a small group of riders who had accompanied Marshall on his quest to find her. Juliet nodded deeply to them, recognizing them as household servants from Greystone. She appreciated them coming, even if they had been ordered to do so.
By the time she got home, her anger had faded into exhaustion and more than a little soreness. She handed off Sterling to a footman who promised to give the horse extra care and made her way into the house.
Not surprising, but still disappointing, her mother wasn’t anywhere to be seen. But as soon as she mounted the stairs to her room, a warm, comforting hand found the small of her back, and she turned to see Amelia standing beside her. The older woman’s kind face was red, and her eyes were glassy with tears.
But in her usual no-nonsense way, Amelia urged her upstairs, “Let’s get you to bed, my lady.”
Juliet nodded, her own eyes filling as the overwhelming events of the day hit her like a boulder to her chest. Letting Amelia guide her, she climbed to her room, where she was stripped of her cold clothes and dropped into a steaming bath. The last thought she had before she dozed off that night was that tomorrow everything would change.
***
Juliet felt stiff the next day, but she remained unencumbered by her fall for the most part. She had hurried to the stables to see how Sterling fared, only to be equally pleased by his recovery. The only long-term damage from the day before was her completely, wonderfully ruined modesty. Which, in Juliet’s mind, was more than worth the tradeoff.
By the time breakfast was served, Juliet had made her way downstairs, eager to see what the day would bring. She was alone in the dining room when she heard the distinctive creak of carriage harness and wheels pull around the front drive. Laying her fork carefully to the side, she dapped at her lips with the napkin.
Lord Faber was early; she thought to herself. Smoothing anxious hands down her dress, Juliet quickly slipped out of the dining hall and across to the entry. As she expected, she would be the only family member available to receive Lord Faber at this hour.
Bringing William's image from yesterday, his body glowing in the cottage’s firelight, to mind, then held onto it tightly, her belly clenching at the memory. Blushing slightly, she walked through the foyer and nodded to the tall, slim butler who opened the front doors wide.
Juliet only had a moment to react before a slight, warmly wrapped body ran straight into her. With an “oomph,” Juliet stumbled back a step, looking down and seeing an abundance of bright blonde hair peeking out from a woolen scarf.
“Did you miss me?” Marian squealed, uncharacteristically loud in the echoing entry of Greystone. Juliet’s mouth was working hard, but no sound came out as she stared first at Marian, then at the open door, as if expecting Lord Faber to pop out at any moment.
“Well, of course! But what are you doing here?” Juliet said, dropping her voice low as she turned them from the door. Marian’s eyes grew serious.
“William said you could use an ally, and I’m already feeling more than a little insane cooped up with Laura and my mother at Devonshire.” Marian smiled at her, bright eyes illuminating a kind heart. Juliet had to bite her lip to keep back the wave of tears that threatened her. It had only been two weeks, but she had missed her friends badly.
Marian squeezed Juliet’s hand tightly between her gloved hands. She shrugged out of
her overcoat as the butler came and retrieved it, his face a slate of stoic indifference. “Come. Invite me in, and we will talk all about it.”
Juliet led the way to her favorite sitting room inside the library, where Amelia quickly brought them tea and freshly iced ginger biscuits that Marian eagerly devoured as Juliet caught her up in hushed tones.
She told her friend everything, about Lord Faber’s engagement, about her suspicion of her stepfather, about William finding her and Sterling. She did glaze over the part in the cottage, those memories were still hers to hold tight, but she was sure her friend noticed the blush.
“William said he has evidence coming that will free me from any possibility of marrying Lord Faber,” Juliet said, setting her teacup down and turning to look at her friend, a bright smile on her face.
