The Elusive Earl

by Eva Andrews

  A waltz struck up and Alastair grinned, “My dance I believe, correct?” Nodding to the dance floor, he pulled her out onto the polished floor and the two swept up into the start of the waltz surrounded by a sea of couples.

  Across the room Luke entered to see Genevieve and Alastair sweep past him in a waltz, gritting his teeth he watched as his best friend and Genevieve dance like they were long lost lovers. His blood began to boil; surely Alastair wouldn’t step in and poach his woman?

  Trying to shake off his jealousy he sought out his brother, Gideon first.

  Finding him across the room, Luke skillfully maneuvered around people he didn’t have time to talk to before coming up to his brother and his wife.

  “Luke!” Helena’s smile was contagious; she hugged him quickly and stood back so he could greet his brother.

  Gideon reached out and took his hand and pulled him in close for a hug, “Welcome home, good to see you.”

  “Good to be home, glad to see you two are back from Scotland. I missed you both.” Smiling at the couple he turned and faced the sea of people with them. Sighing, “So tell me, how bad is it?” He asked Helena directly.

  Chuckling and gently shaking her head, “Oh Luke, do you really think it’d be easy?”

  “Of course not, nothing worth a damn is easy.” Crossing his arms he watched Genevieve and Alastair waltz. He couldn’t deny the fact that Alastair and Genevieve made a striking couple. She looked stunning in red.

  “Heal her heart, make her believe you. She loves you, I can tell. Once she learned that Jade was an informant, and what she saw was most likely a planned scene, her heart already began to melt. I really believe she’s waiting for you to fix this mess and put it behind you, no matter what she says.” Helena admitted to him.

  Gideon cast his glance around the room and added, “However, you should know that you have competition little brother. Alastair and I have kept an eye on her but there are men falling at her feet nightly, you better work fast.” Gideon teased playfully slapping him on the shoulder.

  “Cover for me?” He asked his brother and Helena

  In unison they replied, “When haven’t we?” and turned to each other and smiled.

  Nodding to them, he slipped out of the patio that was directly behind him and began to hunt his future wife. He needed to find a private spot for them to talk; he didn’t want to approach her in the eyes of so many on the dance floor.

  The night rolled on slowly for Genevieve, she had danced with numerous men and her spirit began to wan, although she put on a good act, she just wanted to go home. Excusing herself from her parent’s side, she walked towards the powder room. The sound of the crowd buzzed in her ears and she felt light headed, rubbing her temples she passed the powder room and walked further, she needed quiet.

  Walking down the long hall alone in the dark, the sounds of the crowds faded behind her when a strong arm wrapped around her waist and gently pulled her close.

  “Did you miss me Genevieve?” Luke whispered as he pulled her against him.

  Genevieve’s senses came to life the moment he touched her, she reached up and smacked him hard across his face and pushed away from him without saying a word.

  Recovering quickly, Luke picked her up and threw her over his shoulder and walked into a room down the hallway. Sitting her down he kicked the door shut and turned back to address her, “Don’t you think it is fair you listen to my side of what you saw? If you loved me at all you’ll give me a chance to explain Genevieve Elizabeth!”

  Her anger dissipated, he was right.

  She owed it to him and herself to hear what he had to say. She had been waiting days to see him, feeling guilty for smacking him she stepped back and refused to look at him in the eyes.

  “Look at me Genevieve, please, if you ever felt any sort of love for me, please let me explain,” he begged, stepping closer to her he tilted her chin up and looked into her eyes, “I love you, only you, please believe me.”

  Wrapping an arm around her slim waist, he pulled her closer and kissed her. Within seconds Genevieve was melting in his arms, she had missed him so much. Over the past days his absence had affected her deeply. Her anger was diminished and her longing for him flooded her day and night.

  Throwing her arms around his shoulders she closed the distance between them and kissed him back with wild passion, he was her everything. In his arms, nothing else mattered.

  Luke picked her up and wrapped her legs around his slim hips and backed her into the door, he reached down and locked the door before he carried her over the daybed that was covered in silk blankets.

  He tossed her on the bed and grabbed her ankles; hungry for her, his lust couldn’t be slated. Running his hands up her thighs he threw her skirt up and buried his face in he hot wet core, he heard her moan as he licked her wet cunny and sucked. His hands ran up her thighs and cupped her sweet ass as he laid claim to her once again. Genevieve arched as he feasted on her, god she tasted delicious. He missed everything about this woman, everything.

  Unbuckling his pants he pulled out his aching cock and stoked it with his hand as he dined on her honey until she came upon his face, her hands grasped his hair as she rode his face. Wave upon wave hit her as she threw her head back into the pillows.

  “Oh my God Luke, yes, yes, yes!” She muted her cries the best she could.

  Kneeling between her slick thighs he placed the tip of his cock in her and thrust in and out in slow motion, teasing her into pleading.

  He reached up and freed a breast from her tight red dress and sucked on her nipple as he repeated his deliberate pace, “Did you miss me Vieve?” He asked again as he went deeper.

  She grasped at the sheets as he buried himself in her, “Yes, too much!” She shamelessly admitted to him. Licking her neck he worked his way up to her ear as he continued his leisurely pace, taking and giving.

  “Do you love me kitten?” Pausing as he withdrew from her for effect.

  Looking into his eyes she whispered, “Yes, too much.”

  The words were like a salve to his soul. If she loved him, there was hope for them yet.

  Driven by desire, he grabbed her waist and rolled them so she was on top, grabbing her hips, she rode him hard and fast, they were both in desperate need of each other. Leaning up he cupped her breast as he pumped into her, both fully dressed madly making love to each other while the masque ball raged on within the same house.

  Moments later Genevieve threw her head back and ground her hips into him and took every inch of him as she exploded into a million pieces. He was helpless except to hold on, her pleasure set him over the edge joining her in sweet oblivion, he filled her with his hot seed over and over as he brought her higher with every thrust, Luke caught her as she slumped against him.

  Kissing her nose, he hugged her, “I love you Genevieve, only you.”

  Feeling her shift, he watched as she got up from the bed and smoothed out her skirts and checked her hair, with everything in place she started towards the door without saying another word.

  Confused he asked, “What are you doing Vieve?” Buckling his pants up, he stood up and walked after her before she reached the door.

  Looking over her shoulder she replied, “I’m going back to the ball Luke.”

  Seeing her reach for the door he moved in front of her quickly. “We aren’t done here love.” Crossing his arms he looked down at her.

  “Yes we are, please move.” She requested softly.

  Pointing back to the daybed where they just made love on moments ago, “What was that?” He asked, thoroughly confused.

  “That was sex Luke, I’m told many people engage in it daily without strings attached, that suits me just fine. You are an excellent lover…until I find someone to replace you.” Crossing his arms to mimic him again.

  “You’ve got to be joking Vieve, a lady of your worth doesn’t do that daily without strings attached. We are engaged Genevieve Elizabeth, did you forget that?” growing upset at the
direction their conversation was headed, stepping closer he growled, “and I’ll be damned if another man ever touches you again, you belong to me.”

  “It appears you are under the misconception that we are still engaged, we are not…any longer. Thankfully no one knows of our daylong engagement, so there is no need to officially cry off. You can go your way and I’ll go mine, now please, let me go back to the ball.”

  He watched her reach for the door handle and avoided eye contact.

  Capturing her wrists he drew her close and kissed her hands, “Genevieve, I know you are mad at me. I know you think you know what you saw. I will not settle for sex with you love, I want you to be my wife forever. I thought that you loved me?”

  Swinging her gaze back at him, her eyebrows pinched together as she jerked the door open and escaped out in a flash. She had been so quick, he watched as the door shut in his face. Punching the door with his hand, “Fuck!” She may have given him her body easily, but her heart would be much harder to win over.

  Walking briskly back to the party, she thought about the way he said the last words, it struck at her heart. She did love him, it damn near dropped her to her knees; she had never seen him so openly free with his emotions. Normally he was such a closed book, his touch had set her on fire, and her need for him was insatiable. She knew if she stayed and listened to him, he’d have her convinced within a few moments of his undying love and faithfulness. As soon as they were done having sex, she awoke out of the fog, vulnerable and scared.

  Before she hit the main room, she felt his hand clasp with hers and squeeze tightly. Looking up into his soulful eyes, she felt tears well in her lids.

  They stood on the edge of the room, “Dance with me?” He requested gently, nodding towards the dance floor. Genevieve nodded, afraid to even speak, she was on the verge of a breakdown. She felt him take her intimately by the hand and escort her on the dance floor. With the earlier speculation of Luke and her being lovers, all of London watched as Luke swept her into a graceful waltz. Surrounded by hundreds of others, their connection was apparent to all who watched them. They danced like longstanding lovers, if London was wondering if these two were a possible match, the dance left little doubt.

  Pulling her closer than he ought, she had noticed the eyes upon them. His hands were far too low on her hip; there was absolutely no space between them when they danced. She simply had no fight left in her at this moment. Being held by him was what she needed, drowning in a pool of emotions she let the dance consume her as she melted under his touch.

  Genevieve was lost in his arms, instead of assaulting her with questions and demands, the man she loved simply asked her to dance. He left her alone to her thoughts while they danced; she had felt his strong hand on her hips pull her intimately close.

  She looked up into his stormy blue eyes, and saw him grin down at her; it had to be the most gorgeous smirk she’d ever seen. He made her knees weak, he made her heart do flips, she felt herself grow wet feeling his rippling muscles underneath her hands.

  Smiling back at him, she thought of how he had just made love to her yards away from all these people, how he made her scream his name in pleasure.

  Lowering his head, Luke whispered into her ear, “You look so damn delicious, I want to pull that dress off with my teeth.”

  Imagining him doing just that, she grinned and whispered back, “and what would you do with me once you took it off Luke?”

  She felt his fingertips flex into her soft skin at her question.

  Leaning extremely close, he licked her ear so no one could see and tugged her against him as they entered a series of tight spins, “I would fuck you until you couldn’t run away from me, I’d fuck you until you agreed to be mine, forever.”

  His words were dripped with velvet sexuality, taking a deep breath, her breasts pushed into his rock hard chest as she bit her lip.

  Whispering yet again into her ear, “Good God Vieve, I want to fuck you right here when you bite your lip like that. What have you done to me? If you don’t love me, if you don’t want me, release me from your spell, otherwise, claim me as yours forever.”

  So thankful for his strong arms around her, her knees went weak from his words, looking up into his eyes, it was all she could do not to kiss him in front of the hundreds of masquerade dancers on the floor, “Meet me in my garden an hour,” she breathlessly requested. She could not imagine letting him go, not really. She had gone on for days about how she never wanted to see him again, yet truly, she wanted nothing but him. Seeing him, touching him, it was exactly what she needed.

  “Don’t change out of that dress, I can’t wait to pull it off you. I’ll be waiting my fair Genevieve, you have one hour my love.”

  An hour later Luke sat in Genevieve’s favorite spot in the garden, the spot he could always find her reading or writing. With his feet kicked up on the bench, he waited in the silence of her summer garden.

  He had watched light after light go out in her parent’s home long before he heard her exit the side entrance and walk gracefully into the moonlit night. Her red silk gown floated around her curves as she walked out into the garden. She looked like an ethereal angel sent to claim his soul. As soon as he laid eyes on her, he stood up and closed the distance between them; her long dark hair fell around down her back to her slim waist. Cupping her jaw, he claimed her soft honeyed mouth as he felt her hands wrap around his chest.

  Pulling back, he touched noses with her as he whispered, “Come home with me Vieve, stay with me tonight, I can’t sleep another night without you. I’ll bring you back in the morning before anyone awakens.”

  “Explain to me what I saw, then I’ll decide if I sleep next to you or not.”

  “Lady Jade is an informant I’ve utilized for years, I’ve never touched her, or any of the ladies at that place. It makes my skin crawl. She has access to Rossdale’s men, and quite a way to make them talk. I stopped by there to question her if she knew why Rossdale’s ship was shipping out that night. Instead I found her with a blackened eye and in tears, Rossdale had just been there and beat her for not giving up information.”

  He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close, he knew everything was riding on Genevieve believing him, “I would never touch another woman Vieve. I know it looked bad, but I am telling you the truth. I think someone wanted you to see that. It is very possible Jade set the entire thing up and she’s a double agent. I believe the note sent to our room was intended for you to find, you were intended to find me in a compromising position. You’ve known me long enough to know I would never hurt you, I would never lie to you.”

  “Your brother seemed to think the same thing, who would want to come between us Luke? It just doesn’t make sense…and yes, I know you would never lie to me.”

  Luke felt her wrap her slim arms inside his evening coat and squeeze. God he had miss holding this woman. Since she left Ireland, he had suffered countless sleepless nights without her. Having her in his arms made the world fade away.

  Resting his chin on her head he admitted, “I don’t know yet who would want you to see that Vieve, but I will find out. Someone knows my weakness, you. The best way to hurt me would be through you and that worries me. Also, with my shipping company and your father’s, if they ever combined into one, we would rule the industry.”

  “Very true, I didn’t think of either of those things.” She confessed.

  Kissing her forehead he entwined his fingers with hers.

  Genevieve looked up at him, “I’m sorry I didn’t wait for you to get back to the inn, I was so distraught I wasn’t thinking clearly. I should have waited and talked to you before jumping to conclusions.”

  He squeezed her hand, “From now on, before you run, please talk to me. It kills me inside to not know where you are, or if you are safe. I love you dearly Vieve, seriously. I cannot live without you. If you truly do not want to marry me, I’ll try to honor that, but I don’t think I will ever stop until your ring is back on your finger.�
��

  Sucking in a quick breath, “My ring! Oh my God Luke, I gave it away on the street that night to some old lady beggar.” She lifted her hand to cover her mouth, clearly ashamed of her actions.

  Luke simply smiled down at her, and patted his chest pocket, “I have it minx, lovely old hen was quick to make a deal and I bought it off her. I’ll keep it until you are ready to keep it on forever this time.”

  Genevieve broke her silence and asked, “Don’t you think if we were meant for each other that this would be easier? Why is everything against us?”

  Leaning down he whispered sweetly, “Nothing worth a damn is easy Vieve, you know that. Look at Gideon and Helena, they went through years of trials and tribulation and look at them now. Please don’t give up on us love; in your heart I think you know I’m the only man for you. I know in my heart of hearts that there isn’t a woman who will ever take your place, ever. I will literally spend the rest of my life convincing you for as long as it takes. If you will not marry me, then I shall stay unmarried for the rest of my days. I’ll pass my title to Gideon or Amelia’s children if you do not want to carry my babies.”

  “Oh Luke, don’t say that! Why must I ruin everything? You’ve been so good to me; you’ve been patient and understanding. Am I really worth this trouble? You could have your pick of any of these women, why me?” She couldn’t hold back, it was true. Luke was one of the most eligible bachelors of London; he could have his pick of any woman available.

  His scent, his voice, his eyes, everything about him made her mad with desire. The thought of him marrying or touching another woman sent her into rage, she admitted, he had to be right. She knew she’d never be able to let him go, he had captured her heart and soul for eternity. If she didn’t marry him, there would no other for her.

  “Look at me,” nudging her head up with his, “I would die for you, I would go to the end of this world for you a million times over. There is no other woman out there that would ever compare to you, I don’t want them, I want you. I want Genevieve Elisabeth St. George. Can we go home love? I need you beside me tonight.”