by Amelia Grey
She heard him moan as he dragged his lips away from her, and he asked on a shaky breath, “Am I going too fast?”
“No. I feel hot and out of breath, as if I’ve been running and—”
“Yes?”
“I feel as if something is missing inside me.”
“Good, that’s the way you’re supposed to feel.”
While he continued to kiss her madly, he put his hand between their bodies, and she knew by his movements that he was unbuttoning his trousers. She felt him shoving them down, and she moved her hands to his hips and helped him push them past his knees.
He started to lower himself to her again, but she stopped him by pressing her palm to his chest. “May I see you?”
She felt a tremble in the arm that held his weight off her. “Are you sure you want to?”
She nodded.
Daniel pushed backward and held his body up and away from her by holding on to the back of the settee.
Isabella looked at his pulsating shaft. It was beautiful. She reached out and touched its satiny length and its rigid hardness with her hands. She heard him moan with pleasure. She looked at his face. His eyes were closed. The expression on his face was so intense, for a moment she thought he might be in pain.
“Does it hurt?” she whispered.
His eyes opened and he looked down at her and smiled. “Oh, yes, it’s killing me. But no, it doesn’t hurt like you’re thinking. Have you seen and touched enough, my beautiful, inquisitive Isabella?”
“I like the way it feels,” she said, cupping him with both hands.
“I like it, too, but I’ve had all I can bear.”
Isabella shivered with anticipation and nodded.
When he settled back between her legs, she felt the length of his body and the length of his long, hard shaft pushing against her.
Into her mouth he whispered, “Oh, Isabella, what you do to me is so powerful. I’m filled with wanting you.”
“I feel it, too, my lord. I feel as if something has been building inside me and it’s about to explode.”
“Oh, yes, Isabella, it is. I’ll see to it.”
He dipped his head lower and sucked her breast into his mouth again, harder than he had before, but it didn’t hurt. He laved and nibbled first one and then the other. His savage treatment only made her lift her buttocks and press tighter against him.
“Mmm, you taste good,” he murmured against her skin. “So sweet and firm. I can’t get enough of you.”
His hand slipped between them again, and she felt a maddening pressure against her womanhood. It felt right for the force to be there, but it was as if her body wouldn’t give in to his demand.
Suddenly his shaft broke through, and she felt a searing pain and just as quick a fullness that took her breath away. Isabella jerked with a whimper of shock, but Daniel held her close to his chest, kissing her forehead, her eyes, her cheeks, and her lips. She gasped at the fullness, the wonder; the unimaginable feeling of being joined with Daniel.
Her arms tightened around his back when he tried to push away from her. “No, don’t stop,” she begged.
“Are you sure you’re all right?” he whispered as his lips traveled to her ear. The warmth of his breath comforted her.
Isabella was so filled with wonderment that she could only nod.
Daniel covered her lips with his and kissed her tenderly as his body started moving slowly, up and down. In and out.
“Join me,” he said. “Help me love you.”
Isabella did so and lifted her body to meet his. It seemed awkward at first but within moments they were moving together as one. Joy leaped inside her. Daniel loved her. They were making love. Her heart swelled with so much love for him she had to fight back tears of happiness.
Something was building inside her. Daniel kissed her tenderly; his hands massaged her breasts as his fingers rubbed her nipples. Isabella closed her eyes and gloried in the feel of Daniel’s mouth on her lips, his hands on her breasts, and his body moving deep inside her.
She clung to him and moved with him until a spiral of sensations came together in an explosion of gratification. She let out a pleasurable cry of completion. Her fingers dug into his buttocks and held him to her for what seemed like a long, long satisfying time.
When her grip on him relaxed, his hips started pumping again and for a few more moments he rocked into her. His breaths came in heavy gasps until she felt his body shudder. His arms slid under her back and he pulled her close, tight, sinking himself as far into her as he could go.
Isabella smiled to herself. For her it was over too quickly. They lay quietly for a few moments with only their breathing breaking the silence.
Isabella felt no shame or regret. What she’d shared with Daniel had exceeded her expectations. The only thing that would have made their time together any better is if she’d been able to tell him she loved him.
Maybe she did regret she couldn’t do that. She couldn’t have him think in any way that she meant to trap him into marriage by insisting they have this short time together.
“My dearest, Isabella,” he whispered into her ear. “You are so perfect for me.”
Isabella was breathless, wrung out. She was so satisfied she felt like a pool of hot wax, yet she had never felt better in her life. She was contented. She threw her arms around him and laughed with vigor.
Daniel lifted his head and looked down on her with a curious expression. “Why are you laughing?”
“I’m happy, Daniel,” she said. “You have made me very happy.”
“Me, too.”
“I mean it, Daniel.”
“So do I.”
Isabella inhaled. She was filled with an overwhelming satisfaction, and all she could do was lie in Daniel’s arms and smile.
“It was more wonderful that I thought it would be.”
He braced himself with one elbow. “It was just as heavenly as it has been in my dreams.”
“You dreamed about what we just did?”
“Many times.”
“I love the way it makes me feel when you kiss me and touch me.” She ran her hand over his smooth, muscular chest. “I love the way your skin feels against mine. I love the way you feel inside me when you are big and—”
Daniel took hold of her hand and stopped her. “That’s enough about that for now. We must straighten our clothes before your maid comes looking for you.”
A deep pain of loss struck Isabella, and she tried to push it away. She had known this time had to end, but she didn’t want it to. She had to find the strength to accept it. She took a deep breath and shored up her courage. She didn’t want to be sad for what she wouldn’t have with Daniel. She wanted to be glad for what she’d shared with him just now.
Daniel rolled off her and helped her to rise from the settee. He turned his back to her and started rebuttoning his trousers.
Isabella pulled her sleeves back up on her shoulder and started arranging her corset, wondering where she would get the courage to tell him good-bye.
It was heartbreaking to know their time together had been so short. She wanted to stay here with him forever, but she knew that wasn’t to be.
She pulled up the bodice of her clothing. “Thank you for spending this time with me, Daniel, and for showing me what happens between a man and a woman when they come together.”
Daniel swore as he spun around, almost falling over as he tried to shove his foot into his boot. A scowl curled his beautiful lips. “Don’t say things like that, Isabella, and don’t thank me.”
“But I do.”
He picked up his other boot. “What just happened between us was more than just a man and a woman coming together.”
A glimmer of hope fluttered to life inside her. “It was for me. It was very special.”
“It was special for me, too.”
She bent down and picked up her pelisse. “I hadn’t told you, but my father is coming home.”
Daniel halted his movements, his bo
ot half on. “He is? When?”
She slipped her arm into her sleeve.
“His letter said by the end of the month.”
“That must make you happy.”
“I want to see him, but…”
“But what? He’s been gone years, hasn’t he?”
“Yes, but I fear he will insist I go back to the country to live again. I knew by the time I turned twenty-one and could return to London on my own, you would already be married. That’s why this time alone with you was so important to me.”
Daniel finished pulling on his boot and started stuffing his shirttail into his trousers. “It is true, I will be married by the time you turn twenty-one.”
A jagged pain splintered inside her.
Twenty-two
A lump swelled in Isabella’s throat at Daniel’s pronouncement, but she didn’t look up at him. She couldn’t. She had known he was looking to marry from the first day they met. How could she have known then that the news he’d delivered would devastate her.
Isabella concentrated on the buttons on her pelisse as she calmly asked, “Who did you decide to marry? Lady Katherine?”
“No.”
“Alice Eldridge?” she asked, realizing her fingers were so trembly by his news that she couldn’t get her pelisse fastened.
“Oh, no, not her,” he said as he grabbed his neckcloth and collar from the floor.
Isabella looked up at him. “Miss Joanne Langley? Really, Daniel, I don’t think she would be the best choice for you.”
A questioning expression eased across his face. “Is that so? Why?” he asked as he fitted his collar and neckcloth around his neck.
“Well, she doesn’t smile very often and her laugh is rather shrill.”
“Oh, you noticed that?”
“Of course and I think you would get tired of that as the years go by. And she is rather short, and I do believe her shoulders slump a bit.”
“Without doubt.”
“So maybe you should consider someone else.”
She looked up at him. He continued to tie his neckcloth. She loved him so much, but she had to remain strong and not let him know.
She wanted to smile at him, but found that she was just too sad. Her heart ached because she knew how desperately she was going to miss him.
“Perhaps it’s best you don’t tell me who you will marry.”
“Would you rather read about it in the Society column?”
Prolonging it would be a good idea. She might break down in front of him and beg him not to marry anyone. “Yes. Yes, that would be better. Do not tell me. Most likely I will be in the country by the time you marry, and there will be no need for me to know.”
He finished tying his neckcloth into a bow and walked over to her. He pushed a loose strand of hair behind her ear. His touch was warm, comforting, yet she felt hollow inside. She would miss him greatly.
Isabella took a deep breath. “Do I look presentable? Does anything appear out of place?”
“You look beautiful. There’s only one thing left to do before you leave.”
“And what is that?”
“You must pay the price for what just happened between us.”
The lump in her throat grew bigger. She felt as if she would choke, but somewhere inside herself she found the courage to say, “I promised. Whatever you wish me to do, I accept that. What is it?”
Suddenly she closed her eyes and squeezed them tightly, as if that could make his punishment bearable.
“Open your eyes, Isabella.”
“No, I can’t. Just tell me what I must do.”
“All right. You must marry me.”
She heard his husky, whispered voice, but she couldn’t have heard him correctly. She opened first one eye and then the other. He was standing so close to her, smiling so sweetly at her.
She moistened her lips. “I think you are going to have to say that again. I didn’t understand what you said.”
He bent his head close to hers. “You heard me correctly. You cannot deny me. You must marry me as soon as I can make the arrangements.”
Isabella’s heart leaped for joy. He wanted her to marry him? But did he feel she had trapped him? No, she couldn’t do that to him. That’s not what she planned.
She smiled and lovingly touched his cheek with her palm. “Daniel, I’m not going to do that to you. I couldn’t. I know what I asked of you was selfish, but I have no desire to leg-shackle you. I only wanted to have the memory of being with you when I go to the country with my father. Do not worry. No one will ever know what happened between us.”
“The only reason I agreed to touch you this afternoon is because I knew I was going to marry you.” He pulled her into his arms. “Isabella, I love you and I want you to be my wife.”
For the second time that afternoon he had left her breathless. “You love me? Daniel, do you love me?”
“As insane as it sounds, yes!”
Isabella laughed and threw her arms around his neck and kissed him with all the passion she was feeling. His kiss was demanding yet cherishing, and she loved it. She felt as if her heart was going to beat out of her chest, she was so happy.
“I’m thrilled, Daniel. I love you so much. I knew you desired me, but I can’t believe you love me, too.”
“I do. How could I not fall in love with such a tempting mischief-maker?”
Daniel started to kiss her again, but Isabella stopped him with a hand to his chest. “Daniel, there’s something you should know. I don’t think I could ever be a conventional wife.”
“Thank God. If they are all like the ladies I’ve been calling on, I don’t think I could live with one.”
Isabella laughed and Daniel joined her as they hugged. “Daniel, I’m so glad you fell in love with me.”
“So I am. You make me happy, Isabella. I enjoy being with you. You are a challenge and unpredictable, and I know I don’t want to live without you.”
She smiled up at him. “That’s exactly the way I feel about you, and yes, yes, yes, I will marry you.”
He caressed her cheek with the back of his hand. “It’s about time you said yes.”
“I didn’t want to appear too eager.”
“There’s one other matter we need to clear up.”
“What is that?”
“Did you really let Sir William Smith kiss you?”
She smiled at him. “Of course not. Daniel, you are the only man who has ever kissed my lips.”
“And I intend to keep it that way. I’ll speak to your aunt and tell her we want to be ready to marry as soon as your father arrives. If he gets here by the end of the month, he can attend the wedding. If not, he’ll have to bless us after we’ve wed. I refuse to wait more than two weeks to have you as my bride and in my bed.”
Isabella reached up and kissed him on the cheek. “Two weeks. That is such a long time. I will have to slip over here and see you before then.”
Daniel smiled. “Isabella, don’t start that. We will wait until we are married.”
Her hand slipped to the buttons on his trousers.
He chuckled and hugged her up close. “Maybe not.” He set her away from him. “Now, you will ride home with your maid, and I’ll follow in my carriage. I want to speak to your aunt about us immediately. This is unbelievable. I’ve settled Gretchen’s future and mine in the same day.”
“But how did you settle Gretchen’s future? You can’t possibly still consider Mr. Wright a suitable match for your sister.”
“No. Someone infinitely better has come along and asked for Gretchen’s hand.”
“Oh, how wonderful! Who?”
“Chilton.”
Isabella gasped with delight. “Your best friend. Daniel, that’s wonderful for you and for Gretchen. I feel sure they will be happy together.”
Daniel smiled. “Me, too. They know each other well, and I couldn’t have been more surprised when he told me his intentions. I know Gretchen will agree. I think she’s always loved him.”<
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“This will give such hope to all the ladies in my Reading Society.”
“I’m glad you have them over. I hope you’ll continue after we’re married.”
“Of course I will.” Her heart felt as if it was bursting with love. “Thank you, Daniel, for knowing that I want to continue my work with them.”
He smiled and kissed her again. “Chilton will be in my family and you will be my wife. There’s nothing more I could want.”
“And all I want is you.”
“Come here, my tempting Isabella.” He pulled her to him and kissed her softly, tenderly and lovingly.
Isabella thrilled to his touch.
Dear Reader,
I hope you enjoyed Isabella and Daniel’s story. This was one of my favorite books to write. I had such fun with all the quirky ladies in the Wallflower Society. It took some careful planning to make sure the missing dead body didn’t take away from the lightheartedness of the story. But most of all, as always, I loved developing the romance in the Regency time period with all its strict Society rules. It’s a challenge for me to see just how many rules I can let my hero and heroine get away with breaking before they find their happily-ever-after.
Please visit my website at www.ameliagrey.com to see a complete list of all my books. Many are still available from your favorite local or online bookstore.
I love to hear from my readers. Please contact me at [email protected].
Happy Reading,
Amelia Grey
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One
Anger can be an expensive luxury.
—Italian Proverb
Iverson Brentwood was out for blood.
It hadn’t taken him long to locate the address of the person he was looking for. His body tense, he lifted the collar of his greatcoat and stepped down from the comfort of his dry, warm carriage and into the chilling spring rain. Settling his hat lower on his forehead, with keen purpose, his boots splashing the puddles, he walked toward the front door of the elegant house in Mayfair. Banks of cold fog drifted in from the Thames and swirled in the dreary late afternoon air. The one bright spot was a lone light that shone from a front-room window of the place he sought.
