by Ella Edon
When her climax hit, Jane had to clamp her hands over her mouth to stop herself from screaming. Everything just turned red-hot and exploded, making lights flash behind her eyes. Being as pinned down as she was, Jane couldn’t get away from it. It rolled through her, turning into knots before exploding again.
Then Alexander was pulling away. Jane was aware of the rustling of some clothes, and then Alexander was crawling up her body. She managed to open her eyes to see Alexander looming over her, a satisfied smile on his face. He kissed her, and she could taste herself on his lips.
“You sound so beautiful when you’re taking pleasure, Jane,” Alexander whispered, catching her lower lip in his mouth for a gentle tug. “I love hearing you enjoy yourself.”
“Alexander…”
He groaned. “And I love hearing you say my name like that.” He stroked her hair tenderly. “Are you all right?”
“I…” Jane felt like her heart was going to explode out of her chest. She licked her lips. “Is it always like that?”
“I haven’t finished yet. I just wanted you to be relaxed enough.”
“For what?”
That was when Jane felt something blunt and big nudging at her entrance. She stilled. Alexander’s expression softened, and he pressed a kiss to her forehead.
“I’ll be gentle, but I want you so much, Jane.” Alexander pressed his hips down a little, his manhood sliding just inside her. “If you want me to stop, I will.”
Jane didn’t want him to stop. She wanted to feel more of him, feel more of that pleasure he had given her. Taking a deep breath, she cupped his shoulders as she wrapped her legs around his waist.
“I trust you. Please.”
Chapter Twenty
Alexander stared at her. Then he groaned, kissing her hard. Moments later, he thrust inside her. There was a momentary twinge, and then Jane had the sensation of feeling full. Very full, and feeling very nice.
Nice was too gentle a word, but Jane’s thoughts were getting scrambled.
Alexander was breathing heavily as he rose up onto his hands, his hips pressing down. His manhood was twitching inside her.
“Jane…”
“Don’t talk.” Jane gripped his arms and lifted her hips. “Make love to me. Please.”
They stared at each other. Then Alexander eased his hips back until he was barely inside her. Then he thrust again, hard and deep, almost shifting Jane up the rock. He started off slow, thrusting deep with a groan each time, and then he began to thrust faster and faster. Jane could barely move. She didn’t want to. Keeping her legs wrapped around his waist, she could only hold onto his arms to stop sliding up the blanket. The sensation of him inside her and the roughness of his clothes against her naked thighs was almost too much for Jane.
When her orgasm hit, it was big. It was intense. And it was incredible. Jane was aware of Alexander’s name on her lips as she screamed, the scream being swallowed by his mouth as he kissed her. He didn’t stop thrusting. Her climax barely had time to calm before it exploded again. Jane could hardly breathe as it took over, threatening to squeeze her chest.
“Jane!”
Alexander’s growl was moments before his whole body jerked, his manhood twitched inside her as his hips shuddered. Then he was slumping over her, almost crushing her to the rock. His heart was pounding against her chest, his whole body shaking. Jane lay there, staring at the sky as her own heart started to slow.
Dear God, she had never expected it to be like that. It was beautiful, something Jane never expected.
Then she remembered where she was. They were out in the open. Anyone could come by and see them. Still, Jane was past the point of caring. She didn’t want this to stop.
Not anytime soon.
* * *
As he came back to his senses, Alexander couldn’t believe what he had done. He had come out to be in Jane’s company, maybe steal another kiss, but the moment he touched her, Alexander knew that wouldn’t be enough. He had acted like a man who needed opium for his euphoria. Only Jane had become the drug of choice.
Alexander had told himself that he needed to treat her differently, take a step back from his usual seduction and take things slowly. Certainly, he shouldn’t lose control on his self-restraint the moment he kissed her. His self-imposed decisions regarding Jane Malcolm had vanished.
He had thought she would push him away, tell him to leave. But Jane had shown that she was just as eager for this. She was so responsive, so sweet. So innocent.
Damn. He had taken her maidenhead, and hadn’t pulled away before he climaxed.
Alexander had broken his own cardinal rules about sex.
But with Jane, he didn’t care. He wanted to do it, show her that she was someone to him.
That she was his.
Dear God, he was in trouble.
Jane was lying beneath him, breathing heavily as she stared at the sky. Alexander rose up to look at her.
“Jane.”
“I…” Jane reached up and pushed her hair away from her face. “I can’t believe I just did that.”
“I can’t believe it, either.” Alexander stroked her hair. His cock was softening, but he didn’t want to leave her warmth. Not just yet. “I didn’t come out here to seduce you, I promise.”
“I believe you.”
“You’d be the first.” Alexander kissed her nose. “And I’ve not actually made love to a lady in the woods before.”
Jane snorted. “That I don’t believe.”
“I mean it. I’ve not actually made love to a lady before. Not since…”
Not since Nicole. That realization was sobering. Swallowing hard, Alexander eased himself out of Jane’s body and rolled over, tucking his cock into his trousers and buttoning them up. His hands were shaking, and he wasn’t sure if it was from the orgasm or the revelation. There was a rustling of clothing, and Alexander glanced over to see Jane sitting up, adjusting her skirts so she wasn’t exposed.
“What does that mean?”
“You’re going to be sore for a while. I suggest you go and bathe when you get in so you’re not as sore,” he mumbled, avoiding her gaze.
“Never mind about that.” Jane shuffled closer, turning his head so he was forced to look at her. “You talk to me now, Alexander. What did you mean by that?”
She wasn’t going to let it go. Alexander wasn’t even sure he could say it out loud without sounding like a fool. He swallowed. “I’ve had sex with women. That’s all it is. Sex. Nothing else involved except maybe some lust.”
“Are you saying…”
Alexander pressed a finger to her lips. He needed to get this out.
“I’m saying that this is why you’re dangerous to me. You make me feel things.” He sighed. “And I’m not good enough for you.”
Jane was staring at him like she had never seen him before. She let go of his head and drew back.
“How do you know who’s good enough for me?” she demanded. “Isn’t that for me to decide?”
“I need to keep my distance from you.” Alexander rose to his feet. He was surprised that he didn’t fall down again, considering how badly his legs were shaking. “You make me lose control.”
Jane grunted as she slid off the rock.
“I’m glad I can do something right. I don’t have any regrets about what we did.”
“You don’t?”
She shook her head. “As long as you don’t have any, either.”
Alexander didn’t have any regrets regarding feeling Jane’s body around him for the first time, but he did regret that his emotions were starting to get involved, just when he needed them to stay away. He shook his head and then turned away.
“You’d better get yourself sorted. Then we need to get back. I’m sure someone’s going to come looking.”
“Claire said she would give me an hour. I’m sure it’s long past that now.” There was a rustling of clothes, and then Jane was walking around in front of him, standing before him looking like she
hadn’t just made love out in the woods. “That’s why you came looking, isn’t it?”
“I told you, didn’t I? Seduction wasn’t on my mind.” Alexander winced. “Not until I kissed you.”
“So, the seduction was an afterthought, was it?”
Alexander sighed. He reached for her, drawing Jane closer. She didn’t pull away.
“It’s always been there, Jane, but you deserve better.” He kissed her forehead. “I just wanted one taste. Just one.”
“Do you think that might be enough?”
God, she was pushing it. If she kept talking like that, Alexander wouldn’t be able to walk away with his heart intact.
“You’re too addictive for me. You might make an honest gentleman out of me.”
Jane smiled. “Is that such a bad thing?”
It was for Alexander. He didn’t think being an honest gentleman with a stable family was something he could sustain. Or deserve. Jane deserved far much more than him.
Swallowing, Alexander took her hand and led her towards the horses.
“Come on. I’ll escort you home.”
“Do you mind if we walk for a moment?” Jane untied the reins of her mare. “I don’t think I’ll be able to sit down right now.”
“I don’t mind.”
She was going to be sore. It was her first time, and ladies would always feel delicate after sex. They needed to take care of themselves afterwards, clean up and soak in a bath. Alexander would offer to help Jane clean up back at the house, but he knew that he wouldn’t be allowed in her bedchamber without anyone asking questions. And he was sure if he touched her so intimately again that he would be making love to her a second time.
If there was going to be a next time, Alexander shuddered as he anticipated it, it wouldn’t be out in the open. She deserved a bed. And someone else.
He didn’t like that thought.
Snagging the blanket from the rock, Alexander untied his horse from its branch and started to lead it in the direction of the house. Jane followed close beside him in silence. Normally, there would be an awkward tension, much as it was between Alexander and any other woman he had just had sex with. Especially with those who thought they could get Alexander to see them as their one and only despite his rules upfront. It was the same with Jane now. The silence was uncomfortable. Alexander wanted to say something, but he wasn’t sure what he could say as he watched Jane withdraw into herself. Was she regretting what happened? Losing your innocence, something that a lady was supposed to keep as their most precious property, was something that changed everything. You couldn’t get it back. Losing it outside of marriage made things worse. Jane wouldn’t be able to get a decent marriage after this, not when it came out that she had lain with a man who wasn’t her husband.
Not that Alexander was going to say anything. He would declare that he kept away from Jane, that she was still untouched. It probably wouldn’t go down well with Jane when she heard it, but Alexander was more concerned about her reputation remaining intact. She deserved that.
He didn’t.
If his parents knew that he was finding a lady attractive beyond just their looks and was starting to fall for her, they would wonder if this was their son. Either that or celebrate.
“Alexander?”
Alexander turned. Then he stopped. Jane had stopped still a few feet back, staring off to her left. Her face had paled, and her horse was starting to get agitated. Already worried, Alexander stilled his horse and hurried back to her.
“What is it?”
“There’s someone there.” Jane pointed. “In the clearing.”
Alexander hadn’t noticed they were walking past a patch of grass that was devoid of trees. It looked like it was purposefully put there instead of growing naturally. He could see a well, covered in ivy and moss in the center, and there was something in dark blue lying next to it. Alexander pressed a hand on Jane’s shoulder.
“Stay here.”
It was a body; he could see that. Alexander was praying that this person was still alive. He didn’t want another body to turn up, not now. Bracing himself, he stepped into the clearing and made his way to the well. The body of the woman was sprawled haphazardly against the side of the well, her face turned away from him. Alexander crouched beside her and gently turned her over, brushing her hair out of her face.
It was Rachel. She looked like she had been beaten. One eye was almost swollen shut, her lip was cut and there was blood across her face from a broken nose. There was a rasping noise, very shallow but clear enough for Alexander to hear. She was still alive.
There was a gasp behind him. Alexander looked up to see Jane standing over them. Her hands were clamped over her mouth, her eyes wide. Groaning, Alexander jumped up and hurried to her.
“I told you to stay back.”
“I thought I could help.” Jane was still staring at Rachel’s unconscious body. “Is she…?”
“No, she’s still alive. You need to go back to the house and get help.”
Jane didn’t respond. She was still looking wide-eyed at her friend. Alexander shook her.
“Jane!”
“All right. I’ll go.” Jane looked up at him, her eyes swimming with tears. “Don’t let her die.”
“I won’t.” Cupping her head, Alexander kissed her. Then he nudged her towards her horse. “Go. Quickly.”
* * *
Alexander sat on a log as Rachel was lifted into a cart, which was attached to the horse he had borrowed. Four of the male servants settled her into the back, putting a blanket over her, before one of them urged the horse into motion. He watched as they disappeared through the trees.
Rachel hadn’t come around the whole time Alexander had sat with her, his coat draped over her. Goodness only knew how long she had been there. Had she sneaked out and seen Jane with him? Had she been on her way back to let Lord Crawley know? Alexander wouldn’t be surprised. That was the only explanation he could think of for being out so close to where he and Jane had been.
Lee Wilkes stood over where Rachel had been lying, arms folded with a dark scowl. He did not look happy at all. Alexander couldn’t blame him; he wasn’t happy about it, either. As the servants left with Rachel on the cart, the Marquess turned and stalked over to him.
“Where’s Lady Jane?”
“I told her to fetch help and then stay at the house.” Alexander looked down at his hands. They were shaking. “She didn’t need to see any of this.”
“Hmm.” Lee fixed him with a hard stare. “Are you sure you’re not just protecting her?”
“Protecting her from what?”
There was silence, and that told Alexander everything. He shot to his feet, unable to believe what Lee was even contemplating.
“You think Jane attacked Rachel? What for? They were friends.”
“I heard they had a disagreement last night. Something about you.”
Alexander rolled his eyes. “Rachel tried to accuse me of something I didn’t do. I had an alibi and a witness, and Rachel was adamant that I had tried to molest her. Jane told her to stop being so focused on me and they argued, but Jane would not harm Rachel.”
“Why wouldn’t she?”
“Because she’s not like that.”
Lee narrowed his eyes. “What is she like, then? Because I’ve been hearing rumors that you know very well what she’s like.”
Alexander stiffened. That sounded like an insinuation. He glared at the Marquess.
“What’s that supposed to mean, My Lord?”
“I promised Lord Crawley that I would keep you away from his daughter, and you just keep sneaking back to her. You stayed behind after I spoke to her about Megan White, and I found you in there again later on.” Lee shook his head. “To have sex with a lady with a promise between you is one thing, but to do it under her father’s roof?”
“I haven’t taken Jane to bed.”
“And why don’t I believe that?”
Alexander gritted his teeth. He co
uld admit to a lot of things, but he didn’t lie about something like this. Taking Jane’s innocence by the river didn’t count as taking her to bed, but Alexander wasn’t about to split hairs. As far as he was concerned, no one deserved to know anything that was going on between him and Jane Malcolm.
“I will not say anything further to save Lady Jane any embarrassment,” he said sharply. “But I mean it when I say I haven’t been disrespectful to Lord Crawley and taken his daughter to my bed.”
