by Ava Stone
She looked up into his silver eyes and nearly lost her breath. He was staring at her with such desire she thought it quite possible she might swoon.
Alex dipped his head, gazing deeply into her eyes. “You remember the rules, don’t you, Olivia?” he whispered across her lips.
She dumbly nodded her head.
“Say, ‘Kiss me, Alex,’” he prompted with a gravelly voice, pushing a lock of her hair behind her ear.
“Kiss me, Alex.”
He cupped her jaw and pressed his lips to hers, soft and sensual. Floating in the clouds was an apt description.
Before Livvie knew it, she was on her back, with him hovered over her, his knee once again between her legs. She arched against him, not even meaning too; and he deepened his kiss, running his hands through her mane of hair.
“I want you, Olivia,” he growled low in her ear.
Heavens, she wanted him too—wanted to feel his hands on her, his lips on her, his weight on her. She ran her hands up the length of his body and sighed.
“Say, ‘Touch me, Alex,’” he said against the hollow of her neck.
“Please touch me, Alex.”
She expected him to put his hand on her breast like he had at the ruins, but instead he slid his hand down her leg. Livvie thought she would fly off the bed at his touch, so gentle and warm, but completely unexpected.
“A-Alex,” she panted.
But he was still kissing her, and his hand reached the hem of her chemise. “Hmm?”
She swallowed. Hard. “W-what are you doing?”
He lifted his head, grinning rakishly at her. “Touching you, sweetheart. Just like you asked. You didn’t say where.” He squeezed her thigh, and his wicked hand inched higher. “But if you want me to stop, you just have to say the word,” he reminded her and then nipped at her neck.
She felt certain she would perish if he stopped. Glorious spirals of wanton desire raced over her, and she wanted to feel more. His smile deepened as he cupped her through her drawers and she arched against his hand.
Livvie could only blink as he lifted her chemise up to her belly and untied her drawers. Somewhere in the back of her mind, a little voice was warning her that this was wrong, but it was drowned out by the rest of her screaming yes.
Alex slid the drawers from her body then tossed them over his shoulder. When the cool air hit her, Livvie tried to pull her legs closed, the first set of panic settling, but he leaned down and kissed her belly. “It’s all right, sweetheart.”
His hand caressed her leg in a soothing, circular motion, comforting her. Then he slowly moved one long finger through the springy hair at the apex of her thighs. The circular motion continued through her feminine folds, and Livvie thought her heart would stop. She let out a breath she didn’t know she’d been holding, and then sucked it back in when his finger slid deep inside her.
Shocked and yet invigorated, Livvie almost sat bolt upright, but Alex’s steady gaze stilled her. His movements were slow but extraordinary, as he stroked her in and out, over and over. Then he took a spot on the bed next to her, never missing a beat with his talented fingers, and cradled her against him.
He smelled deliciously of sandalwood and expensive whiskey, and Livvie relished his embrace, the strength of him surrounding her. She felt heady and wild and safe all at once.
Then Alex stilled his finger inside her, while his thumb searched her until he found a sensitive nub. He lightly grazed it, sending sparks straight to her core.
“Oh!” she almost screamed.
Alex chuckled. “That’s just the beginning, Olivia. Relax,” he whispered. Then he tilted her head back and claimed her mouth while he continued his exquisite torture with his thumb.
Pressure was building within Livvie, and her breathing became rapid, as if she couldn’t take a full breath of air. Alex’s slick finger slid back and forth inside her, and Livvie writhed helplessly in his arms. “Oh, Alex!” she whispered.
And then…then the world stopped spinning.
Livvie wasn’t just floating in the clouds, she hovered high above them, feeling as if she was alive for the first time in her life, soaring through the sky. She slowly drifted back to reality, and chanced a glance at her duke. Dangerous didn’t even start to describe the man. He was so much more than that. Livvie wanted all that he offered, all he could teach her. Everything.
She kissed his chest, where his shirt had come undone. Soft hair tickled her nose.
His muscled arms encircled her, holding her close. “Marry me, Olivia.” His voice was raspy.
Livvie closed her eyes and took a deep breath, inhaling his scent. Boneless and sated, she didn’t want to think about the future, or about what this all meant. She just wanted to stay in the safety of his arms. “I-I need time, Alex.”
He kissed her forehead and caressed her back. “Just don’t take too long, sweetheart.”
Livvie woke with a start, blinking into the darkness. What was that? Then she noticed the large body next to her, which was quite a surprising thing. Where was she?
Then it all came rushing back. Alex and the things he’d done to her. Good heavens, he was still here!
He was thrashing around in his sleep, mumbling something. “No!” he yelled.
Dear Lord, someone would hear him! Panic raced through Livvie and she scrambled atop him. “Shh!” She put her hand over his mouth, hoping he’d wake. “Alex, please.”
His body was cold and clammy beneath her, and his agitated tossing and turning continued. Livvie struggled to calm him. “Please wake up.”
Finally Alex stilled and Livvie could tell he was awake. His breathing was no longer labored, but steady and even.
“Alex,” she whispered, sliding to his side. “Are you all right?”
He grunted an unintelligible answer.
Livvie breathed a sigh of relief. It had been a bit frightening. She rested her head on his chest and listened to his heart pounding rapidly. “You were having a nightmare.”
He sat up abruptly, almost knocking Livvie to the ground. “I was not!” he growled.
Still a bit shaken and confused by his tone, Livvie sat up next to him, softly touching his shoulder. “Are you all right?”
He turned his head, scowling at her. “I don’t need to be coddled, Olivia.”
She instantly removed her hand from him and slid away. Really, he needn’t be so gruff. She was only trying to help. “Well, then, I suggest you remove yourself to your own room.”
His face softened. “I didn’t mean it the way it sounded.”
“You shouldn’t be here anyway,” she pointed out with a sniff. Then she hopped off the bed to give him all the room he needed and sunk into one of her chairs.
He rubbed his whiskered jaw, staring at her. “Sweetheart, we really should talk.”
Of course they should. Heavens! The things he’d done to her. Just the memories heated her skin all over. Livvie shook her head. “I don’t think this is the proper time or place.”
He stood, snatched his abandoned waistcoat from the floor, and kissed the top of her head. “You can’t put it off forever, Olivia.” Then he stole away into the darkened hallway.
As Alex headed for his room, he roughly rubbed his face, trying to wipe the haunting images from his mind. Another one of those damned dreams! Though he’d been plagued with them on and off nearly all his life, he’d never grown accustomed to them. They always left him winded and feeling like a vulnerable ten-year-old boy again. God, he hated that Olivia had seen him like that.
Once they were married, separate chambers would be a necessity. He couldn’t ever allow himself to fall asleep in her bed again. He shouldn’t have done so this time. It had just happened. She had been so soft and peaceful in his arms, he didn’t want to leave her. Still, he shouldn’t have fallen asleep. What a foolish mistake. In the future he’d have to be much more vigilant.
He rounded a corner and ran smack into Staveley of all people. Damnation! All he needed was to be question
ed by the viscount. Alex forced a bored expression on his face. “Evening, Staveley.”
“Alex?” Staveley’s brown eyes widened. “What are you doing up?”
“I could ask you the same question.”
His friend shrugged. “Ah, well, my little Emma’s been having bad dreams. The child has such a vivid imagination and it takes over at night. Caroline asked me to check on her.”
Poor Emma. Alex could commiserate. “How very domestic of you,” he drawled.
Staveley frowned. “Yes, well, some of us are. What are you doing up?”
“Can’t sleep.”
The viscount smirked. “I know where Luke Beckford hides the good whiskey. You want a draught? It might help.”
“Lead on, my friend.”
Breakfast was a lonely affair. With only an irritable Phoebe Greywood to keep him company, Alex offered a curt goodbye and went in search of some sort of entertainment. As if on cue, Staveley found him moments later in the corridor.
“Morning, my friend,” the viscount began with a grin.
“You’re awfully chipper.”
Simon shrugged and looked at him quizzically. “Well, why not? Anyway, I was just on my way out to the lawn. Beckford has set up croquet course for later in the day, and I thought to scope it out.”
“Croquet?” Alex asked with amusement. As far as entertainments went, that was rather tame for the adventurous commander.
Simon chuckled. “Any opportunity to beat Staveley at anything puts me in a good mood.”
They were soon on the lawn, where Simon spotted his sister and wife near the gardens watching their respective broods laughing and chasing one another. The commander smiled when his eyes landed on his wife. “Excuse me a moment, will you, Kelfield?”
He didn’t wait for an answer, just bounded across the lawn, slid his arms around Madeline Greywood’s waist and planted a kiss on her cheek. Even after their many years of marriage, the pair was still very much in love.
Alex watched the interaction with a twinge of pain in his heart, wishing that Olivia had accepted his proposal last night. She hadn’t said no, which was a step in the right direction, but she hadn’t said yes either. He walked towards the Greywoods and Bethany Carteret.
When Beth’s blue eyes landed on him, they grew wide with barely contained excitement. “Alex! How wonderful to see you,” she gushed.
The woman was fond of him, but this seemed a little over the top, even for her. “Thanks, Beth,” he said dryly.
“Do you have news?” she asked, reminding him of an eager child, nearly bouncing on her toes.
“News?” He frowned.
“Oh, never mind,” she replied evenly, though she continued to look at him as if she knew all of his secrets.
“Why are you looking at me like that?” He narrowed his eyes on the countess.
“No reason,” she answered too quickly.
No reason, indeed. The little tug of her rosy lips made it obvious that she knew something. Or thought she did.
“Beth,” Simon called from behind him, “don’t hound Kelfield.”
Alex spun around on his heels, and was surprised to see Simon wore the same knowing look Beth did. They were both driving him mad. “What is it that the two of you think you know?” he demanded of his friends.
Simon’s lips quirked up in a grin. “Well, my old friend, the word is…”
“Simon, don’t you dare!” Beth squeaked and rushed towards her brother. “You’ll spoil everything.”
Spoil everything? He normally thought of Bethany Carteret as a level-headed woman. Had she completely lost her mind? “Spoil what?” he growled.
The siblings exchanged a look, and then Simon shrugged. “Apparently my sister and my wife have gotten it into their heads that you have an attachment for Miss Danbury—”
Alex fought to keep his expression neutral. He wasn’t quite ready to entertain questions about Olivia. It was imperative that he secure her affections first.
“They are convinced that you plan to offer for the girl. I’ve told them how ridiculous that is, but neither one of them pays me any bit of attention.”
He snorted and shook his head. “Well, apparently your sister and your wife have too much time on their hands and they are inventing things to keep themselves entertained.”
Beth pouted. “But James said…” Then she sucked in a breath, covered her mouth, and turned a bright crimson.
James? The same tight-lipped James who never revealed any secrets? The very same James who had promised to give him time to deal with Olivia? That bloody James? He was going to slowly kill the Scottish bastard. What exactly had he told his wife?
This sort of thing was precisely why he preferred not to spend time within polite society. And though he didn’t care one whit what anyone thought about him, protecting Olivia’s reputation was important to him. She was going to be his wife and he wouldn’t see her name sullied, not even by his friends.
“What did James say?” Staveley asked from the top of the lawn.
Alex hadn’t even realized the viscount was in the vicinity, and he felt his face drain of its color. Damn Bethany Carteret and her big mouth. All he needed was for Staveley to be suspicious.
Bethany smiled sweetly and rushed towards Staveley. “Nothing much, Staveley. He just hinted that Alex would be marrying soon.”
Staveley’s eyes flashed to Alex’s, then they narrowed to little slits. “How interesting. Who is the lucky lady, Kelfield?”
Alex fought to keep his composure and he shrugged, which was quite difficult with all eyes on him. With a bored expression, he drawled, “How should I know?”
Staveley glared at him, mumbled some words to Bethany and then started back across The Chase’s lawn. If Alex was a betting man, he’d wager the viscount was in search of Carteret, who, if asked directly, would tell Staveley everything. His last moments of freedom were ticking away.
One of Carteret’s daughters squealed with delight, and Alex glanced at the children, chasing each other at the entrance of the gardens. Visions of Poppy entered his mind, and he wondered how best to handle the current situation.
Madeline Greywood watched the children as well. Adoration filled her pretty, sea blue eyes. She was just the person he could get good, solid, unemotional advice from. Alex strode towards the slight blond, his hands clasped behind his back. “Life is so innocent at that age.”
“Indeed.” She smiled up at him.
“Maddie, may I ask you a rather personal question?”
Obviously curious, she raised her brow and nodded. “Of course, Alex. You know that.”
He cleared his throat, never having broached this subject with even Simon before. “How did you react when Simon first told you about Kurt and Kitty?”
Madeline’s blue eyes twinkled. “So, it’s true? You do have your heart set on Caroline’s young cousin. I didn’t quite believe Bethany when she told me.”
Alex scowled. “Apparently James can’t keep his blasted mouth shut.”
With a charming laugh, Madeline tapped his chest. “Don’t be upset. You know he can’t keep secrets from Beth. And she can’t keep them from me. It’s all part of being a Greywood.”
“Loose lips?”
“I’m afraid so.” Then she lost her smile and focused on him, cocking her head to one side. “Isn’t the lovely Miss Danbury already betrothed?”
Alex shrugged, and looked out towards the gardens. “Inconsequential.”
“Inconsequential?” Madeline echoed. “To you or to her?”
He gazed down at his best friend’s wife. Madeline Greywood was unlike most women of his acquaintance. One didn’t have to sugarcoat information for her or dance around any particular subject. As an American, she looked at life differently. She was a strong woman with a level head—and she’d actually tamed Simon, which was quite an accomplishment by anyone’s standards. “To us both, I imagine, by the time Staveley finds James.”
Madeline’s pretty eyes widened, a
nd she looked off towards the manor where Staveley had recently disappeared. “I see. And you’re concerned about Miss Danbury’s reaction to Poppy?”
She was perceptive too. Alex nodded. “She thinks I’ve got dozens of children.”
Madeline giggled. “Oh, heavens. I suppose she also believes you keep women tied up in your home?”
That happened one time, nearly a decade ago. Besides it was Simon that had done the tying up, and the women involved had enjoyed the entire thing. Predictably, rumors had spread across Town that the Duke of Kelfield kept hordes of naked women bound up for his amusement. “That particular question didn’t come up, and I’ll thank you not to bring it to her attention.”
Her smile faded. “Sorry. What is it you wanted to know, Alex?”
“Well, how did you react when Simon told you about the twins?” Bastard twins. Those words weren’t necessary. Madeline would know what he was really asking.
She sighed. “It’s not quite the same situation, dear.”
Not understanding what she meant, he frowned in response.
“In the first place, Kurt and Kitty’s mother died in childbirth. I never had to see her or hear about her. But Ellen is very much alive. She’s beautiful, talented, and famous, Alex. Miss Danbury will hear her name on a regular basis. It might be a bit disconcerting for her. I think it would be for me.”
“But there’s nothing between Ellen and me,” he said.
“Not now. But there was at one time, or Poppy wouldn’t be here,” Madeline pointed out. “Miss Danbury will have to come to terms with that. But, Alex, you’re hardly the first nobleman to have an illegitimate issue. And since Poppy lives with her mother, it’s not necessary for Miss Danbury to spend time with her, or to even know her. You may not want to address the situation at all. At least not at first, in any event.”
That idea hit Alex hard in the chest. He wanted Olivia to care for him enough that she could love Poppy, just as Madeline did Kurtis and Kitty Greywood. “How did Simon tell you?”
