To Protect An Heiress (Zebra Historical Romance)

by Adrienne Basso

  Suffocating her scream of terror, Meredith somehow yanked herself away from the nightmare. She woke up abruptly, her skin cold and clammy, her breathing harsh and shallow.

  She sat straight up in bed, glancing hopefully at the wing chair beside her bed. It was empty. No doubt Trevor had kept his word and waited till she fell asleep before leaving, but that thought brought her little comfort, for her bedchamber was now filled with an uneasy, lonely silence.

  ’Tis just a dream, it cannot hurt you. Meredith repeated the words in her mind as she shifted her back against the headboard and slowly lowered herself to her elbows.

  With determination, she closed her eyes and tried to regulate her breathing, to calm her inner demons. But the images would not abate. Knowing she was clinging to her sanity by the barest of threads, Meredith threw off the covers in frustration.

  She slid out of bed and felt her way to the far side of the room. Her fingers found the window latch, and she quietly opened it. The sudden blast of air surprised her, yet it relieved her as well, for the shock made her feel very much alive. She stood there for several long minutes, breathing deeply, hoping the air would somehow cleanse her thoughts. It did not.

  Perhaps it was the darkness, so sinister and complete, that was rattling her nerves. Meredith made her way to the low table and fumbled to light a candle. The soft glow momentarily calmed her nerves. She glanced back at her bed. The rumpled sheets and angled pillows were rather unappealing.

  Meredith turned in the opposite direction and glanced at the door that connected her bedchamber to Trevor’s. There was no light shining beneath the door, no indication he was awake. She tilted her head and listened intently. All was quiet—no snoring, no rustling sheets.

  For an instant she panicked, thinking he might not even be in his bedchamber. But no, he had promised her he would stay home tonight, and she believed he would keep his word. He must be asleep.

  Meredith chewed nervously at her lower lip. Perhaps if she was very quiet and very careful, she could slip into his bed without waking him.

  “That is where I really want to be,” she whispered, making up her mind. “Where I need to be.”

  She did not bother to put on a robe. Padding barefoot across the thick carpet, she moved with stealthy efficiency and determination. Once at the door, she turned the latch slowly, so as not to make a sound. Swinging the door open, Meredith took a small step, halting in the doorway.

  She extinguished her candle and set it on top of a large dresser. Thankfully, Trevor slept with the curtains of his bed and the draperies of the windows open. There was just enough moonlight streaking through the windows to illuminate the objects in the chamber. If she was very careful, she should be able to negotiate the room without tripping over the furniture and raising a racket.

  Meredith waited for a moment to allow her eyes to adjust to the limited light The shadows were thick, but she could make out the chests and armoires that lined the wall, the chairs and tables positioned around the room.

  Trevor lay in the huge canopied four-poster bed, sprawled on his stomach. One arm was flung over his head; the other rested by his side. The sheets were bunched at his waist, revealing the well-defined muscles of his bare shoulders and back.

  Meredith assumed he was asleep, though she stood too far away to hear the even rise and fall of his breathing. She needed to be closer. Crossing her arms and hugging herself, Meredith made her way silently to the bed. She hesitated, wavering a bit as she drew near.

  Driven by fear, she had felt determined walking in here. Now she suddenly felt unsure at invading the marquess’s intimate quarters. What would she do if he refused to allow her to stay? That horrifying question kept her still and quiet for several long moments.

  Uneasily, Meredith glanced about the room again. Her eyes had adjusted to the moonlight, and she could now ascertain more specifically the contents. There were several comfortable upholstered chairs, even a long chaise. She could most likely be content sleeping in one of those for the night if absolutely necessary. It was certainly far more appealing than staying in her lonely, empty chamber.

  The sudden chime of the clock on the mantelpiece made her jump. Startled, Meredith’s fears surfaced, this time accompanied by anger. She despised these feelings of not being safe, hated the taste of fear. Yet she could not deny they existed so strongly inside her. Would they ever leave?

  She advanced five steps closer to the bed, overcome with a strong and painful desire to curl up in Trevor’s arms and hold herself close to his chest until all her uncertainties faded.

  Holding her breath to ensure she made no noise, Meredith studied him in the moonlight. She briefly considered slipping in beside him, but she loathed to disturb his slumber, uncertain of his reaction if he awoke and found her in his bed.

  Trevor’s features were oddly commanding, even in sleep. Meredith slowly let out her breath, then drew in another and held it as the seconds ticked away. As much as she might want to, she could not simply stand here until the dawn broke.

  There was movement on the bed. Trevor’s head lifted off the pillow. “Has something happened?” he asked groggily.

  Meredith cleared her throat. “I awoke and found it impossible to return to sleep. I fear the events of this evening have left me excessively emotional.”

  He studied her, though she doubted he could see much more than the outline of her torso in the moonlight. “You are a woman. It is to be expected.”

  Normally his words and tone would bring a rise of indignation from her lips, but she had no right to anger, for he spoke the truth. “I hope I did not wake you,” she said.

  He raised himself on one elbow, running his hand down his face. “I had only just dozed off myself,” he admitted.

  “Then I apologize for disturbing you. But I did not know what else to do.”

  “Do you want me to sit by your bed again?”

  “No, for if I awake after you leave the problem will return.” Meredith hesitated, giving him a doubtful frown. “I was hoping a different solution could be found.”

  Taut seconds passed while Meredith gazed into his eyes. Trevor returned her regard, searching her face intently before he looked away. “I suppose you could stay in my chamber.”

  Meredith blinked. It was hardly the most enthusiastic invitation. “Are you certain?” Her heart stilled, waiting for his answer.

  “No. But stay anyway.”

  She looked around. “Where?”

  He let out a loud sigh. “The bed is comfortable. And very large.”

  “Are you inviting me to sleep in your bed?”

  Trevor muttered something about summoning every last ounce of his willpower before throwing back the covers.

  The simple gesture seemed to suddenly change the atmosphere in the room from uncertainty to anticipation. Though she had entered the room because of her fear, Meredith realized far more could result from her staying the night in her husband’s bed.

  Her gaze dropped from his handsome face to his bare chest. She smiled seductively, as though at last acknowledging he was naked. Meredith slowly, sensuously slid over the bed, allowing her nightgown to ride up her thigh all the way to her hip.

  The marquess’s eyebrows slowly rose as awareness flared in his eyes. Meredith could barely breathe. He leaned close and took her hands in his. He felt warm and strong, she thought, momentarily distracted by his touch.

  “I prefer the left side of the bed,” he said solemnly. “I hope you don’t object.”

  Meredith lifted her chin. “Not at all. Though I will warn you I am a restless sleeper who tends to spread herself all over the mattress. I will probably kick you mercilessly.”

  He shrugged and gestured broadly. She lifted herself up and climbed in beside him. The motion caused a cascade of golden hair to fall over her shoulder.

  “Your hair is exquisite.”

  Meredith paused in the act of tucking the stray locks behind her ears. “Thank you. I have long thought of cutting it short,
in the French style, but worry I might look like a boy.”

  “Not with those curves.”

  Meredith ducked her head in embarrassment, yet she was secretly thrilled he had noticed her womanly curves. She settled herself stiffly on her back, careful to keep to her side of the mattress. Stifling a giggle of nerves, she waited with eager anticipation for her handsome husband to turn to her with desire.

  The minutes dragged, and nothing happened. Finally, Meredith turned to him in disappointment and frustration. “Are we truly going to sleep?” she whispered.

  She felt his entire body tense at her question. He said nothing, but his thrashing legs and restless movements seemed to suggest he was fighting some inner battle. At last he groaned and turned toward her. He moved closer, nipped her ear, and whispered, “We shall sleep later, dearest. Much later.”

  He reached out and angled her chin with one hand while the other moved to the back of her head, urging her forward. Then his mouth descended on hers, invading with a possessive claim she found thrilling. His kiss was slow and sensual, his lips brushing back and forth over hers, coaxing them to open for him.

  Her hands slid up his hard chest, curving over his shoulders and around his neck. He lifted his mouth a fraction from hers and in a voice thick with desire asked, “Are you still frightened?”

  For her answer Meredith kissed him back with all the love and desperation in her heart. Her tongue traced the shape of his mouth, then gently sucked on his lower lip. His response was overwhelming. His mouth became insistent and hungry: his hands wandered possessively over her back and the sides of her breasts.

  Meredith shuddered as her body began to respond, began to come alive. For him. She spread her hand over the solid wall of his chest, sliding her fingers through the short, golden matting of hair. His skin felt hot, his nipples hard and tight as she lightly grazed them with her palm.

  But it was his kisses that tantalized her so completely. The way he tasted drove her wild. Meredith stretched her neck willingly, offering herself to him. Trevor eagerly complied, pressing sweet wet kisses to her jaw and throat and behind her ear.

  Meredith’s hand raised and smoothed through his hair. She could feel his warm breath on her neck and upper chest, could feel the heat pouring from his hard body. A shiver coursed through her. She leaned into his strength, savoring his warmth and the excitement it brought to her entire essence.

  He shifted, pulling her closer to him. One of his hands slipped down her neck and shoulder, sliding along her side and over her breast. Meredith arched herself encouragingly toward him, eager to leap beyond the languid pace Trevor had set for their lovemaking.

  His palms were hot against her cloth-covered skin as they stroked her breasts. She craved his touch with a fierce longing, an almost desperate need. Meredith thrust her chest forward, and her silent pleas did not go unnoticed. Trevor brushed his thumbs over her nipples, teasing those sensitive points until they hardened into tight buds.

  Meredith’s eyes closed, and a sound emerged from her throat. She fidgeted against the mattress, anticipation building deep within her body. At last Trevor’s hands traveled beneath her nightgown and she lifted herself up, encouraging his explorations.

  He grasped a bare nipple between his thumb and index finger and applied exactly the degree of pressure she craved. Meredith tipped her head back and inhaled deeply, allowing herself to experience the sexual need.

  She tightened her grip around his shoulders and tilted her head for a kiss. Meredith’s tongue tangled with Trevor’s in a torrid dance, thrusting back and forth in a mating ritual as old as time.

  Suddenly Trevor broke the kiss, bent his head, and took one of her nipples in his mouth. Meredith nearly screamed. She shivered with pleasure and shook violently as the tension coiled down through her body, settling between her thighs. She felt the dampness, the surge of fluid that would make her body ready to receive him.

  He moved his mouth to her other breast, and she clutched his head, curling her fingers through his hair as he laved that sensitive peak to hardness. It was a peculiar, almost frightening sensation, for it fed a hunger for something even greater.

  Trevor’s hand slid down her lower body. He pulled her nightgown up to her waist, baring her, then tenderly stroked her hips, flanks, and upper thighs. Next his questing fingers feathered lightly across her stomach, making the muscles jump in eager anticipation. Meredith gasped loudly when he cupped her moist womanhood with his palm, tangling his fingers in the springy curls between her thighs.

  He stroked her softly, intimately, until she became damp and swollen, circling that one special spot that made her entire body shudder.

  “Lord, you are so beautiful,” he murmured. “And so ready. But first, first I must have a taste.”

  He bent his head and kissed his way down her stomach, dipping his tongue in her navel, flicking the tip teasingly along the sensitive flesh of her lower abdomen. Her stomach muscles clenched with each wet kiss, yet Meredith was blissfully unaware of the final destination.

  His lips nuzzled the hair that guarded her womanly secrets. His breath made her squirm shamelessly. Then he gripped her hips in the palms of his hands and set his mouth to her softness, in the most intimate of kisses.

  This time Meredith did scream. Her body jolted in shock, arching and twisting, trying to escape that invading tongue, but Trevor held her down, his hand splayed across her stomach.

  His tongue was darting inside her, lapping at the soft folds, laving her gently with quickening strokes until she thought she might go mad from the pleasure. Heat flooded Meredith’s every pore as the sharp sensations dipped and climbed.

  She struggled to breathe, struggled to ease her acute embarrassment. It was almost too intimate, too personal an act. Yet while her mind might be shocked and resistant to this, her body was enthusiastic at the notion of experiencing this newly discovered sensual delight.

  Within the deep recesses of her heart, she longed for any and all intimacies with this man she loved so dearly, so completely. That love had brought her here, to the point where she trusted him enough to allow him to take any liberty with her body.

  There was no time for further contemplation, for the delicious sensations chased every logical thought from her mind. Meredith closed her eyes and let her head fall back against the pillows, let herself feel the shivering thrill of each stroke of that magical tongue.

  Trevor’s shoulders wedged her thighs even farther apart, and he glided his hands beneath her buttocks to hold her in place. The tension coursed through Meredith as the needs of her body became so strong they nearly overpowered her. The frantic, maddening drive to completion gripped her firmly, and then suddenly Meredith felt it begin to break. She cried out on a sob of ecstasy as she blindly surged against his mouth, her body blazing with heat, her senses exploding.

  Meredith was still drifting on a cloud of untold pleasure, her body feeling boneless and sated, when he reached out and began stroking her nipple. The tension started anew, as if she had never achieved release.

  “How do you do that?” she asked in amazement.

  His answering grin nearly broke her heart. It was boyish and proud and outlandishly sexy. “ ’Tis easy with you, dearest. You were made for this, made for me. Only me.”

  Meredith let out a shuddering breath as his hands skimmed again over her breasts. “I need to be inside you now,” he said hoarsely. “But first this must go.”

  In a flash he removed her nightgown, pulling it up and over her head in one fluid motion. She gazed at his beloved features. The muscles were tense across his face and shoulders. She found his male beauty irresistible. She reached up and laid her hand on his chest, pulling playfully at the thick mat of hair.

  Following the trail of that sexy hair brought her fingers down his abdomen to the throbbing strength of his penis. She stroked the enlarged organ eagerly, then cupped the tender sacs that hung below. Trevor groaned his approval and began flexing his hips in a primitive, sensual rhyth
m.

  With an almost tortured expression, he glared down at her, then roughly pulled her hands off his burning flesh. He parted her legs with his knee, spreading them wide. Meredith’s body was trembling when he cupped her bottom and pulled her against him.

  Trevor shifted forward and entered her, stretching and filling her so tightly, so completely she cried out from the sheer joy of his possession.

  “Lord, I can feel you tightening around me,” he said tersely.

  “ ’Tis wondrous,” she agreed.

  Meredith cupped his cheek. His jaw felt rough and prickly as her fingers glided over the stubble of his whiskers.

  “Wrap your legs around me,” Trevor whispered.

  She followed his command, tightening herself fiercely around him, clinging to him as if she would never let go. Her fingers, still on his face, now traced over his mouth, and he opened his lips.

  Meredith teasingly inserted the tip of her index finger and he greedily sucked on it. She laughed, then lifted her head and kissed him. Trevor returned the kiss with ardor and excitement. Then he broke away, tilted his head and smiled wickedly. Supporting himself on his forearms, he slowly pulled the length of his hardness out of her.

  Meredith protested loudly and raised her hips. Trevor groaned and entered her again, thrusting forward with enough force to make her body arch. A thready sigh escaped her lips as her body welcomed him, the inner muscles clenching tightly as if they feared he would soon abandon her again.

  With an expression of pure male need, he began to rotate his hips, creating a friction against the slick bud of her womanhood. The action sent her body quivering but, while mindlessly exciting, the pressure he was exerting was not enough to bring her to climax.

  “You are tormenting me,” she panted, lifting her hips to show him what she wanted.

  “I am prolonging the pleasure,” he answered in a voice gone deep and husky. “For both of us.”