by Monica Burns
Constance’s eyes were dark with an unspoken warning as she stared at him. The silent reminder of his bargain with Patience made him bite down on the inside of his cheek. The carriage suddenly rocked to a halt, and Percy experienced an overwhelming relief. Quickly exiting the vehicle, he extended his hand to his sister. Mischief curved Constance’s lips as he glared at her.
“You’re frowning again, Percy,” she murmured. As she offered her cheek for him to kiss, he shook his head in disgust.
“You’re as bad as Patience.” He kissed her cheek and nodded at his brother-in-law as the earl climbed out of the carriage. “How the devil do you live with her meddlesome nature, Lucien?”
“I love her.” The earl said with a grin as he met his wife’s happy gaze. With a sympathetic pat on Percy’s back, his brother-in-law tossed a nod in Constance’s direction. “But I shall attempt to talk some sense into her as to interfering in your personal affairs.”
Percy nodded his gratitude as Lucien escorted Constance up the steps to their front door. With a sense of doom, he climbed back into the carriage. Now he had to deal with the mess Constance had made. With a light tap on the window behind him, he signaled for the driver to take them to Sherrington House.
He had planned on gently easing his way into asking Rhea to attend Sebastian’s party. Unfortunately, his sister had made that rather difficult. Percy glanced at Rhea who was staring out the window. Silence hovered between them, broken only by the clip clop of horse hooves against the cobblestones. After a long moment, Percy leaned forward and cleared his throat. Amusement shimmered in her eyes as she turned her head to look at him.
“You don’t like it when your sisters tease you, do you?” Her accurate observation made him grimace.
“No, but I tolerate it, because I am equally merciless at times. But the truth is, I was more concerned about you.
“Me? Why?” Confusion made her tip her head to one side.
“Because I don’t like the idea of someone hurting you, unintentionally or not.” Percy reached out to take her hands in his in an effort to convince her of his sincerity.
The instant he touched her, the an dara sealladh barreled into him with the force of a battering ram. The images flowed fast and furious like a raging river. Turbulent and chaotic they jumped from one scene to the next. One moment he was staring up at his family gathered around his bedside. In the next he was in a dark corridor watching Ruckley holding a door open for Rhea.
The smug, lascivious smile on the bastard’s face aroused a raw fury and hatred in Percy as he watched Rhea walk toward the man. Rhea glanced over her shoulder, and he saw the fear and horror in her violet gaze despite the resignation on her face. Suddenly, his friend Blake was at his side, offering him a pistol. He began to run. The doorway Rhea had passed through was now closed, and with each step he took toward it, the door seemed further away.
Behind him Blake shouted a warning. A gunshot cracked loudly in his ear, and he stumbled forward to see Rhea covered in blood. With a wild cry, he tried to reach her, but he was plunged into darkness. Desperately, he crawled up from the depths of his vision. Somewhere as if from a great distance, Rhea called to him. Percy turned toward her voice fighting through the dark, violent images still swirling in his head.
As he fought his way to her, Percy became aware of the fact he was partially lying down, his head pressing into soft silk. A gentle hand stroked his forehead in a soothing manner. It took him several long moments to become fully aware of his surroundings, and he groaned at the sharp pains ricocheting in his head.
“Christ Jesus,” he rasped.
“Hush,” she said softly. When he tried to nod, a jolt of pain sliced through his head. It tugged a groan from him, and he heard Rhea make a quiet noise of exasperation.
“For heaven’s sake, Percy, lie still. The driver is taking you home right now so we can put you to bed.
He wanted to protest, but didn’t have the strength to do so. He made an unintelligible reply then grunted as the carriage wheel hit an uneven portion of the road. Damn, it had been years since a vision had incapacitated him so badly. Although he knew he should see her home, Percy couldn’t deny feeling a sense of relief that he would soon be in his own bed.
The ride to Knightsbridge seemed endless, but he knew his small house was only a ten minute ride from Lyndham house. When the carriage finally rocked to a halt, Percy realized he didn’t want to move. It meant his head would do much more than throb.
“Percy, would you like for the driver and your manservant to carry you to your room?”
“No,” he mumbled.
The thought of appearing weak in her eyes appalled him. He heard the small sound of annoyance she made, but was unable to do anything more than make a slight grimace in reply. With Rhea’s assistance, he slowly sat up, suppressing a groan of pain as he did so. The carriage door opened, and Rhea quickly exited the vehicle. Determined to make it to his bed without help, Percy stumbled out of the carriage and up the steps into the narrow entryway of his house.
Jenkins met him at the front door, worry creasing his brow. He waved the man aside then gripped the stairway banister to pull himself up the steps to the second floor. Through the haze of his pain, he heard the muted sound of Rhea’s voice followed by the sound of Jenkins tread on the stairs behind him. His steps unsteady, Percy made his way down the upper hallway and into his bedroom where he collapsed onto the bed. A soft hand stroked his brow, but he didn’t open his eyes to look at her. The sweetness of her touch pushed through the throbbing in his head. Somehow it made his pain easier to bear.
“Percy, you need to let Jenkins undress you. You’ll rest better that way.”
With a groan of protest, he pulled himself up into a sitting position with his valet’s assistance. Rhea murmured something and Jenkins replied, but Percy was too focused on controlling his pain to listen to what was said. The soft thud of a door closing told him Rhea was gone. Instantly, he missed her. The touch of her hand on his forehead had soothed him, and he wanted her near him again. Jenkins remained silent as he helped Percy undress, a fact for which he was grateful. It seemed as if every small sound in the room echoed like a loud church bell in his head. Jenkins offered him his nightshirt, but Percy refused. He wanted nothing on his skin that would constrict him while he slept. By the time he was undressed, he wanted nothing more than to crawl beneath the covers and sleep. As he closed his eyes, he thought he heard the quiet sound of Rhea’s voice, but quickly dismissed the notion. He’d heard Rhea leave several moments ago, but the softness of her voice was the last thing he heard before he sank into a deep sleep.
§ § §
Ruckley’s smile mocked Percy as he struggled against the thick rope holding him immobile in a chair. He saw Rhea walking through the doorway to where Ruckley stood. As the door began to close, Percy shot upright in bed. A small fire burned behind a sturdy fire screen, providing more than enough illumination to reassure him he was in his own bed. He slowly fell back into his pillows and closed his eyes. The nightmare that had awoken him was an extension of the an dara sealladh. Whatever it meant, he knew Ruckley intended to harm Rhea in some way. With Ruckley standing there, waiting on Rhea to enter an unknown room, Percy could only surmise it represented the potential for harm the man could do to her.
A soft mumble filtered its way through his thoughts. Startled, he jerked his head toward the sound. In the dim light of the fire he saw Rhea curled up on top of the bed covers. Stunned, he simply stared at her sweetly curved body. She’d discarded most of her clothes until the only thing she wore was her chemise. He’d never seen such an enticing sight in his entire life. Slowly he stretched out his hand to caress her cheek. Rhea stirred at his touch and Percy quickly pulled his hand away from her.
What the hell was she doing here? Didn’t she realize her reputation would be in shreds if someone saw her leaving his house unescorted? In the back of his mind he reminded himself that he could always say it was one of his sisters nursing hi
m while he was sick. That didn’t change the fact that she was in his bed and far too close for comfort. Percy closed his eyes and tried to gather his cluttered thoughts. He failed the minute a soft hand stroked his upper torso. Jerking his head in her direction, Percy met a violet-hued gaze filled with worry.
“How are you feeling?”
The question made his entire body tense. How was he feeling? Did the woman have any idea how difficult it was not to pull her into his arms and kiss her? Make love to her? He sat up, prepared to get out of bed, and remembered he’d refused his nightshirt. He didn’t have a stitch of clothing on. The small clock on the mantle chimed the hour of three, and he seized on the fact that at this time of the morning the likelihood of anyone seeing her leave was doubtful.
“I asked you a question, Percy.”
She sat up and pressed her body into his shoulder. Instantly, the warmth of her barreled through him. Unlike her voice, which contained resolute determination, her body was silky soft against his shoulder. Unable to help himself his gaze drifted across her face down to her neck then lower to where the thin lawn of her chemise covered her breasts. The material barely left anything to his imagination, and at the moment his mind was racing in a direction that was reckless beyond anything he’d ever done. Without warning his cock stirred against his leg and hardened, and he barely managed to keep from reaching out to cup her breast.
“I’m fine,” he said through clenched teeth. “What the hell are you doing here?”
“I stayed to ensure you were all right.”
“And how the devil did you explain your presence in my bedroom—half naked?”
“I told Jenkins I was your mistress.”
“You did what?” Thunderstruck by her revelation, Percy stared at her in shock.
“I believe my words were distinctly audible.”
“Oh, I heard you quite clearly,” he snarled angrily. The woman was mad. “What I don’t know is why.”
“Because I wanted to stay with you. I wanted to be sure you were all right.”
“Damnit, Rhea,” he growled. “Have you lost your mind?”
“I thought the Rockwoods approved of reckless behavior.” The fact that there was just a hint of amusement in her gaze made him grit his teeth.
“The situation is at a level of recklessness that even I wouldn’t dare to achieve.”
“Are you saying you’re unhappy I’m here?”
“I didn’t say that.”
“Then you are glad.”
Before he could reply to her softly spoken words, Rhea gently pushed him back into the pillows and straddled him. Even with every alarm going off in his brain, he didn’t need any warning that the situation was out of hand. His body had gone rigid with need, and he was barely holding on to what little self-restraint he still possessed. If he didn’t end this quickly, something would happen—something she would regret.
“Well, Percy?” she whispered as she lowered her head and brushed her lips across his jaw. “Am I right? Are you happy I’m here?”
“Christ Jesus.” His voice was thick and unsteady. “How am I supposed to answer that?”
“Honestly.” She lifted her head to study him and the flash of trepidation in her eyes tugged at his heart. Did she think herself so sullied that no decent man could want her? Care for her? She was wrong to think such a thing. He could easily come up with a dozen reasons why any man of good breeding would be proud to call her his. He reached up to stroke her cheek with his fingers.
“Yes,” he rasped.” “Yes, I’m glad you’re here.”
It was the truth. Even though he knew it was foolhardy for her to be here. God help him, he shouldn’t allow this to go any further. He should carry her downstairs, order a hack, and send her home. But he couldn’t. He didn’t want to let her go. A small smile touched her lips as she caught his hand and kissed his palm. The featherlight caress sent desire barreling through him. As she nuzzled her mouth against his palm, she looked at him.
“I want this, Percy. I want you.”
Her words were a mere whisper of sound. It was an open display of vulnerability and trust. Percy swallowed the knot that formed in his throat. Damnation, he couldn’t take advantage of her like this. As if she sensed his struggle with his sensibilities, she kissed the palm of his hand then reached for her chemise.
“If I wasn’t sure about this I wouldn’t be here,” she whispered.
In a breathtaking, lethargic movement, she slowly pulled her chemise up over her thighs then up over her body. The moment her breasts came into view, he sucked in a harsh breath of air. She was exquisite. As if it had a mind of its own, his hand reached out to stroke the side of one round, full breast as she finished removing her chemise. The thin garment slipped from her fingers as she let it fall off the side of the bed to the floor.
Desire darkened her eyes to a deep purple hue. In one languid movement, she lowered her head to kiss him again. It was a velvety soft caress that teased and enticed at the same time. His hand curled around her neck, and he pulled her close then nipped at her bottom lip. The small gasp she made gave him access to the warmth of her mouth. Fresh honey on a hot summer day could not have been sweeter.
With each stroke of his tongue against hers, a growing need hammered at his body. The urgency of it surged through his body, through his blood, and into his already stiff cock. It stretched and hardened further. The ache it produced was a pleasurable one that demanded a release. Every inch of him shouted with a need to slide into the slick heat of her and make her his. Quickly twisting his body, he rolled her onto her back and hovered over her.
She murmured her disapproval, but he silenced her objection with a hard kiss. Her protest became a quiet mewl as his lips left hers to caress the side of her jaw and down to the side of her neck. As he explored the curve of her shoulder with his lips, she released a soft sigh of pleasure, and he smiled at the sound.
“I like the way you taste,” he murmured as he continued his downward path to her breast.
A shudder rippled through her followed by a quiet sound of delight as he grazed the tip of her nipple with his teeth. The moment he pulled the stiff peak into his mouth, she gasped and arched her body upward. Satisfaction gripped him hard at her response. In a slow, deliberate motion, he scraped across the tip of her with his tongue.
“Oh God, Percy,” she moaned. He paused and raised his head slightly.
“I take it, you enjoyed that.”
“Yes,” she whispered as she met his gaze. Violet eyes dark with passion, she caressed his temple with the tips of her fingers.
“Good,” he said gruffly.
He brushed the side of her with his mouth then kissed her breastbone as he turned his attention to the other soft, rounded breast. The only response she made was a sharp inhalation of air as he flicked his tongue over the tip of her. Desire pounded its way through him, and he lifted his head to look at her. Eyes closed, her face was flushed with pleasure and she cried out again as he gently tugged at her rigid nipple with his teeth.
Releasing the nipple, he swirled his tongue around the tip of her then sucked at the hard pebble taking pleasure in the moans pouring out of her. The moment he lifted his head and blew a small puff of air against her flesh, she cried out his name. It was a gratifying sound that wrapped around him and pushed its way through his skin until it rushed through his veins driving with it a need to possess her completely.
Heart pounding with exhilaration, he lifted his head to look at her. The expression on her lovely face shot a bolt of something unexpected through him. He was responsible for the look of ecstasy on her features. It made her beautiful beyond words. Silently he vowed no other man would ever see her this radiant and exquisite as long as he drew breath. From this moment on he would be the only man to touch her—pleasure her.
The depth of that commitment set off fire alarms in his head, but he silenced them. In a leisurely fashion he briefly explored the valley between her rounded flesh. A faint floral scent
filled his nostrils. It was as if she had been lying in a field of wildflowers at Melton Park. The sudden erotic image of seeing her naked in a bed of flowers made his body flex with tension. The pictures in his head aroused an intense need to assuage his desire for her this instant, but he held back.
Instinctively, he knew everything about their relationship going forward hinged on him putting her needs first. The men who’d used her had done so for their own gratification and nothing more. He needed to make her understand her needs and pleasure were just as important as his own were. His cock protested with a violent jerk as he strengthened his resolve not to give way to his desire. It tightened and stretched in retribution for his self-denial.
His mouth captured her nipple and teased it as he had the other. With a whimper of need, she bucked against him. The instant her hands slid downward to reach for his erection, he caught her hand and held it up over her head. When she froze beneath him he quickly released her and lifted his head to stare down into her eyes. Apprehension darkened the purple hue until her eyes were almost black. Keeping his touch gentle, he stroked the side of her face.
“Don’t be afraid, sweetheart,” he soothed. “I just want to focus on pleasing you without any distractions. And I confess that every time you touch me I’m definitely distracted.”
Surprise lightened her wary expression before she smiled slowly. It was a womanly smile that said she possessed the power at this moment in time. He was only grateful she didn’t realize precisely how much power she wielded over him already. A delicate flush of pink crested in her cheeks as she shook her head slightly.
“It would please me if we…I want you inside me.”
Her words pulled a groan out of him, and for a brief second he closed his eyes to battle the demons urging him to do as she asked. When he looked at her again, the puzzlement on her face tugged a wry smile to his mouth.
“There’s much more to pleasure than simply the act, my sweet.” The statement made his cock protest viciously. He swallowed hard then kissed her lightly. Her mouth tried to cling to his, but he quickly pulled away. The protest she murmured made him smile as he caressed the side of her jaw with his mouth then continued his way downward. His lips brushed across her breast and she drew in a sharp breath.
