“Oh.” She thought about that for a moment, and then met his gaze with an unexpected boldness. “But then again, I’m not entirely innocent,” she reminded him.
His expression lost all traces of humor as he recalled their time at Sethe. Raising his hand, he brushed the backs of his knuckles lightly along the line of her jaw. “No, I suppose you’re not entirely innocent, are you?” Thanks to him, of course.
A cool breeze was blowing gently through the gazebo, but it was Alex’s touch, as well as the sudden direction of her thoughts that made her shiver.
“Are you cold?” he asked, his voice dropping to a husky whisper.
“No.” She wasn’t cold at all. In fact, there was a warm, delicious heat building inside of her and it was quickly spreading throughout her entire body.
Alex could sense Tiffany’s mounting desire, and though he knew it was lunacy, he seemed helpless to deny the unspoken invitation reflected in her eyes. Leaning forward, he opened his hand, his fingers moving to the back of her neck, delving into her thick curls. Pulling her slowly toward him, he exerted the gentlest of pressure until their lips finally touched. His gentleness lasted only a moment however, for as soon as Tiffany parted her lips, he abruptly lost what little control he possessed. Dragging her body up against his, he devoured the delectable sweetness of her lips.
Tiffany responded instantly. Raising her arms, she wrapped them around his neck, pressing herself even more tightly against him as she returned the kiss with an intensity that rivaled his.
Running his tongue along the curve of her lower lip, Alex deepened the kiss, seeking entrance to her luscious mouth.
Moaning softly, Tiffany eagerly welcomed the pleasurable invasion.
She was so willing, so responsive, it shattered his self-control. Pushing her back against the soft pillows, Alex expertly positioned them so that they were now lying atop the cushioned bench, without once breaking their kiss.
Tiffany was hardly aware of how it happened, but one minute she was sitting upright and in the next she was lying prone against the firm, muscled length of Alex’s body, the wide bench cushion accommodating them perfectly. As he settled over her, he coaxed her legs apart with a gentle nudge, positioning himself directly between her parted thighs. Wantonly, she made no attempt to forestall him as he settled against her. She could feel the solid length of his shaft then, pressing against her pelvis with only the thin barrier of their clothing separating them.
Resting his weight on his forearm, Alex began to gently rock his pelvis against Tiffany’s. Forward and back, forward and back, he continued the tantalizing motion as his lips finally moved from her mouth to trail along her throat.
The heat of Alex’s breath against her throat, combined with the erotic movement of his loins against hers was causing a now familiar ache to unfurl within her body. “Alex,” she breathed, tilting her head to the side and arching against him as he nipped softly at the base of her neck. Writhing against him, she was helpless to deny it; she wanted more. Almost desperately, she wanted him to soothe the ache and to quench the fire that burned within her.
“God, how I want you,” Alex murmured as his lips moved to the swell of her breasts. Reaching underneath her with his free hand, he felt the row of tiny pearl buttons that ran along the back of her gown, and with nimble fingers he undid several, loosening the constricting fabric and then sliding it from her shoulders along with the thin straps of her chemise. Freeing her breasts, he touched his hand to her bare flesh and immediately felt her tremble. Cupping one of the lush mounds, he flicked his thumb lightly across her nipple.
Tiffany jerked beneath his touch, moaning aloud at the incredible sensation it evoked.
Alex massaged the sensitive flesh for a moment, and then dipped his head, closing his lips around the impudent peak.
Clutching at his shoulders, Tiffany arched her back, gasping in sheer pleasure.
As Alex lavished attention upon her magnificent breasts with the moist heat of his mouth, his hand traveled downward along her ribcage and past her waist, gripping and tugging at the skirt of her gown. Although the niggling assertion of his conscience urged him to stop before things went too far, recklessly he ignored it, wanting to give her a taste of the pleasure that awaited her once they were wed.
When Tiffany felt the smooth fabric of her gown brush lightly against her stocking-clad legs, sliding slowly upward as Alex pulled it higher and higher; she didn’t even consider trying to stop him. Lost in a dizzying maelstrom of sensation, she waited with bated breath as he neared the center of her desire. Then, a moment later, noting a sudden dampness between her thighs as his fingers skimmed lightly across the thin layer of her soft, cotton undergarment, the breath left her lungs in a gentle whoosh.
Reaching the slit in her drawers, Alex inserted his finger through the opening, brushing it ever so lightly against Tiffany’s moist heat.
Though surprised by the shockingly intimate caress, Tiffany didn’t shy away from his touch. Instead, she lay still beneath him, near mindless with anticipation as she waited for what came next. Then, as Alex continued his gentle stroking she felt something different, something she hadn’t felt before, an astonishing new sensation that had her unconsciously arching her hips against his hand. But then, as the pleasurable feeling grew stronger and more intense, he stopped.
Lifting his head, Alex looked at the beautiful young woman sprawled beneath him. “Open your eyes,” he commanded softly. He wanted to see the look in her eyes when she tumbled over the edge and experienced the true meaning of pleasure.
Tiffany obeyed at once, blue eyes locking with grey.
Parting her delicate folds, Alex watched her face as he slid his finger into her slick passage.
Tiffany’s eyes widened at the shocking invasion. “Oh,” she gasped.
Alex smiled as he viewed the changing expressions on Tiffany’s face, watching as the pleasure built once again as he slowly stroked her inner depths. Using his thumb to caress her taut, sensitive bud, he continued to draw his finger in and out of her tight sheath as he patiently stoked the fire that was gradually building within her.
Oh dear lord, she’d never felt anything like what she was feeling now. “Alex,” Tiffany whimpered, as a sudden, inexplicable tension began to build inside of her.
“Relax, Tiffany, let it happen,” he murmured softly, feeling her muscles tighten and clench, knowing her climax was near.
“Oh, please,” Tiffany cried as she writhed beneath him; though in truth she didn’t know exactly what it was that she yearned for.
“Now, my sweet,” Alex urged.
Gazing into Alex’s eyes, Tiffany surrendered body and soul to the man she loved, and in the very next instant, experienced a sensation so profound that it shook her to her very core. Throwing back her head, she bit her lower lip to keep from crying out as shudder after shudder of unmitigated pleasure racked her body.
Alex watched her as she soared and then moments later, slowly drifted back to earth. Limp and gloriously sated, Tiffany was by far the most beautiful, most alluring woman he had ever laid eyes upon he thought as he looked down upon her.
Dazed and overwhelmed by what had just happened; Tiffany struggled to recover her wits as she slowly emerged from the sensual haze that held her in its thrall. As her eyes gradually regained their focus, she realized that Alex was watching her, his rakish expression one of supreme satisfaction. “Oh, I… I never…,” she said, struggling to form a coherent sentence.
“I should certainly hope not,” Alex said with a devilish grin.
Smiling in return, she gazed in blatant adoration at Alex’s handsome visage.
Drawing his hand from beneath her skirt, he readjusted his position, slowly levering himself off of her. Despite the damnable fire raging in his loins, Alex was still very much aware of their present setting. “If we don’t stop now, I’m liable to take you right here, my darling girl,” he uttered softly. Noting the sensual, come hither look that immediately sparked in Tiffany’s eyes, he ga
ve an amused chuckle. “Have you forgotten where we are, my little wanton?”
Where they were? Tiffany’s brows pulled together as she struggled to focus. Oh God!
Alex watched in amused silence as Tiffany’s eyes grew as round as saucers. Then, struggling to sit up, she pushed against his shoulders and nearly sent him toppling from the bench in the very next instant.
“Oh good heavens,” Tiffany gasped in horrified dismay. They were only a stone’s throw from the house, and here she was lying sprawled beneath Alex with her breasts bared and her skirt hiked up to her thighs.
Sitting up, Alex pulled Tiffany with him, setting her upright beside him. “Relax,” he said soothingly as she shoved her skirt downward over her legs and then frantically tugged at the gaping bodice of her gown. “No one can see us here.” Turning her within his arms, he pushed aside her long, golden curls and then swiftly did up the buttons along the back of her dress.
Despite the tantalizing brush of Alex’s hands upon her skin as he set her clothing to rights, Tiffany felt her stomach roll. How long had they been gone from the house, she wondered desperately? Far too long for a brief walk about the garden, she thought with sickening clarity. Oh no! How was she ever going to be able to face Alex’s mother now? Turning back around to face Alex, she voiced the question aloud. “How will I ever face your mother?” she moaned.
Seeing the genuine distress on Tiffany’s face, Alex felt a pang of guilt. Sweeping his gaze over her from head to toe, he realized that she had good reason to feel concerned. With her hair tousled and her gown wrinkled, it was too much to hope that his mother wouldn’t know exactly what they’d been up too. Damn! He’d allowed his inexorable desire for Tiffany to override his common sense yet again, and now look where it had gotten them. In dismay, he watched as Tiffany’s eyes, just moments ago filled with wonder; grow moist as she fought back tears.
“Shh,” he murmured comfortingly, brushing his thumb across her soft cheek.
“But your mother…”
“Trust me, if my mother suspects anything at all, she will hold me entirely accountable, not you,” he said reassuringly. “And rightfully so,” he added with a smile. It was true. But nonetheless, for Tiffany’s sake, he had to fix this, and he had to do it quickly he realized. Fortunately, he knew just how to solve their little dilemma. Reaching into his jacket pocket, he pulled out a tiny velvet pouch. “In any event, perhaps this will help to distract her.” When he’d picked up the ring at the jewelers earlier that morning, he’d had no intention of presenting it to her like this, but now it seemed the most logical solution. Besides, he reasoned, the sooner he proposed, the sooner he could reap the one indisputable reward that would come from the impending end of his bachelorhood. He could finally take Tiffany to bed without guilt or ramification.
As Tiffany’s eyes dropped to the small, drawstring bag in Alex’s hand, her breath caught in her chest. Watching as he pulled it open and reached inside, she stared in amazement as he withdrew one of the most beautiful rings she’d ever seen. The large, oval-shaped center stone was an exquisite shade of blue and was flanked on either side by a smaller, triangular cluster of white diamonds. Raising her hand to her mouth, she gaped at the glittering stones.
Holding the ring’s gold band between his thumb and index finger, Alex held it up between them as Tiffany’s gaze rose to meet his. “My lady,” he began, his voice surprisingly steady. “Would you do me the honor of becoming my wife?”
Looking into Alex’s eyes, it was as if every wish she’d ever wished and every dream she’d ever dreamt had finally come true. Too overcome with emotion to speak, she could only nod her head in response.
“Shall I take that as a yes?” Alex asked, smiling affectionately.
“Yes,” Tiffany finally managed in a breathy whisper.
Taking her hand, Alex held it in his. “It’s a blue diamond,” he explained as he slid the ring onto her finger. “I selected it because the color is unique, just as you are.”
“Oh Alex, it’s beautiful.”
“It pales in comparison to you.” It was true, for Tiffany’s beauty outshined even the rarest of gems. Leaning forward, he placed his finger beneath her chin. Then, tilting her face upward, he kissed her ever so gently upon her rose-colored lips. “Would you be terribly disappointed if we kept our engagement brief?” he asked, his tone husky as he forced his lips from hers. “For truly I do not know how much longer I can wait to make you mine.”
Tiffany felt a delicious shiver of excitement that tingled all the way to her toes. “No, I won’t be disappointed at all,” she admitted with a shy smile. Although he’d made no mention of love, she tried not to let it bother her, for simply knowing how much he wanted her, enough so that he was willing to cast aside his previous aversion to marriage, was enough for now she reasoned. Wasn’t it?
“Good,” Alex said, before placing one last kiss upon Tiffany’s lips.
When Alex opened the door of the emerald parlor several minutes later, he saw his mother pacing back and forth in front of the unlit fireplace. “If I didn’t know better, I might think that you were attempting to wear a hole in the carpet,” he remarked in a teasing voice.
Caught unaware, the countess looked up, halting in midstride. “Goodness,” she exclaimed, raising her hand to her chest. “I didn’t hear you come in.”
Following Alex into the room, Tiffany smiled apologetically. “We didn’t mean to startle you.”
“That’s quite alright, dear,” the countess said with a smile, though her eyes were shrewd as they swept Tiffany’s appearance from head to toe. Approaching the two of them, her smile tightened discernibly however, as she focused her knowing gaze upon her son. “Tiffany dear, would you mind if I spoke with Alexander privately for a moment?”
Tiffany opened her mouth to respond, but Alex quickly cut her off.
“Before you set about castigating me,” Alex began with a roguish grin, “Tiffany and I have some news we’d like to share with you.”
“News?” His mother’s eyebrows rose questioningly.
He smiled gregariously. “Mother, you will be delighted to know that Tiffany has done me the great honor of agreeing to become my wife.”
The countess’ eyes widened, her expression changing dramatically and instantaneously. “Oh my. Oh how wonderful!” she exclaimed, clapping her hands together in obvious joy.
“I thought that might bring a smile to your face.”
“Oh it has. It has,” she said, grinning from ear to ear.
“So, am I forgiven then?” Alex asked with a teasing wink.
Cecelia pointedly ignored her son’s question, turning to Tiffany instead. “I’m so happy for you both,” she said with indisputable enthusiasm.
“Thank you,” Tiffany responded with a warm smile, thankful that Alex’s mother seemed genuinely pleased.
Looking down at Tiffany’s hand, Cecelia noted the ring on Tiffany’s finger. Grasping Tiffany’s hand, she held it aloft. “Oh, it’s simply beautiful,” she exclaimed.
“Your son is exceedingly generous,” Tiffany agreed.
Cecelia smiled fondly as she turned to her son. “He takes after his father,” she said proudly. “I only wish he was here to share in this special day.”
“As do I,” Alex responded earnestly, for he and his father had always been close.
“Yes, well…” she trailed off wistfully. Then, visibly collecting herself, she turned her attention back to Tiffany. “Good heavens,” she began with an eager smile, “there is so much to be done. We’ll need to start preparing the guest list at once, and of course we’ll need to reserve the church as soon as possible, for St. Paul’s is generally booked months in advance.”
“Mother-”
“Have you considered a date, dear?”
“Well, no, not exactly,” Tiffany said, casting a sidelong glance at Alex.
“Mother-”
Cecelia prattled on however, oblivious to Alex’s attempts to garner her attention. “H
mm, a year from now would put us into late fall,” she said with a slight frown, “but a spring wedding would be so much nicer, don’t you think?”
“Well, I…” Tiffany trailed off, turning to Alex with a helpless expression.
“Mother,” he said, this time with increased volume, finally drawing the countess’ attention. “Tiffany and I have decided to keep our engagement period… relatively brief,” he informed her.
“Brief?”
“We were thinking sometime next month, perhaps.”
Cecelia’s mouth dropped, her eyes going wide. “Next month,” she uttered in stunned disbelief.
“Yes,” Alex said, his tone tranquil, but resolute. “And in addition, we would prefer to keep the wedding a small, private affair,” he continued.
“Private,” Cecelia squeaked, her voice cracking slightly as she glanced back and forth between them, her shock and dismay evident.
“Perhaps we should sit,” Alex suggested, eyeing his mother’s sudden pallor. Draping his arm around Cecelia’s shoulders, he led her over to the settee as Tiffany followed a few steps behind. Clearly, his mother was going to need a little time to adjust. Thankfully though, as he would soon remind her, she still had Amelia and Lizzie to help her realize her dreams of planning a large and lavish wedding.
Chapter 14
Lying in her bed later that night, Tiffany replayed the afternoon’s events over and over in her mind, committing each and every detail to memory so that she would never forget a single moment of what was certainly the happiest day of her life. She was engaged to the man of her dreams. Smiling to herself, she raised her left hand above the bedcovers, staring in wonder as the extraordinary blue diamond caught and reflected the shaft of moonlight that shone through the open curtains of her bedchamber window.
She couldn’t wait to tell Ashleigh, knowing how delighted her friend would be with the news. However, she was sure to be equally surprised as well. For in all honesty, who would have ever thought that a man of Alex’s reputation, a man well-known for his rakish lifestyle and long-time aversion to marriage, would have had such an abrupt change of heart? Probably not Ashleigh, and certainly not her, though she was beyond pleased that he had.
You, and Only You Page 17
