“You too.”
Simon left his brother and wondered again at Mia. His brother looked as if he hadn’t moved since climbing into bed three hours ago. She wouldn’t have lied about seeing him and had genuinely seemed concerned about Charlie. Simon walked downstairs to the footman at the door.
“Thomas, did someone arrive on horseback?”
“No, my lord. No one has come or gone from this door since Mrs. Featherstone left before dinner.”
“Thank you.” He retired to his study and poured a small glass of brandy. Tomorrow morning he would finally be marrying the woman he’d loved for years. And yet, there was still a small part of him that questioned her involvement in what had happened over the past few weeks. Tanner still believed she might be part of this scheme, whatever the scheme might be. If that were true, marrying her could be a mistake unlike any he’d ever made.
She wasn’t involved.
He would marry her tomorrow and all would be well.
The day of her wedding dawned cool and dreary. Mia shook off the coverlet, then wished she could lie in her bed all day. It was only six but already her nerves were strung taut. She could do this... it was just a title. She would make Simon happy to have chosen her as his wife. The wife part would be easy, it was the countess part that frightened her.
She couldn’t help but feel as if something was missing. While she loved Selina like a sister, Tia should be standing next to her when she said her vows this morning. She rested her head on the window and wondered where her sister might be at this moment. Did she sense that her twin was marrying?
Somehow, Mia doubted that. Tia had always been a little more self-centered and stubborn. But Mia still missed her dreadfully today.
The next three hours flew so fast that before she knew it, she was walking down the aisle toward a completely new life. Simon smiled at her as she reached the altar. A few words, a ring and she was the Countess of Hartsfield.
They walked down the aisle toward the entrance of the church in Cheadle where their family and friends waited for them.
Her mother brought her into her arms and hugged her tight. “Congratulations, my lady.”
Mia was officially a countess. A shiver of nervousness raced up her arms. “Thank you, Mama. I just wish Tia could have been here with me.”
“Hush, Middleton will find her and bring her back home.”
She nodded. “I hope so.”
The wedding party arrived back at Hartsfield Park to a sumptuous wedding breakfast. Mia had never seen so much food laid out for people. She sat at the end of the table opposite Simon. They had barely had a word since the wedding. As conversations whirled around her, Mia could only stare at her handsome new husband. He leaned his head closer to hear what Selina had said to him and then small dimples creased his cheeks.
How had Mia become so lucky to gain his attentions? He had only proposed to keep her safe but she wondered if he would come to love her. She still questioned why he had thought marriage would keep her safe. Just staying at the house would have been enough. She could have even become his mistress. There was no need for marriage.
As the afternoon wore on, their few guests slowly filtered out until it was just Simon and Mia. Even Charlie had decided to head to London to give them privacy. She would have to thank him for that when she saw him next.
Simon handed her a sherry and sat across from her in the salon. He lifted his glass and said, “To many happy years.”
Mia smiled and raised her glass in salute. The nutty taste washed over her tongue and warmed her on this dreary day.
“We shall leave for Suffolk on Friday,” Simon announced after a sip.
“Of course.” Why did their conversation seem so stilted today?
“I already wrote to Caroline and told her you would need a dressmaker while visiting.”
“If you insist.”
“You know I do.” Simon finished his sherry and stared at her. “Are you nervous?”
“Why would I be nervous?”
“About tonight?”
Mia laughed softly. “I do believe we have already done this once. Why would I be nervous?”
His eyes narrowed on her. “I’m not quite sure. All I know is ever since I saw you walking down the aisle in that silk dress I have wanted to take it off you.”
“Indeed? And why is that?” she asked in a seductive voice.
“So I can see you naked. Kiss every inch of your soft skin. Watch your face as you reach your climax and follow you over the edge of pleasure.”
Mia attempted to swallow but her mouth went dry. “Would it be terribly rude if we asked for a tray in your bedchamber instead of eating in the dining room?”
“I already told Harris that is exactly what we would do.” He rose with a grin and held out his hand to her. “Shall we make this official, Countess?”
Make what official? “I beg your pardon?”
“Our marriage. We must consummate it.” He pulled her against his hard chest. Wrapping his arms around her, he brought her against the hardness in his breeches. “And soon or I will explode from wanting you so desperately.”
“We would not want that to happen.” Mia turned out of his arms with a smile. “I shall go make myself ready.”
“Do not remove that dress,” he warned as she reached the door. “I will do that.”
“As you wish, my lord. But the same goes for you. I will undress you.”
“As you wish, my lady.”
Mia walked up the steps wondering why he wasn’t immediately following her. If she couldn’t put on the sheer nightclothes made for tonight, what was she to do? She looked at the few items on his dressing table. Lifting the cork out of one bottle, she inhaled the spicy scent that was pure Simon.
“What are you doing?”
She turned at the sound of his voice. “I love this scent.”
“Do you?”
“Yes.”
The room closed in on them as he stepped close. “I’m so glad you didn’t take your hair down.”
“Why?”
He reached behind her and withdrew one pin. “Because I want to do that too.” He slowly pulled each pin out of her hair until it cascaded down her back. “You have the most glorious brown hair.”
“But it’s brown.” She had always envied her sister’s fiery red hair.
“And filled with streaks of gold.” He cupped her face with his large hands and kissed her slowly, languidly.
Mia savored the heat of his kisses but desired so much more. She backed away before smiling at him. “I don’t believe you will need this on.” She skimmed her hands up his chest and then slid his jacket off his broad shoulders. She unbuttoned his gold waistcoat but before she could remove it, Simon ripped it off.
He then untied his cravat. Mia pushed his hands away when he tried to unwrap it from his neck.
“I am supposed to be undressing you, remember?”
“You are taking far too long,” he said in a hoarse voice. “Do you have any idea how long I’ve waited for this night?”
Wasn’t it only a week? “Hush, and enjoy the anticipation.” She went to work on his crisp white shirt next. After it was lying on the floor with the other pieces of clothing, she stared at his hard chest. The man was lined with muscles unlike any man she had ever seen. She traced her nails down his chest until he hissed.
“Turn around now,” he demanded.
Once she did, he moved her hair out of the way and set to work on the pearl buttons of her gown.
“I want to rip this off you,” he whispered.
“Don’t you dare!”
He nipped her neck with his teeth. “I won’t.”
Gently, he slid the gown off her and tossed it on a chair. Her stays hit the floor seconds later. Only then did he turn her back around to face him. He leaned back against the bedpost.
“Take off your shoes and stockings for me.”
Mia kicked off her shoes. Feeling like a seductress, she placed her leg on the end of the bed and l
ifted her shift to her knees. She untied the garter holding her stocking up and then slowly inched the stocking down over her calf and ankle. The sound of his shallow breathing gave her the confidence to lift her shift up to her thigh as she removed the next garter. Peeking a glance at him, she noticed the tight grip on the bedpost as if to keep him from touching her.
“Now the shift,” he ordered as the second garter hit the floor.
“As you wish.” She lifted her shift with excruciating slowness, exposing her skin to his gaze inch by inch. His eyes grew steely gray as the material slipped over her hips to her flat belly. He groaned as she exposed her breasts to his gaze. Finally, she yanked the garment over her head and let it fall to the floor.
“Dear God, you are beautiful.”
She closed the distance between them. “But you still have far too many clothes on for my taste. Sit down.”
Simon did as she ordered and sat on the edge of the bed. He clenched the coverlet in his fists as she bent over to remove his shoes. He was already about to burst but would give her this little bit of control for a while.
“Stand,” she demanded.
She worked at the buttons on his breeches, and then slowly slid them over his hips and down his legs. She removed the rest of his garments. He didn’t know how much more of this he could take before he tossed her on the bed and thrust into her.
She skimmed her hands up his legs until she reached his cock. Using her fingernails, she eased up the length of him, sending his desire soaring. Closing his eyes, he let his head rest against the bedpost. Her moist tongue circled the top of him.
“Dear God,” he groaned.
As her mouth slid down the hard length of him, Simon tried to think of something other than the sensation of her tongue and mouth. She mimicked the act by sliding him in and out until he thought he would lose his mind.
“Enough,” he rasped.
She backed away slowly. “Did I do something wrong?” she asked in an innocent tone.
He yanked her back against his chest. “No, something far too right,” he whispered before kissing her hard. Her tongue swept across his and they warred for dominance. He’d never met such a passionate woman as Mia. He craved her touch, her kisses. He felt her hands reach between them to stroke him again.
“No more or I shall have to tie you to the bed.”
Her brown eyes flickered with desire. “Is that a promise?”
Ignoring her comment, he picked her up and laid her on the bed before covering her with his body. “Do you have any idea how much I want you right now?”
She tilted her hips against his hard cock. “I believe I have a slight idea.”
“Then stop moving or this will be over now.”
She stilled the movement of her hips.
Simon waited for a moment to catch his breath and regain a modicum of control. Wanting her to feel as much pleasure as he knew he would, he kissed a trail of hot kisses down her neck. He nipped the skin where her rapid pulse beat. Lifting his body slightly, he stared down on her small breasts and dusky nipples. They seemed to draw even tighter under his gaze. He leaned forward and suckled one until she moaned beneath him.
Mia closed her eyes as his mouth covered her breast. Her body felt as if it was on fire with him on top of her. His tongue moved across her belly until it reached the fine hair between her legs. Oh God, he couldn’t do that now.
“No, Simon.”
“Oh yes, Mia,” he replied against her thigh before plunging his tongue between her legs.
Already halfway to an orgasm, the sensation of his tongue there brought her immediately to the brink. Just as she was at the pinnacle, he pulled away with a laugh.
“Not yet,” he whispered.
“Yes, now,” she begged. Slowly her body receded from the peak with frustration. She panted against the pillow wanting him to enter her now. “Please, Simon.”
“I do love it when you beg,” he said in a hoarse tone.
Just when she thought he was going to move into her, his tongue was back on her clitoris, bringing her back to the edge. “Oh God, Simon.”
Before release could wash over her, he pulled away again.
“Stop,” she begged. Did he know the frustration straining her body?
“When you come, I will be in you so deep that I will fill you completely.”
“Then now.”
He only laughed and brought his mouth back down to her. She lifted her hips and his tongue slipped into her warmth, circling her. Unable to control the sensation racing through her, she climbed higher and higher. Her nerves were stretched to their limit.
“Please, Simon.”
This time, just as she reached the pinnacle, he thrust into her sending her completely over the edge. Her inner muscles clenched down on him as he plunged in and out of her. Before she had even recovered from her first orgasm, a second even harder one slammed her body. This time as her muscles tightened around him, he stilled over her body.
“Mia,” he groaned as he spilled his seed into her.
Collapsing on top of her, they remained motionless, the sound of their panting filling the silence. She had never imagined making love could be this incredible. Neither of her previous times had been anything like this.
He rolled off her and brought her close. Mia was still shaking from the experience her husband had given her. She knew without a doubt that she loved him completely and had to tell him.
“I love you,” she whispered.
Hearing nothing in reply, she raised her head and realized he had fallen asleep not hearing her declaration.
Chapter 19
Simon woke the next morning feeling as if he’d used every muscle in his body the previous night. While he’d thought Mia would be passionate in bed, she surpassed all his expectations. He’d never experienced anything like their passion. Could it be love that made the difference?
He wanted to talk to her about his feelings for her last night but had fallen asleep almost immediately. With sunlight streaming in the window, the moment was gone. He rolled over only to find the bed empty.
“Mia?”
Silence answered him. He tossed off the coverlet and looked around the room. Her clothes were gone. Panic washed over him. Where the bloody hell could she have gone? He dressed quickly and raced downstairs.
“Harris, have you seen my wife?”
Harris smothered a smile. “Of course, my lord, she is in the morning room enjoying her breakfast.”
“Thank you.” Relief swept over him. He entered the bright morning room and stopped. Mia, the poor wise woman who agreed to be his wife, sat at the table in her green morning gown looking like the countess she now was. Pride surged in him.
“Good morning,” she said to him.
“Good morning.” He sat in the seat across from her as a footman placed a cup of coffee in front of him. Another footman delivered a plate full of eggs and ham. “Thank you,” he said and then waved them out of the room.
“Why didn’t you wake me?” he asked as the door shut behind the footman.
“You fell asleep as soon as we...” She took a sip of her tea. “You looked exhausted so I didn’t want to disturb you. Besides, we never ate last night and I was famished.”
A logical explanation for certain. “What would you like to do today?” Please say spend it in bed with you.
“I do believe someone promised to show me how to defend against an attacker.” She wiped her mouth with her napkin before placing it back on her lap. “Shall we do that today?”
Not quite what he had in mind but there was something to be said about coming up on her from behind. His mind went to lascivious thoughts about bending her over a table and entering her.
“Simon?”
He shook his head. “Yes, I did promise you. Do you think your ribs feel up to the exertion?”
“I do. My mother told me last week that I was well enough as long as we were careful.”
“Very well. After breakfast, we will do
some training.”
“Excellent. Where shall we meet? I must change into one of my older gowns first.”
“Meet me in my study. I will take you down to the room where I get my... exercise.”
She pushed back her chair. “You have a room for that?”
“Yes, downstairs so I don’t disturb anyone.”
She nodded and then left to change.
Simon stared down at his eggs, wondering how she would react if she knew what he really used that room for. Would she regret marrying him? Would she fear him? He could never let that happen, therefore she must never find out.
He pushed his plate away and walked to the study to wait for her. Dishonesty was no way to start a marriage but he was protecting her by not telling her about his past. There were some things a wife didn’t need to know.
“Are you ready?” she asked from the threshold.
“Yes.” He walked over and took her hand. “Come with me.”
He led her down the back staircase and a long corridor lined with servants’ rooms. When he finally reached the back room, he opened the door and waited for her comment.
“This is amazing,” she said in awe. “What do you do in here?”
Two small windows filtered sunlight into the large room filled with dumbbells for lifting. The large sand-filled bag hung in the middle of the room. She walked up and pushed it.
“Is that what you do? Push it?”
Simon laughed. “No, I punch it.”
She turned around with her eyes wide. “With your hands? Doesn’t that hurt?”
He walked over to his leather gloves and held them up to her. “I put these on first.”
“Will you show me?”
He tossed off his jacket and waistcoat while she leaned against the wall to watch. He slipped the gloves onto his hands.
“Do you come down here alone?” she asked.
“Sometimes one of the footmen will come down with me and spar.”
“Spar?”
“It’s a pretend fight.”
Her face paled slightly. “So no one gets hurt.”
Most of the time. “Of course not.”
“Oh.”
He could hear the relief in her voice. “When I am down here for exercise I use the bag and the weights.”
Enticing the Earl Page 16
