Invitation to Passion

by Bronwen Evans

  Maddy blushed. Her stomach churned, that was true. It was also true that the woman in her was looking forward to sharing Richard’s bed.

  “Come, sit. I wanted a private word with you before you left.” She took Maddy’s hand and led her to the bed. “Move over.”

  Melissa sat next to her. “I know today is a bit overwhelming so I thought I’d share my experience of your situation. I’m sure you’re aware that I too was forced into my marriage with Anthony.”

  Maddy nodded. “But you’re happy now. You love Anthony and he loves you,” she added dreamily.

  “We didn’t start our married life that way. At first, Anthony hated being in the same room with me.” She hesitated. “I hope you don’t think it too presumptuous of me, but I wanted to offer you some advice and give you a present.”

  Maddy gave her a weak smile. “I know what you’re going to say, just what Rheda and Mother have already told me. That love can grow and that we are friends and that is a good beginning.” She halted and swallowed her fear. “But unlike you, Melissa, Anthony wasn’t in love with someone else when you married him.”

  “True. But I think I faced a worse adversary. Fear. Anthony was petrified of love. At least Richard seems to embrace love.” She mumbled something Maddy couldn’t quite hear; it was something about embracing it all too frequently. “Men are fragile creatures at heart. On the outside, they are big and strong, but on the inside, not so much. Women, on the other hand, look fragile on the outside but usually have a core of steel.”

  Maddy wished she had a core of steel. Right now, it felt more like molten iron under the armorer’s hammer.

  “You’re entering a new phase in your relationship with Richard. You’re friends, and that can be both a help and a hindrance.”

  Madeline frowned. “A hindrance?”

  Melissa took her hand and gave it a gentle squeeze. “You’re going to have to do something to make Richard look at you differently.”

  Maddy licked her lips before stammering, “I’m his wife. Tonight I’ll be more than his friend.”

  She smiled at Maddy. “Exactly. Here, I want you to take this.” As she spoke, Melissa pressed a small book into her hands.

  “I don’t think we’ll be reading tonight.”

  Melissa giggled delightedly. “I’m pretty sure you won’t be either. There is not a man on this earth who wouldn’t want to find his pleasure in your bed, and Richard is no exception. You’re beautiful.”

  Maddy blushed. “Thank you, but I have no worries on that count. Richard has already informed me that he’s looking forward to teaching me about passion.”

  “I’m sure he is. But I suspect you want more than simply passion from Richard. You’ll want his heart. So it doesn’t hurt to have an arsenal of your own.”

  “I’m not following you.”

  “There is one tried and tested method women can deploy to make a man see them in a different light.”

  Maddy raised an eyebrow, and said in consternation, “Only one? Gosh, that narrows the odds!”

  “Well, perhaps not one, but one that will work quickly. You don’t want him to love you in ten years’ time. You want him to love you now!”

  She nodded enthusiastically and glanced at the book Melissa had shoved into her hand, and opened it to a page where an intricately sketched image made her eyes open wide. “Oh, my.” She quickly closed the book and looked at the title. “The Secrets of a French Courtesan, by Madam du Barry.”

  Melissa reached across and re-opened the cover to the first page. “I’ve marked a passage. Read it.”

  Madeline began to read aloud…

  Too late, women learn desire must never dim or love flies the coop to a more welcoming perch.

  Men never get confused. For them there is no love without desire.

  What most women do not understand is that desire is our most formidable weapon. Brandied effectively, desire brings many rewards, both monetary and in the form of delicious pleasure. More importantly, deployed with skill, it binds a man to you more firmly than any marriage vow.

  I write this book in the hope that women will open their eyes to the joys only a few of us know. I hope they can embrace the knowledge that there is no greater skill than that of learning how to pleasure a man; to set the fire of desire burning deep in his soul, until it all but consumes him, and he wants you with an ardor that stirs your senses and makes you believe in love…More importantly, it will make him worship and adore you. It will make him want to lay down his life for you, give you everything your heart desires and, finally, fervently believe he cannot live without you.

  After all, is that not the true definition of love?”

  Excitement, and for the first time hope, stirred her senses. She looked at Melissa for confirmation. “You have already used this book?”

  Melissa showed no embarrassment. She simply nodded. “Richard is a renowned rake, a man of great passions. Desire such as this could win his heart. You do want to win his heart, don’t you?”

  “It would mean everything to me,” she said reverently. “I don’t know what to say. Thank you for sharing this with me. I’m touched.”

  “No need for thanks. We women have so little say in many things. We should at least rule in the bedroom, don’t you think?”

  “It’s hard to rule the bedroom when you’re only used to sleeping in it.”

  “I have faith that you’re a quick learner.”

  “Does your husband know about this book?”

  “Yes. And he encouraged me to give it to you. Anthony wants his brother to be as happy as we are. I have every faith that you will be. This is just some added insurance.”

  Melissa stood and placed a kiss on Maddy’s cheek. “We are now sisters. If you ever need anything, you only have to call on me—or Anthony. We’re, all of us, family now.”

  Maddy felt her eyes well with tears. She’d never had a sister before, and now she had two, Rheda and Melissa.

  “I’ll leave you to say your last goodbyes to your childhood. I know how scared I was on my wedding night. But you at least know Richard. You do know he’d never hurt you.”

  “Of course. Well,” she looked at Melissa with a sad smile, “not intentionally. But there are many ways to be hurt—other than physically.”

  Melissa crossed the floor and opened the door. Before she slipped through it, she turned and said, “If you’re worried about him hurting you emotionally, study the book. A satisfied man is a happy man. Why look elsewhere…when the fires burn more ferociously at home?”

  After Melissa left, Madeline sat caressing the book in her hands. She’d love to sit and devour it now, before her wedding night. But part of her didn’t want to spoil what was ahead. Richard had been an excellent teacher in other respects. Rheda had told her to have faith in Richard and that he would see to her pleasure.

  She had a basic understanding of what occurred between a man and a woman. She had always lived in the country and had seen animals coupling. She rose with a nervous but excited sigh, and tucked the book into her traveling trunk. Tonight she’d trust in Richard. Trust that he would make this a night to remember. With a sizzle of suppressed longing, Maddy prayed he’d make it a bit more magical than it was with the animals.

  #

  “Nervous?” Richard asked as he held open the door to their honeymoon cottage. “You’ve been very quiet since leaving the celebrations.”

  “A little. I’m just pleased to be away from prying eyes and all the good natured ribbing.”

  He smiled. Maddy was putting on her brave face. He easily recognized the firm mouth and set jaw. In reality, she was a bundle of nerves, her fingers fiddling with the edges of her dress every few seconds.

  Damned if he wasn’t slightly nervous himself. It had been unnerving, to say the least, to have had to stand in front of the vicar and say his marriage vows, binding him to Maddy for the rest of his life, particularly when he had always thought of her as more of a sister than a lover.

  N
o doubt Maddy had felt the same. He’d caused this situation and now he wanted to make sure Maddy remained unhurt by the consequences.

  Another woman to save, as Anthony would say, flickered through his mind.

  His gaze lingered over her as she stood by the fire removing her gloves. The day was warm so goodness knows why the staff had laid the fire, probably it was because they’d left for the night. They were all alone in the cottage. A light super had been laid on the table, and Richard hoped there was plenty of wine to go with it. He needed a drink.

  As he’d watched Maddy walk towards him in the church, the raw emotion he’d experienced at seeing her on Rufus’s arm had rocked him to his core. An unpredicted, but not unwelcomed desire for her, had surged to the surface. She had looked so beautiful. And so innocent. He’d known years ago that she would be a beauty men would prize, but as he had watched her glide down the aisle, her large eyes reflecting everything she was feeling—fear, excitement and trust in him—it had thrown him off balance. She was his for eternity and ripples of pride had engulfed him.

  You could have done a lot worse, old boy.

  The image of Sarah entered his mind’s eye and was quickly banished. This was Madeline’s night. His night. Their night. He didn’t want the ghosts of lovers past intruding.

  “I assume you’re not hungry but perhaps you’d like a drink?” He moved and began pouring her a glass of champagne. He poured himself a very large brandy and downed it before pouring himself another. Christ, he was nervous. He turned and found she’d settled herself on the settee. He stood staring at her until her face started to redden and he quickly handed her a glass.

  “You looked beautiful today. My beautiful bride.” Her blush deepened. “I knew when you were a young girl you’d turn into a stunning beauty,” he said, watching her breasts rise with a very deep breath.

  “But I bet you never imagined you’d be forced to marry me,” she murmured faintly. “I suspect if you had, you’d have left me to the Chesterton bullies.”

  He moved and made himself comfortable on the fur throws set strategically on the floor before the fire. He took in her sad stare and his heart missed a beat.

  “You know I will never regret our friendship, Maddy. I never had a sister growing up, or my brother really. I treasure what we shared, and still share. We have a special bond, you and I.” He sent her a smile that usually melted any female. “So please, no more talk about regrets.”

  Maddy simply cocked an elegant eyebrow at him.

  They sat staring at the flames as they sipped their drinks. He could see the tension begin to leave her shoulders as the alcohol took effect. Her head lolled back. He took another gulp of brandy for courage. “Are you hungry?”

  Madeline glanced at the platters laden with food and shook her head.

  Perhaps it would be better for both of them, if he just got this first time over with. It was bound to get easier once they grew accustomed to each other. It would not be a hardship on his part. He’d made love to countless numbers of beautiful women who had never touched his heart. His throat tightened. Except that Maddy deserved more…. She deserved a man who would worship her. He wanted to deserve this honor—he would be her first.

  He’d bloody well try to make the night magical!

  He patted the fur beside him and huskily issued his invitation. “Why don’t you come and join me?” He watched in amusement as she blushed and took a very large gulp of wine. “Stop over thinking everything, and come here.”

  She hesitated.

  “You did pledge before God to honor and obey,” he said cheekily.

  His words had the desired effect. “In that case, I’ll definitely stay where I am.”

  He crooked his finger, and smiled enticingly. “Don’t make this hard for us, sweeting. It’s our wedding day, and your husband wants to make love to his beautiful wife.”

  Her eyes widened. “Here?”

  He beckoned her again. “Certainly. I want to make love to you. I want to share all of myself with you. I want to give you pleasure the like of which you’ve never dreamed of but, most of all, I want to make you mine.”

  On the word mine, Maddy rose and came and knelt down beside him. He reached up and stroked a finger down her cheek. “So lovely…” He felt her shiver, and with a soft whimper, she closed her eyes.

  His hand cupped the back of her neck and as he gently pulled her down toward him, he brushed her lips softly, touching her mouth with the tip of his tongue while skimming the seam of her lips.

  She was trembling and when he used his other hand to pull her down on top of him, she didn’t resist him. Instead, she slid her arms over his shoulders and sunk her fingers deep into his hair.

  His lips began moving over hers. At each sweep, the pressure became more demanding. “Open for me,” he whispered.

  Eagerly, she acquiesced and he experienced his first taste of her. She tasted of innocence and the sweet essence of wine. Both were highly intoxicating. His hands found the tiny row of fastenings at the back of her gown. When his hands slipped between the unhooked sides of her gown to touch bare skin, her lips parted with a soft sigh and she met his tongue with her own, entering tentatively into his mouth.

  Holy saints.

  Her tongue ignited a river of fire sizzling rampant through his veins. His groin hardened as each stroke tantalized him beyond reason.

  He pushed the gown from her shoulders, his fingers gliding over her satin skin, down to her waist, as he kissed her ever more deeply. It surprised him to feel her tremble under his hands. He’d done this once before. He’d already initiated an innocent, Sarah. It had been the night they were supposed to elope, but later, caught by her brother, and faced with her father’s wrath, Sarah could not do it. She’d married Charles instead.

  As if Maddy sensed where his thoughts had gone to, she broke the kiss, and a worried look crept into her beautiful eyes. They glittered like gems in the firelight, their color a mid-summer forest green.

  “What’s wrong,” she asked tentatively.

  “Would you believe me if I told you I was nervous?”

  She giggled and shook her head.

  “Well, I am. I want this to be special.”

  “It is special. I’m with you. You’ve taught me practically everything else in this life…”

  He dropped his gaze from her adoring eyes, ashamed to have allowed Sarah to intrude on their moment. Sarah was in his past. She was out of his life. Madeline was his life now. She was his to protect and cherish. And by God, he would. He silently vowed that nothing would ever come between them.

  He rolled her beneath him, the gown slipping from her shoulders. His gaze flew to her breasts partially covered by a chemise that clung to her. With a hungry gaze, he drank in the hardened nipples now clearly visible, jutting out against the fine silk. Brushing the pads of his thumbs across them, her nipples stiffened further as her fingers curled more tightly in his hair.

  A soft moan escaped her swollen lips, red and plump as summer strawberries. He craved a further taste. As he sank his tongue into her warm and enticing mouth, he hoped to high heaven he would have the strength and fortitude to hold back on his needs until it was right for her. He’d never before felt such a driving need to claim and conquer. His wife!

  She moved beneath him, pushing herself against his hardness.

  She tore her lips from his and arched her head back. “You make me feel… make me want…more…”

  “I’ll give you more—I’ll give you everything…”

  It would be both their pleasures. He pushed the silk of her shift away and claimed one swollen nipple. Her eyes flew open with a gasp. The bewildered hunger in her eyes penetrated his consciousness, and sent a heat swirling through him, pushing down to the flames already licking out of control at his groin. God give him the strength to be patient while his body screamed to claim her; it was now damned near impossible to think of her innocence above his own sudden raging need.

  Her hands urged his mout
h toward her other breast and her whimpers of need fanned the flames even higher. He moved above her, his hands and lips gliding over her silken skin as he freed the rest of her body from her clothes. He crouched between her thighs as his fingers trailed up silk-stocking clad legs to reach the soft inner skin of her thighs. He gazed ravenously at her body.

  “You’re even lovelier than I had imagined.”

  “You’ve imagined me like this?”

  He nodded. “I have ever since I saw you walking up the aisle toward me.”

  She had goddess legs, long and shapely, with hips flaring delicately from a tiny waist. A dark patch of curls at the apex of her thighs momentarily held his gaze, before he let his eyes roam higher to pert breasts tipped with dusky nipples. What had he done to deserve her?

  She didn’t even try to cover herself, but she swallowed nervously. “I feel like a wanton lying here wanting your eyes to feast on me.”

  He nibbled at the flesh above her garter and saw the ripple of nerves under her skin. He murmured against her thigh, “What a scrumptious feast it is too.” He winked. “And you?”

  “I, unlike you, sir, am still imagining.”

  She made him grin like a naughty schoolboy. “Shall I reveal all?”

  She leaned up on her elbows and stretched before him. “Please do. You won’t believe what I’m currently imagining,” and she gave him a smile worthy of many a courtesan, that saw him rip the neck cloth from his neck, and claw at his jacket, waistcoat and shirt until they had been removed.

  He heard her indrawn breath and he slowed his undressing, remembering that this was her first time. What would she think? Vanity arose like a winter’s storm. He wanted to please her.

  He was breathing heavily and before he knew what was happening she was on her knees before him pressing small kisses over his bared chest. Her hands roamed over his naked skin as if seeking for some hidden trinket.

  “You’re beautiful,” she whispered.

  When her hands ventured to the placket of his trousers he sucked in a deep breath. As she began to undo the buttons, she added, “It’s like I’m unwrapping my wedding gift.”