In respect for her newly tried state, Sebastian tried to hold back until he thought he had sufficient control, but then her small hand would stroke his side or cup his buttocks to tug him deeper within her, and he was lost.
Within moments he felt himself tighten, and desperately tried to draw the moment out for as long as possible. He could feel her tighten around him and knew she was close. A well-placed finger had her screaming in delight as she climaxed. The rippling sensations of her release around his manhood were more than he could bear, and with a soul deep groan, he emptied himself deep within her.
“Oh, Amelia,” Sebastian murmured several moments later. Despite the fact she had been untried, she had given him the most satisfactory completion he had ever experienced in his life. He knew there and then he had to take her to wife. Not only for the fact she could most certainly be carrying his babe, but because he knew instinctively he would never find the same level of satisfaction with any other woman.
“We should not have done that,” Amelia murmured, chest heaving from exhaustion. A brief surge of regret suddenly bloomed within her chest. It was difficult to acknowledge her regrets while her legs were spread and Sebastian was still buried deep within her, but she knew she was irrefutably changed, physically and mentally, by what had just happened. She wasn’t sure if anything would ever be alright again.
“Don’t have any regrets, Amelia.” Sebastian’s voice rumbled beside her ear as he placed a tender kiss upon her brow. “What we have just done is strictly between us.” Carefully placing a blunt fingertip beneath her chin, he placed a soft kiss upon her lips. His eyes met and held hers. “You are mine now. No regrets. I won’t allow it.”
Amelia felt a tiny thrill of feminine delight at his words, despite knowing inside that he didn’t truly mean them. Within a few days he would be leaving to return to his own world. That wayward thought was enough to bring a fresh surge of tears to her eyes, which she quickly blinked away.
Instead she smiled bravely at a watchful Sebastian, trying desperately not show him her real feelings. “I’m a wanton hussy,” she replied, unable to keep her most pressing concern to herself.
“You are not,” Sebastian countered; outraged that she should even momentarily consider such a circumstance. “You are far from it.” His heart ached for her clear distress as he turned her reluctant gaze towards him. “You are the most generous, warm and delightful person I have ever been privileged to meet, Amelia.” He knew he should move off her. That she must be getting uncomfortable lying with him between her legs, but he was loathe to move until this was settled between them, and her doubts had been vanquished. If he did move, she would close her legs and move away from him, and in doing so would undoubtedly close him out.
“I am a whore,” Amelia murmured, battling tears.
“You are not. If you were a whore, I would have not taken your virginity tonight,” Sebastian countered, his anger piqued. His gaze hardened. Despite their intimate position, his deep blue eyes held a stern glint of temper.
“But I have slept with you.” Amelia’s voice held a twinge of regret.
“That doesn’t make you a whore. If you have any regrets, it should be that we didn’t make love in our marriage bed.” Sebastian wished he could tell her of his intentions. Instinctively he knew she wasn’t ready to hear what he had in store for them as a couple, and wisely kept quiet for now.
“We are the most unlikely people ever to marry,” Amelia chided him softly, reluctant to succumb to the tender reassurances she knew he could not fulfil.
“That may be so, but we have made love now and that cannot be changed. We can’t go back.” Sebastian kissed her lips persistently, until they reluctantly parted against his tender onslaught.
It was some time before Sebastian released her lips and lifted his head. Amelia wriggled her hips, wondering if he would take the hint. Was he ever going to move? Did one need to ask a man who had just taken her, to remove himself from between her legs? She was astonished when, in response to her movement; he pressed his hips downwards, pushing her deeper into the bed. His intent was evident with the wicked smile he flashed at her, before he turned his attention to her body.
Already hardening, his wicked side rose and he stroked a blunt fingertip down the moist pink flesh between her thighs, rewarded at her startled gasp. Tomorrow she would undoubtedly be sore, but for tonight she was not going to be let off so lightly. Clasping her wriggling hips in his firm hands, Sebastian reclaimed her lips, silencing any further protests as effectively as he knew how. Within moments, she was gasping softly beneath him as his questing fingers drove her relentlessly towards the edge.
Amelia knew she was lost as the delicious tension built once more. The empty ache deep within made her squirm beneath him. Sebastian knew what she was asking for, and began to move his hips slowly. His blue eyes locked firmly on hers as he possessed her.
“If you were a whore,” Sebastian whispered as his rigid length slid into her welcoming heat, “You would do this several times a night, with several different men, and be a wee bit richer in the morning.” He placed a kiss upon her parted lips, swallowing her gasp of delight as he tipped her hips upwards to meet his deepening thrusts. “You won’t be doing this with anyone else, Amelia.” Sebastian’s voice hardened as he thought about any other man lying with her as he was, and quickly closed the thought off as jealousy and temper surged.
“The only lover you will have in your bed will be me,” he declared boldly, before easing her legs higher and quickening his thrusts.
Amelia didn’t respond, knowing he was quite right. For her, there could never be another man. Nobody could ever recreate the wondrous sensations she experienced with Sebastian. She didn’t know whether to be happy she had this chance to experience such closeness to him, or intensely sad.
All thought ended with a sigh, as Sebastian took possession in a way that left them both panting and moaning as they raced towards completion.
CHAPTER FIVE
“When does Sir Hubert leave?” Sebastian yawned widely, as dawn broke through the night sky. Although they were exhausted, he knew Amelia was still awake and lay sated and exhausted before him. He could almost hear her thinking.
“I think he is leaving later this morning. I have said I will be there later to pack a basket for them to take on the journey. Then I will begin to clean the house and get ready to close it.” Amelia’s voice quivered with tears she fought hard not to shed.
Her senses were still reeling from the events of the past night. Although tiredness beckoned, she hadn’t objected to any of his demands. Instead she had given herself wantonly, without hesitation and had thoroughly enjoyed her experiences throughout the night. The one night she could share with Sebastian before her life irrevocably changed once more.
“Then you shall do your chores, and return here when they have gone. We have plans of our own to make.” Sebastian watched as she slowly absorbed the import of his words, unsurprised when she stiffened in his arms. Instinctively he tightened them to stop her moving away.
“Plans?” Amelia’s heart thumped heavily in her chest as she stared blankly across the room. This was it, a tiny voice inside her cautioned. This is the time when he tells you that he is going to leave too, and you will be all alone again just as you predicted, although this time will be worse because Sir Hubert won’t be there either. She closed her eyes and waited for his fateful words.
“We have to make plans for our own departure,” Sebastian said, feeling her jolt against him.
“Pardon?” Amelia’s tone was blank as she struggled to take on the import of his words.
“You cannot remain here either, Amelia.” Sebastian tried to keep his voice soft. He knew she loved her little home, and although he couldn’t understand why she didn’t want to leave it, he knew she was going to be upset.
“Why not?” Her tone was a mere whisper. She pushed against his arms and turned to gaze at him, nonplussed. There was no way she could go with him
when he left. Was that what he was suggesting?
“You have to come with me.” Sebastian sighed when she began to shake her head, before trying to leave the bed.
Instead of letting her go, he pushed her deeper into the bed by leaning over her. “You are in danger here.” He shook her slightly to emphasize his words, urging her to look at him and understand the significance of his words.
“Danger?” She knew she was parroting his words, but simply couldn’t control the rising well of panic at the thought of leaving her beloved cottage with him. “How?”
“It was Danvers, the coachman, in that cellar. That means Rat could be aware that no other body was found. Amelia, the man who was going to push me out of a moving carriage to my death is undoubtedly on his way to report back to Ballantyne. Because they cannot be certain of my death, they will almost certainly come back and look for my body. Believe me; you do not want to be out here, all alone, when they call by.”
He knew he was frightening her but needed her to understand that he simply would not leave unless she was with him.
“Why should they bother with me? It was windy, dark and raining that night. You could have been anywhere when you were pushed. Why should they bother to check this road?” Amelia felt her stomach flip over at the possibility of this Rat person, knocking on her door. Swallowing hard, she stared at Sebastian and tried not to let her fear show.
“Because they will check the area and will almost certainly want to search the cottage.” Carefully he swept his hands down her cold arms, until he was holding her trembling hands in his. “I have to leave in the next day or so. I need to get in touch with my brothers. They will be frantic by now and will be trying to find me. My ribs have healed enough that I can return home, but I cannot countenance you being left here by yourself. You simply must come with me.”
Amelia felt tears well again, and this time couldn’t prevent them trickling down her cheeks again. Defiantly, she shook her hair back from her face and looked him straight in the eye, her voice firm.
“I will not go with you. I will not be your servant or your whore, and I do not belong in your world. My place is here, Sebastian.”
Amelia’s heart ached for the confusing turn her life had just taken. “You have to leave. Of course you do. You have to go back to your world, and leave me to mine.”
Tugging her hands out of his, she was too upset to realise she was revealing her nakedness when she slid from the bed. Quickly she disappeared behind the retiring screen to dress. She was so lost in her tumultuous thoughts; she didn’t look back or notice Sebastian’s masculine interest.
Sebastian sat on the side of the bed, and watched the curvy bottom of his intriguing lover disappear from sight. Ignoring the surge of desire that swept through him at the sight of her delicious curves displayed so gloriously, he swore loudly. He knew the prospect of leaving scared her, but had hoped the passion they shared would have tipped the balance in his favour.
That the thought of leaving him was too painful for her, he thought ruefully, considering his arrogance. Her vehement refusal to go with him was a minor setback he would just have to skirt around somehow.
He shook his head as he carefully banked the fire. There was one thing he was certain of; when Sir Hubert left later that morning, Sebastian could waste no time in leaving Glendowie with Amelia in tow, whether she liked it or not.
He could only hope Bestwick was reliable, and provided the relevant manpower and transport.
“Come on, Amelia,” Sebastian muttered quietly from his seat in the dark confines of Lord Bestwick’s most luxurious travelling coach. Bestwick had been true to his word. A few hand-picked men had appeared as planned, along with the conveyance, a few minutes ago. They were under strict instruction that under no circumstance was Amelia to be unduly scared any more than was necessary, or harmed in any way.
So far he was impressed. The men had quietly disappeared into the dark shadows of the woods, and he hadn’t seen or heard of them since. Even the two horses hitched up to the carriage had remained quiet and steady under the groom’s calming hands.
Heart thumping, he became aware of a sudden flurry of movement within the trees. A soft squeak of surprise rent the air, before all four men appeared at the side of the carriage, a small bundle of squirming blankets held between them.
Sebastian opened the door and watched as the wriggling mass was set gently down on the carriage floor at his feet, before the door was slammed shut. As planned, the carriage immediately moved off at a fast clip.
“You bastard!” Amelia spat, shaking the blanket off her head. She was so angry with him that she could have happily clawed his eyes out. “You can just turn this carriage around right now and take me back. I will not go with you!” The last was bitten out through clenched teeth, as she fought to free herself from the rough confines of the covers wrapped tightly around her. “Let me up!”
“I take it they didn’t hurt you?” Sebastian’s question was almost conversational as he carefully settled back against the squabs, clearly not prepared to help her.
She didn’t bother to answer, as she tried desperately to squirm her way out of the tangled mess wrapped around her.
“Take me back, for God’s sake. How dare you do this?” Her voice trembled with anger.
“You haven’t listened to a word I have said, have you?” Sebastian’s voice was so calm and unaffected, she wanted to kick him.
Amelia tried hard to ignore his masculine length lounging nonchalantly against the seat opposite. “I have listened, but I don’t agree. You have no right to override my wishes in such a high-handed way! Who do you think you are?” Amelia ranted, her voice rising to a near-shout.
“I am not your bloody servant you can order to do as you wish! I demand you turn this carriage around and take me home!” Her tones were clipped and cultured. Once again the speech she had slipped into, in her fury, was pure aristocracy.
It confirmed that there was much Sebastian had yet to discover about his future wife.
Sebastian shook his head slowly. “Sorry, darling, I can’t do it. Not only do I not consider it in your best interests to return you to that desolate hovel you call home. But the coachman has been instructed not to stop unless it is to change horses. We are to be taken directly to Tingdale.” He leaned back against the squabs nonchalantly. “I could bang on the roof for the next ten minutes, and he will ignore me as he has been instructed to.”
Closing his eyes, he pretended to settle back for a snooze, seemingly ignoring the soft thumps coming from the opposite side of the carriage as Amelia unravelled herself from the blankets.
“Take me back, Sebastian, now.” Amelia’s voice was harder than he had ever heard it, and it was enough to make him open his eyes and consider her warily.
Her stony glare glinted at him through the dimness of the carriage. Whether the moisture was from tears or temper, he wasn’t sure. Still, he couldn’t afford to cave in and let her have her way.
“Stop this carriage now, or I will jump out.”
He tensed, wondering if she was serious. Within moments he had his answer as she moved towards the door. He didn’t hesitate to drag her hand away from the handle, and tug her down onto the plush seat beside him with a thump. He lay over her to hold her still when she tried to squirm away from him.
“What the hell do you think you are doing?” His voice was incredulous as his own temper began to rise. “Do you not remember the state I was in when I jumped from a moving carriage?” he snapped. He couldn’t believe she would be that stupid, even when she was so upset.
“I told you to take me back.” Amelia's chest heaved with temper.
“No!” Sebastian replied, softly but firmly. He had not seen this side of her before, and it intrigued and worried him in equal measure.
A small part of him wanted to prod and provoke her a little just to see how she would react. How much could he get away with, before his spitting kitten revealed her claws and scratched him? He fe
lt his manhood begin to stir beneath his breeches, but knew this wasn’t the time. She would probably snap it off and beat him with it; if he showed her the effect having her angry at him was having upon his loins, he thought as he slowly eased away from her. Shaking his head when the tantalising mental image of her naked body in the firelight crept into his mind, Sebastian shifted his hips and kept a wary eye on her.
“Let me up, Sebastian. Now!” Amelia wanted to smack his arrogant face, she was so angry. “Damn you, I should have left you in the woods,” she bit out, wishing she had at least a foot free so she could kick his arrogant shin.
She didn’t mean it. Not if she was truly honest. Finding Sebastian was the most wondrous thing that had happened to her.
If only he wasn’t Ton, and so damned gorgeous.
“Now, now; you know you don’t mean that,” Sebastian murmured tenderly, easing a tendril of hair out of her eyes. He winced when she snatched her head back, and shot him a filthy glare.
“Keep your hands off me.” Her voice trembled with fury she did little to hide.
Pushing roughly at his shoulders, he eased back enough for her to wriggle out from beneath him and stumble to her feet. When he made to drag her back down, her small hands thumped at his shoulders, pushing him forcefully back against the squabs.
As her small fists rained down upon his shoulders, he wondered whether she was just trying to get him to listen to her. But when her tears began to flow and her small fists moved to his head and neck, Sebastian grew concerned. A sense of disquiet settled over him, and he wondered briefly if he had made the right decision in forcing her to come with him. What if she didn’t forgive him?
“Calm down, Amelia.” Sebastian cursed fluidly as a well-placed fist, although small, landed on his brow with surprising accuracy.
Capturing her frail wrist in his large palm, he pulled her against him, twisting around until she lay beneath him. When she continued to thump him with her free hand, he tugged that over her head too, and held them both down against the seat.
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