“Oh, yes, if there really is no other way,” Amelia replied hesitantly, surprised at being asked. She glanced curiously at Sebastian, who had turned his attention back towards Dominic.
“I don’t want you travelling to see Eastleigh alone, Sebastian,” Dominic added, with a frown at his younger brother.
“I’ll be fine,” Sebastian replied, eyeing the determination in his brother’s stance warily.
“Given that we have yet to ascertain why Ballantyne tried to kill you rather than any of us, we can only assume the risk is still very real. You cannot in all conscience expect me to remain here and wait for your return. I’m coming with you.”
“We cannot leave the ladies here all by themselves,” Sebastian replied with a frown.
“Why not?” Amelia murmured, glaring indignantly at Sebastian. “We are perfectly capable of taking care of ourselves, are we not, Isobel?”
“Of course we are, Amelia,” Isobel replied as she rose to her feet. “We are not helpless ninnies; we will be perfectly fine here by ourselves. We can chat about all sorts of things without you men around to disturb us.”
A silent look of masculine communication shot between the men, who wisely remained silent. Amelia wasn’t oblivious to the looks, although couldn’t fathom their meaning.
“We will leave in the morning,” Sebastian announced quietly, settling back in his chair to sip his brandy.
“I’m going to say goodnight,” Amelia announced. “Might I have a few minutes with you, Sebastian, please?” she murmured, before bidding everyone goodnight and quietly leaving the room.
Out in the hallway, she paused and waited for Sebastian to join her.
“I take it you are going to leave for Eastleigh early in the morning?” Her suspicions were confirmed by the guilty look that stole over his face so quickly that she wondered if she had imagined it.
“The quicker I set out, the quicker we can resolve the mystery around Ballantyne and get on with our lives, Amelia.” Sebastian fought the urge to shuffle his feet like a ten year old caught scrumping apples.
“Promise me you won’t tell Eastleigh where I am. You are to keep your meeting with Eastleigh about Hawksworth and Ballantyne only.” Amelia’s eyes met and held his in dire threat.
“I won’t do anything that will bring you unhappiness, Amelia,” Sebastian replied evasively, moving closer to cup her chin in his palm and tilt her head upwards for a kiss.
Not so easily distracted, Amelia tugged back at the last moment, her eyes hardening briefly. “If you return with Eastleigh, or you break my trust, Sebastian, I shall leave here and never return.” The words dropped between them like pebbles on a calm pond. Sebastian frowned, knowing that she meant every word.
“Amelia,” he protested softly.
“I mean it, Sebastian. I won’t have your interference in this, however good you think your intentions are.” Amelia pulled away from the tempting curve of his firm lips and climbed the stairs. She knew he stood and watched her until she disappeared. She could feel his eyes on her back, and was glad when he didn’t follow her.
Once out of sight, she leant a steady hand on the wall, her fingers trembling with a mixture of worry and anger. If he ran true to form, Sebastian would feel it incumbent upon himself to inform Eastleigh of her whereabouts, and use the opportunity of dragging the man back to Tingdale to push for marriage. She could only be glad she had sent the request for a reference off to Sir Hubert.
CHAPTER NINE
When Amelia awoke during the night, she didn’t need to turn over to know Sebastian wasn’t filling the empty space beside her. She lay on her back staring at the canopy above for several moments. She could remain in bed and toss and turn for the remainder of the night, or she could take the opportunity to try to persuade Sebastian to keep her secret, and in doing so, keep her.
She didn’t need to think too long before she threw the covers back and climbed out of bed. Moments later she eased the door to his rooms quietly open.
Sebastian was lying fast asleep in the middle of the huge four poster bed. One well-muscled arm was lying over his head; the other lay on the white sheet covering his slim hips. The broad expanse of his well-muscled chest was liberally smattered with dark hair, tapering down to disappear beneath the sheet covering his lean hips. Amelia didn’t need to draw the sheet down to know what was beneath.
She wasn’t certain how he would respond to what she was about to do, but was emboldened by the stark reality that tonight might be the very last night she had with him. She intended to make the most of it.
Quietly removing the ties from the bed curtains, Amelia moved to the arm resting over Sebastian’s head. He didn’t stir when she moved the arm resting on the sheet over his head. Quickly she tied his wrists to the wooden posts at each corner of the bed with the silken ties, sitting back with a sly grin of mischief when she was done.
Slowly easing the sheet off his hips, she casually dropped onto the floor, quickly following it with her nightgown. Taking a deep breath, she slid onto the bed beside him, running her hands gently upwards, over the taut muscles of his stomach towards the tight buds of his nipples. She paused when Sebastian shifted a little, and waited until his soft snores resumed.
She had a few more minutes before he woke up, so resumed her delectation of his body. Slowly sliding her hands through the broad expanse of muscle and hair on his chest, she eyed the soft length of him nestled in the thick patch of hair at the apex of his thighs in consideration for several moments.
The temptation was too strong to resist. Sliding a finger from base to tip, Amelia watched as the soft flesh began to twitch beneath her finger. She repeated the motion again and again, smiling with naughty delight as his manhood grew proudly upright. A quick glance upwards to confirm he was still asleep. It was all she needed to see, and she carefully replaced the gentle stroking of her finger, with her tongue and teeth.
After several moments of her tender ministrations, Sebastian groaned and shifted restlessly against the bonds holding his wrists firm.
Emboldened by the effect she had on him, and the knowledge he couldn’t grab her and take over, Amelia feasted.
“Oh God, Amelia,” Sebastian grumbled. He was having the most erotic dream he had ever had in his life. Amelia was taking him deep into her -. Whoa!
His eyes snapped open and he stared nonplussed at the canopy of the bed for several moments, before raising his head to stare at his erection now disappearing into Amelia’s mouth.
“What the hell are you doing?” He groaned at the delicious sensations she was creating, only to curse fluidly when he tried to tug her head upwards for a kiss.
“Let me go, Amelia,” he demanded, trying to ignore the tightening of his balls.
“No,” Amelia murmured. “I know you like it.” Her voice was a siren’s husky promise.
“Let me pleasure you,” Sebastian gasped, shivering in anticipation. Eyeing the lush mound of her breasts against his thigh, he softened his voice to a husky whisper.
“No.”
“Keep doing that and you will get more than you bargained for,” he gasped several minutes later, when the pleasure became more than he could control. “I swear to God, Amelia, you have to stop.”
“Alright.”
Sebastian frowned suspiciously at her easy acquiescence. The aching in his erection was fierce. He dragged in a hissing breath as the cool night air swept over his hot and heavy manhood and he cursed, suddenly regretting telling her to stop.
“Ride me,” he gasped, trying to loosen the bonds enough to grab her.
“No,” Amelia murmured with a smug smile of supreme feminine arrogance.
“Amelia.” Sebastian’s tone held a warning that did little other than make her smile even more.
“There is nothing you can do,” she murmured silkily, not quite sure herself where this wanton siren had come from, but willing to see what happened anyway. If he lost his temper with her, then she would just leave him tied up and let
the staff set him free in the morning. She fought the urge to smile at the thought of his reaction to that scenario.
“Now look what’s happened,” she sighed, looking down at his softening erection before sliding back down to suckle him again.
Sebastian groaned. “Are you drunk?”
He peered down at her, transfixed by the sight of his huge shaft sliding between her luscious lips. “If you keep doing that, I won’t be responsible if I spill in your mouth,” he bit out. He wondered how far she would go. Would she knowingly bring him to completion with her mouth?
As the pressure in his balls began to build again, he tugged at the bonds ineffectually. Instinctively his hips began to jerk in response to the heat of her mouth as the pleasure grew. He swore fluidly when her mouth left him, and once again cool air took the heat off his erection.
“Now, now,” Amelia chided softly. “Not so fast.” She blew softly on his length and waited until it began to soften.
“You do that again, and I swear, as God is my witness, you won’t sit down while I am away by the time I am through with you,” Sebastian bit out, fighting the urge to yell his head off. Frustration gnawed at him, not only at the promised release she kept denying him, but at the bonds that refused to loosen.
“Untie me, darling, I promise you can ride me,” Sebastian pleaded as she took him into her hand.
“No,” Amelia murmured, sliding her hands upwards across the corded muscles of his stomach to slide through his chest hair and flick his nipples. She was rewarded by his responding groan, and repeated the motion as she straddled him.
Sebastian whispered encouragements to her as she slid over him, eyeing the pebbled nipples inches from his face with lascivious delight. He was almost there, when she leant backwards and away from him.
He glared balefully at her. His attention captured by the sight of her lush thighs resting on either side of his hips, his hard erection poised at her entrance. The sight of her lowering onto him combined the sensation of her tight sheath encasing him, made him groan aloud and swear fiercely, and encourage her onwards. He tried to thrust his hips upwards only to find her weight holding him down, preventing him from withdrawing.
“Amelia.” His brow and chest were bathed in a fine sheen of sweat. He should be blazingly angry at her for tying him up. But he was too enraptured by the sight of her new feminine confidence. He just couldn’t find it within him to do anything but enjoy her curiosity.
She remained silent as she slid down over him, relishing the feel of his rigid length sliding deep within her. Once impaled on him, she slid her hands slowly across his chest, kissing her way to the turgid nipples buried within the thick patch of hair, and licking them. She was fully aware of his intent stare as he watched her, and loved having him under her control.
“You want me,” Amelia murmured, gasping as she slid upwards until he was almost out of her, before sliding back down. A hot pool of tension began to coil low in her belly and she knew release would be soon. She strived to hold off her own completion. She wanted, needed, to see how far she could push him.
“You know damned well I do. Untie me, and I will show you,” Sebastian growled, as she encased him in her feminine heat once more.
“Do you want me to stay?” Amelia murmured, flicking her tongue over his turgid nipples before sitting up.
She ached to have him suckle her in return. She wanted his hands on her. But knew if he was untied, he would take over. This was about her control, not his.
“You can stay in my bed anytime you want to, you know that,” Sebastian muttered, not sure where she was headed. He had never had a conversation with a woman while making love before. It was a bit unnerving, and galling, to think she wasn’t so caught up with the sex that she felt the need to have a chat.
“I mean here, in Tingdale, with you,” Amelia moaned softly, as she slowly slid her own hands down over her breasts, cupping and measuring their weight before squeezing them gently. She felt a thrill of feminine delight, as Sebastian’s tongue swept over his lips hungrily. He stared at her clever fingers gliding over the lush mounds of her breasts raptly, aware she could see the pure longing on his face.
“Yes, I want you to stay,” Sebastian murmured, willing to follow her lead for now. He was fairly certain if he tugged hard enough, he could snap the bonds holding his wrists. But he didn’t want her to relinquish command just yet. He wanted to see if she would actually finish what she started. He was also curious to discover where she was headed with the questions.
Amelia leant forward to sweep her lips across his; nibbling his jaw until the softness of her lips tickled his ear. Sebastian shuddered. “If you break my trust, Sebastian, I will leave, and I promise you will never see or hear from me again,” she whispered, before nibbling down his neck and continuing downwards.
“Amelia,” Sebastian warned, swearing roundly as she eased off him and took him into her mouth again. “Damn it,” he swore, tugging hard at the ties holding his wrists. The delicious sensation of Amelia’s clever fingers rolling his balls, combined with the heat of her mouth on his rigid shaft took over, and he was lost to everything but the delicious sensations she created.
“You’ve got to let me go, Amelia, I can’t last much longer,” he gasped moments later, as he felt the pressure build to uncontrollable heights.
He tried to tug free of the bonds as he warned her to let him go, but wasn’t unsurprised when she ignored him. Unable to do anything other than follow where she led, with a shout he gave himself over to the most dazzling release that was so intense, the world momentarily faded.
Stunned, he lay staring up at the canopy for several moments while his heartbeat slowed and his body cooled. He was still gasping from the force of his release when Amelia bent over him and began to kiss him softly.
He knew then that whatever happened between them, she would never disappear from his life, whatever she claimed. If she did leave, he would move heaven and earth to find her. There would be nowhere she could hide. She was his.
“Take me again,” Sebastian demanded softly, knowing it would be a while before he was ready to find release again, but fully aware she hadn’t found her own satisfaction. He watched as she took his half flaccid member into her mouth again, and felt the delicious sensations stir his shaft back into life with a groan.
Dawn was creeping over the horizon when Sebastian dragged his weary carcass out of the luxuriously warm bed, and away from her feminine lure. Blinking sleep out of his eyes, he glanced back at the wanton goddess who had captured his soul during the night.
She had stunned and delighted him with her willingness to try new things. He eyed the bonds on the end of the bed ruefully, and rubbed his wrists with a smile. He should be angry with her for tying him up, but the sight of her taking him into her mouth was worth a few rub marks on his wrists. Well worth it.
Quickly dressing, he quietly lit the fire and turned for one last look at his future wife. With her hair sprawled out across the pillow, she looked wild. A sated and exhausted goddess.
Immediately, the veiled warning she had given him about returning with Eastleigh in tow rose to the forefront of his mind. Despite her threats, he had to inform Eastleigh of her whereabouts. After all, he couldn’t ask for the woman’s hand in marriage while claiming he didn’t know where she was.
He didn’t know all of the facts about what had happened, but would take steps to ensure the man posed no threat to Amelia. If Dominic was right, and Eastleigh had been searching for her, there really was no reason why the man shouldn’t know his daughter was indeed safe and well.
With one last lingering look at her, Sebastian turned and left.
A few days after Sebastian’s departure, Amelia arrived downstairs to breakfast to find a letter resting on her plate. Cautiously, she eyed the unfamiliar script before tugging open the wax seal. She couldn’t prevent the tears that flowed at what she read.
“Ma’am, is everything alright?” Hodgkiss asked softly, shaken to see
the delightful new lady of the house so distressed. Eschewing all protocol, he gently patted the young girl’s hand in a fatherly way while motioning for a footman to get help.
Since the master had brought her through the door looking all bedraggled and desperate, she had proven to be the most undemanding house guest. She had been kind and considerate towards all of the staff, taking the time to ask about their health and families. It was disturbing to see her so distressed, especially with the master not in residence.
“Amelia, what is it? Have you heard from Sebastian?” Isobel gasped, rushing to the table with a worried frown.
“It’s Sir Hubert,” she whispered softly, dropping her head into her hands and weeping openly. “He’s dead.”
Several moments later, Amelia glanced at Hodgkiss and Izzy with a watery smile. Wiping tears from her cheeks with the handkerchief Hodgkiss offered her, she folded the small square cloth around her fingers over and over, as she talked. “It’s just a shock, that is all. He was a kind man who gave me a chance. I am not certain where I would be now, if it wasn’t for his help.”
“Do you want to go to the funeral?” Isobel patted her hand comfortingly.
Amelia shook her head. “He has already been buried. His brother wrote to inform me of Sir Hubert’s death three weeks ago, but unfortunately sent the letter to Glendowie. With Sir Hubert being away, Lord Bestwick was handed the note. He forwarded it on to me. Sir Hubert died a few days after arriving in Devon,” Amelia replied softly. “What do I do now?” she whispered, suddenly wanting the reassuring warmth of Sebastian’s comforting embrace.
“You need to remain here, and wait for Sebastian to return. Ballantyne still poses a threat. We cannot forget that fact,” Isobel replied, buttering some toast and pushing it into Amelia’s hand. “Until then, you need to try to come to terms with the latest news, and not worry about anything. Once Ballantyne has been dealt with, you can decide what you want to do.”
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