He set the second boot down. “I didn’t think this through properly when we left Romsey. Three people won’t fit on the seat of your chaise.”
She frowned. “I confess I didn’t think of that either. I only thought of your comfort in the smaller open carriage.”
He stood and took off his coat, carefully laying it out over the chair back so it wouldn’t crease further. He untied his cravat next, conscious that Blythe watched him undress without a murmur. “Perhaps we might hire a horse tomorrow. I’ll speak to the innkeeper about one if we return with news of Oliver.”
“Good.” Blythe slithered beneath the covers and Tobias sighed with relief. Maybe now he couldn’t see her body so well he wouldn’t want her so damn much. He finished undressing, keeping his shirt on to cover his scars, and then blew the candles. When it was sufficiently dark, save for the moonlight spilling through the window, he whipped his shirt off, parted the top sheet from the counterpane, and slid onto the bed beside Blythe. He pulled the counterpane up to his chest and tucked one hand behind his head.
But he could still make out her shape beside him in the moonlight. His cock ached to forget this gentlemanly business and be very, very wicked.
Blythe wriggled beside him. She nudged his leg and then huffed. “What do you think you’re doing?”
“Attempting to sleep.”
“On top of the counterpane?”
“No. I’m on top of the top sheet. I’m quite content here.”
“Well.” She shook the bed as she rolled over and he heard her sigh. “That explains everything. Please do not wake me when you sneak out to meet your light skirt.”
Tobias gritted his teeth, and then started to laugh at the absurdity of her suggestion. “My dear, B, you are a treasure. I’m lying here, trying to be a proper gentleman, and you think it’s so I can sneak out the door during the night. Where is your mind? I don’t want what the maid offered. You should be happy I’m attempting to show some restraint by keeping a distance from you.”
She said nothing but pulled the covers closer to her chin and ignored him.
He placed his hand on her arm. “B? Are you angry with me for finally attempting to do the right thing?”
“Why would I be angry with you?”
He leaned closer, intending to press a kiss to her covered shoulder and touched bare skin instead. His cock thickened. “Do you not want me to stay on my side of the bed?”
“It doesn’t matter what I want. You’ve made up your mind.”
Although she resisted, he rolled her until she lay flat on her back. “Yes, I made up my mind to avoid ruining your good name any further. After pretending to be man and wife, though, I have my doubts whether that will still be possible.”
Her hand touched his chest—a soft touch that trailed over his skin and left fire in its wake. Her touch firmed as her hand slid to his side, tickling his ribs and then curled around to touch his back. Tobias jerked upright as her fingers touched his scars.
Blythe followed him and sat up, her hands landing on his thigh. “Tell me what evil you did to deserve such treatment.”
“What I did is none of your business.”
Her fingertips caressed his thigh lightly. “Did you hurt someone?”
Dear God, when had Blythe grown into a temptress? “No.”
“Did you steal?”
He scoffed. “I would have lost a hand if I had done so.”
“Then you are not, in fact, a bad man.”
“Oh, you are walking a dangerous line, B.” Her fingertips danced higher and brushed the head of his cock. He groaned. “Let me be a gentleman tonight.”
“Whatever happened to you before formed your character. The man I’ve come to know is brash, bold, but never takes more than he’s given. I can’t ask you to hide your scars any more than I can hide mine.”
He faced her, puzzled by her remark. “You have scars?”
“Not like yours, but you do know of mine already. Never once have you suggested I simply forget my life before, my grief for my son and husband, as so many have suggested I do. You have been surprisingly understanding, when you never needed to be.” Her hand wrapped around his length and she stroked him, her thumb skimming over the head softly on the upstroke.
Unable to believe Blythe would do such a thing, he sat in numb shock as she gave him pleasure. After a moment or two, he shook off the daze. One of them ought to be sensible. She deserved better.
He caught her hands, forced her onto her back, and hovered over her. “This isn’t the best idea you’ve ever had, my lady. I do not want you to regret a hasty decision.”
She wriggled one hand free and shoved the sheet to her waist. “It’s not a hasty decision. You’ve given me ample time to consider the matter and I do want you.”
She rose up and landed a light kiss on his lips.
Tobias growled as her breasts, nipples pointed and hard beneath the light muslin nightgown, skimmed his chest. He dropped his weight upon her and caught her head between his hands. Her body was soft and inviting against his and he kissed her, as he had been dreaming of kissing her this last week. She matched his kiss, passion for passion, hunger for hunger until they were both writhing, the sheet a mere memory as their legs tangled.
Tobias smoothed his fingers over the soft strands of her hair as conflicting emotions rose within him. He wanted her now, fast and hard before she changed her mind; to leave her aching for him. But he also wanted to make love to her all night. Every night she’d allow him to.
He eased from her grip, pressing lighter kisses to her jaw and down the delicate curve of her throat. He would take his time. For Blythe, he would take all night until she was satisfied. He nibbled her ear lobe and then groaned when her hands skimmed his back. He’d never guessed Blythe was so fearless. She took the worst of him, his scars and manners, and made him forget they mattered. He caught her leg and lifted it to curl around his thigh. Blythe panted as he settled between her legs. He wouldn’t rush, but still the barrier of her nightgown lay between them. It had to go.
He eased away again to lift her gown higher, uncovering the dark triangle between her legs. Her curls brushed his erection and he caught her lips and kissed her soundly. “My god you are lovely,” he said as he drew back.
A slow chuckle escaped her lips. “I now understand why you’ve never had any complaints before.” She wriggled her hand between them and caressed his length. “Are you not afraid of splinters anymore?”
Tobias groaned against her throat. “I must have been out of my mind to say such a thing to you. There is nothing undesirable about you. Nothing at all.”
He inched down the bed, pleased to hear a rumble of disappointment pass Blythe’s lips when she couldn’t touch his cock any more. He kissed the skin of her chest until he reached the edge of her nightgown and exposed her breasts to the night air. Small, perfectly round—the nipples standing erect and waiting. He nuzzled them with his lips.
Her fingers curled into his hair as he took one peak into his mouth and suckled, holding the other against the palm of his free hand. Her legs opened and wrapped around his waist, bringing her moist heat firmly against his stomach. He drew on the peak as his other fingers plucked and tugged at the other nipple. Blythe curled against him and kissed the top of his head.
He looked up. Her eyes were wide, her lips parted as she panted. He smiled and rose up to kiss her again. She was lovely—a fabled incomparable. He couldn’t believe she wanted him. He didn’t deserve her gift. When he settled between her open thighs, she welcomed him with an impatient tug. She caressed his back, passing over his scars as if they didn’t exist, and squeezed his bottom. Her action made him jerk and the head of his cock butted her entrance—her wet heat drew him in.
Twenty Five
Blythe’s breath caught as Tobias slid inside her body. She tensed, expecting him to plunder, but he simply joined with her and pressed his head into the crook of her neck. After a long moment of inactivity, she nudged his shoulder
. “What’s wrong?”
Tobias shuddered, his laughter sinking into her skin. “You make everything so easy for me.”
She caught his face between her hands and peered at him. Had he already found his release? “You didn’t?”
“Oh no, my delicious, Lady Venables. I’m just pausing to savor perfection.”
Blythe frowned. What nonsense was he about? There were many more women in the world that could satisfy a man better than she could. She’d hardly been allowed to touch him as it was. He set his hands on the mattress, his lower body resting against hers where they were joined. He eased back and then slid inside her again. The sensation sent a tingle of tension through her limbs.
She dropped her eyes to his chest and then she touched where her eyes wandered. He had many small marks, perhaps scars from circumstances he wouldn’t speak of yet. She caressed each one in turn and then lifted her head to kiss those closest. All the while, Tobias slowly moved within her body. Not roughly as she’d half feared, half yearned for, but with a determined assault on her senses. When her lips found his nipple, he cradled her face against his chest and held her there a moment.
“God B, you take a man to the edge with those lips of yours,” he gasped as she licked the peak. He eased her head to the pillow, following her down and arranged them comfortably so he rested on one arm.
The ache between her legs intensified as she met his gaze. His slow coupling and scrutiny adding to her arousal. His fingers skimmed over her nipples, played over the softness of her belly, and then continued down to where they joined. Blythe tensed again as he slid his hand between their hips and touched a place desperate for attention.
Tobias smiled down upon her as he teased her folds and slid over a place so sensitive her back arched from the bed. Coupled with the slow slide of his cock within her, Blythe’s pleasure tripled. She locked one leg high around his hips and clung, searching for the right pressure and Tobias’ touch. When she found it, she jerked and shuddered, climaxing around Tobias so quickly she was taken by surprise. She buried her face against his hot chest as the wave slowly ebbed.
After what seemed an eternity, she lifted her face. Tobias wasn’t grinning. His jaw was clenched tightly, his eyes were closed, his entire body tense and stiff against hers. Suddenly he pulled out and pressed his face to her belly.
Blythe tangled her fingers in his hair, astounded at how easy sex between them had been, and how desperately she had wanted Tobias to make love to her tonight.
Everything else about their association had been a struggle. His manners completely at odds with hers. However, in bed they seemed to set those differences aside. She hadn’t thought of anything accept stealing a perfect moment for herself.
Tobias crawled up the bed and pulled Blythe against him without saying a word. He pressed a kiss to her hair and cradled her against his wide chest as if she was precious to him. She’d never expected him to be so gentle. She set her hand over his at her waist where they rested over her crumpled night gown. He linked their fingers together and held her hand in a tight grip.
“Tobias?”
“Shh, B. I’m trying to convince myself not to do that again.”
She twisted to look at him. “Do I have any say in the matter?”
He grinned and pushed her hair back from her face. His large hands held her gently. “Absolutely. Making love to you is very tempting. Arousing in the extreme. But I don’t want to ruin our lives with a brat of mine.”
Blythe stilled as a chill shot through her heart. She was a fool not to have considered that she could become with child after making love with Tobias. Her pulse raced again as the thought took hold. A child. Another child of her own to love and treasure. She blinked as the quick rush of hope brought heat to her skin. But Tobias thought fathering a child would ruin his carefree life. She closed her eyes as the disappointment slammed into her. She wanted the wicked pirate for herself and that meant everything that was possible between them: a future, a home, a family of their making.
She pushed the discovery from her mind and strove to find a lighter thought that wouldn’t ruin what little pleasure she’d found in his arms. Tobias had not found his own release yet and she should correct that oversight as soon as possible. “How could you ruin the evening? You’re not terrible at making love,” she teased.
Tobias had been very, very good indeed and she truly wouldn’t mind if he could make her climax like that again. But he would only be her lover. He had made her no promises beyond tonight.
He nuzzled her neck and continued to nip until he reached her collar bone. Although he clearly didn’t intend to find satisfaction for himself within her body, she wriggled against him—sliding her bare bottom against the hard length at his groin. His groan raised the hair on the back of her neck.
“Woman, you must have lost your mind to invite a devil like me to your bed.”
Blythe curled her arm over her head to hold his lips against her neck. “I thought you were described as a demon.”
“Devil, Demon. Whatever name you want to call me I’ll answer to.” He threw her over onto her back, stripped her of her nightgown, and settled part of his weight against her, holding her down. He pressed his lips to her throat, caught her hands and held them high above her head. “I’ll come whenever you call.”
He brushed his cock against her thigh and she shuddered. Perhaps teasing him wasn’t the smartest idea, but she did love his possessive touch on her body. He held her in place as he kissed and nipped her skin, and then widened her legs with his knees with an impatient jerk. His cock nudged against her curls and Blythe gasped as a rush of desire swept her. He held her hands against the mattress on either side beside her head. She couldn’t move, couldn’t touch his body. Tobias would have her exactly as he wished. Slow, fast, hard or gentle. Her body hummed in anticipation.
She slowed her breathing as he slid inside an inch at a time until nothing separated them. His mouth caressed her cheek as he started to thrust inside her.
A fission of pleasure curled her spine. She clenched her hands about his. His grip tightened as he withdrew and when he surged back in, Blythe gasped. Her breasts, nipples excited to hard little buds, brushed against his chest maddeningly.
Tobias set up a faster pace, opening her legs wider, sliding more of himself into her body. She ached with fierce need to touch him, but in this position she was a willing slave to his mercy. He gave her none. His thrusts grew faster, his flesh slapped against her thighs in a way she’d never experienced before. He rode her quick and sure, and Blythe reveled in his passionate lovemaking.
A tight coil of desire flooded her senses and she met him thrust for thrust. She clenched her sex around his length every other stroke. “Come for me, Tobias,” she whispered.
“No,” he groaned. His hips slammed harder against her until his thrusts became frenzied as he climaxed inside her body. He groaned and collapsed against her, releasing her climax, too. She squeezed him as she came, his name tumbling from her lips foolishly. She dragged in frantic breaths as she struggled with what had just happened. She’d begged him to come inside her. She could become pregnant with his child.
Blythe buried her face in his shoulder, replete but discontent. What would she do if the worst came to pass? Could she bear his child out of wedlock without her heart breaking? What if he ever discovered she’d loved him with more than her body tonight? What if he discovered he had claimed what remained of her heart?
~ * ~
Tobias resettled Blythe in his arms as she stirred in her sleep. He’d changed his plans for the future three times during the night, always coming back to the absolute necessity of making Blythe his wife. Patience be damned. Money be damned. He would marry Blythe as soon as banns could be called.
He ran his fingers through her hair, content at last with his decision. If they could come together like that, he’d be mad to wait a moment longer than necessary to ask her to be his wife. He would do anything she wanted, turn himself out like
a prattling popinjay if it made her as happy as she’d made him tonight.
This was what he wanted in his life and what he would wait for if she said no immediately. He would live as a celibate bachelor if he couldn’t convince her to accept straight away. There was no one else for him.
A church bell tolled the hour and when the sound continued, he looked toward the window. He eased Blythe onto the mattress as the sound disturbed her, blinking sleep from her eyes like a sleepy kitten.
The sound stopped, then began again. He glanced toward the faint light. “Warning bells?”
He threw himself out of bed and hurried to the window. When he peeled back the drapes completely, a burst of firelight illuminated a group of people milling about before the inn.
“What’s going on? Is the inn alight?” Blythe stood and picked up her abandoned nightgown.
“No, not the inn.” Tobias dropped the drape and then he fumbled to light a candle. “There are people milling about outside though. I’ll go and see what it is.”
Blythe tossed her nightgown aside and reached for her clothes. “I’m coming with you.”
“Blythe, this isn’t a soiree we are attending.”
“I won’t be left behind to wonder. I have a pair of hands capable of passing a pail of water if necessary.”
He raked his fingers through his hair. “Fine. Here, I’ll help you dress, but you must promise me to stay away from the blaze.”
“Yes, Tobias. I have no desire to cause more problems for anyone.” She swiftly plaited her tangled hair, wincing at the odd snare and tied them off. When she was dressed, he caught up her cloak and slipped it around her to ensure she stayed warm. “What time do you think it is?” she asked.
“Close to dawn.” He pulled her toward the door. “Let’s go, but remember your promise.”
They swiftly made their way downstairs, through to the inn yard to where others had gathered. He caught the arm of the first man he encountered. “What’s to do?”
Forsaking the Prize Page 22
