by Sahara Kelly
He smiled, his lips moving against her tender skin as he nuzzled her breast. “You can do anything you want with me, Adalyn, but I warn you, some touches will end my pleasure too soon. Let me enjoy you first.”
She was not about to refuse.
He explored her, with hands, fingers and lips, running his tongue around her navel and making her giggle, then pushing back the covers to find her toes. She gasped as he licked and sucked them, amazed at the arousing thrills such touches sent shimmering over her body.
His clever fingertips danced a boulanger over her knees and then waltzed up her thighs, driving her to part them eagerly, in the hope that this erotic assemblé would conclude with a rapid contre danse on the folds of flesh that were soaked with her sensual liquids.
But he passed over that tender secret place, returning to her breasts, moulding them, cupping them, then suckling the budded nipples.
From the instant he began that intimate pulling, something fiery burgeoned inside her. A flush of fiery yearnings made her writhe and gasp, her hips obeying some instinct, her legs parting in wanton invitation.
He freed her, a little pop as his mouth released the now-exquisitely sensitive bud.
“I adore your breasts,” he breathed. “So sweet and perfect, they fit my hands and my mouth.” He opened wide to demonstrate, sucking in as much of her soft globe as he could.
“Daniel…” She wanted to scream aloud at the wonder of it, but could barely manage a weak whisper. Never had she imagined that such lovemaking could exist, or that her body could experience all this intimacy without falling into tiny pieces.
Adalyn surrendered. Her thoughts faded away, to be replaced with sensations. A waterfall of shivers led to the urge to move, to find what her soul sought. She gave in to the needs swamping her, the ache between her thighs real and growing more desperate.
She was wet, so wet, and yet that moisture only added to her arousal. It was preparing her for what might soon happen. And it couldn’t happen soon enough.
With a final tug on one nipple, Daniel raised his head. “Open your eyes, Adalyn. Look at me.”
She had to fight her body to obey him, since she had long ago lost the ability to think coherently. But slowly she struggled, at last gaining sufficient command of her errant muscles to raise her eyelids and look at him.
“Good girl. I want to watch your face…see your eyes…as I do this…”
His hand slid down over her naked skin, a slow—oh so slow—brush of man against woman. And finally he paused, his fingertips sliding into her soft curls.
She sighed, unable to look away, seeing his eyelids heavy and his cheeks flushed. How beautiful he was.
Then he moved further—and she gasped.
He cupped her, the heel of his hand pressing into a place that scorched her with flames of need. When he slipped a finger inside her, she could not stop her hips from lifting and when he added one more, she cried out.
A slight movement of those fingers, additional pressure from his hand, and she shuddered, hanging onto the edge of some precipice, her mind blank, her mouth opened wide and her gaze locked on his.
Within seconds, she broke, her entire body rushing toward a massive rolling chasm of pleasure.
Blind now, she saw nothing but infinity stretching out before her, a universe of sensation tearing at her in great clenching spasms that began in her loins and crashed through every part of her.
How long it lasted she couldn’t tell, but she had to remind herself to breathe as the feelings eased and Daniel pulled his hand away.
She focused on his face and saw—to her utter astonishment—his smile as he raised his hand to his mouth and licked her juices from his fingers. To hear Evan read about this was one thing. To see Daniel doing it—it was beyond anything.
“I was right,” he said, his voice rough. “You taste of magic and moonlight.”
She had no words, just a weak shake of the head as she tried to clear the erotic fog swamping her brain.
“You’re ready for me, now, Adalyn. I had to make sure.”
He was speaking, saying something, and if she could only gather her wits for two seconds, she would understand him.
Thankfully, his actions spoke louder than his words.
He moved between her thighs, pushing them wide, bringing another gasp to her throat as tender flesh was stretched and exposed.
She shivered, but not with cold.
His hands slid to her buttocks and he shifted her into position beneath him, his searing hot arousal touching her, stroking through her wet folds, rubbing against all the places that were now so vividly alive.
The feel of his uniquely male length, the knowledge that she wanted it to slide inside her so badly…once again her mind surrendered to a tide of desire.
She swallowed. “Daniel, please…” Her body knew what it demanded even if she could not find the words to ask him for it.
“Yes,” he muttered, his head dropping as he looked to the place where they touched.
Somehow, knowing he watched their bodies as they met in the most intimate and private of places…it aroused her even more and she lifted her hips a little, wishing she could see as well.
“Now, my love.” His words fuelled her fire and she held her breath as the thick head pressed between her swollen and sensitive flesh.
“Oh God,” she whispered as she took more of him inside her. “Oh God, Daniel…”
“Am I hurting you?” He paused, shooting her a quick look.
“Oh no. No, never. It just feels…you feel…so…” Words failed her.
Had she imagined that what she felt a few minutes ago was the height of ecstasy? How wrong she had been. The stretching and sliding and movements of both their bodies as he penetrated her…beyond description.
She closed her eyes and rode the wave of joy, of the ultimate moment when she was truly joined to another by love, by caring. This was what poets wrote about, and why people died for that special someone.
The overwhelming emotions brought the sting of tears, and she gulped down a sob as Daniel moved, putting his hands on the bed either side of her head and rising above her.
“Adalyn, oh God…”
He lifted, pulling almost out of her, then thrust his hips firmly back down and into her, starting a slow rhythm, up and down, in and out, until her breath deserted her and her world narrowed down to where they were joined.
Faster now, and faster still, he kept up the pace, rubbing places inside her that awoke to the wonderful sensation.
She’d thought nothing could top what she had just felt as a result of his fingers. But she had been wrong. The sizzling lightning bolts that flashed and rocked through her pulsed in time with his thrusts and she knew, without question, that she was once again beginning that climb to something incredible.
Barely realising what she did, she lifted her legs and wrapped them around his waist, adding the extra fillip of pleasure as his naked skin rubbed the insides of her thighs.
Locked together, bodies rocking, parting and meeting with ever-increasing force, Adalyn caught the rhythm and instead of letting Daniel set the pace, she rose to meet his every thrust, eager now, needier, desperate to reach the peak with him, to share his pleasure as an equal in their passion.
Her fingers met his skin and she clutched his arms as she climbed higher and higher and his body trembled on the edge…
With a loud groan Daniel froze against her, and to her astonishment she felt the pulsations as he found his release inside her.
That amazingly sensual inner massage was enough to send her flying, and for long moments her muscles and Daniel’s worked together, pleasuring each other in a way she had never even considered possible.
It was truly glorious, the ultimate expression of desire, need, and lust. And when it was done, the most important part remained…the love she felt for Daniel.
He sank down beside her, leaving her empty as his hardness softened and slid free. “Adalyn,” he whispered, to
uching her face. “I have no words to tell you how that was for me.” He kissed her gently. “Or how my heart is so full of you I can want no more than to lie here with you forever.”
She sighed, snuggling into his arms. “Daniel, that was an astounding experience. So wonderful. Thank you.” She touched his face in her turn. “I love you too.”
Settling themselves under the covers, Daniel wrapped her against him, and soon she heard his breathing become slow and rhythmic.
She lay awake, her mind still awhirl with the evening’s events, and emotions.
Yes, she had not lied. She did love Daniel. She loved him not only for his tenderness and skill at lovemaking; she loved him for his warmth and his genuine caring of her.
Her thoughts turned to Jeremy. She loved him too. And Evan. And Trick…
How could she love them all? Was there room in a heart for more than one love? Could she take Jeremy and Evan and Trick to her bed as well?
That question plagued her, and her answer should have plagued her even more. But it didn’t.
She could indeed find this new erotic pleasure with her other gentlemen. In fact, she found herself quietly admitting she was looking forward to it.
Could she see Jeremy holding her like this? Yes.
Could she imagine Evan above her, inside her? Yes.
And Trick? She found she could see herself riding him.
Such thoughts should have disgusted her, she knew. They would have appalled just about everyone she knew, and for a few moments she indulged in some serious self-recrimination. But the languorous pleasure that still rippled through her body overrode her inner dialogue.
She was the Lady of Wolfbridge. And all four of her gentlemen were hers.
Chapter Twenty-One
“Are you well, Lady Adalyn?”
Giles appeared outside Adalyn’s bedroom door as she emerged the following morning. Daniel had gone and his pillow was cool to the touch when she awoke, but her limbs were tired and her body a little sore, so she knew she’d not dreamed the events of the night before. Jane had brought a single cup of tea and made no comment about the somewhat disordered state of the bed linens.
“I am well, thank you, Giles. Very well.” She smiled at him as they walked together toward the stairs.
“That is good to hear,” he nodded in approval. “I shall never take it upon myself to direct you in any way. Please understand that…”
Puzzled, she responded. “Of course.”
“I have your best interests at heart, my Lady, as do we all.”
“I understand and appreciate that, as you must know.”
“I do.” He paused. “I will merely suggest that you remain in command of your heart. Remember that we are all here to serve you and support you in your role as Lady of Wolfbridge.”
It somewhat surprised her to see a slight flush colouring his cheeks.
“In that regard, I would urge you to recall that you have plenty of time to explore such benefits, and that being a little reserved in the frequency of your choices may not be a bad thing.” He cleared his throat awkwardly.
Adalyn tried hard not to grin. “If I understand you correctly, Giles—and given the formal and convoluted peculiarity of what you just said, that might be impossible—you recommend I guard against over-enjoying the company of my gentlemen…in close and personal ways?”
He breathed a sigh of relief. “Yes.”
“Good.” She nodded back. “And I do agree with you. So, that said, may I continue to rely upon you to relay my…er…preferences to the gentleman involved at such times as I—how did you put it—wish to explore my benefits?”
“You may indeed. A wise decision, my Lady.” He beamed at her in approval.
“Even I, in my ignorance, am aware that too much of a good thing can be detrimental to all concerned,” she said, as they resumed their walk along the corridor.
“Your gentlemen are devoted to you, Ma’am, otherwise they wouldn’t be here. Your favours are to be earned, and desired, and not being given casually will make them all the more precious.”
“Good point,” she acknowledged.
They reached the top of the stairs, and Giles gave her his arm as they descended. “There is a note awaiting you in the parlour, along with breakfast. I believe it is from Fivetrees.”
“Oh, really?” She raised her eyebrows. “Perhaps it’s from Judith…I do hope so.”
She hurried into the parlour and sure enough, a folded and sealed note lay waiting on her plate. With a brief smile at Jeremy as he held her chair, she sat and pulled the paper open, away from the seal.
It was indeed from Judith.
Dear Lady Adalyn,
Thank you for your recent expressions of kindness and sympathy - they were most welcome and appreciated. I have now recovered sufficiently to take advantage of your generous offer of tea, and would enjoy visiting at a time convenient to you? I would indeed find myself much improved were I able to discuss various topics with you, since I have nobody here at Fivetrees with whom I can speak of important matters.
I look forward to your response,
Sincerely yrs,
Judith Fairhurst.
“Oh, poor thing.” Adalyn sipped her tea.
“Miss Judith?” asked Jeremy. “The note was from her?”
“Indeed, yes. And she is in dire need of counsel, I would guess. Whether I can help or not remains to be seen, but I’d certainly feel better if we at least talked.”
“I can understand that,” he responded.
Giles walked in at that moment and caught the end of the conversation. “It was from Miss Fairhurst, then?”
“Yes, Giles. And you know, I think I’d like your wisdom and advice on whatever it is she needs to talk about. Would you mind joining us?”
“If Miss Fairhurst has no objections, then of course,” he approved.
“Excellent.” She turned to Jeremy. “I’ll write her a note after breakfast. Perhaps she can come this afternoon. Will you let Evan know?”
“I will,” he answered. “Both he and Daniel are checking the horses at the moment. Evan prepared your breakfast early so that they could take care of this task.”
She bit her lip. “Drat. I had meant to talk to Daniel about hiring someone on a more permanent basis.”
“After breakfast, my Lady,” smiled Jeremy. “I’ll remind you.”
True to his word, he did mention it once she was done, and she obeyed his nudge to meet with Daniel.
Walking into the Rose room, there he was, tall, handsome, looking windblown and completely wonderful to her appreciative eyes. Although her welcoming smile was met with one of equal warmth, and although that warmth found its way down to nestle between her legs, Adalyn managed a measure of control.
“Good morning, Daniel.”
He bowed, his eyes twinkling. “My Lady.” His grin was wicked and delightful. “I trust you passed a pleasant night.”
She gave him back look for look. “I did indeed. Most pleasant. One might say I had the best night’s rest I’ve enjoyed in quite some time.”
She knew her cheeks were flushed, but she held steady, standing behind her desk with just the right amount of steel in her spine.
“I would discuss the matter of stable hands, if you please,” she began. “I meant to raise it earlier, since I don’t want any of you to add such duties to those you already have.”
He nodded, all business now as she motioned him to his seat.
Within the hour they’d settled on a plan to formally hire two temporary stablehands with the aim of making one position permanent upon Trick’s return. The lad who already helped out would of course be first and Daniel was certain they could find another without difficulty.
“The work isn’t complicated, just physical, Adalyn,” he said. “So lads who cannot work elsewhere for whatever reason, can easily put in a couple of hours in the morning and evening, leaving time to take care of whatever other family matters arise.”
Knowing
this would help some families in dire need, Adalyn agreed immediately. “I will rely on you to find another good candidate, Daniel. We must be useful to our people in any way we can.”
He glanced outside at the rain which had begun an hour or so earlier. “If this rain eases up, that will help too.”
“How bad is it?” She frowned.
“The weather has an enormous impact on our lives, as you know. Last year…doesn’t bear talking about. This year, so far, we’re still suffering from much too much rain, and that will hurt the crop plantings and yields.”
As Daniel told her of the current situation, their conversation led to a discussion of crops and they agreed to leave two fields fallow, focussing efforts on berries, their livestock and only two fields of crops that might mature enough to harvest.
It wasn’t an easy decision, since a good yield of wheat would have been most welcome, but the livestock stood a better chance of surviving an excessively damp season, and the hay from the fallow fields would serve as forage for next winter. With one wheat field and one rye, they might hope for something approaching a useful harvest.
And, as Daniel pointed out, it never hurt to allow a field to restore its balanced soil by letting it lie untouched for a season.
The walled kitchen garden was almost complete, so with luck there would be a good vegetable crop.
“Remind me to make a few notes about a market, Daniel.” She stood. “I had an idea that perhaps we should hold our own here at Wolfbridge. Some of our tenants have no way of going to Ditchley with wares to sell or barter. As we get into the summer why don’t we think about how to offer those services right here on a small local basis?”
He blinked. “Well…now you come to mention it…yes, I suppose we do have enough people around us to suggest such a thing.” He looked at her. “You continue to astound me.”
She blushed and glanced away. “I believe those words ring doubly true for me.”
He stood. “I must be off. I wish you a good day…Adalyn…”
