by Goldie
She took the spoon and ladled a small bite of porridge to her lips. It smelled wonderful, of fresh cream and cinnamon. It tasted even better. Her mouth watered. “This is very good,” she managed. “Thank you.”
He lowered himself on the edge of the bed, her mattress dipping beneath his weight. “Eat more. Please.”
She ate three more bites, finding it difficult to swallow past the lump in her throat. Yet, having him with her helped. Having his kindness focused solely upon her momentarily eased the memory of the evil done to her by his brother. “Is that enough?” she asked, placing the spoon beside the half-empty bowl.
He took up the tray and set it on the floor, his body still beside hers on the bed. The nearness of him, the warmth of him, reminding her that she was still a woman. A woman who had tasted the pleasure of lovemaking. A woman who, despite knowing the damage it could cause, longed to feel the quake of an orgasm as it enthralled every cell in her body.
“Goldie, I’m so very sorry for the misery my brother has inflicted upon you.”
“It’s not your fault my…William.”
“Not fully, no,” he admitted, sorrow changing the tone of his voice. “But I knew he coveted you. And if not for my misgivings about the adequacy of the match, my father would have acquiesced, and you would be his bride.”
“So you don’t believe me good enough to marry your brother?” she asked, pushing at the covers and trying to get away from him. Good enough to be his mistress but not good enough to be his brother’s wife. “How dare you feign compassion for me when you think me unworthy of the Behr name.”
He grabbed at her with both hands, the strength of his embrace hindering her flight. “No. God, no,” he shouted. She struggled against him, his body crashing atop hers as he pinned her to the bed. “Be still. Allow me to finish.” He stared down at her, his eyes alive with passion. “Don’t you see? If anything, you’re too good for him. I didn’t want him to hurt you. I was trying to protect you.” He eased his grip. “He has damaged and deserted you. I know what he is capable of. I failed you, and I’m sorry.”
He remained atop her, the feel of his body against hers beyond pleasant. Her contours were a perfect fit against his muscular frame. “I don’t hold you responsible,” she said, her words coming out on a rush of air.
“I thank you.” He lowered his face closer to hers. “But I do.”
He pressed his lips to hers, and despite the knowledge that the kiss was wrong, she allowed him the advantage. For beyond the circumstances, the feel of him felt right. Just right.
She yielded to his kiss, the flames Joseph had ignited dwarfed in comparison to the passionate fire that William set deep within her. Her thighs parted, his narrow hips resting between her legs. The moan that rumbled from his throat touched her in ways she never knew existed. Yes, she wanted him and he her. There would be no guilt or sorrow as she offered him her body. Joseph was gone. He deserved no consideration. If William didn’t mind that she was a ruined woman, why should she punish herself further? William was true and honest. Joseph was nothing but a liar and a cad. If he were to return to her on bended knee, she would refuse him.
He pushed himself up so that his face hovered above hers. His dark curls framed glorious features. The fierceness of his hunger kicked her already racing heart up a notch. “I want you, Goldie. To possess you. To make you mine.”
“I know,” she mumbled. “If only it could be.” She gently slid her hand down the long, thick shaft of his cock, her touch lingering at the swollen tip. Even there, the elder brother held the advantage over the younger.
He pulled in a sharp breath and stared at her from beneath hooded lids. “But it is wrong to take advantage. I cannot marry you, no matter how much I wish to.”
His admission touched her soul. “You would if you could?”
“Yes,” he hissed. “Without delay.”
A long moment passed, her need for release rising with each breath she took. “If there is no more for me than this, so be it. I will take my pleasure where I can.”
He nibbled the delicate flesh of her neck, the gesture sending chills across her skin. “You turn me into a thoughtless man,” he mumbled. “I have never longed for a woman as I do you. I can think of nothing but your beauty, your tender heart, your golden locks.”
“William, don’t make this more than it can be. Don’t taunt me with pretty words.”
“I have to have you,” he mumbled. “But you must promise to allow me to take care of you. To see to your needs. To be your husband in every way save one. Promise me that we’ll be together every chance we get.”
“Yes,” she whispered. “I promise.”
He kissed her gingerly. “You have made me the happiest of men.”
Curling her arms around his neck, she opened her mouth to receive him. The taste of his kiss was bittersweet as she yielded to his requests, requests that would mark her as a whore, a wanton woman. But oh, to be wanted by William Behr. It would all be worth it, for he truly wanted and adored her.
He slid his hand down the length of her body, the strength in his touch demanding her attention. Each finger of his hand, each swirl of his tongue, and she knew what tenderness felt like. She basked in the power that true emotion wielded.
She arched her body against his, longing to be sated. He moaned against her mouth, his want demonstrated in the pressure of his kiss and the nimbleness of his fingers as they unfastened the strings of her bodice.
He freed her breasts from silk and lace. “Goldie, you’re magnificent.”
“Suck them, William. Make them yours.”
“Dear God, woman, I want all of you to be mine.” As instructed, he buried his face in the mounds of rising and falling flesh. Each nipple peaked with his attention, with each suck, each gentle nibble. He mastered them, making them fit for no one but him.
“Hurry, William,” she urged, forcing his shirt open and reveling in the beauty of his muscles. Large, bulging, powerful, animalistic.
“No,” he said, claiming her lips once again. “I will savor every moment, Goldie. I want to close my eyes and be able to envision every inch of you.”
She giggled and squirmed beneath him. “I don’t know if you can wait that long,” she said in a husky tone that dripped with hunger. She quickly unfastened his breeches, pushing them past his round, smooth, and utterly perfect backside, freeing his cock.
“Not if you do that,” he whispered, pushing up at her skirts. “You drive me to distraction.”
“Good. Then do as I wish. Show me all you have to offer.”
He smiled down at her. “Woman, you are meant to be mine. Don’t you ever forget that.”
“No, William,” she replied, coming up on her elbow and setting her mouth close to his. “You don’t forget.”
“How could I?” He forced her back on the mattress and kissed her with such conviction that she knew he spoke the truth. Knew he would see her cared for. Oh, he was the one. She knew it that moment on the village green, saw it in his eyes then, felt it in his touch now.
Running his hand up her thigh, his fingers caressed the hair that covered her sex. Heated moisture poured from deep within her as he fondled the sensitive nub that crowned her pussy.
“You’re ready for me,” he mumbled against her ear, the warmth of his breath sending flames of desire that scorched her flesh.
“Yes. I have been.”
He opened the folds of her sex, plunging his finger deep inside. She gasped at the welcomed intrusion and reveled in the control of his touch.
“You like that?” he asked, moving rhythmically in and out of her body, his thumb pressing hard against the nub.
Her nipples hardened as she felt herself nearing the ultimate pleasure. “Yes, William. Oh, yes.”
His lower lip tucked between his teeth, he closed his eyes. She writhed beneath his touch, his fingers pounding against her pleasure spot with such accuracy, she felt she couldn’t breathe. There wasn’t enough air in the entire world.
“There?” he asked, his breathing, too, was labored.
She didn’t answer him, just cried out, the world around her sparkling with the most amazing bits of light. Her lips tingled, blood whooshed past her ears, and the muscles of her sheath contracted, sending her spiraling toward a pleasure she had never known before.
She closed her eyes, waiting for the magical tide to cease and when, finally it did, she looked upon her lover. “You don’t wish to take me?”
He smiled down upon her, beads of sweat trickled from his forehead, his eyes alive with his passion. “Yes, I do.”
She stroked his cheek, longing for more of him. “Then what are you waiting for?”
He kissed her gently. “For the exact right time.”
Chapter 7
William aided Goldie up the front porch steps to the estate. “You take care while I’m away.” He lifted her hand to his lips, kissing each knuckle and inhaling deeply the sweet scent of her perfume. She smelled fresh and clean like vanilla and clover.
“While you’re away?” she asked, tilting her head and looking up at him with such tenderness his heart warmed. When he said he could wake up each morning and look into those blue eyes, he meant it. Of course, he didn’t realize how much at the time.
“Yes, I’ve got matters to settle.”
“Oh. Will you be gone long?” He could practically feel her disappointment. Should he tell her what his secret mission was about or surprise her when he returned?
“I will be gone as short a time as possible.”
She nodded, her lower lip trembling. “Do take care,” she whispered, her hand coming to rest upon her bosom.
“I will, my darling. We have a lot to look forward to, you know.”
It took all the strength he could muster to turn and walk away. His strength wavered as he glanced over his shoulder. She watched him, her eyes shimmering with tears, and he longed to stay. But more than that, he longed for the freedom to tell the entire world she belonged to him. And he would make that declaration just as soon as possible.
He increased his pace and ducked into the cold shadows of the barn. The smell of hay and horses had his mind buzzing with what was to come next. The long, cold ride to Northumberland and Lady Carnton.
Moving down the wide aisle, he looked for the stable man. “Julian, where are you?” he shouted, several of the horses snorting in startled reply.
“Here, sir.” Julian panted from the far end of the barn, his youthful body a silhouette against the open backdoor. “I was just fetching some fresh straw for Etalon’s bedding.”
“Fine, fine,” William grumbled. “I need you to saddle up Red Robert.”
“But, sir,” Julian said, brushing the straw from his breeches. “You’re only just back, and you know how Lord Joseph is about anyone riding his horse.”
Just the mention of his brother’s name had him curling his fists at his sides. “I don’t give a damn about what Joseph likes or doesn’t. And your place, Julian, is not to question me. Do as I say.”
“Aye, sir.” Julian nodded. “But Red is in a dark mood.”
“And now,” William chided. “I am, too.”
At the sound of shuffling feet, William’s gaze slid across the aisle to find Edmund stepping from Julian’s quarters. His gut tightened as his gaze shifted back and forth between his brother and his stable man.
“What are you doing here? Are you teaching Julian chess?” he asked, his words dripping with sarcasm.
“As a matter of fact, I was teaching the queen how to king me.” Edmund chuckled and offered Julian a pleasant smile. “Get the horse ready for my brother, won’t you, Jay? He seems quite rushed.”
“Yes, my lord,” Julian responded and hurried toward Red’s stall.
Now alone, Edmund came closer to William. “Big brother,” he said in a hushed tone. “Where are you off to in such a hurry?”
William let his rancor ease. Everyone was entitled to a bit of pleasure. But Edmund needed to be more careful.
“I’m going to Northumberland to call off my engagement to Lady Carnton.”
Edmund’s mouth dropped open. “Father will see you maimed!”
“I’m not worried about that. I’m worried about Miss Locksley.”
“Ahh.” Edmund grinned and nodded. “The fair-haired girl. In your blood, too, is she?”
William cocked a brow. “You, Edmund, find her attractive?”
“Of course. I am not blind. She is quite ravishing. Very pliable, too.” He smirked. “She plays chess with me, you know. Not many people will, and she is an adept pupil. Almost beat me once…almost.”
“Do I need to be jealous?” William asked, and although he said the words in jest, he still needed to know the answer.
“The Marquess of Blackwood jealous of his dandy brother? I think not.” Edmund patted his arm. “You have always been good to me. I hold that dear.”
“Thank you, Edmund. You’re a good man.” An uneasy silence followed the manly declaration of affection.
“Do you think Father will ever share that sentiment?” Edmund finally asked.
William chuckled. “He’s never shared that sentiment with either of us. Joseph, the bloody fool, is his pride and joy.”
“Well, after his fiasco with Miss Locksley and your upcoming fiasco for what I assume is Miss Locksley, maybe I’ll have a chance to be the favored son?”
“Stranger things have happened,” William replied, and, resting his foot on the lowest board of Etalon’s stall, he peered in at the animal. “Tell me, Edmund, can I trust you’ll watch out for her while I’m away?”
“Of course,” Edmund said, his voice touched with warmth. “I want you to be happy, William. And I want her to be happy, too. I can’t think of a finer sister.”
* * * *
Oh how Edmund loathed this type of meeting. Being summoned like a servant never ceased to bother him. Still, the man was his father and a duke. He should be able to muster a small bit of respect.
Filling a glass with whiskey, he took a seat in his soft, comfy chair and stared warily up at his father. He wondered when the fellow would begin his tirade. Not once in his life had they carried on a true conversation. Father spoke, Edmund pretended to listen. While he waited, he began to take notes. First thing he noted was the man’s weight increase. He had gone from fat to incredibly fat.
Second, there was no hint of youth left in his sagging face, and why his hair remained black had him wondering if a bit of dye hadn’t been used to keep the gray hairs at bay. Regardless, he looked like an old man hanging on to the memory of youth by a single strand, of hair.
But the duke was intimidating. His stare still had Edmund’s gut wrenching just it had when he was a small boy. And he had been a small, awkward boy that longed for a father’s acceptance. Of course, now he knew better. His father would never accept that his son was a Nancy. He tried not to care.
“Sir Locksley and I have been all over the town squelching rumors about Miss Locksley and Joseph,” the duke finally said and rubbed his bulbous nose. Edmund winced. One could fit a large grape in those nostrils.
“I believe we have made inroads toward killing the talk. Most were easy to convince, since everyone who knows her had difficulty accepting the gossip as truth.”
“Well, that’s good.”
“The innkeeper and his wife have been well paid to deny the tryst, and in time, all this will be yesterday’s news.”
“I see,” Edmund replied, taking up his glass of whiskey. God, he needed a drink to swallow the nonsense his father was feeding him. “What will you tell her future husband when he takes her to bed and finds she’s not a virgin?”
He met his father’s gaze. The man’s face was tinged in red with anger. “That is where you come in.”
“Me?” Edmund asked, downing the whiskey, the liquid burning his throat. He stifled a cough. He didn’t like the direction this was taking.
“Yes, you.”
“How do I figure in this masterpie
ce?”
“You will marry her.”
A dry chuckle popped from Edmund’s lips. “You’re not serious.”
“Yes.” The duke paced before the fireplace, his round stomach bouncing up and down with each step. The man needed a corset.
“I think not. That is Joseph’s place.”
“Aye, he’d like that. That’s what he wants.” The duke pulled a letter from the breast pocket of his crimson coat and tossed it to his son.
Edmund caught the paper and, setting his glass on the floor, pulled it from its sheath. He quickly scanned the contents.
“Well?” the duke asked.
“Well, he’s ruined her, and he wants to make reparations. Why stop him?” But he loathed the idea. William wanted her, William should have her. Dutiful William deserved a bit of happiness.
“Because he did this to defy me. To back me into a corner. To force me to give in to his whim.”
“Goldie is hardly a whim for any man.”
“So, you like her?”
Edmund folded the paper and set it upon the floor beside his glass. “Of course I like her. She’s a delicate flower with a kind heart and good soul.”
“Then you won’t have a problem marrying her.”
“Why are you involving me in this?”
The duke blew out a frustrated breath and rolled his eyes heavenward. “Because you and I both know you find no interest in women. But at least this way you’ll have the appearance of propriety. The virgin bride question will be nullified, and Joseph does not get his way.”
Edmund crossed his legs and plucked at a loose string on the knee of his breeches. Damn, he liked these pants, and they were all but ruined now. “Is there any way I can talk you out of this?”
“Absolutely not. You will marry her, or you will find yourself disinherited and living on the streets.”
“Fine,” Edmund conceded. “But I want a presentable wedding.”
“What?” the duke asked with a disbelieving chuckle. “I thought a nice, quiet ceremony…”
