With that reminder fresh in his mind, and his shaft already growing hard behind the flap of his trousers and hidden under his robe, he opened the door between their chambers, where Emily stood near the fire, brushing out her hair.
“Cooper. I wasn’t expecting you so soon.” She continued stroking the bristles over the long, gleaming strands of her golden-brown mane.
“I saw no reason to sit alone in my chamber.” He walked over and sat in one of the chairs near the fire.
She bit her lip but turned back toward the fire, then added a few more strokes to her regimen. He watched her strong arms complete each long pull through her locks with a firm, steady hand. Then she set the brush aside and turned to face him. “Shall we retire to the bed?”
“Not quite yet.” He took a deep breath and prepared to move forward with his plan. He held out his hand. “Would you join me here?”
She did not move a muscle. “There? On the chair?”
He patted his knee with his other hand. “I wish to speak with you, and I enjoy having you close to me.”
She eyed him warily. “Why?”
He sighed. “We are married. I cannot undo what I did that night, and I am not sure that I would, since it meant protecting you.”
“I could easily have managed the situation. I had no jewelry on me that was not my own, and no magistrate would have taken the word of a known criminal over that of a lady.” She crossed her arms, stubborn as ever.
“Be that as it may, I miss my lady hellion—in and out of the bedroom.” He hoped his plea might work. If not, he was toying with the notion of spanking her and teaching her that her refusal to engage in their marriage was unacceptable.
“Perhaps you should have thought of that before you ruined her?” She let one brow rise arrogantly.
Cooper squashed the growl that threatened to rumble from his chest. “Perhaps, but what’s done is done. Will you punish me forever?”
Emily released a long, slow breath. “I do not wish to. But I do not know how to let go of this anger. How to forgive you and move on.”
“Perhaps I can help you with that?” He edged forward in his chair. “Come here, wife.”
This time, she moved toward him, one slow step at a time, until she stood within arm’s reach. “What are you plotting, husband?”
He reached out and planted one big hand on the curve of her hip, drawing her between his legs. “Merely attempting to stay one step ahead of my hellion.” He offered her a grin.
As she stood before him, her cotton nightgown draping over her curves and the fire kissing them with heat and light, Cooper bent his head until his forehead rested against her stomach. He wrapped his arms about her hips, placing his hands on the upper swells of her bottom. “I know I have hurt you beyond measure with my actions. And while I abhor the notion of having done so, please know I did so out of a desire to protect you. To care for you.”
A small gasp escaped her as she laid her hands on the top of his head.
“As your husband, I will always see to your welfare—even at the detriment of my own. And I hope that we may find equal footing in this marriage as partners and lovers.” He placed a kiss on her cotton-covered stomach and then tilted his head back up to look at her. “Can you find it in your tender heart to forgive me?”
She looked down at him, her eyes welling with unshed tears. “I believe I can.”
He reached up and bent her over until their lips met in a tender kiss. Upon separating, he leaned back in his chair. “Now, my sweet hellion. Take off that nightgown.”
She stood there a moment and blinked at him.
“Come now, you enjoy how I touch you. How I make you feel in our bed. Why the hesitation?” Curiosity pushed him as his desire for her grew with the tenseness of the moment.
“I cannot explain it.” Her cheeks colored in the low firelight.
He inclined his head. “Very well, then. I shall make it an order. Do as I say, or there will be repercussions.”
“What kind of repercussions?” she asked softly.
Cooper couldn’t hide his smile. “Do as I ask, or I shall paddle your bottom until it is warm and pink.”
She inhaled sharply, but then eyed him once more. “You would enjoy spanking me?”
He nodded. “Very much so, though only if you also enjoyed it.”
“I see.” Emily stood there unmoving.
He watched her, nervously waiting to see what she would do…or not do. This could be the moment that determined his future. Would he continue in marital purgatory, never to indulge his desire to own the woman in his bed mind, body, and soul? Or would his wife follow him into the sexual heaven he believed they could discover together?
A gleam of defiance lit her hazel eyes, making the green seem to grow more intense. “I suppose we shall find out soon if I enjoy it or not.”
Confused for a moment, he hesitated, but then demanded again, “The nightgown, Emily.”
“I think not, husband.” Her little chin tilted up slightly, as though she had firmed her resolve to head down this path.
Curious to see if she was truly choosing to explore this with him, he grunted. “Go to the bed and bend over the mattress.”
When his wife did as he bid her, his jaw nearly unhinged even as his cock rose to full attention. His apology had been unplanned, a spewing of his sorrow at having hurt her. But it seemed to have been the very salve she needed to allow them to move past her fury. Of course, he knew all was not perfect, but perhaps they could move forward.
He stood, divested himself of his robe, and went to the bed where his wife lay half on the mattress and half off. Bending over, he grabbed the hem of the nightgown and pulled it up until her bare arse was exposed. He reached down and caressed the left globe of her backside with a gentle touch and relished the sharp inhale of surprise that sounded from where she lay.
He placed one hand on her lower back. “My lady hellion, if we are to get on, you will need to learn to do as I say—”
She jerked up as if to stand. “Cooper—”
“—in the bedroom.” He left his hand on her lower back, refusing to allow her to move.
Smoothing his hand over the other side of her bottom, he pulled back and landed the first swat. Careful not to smack her too hard, he repeated the motion on her left cheek. Then he kept going, letting each successive slap land a bit heavier until he heard her breath hitch. He paused and gently rubbed over her warming backside.
Emily moaned and pushed against his touch.
His cock ached as he let his fingers stroke lower until he found the lips of her pussy. Stroking over them, he marveled at how wet his wife had become while he’d spanked her. Drawing his hand back and ignoring another groan from her, he smacked her bottom two more times. This time, he allowed his hand to land heavily, causing her skin to glow pink in the dimness of the room.
Overwhelmed with the need to reward his hellion with all the pleasure he could give her, but equally desperate to push deep inside her, he nudged her thighs a bit wider and spread her soaked center open. After dropping his trousers and freeing his cock, he followed that desperate need and drove into her before he pulled back out. He shoved his length in again before withdrawing and allowing the delicious friction to push him to the edge. Already so close, he reached around and used his thumb to caress her little nub, which had grown swollen and distended.
Emily whimpered and pushed back into his next stroke. “Oh, God.”
Yes. She was close. So close to giving him all that he wanted. “Come for me, Emily. Come for me and scream my name,” he demanded, even as he drove his shaft inside her, coaxing her to explode.
And then she did as he asked. With another swipe of her clit and push of his cock, she moaned loudly. Her body convulsed with spasms, gripping his length as her orgasm slammed into her. “Cooper! Yes!”
Satisfaction pulsed through him as she ground against him, shaking with the ferocity of her release. He continued stroking into her body, shuttling
in and out in a steady rhythm that quickly launched him into his own shuddering climax. With his balls drawing tight and his toes curling, he rode the wave of intense pleasure even as Emily’s pussy continued to grip and release him.
Both breathing heavily, with her slumped beneath him, he withdrew and then kissed her backside. Pushing her nightgown farther up her back, he followed behind with nibbling kisses.
After pressing one last kiss between her shoulder blades, he helped her pull the bundle of material over her head. Then he helped her crawl fully onto the bed, where he tucked in beside her, letting his body snuggle next to hers.
As she returned to the present, he leaned over and kissed her fully. Their tongues twined as he savored this unguarded moment between them. He drew away from her after a few heartbeats. “Are you well, wife?”
“Yes.” She sighed her response more than spoke it, but he understood.
He reached up and traced the outer edge of her areola with a fingertip, watching as her nipple tightened in reaction to the further stimulation. “There is more pleasure to come. Are you prepared for that?”
She shivered, yet looked up at him with eyes that glowed. “Please. Make me feel good.”
And he did until the wee hours of the morning crept in and threatened to pull back the cover of darkness. Satisfaction that he had said what needed to be said with his body, if not words, settled in his chest. That spark of hope had him looking forward to how their marriage might shift, not to mention relishing the upcoming opportunities to show his wife the many ways one could derive pleasure.
Chapter 19
Emily awoke early, after a rather unexpected night spent in her husband’s arms, to discover that she was still not alone in her bed. Why was he still there? With her emotions in chaos, she was unsure of everything: herself, her husband, what they had shared, and how to look him in the eye after letting him do…what he had done to her.
Desperate to avoid the awkwardness, she had fled the house without even having had breakfast. After she’d told the driver to simply go, she had sat in the carriage and tried to push aside the images and sensations from the previous night.
As she struggled to find something other than her husband’s hand on her arse to focus on, it dawned on her that she had been so wrapped up in her new marriage that she had utterly forgotten about her brother’s predicament. Worse, there had been few opportunities for her to acquire the jewels she needed to raise funds, and she was due to make another payment to Mr. Lucifer.
She tried to imagine what the gambling hell owner might say when she explained her lack of funds, and suddenly, it was quite easy to imagine a man like him turning a woman over his knee, much as her husband had done to her.
A shiver chased down her spine as she remembered the delicious heat in her bottom and the wondrous sensations of Cooper’s mouth on her core. But as she considered such things, doubts crept in once more. What kind of independent, modern woman allowed a man to do such things to her? To order her about? To spank her?
It occurred to her that Theo might be able to offer some advice—after all, she had admitted to being spanked by her husband, as well. And she certainly knew Cooper better than Emily. With that in mind, she headed to Curzon Street.
A short while later, Emily stood on the Stonemere’s doorstep, grateful to see the knocker on the door. A man dressed in impeccable black livery with brown hair graying strongly at the temples opened the door. “Good morning, my lady.”
Emily presented her card and waited as the distinguished servant disappeared. A moment later, the door opened again, and he ushered her into the house and into the front salon. There, Theo sat with two familiar women. “Emily! I am so glad you have come to visit!”
Theo hugged her as though they were fast friends already.
Emily smiled, a little disappointed that they were in company. She couldn’t possibly share her marital issues with all of them. “I hope I am not intruding.”
Theo ushered her to a seat next to her, looking utterly delighted. “Of course not! You’ll remember my sister, Lady Carlisle, and our dear friend, Lady Heartfield. Lizzy was regaling us with her latest marital trials.” Theo grinned. “Her poor husband can’t seem to keep his hands to himself.”
The three ladies laughed. Emily tried to join them, but she felt anything but merry.
Lizzy went on to finish her story. “Carlisle chased me down the hall after my outburst, dragged me back to our chamber, and paddled my bottom until we were both terribly excited.”
Theo gave a little sigh of happiness and smiled. Lady Heartfield merely nodded sagely and offered a pleasantly approving look, rather like a proud parent.
Emily struggled for a moment to take in the fact that Lady Carlisle also received and enjoyed spankings by her husband. Perhaps she could share her concerns with these ladies after all?
“Yes, well, once Stone and I were settled and he calmed down about my being pregnant that first time, things became much more harmonious. For a short while after I told him about the first baby, I was certain I would have to resort to violence to get him to listen.” Theo wrinkled her nose. “But, Marie, your advice, as usual, proved invaluable. Once I showed him we wouldn’t hurt the baby with sex, he was much less grumpy. And, of course, this time around, it has not been an issue at all.”
Marie nodded. “Men can be rather silly creatures at times, particularly when it comes to the women they love. I still manage to surprise Heart in the bedroom every now and then. The poor man, you’d think knowing I was once the owner of The Market, he’d be less shocked.”
Theo turned to Emily. “And how is married life treating you?”
All the blood drained from her face as she imagined trying to explain the muddle she’d already made of her marriage. “Fine.” She managed to choke the single word past her constricting throat.
Her new friend frowned. “Fine? No. No, no, no, no. No. What has Cooper done? I just knew he’d make a big a mess of things, not unlike Stone did when we were first married.”
Emily immediately wished a giant hole would open beneath her and swallow her whole. Theo had a very determined glint in her sapphire-blue eyes, and Emily was clever enough to fear what that might mean. “Oh no! Cooper hasn’t done anything…”
Hadn’t he, though? Or had she been too quick to call protectiveness betrayal?
“You must spill it all now. I promise you are amongst friends, and frankly, if our sage Marie cannot solve the problem, well then, it must be impossible to do so.”
Theo sounded so confident, certain that Marie could help.
Perhaps the older woman could give her some useful advice. She had to learn to trust people. Could she start with these women? Take the first step toward allowing people into her life? Determined to try, she forged ahead. She looked at the three women and then leaped. “I have a very difficult time trusting people.”
There, she’d said it. Aloud, even.
Everyone remained silent and waited for her to go on.
Emily’s face heated. “I was rather angry with Cooper on our wedding night after the embarrassing nature of our engagement and subsequent wedding. I told him I refused to give up the pleasure he provided in the bedroom despite being furious with him.”
Theo fell back on the settee and laughed hysterically. Emily wasn’t sure what she found so funny, but she waited patiently for her friend to recover.
Theo finally sat up and wiped the tears from her eyes. “I must apologize, but I find the fact that Cooper—who forever used women purely as a source of pleasure—has found himself being used in such a manner just deserts, I must say!”
Emily bit her lower lip worriedly. “The problem is, I was still furious—until last night. And now, frankly, I don’t know what to do.” Tears threatened as her hurt and confusion swelled from within.
Theo and Lizzy both leaned in and wrapped their arms around her to offer comfort.
“We’ve all been there.” Lizzy squeezed her tighter and then let go
.
“Indeed. Not a one of us has found love without some trials attached.” Theo sat back as well. “But what else is wrong? I feel like there is more you are not sharing.”
Emily hesitated a moment more, but then decided to confide in them. After all, she needed some guidance. “Last night, after a heartfelt apology for how our association was exposed, my husband revealed some tendencies in the bedroom that seem rather similar to your husbands’, and I am afraid I am at a loss as to what to do.”
Looking around the room for censure or judgment, she instead met three shining pairs of eyes that all seemed alight with interest.
“I cannot say I am surprised, since my husband and Cooper are such close friends.” Theo declared. “Go on.”
Emily offered a small smile. “Last night, he…spanked me. And I am feeling terribly confused by it.”
All three women grinned, but it was Marie who asked the important question. “What is it that confuses you?”
“I enjoyed it, but I am certain I should be outraged over such a thing. That as an independent woman, I should be furious and demanding a divorce or that he never touch me again.”
Emily couldn’t deny feeling a bit sentimental for the not-so-long-ago time when her relationship with Cooper was much simpler.
The ladies all smiled encouragingly. Marie nodded. “It can be difficult to accept something so new and unfamiliar. Such intimacy between a man and a woman is unique and quite special. It takes a very strong man or woman to allow themselves to be made so vulnerable, to put themselves into the care of another. Did Lord Brougham do anything you did not enjoy?”
Emily dug deep and considered Marie’s question. “No. Everything he did was pleasurable. Deeply, intensely pleasurable. For a short while, I might even have allowed him to do whatever he liked to my body without question. That is a bit unnerving to realize.”
Theo nodded and smiled, offering encouragement. “Understandable. I remember when I first allowed Stone to take control in the bedroom, I was petrified. But I have found that with each encounter, we have grown closer. Our understanding of each other increases, which offers us greater intimacy in all aspects of our marriage. I know I can turn to him, and without question, he will be there.”
Taming His Hellion Countess Page 14
