She gasped louder and whined out a sound that had him grind her harder. She shook her head back and forth on the ground, her breath sawing in and out in quick gasps. “Aidan, I-I” she couldn’t finish her sentence.
Moving back up her body, Aidan took her mouth again, wanting to kiss her again, and rubbed his length over the spot she cried out the most for.
Over and over he ground his hard shaft against her, and even through their layers of clothes, he could feel the heat of her. Could feel how her body tensed with every pass of his hard cock against that heat.
She was breathing harder, her beautiful breasts bouncing up and down with her breathing and the hard thrusts of his body. Her head was thrown back, tossing side to side as he both sucked on her nipples, kissed her, and ground himself against her.
He could feel his erection weeping, dripping wetness inside his trousers, knowing a release was not far away. He felt a tingle in his spine, in his cock, and he knew when his release would happen, it would be hard. With one more thrust against her, she suddenly stiffened, and cried out his name. The sound loud in the quiet and he put his mouth over hers to stifle the cry.
He continued dragging his length over her for a few seconds longer, feeling her writhe hard beneath him, her climax still claiming her, then, he tore his mouth from hers as his release roared through him. He had to bite his forearm to keep from yelling out as well with the strength of it.
Breathing hard, Aidan put his head down on her chest and tried to catch his breath.
Never before had he had a release like that. He didn’t take himself in hand often. He never really needed to before this. But since Rhia had been here, he had done it a few times. Had to, or he couldn’t even concentrate on anything. But this? This was like nothing he had ever felt.
And he hadn’t even been inside of her. He lay there, just soaking in what they had done, and before he was ready, she let her grip go on his hair and he raised his head from her breasts to look into her face. She was blushing, still trying to catch her breath. “What was that?” she asked, smiling shyly.
“That was not what I was expecting when I brought you here.” Rhia blushed harder and shut her eyes. His eyebrows drew together. “Rhi?” he asked and she opened her eyes to look at him.
“I am sorry Aidan. I was just so moved by your story; I couldn’t help myself. I had to kiss you. I wasn’t trying to do anything. Certainly not something like that. I hope you don’t think I am a woman of loose morals, I am not, I just well, I was just so moved that here you are, even after everything that has happened, you are still just wonderful. I just wanted to kiss you. I seem to forget myself when I kiss you though.”
Aidan grinned down at her, “I am not sorry. Rhia, never be sorry for kissing me. That was the best thing to happen to me. I am just sorry if you feel that I rushed you. I do not at all think you a woman of loose morals. The thought never crossed my mind. I get lost in your lips too. Thank you Rhia.”
She blushed again, and shook her head. “You didn’t rush me. I wanted everything we did. I have never in my life felt like that. I feel like I am under your spell. That I am not myself when you are around. And you are welcome Aidan.”
Aidan grinned harder and looked down at her unclothed chest. “We should fix this. Although, it’s a sin against humanity to hide these breasts from view. They are simply perfection.” He pulled her dress back over her magnificent breasts, that had some red marks from his beard on them. He liked seeing his mark on her perfect pale skin. It truly was a sin to cover her breasts from his view, but he was determined to see them again. And soon. He straightened her dress and buttoned it up.
Rhia giggled and blushed again. She swatted him on the arm. “Aidan!” She tried to sound scandalized, but couldn’t muster the energy for it.
Sitting up, Aidan helped Rhia sit up too. She had dirt on her dress, and bits of hay in her now extremely disheveled hair. He knew she wouldn’t like people to see her like this, so he did what he could to help pick the pieces out of her hair.
“I can bring you up the back way to your room so no one will see you. Is that all right?”
Rhia nodded. “And I will call for a bath. The guests are arriving tonight for the ball in two days. You know you are invited to the ball? At my request?”
Rhia’s eyes opened wide. “I don't need another bath. Just some water and a washrag will do. But, I have never been to a ball Aidan. I didn’t realize I would be included in the events. Your cousin made it perfectly clear she didn’t want me around her guests. I didn’t think I would be welcome there. I don’t think I could dance at it. My leg wouldn’t do well.”
Aidan shushed her, “You are going to the ball, that is a certainty. And yes, you will dance. I can help you.”
Rhia smiled, “All right. But, I don't have a gown. What will I wear?”
Aidan kissed her. “I had my sisters order you a gown to be made. I was hoping you would wear it. And the few other clothes I had made for you. The gown will be finished tomorrow, and the few others the day of the ball. I didn’t want you to have to keep borrowing clothes. You shouldn’t have to. So, I ordered you some.”
Rhia looked up at him in shock. “I-I, Aidan, you didn’t have to do that. I am not your responsibility.”
Aidan looked cross at that. “You aren’t my responsibility Rhia. I want to do this for you. Give you something that is just for you. I want to spoil you. And I know that you wouldn’t accept if I asked you. So, I didn’t ask you. And now there is nothing to be done but to accept it.”
He leaned over and kissed her again. “Please Rhia.” Rhia shut her eyes and sighed.
Looking up into his eyes, she nodded. “All right. But, please ask next time. I don’t want to be in your debt.”
Aidan growled. “This isn’t something for you to repay. Ever. None of this is. I did it because you deserve to have beautiful things. To never have to worry about material possessions. I didn’t do it so you would have to pay for it. It is a gift. Plain and simple.”
Rhia sighed again, and Aidan helped her to her feet slowly, and cut off her protest. “Heavens woman, you are stubborn. You can let people help without having to be repaid for that kindness.”
Rhia looked up into his handsome face. “I know Aidan. I have taken care of myself for so long that it’s hard to let someone else do it. And, I have allowed people to help and they definitely expected to be repaid. That’s why I can’t just accept everything. I’m afraid this is all a dream and I will wake up with it all gone.”
Aidan pulled her into a hug. Running his hand down her long hair, and through it, he snuggled her into his body. “Rhia, I can tell you this isn’t a dream. And, if it was, I wouldn’t want to wake up either. These past few days have been sensational. Finding you, meeting you, taking care of you, and then speaking with you, getting to see your strength and kindness? I have loved every minute. Just now though love? That was the best moment in my life,”
Rhia blushed furiously against his chest. Aidan cupped her face, titling it up to his, where he kissed her again and pulled away.
Rhia laughed. “You sir, are too charming and handsome. Somehow you can get me to accept that I wouldn’t from anyone else. I know Aidan. I loved every moment too. You are right when you say it was the best moment of your life. It was mine as well.”
He smiled down at her. “Charming and handsome? I certainly like that.” He leaned down and softly kissed her one last time, and then he led her carefully up to the house, and through the servant’s entrance.
He lifted her into his arms, and carried her into her room, unaware that someone had seen the end of their exchange, and that someone wouldn’t be afraid to hurt them in any way, shape or form.
Aidan left Rhia to get cleaned up and he went to his room to do the same.
The front of his pants was wet from his earlier release and he needed to change them. Although he wanted to savor what happened earlier. Aidan still couldn’t believe what had happened with Rhia in the stable.
He just wanted to let her know some of his life, and it turned into the most erotic thing he had ever experienced. He was smiling, completely enraptured by the events with Rhia.
He was still thinking about it when he got to his chambers and saw his door ajar. He never left his door open. Ever.
He stopped in his tracks. Something wasn’t right. He just knew it. So, he peeked inside and his blood ran cold, then he saw red.
Katarina was in his room, her dress was disheveled, and she was currently fixing it to have her breasts about to spill from the top with what he assumed to be the slightest tug. She had also ripped a sleeve, and a piece of her skirt.
She ran her fingers through her hair, making it a mess. Aidan almost growled at the thought of this woman, lying in wait for him. To say something that would make him have to marry her. To trap him in any way she could. Well, that was not going to happen. Over his dead body. Not after he had found the love of his life. But, even if he had never found Rhia, he would never be trapped with her.
He made certain Katarina hadn’t seen him and he walked to find Lily or Rose.
He knocked on both doors, and Rose opened hers first. She looked at him in surprise, “Aidan, is everything all right?”
Aidan was out of breath; he was that angry. “No. Everything is most certainly not all right.”
Rose looked taken aback at his strong vehemence. “I am sorry Rose to be so short with you. It isn’t you. It’s the situation. Katarina is in my room right now, trying to look as though I ravished her. You need to help me. I won’t be trapped into marriage with her. Not now, or ever Rose. Please.”
Rose nodded, “I know Aidan. How dare she do that? Just stand outside so you can hear everything. Let’s go.”
She quickly strode down the hallway, her small form shaking with her anger until she reached his room and said, “Wait here,” in a quiet whisper.
Aidan nodded, and pinched the bridge of his nose. He heard Rose say, “What are you doing in here?”
Katarina gasped, “You aren’t Aidan.”
Aidan watched them through a crack in the door, and saw Rose roll her eyes. “No, I am not. But I do want to know why you are in Aidan’s room. You aren’t allowed in the family wing now. Especially not after the incident with Rhia and your maid. And you certainly aren’t allowed in Aidan’s chambers. So, are you going to tell what are you doing in here?”
Katarina looked around the room, “Oh, these are Aidan’s chambers? I thought they were for my guests. I was just preparing the room for them.”
Rose put her hands on her hips. “That’s a lie. And we both know it. You know exactly where your guests will be staying. And it isn’t in this wing. Now, I will ask one last time, and then I will tell Aidan to kick all of your guests out of our house and cancel your ball.”
Katarina gasped in outrage, stepping closer to Rose, her hand clenched in a fist. “How dare you speak to me like that you little bitch.”
Rose stood her ground and Katarina stepped closer to her, and Rose said, “If I were you, I would not come any closer to me. You won’t like the consequences. I know you are in here trying to pretend that Aidan brought you here to seduce you. You ripped your dress, and your hair is a mess. You look liked someone ravished you, though it’s just a ruse. To trap him into marriage with you. That is not going to happen. Ever.”
Aidan could stand it no longer and finally walked in, “I have warned you Katarina. But you took it a step too far. You came here for a reason. Trying to seduce me? In my chamber? In my house? You don’t seem to want to listen to my warnings. Because I gave you more than one. Be grateful the ball is soon and your guests have already started to arrive. I don’t need to hear the complaints from everyone if we cancelled the ball. I don’t want that on my head. You are allowed to host it only because your guests are here, but take one more step out of line and I will send you packing, guests or no. Be very careful in the future. Because you will not like it if I have to tell you again. This is not a threat Katarina. This is my vow to you. You have done too many things for me to let this slide. But I am feeling generous today and since my sister found you in my rooms, no harm has befallen. Be thankful for that.”
Katarina hissed at him. “Well, I wouldn’t want to stay where I am not welcome.” Then, with her nose in the air, she walked out of the door.
Chapter Twenty
Braddock
Northumberland, England Sept 1812
Braddock Smith had gotten to the estate in the morning. Amidst the hustle and bustle of everyone getting ready for the ball, the problem with Katarina, and the mystery girl upstairs, he slipped in unnoticed.
Koryn knew he was here, however. Since she was the one who helped him to get here, and to help his entire plan to get back at the St. Andrew family in any way he saw fit.
She too wanted her revenge on the people who killed her brother. She had done a lot for her brother, more than most knew. And she continued to do so long after his demise.
If she could help his first-born son, in any way she could, that is what she would do. She had made him a vow, and would keep it. So, she set up a room for him and an identity.
Most people of the ton had no clue who he was, Aidan and his family included, so it wasn’t too difficult. But Koryn and Braddock both decided that he wouldn’t be seen too often. So as not to arouse suspicion. Koryn knew the house inside and out. She knew where every passage was and gave Braddock a detailed map of just that. So, he could come and go as he pleased and none would be the wiser.
They didn’t want the family to get too close and possibly recognize him. He didn’t look like them, but it was close enough that some might take a second look.
They came up with a plan to disguise some of his features, and it worked. Very well. He didn’t look at all like he did before.
He looked softer, more relatable to people. Which was the look they wanted to achieve. They wanted him to be likeable, but also forgettable. They wanted to have people want to speak to him, but then get pushed to the back of their minds.
And seeing him in her room, Koryn knew they did it perfectly. He had a fake mustache that changed his face, they had added some spectacles to the effect, and it helped to make him not look as dangerous. They also had put some dark black hair color in his hair that wouldn’t give him away.
Since he looked softer, Koryn made certain he changed how he talked to people. He wasn’t as harsh in his words and when she had him put on the clothes, she made for him, he looked like a quiet priest or someone about to be a priest. Seeing their results, Koryn and Braddock smiled.
No one would see him coming. And they couldn’t wait. As they were putting the finishing touches to his attire, Katarina stormed into the room and slammed the door shut.
The windows rattled in the panes and Koryn looked over at her daughter. “Kat, my precious darling? What on earth has upset you?”
Katarina walked back and forth in the room, fuming. “Aidan, his stupid sisters and that horrible woman Aidan is keeping as his mistress. I thought I would ruin her by having a maid bring her breakfast. Then telling Aidan that she demanded it, threw a fit that it wasn’t quite right and tell Aidan that she hurt my maid. But Aidan came to her defense. He saw right through my story, didn’t even question the stupid bitch. Only because the stupid chit is a cripple, and couldn’t have done what I said. How in the world was I supposed to know she is a pathetic and disgusting cripple?”
Katarina threw a vase and it shattered against a wall. “She is going to ruin everything Mother! Everything. How am I supposed to have Aidan compromise me when his attention is on his stupid whore? Or his sisters and mother are always around?”
She turned and threw a glass bottle of perfume across the room with another screech. Koryn looked at Braddock, and he shrugged.
Koryn went to where her daughter was still raging, “Precious, I am certain we can figure something out. We still have plenty of time before the ball. We can say enough horrible things to he
r, about her. Try our best to make her leave. It can’t be too hard. She doesn’t seem to have the disposition to handle such things. This is not the end. I won’t let it end this way. We can still have everything, and now that Braddock is here, we can do it all. Get the revenge we always wanted, make you a Duchess, and Braddock the Duke. Even without you marrying Aidan, we can still have you become the Duchess. Somehow. Don’t you worry my beautiful girl. Let the tart stay. It is just a small bump in our path. We have worked too long and hard to let that girl stop it now.”
“That’s not all though mother. I went to Aidan’s rooms, to try to seduce him, to make it look like he ravished me. But, his stupid cow of a sister found me first. None of my plans are working! I just want what I want. And that is to be the Duchess. To be the head of society! I have waited too long for this. I will not be cast aside and married off to someone with a lesser title. You need to figure out how I will be the duchess and you need to do it soon mother. Aidan said if I go back into the family wing, they will cancel the entire ball. We can’t go about it that way. It needs to be something else. Mother, I need to become the Duchess. It is my birth right. You taught me this. Mother!” Katarina whined the last part and threw something else across the room.
Koryn held onto her daughter. “Kat, my darling, I am sorry nothing has worked. We shall figure something else out. Do not stress any longer pet. We will fix this. You will be the Duchess, I promise you. Have I ever broken a promise to you?”
Katarina shook her head. “No,” and Koryn kissed the top of her head. “Then let mother take care of it darling. I will do this. Tend to Braddock dear. He has just arrived and with all the last-minute arrangements, I have simply had no time to tend him. I need to finish up a few things still if we are to have this a perfect night.”
Katarina looked up at her mother, and over to Braddock. She shook her head, “All right Mother. I will look after him. Please go see about the plans for the ball. It needs to be the talk of the ton. I need a moment.”
The Duke Who Loved Me Page 24
