She grinned. "No reason. I just like seeing you like this. It reminds me of how we used to be when doing things together. Do you remember?"
"I do." He flopped down next to her, leaning back to look up at the wooden rafters above them, the hay acting as a barrier against the cold. Giles had to admit that right at this moment, his blood was heated. No doubt due to the fact he was with Sarah and quite alone at that. "There was nothing better than to explore the wilderness about the estate. I keep meaning to visit the fort out in the woods."
"It's still there." She leaned back next to him, her attention also on the roof.
Giles took the opportunity to watch her, taking in the pretty sweep of her nose, full lips, and faultless skin. He'd dreamed about her so often, but having her near, hearing her voice was so much better than any fantasy.
"I believe the sword you and Hugh carved is also. In the summer, I still use the fort. It’s a wonderful place to read and not be disturbed."
"Your father was a clever man. I never doubted that it was not still standing."
She smiled at him, and his stomach clenched. She was so very close. He wanted to lean across the small space that separated them and kiss her. To do so would be dangerous, considering their current status, but even so, the pull to have her in his arms was overwhelming.
He clenched his fists into the straw at his sides, forcing himself to court her slowly and not keep molesting her with every chance offered.
"He was, wasn't he?" She turned, studying him a moment. "How long are we going to lie here, my lord?"
Giles frowned, meeting her gaze. "Stay here? Did you wish to return to the house? We can, if that is your wish."
"No," she said, chuckling. "I meant to say, how long are we going to lie here before you kiss me, Giles? That is what I'd like to know."
Chapter 7
Sarah was well aware she was playing with fire. Lord Gordan was a reputed rake. A man made for pleasure and fun. Not a gentleman easily brought to heel.
Not that she wished to control him, but she could not bear to hear of any liaisons he had should they continue along this path of courtship. His absence from her life had been severing. To be married and know that one's husband was unfaithful would be unbearable.
Even so, lying beside him in the hay, watching as his eyes darkened with wicked intent, she couldn't help but throw herself into the wild. For so many years, she'd not lived as she ought to have, no more would she wither away, secluded in Kent or Bath.
With an elder brother who hosted scandalous parties and cared little for restraint and her other sibling abroad under a shadow of scandal, she had hidden away, not wanting to be any further embarrassment or fodder for town gossip.
Sarah had managed and accepted her lot in life as well as anyone could in her position. But having Giles's dark-blue eyes all but devour her person as he closed the space between them, she knew to her very core that she was in trouble.
That allowing him such liberties would forever change her and her steadfast denial of her feelings for him that she had long bottled away, corked, and shelved.
His lips brushed hers, warm and soft, and a frisson of need coursed through her blood. He lifted his hand, pushing a lock of her hair behind her ear. "You're so beautiful. You may not believe me, but I've wanted you for so long. I attended each Season in town only to be disappointed when I heard you were not attending."
Sarah clasped his nape, sliding her hand up into his soft, golden locks. She steeled herself not to be carried away by his words. Their friendship had been distant for so long. It would take time for her to adjust to his enlightenment of what they could have. To trust him as she once had.
"Why did you never attend one of Henry's house parties then, or call at the Abbey? You knew I was here. You knew I was alone."
Pain crossed his features as she waited for his answer. "I wanted to come and see you. So much, Sarah, but my father kept me busy elsewhere and always demanded I attend the Season and stay in town."
"Had you been able to see me, what would you have said?" Or done? The question hovered on her lips and between them. She wanted to know would he have acted sooner. Defied his father for her had he seen her face-to-face. It was a lot harder to deny one's feelings when standing before the person one cared for.
"I should have done what I've wanted to for so long." He kissed her again, urging her to lie on the straw. She adjusted her position as little prickly stalks jabbed through the jacket over her gown. The feel of his tongue begging entry made her gasp, and he delved into her mouth. Warmth settled between her thighs, and she squeezed her legs a little, trying to stem her need. How was it that this man, an enemy only a week before, could make her so willing in his arms?
The kiss turned heated, his demands raw and hard, and unlike anything she'd ever experienced before. Her senses reeled, her breath hitched. She relished Giles like this. A little wild and without restraint. Sarah clasped the lapels of his jacket, holding him against her. His hand slid down her waist, his clever fingers sliding across to tease the undersides of her breasts, but no farther. Frustration made her whimper, and she pushed against him, wanting his hand to move, to kneed her aching flesh.
With each breath she took, her gown scraped against her nipples, spiking pleasure and want. She craved the feel of his hands upon her person. It didn't matter as to where so long as he gave her what she wanted.
His manhood settled against her core, and she whimpered, a spike of pleasure making her wet. Even with the abundance of skirts and multiple petticoats and two layers of stockings, Sarah could feel the substantial size of him. His hardness tempted her to squirm and rub up against him like a house cat looking for a good scratch.
She gasped, breaking the kiss, needing to calm her racing heart. Giles did not stop his assault. Oh no, he kissed his way down her neck, his tongue and teeth teasing her earlobe. The heavenly sensation wrought her senses to flee, and she lay back, welcoming him to do more, to take her if he wished, just so long as the delicious sensations coursing across her body right at that moment never ended.
"You're so beautiful, Sarah." Giles breathed in the sweet-smelling scent of roses her skin always held. He would forever love the pretty, petaled flower for the reminder of her.
His body roared with need, his cock hard and primed. Sarah's legs wrapped tightly about his waist as he rocked into her, sliding his cock against her cunny. Oh god, it felt good. Too good to stop even though they could be walked in on at any moment.
He was a rutting bastard to tease her, in a stable no less, but he could not halt. Did not want to pause the delicious heat that coursed down his spine and threaded into his groin. His balls tightened, release all but imminent.
Her fingers scored down his back through his greatcoat. Her little mewls of need told him he could make her come this way. The light flush on her cheeks and eyes heavy-lidded with passion were all he needed to know she was at the point of no return.
Giles slowed his undulation against her, needing to drag out their interlude. She moaned, closing her eyes, and the sight of her enjoyment almost undid his control.
"You approve, my darling?" he whispered against her ear, licking it for good measure and eliciting a gasp from her kissable lips.
"Yes," she sighed, pushing against him and meeting his every stroke.
He bit down on the inside of his mouth, stemming his release. He could not continue to tease for much longer, not unless he wanted to walk back into the house with a stain at the front of his pants.
"You make me want so much, Sarah."
"You make me need too," she said, her words a whispered sigh of delight.
Giles reached down, lifting her leg higher on his hip. The urge to hoist up her gown, rip open his falls and fuck her, here in the stable, overwhelmed his senses. His control strained to a snapping point.
The sound of men's voices sounded outside the stable walls. The thought of being caught in such a situation doused his desire like sand on hot coals, and Gi
les wrenched up off Sarah, pulling her to stand as he did so.
Confusion clouded her sweet face, and he quickly checked her gown, removing the pieces of hay that he could see were stuck in her hair. She didn't help, merely stared at him, her eyes wide and heavy-lidded with unsated desire. He grinned, knowing he'd discombobulated her to the point of silence.
Giles dragged them before one of the horse's stalls, putting space between them. He leaned over the door, making it seem as if they were discussing the horse stabled inside. The stable doors slid open and in walked three men, one of whom Giles recognized as the head stableman.
"Good afternoon, my lord, Lady Sarah," Bruce, the eldest and most superior of the three, said, tipping his hat.
"Good afternoon," Sarah said, stepping away from Giles and heading for the door. "I hope you enjoyed your afternoon with your families. Did they savor the hams we sent over?"
Bruce pulled his cap off his head, holding it before him, a wide, genuine smile playing about his mouth. "It was most extravagant, my lady. We thank you and His Grace for your kindness."
Giles watched as Sarah reached out, clasping the older man's arm in affection. "You are most welcome, and it was our pleasure."
She left them then, and Giles remembered that he had come out for a ride, but no longer wanted to. Watching Lady Sarah saunter out of sight, he could not think of anyone he'd prefer to ride at this very moment other than her.
He bid the workers a good afternoon and set out after her, determined to finish what they had started.
Chapter 8
Sarah did not make it very far into the house when she was dragged into the drawing room to have her likeness sketched by Lady Sebastian, who was renowned for her lifelike drawings of people using crayons.
Molly came to sit beside her, chattering of the house party and their plans over the coming days. Her closest friends were seated about them, watching as Sarah had her likeness drawn, they too busy with ideas for the new duchess.
Sarah absently listened as they gossiped and laughed about the past Season and the new one to come. What milestones their children had achieved and the Christmas Ball here at the Abbey, which was coming up.
None of the conversation points drew Sarah in. Nothing would, she was sure. After what she had experienced in the stables with Giles, she doubted she would ever be so again.
Who knew that a man could create a riot of sensations throughout her body, make her want to throw away her well-behaved self and see what else Giles could make her feel?
He was utterly a master at seduction, and she'd been only too ready for a tryst in the hay like some housemaid too free with her favors.
Sarah glanced up and met the eyes of the Duchess of Carlisle. She schooled her features, not liking the knowing tilt of the duchess’s lips. Heat suffused her face. Why was Her Grace looking at her so? Did she know something about her venture with Giles only a short time ago?
Impossible, and yet, something told Sarah Her Grace was more perceptive than the others and saw something different in her.
"Oh my, Lady Sarah, the sketch is positively breathtaking. You look most beautiful and natural in this image," Marchioness Ryley said, standing behind Lady Sebastian as she continued to draw.
Molly walked about the easel and took in the image, her attention snapping to Sarah, a contemplative look in her eye. Oh no, not her sister-in-law too!
"Very interesting indeed. I think you shall like the likeness, Sarah," Molly said, smiling at her.
Lady Sebastian set down the crayon she was using and surveyed her drawing with pride. "I think it captures Lady Sarah honestly." Her ladyship picked up the parchment, handing it to Sarah. "Here you are, my dear, you may do with this drawing as you wish."
Sarah took the sketch and studied it, a croak of distress lodging in her throat at what she saw. Did she truly look to others as Lady Sebastian had expressed her?
Her cheeks were flush with color, her hair not as pristine as some of the other ladies present, and why would it be after a romp in the hay? Her lips were a deep shade of pink, and swollen. She bit her lip, her body remembering the passionate embrace and wanting more. Her eyes held a faraway expression as if she were still in Lord Gordan's arms.
Where she belonged...
Sarah lifted her hand to her cheek, feeling the heat from her blush on her fingers. Oh, dear Lord. Did Molly suspect? Duchess Carlisle certainly did, she feared.
"Thank you," she said, standing and starting for the door. "I'm most grateful and will cherish it always."
Sarah fled the room, not bothering with an explanation as to why. She smiled in welcome to the few gentlemen who milled about the foyer, some of them heading toward the drawing room. No doubt, they had been playing billiards or taking part in the gaming room that Hugh had set up for the duration of the house party.
Her room's safety beckoned, a place where she could hide the drawing from anyone else having to see. What would they think if they knew the truth? That Lady Sebastian had captured her every thought, her every desire, and crushing need that coursed through her blood still, after being with Giles in the stable.
She was almost to her room when a gentleman who came out of the servants' stairs stopped her dead in her tracks. Giles moved into the passage, unaware of her rushing to her room. He glanced up, pleasure filling his features and leaving her breathless once again.
"Sarah." He came up to her and, checking they were alone, lifted a sprig of mistletoe above her head. He leaned down and stole a kiss. "I missed you now."
He stood back, his gaze latching on to the drawing. "May I see it?" he asked.
Sarah swallowed the nerves that tumbled about her belly at having this attractive, eligible lord, hers to do with as she pleased, before her again. "It's a silly sketch, nothing to mind." Sarah did not want him to see it, or anyone else. If Giles saw the expression on her face, reminiscing about her escapades with his lordship, he would know her secret.
That no matter what she said otherwise, no matter how much of a wall she built up around herself when it came to the man before her, he merely needed to clap his hands, and she came to attention.
Silly little fool that she was, she could not help herself. She wanted him. Had wanted Giles for years and wished that he'd been her knight in shining armor, the man who rode to St. Albans Abbey and saved her from her self-isolated fate.
He had not. No one had. Her brother Henry had made sure of that with his scandalous escapades in town after Hugh left.
He tipped his head to the side. "Let me see it, Sarah. I will not show anyone." He reached for the drawing, and she jerked it away.
"Did you draw it yourself?" he asked after a moment.
"No." She shook her head, her cheeks flaming. "I need to freshen up."
He grinned, knowing full well why she needed to bathe and dress for dinner. "Please let me see?"
He spoke in a soothing, cajoling voice, and she sighed, holding the sketch out to him. Not able to deny him anything, it would seem, for very long. "Very well, but do not say a word about it. I need no commentary on the likeness."
Giles took the parchment, holding up the sketch to take in the image. His mouth dried at the sight of Sarah, the distant light in her eyes, the knowing, wicked grin on her swollen lips.
He cleared his throat. "When was this drawn?"
Sarah crossed her arms over her chest. "Lady Sebastian was doing them in the drawing room just now."
The image of Sarah made his gut clench. Never had he thought an artist could capture a moment in someone's life so well, but Lady Sebastian certainly had. Sarah looked every bit a woman who had been thoroughly ravished. A woman who also enjoyed every lascivious, sinful moment of it.
He licked his lips, remembering their tryst in the stable. "May I keep it?" He would treasure it until the time came that he could have another one done of Sarah when she was his wife, and he was beside her.
"You cannot." She snatched it out of his hand, placing it behind her back. "What
if someone sees you with it? They will ask questions."
He shrugged, nonplussed. "So what if they do?"
Sarah checked the passage for guests before rounding on him. "People will suspect if you have the drawing that there is something between us."
"There is something between us," he said, leaning down and whispering against her lips. He met her startled eyes, winking. "I want there to be something between us, Sarah. After what happened in the stables, I thought you would understand that more than any other."
"Ho, Gordan, I have been looking for you."
Sarah gasped, stepping back as if she were threatened by hot coals, her back coming up hard against the door.
Giles turned, smiling at Hugh, who strode toward them. "Albans, I too was just coming to find you," he lied, having had no intention. Truth be told, he was about to prove that he wanted Sarah in his life in every possible way that he could.
In his room. Alone, if she were willing.
"Come, man, we're about to start a game of billiards, and I need you to make up the numbers. All the other fellows are too busy cozying up to the ladies in the drawing room."
Giles nodded. "Of course," he said, bowing quickly to Sarah, before starting down the hall.
Hugh lingered, looking at the drawing that Sarah clutched behind her back. "I see you had your likeness sketched, Sarah. May I see it?" Hugh held out his hand, and Giles watched as Sarah stared at his appendage as if it were some crazed body part.
"No, I'm sorry. I will see you at dinner," she said, rushing into her room and shutting the door with a decided slam.
Hugh turned to stare at Giles, a frown between his brow. "Whatever is wrong with her, do you suppose?" Hugh approached Giles as he moved toward the stairs, knowing it was better to answer this question than Sarah, who seemed to be struggling with whatever was happening between them.
Affection. Enjoyment. Pleasure...
"I believe she is tired. I ran into her earlier at the stables. Maybe she needs a rest before dinner this evening."
Have Yourself a Merry Little Secret : a Christmas collection of historical romance (Have Yourself a Merry Little... Book 2) Page 29
