Christie Kelley (10 page)

“You’re hungry,” Banning’s gruff voice murmured in her ear.

“It’s morning. I’m always hungry.” She smiled and arched her back as his hand cupped her breast.

“I’m hungry too, but not for food.”

“I need nourishment.”

He growled. “You’re not very romantic in the morning, are you?”

She rolled over and rubbed his whiskered cheek. “No. Where is breakfast?”

“But it’s a nice rainy morning, perfect for early lovemaking and late breakfasting.”

The idea of making love this morning made her tremble. She thought couples only made love at night, when it was dark. “I warned you yesterday about my food inclinations. Besides, I won’t be petulant after I eat.”

Banning leaned back and laughed. “Well, I cannot have my lady petulant in the morning.” He tossed off the covers, displaying his body to her. After he stood, he glanced over his shoulder at her. “Still want food?”

She stared at his shaft in profile to her. A small smile lifted her lips upward. “Yes.”

“You are a beast, my lady, making me cover this,” he said, pointing to his manhood.

“Perhaps I am,” she teased.

Banning tossed on his trousers and a shirt then proceeded to the kitchen. While he was gone, Avis had time to think about her choice of lovers. Emory might have been a good choice, but Banning was definitely the better selection. She doubted Emory would have given her time to get comfortable with the idea of making love as Banning had.

She used to wonder if her innocence and sheltered life had affected her writing. Well, she certainly didn’t feel sheltered or ignorant now. The idea of Banning being completely inside her sent a rush of moist heat to her private parts.

“Mrs. Hathaway hopes you enjoy her cinnamon scones as much as her raspberry ones,” Banning said as he entered with a tray.

Dear God, the man was too handsome for words. His dark whiskers and loose shirt made him look like a pirate about to ravish his stowaway.

“What are you smiling about?” he asked.

“You look like a pirate.”

He gave her a sardonic quirk of his lips. “A pirate. Hmmm, I might be able to satisfy that fantasy. Am I the conquering pirate and you my willing captive?”

“I believe you should forget the fantasy and hand me a scone.”

He laughed as he handed her the food then stretched out beside her. She had never felt so relaxed in her life. Perhaps it was the scones, or even more impossible, the man beside her.

It was a strange idea that a man could make her feel at ease. With Banning, she had a very good reason not to trust him—he’d blackmailed her, he had kissed her on a wager, and they argued every time they were together…until now. Yet, here she sat eating scones in bed with him.

“You’re terribly quiet,” he said then stuffed the last bite into his mouth.

“I’m eating.”

“And I am finished and feel like ravishing my captive.” He pulled his shirt over his head, yanked off his trousers, and rolled over on top of her.

He inched the bottom of her nightrail up over her body. The more skin he exposed, the warmer she became under his scorching gaze.

“Is this proper?”

“What?” he asked with a kiss to her bare thigh.

“Making love in the morning?”

“Highly improper,” he said, kissing her belly. “But so is going away with a man who is not your husband. So I believe this must be normal for two scandalous people.”

Other than living alone, she had never done anything “highly improper” in her life. Yet, ever since he’d kissed her in the study of her cousin’s house, she’d done nothing but improper things.

He pulled the nightrail over her breasts and groaned. “You have the most beautiful breasts.” He quickly flung the offending garment over her head and tossed it across the room.

She wanted her pirate to ravish her. Banning excited a primal part of her that wanted to be dominated by him. The bristly hair on his chest rubbed against her already tight nipples. She dropped the rest of her scone on the nightstand and welcomed his kisses. Aching need swept across her as warmth seared between her thighs.

Every one of her senses heightened with his nearness until she became overwhelmed by him—the rasp of his breathing, the spicy scent of him, the sweet taste of his cinnamon kisses, and the burning touch of his lips against her skin. She arched against him desperate to be closer to his body, closer to him.

He trailed his lips down her neck, flicking her rapid pulse there, before continuing to her breasts. He laved her nipple from all sides then finally suckled her completely. Avis twisted and moved beneath his skilled touch. Even fire would have felt cool compared to his mouth on her breast. His touch seared her soul, branding her as his possession.

As his mouth whispered down her stomach, she felt adored. Safe in his arms and protected from her memories. Even loved. His lips skimmed lower across her stomach until he reached the apex of her thighs and continued through the curly hair until he found the hard little bud. She couldn’t think about anything but the sensations of his tongue lapping at her.

The pressure built and this time she knew what to expect. His finger eased into her wetness, spreading her open for him. Then he inserted another finger to stretch her and stroke her. Her limbs felt like molten lead unable to move. Hot pleasure radiated from her core as he brought her closer to release.

“Banning, now. Please,” she mumbled. “I want you.”

“Not yet,” he whispered.

She gripped the sheets as his fingers worked in her and out, causing her to tighten against him. He moved over her, watching her reaction to his touch. She closed her eyes and let the shuddering release wash over her.

His shaft slid inside just as her climax hit. She couldn’t stop herself from pushing him in her farther, breaking the barrier that had kept her a virgin.

“Ow, ow, ow,” she sputtered.

“Shh, Avis. The worst is over,” he whispered, kissing her ear.

He could still feel her pulsating against him with the aftershocks of her release. He concentrated every ounce of self-control he had on not following her over the edge into bliss. He had to make this wonderful for her.

“How long do we wait?” she asked, then kissed his whiskered cheek.

“Until you tell me it doesn’t hurt anymore.”

“I believe I’m well enough. Besides there is only one way to find out.”

He smiled down at her. He’d heard horror stories of men taking their wives’ virginity and the wives’ dramatic reactions. Slowly, he slid out and back in, waiting for a sign of discomfort from her. She closed her eyes and moaned.

Definitely not discomfort. He brought her legs up around his waist, filling her completely. She opened her eyes in surprise and gave him such a seductive smile he almost lost his control right then.

Avis was seducing him without words, purely with her smile, her kisses, a look. Her eyes closed as she arched against him. His control slipped a little more. He had to hurry her up or he wouldn’t be able to keep his word to her about withdrawing. Bringing his thumb down, he rubbed the pebbled nub with her wetness. She responded instantly.

“Oh Banning,” she whispered, her muscles tightening, pulsating around him.

He was losing ground fast. Her tremors continued to stroke him until he had no choice but to withdraw and spend himself on her stomach. But he had kept his promise to her. She might not get pregnant this time, but at some point they would do this properly and maybe by next year he would be a father. The idea of children with Avis warmed his heart.

He collapsed on top of her, his heart pounding in his chest. She was his now. She would become his wife.

Avis studied the man who slept next to her. His dark whiskers seemed to have thickened in the past few hours. The storm still raged outside, but inside, under the covers with Banning, the world was safe and warm. She felt emotionally shaken from her first lovemaking experience. No one had ever told her what to expect. Men did this all the time. Even Banning didn’t appear different after they had finished.

Yet, she felt different. Not physically—well, she was a little sore, but she knew that would fade. Her whole world, as she knew it, seemed off-center now. Men were big, strong beings who got their way through abusing and demeaning women. Staring at the handsome man next to her, she doubted he’d ever done anything to harm a woman.

And that was what had her so confused.

Banning was known for getting what he wanted in life and business. He charmed the women he knew. All except for her. Sparkling blue eyes blinked open and a warm smile lit his face.

“What has you frowning at me that way?”

She attempted to ease her frown but doubted it worked. “Nothing. Just lost in thought.”

“About…?”

Avis bit her lip. She wanted the intimacy that had formed in the past two days. Asking him about his objectionable feelings toward her might bring them back to the surface and for now, she preferred them buried.

“Avis? Are you regretting what we did?”

She couldn’t let him think that, especially when it was the farthest thing from the truth. “I’m wondering why we used to be so rude to each,” she blurted out.

“Oh,” he muttered, a frown creasing his brow. “Why?”

“We’ve been getting along so well the past few days. Why is it that we haven’t been able to get along until now?”

Twin dimples framed his lips. “Perhaps we always sensed what was between us.”

“What was between us?”

“In the past eight years, have you never wondered what it would be like if we kissed again?”

Heat scorched her cheeks.

Banning laughed. “Can I assume your silence means you might have had that thought once or twice?”

“Perhaps,” she answered, staring at his chest and not into his prying gaze. “Did you ever think about it?”

He leaned in closer to her ear and whispered, “More than I would admit to anyone save you.”

“Is that the reason you blackmailed me into an affair with you?”

He went still. “Of course,” he answered a bit too quickly, then turned, flipped off the coverlet and reached for his trousers.

Before he turned, Avis could have sworn she saw a tinge of pink sweep across his cheeks. “Banning?”

“What?”

“Why
did
you offer yourself to me?”

“Just as you said, because of my attraction to you.” He stood, buttoned his trousers and grabbed his shirt. It was as if he couldn’t get away from her fast enough.

“Banning, what aren’t you telling me?” There was definitely something he was trying to avoid with her.

“Absolutely nothing.” He strode to the door. “I’ll haul the water up for your bath.”

He left before she could question him any further. What was going on? And why couldn’t he tell her? Avis pressed her lips together, flicked the coverlet off her, and reached for her wrapper. She walked to the window. The sea was venting its wrath on the beach, tearing at the sand, taking the seashore back out with it. Darkness seeped into Avis. Could he have lied to her? Perhaps he wasn’t truly attracted to her at all but did this for some illicit reason.

Another wager? She shook her head in denial. A wager made no sense, as he was no young rascal out to break a girl’s heart now.

Unless he wanted to break a woman’s heart for some wrong she might have done to him years ago.

Banning watched the water heating and sighed. Perhaps he should tell her the truth about Billingsworth. However, he still believed she liked Billingsworth too much and wouldn’t believe him. In a few short weeks, she would be his wife. Then he could order her not to see the bastard and she would have to obey him. He almost laughed aloud at the idea of Avis obeying him. She was no wallflower to let him impose his rule on her. It was one of the things he lov—truly liked about her. She wasn’t afraid to let him know her true feelings on any subject.

Remembering his purpose in being downstairs, Banning searched for the copper tub and hefted it up to the bedroom. He was surprised to find Avis staring out the window. She didn’t move when he entered the room.

“Are you all right?”

She nodded.

He could not stand for another conversation about why he made his offer to her so he refused to question her further. Another day perhaps, but not today. As long as she still considered Billingsworth her friend, she would never understand that he’d been trying to protect her. So instead of facing her condemnation, he retreated to the safety and loneliness of the first floor.

He was right about his decision not to tell her about Billingsworth. Exposing Avis to the gruesome details of both those nights would do her no good. It was his job as her future husband to protect her from such things. Telling her would only hurt her, harden her as it had him. The last thing he wanted was Avis becoming cynical about men.

He poured water from the kettle into a large bucket. After getting two buckets ready, he carted them upstairs. She still hadn’t moved from the window.

Don’t look,
he told himself.

Damn. He looked.

This time he caught her wiping a tear away as if she could do it before he noticed. He hated women’s tears.

He strode from the room determined to get the water for the bath as he’d promised. He brought up several more buckets and tossed the water into the tub. She had yet to say a word to him, but at least it looked as if her tears were finished.

“Your bath is ready.”

“Thank you,” she said with a little sob.

Damn
. He wasn’t totally heartless. He looked at her and couldn’t keep himself from bringing her into his arms. “Why are you crying?”

“I am not crying. I don’t cry.”

“Avis?”

“I know you’re not telling me something, and I hate it.”

He wanted to deny her accusation, but couldn’t. “I told you everything you need to know.”

She pushed away from him. “Everything I need to know? Which means you’re not telling me something on the pretense that I don’t need to know. Why did you make your offer to me? Were you seeking revenge because I spurned your kiss eight years ago?”

“No. I wanted to keep you away from Billingsworth because he is truly not worthy of you.” That sounded better than
he might beat you close to death
.

She looked at him with watery eyes.
“He
has always been kind to me.”

Unlike Banning. Those unspoken words ate at him, twisting his stomach into a tight knot. “I only wanted to stop you from meeting him like this.”

She blinked and shook her head, golden brown hair flying around her face. “But it was all right for us to meet like this?” She paused and studied him for a moment. “You never meant for us to go away together, did you?”

“Of course not, Avis. You are an unmarried woman whose reputation is important to her station. I didn’t want to ruin you.” Damn. How would he get out of this one?

“But you still offered yourself to me and even blackmailed me into this affair. Why, Banning? Why did you do that when you knew if anyone discovered the truth of where I was I’d be ruined?”

Because I took the one chance I had to make you my wife.
He certainly couldn’t tell her that. “You won’t believe me if I told you.”

“Well I won’t know if you don’t speak of it.”

Banning sat on the bed and blew out a breath. There was no way out of this mess. He had to tell her something. But she didn’t need to know all the grim details, only the mildest possible version.

“Billingsworth beat a prostitute when he was at Eton. I didn’t want anything to happen to you.”

Avis went pale and swayed until she reached for the bedpost. “Why?”

“He said she was stealing money from him.”

“Well—”

Banning stood in one fluid motion. “Don’t defend that man to me. I saw what he did to that woman. She was only taking what he’d promised her.”

She bit her lip and blinked back tears. “I can’t—”

“Don’t,” he warned her again. “I couldn’t let you go away with him where you might be in harm’s way.” He reached out and slowly drew her to him. “And I couldn’t let you go to another man with this between us.”

He sought her sweet lips and the forgiveness he hoped he would find there. With only a brief hesitation, she responded to him. He wanted to give her everything she wanted, needed, or secretly desired, but first, he wanted her to have a warm bath to ease her soreness.

“Take a bath while I shave,” he said, pulling away from her.

“Are you staying here while…” her voice trailed off.

“I believe after this morning, there isn’t anything on you I haven’t seen.”

Her cheeks blossomed with embarrassment. Slowly, she removed her wrapper, and Banning rethought his decision about shaving first. Before he could say a word, she slipped into the steamy tub of water.

“Ahh, this feels wonderful.”

His cock instantly reacted to the view of Avis lounging in the bath. She soaped her face and neck before moving lower. She slipped her hands over her nipples, taking care to wash them until they puckered for her. He was about to lose his mind as the soap disappeared between her legs. Her nipples jutted out from the top of the soapy water, the thick patch of curly hair at the juncture of her legs darkened with the wetness. And now he was supposed to pick up a blade and scrape his face with his shaking hands.

“Do you want to join me?” she asked with a seductive smile.

“Hell yes.”

He stripped off his shirt and trousers and then slid into the end of the small tub. She brought her slick body on top of his and proceeded to wash his neck. His head fell back as her hands skimmed over his chest and rubbed against his nipples. He never expected Avis to be so bold, and he loved her for it.

“What is this?” Avis asked, circling a scar he had tried to forget.

A day he wanted to forget for eternity but never could. “I was hit in France.”

“Someone shot you?”

“That is generally what happens during war, Avis.”

She splashed water at his face. “I realize that. But it was kept so quiet. Jennette never told me you were in the army.”

“I wasn’t. I worked for the Home Office.”

“You?”

“Yes. Trey and I helped out on a few missions. During one, I was shot. Trey arranged for my transport home and stayed with me while I recovered. We worked as a team.”

She rested her chin on his chest and stared up at him with a questioning look. “I thought I knew everything about you.”

“Indeed?”

“Yes, indeed. Your sister loves to talk about you.”

“Yes, and I love talking about her, but right now, I have a beautiful woman on top of me and no desire to discuss my sister.”

He drew her face up to his and kissed her until all thoughts, all questions, were banished.

After spending two days blissfully naked in bed, they dressed and strolled on the storm-torn beach, picking up shells tossed from the sea. When they returned to the cottage he began to read her story.

Avis sat nervously picking at her short fingernails, awaiting his pronouncement. Only twenty pages or so into the story he exclaimed, “You know absolutely nothing about men.”

“Whatever are you talking about?”

“This,” he said, pointing to a page. “On page twenty-five you have Lord Shipley declaring his undying love for the heroine. No man would do that.”

“Admit he loved her, or just admit it so quickly into the story?”

He glanced toward the window, staring at the sea with a pensive countenance. “Not on page twenty-five.”

He continued reading, but her ire climbed with every “Humph” and “Not bloody likely.” She strummed her fingers on the arm of the settee. She knew men. She knew exactly how conniving they could be when they wanted something.

“Avis, I realize you never had a brother, but really, no man would do this.”

“Do what?”

“Fall in love at practically first sight.”

“Why not?”

“Men don’t do that.” Seeing her look of disbelief, he added, “It’s true.”

“I presume you mean to tell me that you don’t believe in love?” she asked in a haughty manner. Most of the stories she read contained some romance and she secretly enjoyed reading them. She had tried to use some of her friends’ husbands as examples for her story but had become quickly disillusioned. The only positive model she noticed had been the Kesgraves, but they had only been married a short time. Avis imagined even her parents’ marriage had a few good months.

“Actually, I believe some people do fall madly in love. However, most good marriages are based on social and economic reasons. Land, money, and social standings are the basis of a good marriage. Companionship is what makes the marriage strong. Love comes from companionship.”

She had never thought Banning would be so commonsensical regarding marriage. She thought he’d be a romantic at heart especially after seeing how he’d made the extra bedroom into a study for her. “So you don’t believe in love, do you?”

“I don’t think it happens within two days of meeting someone.”

She cocked her head and stared at his windblown hair. “So I should never have Shipley admit his love to Sarah?”

“Well, perhaps you should. It would make for some nice discord if Shipley declares his love, and she falls for another man.”

“Another man? Who?”

“The answer is here on page thirty. The way you describe Haywood looking at Sarah is perfect.”

“Haywood is Shipley’s best friend.”

“And it is so obvious to the reader that Haywood is the man for a high-spirited woman like Sarah.”

Avis bit down on her lip in thought. “But Emory said it would give women the wrong impression.”

Banning gave her a wry smile. “Did he now?”

Her first thought had been to make Haywood the hero, but Emory talked her out of it. He was the published author. He knew best. “Yes, and he was right. A woman of her station should be interested in a man who is at least her equal in rank.”