Christie Kelley (8 page)

“I do.”

The atmosphere in the room slowly relaxed as they ate their dinner.

“Tell me about your story,” he said, then took a sip of his wine.

She waved her hand in dismissal. “You would not be interested in my story.”

“Yes, I would.”

“Truly?”

“I wouldn’t have asked otherwise.”

“It is a romantic tale of two people who fall in love. Lord Shipley had lost his first wife only two years before the story begins, and he believes he shall never find true love again.”

“And your heroine?”

Avis held up her finger as she took a sip of wine. “Sarah. She is an impulsive young girl who comes to London for the Season, hoping to find a man to love. But her mother only wants a high title for her.”

“And Shipley has one.”

She nodded. “An earl, of course.”

He smiled at her. “Of course.”

The wonderful food and wine relaxed Banning and appeared to do the same for Avis. A contented look replaced the early tension-filled glances she’d given him. He slid his chair back, stood and held out his hand. Her eyes flickered with panic.

“Come have a brandy with me.”

“I don’t normally drink spirits.”

“Just a sip then.” He led her to the room at the back of the house. His pianoforte took up a corner of the comfortable room and windows lined the back wall displaying the sea’s wild beauty. This was his favorite room in the house.

Avis sat on the red velvet sofa that faced the windows. After pouring them both a brandy, he sat down next to her. He noticed her stiffen when he moved closer to her.

“Thank you,” she murmured, gripping the brandy snifter under her white knuckles. “You have a beautiful home, Banning.”

He sipped the smooth liquid, enjoying the deep flavors. “I’m surprised you like it so much. Most women I know would prefer Talbot’s Abbey.”

“Your estate in Surrey is lovely, but rather large. This is comfortable for an…”

“Intimate gathering?”

“Well, yes.” Avis took a long sip of brandy then choked from the strong liquid.

“Take a small sip.”

“I’m not used to brandy,” she replied in a hoarse voice. But she did as he suggested and drank a smaller amount. “It’s actually quite nice. Rather warming, isn’t it?”

Avis relaxed back into the soft cushions of the sofa and drank some more. “Are you trying to get me drunk?”

He smiled. “It might help both of us, at least the first time.”

“Are you as nervous as me?”

“No.” He poured another splash of the dark liquid into both their glasses. “But I’ve never done this before.”

She cocked her head and grinned. “Never?”

Banning threw his head back and laughed. “Never with a virgin.”

“Do you think it will hurt overly much?” she whispered, staring out to the sea.

“Oh, Avis.” He caressed her soft cheek with his hand. He longed to pull her into his arms but feared she might not be ready for his comfort just yet. “I don’t know. I will do everything in my power to ensure you will enjoy it too. But I have no idea if a woman even can find pleasure the first time.”

“Thank you for telling me the truth.”

He moved his hand to touch her tawny hair. “We can take this slowly. We have a fortnight, and if you would prefer to wait a few days, I can accept that.”

“That might be a good idea,” she whispered. “If we get to know each other better before…”

“I think that might be best too.”

“Thank you, Banning.”

He kissed the top of her head. “You’re welcome.” The throbbing in his breeches was near to killing him, but if she needed time then he’d give it to her. Although, she had better not need too much time.

“I believe I shall retire now,” she said, rising from the sofa. She glanced down once more at him. “Goodnight, Banning.”

“I think a kiss goodnight is in order.”

He stood and then bent his head to kiss her gently. She leaned into him, touching her tongue to his lips. He knew if he responded to her blatant invitation there would be no waiting for her to get comfortable with their arrangement. He drew away but his hand caressed her cheek. “Goodnight, Avis.”

Something wasn’t right. Avis blinked her eyes open and glanced at the small nightstand with the vase of fresh-cut flowers, remembering she was in Banning’s cottage by the sea. The white cotton curtains waved like a surrender flag. Nothing seemed out of place.

Still, something felt wrong.

She held her breath and listened to the sound of the waves crashing onto the shore and a breeze rustling the leaves.

The light snore from behind her gave her a start.

She dare not turn around. When had he entered her room? And why was he sleeping here instead of the other bedroom? She couldn’t help herself from gently rolling over and staring at him.

The moonlight gleamed off the sea and into the room, spilling its soft light on Banning’s face. She stopped her hand from reaching out to touch the bristly black shadow that covered his cheeks. He had a face a sculptor would love, high cheekbones, a strong jaw, and stubborn chin. If she were an artist, she could draw his face all day and never be bored.

It felt strangely intimate to sleep in bed with a man she only knew from a few kisses and many arguments.

He shifted positions, thrashing his arms around until they reached her waist. With a sigh of satisfaction, he drew her close. Her head rested in the crook of his arm. While she knew she should pull away, instead, she closed her eyes and inhaled the clean scent of him.

His hand moved again, this time coming to rest on her breast. Avis waited to see if he would change positions, but he did not. She tried to ignore the tingling sensations that filled her as his thumb rubbed over the tip of her right nipple. Her breathing accelerated as her nipple tightened into a hard bud. She resisted the urge to arch her back so that his entire hand would cup her breast.

Banning’s hand slipped off her. She forced herself to move to the opposite side of the bed while she had the chance. Glancing back at him, she noticed a ghost of a smile lit his face.

She should be furious with him for his trickery. Perhaps she would be later, in the morning. Or maybe she would get even with him somehow. But for now, she was content with the knowledge that his hand on her breast was a surprisingly pleasant feeling.

“Well, aren’t we a slugabed this morning,” Banning announced as he walked into the room with a large tray.

Avis yawned and stretched, unable to move from her comfortable place on the bed. He must be one of those odd people who actually enjoyed being up in the early morning. His cheeks were no longer covered in rough, dark whiskers, and he wore a fresh shirt and trousers. He looked good enough to eat.

Before he reached her, the scents of warm chocolate and raspberries filled the room. “Berries?”

“Yes. Mrs. Hathaway makes the best raspberry scones you will ever taste,” he said.

He placed the tray on the bed table while Avis sat up. She reached for a scone before he could hand it to her.

“Greedy bugger,” he said with a laugh.

“I am always starving in the morning. I could care less for food any other time of day, but don’t stand in the way of my breakfast.” She sat back against the pillows and took a bite of scone that melted in her mouth. “Mmm, I am in heaven!”

“And I haven’t even touched you yet.”

She pursed her lips. “I believe that was your hand caressing my breast earlier this morning.”

Banning waggled his brows at her. “And I thought you were asleep.”

“You are truly a beast.”

“Good. We have our beast calling out of the way for the day. I’ve decided to limit you to once a day. Now move over.”

He stretched his legs out next to hers and bit into a scone. “I only come up here for these,” he said with a mouthful.

She sipped her chocolate and again thought about heaven. “You should bring Mrs. Hathaway to London.”

“I imagine you would visit Jennette much more often if I did.”

Since he was the reason she didn’t call as often as she should, Avis decided it was best not to reply to his comment. It had always felt odd to visit his home in town before they had made their nefarious arrangement. She wondered how it would feel after they parted.

“What shall we do today?” he asked, turning his lean body toward her.

“I need a walk after this delicious breakfast. Shall we stroll on the sand?”

Banning flicked a crumb off the corner of her mouth then rubbed his thumb across her lower lip. “I can think of a better form of exercise.”

Avis stared into his pale blue eyes. She had always thought of herself as a courageous woman. But actually going through with this idea and with this particular man scared her half to death. Her intuition told her she might get far more than she bargained for with Banning.

“Kiss me, Avis. We’ll only go as far as you wish,” he whispered.

She had no control of her head as it slowly lowered toward him. Using only the lightest of touches, she caressed his lips with hers. But it wasn’t enough. She wanted the fire. She wanted to be seared by his passion if only to prove to herself that plain, old, spinster Avis could indeed flame Banning’s desires.

As she parted his lips with her tongue, he groaned. He tasted like scones and chocolate…or was that her? Either way, it was delightful.

Banning deepened their kiss as he rolled her over onto her back. She stiffened and then forced herself to relax. No easy task when he trailed hot kisses down her neck. A moan escaped her. Never in her twenty-six years had she imagined a sensation as exciting as Banning’s lips on her body.

As he undid the pearl buttons of her nightrail, cool air swept over her right breast. His kisses stopped. Avis peeked at him through her lashes. He stared down at her breast with a sensual smile on his face.

He skimmed a finger down her chest until it reached the tip of her breast. Tremors coursed through her body at his light touch. She wanted him to do more than just tease her like this. But what? What more did she want?

Everything.

She wanted him to do everything she’d only read about and never completely understood.

“You are a beautiful woman, Avis.”

Beautiful? He couldn’t be serious. But as his hand kneaded and pulled at her nipple, she truly didn’t care if he was serious or only filling her head with nonsense. As long as he didn’t stop what he was doing.

“Oh God,” she whispered, as his mouth replaced his hand. Heat shot through her and pooled between her legs. She twisted and writhed under him. As she moved, she felt the hard weight of his shaft between them. She rubbed her hip against his long length and stilled in panic.

“What is wrong?”

“I think we need to stop.” This would never work. She had felt the length of him and there was no possible way that would fit inside her.

Banning lay back against the pillow and blew out a long breath. Even from her position on the bed, she could still see the hard outline of his manhood. She couldn’t take her eyes off the bulge. Would it be as large as she’d thought? Could it possibly be even larger?

“Have you ever seen a naked man?”

The question startled her out of her gawking. “Pardon?”

Banning smiled and relaxed. “I noticed your gaze wasn’t exactly focused on my face. Would it help if I let you examine me?”

“Examine you?”

“Yes. I’ll remove my clothes and you can do whatever you would like to my body.”

Before she could say another word, he pulled his linen shirt over his head, exposing his muscled chest. Dark hairs sprinkled over his chest and she had the urge to run her fingers through them.

“Oh my,” she mumbled.

“Should I continue?”

“Yes,” she answered before her courage fled.

“I do love a curious woman,” Banning said before he turned and stripped off his trousers.

From her current position, she could see the hard muscles flexing in his back. Her breath hitched as he rose and turned around. His broad shoulders melded into a hard chest. Her gaze lowered across his stomach, and then further down where his shaft proudly rose from a patch of dark springy hair.

She tried to keep her perusal casual, but she couldn’t. Now seeing all of him in person, she knew it would never fit. Yet, feeling the moist heat between her legs increase, she would love to see just how much of him she could take.

“Do you want to touch me?”

Avis tore her eyes away from his shaft and looked up at his face. He wore an arrogant expression, which she took to mean he was quite proud of his body or at least his appendage. His eyes burned into hers, scorching her with his desire.

“May I?” she asked, scooting closer to his side of the bed.

He lay back down on the bed and stared at her as she touched the muscles of his chest. When she skimmed her hand through the hairs and over his flat nipple, he moaned. The sound gave her courage to continue. Her fingers rippled over the top of his shaft.

Banning grasped her hand, showing her how to rub her hand over its velvety top and down to the base. How would it feel to have him deep inside her? Would his shaft pulsate inside her as it did when she stroked the hard length? She felt wicked touching a man like this and yet, she liked it.

Who would ever have thought that she would be here, in this room, touching a naked man…not just any naked man, Banning? Certainly not her. But she was touching him, stroking him, and watching as his face tightened as if holding back his pleasure.

“How does it explode?” she finally asked.

He opened his eyes and laughed. “Explode? Let me guess…Sophie?”

“I needed to learn about prevention and her mother had taught her all she needed to know.”

He laughed even harder. “A virgin telling another virgin about prevention and sex. You are too charming, Avis.”

“But you haven’t answered my question.”

“If you keep up what you are doing you shall get a first-hand look at me exploding.” Banning grasped her hands in his. “Not today, we agreed to take this slowly.”

“Are you certain?” She couldn’t explain the way her breathing felt so quick and shallow as if she couldn’t take in enough air. But she was certain of one thing—it was all due to Banning. He made her nerves tingle and her heart pound. She wanted to know so much more about him…and his body.

“We should stop for today,” he said softly.

“As you wish.”

“I believe you mentioned a walk?” he said, pulling his trousers back on. “Personally, I could use a dip in the cold sea.”

“A walk would do us both good.” She sat back and watched him pull his shirt over his head, covering that magnificent chest. She was right when she’d thought a sculptor would love to use him as a model. He was a perfect specimen.

“Finished staring?”

Heat scorched her cheeks. “For now.”

“Get dressed and come downstairs.”

He headed for the door, but she needed one more question answered.

“Banning, why did you sleep in here with me instead of in the other bedroom?”

He turned and smiled warmly at her. “Come here and I’ll show you.”

She quickly pulled on her wrapper and followed him into the hallway. Banning opened the door to the other room. A large desk faced the sea and stacks of paper and books lined the walls.

“I thought you might wish to use this as your study while you are here. I asked Mr. Hathaway to set it up for you.”

Her heart melted with the generous gift he’d given her. She threw herself at him and kissed him soundly. “Thank you.”

“Just remember your first priority is to learn about passion, and you can’t do that locked up in here. Now get dressed for that walk.”

“Yes, my lord.” Avis held out her wrapper and nightrail and gave him an elegant curtsy.

“You’re too cheeky by far,” he said with a smile and then walked down the stairs.

Avis glanced back into the study he’d prepared for her. “You are too nice by far,” she whispered.

They walked along the shoreline hand in hand for close to an hour. A comfortable companionship evolved as they strolled even though they barely spoke to each other. They trudged back to the cottage slowly as if they resented having to return.

Reaching the terrace, Avis shook the sand out of her boots, noting that he did the same. His strong leg muscles stretched as he pulled off his second boot. Suppressing the urge to rub her hand down his leg, she wondered if she would always feel this potent attraction to the man. Perhaps once they made love she would be able to look at him and not feel these strange sensations.

“Would you like some time to write?”

It might be best to get some time and perspective away from him. “That would be nice.”

Banning turned away but not before she noticed his small frown. All she had done was accept his offer. Had she imagined the crestfallen look?

“Shall we meet for luncheon at one?” she asked. That was only two short hours from now. She hoped that would appease him.

“Yes, let’s have a luncheon on the terrace.” He gave her a quick bow and left her alone.

She walked into the study and the kindness of his generosity struck her again. Never had she known a man to think about a woman’s needs as he had done. In her father’s home, he was the ruler, the king, and the man with the power. Everything was for his pleasure and God help the person who displeased him. Especially his wife.

Avis pushed aside the dreadful memories of her past and concentrated on her story. Determined to uncover the mystery of her dull writing and fix her errors, she read the first page and saw nothing. Frustration surged in her. Perhaps it just wasn’t the first paragraph, she read further. The prose was lyrical, the descriptions lush, what more could a reader want?

A knock on the door interrupted her. “Lady Selby, may I have a word?”

Lady Selby? How could she have forgotten she was supposed to be his wife? “Yes, Mrs. Hathaway. Please come in.”

Mrs. Hathaway heaved a breath. “Thank you, my lady. I need to know if you wish to plan the meals while you are here.”

That was a chore she certainly did not need. “Thank you, but you are doing a fine job. I will leave our appetites in your trusty hands.”

The older woman blushed at the comment. “My lady…” her voice trailed off.

“Yes?”

“I’m sorry,” she waved a portly hand at Avis. “I’m just a busy old bee who should mind her own business. It’s not my place—”

“Mrs. Hathaway, if you have something to say, please feel free,” Avis said gently.

Mrs. Hathaway nodded. “We’re a little more informal in the country than those town servants.” She cleared her throat before continuing, “It’s just that Lord Selby is downstairs playing some mournful tune on the pianoforte, and you’re up here staring at your papers. For a newly wedded couple, you don’t seem very happy. I was wondering if everything was all right?”

“We are very well.”

“If there’s any problems, you just come ask me. Harry and me have been married forty years now. There isn’t much I don’t know.”

Avis blinked. Married forty years to the same man and Mrs. Hathaway didn’t act as if that was anything out of the ordinary. Avis shouldn’t unburden herself to a complete stranger. But having a few answers might help her feel more comfortable with this arrangement.

“Mrs. Hathaway, you are very astute.” She glanced down at her ink-stained hands. “Lord Selby and I did not know each other very long before we wed. He wants me to be more comfortable around him before we…” She looked at the knowing nod the older woman gave her. “I’ve read a couple of books but…well…I don’t exactly know…” Her cheeks blazed with heat.

Mrs. Hathaway walked to the desk. “I understand, my lady.”

“My mother died before she could tell me what I should know on my wedding night and…well,” she couldn’t believe she was asking this but the question burst from her, “will it hurt?”

“Only a little bit the first time. But Lord Selby is a good man. He’ll know how to make sure you get your pleasure out of the act too. Now let me tell you everything you should know.”

The lovely old lady proceeded to tell her all she needed to know and more. Forty years of wisdom and experience illuminated the entire process, including things Avis had never dreamed of that happened between a man and a woman. By the time Mrs. Hathaway left the room, Avis felt much more confident.

Tonight she would learn about passion first-hand.

Banning stared out at the wild sea. The waves broke farther out than usual and higher than normal—a storm was brewing. He looked down at his pocket watch and frowned. Avis must have lost track of the time.