Dreaming of You (32 page)

For Gavin, it was all he could do to keep from nudging her legs apart and driving into her with the haste of an impetuous youth.  She would be ready for him, of that he had no doubt.  But regardless, he fought for control.  He didn’t want to rush.  It had been so long since he’d held her like this, touched her like this.  He wanted to savor every last moment, so he forced himself to go slow and to tamp down the part of him that wanted to take her right then and there without preliminaries.  They had all night he reminded himself, as his tongue swirled around her peaked nipple.
 

When Melody felt Gavin’s hand begin its downward journey along the smooth skin of her inner thigh she quivered in response, and then, when his fingers brushed lightly against her soft curls she felt an ache in the pit of her stomach that was both pleasurable and painful at the same time.  She wanted him so desperately it hurt.  Her thighs parting in invitation, she inhaled deeply, her hips arching slightly off the bed when his finger slid back and forth along her delicate folds and then pressed gently inside her welcoming sheath.
 

For several long minutes Gavin stroked and caressed her, until she lay writhing beneath his touch, her body begging for release.  When he sensed that she was nearing her peak, he finally pulled his fingers from her damp cleft and then gently splayed her thighs as he positioned himself above her.  When he slid his rigid length into her, pressing forward inch by inch, he felt her nails press into the skin of his back as she raised her hips, urging him even deeper into her moist heat.  Lifting his head, he looked down upon her upturned face.  Her eyes were open and their gazes locked.  Buried deep inside of her, the woman he’d dreamt of for the past five years, he lost another battle, for he could no longer fight the overwhelming need to once again taste the sweetness of her lips.  Lowering his head, he finally pressed his mouth to hers.  The kiss seemed to shatter the last remaining barrier between them.  Their hunger for one another exploded in a firestorm as their passion for one another engulfed them like white-hot flames.  There was no pretense in this, and undoubtedly there never had been, he silently acknowledged.  
 

When Melody awoke the following morning she found herself lying naked amidst a profusion of tangled sheets.  She was also alone; though she had no idea at what time Gavin had left her bed.  It couldn’t have been too long ago however, for much to her delight they had made love twice during the night, and then once again when he’d roused her by placing a long trail of tingling kisses along the curve of her spine just before dawn.  All in all, it had been a glorious wedding night, even better than she had ever dreamed it could be.
 

However, if there was one thing that troubled her about the past hours, it was Gavin’s relative silence.  Aside from the occasional impassioned murmurs when they were in the throes of passion, he had barely
spoken more than a few words during the long night.  Although he had allowed for their physical connection, she feared that he was still trying to hold a part of himself back, to keep an emotional distance between them.  It was disappointing, but she wasn’t stupid, she’d known that it wasn’t going to be easy to regain his trust, for him to believe that she would never again do anything to hurt him.  She could only hope that given time, Gavin would come to see how very much she loved him, and in turn, that he would open his heart to her as well.
 

Realizing that she had slept long past the breakfast hour, Melody allowed herself one long and leisurely stretch before rising from the bed, relishing as she did in the slight, yet blissfully wonderful ache that radiated throughout the muscles of her body.  Slipping into her dressing gown, she could scarcely keep the contented smile from her face as she moved to the bell pull and summoned one of the maids.
 

Within minutes there was a soft knock upon her bedchamber door, and when Melody opened it she saw that it was Holly, one of the young upstairs maids, who had responded to her call, for Elizabeth had remained at their London home whilst she and Gavin honeymooned at Rutherford Park.
 

“Good morning, Your Grace,” the slender brunette greeted cheerfully, as she dipped into a polite curtsey.  “How may I assist you?”
 

“Good morning, Holly,” Melody said pleasantly as she motioned her into the room.  Stepping to the side, she noted a sudden blush color Holly’s freckled cheeks, and that her wide-eyed gaze was directed at the bed and the mess of rumpled sheets that lay twisted and entangled upon it.
 

Despite the sudden flush that colored her own cheeks, Melody’s voice was surprisingly steady as she made her request.  She was too gloriously happy to let anything trouble her overmuch at that moment.  “Could you please ask the kitchen staff to heat some water for my bath?”
 

Holly’s eyes snapped back to Melody’s face in an instant.  “Oh, yes of course, Your Grace,” she said quickly.  
 

“A pot of tea and some biscuits would be lovely as well, if it isn’t too much trouble,” Melody added with a smile.
 

“I’ll see to it at once.”
 

“Thank you, Holly,” Melody said, as the young woman made a hasty retreat.  
 

Goodness she thought, turning back toward the bed in mild chagrin, she’d have to remember to straighten the sheets next time.  But as she gazed at the mussed bed linens, her momentary chagrin was swiftly overshadowed by the anticipation of messing them up again later that night.  Then, with an impish grin curving her lips, she made her way to the dressing room.
 

Once she was bathed, dressed and satisfactorily coiffed, Melody finally made her way downstairs.  Good gracious, she was the lady of the house now she realized as she reached the landing.  She was the Duchess of Rutherford, and Rutherford Park, in all of its splendor, was now her home as well as her responsibility.  It was a rather imposing notion.   When they’d arrived late yesterday afternoon, she’d been
so preoccupied with her upcoming wedding night, that she’d hardly given it a thought.  Fortunately, her years as mistress of Edgington Hall had provided her with the necessary skills required to manage a large household, and as she made her way into the foyer, she mentally reassured herself that she was up to the task.
 

“Good morning, Hawkins,” she greeted the ever-present butler.
 

“Good morning, Your Grace,” he replied with a polite nod.
 

“Would you happen to know His Grace’s whereabouts?” she asked, eager to see Gavin after the incredible night they’d shared.
 

“His Grace is working in his study at present,” he stated matter of factly.
 

“Oh.”  He was probably busy with estate matters Melody realized with a touch of regret.  He was a duke after all, and as such, he was sure to have tremendous responsibilities to attend to, honeymoon or not.  “Well, I shan’t disturb him then.”
 

Hawkins nodded, seeming to indicate that he agreed with her decision.
 

Hiding her disappointment behind a pleasant smile, she decided that if Gavin was occupied, it might be a good idea for her to see to her own tasks as well.  “Could you please inform Mrs. Dashwood that I would like to speak with her at her earliest convenience,” she said.  If she was to begin familiarizing herself with the management of the household, a meeting with the Montrose family’s longtime housekeeper seemed the most logical place to start.  “I shall await her in the drawing room.”  After meeting with Mrs. Dashwood, she would then pay a visit to the kitchens, she thought as she made her way to the nearby drawing room, to consult with Mrs. Potter regarding the weekly menu.
 

As the dinner hour approached, Melody was quite pleased in respect to the progress she had made in acquainting herself with her new responsibilities.  However, as the morning had turned to afternoon, and afternoon had now turned to evening, she was beginning to feel a bit frustrated in a completely different regard, for she hadn’t set eyes upon Gavin even once throughout the day, not even during the midday meal, for much to her dismay, he’d had his luncheon delivered to the study.
 

Then, almost as if she’d summoned him with her thoughts, a soft knock sounded upon her bedchamber door.  Quickly patting one last wayward curl into place, Melody rose from her seat at the vanity table and made her way to the door.  When she opened it, the sight of Gavin, dressed in an elegant black dinner jacket and snowy white shirt and matching cravat, nearly took her breath away.  Good gracious, it should be a sin for a man to be so devastatingly handsome, she thought to herself.
 

“Good evening.  Are you ready to go down to dinner?” Gavin asked courteously, as his gaze took in Melody’s stylish and sophisticated off the shoulder gown of apricot-colored silk taffeta.  She looked stunningly beautiful as always, but even so, he couldn’t keep his eyes from dropping to the tops of her lush, full breasts as they swelled enticingly from the bodice of her gown.  Instantly reminded of how he’d
caressed and fondled those magnificent globes that very morning, he felt an immediate tightening in his groin.  Would she resist he wondered, if he said to hell with dinner and urged her back into the bedroom, scooped her up into his arms and tossed her upon the bed?
 

“Gavin?”
 

He looked up, startled from his decadent musings.
 

“I said yes, I
am
ready,” Melody repeated, eyeing Gavin curiously.  Did she detect a look of desire in his lingering gaze, or was it simply her imagination?  Feeling her own desire suddenly flare to life, she secretly hoped that it was the former rather than the latter.
 

“Hmm?  Oh, yes of course,” he said, promptly extending his elbow.  Good God he thought, if he wasn’t careful he’d soon be forgetting the promises he’d made to himself.  It was one thing to share Melody’s bed, but to be forever lusting after her like an ardent swain was quite another.  He’d be a damn fool if he allowed her to hold that kind of power over him.  He needed to keep their relationship in perspective.  He’d already paid the price for trusting her once before, and despite the gradual lessening of his feelings of bitterness and resentment; he wasn’t ready to cast caution to the wind just yet.  
 

Placing her hand within the curve of his arm, Melody allowed Gavin to lead her into the hall and then down the stairs and into the dining room, hoping all the while that her lascivious inner thoughts weren’t reflected upon her face for all to see.
 

Although Gavin was perfectly cordial and solicitous during dinner, Melody detected a subtle reserve in his overall manner throughout the evening.  Considering the intimacies they had shared during the course of their passion-filled wedding night, she’d secretly hoped that he might have let down his guard just a bit.  But as the evening progressed, it became increasingly clear that while Gavin might be willing to share her bed, he wasn’t yet ready to lower the emotional barriers that still separated them.  
 

“I thought I might go riding tomorrow,” Melody said, looking to Gavin as their dessert plates were set before them.
 

Gavin nodded as he stuck his spoon into his serving of strawberry iced cream.  “Well, if you do, there are certainly a number of fine horses to choose from in the stables, but if you advise Mr. Sullivan, the stablemaster, as to your skill level, I’m certain he can select the most fitting mount for you.”
 

“Yes, I shall definitely seek his recommendation,” she agreed.  Scooping a bit of iced cream onto her own spoon, Melody took a bite as she summoned her courage.  “You could join me if you like,” she said a touch hesitantly, once she’d swallowed the scrumptious tidbit.  She’d learned from Mrs. Potter that the dessert was a favorite of Gavin’s, and she could well-understand why.
 

“I’m sorry, but I am afraid that I haven’t the time, for I have several pressing business matters that require my attention,” Gavin replied somewhat absently.  “Be sure to take one of the grooms with you though, if you intend to venture far from the house.”
 

Spooning another bite of the delicious iced cream into her mouth to hide her frown of disappointment, Melody merely nodded.  As much as she longed to start building a new relationship with Gavin, she reminded herself that she had to give it time.
 

Much to Melody’s continued disappointment, though she had done her best not to show it; the remainder of their stay at Rutherford Park had proceeded in much the same fashion as the first couple of days had.  She’d seen very little of Gavin during the daylight hours, for if he hadn’t been locked away in his study, he’d kept himself busy with a number of other matters, matters that apparently hadn’t involved her.  As such, she had endeavored to keep herself occupied as best she could.
 

The nights however, had gone a long way in making up for Gavin’s lack of attentiveness during the day.  It was then that he’d focused every last bit of his attention solely upon her, and she’d relished every single moment of it.  As on their wedding night, their passionate encounters had been everything she could have hoped for and more.  Their unrelenting desire for one another was undeniable, a circumstance that gave her joy beyond measure and for which she was immensely grateful.
 

Now, on their last night at Rutherford Park, the night before they were to return to London, Melody once again lay draped across Gavin’s naked chest, exhausted and utterly sated.  Listening to the steady beat of his heart and feeling the slow, even rise and fall of his chest beneath her cheek, Melody could tell that Gavin had dozed off.  Would it be like this once they returned to London, she wondered?  Would he still come to her bed each and every night, as he had done here?  She certainly hoped so, for despite the hours they’d spent wrapped in each other’s arms; it seemed that each night she longed for his touch even more than she had the night before.