His By Christmas (Hamilton Sisters) (37 page)

“Do they?”

“Yes. Very much so.”

He pressed a soft kiss against her cheek. “Like this?”

“Yes.”

He kissed and nuzzled her throat. “And this?’

“Oh, yes,” she said, her pulse beginning to race at the feel of his warm mouth on her skin.

He kissed his way back up to her mouth, placing his lips ever so gently against hers. “This?”

Yvette whispered excitedly, “We’re married now.”

“Yes?” he questioned.

“So we don’t have to stop.”

“No. We don’t.” His mouth came down over hers, taking her in a heated and torrid kiss.

She sighed and simply melted into him.

Plundering her mouth with his tongue, Jeffrey moved his body closer to hers and Yvette pressed herself against him. With both of them dressed only in their nightclothes, she could feel the length of his body quite clearly, which both fascinated and excited her.

Liquid heat seemed to fill her veins as she stretched back against the pillows and Jeffrey covered her body with his. The weight of him above her sent a thrill through her and she wrapped her arms tighter around him, sinking her fingers into his thick dark hair. Their kiss grew more ravenous, their tongues intertwined and their breaths intermingled.

Oh, how wonderful it felt to be kissed by him! And how much she wanted him!

The desire between them increased with each passing second until Yvette thought she would expire from the yearning need within her. Jeffrey’s breath sent shivers of delight along her spine, as his hands moved over the curves of her body. Through the thin silk of her nightgown, he cupped her breasts and she caught her breath at the sensation.

Jeffrey tore his mouth from her, murmuring her name. Before she had a chance to protest the end of their kiss, he rose up. With a swift movement he slid his nightshirt over his head, tossing it to the floor. Now that he was naked before her, she forgot to breathe at the sight of him. Slowly, she placed her hands against the expanse of his broad chest, skimming her fingers over the smooth planes of his skin. He sighed and let her explore.

Oh, he was glorious! Like the classical statues of Greek gods she’d seen in a museum once. She pressed her lips against the warmth of his chest, leaving light kisses along the width of him. With a tentative hand, she reached down and took hold of him, amazed by the heat and softness of his rigidity. She gave a gentle squeeze and he groaned in pleasure. Overwhelmed, she removed her hand and looked up at him.

With his eyes on her, he reached down and slid her white silk nightgown up the length of her thighs. She reached down with both hands and assisted him, pulling the material higher and lifting her arms over her head, as he removed the garment from her completely. Laid bare, she trembled and sank back into the pillows, her breathing shallow.

“You’re perfect,” he said, his voice husky with desire as he gazed upon her nakedness. He cupped her face in his hands. “I love you.”

“I love you.”

He leaned forward and covered her naked body with his own. The contact of bare skin against skin was deliciously intimate and the heat emanating from him seemed to meld their bodies together. Again, she slid her arms around him, her hands running up and down his back, feeling the taut muscles that held him securely above her. He settled himself between her thighs and the powerful force of that intimate placement took her breath away. She arched her back in response, longing to be even closer to him.

Jeffrey brought his lips to hers again, kissing the sighs of delight from her mouth. His lips then moved along her jaw, down her throat and to her chest, kissing her breasts and nipples. Gasping in excitement, Yvette spread her fingers into his hair again, pressing his head into her. The feel of his slick tongue on her breasts was exquisite. An incredible wave of desire, an aching need, swept over her as his mouth moved lower, kissing the flat planes of her abdomen, swirling his tongue into her belly button.

Yvette stilled as his fingers, ever so gently caressed her heated skin, trailing a path down between her thighs. She arched up and her mouth went dry as he touched her most intimately, dipping a finger deep inside of her.

“Jeffrey,” she murmured low, a bit panicked.

“Shh, it’s all right. Just relax. Let me,” he said in a soothing whisper before covering her mouth with his once more.

She closed her eyes, even though she knew he watched her. With expert skill, he pleasured her with his hand, stroking and fondling her, until she forgot to think, forgot where she was, forgot her name. Over and over, his fingers swirled and touched her in ways she had never imagined, never dreamed of, bringing her to the brink of an intense yearning and desire. Her arms went slack, her head fell back on the pillows, and her breathing became rapid as she gave in to the overwhelming waves of utter bliss that crashed over her. When she cried out his name at the height of her pleasure, he held her and kissed her back to her senses.

Yvette clung to him, breathing in great gasps, in awe of what had just happened to her body. “Is that it?” she asked in wonder.

Jeffrey smiled wickedly, his eyes dark with desire. “We haven’t even begun. . . .”

“Oh, my,” was all she could manage to say, but she smiled in anticipation.

He rose up and moved over her again. Bracing his hands on either side of her, he settled himself firmly between her thighs. She stared at him, holding on tightly, her fingers pressing into his back, as he kissed her again. With a gentle movement, he entered her like a sword in a sheath. She held her breath, pressing her lips together, growing accustomed to the fullness of him inside of her. As Jeffrey began to move within her, slowly she exhaled, releasing the initial pain. Little by little, that yearning need returned and she began to arch against him, meeting his thrusts with eagerness.

The aching pleasure blossomed within her again and they moved together in timeless rhythm, losing themselves in each other’s bodies, which were slick with sweat. Soft whispered words, sweet kisses, and gentle caresses suddenly gave way to driving need and mounting desire. His motions became more forceful, more urgent and demanding as he plunged into her. She welcomed him, matching his thrusts with her own. All her focus centered on the two of them and their love for each other.

The waves of sheer bliss enveloped her once again and what felt like a million tiny stars exploded around her. She screamed his name as he drove into her, finding his own heated release. As he called to her, an added thrill coursed through her, increasing her pleasure. Feeling faint and with her body tingling in every way, Yvette lay there motionless.

Jeffrey collapsed on the pillow beside her, spent and panting for breath. He then cradled her in his arms, kissing her face, smoothing away her hair, which had become tangled around them. Together they lay, until their breathing returned to normal.

“Oh, Jeffrey, I don’t even have words,” she said at long last.

He smiled at her. “You liked it?”

“Oh, God, yes! It was amazing.”

“Not
nice?
” he teased.

“Not even close to nice.” She knew he referred to her descriptions of William Weatherly’s kisses. Those nice little kisses paled in comparison to the wonder of what she had just shared with Jeffrey! “It was spectacular. Wonderful. Earth shattering.”

“Earth shattering, you say?” He smiled wolfishly at her. “I’ll take that.”

Yvette released a long sigh. “I’m so happy we didn’t have a long engagement.”

He laughed low and deep at her words and pulled her closer to him. “I am too.”

“My sisters will be so jealous.”

Confused, he asked, “Why?”

“Because I now know the truth about the infamous Jeffrey Eddington!” She giggled helplessly.

“And just what would that be?” He stared at her, incredulous at her pronouncement.

“Well, as you know . . . your reputation with the ladies being what it is . . . we’ve all wondered about you.”

His blue eyes twinkling, he seemed vastly amused by that. “Have you now?”

“Oh, yes! How could we not be?”

“Who would have thought nice girls like you discuss such things?”

She looked up at him helplessly. “Well, we do. Much more often than you think.”

“Well, I hate to disappoint you, my dear wife, and your lovely sisters, but my reputation is vastly exaggerated.”

“But you said you’d kissed hundreds of women!” Yvette cried in protest.

“Kissed, yes.” He shook his head. “Bedded, no.”

“What do you mean?”

“I have kept mistresses, but not as many as your vivid imagination would allow for. Contrary to popular belief, I did not indiscriminately bed every woman who crossed my path.”

“Oh.”

“Oh?” he questioned with a laugh. “You sound disappointed, Yvette.”

“No, I’m not at all. Just taking in this different side of you.”

“And?”

“And it makes me happy.” Yvette paused and looked at him. “You don’t have a mistress now, do you?”

“I did, but she ended it months ago when she realized even before I did that I was in love with you.”

“Truly?” Yvette asked in amazement.

“Truly.” Jeffrey placed a sweet kiss on her mouth, as if to emphasize his words. “And I will never have another mistress, I swear to you. I have only the most beautiful wife in the world to make my life complete.”

“Good, because I might have to kill you if you had a mistress,” she said with a smile.

“Thank goodness I’m safe then.” He kissed her again.

“Just a moment, Jeffrey.” She wrinkled her brows in confusion. “Then why does everyone think that you’ve been with scores of women if it isn’t true?”

He paused before saying, “Because it was easier to let everyone believe the worst about me.”

“Why?” That made no sense to Yvette. “Why on earth would you want people to think the worst of you?”

With a heavy sigh, he squeezed her tightly to him. “Because of what I was, it was easier for everyone to think me an irresponsible rogue and not take me seriously. It suited my purposes. No one suspected me of doing what I was really doing.”

“You’re referring to the secret work you do for the government?”

“Yes.”

“That you won’t tell me about?”

“It’s not that I won’t tell you, Yvette. It’s that I can’t tell you about it.” He hesitated. “Let’s simply say I gather very sensitive information from certain parties in a somewhat clandestine manner and pass it along to other parties in need of such information.” He flashed her a smile. “It’s really quite amazing the things people will tell me at a party while they are drinking and no one suspects my motives. Anyway, I perform a necessary service and having people believe me a careless playboy whose sole purpose in life is pleasure suits my purposes remarkably well.”

Yvette sat up and stared at the man beside her. “Jeffrey, how can I not have known this about you all these years?”

He gave her his most charming smile. “Because I didn’t want you to, my lovely. No one knows about my profession, except Lucien and Harrison, and my father, of course.”

She leaned down on top of his chest. “And now me.”

“And now you.” He kissed her.

“I won’t tell anyone, I promise.”

“I know you won’t. But I think it is time for me to retire from that line of work now.”

Yvette placed kisses over his bare chest. “Why is that?” He gazed into her eyes. “Because it can also be very dangerous, and I’ve done more than enough, and now I would much rather spend my time at home in bed with my beautiful wife.”

Yvette shivered with desire at his words. “That is the most wonderful idea I’ve ever heard.”

“No . . . I think this is. . . .” Jeffrey drew her against him, covering her mouth with his and rolling on top of her once more.

35

Christmas Day

“Well, here is the married couple now!” Juliette called out as Yvette and Jeffrey entered the great drawing room of Devon House late the following afternoon. A light snow was falling outside, dusting the ground in white, as evening began to fall, but inside the family had gathered together on Christmas Day. The scent of evergreens and pinecones filled the air as well as the delicious smells of Christmas dinner.

Jeffrey and Yvette were instantly enveloped in congratulatory hugs by everyone as if they had been gone for weeks and not just one night, but Yvette didn’t mind in the least. Nothing could have made her happier than to have all the people she loved most in the world under one roof. Her mother, her sisters, her brothers-in-law, and her little nieces and nephews. And especially her husband. Yvette was thrilled that even Jeffrey’s parents were joining them as well.

Cries and shouts of “Merry Christmas!” filled the air.

All of the children were playing near the large Christmas tree, excitedly looking at their presents and playing with their new toys. A traditional Christmas feast was planned for supper, with a goose and roast beef and Yorkshire pudding, and the jovial mood in the drawing room was typical of a Hamilton family holiday get together.

Yvette and Jeffrey went to sit by her mother first. Genevieve Hamilton was growing stronger and her health continued to improve a little more each day. Still as outspoken as ever, she smiled joyfully at them. She took Jeffrey’s hand in hers.

“I am so very happy that you have married my daughter. You have always been good to me and now you are my son.
Vous avez toujours été bon avec moi et je vous ai toujours bien aimé. Vous êtes maintenant un vrai fils pour moi.
I love you, Jeffrey,” her mother said to him.

Genuinely touched by her words, Jeffrey kissed Genevieve’s cheek. “I am happy to be your son, Mrs. Hamilton, and I am even happier to be married to your daughter.”

“They are all married now. Each one of my girls is happy,” Genevieve said with a contented little sigh. “This is a very joyous Christmas.
C’est un Noël très special. Toutes mes filles sont maintenant mariées. Je suis heureuse.
”

“And we are very glad that you are here with us to share our happiness,
Maman
,” Yvette said. Recalling how close they had come to losing her, Yvette gave her mother a fierce little hug.