His Obsession (19 page)

Richard stepped forward, reaching for Kate
with one long arm. However, Kate’s eyes widened and she leaned
back, attempting to keep some distance between them.

Richard thought he leaned over to give Kate a
sweet kiss, to persuade her to yield to him. In reality, Richard
lost his balance and tumbled on top of his new bride, nearly
crushing her into the mattress with his added weight.

“You’ve been drinking,” Kate complained,
pushing against his chest.

“Indeed.”

With all of her strength, Kate strained
against Richard. She kicked her legs beneath the covers, but her
movements hardly seemed to phase Richard at all. Even in his
inebriated state, Richard’s strength far surpassed her own.

At last, Richard’s mouth claimed hers,
searing Kate with the intensity of his ardor. Kate’s mouth was warm
and soft and her delicate lilac scent soothed him with its gentle
floral scent. Beneath his hands, her body was incredibly warm and
smooth, so different from his own.

Slowly, Richard’s fingers slid upward over
the indentation of Kate’s waist to the ladder of her rib cage. He
caressed her with a mind stealing persistence, making her crave
more of his sweet possession.

Tentatively, Kate slid her arms around his
neck, drawing him closer. The room spun as he gentled her to his
touch, coaxing her to join him as they both climbed to new heights
of ecstasy. With a sweet sigh, Kate surrendered.

The following morning, Kate woke slowly and
finally eased her eyes open. Although the drawn velvet drapes
darkened the room, from the thin slits of light showing on either
side of the fabric, she could see that it was already
mid-morning.

Kate lay on her side in a strange bed, her
body somehow seeming a little sore and heavier than normal. When
she raised her head, it was immediately apparent why.

One muscular male arm lay heavily across her
waist. Even in sleep, Richard’s hand had reached up to cup one of
her breasts, refusing to relinquish his hold on her. A naked,
muscular thigh pinned her pale legs to the bed, as well.

Although the covers had been shoved to the
foot of the bed, Kate realized that she was not cold. Richard lay
on his side behind her, his broad chest pressed to her back and his
hips cradling her buttocks. A little embarrassed by her state of
undress, Kate tugged at the tattered remnants of her nightgown in a
vain attempt to cover herself. At last, Richard stirred.

“Good morning, my lord,” Kate softly bid
him.

Richard groaned and held his aching head.
“Argh! Not so loud.”

Kate chuckled. Her voice had barely been
above a whisper. It seemed that Richard was going to pay a hefty
price for imbibing so freely the night before.

Kate attempted to rise, but Richard halted
her escape, once more pinning her to the mattress. Richard’s
fingers began to move possessively over her soft breasts, caressing
her until her nipples hardened beneath his seeking hands.

Suddenly, there was a sharp knock on the
bedroom door. Immediately, Richard released Kate. His hands flew to
his aching head, cradling it gingerly in an attempt to ease the
pain inside. Kate grinned and promptly extricated herself from her
husband’s embrace.

The knock came again and Richard winced in
pain.

“One moment, please,” Kate bid the person
outside.

Quickly, Kate thrust her arms into her robe
and drew the sash tight around her small waist.

“Good morning, Jeffries,” Kate bid the butler
as she opened the door.

“Good morning, my lady,” Jeffries bid her
with a slight bow. “Good morning, my lord.”

Richard groaned from the bed and pulled a
pillow over his head.

“May I come in for a moment?” Jeffries
inquired.

“Why I – of course,” Kate answered.

The butler entered the darkened room bearing
a tray with coffee, sweet buns and a strange looking decanter on
it.

“I took the liberty of ordering coffee for
you, my lady. I hope that was appropriate?” Jeffries inquired.

“Yes. Thank you,” Kate agreed. “How very
kind.”

“And I brought your usual tonic, my lord,”
Jeffries stiffly informed the earl.

Richard groaned and waved the butler
away.

“It’s a mixture of coffee and stimulants, my
lady,” Jeffries told Kate. “I haven’t had to make one for years.
When he was younger, the earl was often in this state after a night
at White’s with his friends. Although, I suppose there was cause
for celebration yesterday.”

“Indeed,” Kate giggled.

“Leave the blasted potion and be gone,
Jeffries!” Richard growled from the bed.

No sooner had he uttered those words, than
Richard groaned at the pain his own voice had inflicted upon his
aching skull.

“Make him drink all of it, my lady,” Jeffries
softly advised. “He’ll feel much better if he does.”

With a bow, the butler departed, closing the
door behind him. Slowly, Kate approached the bed. The lovely
coverlet was stained where the earl had apparently spilled the
decanter of liquor the night before. Indeed, the bed still reeked
of stale alcohol.

Richard lay on his stomach, with a pillow
over his head. The rest of his body was partially covered here and
there by twisted sheets and blankets. Richard’s massive, tanned
shoulders were a sharp contrast to the pristine white sheets and
his muscular legs shifted a little as he changed position.

Carefully, Kate raised the lid of the
decanter of brown liquid and lurched back as the stench assaulted
her nostrils. It smelled like road tar, charcoal and a few other
obnoxious ingredients that Kate couldn’t name. Reluctantly, Kate’s
fingers closed around the neck of the decanter and she held it out
to her husband.

“Your breakfast, my lord,” Kate declared.

Richard groaned in agony. “Take it away.”

“I believe Jeffries said this would work
wonders for you.”

Richard peeped out from underneath the arm
he’d flung over his eyes. Cautiously, he struggled to raise himself
up on one elbow. Reluctantly, Richard took the decanter from Kate’s
fingers.

“Thank you,” Richard murmured.

Richard sipped the warm, dark brew and
grimaced with distaste.

Turning away to hide her smile, Kate poured
herself a cup of coffee and added sugar and cream to the mixture.
She was conscious of the earl’s eyes upon her as she reached for a
sweet roll. Kate settled herself into an armchair on the other side
of the table, drew her legs up to her chest and happily munched her
treat.

Grudgingly, Richard continued to sip
Jeffries’ appalling elixir, but he had to admit that he was
beginning to feel better. Now that his eyes didn’t feel like
someone was stabbing him with hot pokers, he could focus on his new
wife.

Kate looked so sweet this morning, her small
body dwarfed by the large armchair into which she was curled. She
sipped her coffee daintily, biting off small bits of roll with her
straight white teeth. Richard was mesmerized.

He remembered little of the night before,
just snatches here and there. Richard recalled that he’d been
drinking, heavily in fact. He’d been angry, too, but he couldn’t
quite remember what had put him in such a foul mood.

Somehow, he’d apparently wound up in Kate’s
bed. He supposed that wasn’t surprising. After all, it had been
their wedding night. Like any young virgin, Kate had been hesitant
about his advances. Apparently, Richard had finally won her over.
At least, he thought so. Truthfully, he couldn’t remember.

Richard frowned. This was a damnable
situation. He could hardly open his mouth and ask Kate whether
they’d consummated their marriage. She’d think that if he had to
ask her such a question, he didn’t recall the event at all. She’d
be right, too.

At last, an idea dawned and Richard swept
back the covers. A small stain of dried blood marred the white
sheet. Kate stared at the stain in confusion. She remembered that
her monthly had come about two weeks ago, so it couldn’t be that.
She also had no cut or other injury that she could think of.

“It’s your virgin’s blood,” Richard proudly
explained. “It appears that our marriage was completely and quite
thoroughly consummated.”

Kate colored with embarrassment and turned
away. Richard observed her as she set down her cup and saucer and
gently smoothed the robe covering her belly.

“Come here, Kate,” Richard requested.

Hesitantly, Kate turned toward him, her face
still delightfully pink.

“Sit with me.”

“I – I’d really rather sit here, thank you,”
Kate murmured, quickly sliding into a chair near the table.

“We need to talk,” Richard noted, patting the
mattress beside him.

By the firm set of Richard’s jaw, Kate could
tell that he was serious. Mustering her courage, Kate rose and
crossed the room to sit on the mattress beside the earl.

The sheet and coverlet shielded Richard’s
body from the waist down, but what was exposed to Kate’s eyes was
enticing enough. Richard’s broad chest and muscular arms were in
such perfect proportion that Kate thought they might have been
chiseled by a sculptor. A long line of dark, curly hair narrowed to
a point at his waist, beckoning Kate to look still further.

The earl’s hair was still tousled from sleep,
too, making him appear a little wild and boyish. Richard’s dark
eyes slowly raked over Kate from head to toe, taking in the
delicate curve of her cheek, full lips and pert little nose.

The blue velvet robe Kate had so hastily
donned, lovingly curved over her lush breasts. As she sat, the robe
gaped into a narrow slit over her bare thighs, revealing an
enticing triangle of pale skin to Richard’s hungry gaze.

Kate attempted to avoid Richard’s bold
perusal, but it seemed impossible. Richard Warwick dominated
whatever room he was in. Even in a relaxed state, he seemed so
powerful and strong.

Nervously, Kate fiddled with the edge of her
robe, trying to cover herself a little more thoroughly. Richard
finally reached down and covered both of her hands with one of his
own.

“Kate, I know that the first time is often
painful for a woman,” Richard murmured. “I hope that I wasn’t too
boorish?”

“No,” Kate quickly replied.

Kate’s denial was a little too quick and much
too soft for Richard. That worried him a little.

“I promise you, it only hurts that first
time. The next time, it will be much better,” Richard promised.
“For both of us.”

As Kate bowed her head, Richard noticed a
delightful flush of embarrassment roll like a wave from her cheeks
and down her slender throat. Richard grinned at his little
bride.

Kate was everything Richard wanted in a wife.
Modest and shy, Kate was easily embarrassed by even a hint of
intimacy between them. After experiencing the bold, calculating
advances of other members of her sex, Richard found Kate’s shy
responses vastly refreshing.

Unbelievably, Richard found himself wanting
Kate again. Now. Jeffries’ elixir had done wonders for his muddled
senses and painful hangover. Gently, Richard slid one long arm
around Kate’s slender waist, preparing to draw her down onto the
mattress.

A sharp knock at Kate’s door interrupted them
again. Kate bounced off the bed like a frightened doe. Richard was
visibly annoyed by the interruption.

“Yes?” Richard barked. “What is it?”

“If I might have a word, my lord?” Jeffries
requested.

“What could possibly -? Of course.”

Jeffries opened the door and peered around
the edge. “Forgive the interruption, my lord and my lady. However,
you have a visitor downstairs.”

“Who is it?” Richard asked.

“A Lady Drummond, I believe, sir.”

Richard cocked one dark eyebrow in surprise.
Claudia Drummond. It had been over a year since Richard bid his
mistress farewell and he’d considered himself well rid of her. She
was a greedy, self-centered, grasping sort of female. Claudia had
given Richard an ultimatum, no doubt already envisioning herself as
the next Countess of Devonshire.

Richard had surprised Lady Drummond by
refusing her offer of marriage. Shocked and outraged, the woman had
made a cake of herself, hounding him at parties and soirees, as
well as openly snubbing him on the street. Of course, Richard had
remained aloof, not allowing her petty attempts to bait him into an
argument get the better of him. That had enraged Claudia even
more.

“Jeffries, please tell Lady Drummond that I
will be down shortly. See whether she would care for any tea,”
Richard suggested.

“Yes, my lord,” Jeffries briefly acknowledged
and quit the room.

Kate’s curiosity was killing her, but she
said nothing. Who was Lady Drummond? Was she an old friend of the
family or something more?

“Forgive me, my lady,” Richard murmured as he
finally rose from the bed. “It appears I have a guest waiting.”

Kate gasped and quickly averted her eyes from
her husband’s naked body. Richard seemed perfectly at ease with his
own nudity. However, for Kate’s sake, he reached down and wrapped
himself in the top sheet. Gently, Richard caught her hand and
lifted it to his lips. As he straightened, Richard pinned Kate with
his dark, penetrating gaze.

“Later,” he promised.

Somehow, Kate found the strength to nod
before Richard turned on his heel and departed.

Richard washed and dressed in the adjoining
room, whistling all the while. His valet was so startled by his
changed behavior that he couldn’t stop staring at the earl. Not
normally a merry sort of person, Richard Warwick was nevertheless
in a fine mood this day, even with the remnants of a hangover.

Dressed in a dark green cutaway coat, white
shirt and tan breeches, Richard descended the staircase to the main
floor. Only the slightest headache lingered in the back of his
skull and he found himself humming a disgustingly happy tune. After
descending the staircase, Richard followed Jeffries’ directions and
found Lady Drummond waiting for him in the green room.