My Forbidden Mentor (32 page)

John smiled as his hands came free from her waist once she was steadied and went to her backside to undo the hooks. “You looked like you needed help,” he told her as he undid her dress. And my touch, he thought after seeing redness flare in her cheeks.

He started to slide it off her shoulders when she stopped him with her hands. It became obvious that the heat between them had grown scalding. “John, thank you, but we’re going to be late for the theater.”

In that moment he didn’t care about the theater, all he thought about was sliding her clothing off. After the urgent moment passed he gained control. A kiss would have to hold him over. With her hands still braced above his, he leaned forward, placing a warm gentle kiss on her cheek. “You’re right,” he murmured. Grabbing his clothing, he left the dressing area and dressed as well.

The theater was a success and it turned out to be much more than Melissa had imagined it would be. The story pulled her in and entranced her. Even when saying good night to Robert her mind played over and over the extraordinary evening, an evening topped off with John’s private compliment of how beautiful she looked tonight.

John opened their hotel door, letting Melissa in first. As she passed by, a whiff of jasmine drifted over him. He’d smelled her scent all night and it only encouraged the action he longed to take.

Melissa set her purse on the round table before sitting on the edge of the bed to untie her slippers. She watched John approach the table as he placed the key on it. He took his dress coat off, placing it around the back of a chair, his plush waistcoat next and then his silk shirt, slipping it off and draping it over the other clothing. Melissa slid one slipper from her foot and looked up again. He was sitting in the chair now, bending over to take off his boots. His body, which was bare from the waist up, reflected the fine movements of his flexing chest muscles as he slid each boot off.

Sighing internally, her fingers reached for the ties on her second slipper. John stood and began unbuttoning his trousers. Melissa once again observed his motions and her actions ceased. “What are you doing?” she asked in apprehension.

John got as far as halfway down the buttons when he looked up and replied, “I’m getting ready for bed,” he said as if nothing unusual was happening.

Melissa averted her view back to the laces she was untying, at the same time commenting, “I hadn’t expected you to completely undress.”

John grinned as he slipped his trousers the rest of the way down and stepping out of them. He bent over to retrieve them, folded them, and placed them atop his shirt and coat. Untying the ribbon from his hair, his hand glided through his free and loose mane as he walked to the opposite side of the bed. Lifting the bedding, he said plainly, “I always sleep naked. You know that.”

Melissa bent down to place her slippers next to the nightstand. As she straightened the bed dipped under John’s weight. “I know,” she said over her shoulder. “I thought under the circumstances.” She trailed off when her heart began beating like a wild hammer. He was close, he was naked, and she was about to get into bed with him.

John lay there with his hands braced behind his head, the ivory linens just covering his pelvic region. His eyes were heavy lidded as they followed the graceful line of her backside. “What circumstances?”

Melissa tried to decide how to approach him about talking. She knew he had only one thought on his mind right now. “Never mind,” she said while rising from the bed, thinking of another approach. Trailing by him on her way to the dressing area, she could feel his eyes following her.

While she undressed he made a suggestion. “I really think we ought to stay here for one more day.”

Melissa’s brow creased with wonder while undoing the last hooks of her dress. “Why is that?” she responded, trying to figure out his plan.

“I believe we’ve got to have an established plan when dealing with Vanessa. We need to go over all of our options again.”

“I’m in agreement. One more day would be sufficient to gather more resources before returning home,” she replied while tugging off her petticoat.

John liked the sound of the word “home”. She made it sound like their home, together. “Good, then it’s settled. At least one more day, right?” John needed to verify that she agreed, but when she reappeared wearing her chemise he became frustrated and disappointment wiped out any evidence of the mischievousness previously displayed on his face. Why on earth was she still dressed?

Stepping back to her side of the bed she answered him. “Right, John. I told you I agreed.” Sitting on the edge of the bed again her fingers reached up to expel the pins in her hair.

As John watched golden streams of hair fall strand by strand it took all of his restraint not to get up and take hold of her, pull her on the bed beneath him, and rip off that dreaded chemise covering her body from his view.

Once her hair hung loose and shimmering she slipped underneath the covers and in the process casually snuck a peek of the glorious body she hadn’t seen in some time. She began to linger on the expanding ivory linens at the junction of his thighs and then suddenly shifted away to stare at the ceiling. She wouldn’t be detoured by her sinful thoughts and trembling body.

Feeling awkward was unnatural where Melissa was concerned, but it was evident that was what she was feeling. “There’s a better view down here,” he said while his gray eyes blazed into her profile, trying to ease the situation by being humorous.

Her gaze didn’t change. “Perhaps,” she replied, distant and preoccupied. Not paying attention to her challenging reply, she missed his look of surprise.

While Melissa pondered John lifted onto his side and faced her. He didn’t notice the linen sliding further down, partially exposing him. “Perhaps?” he questioned, not understanding her timid reactions. His questioning tone caused her head to turn toward him. “Suddenly you’re shy around me. Why?” he asked, confused. They had once shared very intimate moments only a man and woman could, and now she was modest.

In a soft, almost whispered tone, she answered, “I’m not shy.” She sounded like a lost little girl, her body shaking while watching his fingers pull at her chemise.

“Then what’s this?” he asked, offended that she would wear her chemise to bed with him. As he let go she responded.

“I always wear this to bed,” she told him, mocking his earlier reply. Of course, that was when she slept alone, so undoubtedly she knew what his reply would be.

“You’ve never worn it with me in the past?”

She couldn’t defend herself because he was correct. This whole thing seems so silly, she thought. Finally she worked up the nerve to talk to him when he spoke first.

“It’s not as if we haven’t seen each other naked before.” That prompted her hazel eyes to stay direct with his dark gray ones. Then his voice lowered. “It’s not as if I haven’t been inside you before.” His look of seduction became unbearable.

She rolled over on her side, her back facing him, not realizing the position she had created could be very compromising.

John released a silent breath. It was beyond doubt that she wanted him, just like he wanted her. He saw it in her eyes but something stood in the way. John scooted close behind her, not quite touching her. His hand went to her arm, lightly stroking it. “What’s wrong?” he inquired in a soft, caring voice, not liking the continued friction between them.

Was she being ridiculous? But since he asked it opened the opportunity to discuss matters with him. “We need to talk,” she said in a whispered tone.

He didn’t think it was the most opportune time to talk but if it would help, why not. “All right, let’s talk.” As he rested his hand on her forearm her face turned toward him.

“How do you feel about me?” she asked, her eyes gripping his beholding gaze.

John thought it was a loaded question and took some time to reply. While talking was the last thing on his mind, it should have been a priority, he realized. This was his second chance to tell her about his feelings. If only he was better at expressing himself. “Can’t you tell?” he asked, clutching her arm in tenderness, hoping it was a sufficient enough start.

It wasn’t enough. She was craving the words. “John, I want you to tell me.”

He thought back to their week of heavenly solitude, the time when his feelings had changed, becoming profound and everlasting, and the words just came to him. “I know that I want to spend all my time with you. I’ve never met a woman that intrigues me like you do.” He took a deep breath before going on. “It’s more than making love with you, Melissa. I want us to do everything together.” He noticed her serious, intent features beginning to reflect sparks of happiness, which made it easier for him to continue on, and his eyes stayed steady with hers. “I love you, Melissa.” His head lowered, his mouth aiming for hers. “I love you so much,” he whispered against her lips before kissing her.

He’d taken her breath away.

When his lips lifted from hers she returned her feelings. “I love you, John.”

They kissed sensually, his mouth staying on hers while she maneuvered her body to lie on her back as she slid her arms around his neck.

Caught up in the passion of the moment, the thought of being apart from her again accelerated his heightened emotions and the words were out before he could stop them as his lips grazed her arching neck. “Marry me, Melissa.”

Stunned by what she thought she had heard, her first reaction expressed how surprised she was. “What?” she whispered in his ear when her face turned into the silkiness of his black hair.

His head shifted so their eyes would meet, and he asked again. “Will you marry me?” This time it wasn’t a slip.

Her lips began trembling and her eyes shimmered.

“What’s wrong?”

She started laughing, which confused him even more. He was searching her face, bewildered, when she finally replied. “Nothing is wrong. I’m happy, John. These are tears of happiness.”

A finger traced the delicate path of her smiling lips. “Does that mean yes then?” he asked to verify. He expected surprise, but crying?

With tired, watery eyes she answered, “Yes Lord Blackburn, I’ll marry you.” Her hands slid through his long, black hair to cradle the back of his head.

John lay atop her astonished, first at the question he’d asked and then her affirming answer. While looking down at his future wife he recognized the importance of having a companion. This was the woman he loved, the woman who would be his companion for life.

“I can’t believe it. I’m marrying a lord.” John’s quizzical features were noticed when her eyes settled on his.

“What do you mean by that?” he asked out of curiosity.

Melissa realized she had never told him of her initial analysis of lords with reputations. “I used to have an opinion about rakes of your nature. I vowed never to marry one if it would ever come about. I could never put up with their stuffiness . . . and mistresses.” His reaction surprised her. She had anticipated anger but instead a slow meaningful grin appeared.

“So what changed your mind?” he implored.

John, she determined, was different from other men. He’d been handed a title but he never used it to gain superiority over others. He may have been popular with the ladies but that was because of his undeniable charm and good looks.

Lady Blackburn. She couldn’t believe it, and though her father had been unaware of her personal relationship with John, she hadn’t any doubts that he would have approved. She was marrying for love and that was all that mattered. “You, John. You’re not at all what I imagined in the ways of being libertine as the gossip says.”

His grin continued to grow. My future wife, so confident, he thought. His fingers streamed through her hair as it flowed across the pillow. “Is that so?” he teased.

Her giddiness switched to questioning concern. “Why, John. Do I have a reason to wonder?”

He grinned some more and let her wonder as his fingers pulled at her chemise, freeing one rounded breast.

Frustration clashed with ecstasy as her nipple firmed in the warmth of his mouth. “John,” she managed to say before losing her voice.

“Hmm?” he vibrated against her bosom.

Her hands gripped the back of his head and found enough strength to pull him away. Catching her breath, she inquired again, “Please be honest with me. Do you plan to pursue other women?”

He was going for her other breast when she made herself plain. “No. Not until you answer me.”

His brows arched in surprise. He’d better answer her before she really got violent. “You don’t ever have to worry about mistresses. That’s not my style. I’m committed to you and you only.”

When she showed relief his hand cupped the side of her face. “Thank you for being honest,” she told him.

“I will always be honest with you. You should know that by now. I was only teasing you,” he said with a genuine smile.

“Teasing about that kind of matter frightens me, John. What if you tire of me?”

He shook his head. What was with her moods lately? “Silly girl, I could never tire of you. You’re too headstrong to be boring, and I love everything about you, not just your body,” he informed her as his fingers slid down her neck and over her full breast. “Although you can’t deny the passion we create together . . . when we make love.” And make love they did.