Once Upon an Accident 01 - The Accidental Countess (11 page)

Sebastian closed his eyes. Every soft, wonderful curve Colleen possessed was plastered against him. Nothing in his life had felt quite so wonderful. He opened his eyes, reveling in the dark fire of her hair spread across the pristine white sheets.

So much hair. So many ideas.

He braced himself on his elbows on the bed, relieving her of his weight. Colleen was not a small woman, but she definitely was a woman. His hardened arousal was a testament. It took every bit of his willpower not to press his groin against her. From her wide-eyed expression, he would upset Colleen if he did that.

She swallowed and then licked her lips. The thought of kissing her lips, of tasting her there, of tasting her everywhere, sent most of his blood to his loins. He groaned, and her eyes grew larger, as if she were afraid of being ravished. Because, of course, she should be afraid. At the moment, his brain had stopped functioning. The only thing he could think about was sinking into her warmth and being lost.

“Sebastian?” A tremor of fear threaded her voice.

“Colleen, I’m not going to hurt you.”

Even in the dim light, he could see the disbelief in her eyes. Her distrust, her wariness of men, was something he would have to overcome.
Patience.

“All I want is a kiss, love.”

Her lips parted, and he watched, fascinated by the pulse in her throat as her neck and face flushed. Ah, not that immune to him, was she?

His control threatened to crumble as the moist heat of her sex warmed him through their clothing. Good God, he hadn’t even started, and she was responding. What did she hide under those prim clothes and pinched looks?

Unable to wait, to hold back any longer, he bent his head and took her lips. Not completely. Instead, he placed small kisses, just missing her mouth, a whisper of a caress guaranteed to drive them both mad.

He did not close his eyes. Rather, he left them open, staring into hers, which were luminous behind her spectacles, as he teased her mouth with his half kisses. Her breathing deepened, and a moment later her eyes slid closed.

Triumph pumped through him. He skimmed his hands up to cup her face. Her skin was so soft, so delicate. No longer able to restrain himself, he took complete possession of her mouth. She opened instantly to his questing tongue, and the taste of her exploded across his senses. Warm power flooded his body and he was lost to the moment.

Never in his life had a kiss been quite so erotic. Colleen’s hands no longer lay limply by her side but tangled in his hair, her fingers digging into his scalp. He was fully on top of her, breast to chest, belly to belly, his hard member pressing against her soft core. He locked his jaw, trying to reign in his control and not embarrass himself for the first time since the age of sixteen.

He moved his hips, closing his eyes, reveling in the feel of her against him. She stilled and tried to pull her head away from him. But Sebastian held tight and kissed her while he continued moving. A second or two later, she softened and returned his kisses again.

The musky scent of her arousal filled the room, furthering his own. Nothing else mattered. The way they met and married, not to mention his distrust of women, all faded into the background. The need to make this woman his—his lover, his mate, his wife—surged within him, pounded in his heart and soul.

He shifted his weight and palmed her breast through the thin fabric of her wrapper and nightclothes. A few light touches and her nipple pebbled. He groaned. How had this woman hidden all this passion beneath her fussy exterior? He desired her now, wanted to take her as was his due as her husband, but knew he needed to proceed slowly. He pulled away, closed his eyes and took a ragged breath.

“Sebastian?” she asked, her voice breathless and worried.

He looked down at her. His heart stopped for a beat then slammed hard against his rib cage. Her glorious hair lay in disarray, her glasses fogged and her lips full and rosy from his kisses.

She shifted her lower body, unintentionally he was sure, causing her sex to press harder against him. The woman was going to kill him. He closed his eyes and shuddered.

“Sebastian?” Now her voice held a note of hurt. Every muscle in her body stiffened. “Don’t worry. I understand. If you would just get up.” The primness was back in her tone, and a hint of resignation colored it. Almost every ounce of his seductress had disappeared.

Before answering, he moved to cover her fully again. “Colleen, what is it you understand?”

The silvery depths of her eyes darkened. “I understand that our marriage is to be one of convenience.”

“Convenience?” he muttered.

Through his irritation, her underlying tone reached him. He held his usually sharp tongue as he analyzed what lay behind the comment. Did he detect a note of disappointment? Was she regretting their marriage or her misassumption that it would be sexless? And with her response, she did desire him.

“Colleen, I have told you before, and I will tell you again, there is nothing convenient about our marriage.”

Her eyes, already huge behind her spectacles, widened. Fire ignited in them, but not the kind he wanted.

Before she could open her mouth to argue, he swooped in for another kiss, moving against her. His blood shot to molten lava as she returned the kiss, shyly tangling her tongue with his.

He pulled back, both of them breathless. “I told you I never wanted another marriage, but I plan on claiming you as my wife, my
true
wife.”

“But you don’t—”

He flexed his hips again, stopping her protest. Her eyes fluttered closed. She sank her teeth into her bottom lip and hummed. The sound licked across his senses, bolstering his already runaway arousal.

“I don’t what?” Even he heard the huskiness, the desire, in his voice. “Don’t want you? Good God, woman, are you that naïve?”

Then the truth of it struck him. Of course she was. She was a virgin and a country-bred one at that. If he rushed things, she would never forgive him. Being a gentleman in his aroused state was going to kill him. He groaned and dropped his head to her shoulder. He would surely earn sainthood for this.

He raised his head and looked down at her. Her eyes were still closed as if waiting for her execution. For the first time in his life, Sebastian had to deal with a total innocent. For a sheltered woman like Colleen, sex probably frightened her and even though she might desire him, there was a good chance his passion would disgust her. He was harder than a steel saber, and the woman wanted nothing to do with him. That thought was enough to sober him.

“Colleen, I apologize for taking liberties. I…I had a bit too much to drink tonight, and I…” He what? Wanted to take her like a conquering Viking who thought it his right to rape and pillage? He was sure that would go over well with his bride.

He raised himself to his hands. Before he could move completely away from her, she twined her legs around his waist and wrapped her arms around his neck.

Her eyes were now open. The desire lighting them nearly had him losing control right then and there.

“Please, Sebastian.”

With that quiet plea, full of timid arousal, all of his control broke. He groaned and gave her a quick, hard kiss. “Anything to please my wife.”

She protested as he lifted away from her. “Love, I have to get these clothes off you before I go insane.”

Her breathing hitched. “You…you want to see me naked?”

There it was, that damned doubt. True, she wasn’t a diamond of the first water. No, her features were too prominent for that. And red hair and grey eyes weren’t all the rage, he knew. But in his mind blonde hair and blue eyes were overrated. Especially now that he had seen Colleen’s hair unbound and her eyes darkened with passion.

“Oh, yes, I want to see every glorious inch of your body naked.”

She swallowed but didn’t say a word, just watched him warily. He took that as her consent, and within moments, her wrapper lay on the floor. He untied the ribbons and pulled open the bodice of her modest gown as anticipation surged through him.

Every thought vanished when he revealed her breasts, bathed in candlelight. Pale ivory, smooth as silk, tipped with rosebud nipples. He brushed the back of his fingers against them, reveling in the hardened points. Her indrawn breath filled the silent room.

Without hesitation, he bent his head and took one turgid nipple into his mouth. The taste of her sent another wave of heat through him. So sweet…so delicious. He moved from one breast to the other, emboldened by her moans. Her fingers slid in his hair, urged him closer. That one little gesture sent a shock of conquest roaring through his blood. His control vanished as he gripped her nightgown, yanking it up over her head and throwing it on the floor behind him. The sight of her naked flesh momentarily stunned him.

Never in his life had a woman’s body been so much of a surprise. Beneath the layers of prim and proper clothing lay a wonderland of soft, smooth skin. His gaze moved from her breasts, to her tiny waist and full hips, to the thatch of bright red hair between her legs. She shifted restlessly, but nothing deterred his study of her body, especially her legs.

Longer than any woman’s legs he had ever seen, shapely, without being muscular. Oh, Jesus. The vision of having them wrapped around his waist sparked the already out-of-control fire within him.

He lay down next to her, resting on one elbow.

“Sebastian?”

“Yes, love?”

“What are you doing?”

He broke his gaze from her legs and refocused on her face. She stared at him as if he’d gone insane. And he was insane. Hot, greedy need licked at him, clawed at his senses. The urgency to claim her, to make her his, exploded in his blood. Not even with his first marriage when he had been so sure of his love had he wanted a woman this much.

“I’m trying to figure out just how long you’ve been hiding this wonderland beneath all that clothing.”

He grazed one nipple with his fingers then continued down her rounded stomach and rested his palm on her sex. She shivered.

Damp heat warmed his hand. Closing his eyes, he drew in a deep breath and prayed for control. He slid one finger between her folds and wanted to shout when he found them slick with arousal.

She tensed the moment his finger entered her.

He leaned closer, his lips almost touching her ear. “It’s okay, Colleen. I have to prepare your body for mine.” He pulled her earlobe between his lips and sucked on it. Moving his finger, he spoke in low, soothing tones, trying to ease her tension.

“I’d rather you would just get it over with.”

He chuckled. Normally the statement would have stopped him, but she’d delivered it in a voice husky with arousal. He said nothing more, just continued to move his finger, adding another. As he continued, her muscles relaxed and her hips began to shift. Soon, she planted her feet on the bed, moving with him. Her sweet honey drenched his hand. As her moans grew in volume, he pressed against her hardened nub and sent her shooting over the edge.

“Sebastian.”

Her inner muscles locked on his fingers and the need for him to find his release within her overwhelmed any thoughts of holding back. He removed his hand from her flesh and grabbed the front of his trousers, ripping them open.

A moment later he was on top her, guiding his member inside of her. She clamped tight around him. “Colleen, look at me.”

Her eyes slid open, sated passion darkening them.

“There is no going back.” With that statement, he entered her fully, breaking past her maidenhead. Her swift intake of breath told him even though she had been prepared, it still had hurt.

“I’m sorry, love. There was no other way.”

She nodded but said nothing. He closed his eyes, reveling in the feel of being inside of her. She was so tight he thought he would expire right there. He opened his eyes, rested his forehead against hers. Her grey eyes no longer held any hint of sensuality as they did before. He wanted to soothe her pain, so he pressed his lips to her forehead, then her nose, her mouth. A spike of relieved excitement spread through him when she opened without hesitation. His tongue stole inside for a taste.

He pulled back from the kiss and looked into her eyes. Knowing that there was nothing he could do to ease the pain, he pulled out and then sank back in. He balanced himself on his arms, continuing his motion. Several more thrusts and Colleen moved with him, matching his rhythm. Her throaty moans grew in volume, the sound pushing him to the pinnacle. Elation whipped through him as she moaned his name. He hoped the pain was a distant memory for her now and all she could feel was pleasure. His rhythm increased. She contracted around him. He thrust into her once more and her muscles pulled him deeper, milking his release from him.

Moments or maybe hours later, he moved to her side, drawing her against him. He drew in a deep breath, the scent of their lovemaking still ripe in the air, and looked down at Colleen. From her even breathing, Sebastian knew his wife had fallen asleep. And rightly so. After the tiring trip to London and now the bout of lovemaking, there was no doubt she was exhausted.

He couldn’t stop the satisfied smile curving his lips. Never in his life would he have expected Colleen to be so sensual. As he thought of all the things he would love to teach her, he felt himself grow hard again, so he forced himself to think of other things. Taking her again was out of the question. She snuggled closer, her head upon his shoulder, her hand over his heart. Content, Sebastian joined his wife in slumber, not even realizing he gained more comfort from this closeness than he did making love.

*

“When did he return?” he asked anxiously.

His partner settled in the high-backed chair behind the desk. The cloying scent of flowers permeated the air, and he fought not to cover his mouth to avoid the smell.

“This afternoon with a wife in tow.”

A shiver of dread curdled his stomach contents. “I heard she’s a bit dowdy. You know how Sebastian loves the beauties.”

His partner snarled. “Do you think that matters? Now that he’s earl he’ll not want another scandal. He endured the embarrassment of being married to an alley cat the first time. Now, with this marriage, more is at stake. And if there is one thing Sebastian Ware knows, it’s how to seduce a woman.”