Saved by a Rake (11 page)

Rebecca shuddered at his frankness. He spoke of intimate relations as if they were some form of sport. She thought of her own fear when it came to their activities in the bedchamber
, and blushed. She really was an innocent. Her kisses must be awful as she was not entirely sure what she was doing, even though she enjoyed his kisses immensely.

“
I must be a terrible disappointment as a wife,” she said suddenly, looking out of the opposite window so he could not see the tears filling her eyes.

She nearly jumped as a light
, wet kiss touched the side of her neck and he snaked his hands around her waist.

“
You will never be a disappointment. You need a little time after what happened, but I knew that to be the case when I married you.”

“
I was serious when I said you should take a mistress. I do not believe I can ever fulfil the needs of a man such as yourself.”

“
You have too little confidence in yourself.” He unbuttoned her pelisse from the back and pulled it from the shoulders. She had no option but to shrug out of it. Then he untied the ribbon of her bonnet and tossed it carelessly on the seat opposite.

When he cupped her breasts though her gown and squeezed, she moaned and leaned back into him. He kissed the side of her neck again then trailed little pecks up to her ear as he continued to fondle her breasts.

How she wanted to be freed from her stays and allow him free rein to do with her as he pleased. As the memory came to her of his lips on her nipple, she gave a little shudder of anticipation.

“
Oh, my beautiful Rebecca. If I don’t stop now, I will end up in Bedlam with the frustration of not having you. But I hope this proves that you are far from a disappointment. This would not happen so easily if I was displeased with having taken you for a wife.” He held her hand to the placket of his breeches. He was as hard as iron, and he bit his lip as he held her hand there.

A sudden memory came to mind of Newthorpe pumping his manhood and getting frustrated as she lay tied to the bed. It was not as big and certainly not as hard as Daniel was now. He had taken long minutes before he was hard enough to violate her.

Maybe she would ask Daniel more about it later. But he was lifting her pelisse and helping her back into it. As she moved to button it, he captured her mouth in a gentle kiss that promised more—much more—later.

Chapter Sixteen

Daniel walked into the bedchamber, prepared for the surprised look she gave him that he was not Betty.

“I told Betty to have an early night. It must be difficult for her, travelling so far on top of the carriage.”

“
Yes, I am sure it is.”

“
I said that I would make a valiant attempt at being your lady’s maid tonight.” She got up from the seat and moved towards him.

“
I am sure you will be wonderful. But you may put Betty out of a job.” She stood before him, peeling off her long gloves. The vision was enough to cause blood to rush downwards. Did she know how sexually appealing she was as she bit the fingers then slowly eased them down her slender arms.

“
I fear I could never create such a perfect coiffure,” he rasped, lifting his hand to her hair, locating one pin and tugging it out. A curl dropped out of the golden crown, and he tossed it onto the dresser top.

With each pin he pulled, more hair cascaded over her shoulders and
breasts. There was something wanton about the way it fell, and he hardened further. He had come to the bedchamber with no expectations of what tonight would bring. Would he at last be able to sink into her warm depths and make them fully man and wife or would he be frustrated for yet another night?

Once all the pins were removed, he
brushed his hand through her hair a few times before holding it and guiding her lips to his.

They kissed for a long time,
using their hands to explore each other’s still clothed bodies. He pressed his thigh between her legs, only stopping when her skirts resisted. But as they continued to kiss, she began to rub herself against his thigh.

His heart thudded in his chest. He was definitely making progress. She was even pressing her belly against the placket of his breeches with no attempt at recoiling. She was pliant and eager
, and her hands were questing.

Had he not known her, he would have assumed her the most experienced courtesan. Of course, it would be different when they were unclothed. He would have allowed her to explore for hours but his palms were itching to
weigh her soft breasts in his hands again.

But she was the one who broke the kiss and began to fumble with the buttons of his coat. He waited patiently the
n shrugged out of the item as she started on the hooks of his waistcoat.

Once he was naked from the waist down, she pressed herself to him and peppered delicate kisses over his chest. He thought it delightful and very sweet until she flicked her
tongue over his small, dark nipple.

Over and over again she allowed the tip to graze the tiny distended bud, sending shards of pleasure through him. She sucked a few times
, and he had to protest. It was far too erotic and he would disgrace himself if he allowed her to continue. He was well aware that his self-control had been eroded in the past few nights.

“
Turn,” he growled, and she looked up at him before obeying. He loosened the laces of her gown and pulled it down until she was able to free her arms. She pushed it to the floor, and she obediently stepped out of it, before he twirled her around and set to work on the laces of her stays.

Damned things. There were far too many clothes between him and those magnificent breasts. When he cursed at his inability to get the laces undone, she tapped his hands out of the way and made short work of freeing herself from the contraption. Under h
er see-through muslin chemise, her large nipples stood inviting and erect. He ground his teeth as his self-control waned that little bit more.

Suddenly she turned from him and almost sprinted to the side of the bed, pulling off her chemise and underskirt and slipping between the covers. He did not take his gaze from hers as he undid the placket of his breeches and pulled them and his drawers down. Cursing, he stood back up and attempted to toe off his boots. He only succeeded in nearly tripping up.

Devil take it. How was a gentleman supposed to seduce his wife if he looked like a damned fool just undressing himself? He looked forward to reaching Drumbane and the services of a valet again. He had left his own valet in London to help care for his father, who had taken a shine to Jones and would allow no one else to shave him. He sat on the bed and removed the boots, stockings, breeches and drawers, then turned triumphantly towards Rebecca. She was sitting in the bed with the sheet pulled up to her chin, looking contemplative.

“
Is something wrong, Rebecca?”

“
No. I just wondered if it would be impertinent to ask a few questions about when we… you know… when we…”

“
Consummate our marriage?” he finished for her.

“
Yes. I know it is not very lady-like to ask questions about such things but when I lost my innocence, it was far from ideal, and I think I want to know what the differences are between what happened with the earl and
our
consummation.”

He had not expected this turn of events, but Daniel concluded that it was probably only fair she be allowed to allay her fears. So much had been taken from her
, and maybe by explaining things he could push her that last step to accepting him into her body.

S
he pushed the covers down to their knees and then moved up to kneel beside him. Her ivory skin-tone warmed by the candle-light, setting off her large rosy nipples. She had no idea what the sight of her like this could do to a man.

“
You said in the carriage that it gets hard because you are not displeased at taking me for a wife.”

“
Yes. It happens because you are beautiful and just the sight of your body arouses me. That is why it is hard now.”

She nodded.
“But the earl’s was not hard. He tied me to the bed and then he had to…” She was obviously searching for the right words. This had to be the most uncomfortable conversation of Daniel’s life but if it had to be done, then he would allow her to ask her questions. “He had to move his hand up and down it vigorously. He was cursing at it and eventually it did go hard, but not as hard as yours. And not as big as yours.”

Daniel had to admit to a slight sense of pride at her last sentence but he scolded himself immediately.
“Sometimes if a man is tired or ill or maybe the lady in question does not arouse him, he has to, well, manipulate it.”

“
If he was not aroused by me, why did he want to ravish me?”

Daniel sighed. He was a man who prided himself on seducing women, ensuring that they wanted him even more than he wanted them.
He always made sure they found their release before he did. Ravishing an innocent was as much a mystery to him as it was anathema.

“
I do not have an answer to that because I do not understand why anyone would want to ravish an innocent.” She looked perplexed, and Daniel could not help but feel that somehow he had failed her. She must see him as some kind of oracle on the topic of sexual intercourse, but there were some things even he did not know.

“
Does the skin move on it?” she asked, peering at his groin as if something interesting was about to happen. He took himself in hand and pushed the foreskin over the head before pulling it back up. He wanted to groan. He really should not be touching himself if he did not want to disgrace himself.

“
Can I touch it?”

Devil take it. Was there to be no rest from this torture? He nodded though. He thought she would poke at it or run a finger gently down it. But instead she clasped it the way he had and began to stroke.

“Rebecca, no. Please. If you do that, I will disgrace myself.”

“
In what way?” What in the devil’s name had he been thinking? He placed his hand over hers to stop her distracting movements. He rolled his eyes behind his eyelids trying to stave off the inevitable.

“
Did Newthorpe climax inside you? You know what I mean, do you not?” She considered this then pursed her lips.

“
Yes. I do know some things about procreation. I grew up mostly in the countryside, and the bulls do not hide away in a bedchamber.” She blushed then and the colour tinted her chest. It was very pleasing to him. Then she scowled. “And yes he did. It was horrible.”

“
It should not be horrible if done properly. However, if you continue to do that, I will climax—probably over your hand and my stomach.”

“
Would it hurt you?”

“
No. It would be very pleasurable but it is not something that gentlemen allow a lady of good breeding to see—even if he is married to her.”

“
But it is perfectly acceptable for you to climax inside me?”

He cocked an eyebrow at her
, and a delightful trill of laughter rent the air.

“
Have any of your other lovers seen it?”

He frowned—unsure how to answer. He
’d had many skilled lovers who had taken him in their mouths and he had also allowed the odd courtesan in his youth to bring him to climax with their hand.

“
Yes,” he answered truthfully.

“
Then I should like to do it. Would you lift your hand please?” Frustration, desire, need and embarrassment all roiled within him, but he lifted his hand.

She began to stroke him, tentatively at first until she found her confidence. She clasped tightly and sped up. He lay back against the pillows, closing his eyes and reaching out to touch her breast.
He found the raised nub of her nipple and brushed his thumb over it, eliciting a gasp of pleasure from her. He was so close to climaxing. Though to be fair, he had been pretty close to it for the past three nights.

“
I should not,” he muttered, his thoughts almost incoherent with need.

“
Will I stop?” she asked.

“
Oh God, no.” He placed his free hand around hers, showing her the rhythm as he plucked at her nipple.

His climax happened quickly
. He ground out her name as warm liquid spewed out over their hands and his stomach. Purposely avoiding her gaze, he let go of her hand and sat up, throwing his legs over the side of the bed.

In the moments after climax he had a growing feeling of shame. He had been weak and given into his primal urges. Grabbing his drawers off the floor, he cleaned his seed from his hand and belly and turned to find her licking her fingers.

She was licking at his seed. Horrified he pulled her hand away. Good God, this was an innocent lady from the
Ton
!

“
Rebecca, you cannot do that.”

“
Why? You tasted me. Is it poisonous?”

“
No.”

“
It’s quite salty,” she concluded before shrugging and lying back on the bed.

He was dumbstruck. It had never occurred to him before now that marrying an innocent would be such hard work—or so damned arousing all the time.

Well it was time to complete her education. He took a deep breath to compose himself then he turned onto his side, pulled her to him and kissed her. He kissed her thoroughly until she was panting and clawing at his back. Then he moved down to take her nipples in his mouth and tease them.

E
verything he did, she responded, arching into his touch and exploring his body further. When he placed his hand at the apex of her thighs, she opened her legs without hesitation. He began to stroke, paying attention to her moans and her slight movements of the hips to guide him to where she wanted his touch most. He continued to suckle on her nipple until she dragged on his jaw, urging him back to kiss her.

When he broke the kiss, he held his breath as he pushed one finger into her well-lubricated sheath. She looked startled momentarily then threw her
head back and moaned quietly. He pushed two inside, and she clung to his shoulders.

Then she started to move, urging him to go faster. He continued to stroke her folds
, sensing her climax was close. He did not dare to hope that she would reach climax without taking fright, but she did seem lost in his touch.

Suddenly she arched her back, her muscles tightened
, and she moaned his name. He could feel the pulsing of her climax as she grasped the sheets with one hand and dug the nails of the other into his shoulder.

He was going to have to insist Betty cut her nails shorter.

As the climax receded, he withdrew his fingers, cleaned them with his tongue and pulled his wife into his arms, dragging the covers over them. She curled against him, sated and trusting. He did not want any discussion. He wanted to remember the sight of this beautiful creature coming apart in his arms then becoming lax and serene as the post-coital haze enveloped her.

“
I love you,” she murmured into his chest.

Love? He had been so concerned about the sex it had not crossed his mind to consider if his feeling
s for her were growing.