The Perfect Suitor (Bewildering Love Series) (18 page)

“Do you find it hard to concentrate around me?” he asked teasingly, and she fought the urge to bash the scoundrel on his conceited head.

Instead, she lightly slapped his shoulder. “You better behave. You wouldn’t want me to slip with this shard of pottery,” she teased back. “Why don’t you regale me with the story of how you ended up in Henri’s clutches?”

Paxton told her of receiving her note and how he suspected Henri was expecting his arrival.

“The two of you must have had quite a scuffle. Your shirt has been completely torn in half. Did he attack you in here?” She freed one of his hands. “There’s one.” She helped rub circulation back into it and then started on the other.

He continued to move his hand in a circular motion to increase the blood flow. “No, he didn’t attack me in here.” He slipped his free arm around her waist and murmured in her ear, “But someone did.”

Eve was horrified. “You mean he sent in ruffians to beat you?”

“No.” He didn’t elaborate, and Eve was too busy focusing on her task and making sure she didn’t cut him to inquire further.

She was almost through the last bit of rope when Paxton began to rub her back. The intimate caress made her jump and she nicked him. “Oh!”

Paxton flinched.

“I nicked you.”

“Yes, I’m aware,” he said, yanking his arm free from the last bit of rope.

“Are you all right? I’m so sorry.” She examined the damage she caused. “But then, if you would have kept your hands to yourself, such a thing wouldn’t have happened…”

“It’s only a scratch.” He stroked a finger down the side of her face. “No worries.”

“Thank you for coming to my rescue,” she said, staring deeply into his dark eyes and trying to break the trance he easily wove around her.

“Yes.” He looked around the room. “And what a fine job I did.”

Eve combed his brown hair back from his face with her fingers. “At least I’m not alone. I’m not scared with you here.”

“You should be.”

She looked down at the bed on which she sat. She felt nervous and yet flattered by his words. “I suppose.” Her eyes were drawn to a wet spot on the front of his beige trousers, and she frowned. “I’m so sorry that I didn’t awaken to free you sooner. Perhaps then you could have avoided having an accident.”

He looked down to see what she was staring at and seemed surprised to find it to be his groin. She felt terrible that the poor man had urinated on himself while she slept off the poison Henri gave her. She was sure any person would be embarrassed by their lack of bodily control, but Paxton gave her a cocky grin as if he was perfectly fine with his stained trousers.

***

Paxton wanted to tell her it wasn’t urine but his own seed. However, he thought the truth might scare her. The reminder of earlier had him growing hard again as she examined his loins, which only served to fuel his unquenched need to have her. He promised himself that he would give her what she craved upon being free. Looking at her right now, he realized he wanted her more than new pants, more than his freedom, more than anything else in this world. Her hair was in disarray, the fiery red strands framing her heart-shaped face. Her gown was dirty and rumpled and she looked wonderful sitting cross-legged before him. Her blue eyes studied him in a sure but shy manner.

They continued to stare into each other’s eyes as the silence stretched into minutes. He leaned forward and kissed her with all of his earlier pent up frustration. He tried not to scare her with his urgent desire as he deepened the kiss, but he had needed this and had thought of little else but her lips and escape since the moment he woke up next to her.

He suddenly shifted and was thrilled to see Eve looking quite pleased to find herself buried beneath the weight of his body. He knew there was nowhere on earth he’d rather be than with this woman. Heat unfurled through him at her touch. She wrapped her arms around his neck, refusing to let him break the embrace. Pulling him closer, she played with his mouth with her delicate tongue, intimately sparring with his, mimicking everything he did: biting, sucking, tasting and loving him the way he had dreamed she would.

When he finally pulled back from the kiss, she glared at him. “If you stop and apologize now, I swear I might…”

“Might what?” he teasingly asked.

She couldn’t seem to think of anything.

“You might tie me up and have your way with me?”

“That sounds like fun. I think I would enjoy that.”

“I know I did.” He didn’t give her time to comment but began kissing her again. He trailed kisses down her neck, lightly nipping at her earlobe. “The English Brigand couldn’t tear me away from you, love.”

She ran her hands over his back, kneading his flesh, while his muscles contracted and his heart raced with every caress. She raked her nails through his hair-covered torso, admiring him in a way he never witnessed before, as if she were in a state of wonder and fascination. Placing kisses along his collarbone and down along his ribs as if she couldn’t touch enough of him.

Paxton removed his destroyed shirt and then slowly began to remove Eve’s gown, pushing the sleeves down over her shoulders, spreading soft kisses over each bit of skin he exposed. It was his turn to drive her crazy with desire. With ease, he undid her fastenings, removing her gown, petticoat, and chemise, leaving her gloriously naked beneath him. To make her feel more at ease, he quickly removed the rest of his clothing, nearly shivering with desire as her soft, heated body slid along his.

“I ache,” she whispered, and his mind whirled with sexual pleasures.

“So do I.” He took in the sight of her lovely nude form. “You are exquisite.” He lay down beside her and began to kiss her again. Their kissing became more aggressive and fiery, and he broke away to trail kisses down her chest until he captured a hard nipple between his teeth. Eve arched up against him as he caressed and suckled her breasts. He spread her legs with one of his own and brought his hand to the very core of her, touching, rubbing, and entering her moist passage with a lover’s touch.

***

Eve felt like she’d swoon from the pleasure of being in Paxton’s loving embrace. The feelings he was creating inside her were overwhelming her senses and taking her to a place where thought no longer played a part in her actions. She craved him. His touch. His kiss. “Make love to me, Paxton,” she breathlessly demanded.

She knew they were both past the point of holding back. He readied her and slowly sank inside her. He was gentle as he broke past her maiden barrier and soothed her with words and soft kisses. His muscles strained as he fought to remain still inside her, allowing her body time to adjust to him, which was most considerate of him.

“Are you all right?” His face was a mask of concern.

Eve opened her eyes as the initial pain faded. “I’ve never been better.” She smiled at him reassuringly.

Paxton then began to give them both what they yearned for. He moved in and out, creating a rhythm as old as time. All the while, he looked deeply into her eyes. She fisted the coverlet as her body rose to meet his. At her moaning encouragement, he increased his speed, plunging into her like a man out of control. He was raw and animalistic in his intent to send her soaring to a place she’d never been, and she was mesmerized watching him. She brought her hands up to place them on his hairy chest. He was up on his arms above her and she looked down to see how he fit with her. She gasped at the sight, undulating against him as her gaze moved back up his body to meet his piercing dark eyes. With a few thrusts, he brought them both to the edge only to slow and start the feverish madness all over again.

Eve felt like she was on the verge of…the verge of
what
she didn’t know. All she knew was that she wanted it with every part of herself. When he slowed again, she punched him lightly in frustration. “Paxton, please!” she pleaded.

He chuckled, then increased his pace again, this time not stopping until he heard her cry out in ecstasy. When her inner muscles contracted around him, he quickly found his own release, following her into blissful pleasure. Eve hugged him close as his sweat-covered body fell down against hers.

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

Paxton and Eve lay entwined in each other’s arms, enjoying the contact of skin on skin. Both were moist with sweat and exhausted from their lovemaking but neither wanted to move.

“That was wonderful.” Eve ran her fingers through the hair on his chest.

“I couldn’t agree more, my sweet.” He took in her flushed features and tousled hair, smiling with male satisfaction. “I guess I should probably try to break us out of here.”

“Probably,” she said, holding him tighter. “But not yet. I feel so close to you. I wish we could stay like this forever.” She felt him stiffen.

“My sweet, what we shared was unbelievable, but…”

Eve quickly covered his lips with her hand. “Don’t you dare say it! What we shared was beautiful and I will cherish it always. Let’s leave it at that.” She refused to hear him say it was a mistake or it must never happen again or how it didn’t change things between them. She was glad when he remained silent and then kissed her. Whether he realized it or not, things did change between them, for she loved him more than ever. He was her hero and her lover. He was hers.

***

Eve held his arm, examining the slight cut on his wrist that was no longer bleeding. “Does it hurt?”

“No, it’s nothing.” He brushed a few stray hairs away from her lovely blue eyes. She was a vision lying there in his arms, and the truth was, he didn’t want to let her go either. Nevertheless, he was ready to leave this room, and the sooner he found them a way out of the count’s house, the better. Otherwise, he’d end up bedding Eve again. Paxton didn’t think that would be wise for either of them. Making love to Eve had been one of the best moments in his life. He had never felt such intimacy with a woman and assumed it was because of his strong feelings toward this particular lady. These new feelings were making him uneasy. He wanted out, out of this room and far away from Evelyn Manning. He needed to find his sanity, which he somehow seemed to lose the moment he was near her.

“How long was I sleeping?” she asked. The drug seemed to take away all sense of time for her.

“I’m not sure. I’d say close to a day, except for that brief moment you were awake earlier.”

“I woke up earlier?” Her eyes widened in surprise and she wrinkled her nose in the most adorable manner while trying to recall waking up. “I have no recollection of it.”

“You were not truly awake and it was only for a short time.”

“I’m sorry I didn’t untie you then.” She turned her head and looked at the door.

“Trust me, I didn’t mind.” He laughed at her confused expression.

The door flew off its hinges and crashed to the floor. Evelyn squawked and jumped in surprise, causing the bed to move as she stared at the fallen door with her mouth wide open and a blanket tucked up to her chin.

In walked the Marquis of Geary and her father, Viscount Stonehaven. Cole and Eve’s father stared at them in wide-eyed alarm. Eve let out a scream of mortification to find her father’s eyes upon them while they were naked and in bed.

The constable and his men came shuffling in the room at the sound of her scream, and Cole quickly rerouted them back into the hall where he tried to explain the delicate situation. Paxton groaned and his hands tightened into fists.

“Both of them are well,” they could hear Cole say. “It seems Count Vernon removed their garments to generate further humiliation. I’m sure you understand the delicacy of this situation, Mathew. I can’t imagine what an embarrassment this must be for Henri’s victims. I hope I can count on your silence in this matter. There is no reason to tarnish an innocent girl’s reputation because of a villainous Frenchmen.”

If Paxton wasn’t so furious with his current situation, he’d likely have laughed uproariously for the gibberish Cole was spewing to the constable. Then he heard the constable agree with Cole.

“We care of their safety, nothing more. I assure you, Lord Geary, whatever occurred here, will remain hushed.”

“I appreciate your discretion, Mathew.” Cole slapped the constable on the back as if they were good friends, which they were.

“Oh no, oh no, oh no,” Eve kept repeating quietly as if she were suddenly deranged.

“Hush, my sweet,” Paxton whispered to her as he tried to avoid looking at her father. The viscount stood stock still, seemingly ready to strike a deadly blow to his person for Paxton had disgraced this man’s daughter.
Bloody bleeding hell!
He’d never done such a thing in his life, and he found his anger overwhelming him for his current predicament. Compromised was such an ugly word. The very thought sickened him.

Eve burrowed further beneath the blanket beside him, covering herself completely. She was most likely hoping this was all a nightmare and her father wasn’t standing at the foot of the bed in which she had just made love to Paxton. Paxton didn’t speak for truly there were no words for this situation.

“Evelyn Marie Manning, you come out from beneath that blanket this instant!” Charles hollered, obviously unable to control his fury. “You, sir, take your hands off my daughter!”

Paxton ignored the viscount’s order and continued to rub Eve’s back beneath the covers. “Lord Stonehaven, I know this situation is most unpleasant for you, but I ask that you consider your daughter’s feelings right now. She has turned three shades of red, sir, and is likely close to suffocation. If you could at least turn around so she can clothe herself properly.”

“I want everyone to go away!” Eve cried out from her hiding spot.

Cole walked in and quickly took in the situation. “Lord Stonehaven, perhaps it would be best if we wait in the hall.” He led the shocked father out of the room and shook his head at Paxton as he bent to lift the door and heft it back into place. “You’ve got ten minutes.”

Paxton immediately jumped out of bed and put on his clothes. “Eve, come out of there this minute and dress yourself!” He was so enraged at the circumstances that he didn’t take the gruffness out of his voice. This was the exact situation he had spent a lifetime avoiding and he felt justified in his anger, though at whom he was not sure. He had allowed this to happen, but she…

Eve peeked out to make sure the room was indeed empty. Then, as quick as a gazelle being chased by a lion, she leapt out of bed, shoving on her garments as fast as she could. “I don’t know why you are glaring at me like that, but I wish you’d stop.”

“You did this on purpose.” He tried to don his shirt, becoming even madder when he remembered he couldn’t sew the two halves back together. The shirt fell open, torn, and barely remaining on his shoulders. He looked ridiculous. “Well I don’t care what you think you have accomplished with this trickery. I’m not marrying you. And I will not be forced into matrimony!” he shouted in outrage, certain now that she had hoodwinked him into this arrangement.

“How dare you say such a thing to me!” she spat, smacking some hair away from her face. “I didn’t plan this and you know it!” she yelled back, tears filling her eyes as she fumbled with the fastenings on her petticoat.

“I’d rather be shot dead than marry you. Is this understood?” Paxton felt completely duped and out of control, something he hadn’t felt in years, not since he walked out on Lady Beverly when he learned what a deceitful piece of baggage Beverly truly was. The walls seemed to be closing in on him. His anger was unleashed.

***

Paxton’s hateful words were more than Eve could bear. Tears spilled down her cheeks, quickly soaking her wrinkled dress. She couldn’t understand why he would think she had set up her own kidnapping or why he assumed she somehow tricked him into coming for her, and her heart shattered at his lack of trust. She had never thought to trick him to the altar. “I swear I didn’t plan this.” She stated what she thought should be obvious.

“All women are conniving and deceitful. You are no different. You had the audacity to ravish me when I was tied up, all the while pretending to be drugged. I’ve been duped.

“I’m beginning to believe you are possibly crazier than Lady Beverly. You knew help was coming, didn’t you,
Lady
Evelyn? You seduced me and waited for them to rush in and find us in a compromising position. It’s the oldest damn trick in the book. But I’m telling you, sweetheart, it won’t work. I refuse to wed you!”

Eve was astonished, confused, and hurt by his harsh words. What happened to the loving man she knew five minutes ago? He was now an evil monster. She suddenly despised him. “I hate you!”

“The feeling is mutual,” he said coldly, but suddenly in a calm tone, seemingly able to finally gain some control of his temper.

“You have completely lost your mind!” she shouted. “I would never…”

“Time’s up!” Her father pushed the door down again and it crashed loudly onto the floor. “I should call you out for treating my daughter like one of your ladybirds. You will marry her!”

“No, Father!” Eve bellowed. Everything was happening too quickly. She wanted this madness to stop. “I don’t want to marry Lord Devonhurst. As a matter of fact, I would be more than happy if I never see his face again.”

“You need to be quiet now, Eve, and allow me to handle this,” her father replied. “This man has taken your innocence and ruined your reputation. He will do right by you. He will give you his name.”

“I won’t have him, Father. You cannot make me marry him if I refuse!”

“Let us all calm down for a moment,” Cole said, trying to bring some peace to the room.

“I’d rather you shoot me than have to wed your conniving daughter!”

“Paxton!” Cole said in a tone that told his friend to shut up.

“Trust me, I’d rather shoot you,” her father stated heatedly. “But my daughter would never forgive me for such an action.”

Eve couldn’t take any more of this yelling, and before she said something she’d regret, like, “Yes, Father, please shoot Paxton,” she ran out of the room, out the front door, and continued running until she was far away from the house. She hailed a cab on the corner and climbed inside, grateful to leave the mess of her life behind her.

***

“I don’t care what Society thinks of her. I won’t marry her,” Paxton stated adamantly.

“Lord Stonehaven, perhaps you should follow your daughter. Lady Evelyn seems quite upset. I will speak with my friend and try to make him see the wisdom of your words.” Cole was obviously trying with all his might to be the voice of reason.

“Well, someone should.” Charles turned and left but yelled when he was in the hall, “You’ll be seeing me soon, Devonhurst!”

Paxton said nothing. He glared at Cole. “Don’t bother, Cole. I’m not marrying the scheming trollop.”

“Paxton, she is not a schemer or a trollop, which is obvious from the blood stained sheets the two of you were rolling around upon.”

At the sight of Eve’s virgin blood, Paxton felt a twinge of guilt in his gut, but he quickly dismissed it. “No matter. I still won’t wed her.”

“Then you shouldn’t have bedded her.”

Paxton laughed. “Now, if that’s not the pot calling the kettle black. She was aware of my position regarding marriage, Cole. Nothing’s changed. She knew damn well that I didn’t wish to enter into the marital state.”

“I should think so. You made your stance very clear before she left. She…”

Paxton interrupted. “I made it clear the first time I met her and every time after that.”

“Very well.” Cole sighed. “Don’t you think you were a bit hard on her? Here she is, caught in the act by her father no less, the embarrassment alone enough to send a young lady running, but to compound the matter you ridicule her. Not well done, my friend. Think of her reputation. Her chances of procuring a good marriage were great until you bedded her. If you don’t marry her, you should at least think of some way to make things better for her.”

“Fine. I’ll allow her father to kill me. Happy?”

“Hell, if you don’t stop this self-pitying nonsense, I’m going to shoot you myself. At the very least you should explain to Lady Evelyn that it’s not
her
you’re against, but the institution of marriage. Try to let her down easy. She looked completely crushed when she left. I would never treat a woman so shabbily.”

“Are you trying to make me feel guilty?”

“I shouldn’t have to. I’m going home. Send for me if you need me.”

“How did you know where to find us?”

“The Stonehaven’s thought to check here because Lady Evelyn was with Henri last evening, and when they saw the note Eve left at your home, the viscount gathered the authorities and came here. I happened to stop by your house and then came here. I met Lord Stonehaven and the constable out front.

“You should know Count Vernon was captured. It seems he had a ship waiting for him to return to France. Once he was taken into custody, the constable said the count boasted about having captives locked up in his house. Of course, I thought if you were actually one of the people being held, you would have escaped by now, which is why I tried your house first. I guess you weren’t in a big hurry to escape. I hadn’t counted on that.”

“Didn’t you say you were leaving?” Paxton asked condescendingly.

“Ah, yes. I’m going.” Cole walked out of the room.

“Cole?”

“What?” He didn’t bother to turn around.