The Scandal in Kissing an Heir (14 page)

Unwilling to just sit there and take the pleasure Daniel offered, Rebecca brought her arms around his neck, her fingers keenly burying themselves in the thickness of his dark brown hair. Hugging him against her while he diligently laved and nibbled, the sensitivity of each breast rose until the slightest touch sent sparks of pleasure shooting straight between her thighs. The pulsing ache that settled there was growing too strong and urgent to ignore. It evoked the most scandalous thought of wanting to be touched there by him, and as Rebecca allowed the thought to manifest, her breathing grew heavier. Was this normal? She couldn’t help but wonder if he would be repelled by her if she asked him to place his able fingers where she wanted them the most, but even she, as outspoken as she might be, couldn’t possibly manage such a bold request. When Daniel’s mouth returned to hers, his arms hugging her close, Rebecca sent her hands drifting over his back.

“God, you’re beautiful!” Daniel’s words broke through the silence that had settled over them. He still couldn’t believe that this wonderful creature in his arms was his. The thought of marrying her had never been an unpleasant one, quite the opposite, and yet the more they spoke and the better acquainted they became with each other, the more certain he was that marrying Rebecca was the best thing he’d ever done.

She was so different from any other woman he’d ever encountered, her resolve to thwart those who’d wished her ill by playing the part of a madwoman a feat he couldn’t help but admire. To have done so had taken great courage and strength, and rather than turn bitter and vengeful, she’d kept her spirits high. Daniel loved how easily she laughed, the way she joked without reserve and spoke her mind without wavering.

But when she’d spoken of the two years she’d spent trapped in the tower of Roselyn Castle, Daniel had felt his heart break for her. She’d forced a smile or two, pretending she’d remained unaffected by the confinement, but evidence of her struggle had been there in her eyes and in the gentle crease of her brow.

Unable to help himself and wishing to offer comfort, Daniel had done what came naturally to him and had reached out to her. She’d been ever so soft beneath his touch, and when her eyes had drifted shut, he’d taken a moment to study her face—the dark lashes that fanned out against her rosy cheeks, the delicate nose sitting proudly above a pair of full lips that reminded him of rose petals. Powerless against the temptation they offered, Daniel had leaned forward and kissed them, his stomach tightening with fear that she would reject him.

She hadn’t though, and pure masculine elation had swept through him, yet he was not about to fall victim to arrogance. He knew that she had reservations, for which he could not blame her, but because of that, he would have to be careful. If he managed to seduce her, as was his intent, then the last thing he wanted was for her to look back on it with regret. So he’d taken things slow, allowing her time to adjust or to pull away if she so desired, except it had become increasingly obvious that what she desired was something else entirely.

Now, as he felt her hands pulling at his shirt, freeing it from his breeches so they could venture beneath, his yearning for her—to possess her in the most elemental way possible—set his blood ablaze. It was with tremendous restraint that he held back, reining in the lust that urged him to toss her on her back and ravage her, and allowed her the chance to explore him instead.

Meanwhile, he had every intention of guiding her toward unparalleled bliss. Delighting in how proficient she’d become in her kisses, he met her tongue stroke for stroke while his curious hands roamed across the parts of her body that were bare to his touch.

“Will you take off your shirt?” she asked, her words sounding shy and so different from her usual confident way of being.

Daniel absently wondered how long she’d been trying to voice her question. He wouldn’t deny her for a second, however, and, leaning back, he went to work on the buttons.

Lifting his gaze, he was met with the fullness of her breasts as they jutted toward him, sending a shock of scorching heat straight to his groin. He was hard already. Hell, when was he not when she was near? But the way she looked, with her naked torso emerging from the crumpled silk of her gown, the pink flush that shimmered upon her skin and the slight parting of her lips as she waited for him to make the next move, was turning his determination to do the right thing into undeniable torture.

Shrugging out of his shirt, Daniel wound his arms around Rebecca and eased them both down onto the bed, rolling over until she was lying on her back with him on top of her. Gazing down at her, he saw the expectant look upon her face. This was his area of expertise, yet he found himself worried that he would somehow disappoint her. It was of the utmost importance that he didn’t. He wanted to give her pleasure beyond her wildest imaginings.

Running his hand along the curve of her waist, he lowered his lips to her ear and quietly whispered, “I’m going to remove your gown now, Becky, and once that’s done, I’ll finally be able to give you the proper attention that you deserve.”

A tortured sigh was her only response, one that suggested that she’d likely expire from want if he didn’t follow through on his promise. He smiled to himself with devilish glee as he tugged on the bunched fabric and proceeded to slide it down over her slender legs, her chemise resisting only a little as he nudged it over her hips, discarding both garments at the foot of the bed. Only her stockings remained, so he went to work on them next, rolling each one down until her toes wiggled free. “Open your eyes,” he murmured as he lifted a leg so he could place a tender kiss against the arch of one foot. “Look at me.”

It took a moment before she complied, and even then she only opened her eyes a fraction and with great hesitation, as if she feared the sight that was there to greet her. Nuzzling her calf, Daniel met her gaze. “Don’t be shy,” he said. “I love it when you’re brazen.”

She licked her lips, her teeth denting the plump flesh. “It’s just that I . . . I feel so very naked.”

Daniel grinned, and to his relief she smiled in return, though there was still a measure of uncertainty to it. “Perhaps that’s because you
are
naked,” he said, allowing his fingers to glide along the length of her leg. She gasped when he reached her bottom, and then again when he circled around to trace the edge of her inner thigh. “I like you best like this though.”

She was looking directly at him now, her eyes widening as she followed the movement of his hands, her breath growing raspy as she realized his intent. Easing her legs slowly apart, Daniel knelt between them, opening her up to his perusal. God, how he wanted her!

Heart throbbing in his chest, he took a moment to admire his efforts. With one leg on either side of him, Rebecca had been spread completely wide, a hint of moisture beckoning from between her tender flesh—an invitation for him to bury himself in her depths. Raising his gaze, he followed the sweep of her pelvis up over her belly button until he reached her breasts and finally her face. Her eyes appeared glazed. “Would you like me to touch you?” he asked, his voice a coaxing whisper.

Rebecca nodded. “Yes.”

Daniel reached for her left breast and gave it a gentle squeeze. “Here?” he asked.

She shook her head with obvious frustration, bringing out in full force the cheeky devil within him. “How about here?” he asked as he gave his attention to her other breast.

“No, not there,” she said, restlessly wriggling her bottom as if to draw his attention toward her pelvis.

Daniel allowed both hands to trail down the length of her abdomen, stopping at her hips, where he proceeded to massage her. Was she holding her breath? He was starting to pity the state of torment she was in and decided to meet her need. “Then perhaps here,” he said as he brushed his fingers along the seam of Rebecca’s womanhood.

“Yes,” she sighed, her hips rising in response to his touch while she threw her head backward, eyes closed with a look of complete and utter satisfaction capturing her features.

Daniel stroked her again, parting the slick folds of her flesh so his expert fingers could seek the pleasure point hidden beneath. He rubbed it gently with his thumb, pleased with the groan that she made as she pushed herself against his touch, her every move increasing his own want until he feared he might go blind from the carnal need that she stirred in him. He’d always prided himself on his restraint and ability to remain in complete control, but this woman was making it nearly impossible for him to do so.

Desperate for more closeness, he paused in his ministrations so he could finish undressing. With a few quick movements that spoke of his urgent desire, he tugged off his breeches and climbed back onto the bed. “Tell me what you’re thinking,” he said as he lowered his head and kissed her inner thigh, ending the caress with a light nibble.

“I’m thinking that this is wonderful,” she murmured, “and that I must be incredibly wicked to like it as much as I do.”

“Hmm . . . and it gets so much better,” he promised.

“Really?” She sounded incredulous, so he decided to show her just how much better it could be as he sank down between her outstretched limbs and licked the place where his thumb had been just moments earlier.

“Oh dear God,” she panted. He loved her openness, how unashamed she was of letting him know that she liked what he was doing. He fleetingly wondered if he might one day convince her to pleasure him in a similar way. He pushed the thought aside, his restraint already dangling from a fragile thread, and with one more lick, he rose so he could look her in the eye as he pushed one finger inside her.

Her lips parted on a gasp and he was there in an instant, kissing her wildly as he added another finger. “You like that, don’t you?” he asked, taking immeasurable gratification in her whispered yes. He wanted to be there with her though when her pleasure peaked, so he pulled away, unable to stop a smile when she whimpered at the loss of him. “I’ve been told that the first time can hurt for a woman, but I’ll do my best to make it good for you. I promise,” he said as he settled himself between her thighs, his hand caressing the side of her face.

“If what you’ve done so far is any indication of what is to come,” she said, gazing up at him with needy hunger brimming in her eyes, “then I give you my full approval.”

“I’ll try to go slow,” he said as he found her entrance, braced himself on his elbows and started easing himself inside. They both sighed with contentment at exactly the same time, leading to a shared burst of laughter immediately after. It quickly faded when Daniel reached between them and started to stroke her again, her hips rising, accepting more of him until he reached the proof of her innocence. Crushing his mouth over hers, he pushed forward, burying himself deep within her welcoming warmth, her gasp of surprise swallowed by their kiss.

With a supreme effort born from the determination to cause her as little discomfort as possible, Daniel stilled and waited for Rebecca to recover. He took the time to savor the wonderful feeling of being inside her as he bit back the instinct to thrust again. But when she finally moved beneath him, he pulled out a little, then pushed himself carefully back inside while his thumb remained devoted to bringing her pleasure. “How do you feel?” he asked, concerned that the pain she must have felt when he’d taken her innocence might have lingered.

She gazed up at him from beneath the sweep of her lashes and smiled a seductive smile that any temptress should have envied the ability to deliver. “Wonderful,” she sighed as she pulled him down for a long kiss. “And completely . . . oh God, Daniel!”

“That’s it, my sweet, just relax.” He licked the lobe of her ear and added a bit more pressure to his thumb, his own rhythm steady as he moved in and out of her. “Come for me, Becky, let yourself go.”

On a near scream of ecstasy, Rebecca’s muscles contracted around him, pulling him along with her on the wave of euphoria that claimed them both, until a climax more forceful than any Daniel had ever experienced before overcame him. He gasped, as if coming up for air after an underwater swim, then kissed Rebecca thoroughly to assure her of his gratitude before rolling off her and pulling her up against his side, her head cradled against his arm. A satisfied smile spread its way across his face as he delighted in what their coupling had just confirmed—that just as he’d thought, they would get on very well together indeed.

Chapter 14

T
hey returned to London three days later and headed straight to Bedford Square. The three-story town house had remained uninhabited since his father’s death, but now that Daniel was married, it would be his. The brown brick façade had been unaltered in all the years that had come and gone since he’d last set foot inside, linking him to a past that invariably led to unhappy memories of abandonment. Pulling up in front, Daniel gazed up at the third-floor window furthest to the right. Beyond it lay the room that had once been his nursery, a room in which his mother had read stories and his father had battled toy soldiers with him. It was also the room in which he’d eventually found his mother’s note:
Forgive me
—two words that had brought his young life crashing down around him.

Burying the pain that threatened to surface, Daniel leapt down from his perch on the phaeton and reached up for Rebecca. What good would it do to revisit the past? He was better off pushing such memories and wishful thoughts of what could have been aside. But when Rebecca took the arm he offered her and they started up the front steps, Daniel couldn’t help but feel the sad eyes of his younger self gazing down at him from the nursery window.

With a deliberate effort, he focused his mind on the present, relishing the feel of Rebecca’s arm linked with his own as he led her up the front steps. Hopefully the sparse staff his uncle had kept on at the house had received the message he’d sent them informing them of his and Rebecca’s imminent arrival.

“Hawkins,” Daniel said when a young man his own age opened the door after the second knock. He was breathing a little harder than usual. “Where’s Mr. Tenant? I would have expected him to be the first to greet us.”

Hawkins looked perplexed. Avoiding an explanation, he gave his attention to Rebecca and offered her a bow. “Lady Rebecca Neville, what a pleasure it is to make your acquaintance. Welcome to Avern House.”

Daniel frowned but decided not to question his valet any further. He turned to his wife instead and made the necessary introduction. “Perhaps you’d be good enough to see to it that the phaeton is brought around to the mews,” he then said to Hawkins. “And if refreshments are available, we’d both be most appreciative.”

“Not a problem, sir,” Hawkins said. “I’ll see to it right away.”

“Shall I give you the grand tour?” Daniel asked Rebecca once Hawkins left their presence.

“I can think of nothing better,” she said, beaming up at him with her beautiful smile.

Daniel could think of lots of better things for them to do, but he chose to keep those thoughts to himself. Instead, he guided Rebecca toward the parlor and through to the music room, then onward to the study, where he was once again assaulted by the past, a vision of his father sitting at the cherrywood desk flooding him with an overwhelming sense of loss. He would have to refurnish to escape such memories, and as he hurried Rebecca along to the library and, finally, the dining room, he made a mental note to do so.

“This is perfect,” Rebecca said, trailing her fingers along the edge of the dining room table as she walked across to a bay window.

Daniel followed her and looked out. The garden that met his gaze was modest but well kept, with a flagstone terrace and a patch of grass surrounded by flowerbeds brimming with daffodils and hyacinths.

The touch of Rebecca’s hand curling around his own made him turn his head toward her. “I believe we’re going to be very happy here,” she said, the sparkle in her eyes enhanced by the rosy blush in her cheeks.

“I’m sure we will,” he said, hoping she was right. The absence of staff troubled him. He would have to ask Hawkins later, but he didn’t want to ruin the moment for Rebecca. After everything she’d been through, he was pleased with how happy she seemed to finally have a place of her own, free from the overbearing clutches of her aunt and uncle. He gave her hand a little tug. “Come along. I’ll show you the upstairs.”

Arriving at the top of the stairs, they stepped off the landing and into a neat salon with windows facing the street on one side and doors leading off to two different rooms on the other. There was a plush sofa facing two armchairs with a table between them; it was a cozy spot where Daniel’s mother had sometimes entertained her closest friends and family and where both his parents had taken their Sunday breakfast. Daniel opened the first door on his left, revealing a moderately sized bedroom with a bed draped in creamy silks, the coverlet embroidered in gold thread.

“There’s a small dressing room over there,” he said, watching as Rebecca walked over to take a closer look.

“I love it,” she said, her voice filled with delight. “It’s so beautiful and elegant.”

Daniel nodded. He considered joining her in the room and locking the door behind him so they could become better acquainted with the bed, but he decided to wait. There were other pressing matters to attend to, like calling on his aunt and uncle. With no way of knowing how they would greet him and his wife, Daniel had decided that it would be best if he handled the first visit alone. He would do so as soon as he’d spoken to Hawkins and satisfied his aching stomach. Lord help him he was hungry!

Moving on, he showed Rebecca another bedroom, which was quite a bit larger than the first. “For guests,” he lied.

Standing at his side, Rebecca said nothing, saving Daniel from having to explain that he’d rather walk barefooted through hell than spend one night in the room that had once belonged to his parents. Unlike so many other members of the
ton,
they had not kept separate bedchambers, and Daniel had always imagined that he and his wife would share a similar intimacy. From what he knew of Rebecca so far, he suspected that she would be amenable to the idea.

“How very practical that is,” Rebecca said, confirming his thoughts. “Honestly, I’ve never understood why a husband and wife should have separate rooms. I’m relieved to know that we’ll be spending more time together.”

Closing the door again, he quietly wondered if she’d become aware of the demons that haunted him with every step he took. “I’ll show you the third floor later,” he said when Hawkins arrived to inform him that the phaeton had been safely parked and that Cook was preparing a small meal that a maid would bring up shortly.

A cook
and
a maid? Daniel couldn’t help but be relieved. He’d begun to imagine that poor Hawkins might have taken on the duties of all the servants Avern House required, for he’d seen no one else since his arrival.

“And what is your name?” Rebecca asked when a sprightly young girl arrived carrying a tray that to Daniel’s eye looked rather inviting. Was that freshly baked bread?

“My name’s Molly, my lady,” she said, her voice warm and her smile completely unabashed—not at all the sort of maid that Daniel was used to his aunt and uncle employing. They were a far more somber lot, trained to avoid meeting the gaze of their superiors. Molly, however, just stood there beaming, as if they’d all been jolly good friends.

Daniel felt himself smile in response and decided that he liked the girl. Rebecca must have too, judging from the way she offered to help Molly lay out the plates, teacups and saucers while Hawkins watched with quiet surprise. Daniel had known his valet for years, and though Hawkins wasn’t exactly conservative (he and Daniel would never have gotten along if he had been), he did look as if he was feeling a bit uncomfortable with his new mistress leaping to the aid of a maid, when most ladies would have sat silently and watched until the maid was done. Thankfully Rebecca was not so prim, Daniel mused, unable to stop himself from smiling as she and Molly chatted about this and that.

“She’ll get on famously with Laura once we bring her over,” Rebecca said a short while later when both Molly and Hawkins had departed, allowing Rebecca and Daniel to enjoy the ham, cheese and bread that Cook had sent up.

“I’ll send a messenger over to Grover House as soon as we’ve finished eating. I imagine she’ll be either there or with the Griftons.”

Rebecca nodded. “I expect my aunt and uncle will call on us as soon as they are made aware of our return,” she said with a touch of dread. “Now
that’s
a visit that I’m not particularly looking forward to.”

“You mustn’t worry. You’re married to me now, Becky. They no longer have the power to bend you to their will, so really, why does it matter what they say?”

“You’re right,” she said with a thoughtful nod. “It doesn’t.” Taking a sip of her tea, she looked at Daniel. “What else shall we do for the rest of the day? I’d love to see the park if it’s not too far. I haven’t been there since I was a child, but I remember it being quite impressive.”

“While such an outing does sound tempting, we will have to delay until tomorrow. Right now I have to have a word with Hawkins—see if there are any pressing matters that need my immediate attention—and then I will pay a call on my aunt and uncle.”

“Oh, I’d love to join you,” Rebecca said, looking terribly excited. “May I?”

Hating to disappoint, Daniel didn’t enjoy telling her that it would be best if he went to see them on his own. “You mustn’t forget that our wedding was quite hasty and unexpected. Considering we eloped and left a duke standing at his own engagement ball without his fiancée, it may take a while for them to adjust. When they’re ready, they will invite us both over for tea so they can make your acquaintance.”

Rebecca frowned. “That sounds awfully formal, Daniel.”

“Yes, well, my aunt and uncle are the formal sort, you know.” An issue he’d had enough difficulty dealing with over the years, since it meant he’d always been at odds with them.

Leaving Rebecca to explore the upstairs, Daniel went in search of Hawkins. He eventually found him in the courtyard next to the kitchen, pumping water for Cook. The valet paused at his task when he spotted Daniel.

“Have we no footmen to handle such things?” Daniel asked, knowing that the answer would likely be no.

“As you may have noticed, sir, the household staff is somewhat depleted. There are only the three of us.”

Daniel stepped closer and crossed his arms. “I don’t suppose that’s because my aunt and uncle were unaware that I would be returning with a bride and in need of a fully functional home?”

“No,” he said with great reluctance.

“Are you able to explain why there are no more servants then? Mr. Tenant, the butler, remained at this address even after my parents were gone. I’m surprised he’s not here.”

Hawkins took a deep breath. “I received a missive from Lord Wolvington’s secretary two days ago requesting that I leave the gentleman lodgings where you have been residing and come here instead. Cook was already busy in the kitchen when I arrived. I believe your mother initially hired her, whereas Molly . . . well, from what I gather, she didn’t suit the Wolvington household.” Hawkins met Daniel’s gaze seriously. “You needn’t concern yourself though—we may be few, but we’ve all decided to make this work as best we can. We won’t be leaving you.”

“Thank you,” Daniel said, touched by the man’s loyalty. “And since you’re prepared to do so much for me, the least I can do is help you with that water. Here . . . I’ll carry it down to Cook while you fill the next bucket.”

As soon as they were done, Daniel and Hawkins climbed back upstairs, where Hawkins abandoned his role as footman in favor of his much-preferred position as valet, offering Daniel a clean set of clothes that he’d brought with him from the apartment. With his cravat tied to perfection and his entire person so immaculate that neither his aunt nor his uncle would possibly find fault with his appearance, Daniel said good-bye to Rebecca and stepped out into the street, where a hackney awaited, yet another service for which he had Hawkins to thank.

Settling back against the squabs, Daniel waited for the horses to take off at a trot, then set his mind to preparing for the interview ahead. Whatever game his uncle was playing at, Daniel would not allow him to drag Rebecca into it, and he had every intention of telling him so.

“I
’ve a good mind to throttle you,” Lord Wolvington said when Daniel was shown into his study and the butler had exited, closing the door behind him.

Daniel grimaced. “And here I was thinking that you would congratulate me.”

“Congratulate you?” His uncle looked as if he was having a bout of indigestion. “Whatever for?”

Daniel frowned. Had his uncle grown forgetful in his old age? “I did what you asked of me,” he said. “I got married—and to a lovely woman, I might add.”

“What I asked for . . .” his uncle sputtered. “Are you mad, boy? I did not ask you to steal a duke’s fiancée or to elope with an earl’s ward!” He slammed his fist onto his desk. The action made his quill bounce, while ink flew from the inkwell and spattered across the polished surface. “Have you any idea of the scandal you’ve caused? The Duke of Grover has been made a laughingstock of London. He’s absolutely furious, and rightfully so.”

Daniel blinked. He’d known there would likely be hell to pay, but he’d put off worrying about it in favor of just enjoying Rebecca’s company. “Will he be wanting a duel?” he asked.