A Lesson in Pride (5 page)

The last words he spoke before covering her mouth with his were, “Thank God.” The rest happened in a blur. She was off his lap, her nightgown falling to the floor. Grant lifted her onto the bed, with her legs hanging off the side as he hastily removed his jacket, cravat, waistcoat, shoes, stockings, and pants. The whole time his eyes never left hers. Ginny's, however, wandered to each new part of his revealed naked skin. He was like a Greek statue, with tight abdominal muscles. When he divested himself of his pants, she caught sight of his firm, rounded butt. He was amazing and her mouth watered just watching him move.

When he was finally naked, he walked to the bed; more like stalked her like a panther in the jungle. Climbing up next to her, he gave her a small smile before pushing her back against the pillows.

“Did you like what you saw?” he asked, climbing on top of her, staring down into her face.

Nodding slowly, she returned his smile. What wasn't there to like?

His head came down to her neck again, kissing his way between her breasts before choosing to lavish one with his undivided attention. Ginny's hands stroked his soft hair while she stared at the top of the bed's canopy. The passion was becoming overwhelming and Ginny's mind wandered. Rather, her mind was leaving the body, being forced out by something else. Or was it someone else. Ginny could feel herself slipping away and jumped up in reaction.

Grant looked up with a smile. “Relax, Alysanne. Let me do this. Trust me, you will enjoy it.”

Ginny stared at the man who was now positioned between her legs. Falling back onto the bed, Ginny almost laughed out loud. He thought she was disturbed by his desire to give her oral sex. No, she was more than happy to allow him the chance. What had disturbed her was that she had almost left this body. Had Alysanne been trying to come back to herself? Was that even possible?

Ginny would have thought about it harder, except his tongue made contact with her clitoris, erasing all comprehension. With each lick, stroke, and suckle, Ginny moved further away from her worries and closer to her climax. Her last coherent memory was running her hand through his soft hair, thinking how perfectly clever his mouth was. Then all was lost to her orgasm.

********

Her reaction surprised him more than he could describe. She shook with the passion, moaning incoherently. He thought he'd heard his name uttered, but didn't care either way. He had a beautiful woman acting like putty in his hands.

Lifting his head, he saw her eyes closed and her breathing raspy. Her one hand lay on her chest, right above her breast. She looked boneless and satiated. Still, there was so much more to do. Did she even realize that they were far from complete?

“I can see that you enjoyed that, my dearest.”

At his words, she opened her eyes and smiled. “You've a clever mouth, Grant. Truly gifted, I would say.”

Chuckling, he planted himself between her legs, holding himself up on his elbows. “I am happy to hear it. Shall I show you what else I can do?”

Her eyes widened at that and she simply nodded. Bending down, he took her breast in his mouth once again, while slowly pushing his erection inside her opening. He almost pulled away when he felt her hand come down between them and grab him. She stroked him lightly, moving him around the wetness that she'd produced during her orgasm.

Now it was his turn to pant. The short nails on her fingers grazed over his heated skin, sending the strangest sensations into his groin. For a virgin, she was surprisingly skilled and made Grant wonder if she hadn't already been compromised without her father's knowledge. He wouldn't blame her, seeking out some comfort in a life filled with misery. If anything, it would make his job so much easier.

Slowly he entered her, pushing in an inch, then withdrawing, giving her body time to acclimate itself. It was a sweet torture, her walls constricting on him, milking him. Finally, he reached her maidenhead, proving her assertion to purity. He kissed her deeply and plunged past the barrier.

Immediately she stiffened and he held her underneath him to keep her still. Her reaction would be to pull away and he couldn't have that. Beads of sweat formed on his forehead as he tried to keep his orgasm at bay. She needed a few moments to get used to it, then he could continue. God, he needed to continue, needed to find his satisfaction. Not that he was without options, but something deep inside him begged to spill his seed inside this girl.

When she loosened a bit, he began to move. In and out, a familiar rhythm. Watching her face, he saw that the friction was awakening her again. Her face no longer showed the pain of his invasion, but joy that could be found between two people. Shifting from side to side, he saw she enjoyed the change. Quite unexpectedly, Alysanne threw her head back and moaned. Inside, he experienced her orgasm against the most sensitive part of his anatomy. It forced him to push in one last time and let go of himself. Like never before he came, an orgasm lasting for several minutes.

When he finally depleted himself, he opened his eyes to see her staring at him. A small, shy smile was painted on her lips. Reaching up, he ran his fingers along that smile, smug pride rampant across his own face.

“There now, was that so bad?” he asked jokingly.

“As I have nothing to compare it to, I can't really say,” was her rejoinder.

Laughing, Grant pulled himself off her and laid down next to her. Alysanne turned to cuddle into his side, warm and sweaty from their coupling. His hand lazily drew circles against her back as he stared up at the canopy.

What now?
he thought as they laid together on the bed. Depending on the woman, Grant would usually wait until he was ready again. Taking a virgin a second time didn't seem right to him. He knew he should cuddle with her, at least for a few minutes, to make her feel valued. He didn't think they had much time, considering her dead husband was in the next room being arranged by her father and brother.

The enormity of the situation finally hit Grant. He'd just had sex with Alysanne, a girl he'd known since she'd been an awkward little girl. He had memories of playing ball with her and Robert. He could remember being solicited for a tea party, though she had no tea set and everything was make believe.

Pushing those memories aside, Grant could no longer think about such things. Not after the last few minutes. Dear God, he grew hard just thinking about her breasts. This would never again be the little girl in the dress made dirty from playing in the mud.

Pulling away from her, Grant sat up and rubbed his face. He was already desperate to have her again. Instead, he moved off the bed and grabbed the washcloth from basin. After cleaning her blood off himself, he rang out the cloth and moved to the bed. Gently, he wiped between her legs, as he avoided looking at the bed sheet covered in spots of blood. Not once did Alysanne say a word, as if she knew the moment needed silence.

After replacing the washcloth, Grant put his pants back on. Before he put the rest of his clothes back on, he sat on the edge of the bed and looked into her big, blue eyes. Her lids were heavy from being satiated, but her eyes told him she was perfectly aware of what was to come.

“I must go, do you think? I should see if your father needs my help moving Drake.”

Her hand came up and brushed the side of his face. He hadn't bothered to shave before the wedding, so his skin was scratchy with his night beard. She smiled and sat up, not embarrassed by her nudity.

Wrapping her arms around her legs, she said, “I guess you should. It would all be for nothing if my maid finds you here and not Drake.”

Nodding slowly, Grant stood up and continued to dress. When he sat before the fire to put on his stockings and shoes, he saw that she'd risen and put on her nightgown and robe. Taking the seat across from him, he watched her as she poured herself another glass of champagne and sipped it thoughtfully. Looking to him, she gestured to ask if he'd like another drink.

“No, thank you.”

She nodded and went back to staring at the fire. As he watched her, he thought of all sorts of things he should say to her. Things to reassure her that her life would be better despite what had happened. Something about how beautiful she was and that she would not be alone for long.

Instead, he asked, “Are you well? I did not hurt you, did I?”

Pulling away from her private reverie, she gave him a tender smile. “No, not at all. Well, not too badly. About what I expected, I should say.”

Nodding himself, he said, “Good, good.” Then all other words escaped him completely as he continued dressing.

Her voice rang out in the awkward silence so suddenly that he jumped in his seat.

“Do you think we might speak another time? Maybe in a week or two when everything is settled?”

Grant had begun to wonder if she required no reassurances at all. As if they were linked to the same emotional path, he saw that all she wanted was some privacy as well. The evening was so strange that it needed to be processed. Neither could do that with the other's presence.

Nodding again, he said, “Of course. I shall call upon you in a fortnight.”

With his shoes on, he stood and held out his hand. Alysanne took it and rose with his assistance. He had thought to kiss her hand lightly, but was instead compelled to pull her into his arms and hug her tightly. Kissing the top of her head, he pulled away and went to the adjoining door. After unlocking it, he opened it and walked through, never turning to see her face.

Grant had had sex with dozens of women over the years. He'd had relationships that lasted from a few days to a few weeks. On too many occasions, his rendezvous lasted no more than one evening. He had never experienced any regret over his liaisons. Never had an occasion to feel guilty or remorseful. And he didn't this time either. What he did feel, though, was different. As if something was left incomplete, unfinished.

Blaming it on the strange circumstances, Grant made his way to Drake's bedroom. Once there, he found Nigel and Robert slumped in chairs, breathing heavily.

“I see you were able to get him into bed,” Grant stated, coming around the bed to inspect the other two men's work.

“It took you long enough, Montgomery. Have you any idea how heavy that bastard was?”

Turning a gimlet eye toward his friend, Grant remained quiet. What could he say? Oh, sorry, old chap, it took longer than I thought to divest your only daughter of her virginity. No, he would never explain himself to this man. Not now, not ever.

Instead, Grant asked, “What now?”

Nigel shook his head. “We had better leave. I assume that you left sufficient proof on the bedsheets.”

An uncomfortable churning started in Grant's stomach. He saw his disgust mirrored on young Robert's face. Clearly, Robert had no wish to hear any particulars of what had occurred between Grant and Alysanne. No more than Grant was willing to provide them.

“You need not worry, Nigel. The scene will be convincing enough.” Swallowing the bile that had crept into his throat, Grant made his way to the door.

“Good enough, then,” Nigel responded, falling in behind his friend as the three men made their way back to the party downstairs.

********

Ginny finished off the bottle of champagne, then enjoyed her buzz as she watched the fire. Should she feel dirty? The part of her that was Ginny thought so. The part that was still Alysanne was smiling from ear to ear. The storyline was before her, obvious and predictable, but something made Ginny uneasy. It had never been this easy before, so why should it be this time. It shouldn't of course, and something bad was going to happen.

On the other hand, what could be worse than the possibility of having sex with Franklin Drake? Beyond his reputation for cruelty was his manner and appearance. Ginny shivered just thinking about his breath. The whole business would have been painful and humiliating.

Pushing aside the thought of Drake, Ginny focused on what she knew. Her memories had nothing flattering about Alysanne's father, Nigel. He was an opportunistic son of a bitch who thought only of himself. With Robert, the apple hadn't fallen far from the tree. Alysanne had been used and abused the whole of her life. Finally, she could have some revenge.

Ginny was fairly certain that Nigel expected his daughter to support him and his lax lifestyle. Although she was only eighteen, because she had married and was the dowager countess of Essex, she was in control of her own life. It would be Ginny who received the twenty thousand pounds, not her father. It would be Ginny who got five thousand a year to use as she wished. Nigel no longer had control over her. Had she remained Alysanne, he might have been able to exert his influence. But Alysanne wasn't quite herself anymore, and Ginny was not so forgiving when it came to selfishness.

A smile came to her face as the room swam around a bit. She should go to sleep. She needed to prepare herself for the spot of acting she would have to perform in the morning when Drake's valet found him dead. Should she cry? No, they were married less than twenty-four hours and everyone knew it was not a love match. She probably shouldn't smile, though. That might not look appropriate.

Ginny made her way to the other side of the bed. No need to sleep on her evidence. Pulling the bedclothes up to her chin, Ginny snuggled underneath. One other thing occurred to her before she let herself go to the sleep: Grant might have left her pregnant. If he did, she was carrying the next earl of Essex. Fitting end to such a legacy, she thought ruefully.