His Unusual Governess (21 page)

‘Oh, I can think of a few things,’ she murmured and bent her head to nibble at his neck. ‘Rather a lot of things actually. It might take a long time to tell you—and I think we ought to get back.’

‘Not just yet,’ he growled and rolled her beneath him into the bed of cushions and blankets. His hand stroked the satin arch of her back, his hands cupping her neat bottom and pressing her closer. She could feel the burn of his arousal
and a spiral of desire curled through her. The hot, sweet liquid ran between her thighs and she knew she was ready for him again, longing to be lost in that wild passion that had overtaken them when they threw off their clothes and loved for the first time.

‘I do adore you, Rupert.’

‘I adore you, my darling, he whispered. ‘I didn’t believe I could ever love like this, but you captured my heart and refused to let go. You know I want you again, don’t you?’

‘Yes.’ She tangled her hands in his hair. ‘I want you, too. I’m yours—as often and as much as you wish.’

‘I mustn’t again yet because you will be so sore,’ he said huskily. ‘But I can pleasure us both in another way—if you wish?’

‘I am yours… .’ She looked up at him with such trust and love that he moaned low in his throat, then bent his head and began to kiss her. His tongue stroked and caressed her, licking delicately at the hollow in her throat. His hand stroked as he cupped her breasts, gently kneading and caressing until she was arching and moaning beneath him, begging him to enter her again. Instead he bent his head lower, his tongue travelling down her navel to that soft, moist centre of herself that he had pleasured earlier. As his tongue began to weave its magic,
she screamed and cried his name. Her fingers dug into his shoulder as the sensation became almost too much to bear before she exploded into flames and lay quivering in his arms as he stroked her until she came back from the heavens. ‘Rupert … oh, Rupert …’ she whispered and the tears ran down her cheeks.

‘My hair has come down,’ Sarah said and buried her face in his shoulder. ‘I must hope I can escape to my room without being seen.’ She laughed and sat up as he rolled away. ‘I do not care. I do not care if everyone knows. I am not ashamed to let them see how much we love each other. Besides, I do not think they will care—except that it may set a bad example for Francesca.’

‘I dare say that young lady has ideas of her own,’ Rupert said. ‘It may be as well if Merrivale allows an engagement now and a wedding at Christmas. I shall see what I can do for them. She can still go to London after all.’

‘I know she is impatient and wishes her wedding was sooner,’ Sarah said. ‘Perhaps when we return from Paris …’

‘Yes.’ Rupert stood and began to dress. ‘Allow me to act as your maid, my love. I dare say we can make you look respectable if we try.’

‘I suppose you are proficient as a lady’s maid.’

He arched his brow. ‘Jealous? There is no
need. None of my former ladies meant anything to me.’

‘I know,’ she said and smiled. ‘You’ve told me. I but tease you, dearest, as you tease me.’

‘Then continue, my lady,’ he replied. ‘I would not have you change.’

‘I do not think I can put my hair back up without my combs and brushes,’ she said. ‘It will have to hang loose and everyone must make of it what they will.’

‘Come,’ he said and took her by the hand. ‘We must go in or I shall want you again.’

Sarah had once thought her wedding day would never happen, but suddenly it was upon them. The sun was shining and she rose that morning feeling on top of the world. She smiled throughout the church ceremony and the reception. It was wonderful, graced by the presence of so many friends and relatives that Sarah lost count. She could not remember all their names, but would know their faces. Some of them had come down before the wedding and so she’d had a chance to meet the most intimate members of Rupert’s family and some of his close friends—all of them soldiers who had served with him and experienced the same hardships.

Now at last they were alone, not at the Merrivale estate, but at a small house that had belonged
to one of Rupert’s aunts and was quite close by. He had not wanted to take her away from her friends too soon, but in the end they had dashed for their carriage and been showered with rose petals and dried violets for the second time that day. Sarah could see some in her hair as she looked in the dressing mirror. She was trying to pick them out when the door opened and Rupert entered from the dressing room.

‘Tired?’ he asked as he came to stand behind her and look down at her reflection in the exquisite marquetry mirror. ‘Let me do that for you.’ He took her hairbrush and began to stroke it over her long hair, untangling the long silken strands. ‘I think the knots all gone now.’

‘That was lovely,’ she said and then stood up, turning to face him. She lifted her face for his kiss. ‘I believe it all went well, did it not? Everyone was amazingly kind.’

‘Why shouldn’t they be? You’ve made me happy. I’m a changed man, Sarah. My family and friends would love you for that—and my sister is dying to have you stay with her so she can wheedle all the little details out of you.’

Sarah laughed. ‘You wrong her. I thought her sweet.’

‘Don’t be fooled. She’ll twist you round her finger if she can—as she does me. Jane has been trying to find me a bride for years, but I
was not of much help, because I kept refusing to meet her candidates.’

‘Fortunately for me,’ Sarah said and leaned forwards to kiss him. ‘It would have been terrible had you been taken.’

‘There was never any chance of it. I was waiting for you, my love.’

He lowered his head and kissed her, then bent to sweep her up in his arms and carry her to their bed. She lay looking up at him, a smile on her mouth.

‘I am so very glad,’ she murmured. ‘For otherwise I should have had to be your mistress.’

‘Now she tells me,’ he said in a mocking tone. ‘I might have been spared all the expense of the reception. I thought they would never stop eating and drinking.’

‘Oh, Rupert …’ Sarah laughed as he threw off his robe and revealed that he was wearing nothing and was fully aroused ‘… never stop loving me.’

‘Never,’ he vowed and then he joined her on the bed. They moved together as one, lips meeting in a burning kiss. Flesh to flesh they held one another, looking into each other’s faces, and for a long, long time there was no need of words.

All the characters in this book have no existence outside the imagination of the author, and have no relation whatsoever to anyone bearing the same name or names. They are not even distantly inspired by any individual known or unknown to the author, and all the incidents are pure invention.

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First published in Great Britain 2013 by Mills & Boon, an imprint of Harlequin (UK) Limited. Harlequin (UK) Limited, Eton House, 18-24 Paradise Road, Richmond, Surrey TW9 1SR

© Anne Herries 2013

eISBN: 978-1-472-00372-0