Kathryn Smith (38 page)

“I’ve always wanted to do this.” Lifting the hem of the delicate linen, Brave took it in both hands and ripped.

Rachel gasped as the gauzy fabric let go from hem to neck with nothing more than a sharp groan. Laughter bubbled in her chest along with indignation, while shivers of anticipation shook her limbs.

“Brave!”

“I’ll buy you another,” he promised, pushing her back onto the mattress with the full force of his weight. Bracing himself on his palms, he lay between her thighs, their bodies pressed together from shoulder to groin.

The hard length of him probed the entrance to her body, a delicious nudging that forced her to move against it, trying to take him in.

“Christ,” he murmured, shoving himself against her heat. “You’re already wet.”

Spreading her legs wider, Rachel arched and pushed, gasping as he slid within her.

“I told you,” she panted, “I’ve been waiting for this.”

“Me,” he told her, with a deep, sweet thrust that made her gasp for breath. “You’ve been waiting for
me
. Don’t ever leave me again.”

“N-not even if you ask me to?” Oh God, but he felt good.

“Especially not if I ask you to.”

They moved together, neither one of them touching the other for fear of disturbing the acute pleasure of their joined bodies. Pure friction; wet heat that jangled Rachel’s senses until she thought she might explode.

It was one of the most erotic experiences of her life. He wouldn’t let her touch him, instead, twining their fingers together so all their attention was focused on the spot where their bodies became one. She stared at his beautiful face, watching as passion darkened his eyes to obsidian and tightened his features.

He teased her, slipping into her only so far before pulling almost completely out. Digging her heels into the mattress, she lifted her hips, whimpering for more.

He gave it to her. One fierce plunge pressed her deep into the bed and she wrapped her legs around his thighs to keep him buried to the hilt within her.

“Yes,” she whispered, her voice building to a moan. “Oh, Brave, yes!”

Without missing a thrust, he rolled them over so that she rode him. Falling forward, Rachel braced her hands on either side of his head. Her breasts brushed his chest, drawing another hiss of desire as the sensitive nipples tightened even harder. Riding him this way only intensified each sensation. Not only was there the sweet friction of their bodies, but now an ache built within that tiny part of her made for sexual release.

Still he did not touch her. His fists stayed tightly balled as he splayed his arms wide. His eyes shut as his mouth opened with building pleasure.

Rachel quickened the pace, needing the climax as much
as she needed the man himself. The pressure grew and blossomed, then finally flew apart as ripple after ripple shivered through her. Brave’s hoarse shout filled the room. She cried out in reply, collapsing on top of him as her muscles refused to support her.

How long they stayed like that, she had no idea. It felt like hours, but time had ceased to exist somewhere along the way.

“I have a surprise for you,” he whispered sometime later, when the shadows cast across the room had lengthened to thin specters and Rachel hovered on the cusp of sleep.

How had he known how much she loved surprises?

Propping herself up on her forearm, she gazed down at him with barely concealed excitement. “What is it?”

He flashed her a secretive smile and sat up, swinging his long legs over the side of the bed.

“Where are you going?” A tiny edge of panic crept into her voice, that old fear that he was leaving her raising its head again.

“I just have to get it.”

Rachel’s heartbeat slowed to its normal pace as she watched him walk naked to where he’d tossed his waistcoat. He fished something out of the pocket and turned back toward the bed.

He was the most incredible thing she’d ever seen. The entire golden length of him was a study in fluid male strength and grace. As he walked toward her, a frisson of desire pooled deep within her. She wanted him again. She wanted him forever.

“Close your eyes,” he commanded in a teasing tone.

She did.

“Now hold out your hand.”

She did that as well, fighting the urge to peek as she felt something light and cool settle against her palm.

“You can open them now.”

She did, the breath catching in her throat as her gaze settled on the object in her hand.

It was the emerald ring her father had given her mother.

As she sat in stunned silence and stared at the delicate piece of jewelry, wondering why her mother had given it to him, Brave tugged the Wycherley sapphire from her other hand.

“Your mother said you’d found it at Tullywood.”

Rachel nodded. “I did yes.” She met his gaze, unable to hide her curiosity any longer. “Why did she give it to you?”

Brave grinned and sat down on the mattress beside her. “She said that you might need a reminder every once in a while that love isn’t always perfect no matter how it might seem it. She also said something about cows and a tree, but I’m afraid the reference was lost on me.”

Choking on something that was between a sob and laughter, Rachel wiped at her eyes with her free hand.

“Will you wear it?” Brave asked softly.

She nodded, not trusting her voice at this point.

Tenderly, Brave took the ring from her palm and slid it onto the ring finger of her left hand. It fit perfectly.

His gaze met hers. “I do.”

The simple vow was Rachel’s undoing. But it wasn’t tears that burst forth, it was laughter. Fierce, unrestrained, joyous laughter. She threw her arms around Brave’s neck, knocking them both back onto the bed.

Covering his face with feathery kisses, Rachel remembered the rest of what she and her mother had talked about that day Marion told her about her father and his fear of cows. She already knew her husband’s fears, just as she was sure he knew hers. But there was one thing she didn’t know.

“Brave?” she asked from her position on top of him.

He smiled. “Yes, my love?”

She returned the grin. “What’s your favorite color?”

If he was surprised by the question he didn’t show it. “Why, Lady Braven, I do believe it’s the exact same color as your eyes.”

Laughing, she lifted up on her hands as he tried to kiss her. “Don’t you want to know mine?”

“I already do,” he informed her.

“Oh?” she raised a brow. “What is it?”

“Rose,” he replied with a saucy smile. “Not pink, but rose.”

He was right, and the fact that he’d known such a trivial detail about her warmed Rachel right to the soles of her feet.

“I love you,” he whispered, tracing circles on her back with his fingers.

Rachel’s heart swelled with the words. “I know,” she replied. And she did. She felt it in her bones just how much he loved her.

“And do you love me?” he asked tentatively, his hands sliding down to cup her bare buttocks, tickling the sensitive flesh just below. She wiggled against him.

He was hard. Smiling seductively, Rachel lifted her hips and reached down to guide him into her. Moaning, she lowered herself until the entire length of him was buried inside her. The expression on Brave’s face was one of pure pleasure.

She began to move. “Do you want the impulsive answer, or the long-thought-about one?”

He groaned and raised his hips. “How about both?”

Chuckling, Rachel flexed her internal muscles around him, feeling him pulsate in response.

“Impulsively…”

He grabbed her by the waist and thrust upward.

“Yes! Oh, yes!”

He actually laughed. It was a joyful sound and it pierced Rachel’s heart with love and happiness. “And the thought-about answer?” he rasped as she churned her pelvis down on his.

Lowering her head, Rachel brushed her lips across his, her breath quickening. “Impulsively, rashly, and forever, Brave. Always and forever.”