Lady Catherine's Secret: A Secrets and Seduction book (41 page)

The buttons were finally undone, and the dress dipped from her shoulders. Daniel reached down to bundle up the skirts and lift the entire wedding gown over her head. She was clothed only in her petticoats, corset, drawers, and shift, and he began to untie the strings holding her petticoats in place. There were four layers of petticoats in all, and once the last of the strings were untied, they fell to the floor, puddling around her feet.

Daniel swept her up in his arms, removing her from the frothy pool of white undergarments. He carried her through the secret doorway to one of the low sofas in the adjoining drawing room.

Up to that moment, everything had happened so quickly that Catherine hadn’t thought about what was about to take place. But when she felt the cool upholstery against her bare shoulders, she had a brief flash of apprehension.

Before it could take hold, Daniel lowered himself onto the sofa next to her, tugging off her shoes. His coat and cravat were gone. She barely had time to notice that his shirt had pulled loose from his trousers, making him look rumpled and at his ease, before his hands slid along the satin of her corset as he kissed her, making her forget everything.

Daniel leaned back on the sofa and pulled her onto his chest as his fingers continued their task of undressing her. He untied the bow securing the corset and then deftly tugged at the tight strings. Once they were loose enough, he pushed her up so that she was sitting astride his hips, giving him access to the long row of hooks running down the front of the device. His fingers made quick work of the hooks, and he threw the corset carelessly across the room.

She’d long been used to being dressed and undressed by her lady’s maid. The tugging and pulling on her clothes shouldn’t have been new to her, but it was. The frantic need building within her made the sensations different. This merging of the practical and the sensual surprised her, especially when she felt her body respond to his touch.

Now free of the stiff, confining garment, Catherine could feel Daniel’s hands sliding across her body with only the thin fabric of her shift separating them from her bare skin. He pulled down the soft cotton fabric to expose her breasts and leaned forward to press his lips between them, burying his face in their softness. He brushed his thumbs against her nipples, seemingly transfixed by the way they sprang erect at his touch. As she gazed down at him from astride his lap, his tender and unguarded look of fascination pulled at her heart.

One of his hands glided past her hip and began to pull up her chemise. He slid his hand under it, exposing the waistband of her drawers, where he quickly undid their fastenings.

She gasped as he pushed her to her feet and then stood next to her. He grasped her drawers with both hands and quickly yanked them down before spinning her around and pressing her back down on the sofa. He pulled her drawers off over her feet and tossed them haphazardly across the room as well.

She looked up at him as he stood before her, still clothed. Her shift was bunched around her waist, and his predatory gaze devoured her semi-naked body. It had been a long time since she had felt like his prey, but now his intense focus thrilled her and filled her with an awareness of her own sensual power. She met his eyes and lifted her chin, unwilling to bend to his will. She would meet him as an equal.

“I want to see all of you,” he said as he pulled her shift over her head.

“I want to see all of you too,” she said, reaching for his waistband. It felt strange to be naked in front of him while he was still clothed, but as she saw the hunger in his eyes, she knew there was power in her nudity.

He smiled and yanked his shirt over his head. He removed the rest of his clothing so quickly that she could only blink with surprise.

Daniel’s body was amazing. It was firm and muscular, with a light sprinkling of black hair that trailed down his chest in a V. And below that... she was startled by what she saw. Was that really supposed to fit inside her? She barely had the opportunity to look at him before he was moving back toward her, covering her body with his, bare skin sliding against bare skin.

He pressed her back down onto the sofa and stretched out next to her, all the time whispering tender endearments. “Beautiful. You’re so beautiful, my darling.”

His knees bumped against hers. “We’re a little crowded here. Let’s try a different spot.” He wrapped his arms around her and rolled off the low sofa, falling to the rug with her on top of him, cradled against his chest.

“Oof,” she said, surprised by his sudden move.

He rolled over again, taking her with him and pinning her to the thick, soft Aubusson rug beneath them. He leaned down and began to kiss her again, starting with her lips and then moving lower and lower down her body. His hand slid slowly down to her hip, and he gently nudged her knees apart with his leg as he slid his hand to the intersection of her thighs.

His thumb grazed against her most sensitive spot and she gasped, her arm flailing out until it banged against the sofa. She reached up to clutch the cushion just above her head. He’d found that same spot he’d focused on during the train ride, and her fist tightened on the fabric as his hand drove her wild. She realized now that he’d been looking for it before. He’d known it was there. He knew more about her body than she did.

His hand dipped lower, and his finger found her slick warmth as it slipped inside her. The muscles of her inner thighs convulsed, pulling together, but his hand kept moving in and out, drawing forth sensations she had been hungering for since that afternoon on the train. He continued to use his thumb to caress that sensitive little nub as his fingers slid in and out in a rhythm that left her breathless.

She heard herself moan, and Daniel responded as though her sounds were exactly what he’d been waiting to hear. He spread her legs farther apart as he pressed his weight against her hips, and she felt something much larger press against the opening between her legs.

She pulled back, suddenly nervous. “Maybe you’re too big. Are you sure this will work?”

“I think you’ll find that we fit perfectly well.” His finger slid across her nub, and her back arched.

Gently, he pressed against her, but something prevented him from entering her. Just before he stopped moving, she felt a tightness— a sort of pressure. He paused, and then thrust firmly against her hips.

She cried out as she felt something pop, and then he was inside her. She froze, afraid to continue. “I was right. It’s too big.”

“Wait just a moment. It’s already over. Did it hurt?”

She shook her head. “Not exactly, but I felt something give way.”

“From what I was told, there’s little to no pain the first time if the man makes sure the woman is feeling pleasure and is ready for him.” He moved a little against her, as if letting her test the sensation. He began to move slowly again, sliding his length deep inside her. Warmth filled her, taking her breath away as pleasure replaced her momentary anxiety. Her legs wrapped around him, almost of their own accord, and she moved her hips to match his rhythm.

After a moment, he paused. “I’m crushing you on this rug. Let’s try something different.”

He withdrew and pulled her into a sitting position, and then he reclined on his back, pulling her astride his hips as though she were riding a horse.

“Lift up and lower yourself onto me,” he said. He gently directed her with his hands. She rested her palms against his shoulders and used them to balance as she lifted her hips. He guided her onto him as he slid back inside her.

One hand continued its gentle caress of that sensitive nub, and the other held her hip.

“Move against me,” he instructed, and she rocked forward, then back again, savoring the sensation of flesh sliding against flesh.

The sensations building within her sent currents of pleasure rippling through her body. Every nerve ending sang with his touch.

Daniel’s fingers continued their tender, circular movements, and Catherine moved her hips in concert with them, meeting him stroke for stroke. She felt as though her body was a musical instrument and Daniel was pulling a symphony of sensations from her.

Just like the time on the train, Catherine felt something building within her— a grasping need that had her clutching Daniel’s shoulders as gasping noises escaped her. Suddenly, she shattered, and convulsive waves of pleasure crashed through her. Her body broke into a million pieces as all sane thoughts fled. There was only sensation.

Daniel responded with his own shuddering moans, and she felt him thrusting, thrusting, as he arched his back and ground his hips into hers. He seemed to freeze in place for a moment, gasping for air, and then the tension in his body ebbed. He collapsed, pulling her back to the floor with him.

They were both breathing hard. Catherine leaned her forehead down, resting it against his shoulder. She slowly began to return to herself. A languorous feeling took over her body, and she could tell Daniel had the same feeling by the way his hand slowly grazed her back, moving up and down, before coming to rest, cupping her bottom.

She pressed herself up with her arms and looked down at him. Her hair had fallen from its hairpins, and it was now tumbling down around her face, surrounding them both as she looked into his eyes. She smiled with the sudden realization of how much she truly, deeply loved this man.

His eyes were closed. She wanted to say the words and declare her love. She shifted above him, hoping he’d meet her gaze, but his eyes remained shut.

She leaned down to kiss him, and his eyes flew open. Finally, he looked at her, but his face remained shuttered and he glanced away, his entire body tensing.

“We need to leave before nightfall,” he said, rolling to one side and spilling her onto the rug. He pushed away from her as he rose to his feet. “This place will be cold and dark soon.”

She shivered from the sudden, deep chill that washed over not only her body, but also her soul. “Is something wrong?”

“Of course not,” he said, pulling her to her feet. But he refused to look at her. Instead, he began gathering her clothing together. “It’s just that we need to hurry.”

With a sober nod, she pulled on her shift. They dressed in silence.

48 - Resolve

Daniel cast a surreptitious glance at his bride as she struggled back into her clothes. A flash of possessiveness hit him as he saw her lithe, muscular body wriggle into her shift, and the depth of the emotion shocked him.

His cock hardened as he pulled on his trousers. Once wasn’t enough with Catherine. Perhaps a lifetime wouldn’t even be enough.

Tension clutched at his chest and shoulders. He was a fool to play with fire this way. He’d thought that by encouraging her rebellious nature, he’d be able to limit her effect upon him.

He’d been wrong.

Not only was he married to an entirely unsuitable woman, but he was also in danger of losing his heart to her.

And there lay madness.

He’d end up just like his father.

Even now, he ached to touch her again. To hold her close. To soothe away the hurt on her face. But he held himself back.

Was the damage already done? Was he already too far gone?

He steeled himself, and instead of reaching out to her, he turned his back on her and tugged on his boots.

He could control this. He could protect his heart and hold himself separate. After all, he’d been alone for years; there was no reason for that to change now.

49 - Waiting for Wentworth

One week later, Daniel watched his new wife as she glanced at the clock in their drawing room yet again.

“Is Wentworth usually punctual?” Her brows puckered together.

“Yes, for the most part. I’m certain he won’t be late today.”

She resumed her pacing, and Daniel suppressed a smile as he watched her. She was wound tightly today and seemed unable to stop moving. She wandered about the drawing room, examining everything. She paused at the serving table just long enough to place his decanters into a more aesthetically pleasing arrangement, then drifted on to make small adjustments to yet another part of the room.

He enjoyed watching her like this, prowling about the house, making it hers. She’d been like this all day. When he’d suggested they have Mr. Newcomb make some small changes to the space, she’d refused, insisting that the man focus his time and energy on the new estate rather than wasting it here.

He knew she was still annoyed that they weren’t going to the tournament together, but this was for the best. It took constant self-control to stop himself from watching her all the time when they were in the same room together, and he found that level of discipline difficult to maintain. Wentworth had already commented on a few of his momentary lapses. He’d need to avoid her at the tournament as much as possible. Those fencing pants of hers would be the death of him.

He heard a commotion in the foyer and then Wentworth burst into the room unannounced, obviously in a hurry. He stumbled to a halt as soon as his eyes landed on Catherine.

“Lady Catherine.... I mean, Lady Huntley. It’s wonderful to see you.”