SHK (37 page)

He paid homage to every new inch of flesh he bared to his gaze until the dress whispered to the floor in a pool of tulle and silk.

She stood trembling in her white chemise, her body quivering with desire, not sure where they would proceed from here.

“You are so beautiful,” he rasped. “I will always cherish you.”

He gently pulled the straps of her chemise from her shoulders. His breath caught in the back of his throat, when her breasts thrust toward him in wanton desire. His eyes never leaving her, he pulled his stock off, the shirt and trousers followed in short shrift, until he stood before her in all his naked male glory, his staff jutting proudly before him.

Heated gaze met heated gaze, their mutual need a palpable thing. And then Stormy surprised him as only Stormy could. She jumped into his arms and wrapped her legs around his slim waist. Kissing him fervently, she urged him to make love to her right now.

A devilish glint appeared in his eyes. ‘Not so fast, my love.” Carrying her over to the bed, he deposited her on the edge, smiling down at her in such a sensual way that she shivered in anticipation. “I told you I would pay you back,” he rasped, desire roughening his voice. And then he was down on his knees, kissing her belly in a downward path until he reached the seam of her womanhood. He parted her with careful fingers, looking momentarily into her shocked eyes, before he bent and laved her damp entrance even more with his tongue.

Stormy felt helpless against the rising swell of need. She begged him to stop, afraid she would die from the sheer pleasure … and then her need culminated in such a wave of ecstasy that she bucked off the bed, offering herself shamelessly to his mouth and clever hands.

Exhausted, she tried to scoot backward onto the bed, but André held her in place, his gaze boring into hers with promise. “We’ve only just begun.”

Spreading her legs, he asked her to watch. Holding her gaze, he cupped her buttocks and plunged into her to the hilt. Bracing herself on her elbows, her mouth went dry as she gaped--

mesmerized how he drove in and out in a deliberate rhythm, his arousal damp with her heat. The intimacy of watching their mating robbed her of breath.

Suddenly her body clenched in fierce response, her breath became choppy. She dug her nails into André back, grappling for leverage, her need to meet him stroke for stroke intense.

Her inner walls turned to liquid fire, undulating against the onslaught of yet another climax. She STORMY HEIDE KATROS

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screamed her delight, when she felt the rush of his seed leave a hot trail, while he pumped into her in rapid succession. Spent they collapsed against each other, their mouths fusing in tender kisses. They fell asleep entwined in each other’s arms.

André awoke as the first rays of dawn peeked through the part in the heavy drapes. He smiled as he looked at Stormy’s face in slumber. Angelic came to mind. Angelic? He bit back a chuckle. There was absolutely nothing angelic about Stormy. She was as untamed as her name insinuated. She was almost insatiable, intent on learning how to please him, telling him without shame what pleased her.

Tousled hair covered the pristine pillowcase in a riot of dark curls. Thick eyelashes lay like heavy fans on her high cheekbones. Her slightly parted lips were lush from kissing. The covers had slipped during sleep, exposing the tops of her creamy breasts with their pink aureoles, making him hard with need. One naked leg remained innocently draped across his hip, leaving her wide open to his desire. But he was not finished staring his fill. By all that was holy, he was a lucky man to have found such a treasure.

He swallowed hard against the lump that clogged his throat. And on impulse he gathered her in his arms and hugged her close. God, it felt good to have someone who loved you back as unconditionally as you loved them.

Stormy stirred. She cracked one eyelid open and smiled when she recognized André.

Her arms went around his neck and she nuzzled the hollow there. “Good morning, husband,”

she murmured, her voice still sleep drugged.

Seconds later her head reared back, her eyes widened in surprise, when she felt his arousal seek entrance between her spread thighs. “I never imagined that being married could be so wonderful.” She giggled delightedly, when he pushed into her.

With practiced ease, he rolled her on her back, growling his own pleasure, when her legs wrapped around his middle. “You are a fast learner, madam.” He kissed her mouth, then trailed damp kisses down to her breasts, blowing on the wetness. He chuckled when she shivered.

Never missing his rhythm, he bent to suckle one breast and then the other, reveling in her response. Watching her eyes cloud over with passion, he slipped one large hand under her and lifted her upward. He saw the shock, when he abruptly pulled out of her and replaced his manhood with his mouth.

His tongue circled the button of her desire at the entrance to her womanhood, eliciting excited mewls of encouragement. Moments later he tasted the honey of her climax. He groaned his satisfaction, and quickly replaced his mouth with his throbbing arousal.

Their eyes collided at the moment of fulfillment. Deep understanding passed between them that needed no spoken word. He rolled away from her, taking her with him, raining a shower of kisses all over her face.

“I love you, love you, love you,” he crooned, holding her close.

“I love you more,” she whispered back as she laid her head to his broad chest and listened to his thudding heart beat.

A loud rumble from André’s stomach brought on another bout of laughter. “I guess I had better check if Mrs. Billings can whip us something up to eat. You stay in bed until I return.”

He drew the covers to her ears, kissed her and quickly made some ablutions, before he slipped into a silk dressing gown and hurried downstairs.

Mrs. Billings met him with a wide smile, holding a tray with a pot of hot chocolate, a pot of hot tea and a plate with warm scones slathered in fresh butter.

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André grinned in appreciation. “You are a treasure, Mrs. Billings. Thank you.” He did an about turn and raced back up the stairs.

For several days they adhered to the ritual of André dashing down the stairs to take a tray from Mrs. Billings. He marveled how the lady could guess when he’d be coming downstairs, but he didn’t dwell on the fact. Each morning there was a large pitcher of hot water waiting for them in front of their door.

“I’ve lost track of time,” André murmured down at his exhausted bride one morning. “I wish we could spend the rest of our lives in bed. Unfortunately, we need to get ready and travel back to Greenbriar. I left it in a shambles, though I don’t regret that. Once your uncle told me of your impending departure, I knew where my priorities lay.” He raked a hand through his mussed hair, a wry grin curving his sculpted lips. “I would have followed you to the colonies, if you had left. Without you my life is hardly worth living.”

Stormy rolled to her knees. She wrapped her arms around his neck. “When I thought you might be dead, I was devastated. I could never put into words the emotions that rushed through me, when I came face to face with the highwayman at the masked ball. I never imagined that it might be you. I had to get away, because I knew that no matter how wonderful the man beneath the mask might be, he would not be you. It would have broken my heart all over again.

“We were meant for each other, my love.” She kissed him full on the mouth. The next instant she found herself flat on her back, his dark blue eyes piercing hers with an intent gaze.

He kissed her back and groaned, shaking his head. “I could make love to you right now, but we do have to think about my responsibility to the people at Greenbriar. George Fitzsimmons told me at the reception that the house was in good order, but I must get back to assure the staff that they are safe.”

Stormy looked up at him, her eyes filled with love. “We’ll have a lifetime, darling. Let’s get started. And I have to say good-bye to my parents. They are leaving by the end of this month. I doubt we would get back to London before then.”

André thought it astute of her to realize that she would say good-bye for good. He wished he could assure her that life would be without worry at Greenbriar. But he knew there was still Snowden to deal with.

“Will you miss the colonies?”

She did not meet his gaze. “Yes,” she whispered, “but I think I will be fine.”

He playfully kissed her nose. “I promise you that we will sail for a visit in the near future. I am curious to see that land of yours.”

The parting from her parents tore at Stormy’s heart, but she bravely hid her fear of the unknown stretching out before her. Promises were made that they would visit each other soon, but they all knew that it was a long sea voyage and much depended on the weather.

Marry Cormac loaned them their carriage, so they could take Stormy’s trunks with them.

“I shall see the carriage returned posthaste. And we hope to see you at Greenbriar when the season in London is over.”

Amid promises of keeping in touch, André and Stormy set off for Greenbriar and their life together.

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André carried Stormy across the threshold of Greenbriar, not so much for the sake of custom, but because he loved to hold her close. He stopped short just inside the door, his mouth opening in total astonishment. He set Stormy slowly to her feet.

“Great Scott, I didn’t know George could or would wreak such magic. He mentioned something at the reception about a splendid time he’d had at Greenbriar, but not a word of this.

You should have seen this house, when we checked it last. It was musty and Snowden had broken doors and furniture before he left.”

A scurry of feet stopped him in his raves. He did not recognize any of the staff, but apparently they had been told to expect them. A rotund woman stepped forward and curtsied.

“Your Grace, my name is Sara Dunnen and I be the new cook Sir Fitzsimmons hired in your absence. The maids were already here and Sir Fitzsimmons thought you might like to hire your own butler, once you arrived.”

André inclined his head in acknowledgment and quickly introduced Stormy. “I am rather speechless by the changes in this house. I want to thank everyone, who did such outstanding work.”

Sara Dunnen curtsied shyly once more, “Your Grace, Sir Fitzsimmons did all of the planning and he even helped. He mentioned that you might be bringing your Countess back with you and he wanted everything perfect.” She directed a brilliant smile at Stormy.

“Well, he sure went beyond perfect.” He inclined his head. “Thank you, Mrs. Dunnen.

Please resume whatever business you were about, while I will show my new wife to our rooms.

And, Mrs. Dunnen, please see to it that the carriage is unloaded and the luggage is brought upstairs. I will let you know, when it is convenient to unpack.”

To the delight of the staff, he swept Stormy into his arms and carried her up the winding staircase to the second floor. He did not comment on the new door to the master suite. Stormy didn’t need to know the gory details of how Snowden had shot his way through and how he had barely escaped through the secret panel behind the bed.

Again his face registered surprise. The room had been redone in several shades of blue; a new four poster bed had been installed with hangings of sheer blue tulle. After a moment’s pause, he kicked the door shut behind them.

“George certainly was looking out for us, darling. He must have decided we should start our life together with new furnishings and best of all a new bed.” Grinning, he tossed her to the middle of the bed and stalked after her in a predatory way that had her squealing with delight.

“Don’t you dare,” she threatened in mock horror. “I am dirty from travel and quite tired.

I should like nothing more than a hot bath.”

His eyes turned a deep blue. Nodding his assent, he kissed her nose, then tugged on the bell pull to summon a maid. At the door he gave quick instructions to prepare a bath.

The sound of water splashing into a tub could be heard minutes later.

“Your staff is amazing. I don’t think we ever had anyone work so quickly at Dreamscape.”

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André shrugged. “Trust me, I am amazed myself.” He offered his hand to help her off the bed, where she still reclined. Without another word, he bent to the task of unbuttoning her travel dress. Standing just behind her, he kissed the nape of her neck and pressed against her to let her know that his desire for her had not abated.

Stormy tried hard to ignore the pressure of his erection against her bottom, but her body reacted instantaneously. A coil of heat blossomed in her abdomen and her nipples turned to hard little buds that strained against the front of her bodice.

She was so lost to her feelings and the sensations André wrought with his well placed kisses that it took her by surprise when she suddenly stood in nothing more than her chemise.

She turned in his embrace, ready for anything more he would offer, but he propelled her toward the bathing chamber without so much as a word.

Piqued, she stripped naked and stepped cautiously into the tub. Closing her eyes, she submerged herself into the rose scented water. She sighed her contentment, breathing deeply through her nose. She caught his scent, the musk of the aroused male mingled with the smell of horse and leather. Her eyes snapped open.

With a devilish grin curving his sensuous mouth André joined her in the bath. Before she had time to voice a protest, he deftly lifted her and reversed their positions. Exhaling on a loud ahhh, he leaned back against the edge and stared triumphantly up at her.

Shocked, she realized her precarious position. Straddled across his middle, she was hardly in command of the situation. Heat shot through her as she eyed his jutting arousal.