A Most Inconvenient Wish (20 page)

“May I take you back to your room?”

“So we aren't going to—”

He kissed her, wooing her with his mouth, coaxing her passion. She responded quickly and in kind. She wanted him; that he was sure of. “Eventually.”

He stepped away, needing a bit of distance to calm his own yearning to take her there. She'd had one bad experience. This one had to be special, something to erase the terrors from the past, a sweet memory to replace the bad.

Ian took her hand and led her across the room. He unlocked the door and stepped into the corridor.

They crept up the stairs and Ian paused outside her room. “Are you sure?” He had to ask once more. He was determined to give her the choice at every step of the way. She would have the choice to say no and he'd abide by it, no matter what.

Sophia nodded and headed to her room. He followed behind her and closed and locked the door behind him.

Despite how very feminine Sophia was, the room was rather sparse. There were no lacy comforters, or tons of pink pillows and such. The room was a soothing blend of blues and browns. There were a few brightly colored pictures painted by her nephews near the dressing table. A box of ribbons was open on the floor by the only chair in the room. The bright colors spilled out onto the dark carpet.

Sophia stood by the chair looking terrified. Her hands clenched and unclenched at her side.

“We need a fire,” Ian said.

“Do we have to?” Her voice was breathy and high.

“Yes, we do. It is cold in here.”

“The rain brought cooler weather.”

“You're rambling on about the weather, love.”

“I'm nervous.”

He walked up to her and brushed her hair from her shoulders. “I am too.”

Her eyes met his in surprise.

“I want this to be special for you. You've been hurt rather badly by another man. I want to give you a memory of how it should be like, of how good it can be.”

“You've put yourself up for the impossible. I hope you realize that.”

“I think I can convince you.”

“Really?”

“Or die trying.”

Ian took her hands and wrapped them around his neck. He ran his hands down her arms to pull her against him. “You're shivering.”

“You're very warm. A veritable furnace, Ian. How is that possible?” She snuggled closer, wiggling her hips against his groin.

He grasped her hips to still them. This was going to be a great deal more difficult than he'd thought. He prayed he had the patience and stamina to get through tonight without making things worse.

Sophia was still for a long moment. He lifted her chin and kissed her. “Perhaps we should just go to bed to sleep.”

Her eyebrows raised. “Really? But I thought—”

“We have plenty of time,” he said as he walked over to the bed. “Give me your robe.”

She slipped off her dressing gown and quickly climbed into the bed, pulling the covers up to her neck. “Are you leaving, then?”

Ian shook his head as he tossed her discarded robe over the chair. He bent to the fireplace and stirred the embers, adding more coal until the fire started to warm the room. Turning to the bed, he pulled the tails of his shirt from his evening trousers and pulled it over his head. He tossed it on the chair with her robe.

Sophia watched him with rapt interest. He fought a grin. He undid the buttons of his falls and removed his trousers, leaving his drawers in place. He sat on the bed and slipped off his stockings and tucked them into his shoes.

Finally, he lifted the blankets and slid in next to her. It was a small bed and she was pressed up against him. Ian pulled her into his arms. “Are you all right?”

She snuggled down into him, resting her head on his shoulder. “This is nice.”

Ian sighed. He deserved a medal for his restraint. Sophia yawned, her jaw cracking. “You need to sleep.”

“So you will stay?”

He kissed her softly. “I'm not going anywhere.”

She closed her eyes. He could feel sleep finally take her in the weight of her body on his. It wasn't what he'd planned for tonight, but it was what Sophia needed. He tenderly brushed her hair from her face. She was so beautiful, and she would finally be his.

S
he was warmer than she'd been in a long time, covered by a large, heavy blanket. She pushed against it and hit skin. Ian's skin. Her eyes opened and she found him over her, watching her, his eyes warm and filled with humor.

“Good morning, love. I wondered when you'd awaken.”

She frowned. “What are you doing?”

“Trying to make love to you. You fell asleep last night.” He grinned at her. “It was a very memorable night.”

Sophia brushed her hair from her face. She wasn't her best when she awoke. “You're naked.”

“Not quite.”

“You lit a candle.”

He waggled his eyebrows at her. “The better to see you with, my dear.”

She looked down at her nightgown, now bunched up around her waist. She moved to push it down, but Ian pressed his body to hers. He was aroused. He had her trapped underneath him. She could feel the panic rise up. She pushed at him. “Get off me.”

Ian moved to lie beside her. He propped himself up and gently brushed her hair from her face. “Shh, love, it's all right. It's just me wanting you, wanting to love you.”

“What time is it?”

“Very early in the morning. The servants aren't even stirring yet.”

“Then you have time to sneak out to your room before you are seen.” She held herself perfectly still.

Ian kissed her gently. “Is that what you want? For me to leave you?”

Sophia didn't know what she wanted. She was terrified she would not be able to put the past behind her and respond to him the way he deserved. She'd be ruined and he would be stuck with a wife who couldn't enjoy this part of marriage. She was afraid if she didn't go forward, she'd be ruled by the past for the rest of her life.

“What is going on in that head of yours?”

“I don't want to disappoint you. If we stop now, you won't have to marry me.”

He stilled. “Sophia, I'm marrying you regardless.”

“But if we stop now, I won't be ruined.”

“I'm not marrying you because I've ruined you. What I feel for you is much, much more than that.” He lowered his head to hers in frustration. “I'm just going to have to show you.”

Sophia closed her eyes as his mouth met hers in a deep kiss. This was no gentle kiss but one of passion. He held her face in his hands as his mouth slanted over hers again and again, each kiss pulling her deeper into passion until she could no longer form words, much less think.

Her blood thickened and pooled low in her stomach, but her heart pounded. She felt lethargic and excited all at once. She mimicked the movements of his tongue against hers, tasting him back. He tasted so good.

He came up for air. “I need you to promise me something.”

“What?”

“Promise me if you have any bad moments, you'll tell me.”

She nodded her head. Her hands touched his bare shoulders. The skin smooth as satin but firm with muscle. “Kiss me again.”

His mouth moved down her neck as she gasped for air. “Ian?”

“Yes, love?” He toyed with the buttons down the front of her night shift.

“What are you doing?”

“Freeing you from this mountain of fabric you wore to bed.” He finished the last button and went to spread the fabric open, revealing her breasts.

Sophia clutched the edges together, feeling shy, fighting the fear that was welling up inside.

Ian eased to the side and looked down at her. “Am I going too fast?”

“A bit.” She pulled the covers up over her breasts.

He pulled them back down. “I want to see you.”

She pulled the covers up again. “Why?”

He paused to look at her. “You are the loveliest thing I have ever seen. Your skin is like cream, so smooth and so soft. Your dark hair has a life of its own.” He touched her hair. “See how the strands cling to me? Fascinating.”

She relaxed her hold on the blanket. “Can you kiss me again? It seems to make me not think about it so much.”

“With pleasure.” His mouth teased hers again, then captured hers in a deep kiss.

Sophia let go of the blanket and reached for Ian as the kiss heated. She felt his hand gently push away the cotton fabric and cup her breast. She pulled away and gasped.

“Easy, love.” He left his hand on her breast, brushing his fingertips gently over her skin.

Sophia closed her eyes as his mouth traced her neck to her shoulders. His hand brushed the fabric away as his tongue dipped into the hollow at the base of her throat.

What was happening to her? Never had she felt anything like this, as if she was going to fly apart. He nuzzled her breast, then pulled it into his mouth. She squealed.

“Shh, love. We don't need everyone to come in.”

“That would not be a good thing.”

He laughed. “No, it would not. Can we take off the night rail now?” He tugged the gown up and over her head and tossed it on the floor. She clutched the blanket to her chest, feeling shy but, strangely enough, not scared. She brushed Ian's hair from his forehead.

“No bad moments?” he asked.

“Not yet.” She lifted up and kissed him again, her hands in his hair. The blanket fell between them. The brush of Ian's chest against hers felt so good, there were no words to describe it.

“Slowly, Sophia, slowly.”

“I don't want to go slow now, Ian. I feel so—I can't explain it.”

“I knew you'd be passionate.”

“Kiss me again.”

He lay her back onto the bed, his mouth finding hers in one scorching kiss after another. She moved restlessly beneath him, needing more, but she didn't know what she wanted. More of his mouth on hers. More of his hands touching her. She returned kiss for kiss.

“More, Ian. More.”

* * *

Ian reined himself in with all the control he had left. Sophia's excitement was intoxicating. He longed to be inside her, deep inside her. She moved restlessly against him. If it killed him, he would make it good for her—and it just might.

He pulled her breast into his mouth and suckled. Her skin was so very soft. Her scent wove a spell over him. He was never going to get enough of her. “You are so very soft all over.” He pressed kisses under the curve of her breast. “So very pretty.” His mouth moved down her stomach. His tongue dipped into her navel.

“Ian!” She jerked away. “That tickles.”

“Good to know.” His mouth moved farther down her body.

“What are you doing?”

“Kissing you all over.” He pressed his lips just above her curls. He could smell her unique scent strongest here, earthy and sweet with her arousal. He moved between her legs, moving them wider.

“No!”

Ian paused. “No? You might like it, Sophia.”

She shook her head, her eyes wide.

Ian moved up her body and took her mouth in his until she was mindless again. He trailed his hand into her curls and gently touched her, circling her sex in delicate circular motions. She pulled her mouth away and gasped.

“All right?” he asked.

“Oh God.” She gasped, arching into this hand.

“If you like that, you're going to love this.” He pushed one finger inside her.

Sophia squealed and he covered her mouth with his to keep her quiet. She took control of the kiss, hot, completely wild. Her hands moved his body until she found him. She gripped him tight and it was his turn to gasp.

“Sophia, sweetheart, easy.”

“Did I do something wrong?”

“If you keep that up, this will be over before it starts.” He kissed her hand and placed it around his neck. He nuzzled her neck again, then covered her with his body, his cock nestled between her thighs. She felt so very good. She pressed her hips to his and shook her head. “I want you, Ian.”

“Are you sure?”

Sophia nodded.

“That means you'll have to marry me. There won't be any getting out of it. You'll be mine.”

Sophia reached up and kissed him. “For someone who is bent on ruining me, you are putting up a good fight.”

“I just want you to be sure, sweetheart.”

She kissed him again, “I am sure. Love me, Ian. Just love me.”

Emotion overwhelmed him. His eyes stung. He tenderly touched her face. “I do.”

Her eyes widened. “What?”

“I love you, Sophia.”

Her eyes welled with tears. “How can you love me? I've been horrible to you.”

Ian brushed the tears from her cheeks. “How could I not love you? You keep me on my toes.” He bent down and captured her mouth with his. Never had he felt so much for a woman. This woman was special. He whipped her passion up until she was squirming beneath him. He positioned himself at her entrance.

“This may hurt, my love.”

“I don't care. I need you, Ian.”

“Hold on to me.”

Sophia wrapped her arms around his neck, her legs around his hips. He pushed into her, slowly, completely, until he was fully seated deep inside her.

Tears ran down her cheeks. Her eyes were tightly closed.

“I'm sorry, so sorry to have to hurt you.” Ian kissed her tears away. He held himself still, waiting for her tense body to relax. His mouth found hers with teasing kisses, each one deeper than the last, until she started to respond. His mouth trailed down to her breasts, pulling each one deep into his mouth.

“Ian?”

“Yes, love.”

“It feels so strange. I am full of you.”

He kissed her mouth again. “That's the way it works.”

His hand reached between them to touch her sex and coax her passion back to full bloom. She pushed up against his hand and pushed him deeper. Deeper and past his control.

He pulled out slowly and pushed in again, watching Sophia's face. If she winced, he would stop, or try to. He wasn't sure he could. She felt so damn good, so warm, soft as velvet around him.

She gasped and opened her eyes in surprise. “Do that again.”

He flexed his hips again. Sophia's eyes went soft like melting chocolate. “Again.”

Ian repeated the move, and this time she lifted her hips to meet his. It destroyed the thin thread that was his control. He braced his hands and flexed again and again as he moved within her. He'd never felt anything so amazing. Beneath him, Sophia gripped his arms as she gasped and found her pleasure. The inner spasms pulled at him until he pushed into her with one final thrust and collapsed upon her.

He lay there, stunned, drained of all energy until Sophia poked him.

“I cannot breathe.”

“Sorry.” He lifted himself from her and rolled over to his back. He pulled her back into his arms. He was never letting her go. Ever. He pressed his mouth to her forehead, unable to find the words to describe the pleasure he had experienced. She was his, forever. “Sleep, love.” He kissed her again and let his eyes drift shut as sleep took him.