A Scandalous Marriage (27 page)

“I want to show you passion, Leah,” he whispered. “I don’t want you to ever be afraid again.”

“Just kiss me,” she answered, and he laughed and did exactly as she ordered.

Leah was lost in the kiss. The weight of his body across hers felt good. Suddenly, he rolled her over.

She found herself sitting astride him. The kiss broke as he positioned her over his hips.

She could feel the length and force of his erection pressing against her intimately, separated by one layer of warm leather. The heat between their bodies startled her. His hands rested on her thighs, pressing lightly to keep her in place.

“Do you feel it, Leah?” he asked, his eyes gleaming with a wicked light.

Oh yes.
“Feel what?” she asked half in jest and half with a tremble of fear.

“This.” He moved his hips, lifting up. Desire spiked deep within her. He moved again, and she cried out in pain and pleasure. Where had this come from?

His eyes closed, his lips curling with satisfaction. “It’s going to be good between us, Leah. You are so amazingly responsive. I knew it the first time I kissed you.”

His hands stroked her thighs, his fingers moving higher each time.

“Devon?” She shivered in anticipation for something she did not yet understand.

In answer, he raised up to cover her breast with his mouth. At the same time, his thumb circled and touched what seemed the very core of her. The caress of his thumb was like a jolt of electricity; only the energy was different Instead of backing away, she pushed forward.

His lips moved hungrily against her breasts. She wrapped her arms around his head, needing to be grounded. Sparks danced and leapt inside of her. She no longer controlled her own actions. Her body moved and pressed against his hand.

Devon rolled her over again. He covered her with his body, his legs along hers, his hands capturing hers at the wrists.

“You are so beautiful,” he said under his breath. “So very beautiful.”

She closed her eyes. Her body glowed with warmth and well-being and a vaguely unsatisfied need.

“Leah?” He nudged her with his nose, teasing her into opening her eyes. “That was just a taste. I want to take you to the top of passion. I want you to see what it is like when you fall over the edge. Will you trust me?”

At this point, she would follow him anywhere. He read her answer in the dazed expression of her eyes and smiled. He kissed her then. First the underside of her chin, then the pulse point of her neck. He nuzzled each breast, his tongue circling the nipples.

His hands shaped and stroked her waist, before running down the smooth skin of her hips. “Your skin smells of honeysuckle,” he whispered. “It reminds me of spring and sunshine. It even tastes sweet.”

As if to demonstrate what he meant, he tracked a line of kisses along her belly. Playfully, he dipped his tongue in her belly button. Leah gasped, then laughed at the ticklish sensation, burying her fingers in his dark, glossy hair. He resisted her efforts to pull his face back up where she could kiss him.

And then his mouth went lower. Her breath caught in shock and delight. She’d never imagined he would dare do such a thing. His lips covered the point of pleasure his tongue had teased.

Wicked, delicious desire flashed through her. He couldn’t, he shouldn’t! She started to protest, but when she opened her mouth it was to sigh. Her hands ceased their resistance. Instead, she grabbed handfuls of the bedcovers, searching for sanity. Her whole being centered on where his lips teased.

Leah was lost in incoherent yearnings. They all whirled madly inside of her, spiraling upward and upward, carrying her with them.

This was pagan, madness. It was glorious.

And then, suddenly, she discovered the pinnacle. He’d wanted to take her to the top. She’d reached it.

A point so fine, so sharp, so sweet, it made her delirious. The sensation of it whipped through her with the speed of a shooting star.

“Devon!” she cried, right before she felt herself begin to fall over an imaginary precipice. But this wasn’t anything dangerous. Instead, she descended with the lilting dance of a leaf falling to the ground.

Downward, downward, where she found peace.

Her heart pounded against her chest, and yet inside, wave after wave of radiating warmth flowed through her arms, her legs… and her heart.

Devon eased up beside her to kiss her nose. She returned his smile with a dreamy one of her own. “That was amazing.”

“Wait until you see what it is like when we do it together.”

“I can’t wait.”

He laughed and flipped the bedcover over her nakedness, his arms hugging her close. “Tomorrow, Leah. Tomorrow.”

“I think you are the wisest, most handsome man in the world,” she enthused.

Devon’s smile turned wolfish. “I have my moments.”

He would have kissed her, but a knock sounded at the door. “Damn.” He raised his voice. “Who is it?”

“Rex. I need to talk to you.”

Their time alone had ended. “Give me a moment,” Devon called. Then he lifted his eyebrows in askance toward Leah. She gave a small shrug. She didn’t know what he wanted. She and Rex barely spoke to each other when he was here. Lately though, he’d spent a great deal of time visiting his children at his country estate, although he rarely discussed them except to answer the most perfunctory of Leah’s questions.

Leah slid off the bed and disappeared behind the privacy screen. Devon took a moment to straighten himself. He opened the door. “Yes, what is it?”

“Grandfather wishes to see us,” Rex answered.

“All right,” Devon said reluctantly. “I’ll be right there.”

“Wait,” Rex said as Devon started to close the door, “I believe you should know, I overheard Julian Carrollton talking about you the other day.”

“Where was this?”

“I’d taken the children to a horse fair. Julian was there with friends. He is very vocal about his sister’s marriage.”

Leah felt all the happiness drain from her. She had thought that Julian was in Spain.

“Be careful, Devon. He wasn’t sober, and he looked as if he’d been in his cups for days. He’s angry at his parents, too.”

“I’ll watch for him,” Devon said.

“Thought you would want to know. Didn’t want to say anything in front of Leah. Especially with Mother being so aggravating over the ball.”

“Yes. Thank you. I’ll see you in Grandfather’s rooms in a moment.”

Leah came out from behind the screen. “Perhaps if I talked to Julian—”

“You’ll do no such thing. I’m the one he is angry with, and I will settle the matter.” He tucked in his shirt.

He appeared pleasantly mussed. Her body still hummed with contentment. It was hard to worry about Julian when she felt so relaxed.

Devon started fiddling with his neckcloth. She reached for her robe.

“Devon?”

He struggled with the knot. “Yes?”

“When are we going to tell your grandfather the truth about Ben? It has been six weeks.”

His fingers went still.

Leah looked away. “Your grandfather is feeling much better. He grows stronger and stronger, Devon.

The more time that passes, the harder it will be. And I must confess, I don’t want Venetia’s hostility. It isn’t my place to say so, but I almost wish you could give Rex the title and we could put both of them behind us and create a world of our own.”

“I know. But I can’t do it yet. I mean, he seems stronger, but Dr. Partridge warns that his heart is weak.

Maybe after the ball.”

“Maybe you are not being fair to your grandfather. He dotes on Ben, and I think he really has changed.”

Devon seemed dubious. “Not even a Mrs. Oswald can change the basic nature of the man. What if we tell him and he turns from Ben?”

“Or you? Perhaps that is what you are afraid of? That he will reject you again.”

Her observation must have struck its mark, because he withdrew, saying, “Leah, you don’t understand—”

“I do, Devon. You feel you must do this in your own way. But remember, Ben and I are involved, too.”

“I know.”

She placed her hand over his heart. “Then trust us. Ben and I will be here for you, no matter what.”

He covered her hand with his own. “I do trust you, Leah.”

He kissed her then, and left to answer his grandfather’s summons. Leah hugged herself, wanting to believe that what he’d meant was that he trusted her enough to forgive Draycutt. For a second, she closed her eyes, remembering the feel of his touch on her body.

Devon. He knew her soul. He was her life.

She went to check on their son.

Devon stayed late with his grandfather. Leah had intended to wait up for him, but she hadn’t been able to keep her eyes open. When she rose for the middle of the night feeding, he was still not in bed beside her.

However, he was there at six. He rubbed his face sleepily when she accidentally woke him as she rolled out of bed to feed Ben.

“Where have you been?”

Devon hugged his pillow. “Looking for Julian.”

Her heart stopped. “Did you find him?”

“No.”

Leah leaned forward, placing her hand on his shoulder. “Devon, you didn’t go alone, did you?”

“Yes.” He yawned.

She took his hands. “You must not look for Julian by yourself. Promise me you won’t.”

“Leah,” he drew out the syllables of her name with tired irritation.

“Promise. Please.”

“Whatever.”

She stood. “I will talk to Papa. He’ll find Julian.”

But Devon had fallen fast asleep.

Leah lay awake beside him. Today was the day of the ball.

Hours later, she left Devon sleeping and went downstairs to find Venetia a whirling dervish of activity.

Since any offer of help she made was rebuffed, Leah decided the wisest course was to stay out of Venetia’s way. She took Ben to visit her mother, who again assured her that Julian was in Spain.

“If he had returned, he would have come to us first. We are his family. We have not heard a word from him. You can’t trust what Lord Vainhope said.”

Her mother changed the subject. She was excited about the ball. “Think,
cara,
everyone will be there.

They will all see how beautiful my daughter is and how much her husband loves her and they will all be envious.”

“Loves me?” Leah laughed even as her heart skipped a beat. “Mother, what makes you think that?”

“It is there in his eyes. And he loves you too,” she told the baby. “You are a lucky woman. Very lucky.”

“Mama, he married me for the baby.”

She frowned. “You are more naive than I imagined.”

“You don’t know,” Leah said sadly. “I love Ben, but I wish I’d never made that mistake with Draycutt. I wish I could still have Ben but be pure for my husband.”

Her mother hugged her. “One mistake does not ruin a life.”

“But the size of the mistake—”

“There are those of us who have done worse. It’s the past, Leah. You cannot change it.”

“I wish I could.”

“Cara,
forgive yourself,” her mother said with exasperation. “Look at how you have forgiven me for chasing you away. If I’d had my way, Ben would not be alive.”

“You only wanted to do what was best for the family,” Leah murmured.

“No, I wanted to save face.” She took Leah’s hand. “I should have told you this before now. Years ago, I gave up a baby. It is painful not knowing where your child is. My aunts took it from me and my family sent me to England.”

The admission stunned Leah. “Does father know?”

Her mother nodded. “He is such a good man. He really is. I love him to the depth of my bones, but he has a weakness. Julian and William have it too.”

She took Leah’s hand, her squeeze conveying fear, regret. “But I have done worse. Their weaknesses are nothing compared to mine.”

“Mother, you have been the strength of our family. We all love you. There is nothing you could do that we would not forgive you.”

“I pray it is so. Because someday, I fear I will have to atone for the sins I have made, even those I did in innocence.”

“Perhaps you should remember the advice you gave me and forgive yourself. I am finding it hard to do.”

“It is,” her mother agreed. She forced a smile. “But don’t worry about us, especially today when we have such a ball to anticipate. Everything is better now,
cara.
Lord Kirkeby has been more than generous, and your father has promised to quit gambling. The duns no longer knock on our door.”

“Perhaps we Carrolltons have no choice but to learn our lessons through hard experience. It seems to be our destiny.” In spite of the element of truth in her comment, she’d meant it to be taken lightly.

“Perhaps,” her mother agreed, finally smiling. “You have grown wise, daughter.” The praise pleased Leah. She had to leave then. The hour was growing late.

Instead of immediately dressing for the evening, she turned Ben over to his nanny and went in search of Devon. She found him in the study, going over papers.

He was happy to see her but immediately sensed something wasn’t right. She told him what her mother had confessed.

“It is to your credit you can forgive,” he said when she’d finished.

Leah nodded. “But I will not treat Ben in the same way. I will let him have his own life and become his own man—just like you. No son could ever ask for a better father.”

To her surprise, Devon blushed, and before she realized it, she said the words she’d held back, the ones she’d feared he’d reject again. “I love you, Devon.”

He jerked his head up as if he scarcely believed what he’d heard. “What did you say, Leah?”

“I love you.”

“Again.” He stood and came around the desk.

“I love you.” She rose to her feet. This time she said the words louder and with more conviction.

He stopped in front of her. “One more time. Please, Leah.”

She shouted then. “I love you!” The “you” was smothered by his mouth. It was a greedy, hungry, joyous kiss.

“And I love you,” he answered when they both had to pause for a breath.

“You do?”

“Oh, Leah, from the moment I first laid eyes on you.”

Before she could make comment, Lord Kirkeby’s gruff voice said from the doorway, “We know! We know! You love him too!”