Enticing the Earl (18 page)

“Take off your shoes and stockings for me.”

Mia kicked off her shoes. Feeling like a seductress, she placed her leg on the end of the bed and lifted her shift to her knees. She untied the garter holding her stocking up and then slowly inched the stocking down over her calf and ankle. The sound of his shallow breathing gave her the confidence to lift her shift up to her thigh as she removed the next garter. Peeking a glance at him, she noticed the tight grip on the bedpost as if to keep him from touching her.

“Now the shift,” he ordered as the second garter hit the floor.

“As you wish.” She lifted her shift with excruciating slowness, exposing her skin to his gaze inch by inch. His eyes grew steely gray as the material slipped over her hips to her flat belly. He groaned as she exposed her breasts to his gaze. Finally, she yanked the garment over her head and let it fall to the floor.

“Dear God, you are beautiful.”

She closed the distance between them. “But you still have far too many clothes on for my taste. Sit down.”

Simon did as she ordered and sat on the edge of the bed. He clenched the coverlet in his fists as she bent over to remove his shoes. He was already about to burst but would give her this little bit of control for a while.

“Stand,” she demanded.

She worked at the buttons on his breeches, and then slowly slid them over his hips and down his legs. She removed the rest of his garments. He didn’t know how much more of this he could take before he tossed her on the bed and thrust into her.

She skimmed her hands up his legs until she reached his cock. Using her fingernails, she eased up the length of him, sending his desire soaring. Closing his eyes, he let his head rest against the bedpost. Her moist tongue circled the top of him.

“Dear God,” he groaned.

As her mouth slid down the hard length of him, Simon tried to think of something other than the sensation of her tongue and mouth. She mimicked the act by sliding him in and out until he thought he would lose his mind.

“Enough,” he rasped.

She backed away slowly. “Did I do something wrong?” she asked in an innocent tone.

He yanked her back against his chest. “No, something far too right,” he whispered before kissing her hard. Her tongue swept across his and they warred for dominance. He’d never met such a passionate woman as Mia. He craved her touch, her kisses. He felt her hands reach between them to stroke him again.

“No more or I shall have to tie you to the bed.”

Her brown eyes flickered with desire. “Is that a promise?”

Ignoring her comment, he picked her up and laid her on the bed before covering her with his body. “Do you have any idea how much I want you right now?”

She tilted her hips against his hard cock. “I believe I have a slight idea.”

“Then stop moving or this will be over now.”

She stilled the movement of her hips.

Simon waited for a moment to catch his breath and regain a modicum of control. Wanting her to feel as much pleasure as he knew he would, he kissed a trail of hot kisses down her neck. He nipped the skin where her rapid pulse beat. Lifting his body slightly, he stared down on her small breasts and dusky nipples. They seemed to draw even tighter under his gaze. He leaned forward and suckled one until she moaned beneath him.

Mia closed her eyes as his mouth covered her breast. Her body felt as if it was on fire with him on top of her. His tongue moved across her belly until it reached the fine hair between her legs. Oh God, he couldn’t do that now.

“No, Simon.”

“Oh yes, Mia,” he replied against her thigh before plunging his tongue between her legs.

Already halfway to an orgasm, the sensation of his tongue there brought her immediately to the brink. Just as she was at the pinnacle, he pulled away with a laugh.

“Not yet,” he whispered.

“Yes, now,” she begged. Slowly her body receded from the peak with frustration. She panted against the pillow wanting him to enter her now. “Please, Simon.”

“I do love it when you beg,” he said in a hoarse tone.

Just when she thought he was going to move into her, his tongue was back on her clitoris, bringing her back to the edge. “Oh God, Simon.”

Before release could wash over her, he pulled away again.

“Stop,” she begged. Did he know the frustration straining her body?

“When you come, I will be in you so deep that I will fill you completely.”

“Then now.”

He only laughed and brought his mouth back down to her. She lifted her hips and his tongue slipped into her warmth, circling her. Unable to control the sensation racing through her, she climbed higher and higher. Her nerves were stretched to their limit.

“Please, Simon.”

This time, just as she reached the pinnacle, he thrust into her sending her completely over the edge. Her inner muscles clenched down on him as he plunged in and out of her. Before she had even recovered from her first orgasm, a second even harder one slammed her body. This time as her muscles tightened around him, he stilled over her body.

“Mia,” he groaned as he spilled his seed into her.

Collapsing on top of her, they remained motionless, the sound of their panting filling the silence. She had never imagined making love could be this incredible. Neither of her previous times had been anything like this.

He rolled off her and brought her close. Mia was still shaking from the experience her husband had given her. She knew without a doubt that she loved him completely and had to tell him.

“I love you,” she whispered.

Hearing nothing in reply, she raised her head and realized he had fallen asleep not hearing her declaration.

S
imon woke the next morning feeling as if he’d used every muscle in his body the previous night. While he’d thought Mia would be passionate in bed, she surpassed all his expectations. He’d never experienced anything like their passion. Could it be love that made the difference?

He wanted to talk to her about his feelings for her last night but had fallen asleep almost immediately. With sunlight streaming in the window, the moment was gone. He rolled over only to find the bed empty.

“Mia?”

Silence answered him. He tossed off the coverlet and looked around the room. Her clothes were gone. Panic washed over him. Where the bloody hell could she have gone? He dressed quickly and raced downstairs.

“Harris, have you seen my wife?”

Harris smothered a smile. “Of course, my lord, she is in the morning room enjoying her breakfast.”

“Thank you.” Relief swept over him. He entered the bright morning room and stopped. Mia, the poor wise woman who agreed to be his wife, sat at the table in her green morning gown looking like the countess she now was. Pride surged in him.

“Good morning,” she said to him.

“Good morning.” He sat in the seat across from her as a footman placed a cup of coffee in front of him. Another footman delivered a plate full of eggs and ham. “Thank you,” he said and then waved them out of the room.

“Why didn’t you wake me?” he asked as the door shut behind the footman.

“You fell asleep as soon as we...” She took a sip of her tea. “You looked exhausted so I didn’t want to disturb you. Besides, we never ate last night and I was famished.”

A logical explanation for certain. “What would you like to do today?”
Please say spend it in bed with you.

“I do believe someone promised to show me how to defend against an attacker.” She wiped her mouth with her napkin before placing it back on her lap. “Shall we do that today?”

Not quite what he had in mind but there was something to be said about coming up on her from behind. His mind went to lascivious thoughts about bending her over a table and entering her.

“Simon?”

He shook his head. “Yes, I did promise you. Do you think your ribs feel up to the exertion?”

“I do. My mother told me last week that I was well enough as long as we were careful.”

“Very well. After breakfast, we will do some training.”

“Excellent. Where shall we meet? I must change into one of my older gowns first.”

“Meet me in my study. I will take you down to the room where I get my... exercise.”

She pushed back her chair. “You have a room for that?”

“Yes, downstairs so I don’t disturb anyone.”

She nodded and then left to change.

Simon stared down at his eggs, wondering how she would react if she knew what he really used that room for. Would she regret marrying him? Would she fear him? He could never let that happen, therefore she must never find out.

He pushed his plate away and walked to the study to wait for her. Dishonesty was no way to start a marriage but he was protecting her by not telling her about his past. There were some things a wife didn’t need to know.

“Are you ready?” she asked from the threshold.

“Yes.” He walked over and took her hand. “Come with me.”

He led her down the back staircase and a long corridor lined with servants’ rooms. When he finally reached the back room, he opened the door and waited for her comment.

“This is amazing,” she said in awe. “What do you do in here?”

Two small windows filtered sunlight into the large room filled with dumbbells for lifting. The large sand-filled bag hung in the middle of the room. She walked up and pushed it.

“Is that what you do? Push it?”

Simon laughed. “No, I punch it.”

She turned around with her eyes wide. “With your hands? Doesn’t that hurt?”

He walked over to his leather gloves and held them up to her. “I put these on first.”

“Will you show me?”

He tossed off his jacket and waistcoat while she leaned against the wall to watch. He slipped the gloves onto his hands.

“Do you come down here alone?” she asked.

“Sometimes one of the footmen will come down with me and spar.”

“Spar?”

“It’s a pretend fight.”

Her face paled slightly. “So no one gets hurt.”

Most of the time. “Of course not.”

“Oh.”

He could hear the relief in her voice. “When I am down here for exercise I use the bag and the weights.”

“That explains...” her voice trailed as her cheeks turned red.

“Explains what?”

“Nothing.”

He lifted her chin with his gloved hand. “Mia?”

“The fact that you are built like a blacksmith,” she admitted.

He leaned in closer, inhaling her sweet scent. “And do you like that?”

She nodded.

“Good.” He walked away and slammed his fist into the bag of sand. He turned at the sound of her gasp. “Are you all right?”

“I didn’t expect the force. You’re very strong.”

“I’ve been doing this for a while.” He returned his attention to the bag and hit it a few more times before pulling off his gloves. “But we didn’t come down here for this. Come over here.”

She walked in front of him. “How could I ever defend myself against someone of your size and strength? Coming down here and seeing what you do only confirms in my mind that I need a weapon for protection.”

Simon spun her around so she wasn’t facing him and wrapped his arms around her chest, holding her tight. She stiffened behind his grip.

“Simon, I don’t like this.”

“You’re not supposed to,” he replied. “Now if a man grabs you like this, what can you do?”

“Nothing, I cannot move my arms,” she answered in an exasperated tone.

“So what is wrong with your feet?”

“My feet?”

“The point is to cause enough pain that your attacker will release you.”

“At which point, I run and he catches me.”

“Not if you prohibit him from running.”

She went silent for a long moment in thought. “How?”

He smiled. “Stomp on your attacker’s foot as hard as you can. His reflex will be to let go of you. If it doesn’t work, then kick him in the knee.”

“Knees are excellent. They are terribly painful when broken. I had never thought of that.”

“Use your knowledge of muscles and bones to hurt your opponent. The best thing is to use a combination of moves to debilitate him. I would suggest, stomping on his foot and then slamming your heel into the opposite knee. Then a hard jab to the ribs, turn and bring both fists down on his nose if you can reach. Try it.”

“I’ll hurt you!”

“Just the moves, please. Say it as you do it so you remember in a time of crisis.”

“Foot,” Mia said, then pretended to stomp on his foot. “Knee. Rib.” She spun around and laughed. “Nose.”

“No laughing. This is serious.” He turned her back around. “Again. And this time hit me.”

“I can’t do that, Simon.”

He wrapped his arms around her. “I’m not Simon. I am a man trying to hurt you. I will stop at nothing to get you away from the ball you are attending so I can rape you.”

“Foot,” Mia yelled and tramped her foot on the top of his boot.

Simon held back a wince.

“Knee.”

This time he did flinch as her heel impacted his knee. Thankfully, she didn’t use as much force as he knew she could.

“Ribs.”

Her elbow sucked the air out of him, forcing him to release his hold on her. She spun around and bopped her fists on his nose.

“Nose.”

“Excellent.”

Mia stepped back. “Do you really think I’d be able to remember that and do it?”

“Yes, if you want to survive, you will do whatever you need to.” He came closer and brought her into his arms. “I’m sure this is frightening after what you experienced with Davies. But if you are put in a situation like we just acted out, I want you to think of Davies and use all that anger on your attacker.”

She wrapped her arms around him. “Thank you, Simon.”

“Come along, we both have things to do before we leave for Suffolk.”

 

After spending a few days in a carriage, Mia had never been so thankful to arrive somewhere. The coach rolled to a stop in front of a large gray granite home. Large Palladian windows gleamed in the waning sunlight. Simon climbed down and held his hand out for her. A wave of nervousness washed over her.

“Do you think Charlie arrived and told everyone our news?” she said as they walked toward the door.

“No. He said he had some business with London to attend to before he could come down to Suffolk. Knowing him, Charlie will arrive just as the ball begins so he can make a grand entrance.”

“Oh.”

Simon squeezed her hand gently. “Everything will be fine. Caroline will be thrilled to finally have a sister.”

“Even one beneath her station?”

He smiled down at her. “I doubt my sister will care.”

Mia swallowed back her trepidation as the door opened before them. “What about your mother?”

“She might not be as happy.”

Mia stopped short. “And you decided to tell me this now?”

“You would have done nothing but worry if I had told you earlier.” He gave her arm a little tug. “Come along.”

Trepidation turned to outright fear. His mother had always been kind to her but had held herself above Mia. Now that woman would be her mother-in-law. She would never accept Mia as her daughter. But there was nothing Mia could do about that now.

“Simon!” a soft feminine voice sounded from down the hall.

“Caro,” Simon replied with a grin. “Get over here!”

A petite brunette raced down the hall toward him and threw herself into his arms. “Simon! I can’t believe you decided to come for the party!”

“I wouldn’t be here if not for my wife.”

Caroline pulled back and glanced over to Mia. “Your wife? Mia, is that you?”

Mia nodded slowly.

“Oh my!” Caroline’s mouth gaped. “You married our wise woman?”

“No, I married the wise woman’s daughter,” Simon replied.

“Where are my manners? Congratulations to you both.” She waved a liveried footman over to collect their bags. “I’ll put you in the blue bedchamber in the east wing. It has lovely views of the pond. And the sunrises are splendid.”

“I’m sure it will be wonderful,” Simon said. “Where is Waterston?”

“He is entertaining his brothers in the billiard room. For the first week it will only be family.” She leveled a pointed look at Simon. “Then the others will arrive.”

“I see.”

Mia couldn’t help but notice the way Simon stiffened. A small tic pulsed in his clenched jaw. The poor man must truly hate crowds to look so upset by the idea. She placed her arm on his and gently squeezed.

“Of course, you must be tired, Mia,” Simon said, not realizing she only wanted to give him comfort on his distress.

“I can only assume you haven’t spoken to Mother about your marriage?” Caroline asked, leaning in closer to Simon.

“No.” Simon patted Mia’s hand. “We shall announce it at dinner.”

“Well, that should be an interesting dinner,” Caroline whispered. “You two go off and rest. Dinner is at eight.”

“Thank you,” Mia replied.

They followed a footman up the curved marble staircase to their room. A large salon of blues and ivory led into a similar-colored bedroom. The massive mahogany bed dominated the room with ivory bed curtains pulled back to reveal the blue coverlet.

All Mia wanted to do was jump into that bed, pull the covers over her head, and hide until this party was over. She had no business being here. Caroline’s reception had been lukewarm and she was his sister. His mother would be so much more difficult.

“Stop worrying your poor lower lip,” Simon said with a gentle kiss. “Everything will be perfectly fine.”

“For you,” Mia retorted. “You are not the one everyone will be talking about.”

“I’m not so certain that is true,” he mumbled.

“Of course it is. Everyone will believe I am below your station and you should have kept me as your mistress.” And today, Mia believed it too.

He drew her in the comfort of his arms. “I truly do not care what others say about us.”

She should tell him how she felt about him. But after telling him once only to find he’d fallen asleep, she found herself reticent. If he would say those words first, she would have no trouble saying them back. Perhaps she would wait for that to happen. And pray he told her soon.

Mia savored his warmth and protection but knew they had to rest a little before dinner or they would both be too tired to face the upcoming confrontation. She would need all the strength she could muster.

As if sensing her thoughts, Simon said, “Come along; let’s take a rest before dinner.”

He helped her out of her dress and then they both climbed into the large bed. The minute she closed her eyes, she was asleep.

“Wake up.”

A voice called to her. Soft lips caressed hers until she blinked her eyes open. “That is a lovely way to awaken.”

“Good. Now get up,” he said.

She loved the husky sound of his voice after sleep. If only they could stay in bed and make love until the early hours of the morning. She knew that was impossible. Everyone expected them at dinner. A sense of dread enveloped her as she slowly rose. No matter what Simon said, no one was going to accept them—or rather, her.

Simon had already dressed for dinner in fawn breeches, a gold waistcoat, and brown jacket. He looked terribly handsome in his finery.

“I rang for Lucy to assist you with your dressing.”

“Thank you.” She washed up while waiting for her maid to arrive. After a week of marriage, she still wasn’t used to having a maid to help her dress, fetching things for her. It was all very odd. Before marriage, her mother would help her dress or she would wear front-lacing stays. No one would fetch her anything. It was up to Mia to get or fix whatever she wanted.