Lord Greyton's Fall From Grace (Lords of Avalon Novella Series) (14 page)

He bent and nipped at Grace’s nipple before he kissed her passionately
.
As he
r
skirts were still hiked up, he allowed his hand to slide up her thigh
.
He brushed his fingers against her wetness and imagined what it would feel like to thrust inside her
at that moment
.
The sensation
s
such
a fantasy
brought
h
a
d him straightening and hurrying outside
.
H
e walked to the side of the Summer House and
quickly
gave himself
release
.

Grace
retied her bodice and sh
ook
out her skirts
.
She was bending over placing the remnants of their lunch back into the basket when Owen entered.

He took the time to appreciate the outline of her
beautiful d
erri
ère outlined by
the tightening of her
pale yellow sk
irts
.
He could not stop himself
;
he reached out and caressed her hips as he stepped closer to her.

Grace straightened
.
She whirled around to face him
.
“You’re back.” She gave him a sultry smile
.

Owen dipped his head and kissed her thoroughly. “I told you I would not be gone long
.”

“What did you do?” Grace asked curiously
.
She blushed.

Owen tapped the tip of her beautiful nose with his finger. “I
gave
myself release, dearest
.
It was necessary.” He saw her cheeks redden
.
“I so enjoyed giving you pleasure
,
Grace
.”

Being a virgin,
Grace
truly had no idea
exactly what
Owen
did
or
how
.
She merely nodded
.
“The basket is packed.”

Owen placed his hands on her shoulder
s
and drew her gently against him
.
He gave her a long, slow
, tender
kiss
.
“I love you Grace Brackenridge
.
I
am counting down the days until I can make you my wife.”

“
I love you too, Owen
.
I hope these three months go by quickly.
” Grace grinned
up
at him
.

“
As
I do
.
We need to get you back, my love.”

They walked slowly back to Radley’s gardens. Before they left the woodland path, Owen asked her, “Grace would you like to go riding tomorrow
? 
I thought we could go back to our special place,
and enjoy
the pool
and
waterfall
in the
clearing
.”
The idea had
formed in his mind
as they walked
.
They could be private again
.
After what happened between them today he shouldn’t tempt fate, but he wanted to touch her and kiss her…
and so much more.

“I’d like that
v
ery much
, Owen
.
It was beautiful there.”

Owen reached for and touched the pearl he
gave
her which hung around her neck
.
“I’m glad you like your pearl, Grace
.
You’ve worn it every day since I gave it to you.”

Grace beamed
.
“I love it, Owen, j
ust as I love you.”

Once they reached the garden, Owen returned Grace’s hand to his arm
.
Jenny fell in behind them as they walked past the bench.

“I hope you enjoyed Jenny’s charms, Marston
?”

“You were correct, Squire, the woman does
have certain skills
.
She is eager to please.
” Lord Marston gave the squire a rare smile.

“I told you she
has fine skills
.
She’ll have a place here at Radley as long as she’s willing to share her charms
.
She shall not be going with Grace when you wed her
!”

“I expect to hear good news after Greyton leaves for Italy.”

“If you come to call next week, Marston, and stay the night
, I could make certain Jenny is
here to warm your bed.”

“Perhaps.”

The Squire thought he saw a glimmer in the man’s eyes
.
Lord Marston
was a cool one.
He had enjoyed Jenny’s
skills
much more than he let on
.

The squire
planned to use Jenny for
the afternoon, but Marston
called and hinted he would like to sample her
.
So the Squire had to settle for Bess from the scullery, who although did not possess the skilled mouth of Jenny, did have large breasts and enjoyed a good
forceful
romp.

T
hey reached the front door
as
Lord Mar
s
ton was
exiting.

“Oh, Miss Brackenridge,
I am pleased to see you
today.” Marston bowed. “Greyton.” He gave
Owen
a slight nod
as he passed him.

“Marston.” Owen’s eyes narrowed at the pleased grin Marston sported as he walked
by
them
.
He di
d not like that man. S
omething
was
not right about the way he looked at Grace
o
r him for that matter.
Owen shrugged off the feeling and
greeted the Squire as he entered
the house
behind Grace
.

“A
nd did you enjoy your picnic?” t
he Squire asked them as they sat in the parlor.

“Yes, sir,
” Owen offered.

“Good
.
What are your plans for tomorr
ow?
I must away for the day
on business
to
Ilfracombe.”

“Since you have plans for tomorrow, sir, I was planning to take Grace riding in the morning before it grows warm
.
And I could escort her to Roseland to spend the afternoon with my family after we ride.”

“Very good, Greyton
.
I do not like to leave Grace here
alone
when I am not in residence.
T
here is the chance that my business shall not be concluded until late. I might be forced to spend the night there
.
Since you’ve your sister
and aunt
in residence
at Roseland
, would it be possible for Grace to stay overnight
as your guest
tomorrow
evening
.
I should be home by late afternoon the
d
ay
after
.”

“It is perfectly fine, sir
.
We shall be happy to entertain your daughter at
our home
.
She shall be well cared for.” Owen smiled
.

“Very good
, i
t is settled
.
Thank you, Greyton
.
If you’ll excuse me, I’ve business waiting in my study that must be completed before my departure tomorrow.”

Owen smiled at Grace
.
His mind raced
.
Grace would be sleeping
in his home
tomorrow evening
!
He hardened at the images that sprang to mind
.

“Owen, how wonderful, we can spend the entire day together again tomorrow!” Grace said happily.

Her beautiful smile heated his blood
.
Visions of
Grace arching
beneath him in his bed as he made love
to her
filled his mind
. H
i
s cock
stirred as he imag
ined being skin to skin with
the woman he would take to wife
.
Did he dare make love to his lady before he left for Italy
? 
They were to be wed after all. He would definitely have to ponder the question
carefully
.

“I believe some of my friends shall arrive tomorrow afternoon
.
You will be able to meet them and enjoy their company.”

“You leave in four
days
,
” Grace sighed and frowned
.

“None of that my dearest, I cannot bear
the thought of you being sad.
After today, w
e still have two full days
to spend together
.”

Grace gave him a small smile
.
She wanted to ask him if he would come to her tomorrow night
.
She wanted him to make love to her before he left
.
Somehow she felt it was very important
.

“I will see you at ten tomorrow morning, my dearest, Grace.”

“Perhaps since father is leaving early, you could come at
nine and join me for breakfast,
”
s
he offered
with a smile.

Owen
flashed a broad grin
.
“I shall see you at nine tomorrow morning, Grace.”

They enjoyed their breakfast
.
Grace left Owen to change into her riding habit
.
They rode over the moorland to the wood
.

Owen slid off his mount and plac
ed
his hands on Grace’s waist
.
He
slid her
slowly
down the length of him
.
He gave her a quick peck on the lips before her feet touched the ground
.
He grabbed a rolled up bundle from his saddle
.
“I brought my cape in case of rain
.
But I think we might sit
for
a spell when we reach the clearing
.”

Once on the path leading to the clearing, he took her hand in his and brought it to his lips
.
“You look lovely today, Grace
.”
And she did
.
Her
riding
habit was a dark forest green
trimmed in sage
.
It fit her like a glove, accentuating the fullness of her breasts, the slenderness of her waist and the flare of her hips
.
He suspected his lady possessed the body of a goddess
.
Her golden brown hair was well coiffed beneath a jaunty hat of sage and dark green
.

“Thank you, Owen
.
I’
ve never worn this habit before.
I
saved
it for a special occasion.”

“Today is a special occasion?” He gave her a teasing smile.

“It is
.
I’m spending the entire day with my husband
-
to
-
be.”

“I too, think it is a special occasion, Grace
.”
Owen pulled her into his arms when they reached the clearing where the serene pool awaited them
.
He kissed her quite passionately
.
When he lifted his head, he recognized the tell-tale signs of her arousal from their experience the day before, her burning brown eyes, the flush upon her cheeks, her rosy lips were parted
.

Owen reached into his pocket and produced a small box
.
He presented it to her with a brilliant smile.