More than Passion (12 page)

“Ah, Becca,” he breathed in her ear. “I want you so badly.”

“Take me,” she said breathlessly.

He unbuttoned her jacket, pulled her chemise down. He buried his face in the valley between her breasts, teasing her. She bowed back, begging him without words. He took one straining nipple in his mouth, eliciting a gasp of pleasure from her.

“Oh, what your touch does to me!”

“And how I love to touch you,” he rasped.

His hands were everywhere, pulling her skirt up to touch her intimately. Before she was even aware of it, he’d removed her drawers and unbuttoned his breeches. He stretched her arms over her head, wrapping her hands around a stout branch there. He placed his hands on her bottom and lifted her.

“Love, wrap your legs around my waist. That’s it. That’s ….”

With one smooth thrust, he entered her. She cried out, the feeling intense. He pressed her tightly against the tree, driving into her again and again. She started to tighten around him, close to her release.

“Do you love me, Becca?” he rasped.

“Yes, Geoffrey,” she cried. “Yes!”

She shuddered from her climax, arching in pleasure. He drove harder still, seeking his release. His orgasm was explosive, bringing her with him again. She clung to him as he rained kisses on her hair, her face.

When their breathing returned to normal, she looked at him in surprise. “Oh my,” she whispered. “I didn’t know we could do that.”

“Could do what, love?” he whispered back.

“Stand up.”

He chuckled softly, dropping a kiss on her brow. A while later, they rearranged themselves and readied to return to the manor.

“Lovely afternoon, wife.” He grinned as he swung back into the saddle.

“Lovely picnic, husband,” she teased as she followed his horse back to the manor.

While alone with her husband, so relaxed and at ease, she could almost forget that Geoffrey’s brother and his cold wife waited at the manor. The memory of John’s narrowed gray eyes running over her body until she felt naked, Patricia’s pale gaze always on Geoffrey. Yes, she could almost forget.

Almost.

* * * *

They departed Kanewood for London two days later. Becca was nervous about going to town, having been there but once when she was very small. Inside the carriage, Becca sat close to Geoffrey, with Lady Margaret on her other side. On the opposite seat, Patricia and John faced them. Patricia talked incessantly about which balls they simply had to attend and those to avoid. “Everyone will be looking at you, Rebecca,” she advised. “You have much to live up to, being an earl’s wife.”

“Patricia, Rebecca has nothing to worry about,” Lady Margaret said. “She and Geoffrey make a stunning couple.”

Geoffrey chuckled. “Mother, no one will take notice of me with my lovely wife standing beside me.”

“Indeed,” John said.

Patricia glared in his direction until he turned to look out the window.

“Lady Margaret, Rebecca has never had a Season,” Patricia continued. “It falls on us to see that she doesn’t do anything to cause embarrassment.”

“That’s enough,” Geoffrey said. “Rebecca may not have attended the bashes, but that doesn’t mean she’d ever embarrass me.” He took Becca’s hand, bringing it to his lips. His touch warmed the chill from her fingers. “My wife possesses a natural grace and beauty that hundreds of balls could never bestow.”

“Thank you, Geoffrey,” Becca said softly.

He leaned over and placed a kiss on her ear. She dropped her gaze and Geoffrey settled back against the seat, pulling Becca as close to him as was proper.

It was Patricia’s turn to stare out the window, Becca saw. John and Geoffrey conversed for a while, mostly about what some of their mutual friends had been about in London. The ladies talked more about the upcoming functions, and Becca eventually felt at least as much enthusiasm as nervousness.

* * * *

They stopped for the night at the inn they’d frequented on their trip to Kanewood and set off early the next day. As they neared Oakham that afternoon, Geoffrey announced they would be making another stop.

“And where will we be stopping, Geoffrey?” Lady Margaret asked.

“At the Raven’s Inn, Mother.”

Becca sharply drew in a breath, clasping her hands together. “You’d said we might stop at Raven’s, but when you didn’t mention it, I thought you’d changed your mind.”

He smiled at her obvious delight. “I wanted to surprise you.”

She hugged him in answer and turned to his mother. “Lady Margaret, I know you will enjoy the inn,” she promised. “Our cook is the best for miles around.”

“I concur,” Geoffrey said.

“I doubt I shall be so impressed with a country inn,” Patricia said.

John rubbed his hands together. “Well, I’m famished.”

“And I’m looking forward to meeting your father, Rebecca,” Lady Margaret said.

Geoffrey held his countenance, unwilling to let Becca see his anger and guess something had transpired between him and her father that last morning. Luckily, the carriage soon rolled to a stop and her attention was taken.

“The inn is just lovely, Rebecca,” Lady Margaret said.

Becca turned to the woman and smiled. Patricia wore a look of surprise as she stepped down. “I hadn’t expected such ….” She smiled cooly. “Elegance.”

Geoffrey alighted after them, handing first his wife, then his mother, down. They entered the inn and searched out Becca’s father.

“Kingsley?” Geoffrey called out in greeting.

“Yes, yes.” Thomas came out of his office. “What is it? Rebecca!”

Thomas grabbed Becca by the arms, running his gaze over her face. She seemed surprised by his display. Little wonder that, as Geoffrey had never seen much affection there before.

“Hello, Father,” she said softly.

“I wasn’t expecting you, girl.” He turned to Geoffrey. “Kane, it’s good to see you.”

“Yes, sir.” Geoffrey took the man’s outstretched hand. “I’d like you to meet my family, Kingsley.”

Thomas nodded in greeting as Geoffrey introduced the others, respectively.

“Will you be staying to dinner, then?” he asked Becca.

“Yes.” She smiled at Geoffrey. “I’m afraid I’ve extolled Cook’s talents.”

“Capital.” Thomas led them into the parlor. “It’ll be about an hour.” He bowed and left them.

Patricia and John settled themselves on a couch.

“The place is quite pleasant, Rebecca,” John said.

Becca favored him with a smile. “Would you like some refreshment, Lady Margaret?”

“Some tea would be lovely, dear,” she replied.

“And for you, Patricia?” Becca asked.

“Yes, please,” Patricia answered.

Becca nodded and went off to the kitchen to see to it. Geoffrey watched her go, a small smile on his face. It fled when Thomas stepped into view.

“Kane?” he asked.

“Yes,” Geoffrey answered coolly.

“I’d like a word with you if I may.”

Geoffrey stood. “Of course.”

“And if you will excuse me, ladies,” John said. “I believe I’ll take a look around.”

John left and Geoffrey followed Thomas into his office.

In Thomas’s study, Geoffrey stood ramrod stiff.

“Please sit, Kane,” Thomas said.

Geoffrey did. “What is this about, Kingsley?”

“Kane, I wish to apologize for what I said the day you left.”

Geoffrey stared at the man, certain he’d heard him wrong. Thomas sat for a moment, apparently collecting his thoughts. In the silence, Geoffrey heard footsteps in the hall outside the door. He glanced toward the doorway, but Becca’s father spoke again.

“I was wrong to ask you to pay for the girl, Kane.”

“Damn right you were.”

“I can see that she loves you. You make her happy.”

Geoffrey nodded.

“You had to marry her, I know,” Thomas went on. “But you have affection for her, yes?”

“Kingsley, what are you getting at?”

“I hope I’m wrong about this, but I don’t want you to make the same mistakes I did.”

He stood and crossed to the window. Geoffrey watched him, his interest piqued.

“Keep her close, Kane,” Thomas continued. “I meant what I said about her mother. Don’t let the girl stray.”

“What the devil happened to her mother, then?” Frustration bit at him. “You have mentioned her before, and in less than glowing terms.”

Thomas shook his head. “I loved her mother. That’s all you need to know.”

There was something the man wasn’t saying. He appeared almost angry where his late wife was concerned, a strange thing as she was dead and gone. Had she betrayed him?

“Kingsley, I can assure you my wife keeps herself to me.”

Thomas turned then. “I know you don’t love the girl, but I trust you don’t want anyone else to have her.”

Geoffrey wouldn’t discuss what he felt for Becca with him, a man who surely never showed Becca much. “I keep what is mine.”

Thomas nodded, satisfied. The two men rose to join the others in the parlor.

John stepped into the room soon after, his eyes narrowed on Geoffrey.

“Where were you, John?” Geoffrey asked.

“Did a bit of exploring, brother.” He settled himself beside Patricia. “Lovely inn.”

* * * *

The dinner hour arrived and they adjourned to the dining room. Emmy saw them and let out a loud whoop of joy.

Becca smiled and took her hands in hers. “Emmy, how are you?”

“Never mind me, Rebecca. Don’t ya look fine!” She leaned closer. “Marriage agrees with ya, I think.”

Becca blushed and Emmy turned to the other guests and greeted them.

“Hello, Emmy,” Geoffrey said easily.

Patricia turned her nose up at the serving girl and ignored Geoffrey’s introductions. Emmy paid her no attention, noting instead the way John eyed her. She favored John with a grin, showing the dimple in her cheek. She faced Becca again. “I got my duties, Rebecca. We’ll talk more later.”

Becca nodded and sat herself next to her husband.

They enjoyed a simple but excellent meal of lamb, vegetables, and potatoes. Geoffrey sat very close to Becca, picking food off her plate now and then. She swatted his hand away with a smile.

“Really, Kane,” Patricia said.

“Country manners, Patricia,” Lady Margaret said with a smile. “I for one greatly enjoy seeing my eldest son so relaxed.”

Near the meal’s end, Becca excused herself to talk to Emmy. “I miss you, Emmy.”

“How is everything, Rebecca?”

“Just wonderful.”

Emmy looked across the room and found John staring at them. She turned her attention back to Becca. “I’d watch out for Kane’s brother. I don’t like the way he looks at you.”

“What do you mean?”

“He wants ya, ’tis plain to see.” 

Becca shook her head, but Emmy nodded just as adamantly. “Yea, he does. And if his cold fish of a wife finds out, there’ll be trouble for sure.”

“That can’t be.”

“Promise me you’ll be careful?”

“I ….” Emmy looked so worried, Becca nodded. “All right. I promise.”

When she returned to their table, Geoffrey arched an eyebrow at her. “What is it, love?”

Becca shook her head, setting aside Emmy’s worries and her own regarding Geoffrey’s brother.

Chapter 13

As the carriage rolled into London, Becca bolted upright, gaping out the window. Lady Margaret pointed out the pertinent landmarks, the imposing bridge and looming towers, giving Becca a brief history on them, as well. Geoffrey supposed it was a lot to take in, raised as she had been in the little hamlet of Oakham. He sat back and smiled at the wonder on his wife’s beautiful face.

They crossed over into the fashionable West End near Mayfair, where Geoffrey’s townhouse was located. The carriage came to a stop in front of the white brick structure and Becca’s small gasp drew his attention.

“Geoffrey, your house is so beautiful.” She breathed.

“Our house, love,” he gently corrected.

They alighted the carriage and he held her elbow as they walked up the short path to the glossy-black front door. A liveried servant opened the door, bowing to Geoffrey. He greeted the servant and turned to Becca who apparently saw the intent in his eye a moment too late. He swept her up in his arms to carry her over the threshold as he’d done at Kanewood, letting loose a big booming laugh as he twirled her around.

“Here we go again!” Becca laughed.

He set her down and hugged her to him.

Patricia snorted at the display and swept past them to head up the stairs. “Come, John.”

“Yes, my dove. Kane, I’d enjoy sharing a brandy a bit later.”

“Very well, John,” Geoffrey said. “Mother, do you want me to show you to your room?”

Lady Margaret shook her head and winked at Becca. “I shall see you in the morning, children.” She went upstairs to retire for the evening.

Geoffrey turned to Becca and tilted her head up, running his gaze over her face. “I’m so happy you’re here with me.”

“I love you. I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.”

He nodded, pleased as always to hear it. He kissed her lightly and proceeded to show her the townhouse, happy to finally be sharing the lonely place.

“Why don’t you return to our chamber, love? I promise I won’t be long with John. And tomorrow we’ll ride in Hyde Park.”

She nodded absently. “Which dress …?”

Geoffrey watched as she drifted up the stairs, her mind no doubt on the coming day, even as his was on the coming night.

Geoffrey met John in the study. John already had a generous amount of liquor in his glass.

“Attending the bashes, Kane?” John asked. “That’s sure to raise some eyebrows.”

Geoffrey smiled. “True. I haven’t been very sociable the last few years.”

“That’s putting it a bit mildly, brother.”

“Well, now that I have Rebecca, I’m actually looking forward to the stuffy, pretentious, uncomfortable affairs.”

John sipped his brandy and smiled crookedly at him. “I predict your lovely young wife will have them jumping through hoops.”

Geoffrey arched an eyebrow. He hadn’t missed John’s interest in Becca. “How so?”

“She’s simply magnificent, Kane. If she were my wife, I wouldn’t let her out of my sight.”