My Forbidden Mentor (37 page)

His stroking fingers paralyzed her ability to speak as her mind focused on the sensations of bliss spiraling through her body. She was amazed at how one man could set her ablaze with a single touch. “How can I object when you touch me like that?” Her voice vibrated in sensual tones, and her eyes remained closed while savoring his touch.

“Mm, how can I stop when you feel so soft and warm and delicious,” he murmured.

“Oh John, you make me feel good, so good,” she moaned in panting breaths when suddenly the sound of coughing startled her.

“Shh,” John warned.

Obviously he’d heard it too but chose to ignore her auntie’s signal that said she was quite aware of what was going on. Panicking, Melissa’s rattled nerves shattered any desires left to be explored. “We better stop,” she suggested to John, her body stiffening as she said it.

“Why?” John asked in disappointment, clearly opting to forget about her aunt’s interference. “Just be quiet.”

“I can’t be quiet, you know that,” she responded in a harsh whisper as John’s lips trailed down her backside.

“Just try,” he implored, anxious to relieve the burning, aching needs his manhood had commanded and expected to be filled by this time.

Normally she would have given in to John’s enticing ways but this time she couldn’t. Concerned with what impression her aunt would have, she stopped herself and him. “No, I think we had better stop.”

“Melissa, this isn’t fair. I’m ready to burst,” he complained.

“I’m sorry, you don’t think I’m not in misery?” she said as she flipped onto her back. “Her cough was obviously a warning.”

“Damn it all, Melissa, I’m to be your husband. Your aunt is not naïve and I’m sure she’s well aware we’ve already been intimate.”

“It’s different when she’s in the room next door. I don’t know what I was thinking,” she said, sitting up and shaking her head in disgust.

“You weren’t thinking, you were feeling, just as I was. Now come here.” He sat up, reaching with his forearm to grasp around her waist when she slipped away from him. “What are you doing?” he asked as she lifted from the bed.

“I’m putting on a night dress,” she told him, stepping over to her closet.

“A night dress won’t stop me, Melissa. You know I prefer you to lie naked with me.”

“John, lying naked with you right now is too dangerous.”

“Bloody hell Melissa,” he cursed aloud, exerting a breath of frustration on his way down to the bed. He didn’t give up but quietly persuaded, “All right, come to bed naked please, and I won’t pursue you.”

“Promise?” she asked as she inched her way toward him.

“Promise,” he agreed, adding in an aggravated breath, “Even though this is insane.”

“John,” she exclaimed in warning, hesitating before climbing into the bed.

“You have my word, now come to bed sweet,” he promised, sounding disappointed again but sincere.

“I love you, John,” she told him as she snuggled up to him.

“I love you too,” he responded, pulling her closer.

“John’s not going to like this,” Robert told Rose while guiding her into the carriage. They had just come from Sally’s place after having the privilege of a confrontation with Duke Albert. He had questioned them extensively about John’s new lady friend.

“What are you going to tell John?” Rose asked.

His hand skimmed through his dark brown hair in a swift motion. While leaning his head into the seat, he released a long held breath. “The truth, I suppose. Warn him, if that will do him any good.” His head straightened and turned toward Rose, his emerald eyes searching her light blue ones. “John’s handled his father before. It’s just that he seems so happy now and I know when his father gets a hold of him, well, the scene probably won’t be good. I hope Melissa doesn’t have to be subjected to Duke Albert’s callus ways. He can be downright cruel, as you’ve witnessed yourself.”

Rose cast Robert a soft smile, her delicate hand smoothing Robert’s roughened cheek. “John will protect Melissa, Rob. He won’t let his father near her if that’s the way it should be.”

Robert took Rose’s hand in his, caressing it. “You’re right.” He smiled back and then became serious. The subject he was about to approach with her they had discussed numerous times before. They would always compromise, he more than she, Robert felt, but the time had come when Robert could no longer compromise.

He knew he was taking the chance of pushing her too far, but he had to make her understand once and for all how it was for him, how hard it was with their arranged situation. His voice was low and non-threatening. “Rose, I have other concerns besides John and Melissa, and they include us.” He saw her face change as it always had before, for she knew instantly what he wanted to talk about.

“Not much longer, Rob. I promise. I’m almost there,” she assured him.

But Robert had already pondered over and over the last day or so and had come to a decision he hoped he wouldn’t regret. His eyes shut as if to endure her words one more time. “Rose, I know you’re true to your word, but we’ve been together for eight or nine months now.” His hand tightened on hers. “What I’m trying to say is . . .”

Rose could feel the same argument coming about and chose to cut it short for she had a goal to reach and Robert was well aware of it. “Robert, we have been over and over this. I know it’s not easy for you, but you’ve got to believe that my love is all for you, and in a short while I’ll be able to show you full-time how much I love you.”

Robert stuck by his decision. He’d become tired of the ridiculous situation, and seeing John and Melissa together had encouraged his change of course. “Please let me finish. This isn’t easy for me.” Sternness carried from his voice into his features, a look Rose soon realized was different from those during of their previous discussions. “All right,” she replied and listened with patience.

Robert cleared his throat and spoke with calm measure. “I love you, Rose. I have never loved anyone as much as I love you. The work you do is extremely trying at times, and I suppose I’ve come to a point where I can no longer deal with the other men. I’ve been patient and I’ve been understanding, but I can’t do it anymore.” He observed her eyes becoming watery and wanted to kick himself for making her cry, but he had prepared himself that this might happen. “This is harder than hell for me, Rose.” He took a long awaited pause, for his next words he had hoped he could have avoided. “But unless you can let go of this lifestyle and be my wife . . . we need to part ways.”

There was the expected silence as the two lovers searched and held each other with their eyes. For a man who never cried, the urge to do so was sorely tempting. He knew it wouldn’t be easy and now it was up to Rose to determine their future. Tears started to stream down her cheeks as she pleaded in a last ditch effort to change his mind. “I’m almost there, Rob,” she said in a whispered tone, hardly audible, her sobs catching in her throat.

Robert could barely swallow. It tore him up to see the woman he loved in pain, but his pain was just as real so he offered once again a solution to their dilemma. “If you marry me, Rose, you won’t have to worry about being almost there. Can’t you swallow a little of your pride and let me take care of you?”

Through teary eyes Rose stared at Robert as if he had asked her to give up her most prize possession. Her hard work was about to pay off, but it seemed obvious Robert’s patience had worn thin. “I understand. I suppose there’s only one solution,” Rose replied, a hand violently wiping away the embarrassing tears from her ivory cheeks. Robert watched her as she gathered her belongings in a swift motion.

“What solution is that?” he asked, lost in her abrupt madness.

Her face turned away from him, putting an end to searching the handsome features she would never see again. “Turn the carriage around. I want to go home.”

Robert’s gaze lingered into her mass of copper tresses. Disappointed by the way she had decided to handle their situation, anger began to flare over any other emotions that were surfacing. “Why does it have to be this way, Rose?”

Her response was to remain quiet as sadness filled her breaking heart. Losing Robert in such a quick manner was not what she had bargained for. She wanted to be his wife and have his children in the near future, but the pressure to make a choice was too much too soon, which in turn cast defensive motions against him. “It is my only option. Please turn this carriage around.” Turning around to face him she waited for his battling reply. Robert reluctantly motioned for the driver to turn the carriage around and they rode back in silence, both staring out their own windows, immersed in their own thoughts.

As they approached Sally’s Place Robert gave her another chance to change her mind. “You have more options than this one and you know it, Rose. Is it wrong for me to want you all for myself?”

Her blue eyes searched his face one last time. The carriage halted and that was her cue to leave. She lifted from the suede seat, opened the door and took a step out. Robert gazed into her backside for as long as she stood there. His hopes lifted when she suddenly swiveled around, baring blue eyes that were sparkling with new tears. “Please remember this, Robert. I love you no matter what happens. I am not trying to intentionally hurt you.” She couldn’t take any more so she fled.

Robert’s first reaction was to chase after her. It killed him to see her in pain, but bloody hell, he’d grown tired of sharing her. It was for the best. Perhaps in time things would change, but then, perhaps not. He let her go, and in a sullen tone he told his driver to carry on.

He thought of visiting John. He was the only one who could cheer him up. He was heading in the direction of John’s manor when he remembered John had Melissa now and they would be at her house. No doubt they were still there. His course changed toward his own home.

John’s luck wasn’t any better. He’d gone a whole week now without the pleasures of Melissa’s body. He thought her reasoning was ridiculous but he wasn’t about to force himself on her. Lying next to her warm body night after night without imposing any touching had become unbearable though, so he had devised a plan which had almost worked. If he couldn’t have her at night in bed, he’d thought he would have her in the daylight hours in the barn.

First he had checked Miss Beckett’s progress with her cooking, making sure she’d be busy enough not to disturb them. Next, he waited until Melissa was busy with her chores in the barn. Finding her arranging bales of hay, John had strutted in, pleased with himself and presenting a sinful grin that immediately curved into a frown. She was not one to ask for help and as he watched her lift a heavy bale of hay he had become angry. She was pregnant but acting like she wasn’t with her physical activity. His pace increased before bending his legs and taking the weight from her, tossing the bale onto the next stack. He had startled her but he didn’t care. He turned around to face her. “What the hell are you doing?” he questioned with eyes burning into her and waiting for a reasonable response, even though there wouldn’t be one.

It dawned on her why he was so angry, his concern for the baby. She hadn’t seen a problem with the activity as she was feeling fine. In fact, of late she was actually feeling great. Her morning nausea was subsiding and her body was beginning to change, adding a healthy glow to her whole being. She’d never been happier except for one thing: being intimate with John. She knew he was probably going crazy.  So was she, but unfortunately she couldn’t bring herself to make love with her aunt’s bedroom next to hers. She couldn’t hold in her passion for John and when they had made love before there had always been yelling involved.

How do I get out of this one, she wondered? The innocent routine took over. “I’m stacking hay, John. What does it look like I’m doing?”

His sternness didn’t veer. She knew exactly what he meant. Stepping over to her, he lifted her in his arms and set her atop a stack of baled hay. With his hands set firmly into the sides of her waist he began his lecture. “I hope you haven’t forgotten that you’re carrying our child.” He saw her mouth open to voice a reply but continued anyway. “And I hope you remember that you have a strong male body around to help you with these chores.” Talking about their child reminded him of her promise to tell her aunt within a week. Had she defaulted, because there hadn’t been any word to him about it? “By the way, did you tell your aunt about the babe?”

She realized that she really had forgotten with all the chores she endeavored in the past week. “Not yet, but I will,” she rushed out.

“When?”

“Give me one more week.”

“Why?”

“It’s not that simple for me, John. But I will do it.”

Her saddened eyes hit his soft spot. How did she do it, making him give in so easily? “Five days, starting today, and that’s it.” Although he was cross with her, he had to admit he loved the challenge of her. It was enough to drive him mad.

Her innocent look remained as she flashed him the hazel depths of her eyes. “Yes, my lord. I will do it. Will there be further punishment?” she teased.

From the tone of her voice, John took this as an open invitation. “That’s more like it, and yes, I do believe that further punishment is necessary. I need to remind you of the mistake you made today.” His lips curved into a sensual grin.

Melissa returned his grin with her own heavenly smile and his head bent forward so he could kiss her. She met his lips with the same aching need. Punishment forgotten, his fingers gripped her waist tighter while her hands slid into his hair. Their groans and eager tongues sang in tune as their bodies intertwined. They parted for one brief second, enough for Melissa to comment. “I like your kind of punishment.”

“Then I’ll have to punish you more often,” he whispered against her mouth. Their lips crushed together again, never parting as their need intensified. John wrapped Melissa’s legs around his waist, lifting her into his arms and carrying her to a secluded spot behind the elevated stacks of hay. Gently he laid her on a pile of fresh loose hay, following her down with their mouths attached.

Melissa’s hands skimmed down his neck to the collar of his shirt, unbuttoning with feverish speed. John had already been disassembling her attire and had now freed her breasts. Passion inflamed him while staring down at her arched bosom eager for his touch. Melissa was pulling at the shirttails tucked in the waistband of his trousers when she experienced the warmth of his mouth on her breast. Her hands stopped their motion, her mouth moaning while he suckled on her. He switched breasts as his hands were practically ripping the rest of her clothing off. She was feeling the same heat that drove him and started shredding the buttons of his trousers, causing John to groan blissfully as her fingers brushed against him. Immediately she wanted more when two commanding fingers slid inside her dampened heat. Her body bowed upward along his stroking fingers, her need of him increasing, making her actions turn aggressive. Her hands seized his hips while her fingers were trying desperately to pull down his snug fitting trousers.

His mouth came above hers. “They’re down far enough,” he growled.

“Hurry then,” Melissa replied, as anxious as he to join together.

He was positioning himself between her open thighs and when the crown of him touched her moist but delicate skin, a distant but familiar voice could be heard.

“John, Melissa, are you two in here?”

John couldn’t believe his luck. “No, this isn’t happening,” he breathed along Melissa’s cheek, but the familiar voice grew in volume and he knew he couldn’t continue. Quickly he covered Melissa with her disarrayed clothing and then buttoned his trousers closed, causing immense discomfort in his current state of arousal.

Melissa managed to get her top put back together and was proceeding with her skirt when a tall shadowy figure stopped next to the tall stack of hay, staying out of viewing range. John kneeled in front of Melissa, blocking her from their visitor’s sight.

“Are you two decent now?” he asked, giving them the time they needed. He had heard their heavy breathing and knew inevitably what he had interrupted. No doubt John would remind him of it later, but he wouldn’t have stopped them except that he had extremely important issues he needed to discuss.

“Robert, your timing is impeccable. You seem to have a knack for it,” John replied, disappointed once again.

Robert peeked his handsome head around the corner of a bale of hay with a mischievous grin on his face. “Sorry,” he said, feeling more embarrassed for Melissa than anyone, but she seemed understanding, or at least more so than John.