Page 9 of Courtship at Shadowcrest (The Strongs of Shadowcrest #5)

S terling knew he wanted this woman. Desperately. He had to show her that he had changed. Of course, in doing so, he would use the lessons he had learned over the years to do so. If anything, he knew how to please a woman. What would make her melt in his arms. It didn’t matter. He would do whatever he had to in order to convince Allegra Strong they were meant to be.

He kissed her gently at first, not wanting to rush things between them. No one would be returning to this drawing room tonight. Couples had scattered throughout Shadowcrest, most likely doing the very things he would do with Allegra now.

He smiled against her mouth. Well, some of the things. He doubted any of the other four gentlemen would go quite as far as he would tonight in his pursuit of the lively, vivacious woman sitting in his lap.

“Something is humorous?” she murmured against his lips.

Sterling didn’t bother replying to her question. Instead, he kissed her harder, wanting to increase the passion between them.

It worked. She didn’t ask him anything else, instead becoming consumed by the kiss. While he knew he was an excellent kisser, he had never kissed any woman for the length of time he did with Allegra. It was just another way he knew how special she was. The electricity between them was powerful. Even dangerous.

Just how he liked things.

But this was not a woman he would bed and walk away from. No, he was different now. Sterling saw how empty his life had been. He was ready to begin anew, and this fresh start must include Allegra. No one could replace her.

He eased back on the kiss, giving her small, quick ones now, lulling her. Then he sank his teeth into her full, bottom lip, hearing her gasp. A rush of excitement filled him—and he believed it did her, as well.

He tongued the place, soothing it, outlining her mouth with the tip of his tongue. She readily opened to him, already knowing what he wanted. Sterling leisurely explored her mouth, and as he did, his hand went to her breast, kneading it. She moaned. It swelled in his palm. He raked his fingernail over the taut nipple, hearing her breath hitch.

“You like that,” he murmured against her lips.

“Yes,” she admitted. “Do it again.”

“I will do better than that, love.”

He broke the kiss, his lips trailing down her throat, to where her bosom swelled above the gown. His tongue outlined the rise of each breast, and he could hear her breath quickening. His fingers went to the top of the gown, easing it from her shoulders, pulling it down to her waist, Her corset still imprisoned the pair, though, and he lifted them to freedom.

Sterling kneaded the left one as he kissed the right, allowing his mouth to take it in. His tongue flicked against her nipple, causing her to cry out. She pushed her hands into his hair, tightening her fingers, holding him to her breast. Greedily, he devoured it, sucking, laving, grazing his teeth against the nipple, delighting in her whimpers.

He moved to the other one, causing her to mewl with a repeat performance as she writhed against him. Oh, Allegra Strong was definitely one who would bring him pleasure for many years to come. How ironic that he, who had bedded countless women, was even entertaining the thought of being faithful to one woman. Sterling wasn’t sure if he could do so or not.

Yet Allegra made him want to try.

Moving his hands to her waist, he lifted her so she straddled him. He wanted her to feel his enlarged cock hard against her. He would not take her virginity tonight.

But he would tempt her beyond measure.

“Better,” he told her, his hands cupping her breasts as her head fell back. “You are beautiful, Allegra. So very, very beautiful.”

He slipped her breasts back into the corset and brought her gown up again. Then he seized her mouth, the kisses enflaming them. He tilted her in his arms, moving her head back so he had better access, and deepened the kisses. He had never felt desire as strongly as he did now, nor had he ever reined it in. Sterling would do so, but he still needed Allegra pushed over the edge so that she would want him as much as he did her.

And he knew exactly how to make that happen.

Rising, Allegra still in his arms, he turned and placed her in the chair. Though they were in the far corner of the drawing room, the lighting dim, he could see enough of her face to know she was experiencing the rush of desire.

Kneeling before her, he raised her gown and the undergarments below it, pushing them to her waist.

“What... are you doing?” she demanded, trying to push them back down.

He grabbed her wrists and kissed each palm, sensing her shudder.

“Doing exactly what I told you I would do. Giving you the greatest pleasure I can without fear of making a babe. Now, let me do what I wish to you, Allegra,” he commanded.

“All right,” she said meekly, and he released her wrists.

Sterling pushed her skirts back up again, wishing he had more light and could see her beauty. He could taste it, though, sampling her sweet nectar.

Kissing her knee, he nibbled at it, causing her to giggle. He ran his tongue up her inner thigh, seeking the heat of her core. When his tongue made contact, she jerked, pushing his shoulders away.

“What on earth do you think you are doing?” she demanded.

“If you are going to stop me every time, this is going to take much longer than it should, Allegra,” he reprimanded, as if she were a naughty schoolgirl caught at mischief. “No more talking. And no more interruptions.”

He didn’t wait for her reply. He moved to her core again, licking the seam of her sex, feeling her start and hearing her gasp. He did so again, slowly, already tasting her juices because she was ready for him. Still, he took his time, enjoying the sounds she made, the little whimpers and gasps of an innocent receiving pure pleasure for the first time.

Without warning, he pushed his tongue inside her, and she almost came off the chair. By now, though, he had taken her waist with both hands, anchoring her to the spot. As he devoured her, she writhed, groaning, calling out his name. A powerful feeling passed through him, knowing he was the only man who had tasted her.

With tongue and teeth, he pleasured her, finding her sweet nub and teasing it unmercifully. Then her orgasm erupted, and she bucked beneath him, riding the wave of passion for longer than any woman he had ever been with. Her fingers had fisted in his hair, holding him close to her, and he experienced the orgasm with her, smiling as it rocked her safe, innocent world.

Finally, she stilled, her hands falling from his hair. He lifted his head, the urge to kiss her uncontrollable. He rose, pulling her along with him, until they stood locked together, their mouths fusing. His tongue pushed into her mouth, allowing her to taste herself. She clung to him, and their hunger was fed through their kisses. He wrapped his arms about her for support, knowing her legs were about to give out, kissing her with everything he had.

Her hands went to his face, touching him, and he gentled the kiss. A wave of tenderness for this woman swept through him. Sterling gathered her in his arms again and sat once more in the chair. Allegra snuggled against him, her head resting upon his shoulder.

They sat this way for some minutes. He wondered what it would be like to make love to her. He wasn’t one to remain in bed with a woman after the act, leaving as soon as it was done, never wanting to commit. Would he go to her bed to make love to her when they wed—and then return to his own? Or would he bring her to his bed and keep her there?

Of course, she had yet to give him an answer.

Stroking her hair, he asked, “What did you think?”

Her palm moved against his chest. “What you did to me made it hard to think,” she admitted. “The ways you touched me. Especially... well... I mean... I did not know you would kiss me... there .”

“But you enjoyed it, didn’t you?” he asked.

“Very much,” she said, and he heard the satisfaction in her voice. “I simply had no idea that kind of thing was done.”

“Would you like me to do it again to you?”

Her breath hitched. “No. As much as I would enjoy it, I am so weary, I fear I will not be able to put one foot in front of the other in order to make it to my bed.”

“I could carry you to my bed,” he said.

She gasped. “You will not!”

“Then I will carry you to your bed,” he teased.

“No, Sterling. There will be no carrying me. Anyone could see us.”

He decided to press his suit. “Since you enjoyed what we did together, you only have to say yes to me. To my offer. And we can do all kinds of forbidden things when we are man and wife.”

Her head came off his shoulder, and she peered deeply into his eyes. “Are you being flippant—or do you really wish me to be your wife?”

“I want you in my bed and as my countess,” he replied huskily, pressing his lips against hers in a soft kiss.

When he broke the kiss, he saw he had won. Even in the dim light, he could see she was his.

“Yes. I want you as my husband.”

Sterling kissed her again, sweet, tender kisses. Her passion, for now, was spent.

“I love you,” she told him after he broke the kiss. “I cannot believe we have found what other Strongs have.”

He might be a rake, but he was an honest one. Not a man given to lies. Especially with this woman whom he wanted to make his wife, the mother of his children.

“Do not speak for me, Allegra,” he warned softly, knowing the stickiness of the situation.

She frowned. “What do you mean?”

They gazed at one another a long moment, and the realization obviously hit her.

“You do not love me.”

She scrambled off him, coming to her feet. He stood, reaching for her, but she swatted his hands away.

“How could we have done what we just did and you not love me?” she demanded.

Calmly, he said, “I told you before. Men and women can couple. They can experience a great depth of passion in their physical attraction to one another. Love does not have to be a part of marriage, Allegra. In fact, it rarely is.”

She stomped her foot. “But I want love in my marriage,” she insisted. “I told you of how Strongs wed for love. You knew that, Sterling. You knew that and... did what you did to me.”

His patience waned. “I gave you the choice. You accepted it. I also told you that you would hold no obligation to me afterward. I still want us to wed, Allegra. I think we would suit one another quite well.”

She thrust out her hands, slamming them into his chest, causing him to stumble backward. He caught himself.

“I do not wish to wed you , my lord. I will settle for nothing less than a love match.”

His eyes narrowed. “You would give up what we experienced just now between us? Love is simply a word, Allegra. Even those who believe in it knows it fades after time. I want you. You want me. We would have a good marriage.”

She fisted her hands, placing them on her waist. “Why the bloody hell would I want to wed a man who does not love me? I am certain you would get me with child and then rush into the arms of another woman.” She paused. “No, many women. You are a man with a voracious appetite. One woman would never be enough for you. I would be a fool to shackle myself to you.”

Her tears began to fall, and she angrily wiped them away. “Marriage without love—and commitment—is no marriage at all. Find some other woman in the ton who is willing to look away from your many liaisons with other women, all just to be called your countess. I would rather die a spinster than spend one day as your wife.”

She whirled, rushing from the drawing room. Sterling watched her, stunned that she had rejected his offer.

That she had rejected him.

Determination filled him. He was no puppet on a string who would dance to the tune Allegra Strong played. He could easily have any other woman he wanted. He would leave this damned house party and return to town. Lose himself in the arms of as many lovers as he could find.

He returned to his bedchamber, anger boiling inside him. Sterling had behaved in the most ungentlemanly manner possible. Disappointment in himself now flooded him. He had ruined the best opportunity he had ever had to change his life and have the future he had thought would be impossible.

All because he refused to admit—both to himself and Allegra—that he did love her.