Page 40 of Surrender to the Earl (Brides of Redemption #2)

R obert didn’t move—couldn’t move—staring down into Audrey’s flushed face, her eyes half closed, her lips moistly parted. He’d never felt so connected to a woman, had never come so close to pure bliss, pure sensation.

But the urges were strong inside him, and she was making the most erotic little gasps of pleasure. He bent to kiss her, to take in the sounds she made when he first began to move.

They shared a moan, and he kissed her deeply, mimicking with his tongue what he was doing to her body.

Her knees lifted, her thighs clutched his hips, and he rolled against her in slow building movements.

He reached to capture the fullness of her breast again, and watched in wonder as she found her pleasure, the depths of her body shuddering all around him, her face full of joy and contentment as the last waves of it moved through her.

He couldn’t wait any longer, driving into her over and over until the passion took him away, and he poured himself inside her.

Then stillness came over him as he enjoyed the press of her moist skin along every inch of his.

He braced himself on his elbows and looked down into her face.

He wasn’t certain of her expression, and he found his thoughts returning to the first moments in her room, how he hadn’t even asked her permission, had just swept her away with his kisses and passion.

Had he seduced her in an attempt to control?

He’d come to her room with deliberate intention after all.

He found himself questioning everything he’d been doing all along, making her think he was indispensable when he’d told himself he was only trying to help.

Had he just been trying to have his way?

But they could have a good marriage, he knew that, and they both wanted children. He could make this work.

“Are you all right?” he murmured, kissing her cheek and her temple and the tip of her nose.

“Hmm.”

Her response was a hum, and her satisfied smile a balm to his guilty conscience.

“I saw your freckles at last.”

She giggled, and even that slight movement of her body was enough to make him fully erect again.

With a little gasp, she moved beneath him. “So soon?”

“Not if you’re tender,” he insisted.

“Oh, I’m not tender.”

And before he knew it, they were rolling around on the bed, until at last he pulled her on top and watched her discover the pleasures of mastering him.

“Oh my!” she gasped, falling down onto his chest when it was over.

Both of them were breathing hard, moist with perspiration.

“If I’d have known it was this much fun,” she said, “I’d have been a scandalous widow before now.”

He pinched her backside. “You’d better watch it. I’ve now seen all those freckles you thought you’d keep hidden.”

She laughed and rolled off him, not even bothering with a sheet, comfortable with her nudity.

And that aroused him all over again, but he restrained himself with difficulty.

He came up on his side, resting his head on his bent arm, letting the other hand trail along the curves of her body.

Her eyes were half closed, and she moaned softly when he lingered on her nipples.

“You must stop,” she whispered. “You can’t stay here tonight.”

He thought about being with her every night, wanted to remind her that all she had to say was “yes,” and they’d never be separated again.

But he didn’t want passion to be the reason she accepted his proposal. That seemed too … underhanded on his part.

As if he hadn’t been underhanded in so many other ways, he thought with regret.

He leaned down to give her a soft kiss. “It’s difficult to leave you.”

“But you must.” She yawned. “You have exhausted me, and how will I face your guests with circles under my eyes? They’ll know?—”

“They’ll know that an engaged couple couldn’t keep their hands from one another for one more moment.”

She smiled, but didn’t respond, and at last, he sat up and left her bed. As he dressed, he watched her. She drew the sheet up at last, but he knew the chill of the room had more to do with that than shyness. She could never be shy with him again.

When he was ready to leave, he leaned over her, making her sink slowly back into her pillows until he was above her. He kissed her long and deep, not touching her in any other way.

“Good night, sweet Audrey,” he murmured against her lips.

“Good night.”

He thought she was about to say something else, but all she did was give him a soft smile that he took with him into his dreams.

Audrey awoke feeling more relaxed and happy than she’d ever felt in her life. Her body was tender in spots, but not painful, only a reminder of Robert’s passion, and that felt delicious.

She thought she might feel embarrassed at breakfast, but any of that was overwhelmed by the somber knowledge that she was leaving right after. She tried to enjoy each conversation with Robert, Blythe, and the Blackthornes, to make the meal last, but soon enough it was time to leave.

At the carriage, Robert held both her hands. “It’ll be a day or two before I can come to you, no later than your tenants’ feast, I promise.”

“It will seem a long time,” she murmured, squeezing his hands.

“You’ll miss me?”

“I always do.”

And then he kissed her cheek in front of everyone, and she didn’t mind in the least, only found her smile growing tremulous as she waved good-bye out the window.

“He still has his arm upraised,” Blythe said, her words trailing off in a sigh of happiness. “I think he truly loves you. Don’t you?”

“I—” Audrey hesitated. “I don’t know about his feelings, but I love him.”

Blythe gave her a swift hug before settling back on the bench at her side. “I knew it,” she said with satisfaction.

Audrey could only laugh. She would not allow her doubts to assail her, only thought of the next time she would meet with Robert, the next time she could show him with her body how she felt.

And she trembled at the memories and hugged them tight to herself all the way home. She wasn’t afraid anymore.

Two days passed swiftly, and Robert enjoyed his own home more than he ever had in his life.

Sharing it with Michael and Cecilia made all the difference in the world—as did the knowledge that soon he’d be sharing it with Audrey.

Regardless of her “scandalous widow” comment, he knew she wasn’t the type of woman to have an affair and then forget him.

He still saw her face in his dreams, the last time he’d kissed her good-bye, the hope and the tenderness she hadn’t bothered to hide. And when he wasn’t seeing her face, he was remembering her passionate lovemaking until he could barely fall asleep at night for wanting her.

When Michael and Cecilia heard about Audrey’s tenants’ feast, they asked if they could attend, and the three of them arrived together.

There were pavilions thrown up across the grounds, tables and chairs being set up by the Sanfords as well as workers Audrey had hired from the village.

People scurried about, but with a sense of happy anticipation.

Robert smiled at it all, until he saw Audrey in the garden, holding Louisa Sanford’s little boy, Molly standing nearby, the puppy on a leash. His eagerness to see Audrey felt doused with cold water, and he couldn’t quite understand his own uneasiness.

“Who is the little boy Audrey is holding?” Cecilia asked as they walked through the grass.

“The son of one of Rose Cottage’s maids,” he said.

But Michael’s gaze sharpened on him, as if Robert’s voice had revealed too much to his good friend.

Audrey heard the gravel crunch beneath their feet and lifted her head, her brilliant smile for the boy fading.

“Good morning, Lord Knightsbridge,” Molly said.

Audrey’s expression softened with pleasure, and Robert felt some of his concerns fade—not all.

“Robert,” Audrey said. “I’ve missed you.”

“And I’ve missed you. But before we become all sentimental, I’ve brought Michael and Cecilia, too.”

“What a lovely home you have, Audrey,” Cecilia said.

Audrey’s smile widened to a grin. “How wonderful that you’ve come! All our plans are going well, and everything will be ready for the feast this afternoon. Molly can show you both inside where you can refresh yourselves.”

“I’ll remain and speak with you,” Robert said.

Her expression was quizzical, but she turned to Molly. “Can you return Arthur to Louisa? She must be done helping her mother with the tarts by now. I’ll keep the dog. Bye-bye, Arthur.”

She gave a little wave, and the boy waved back. Everyone headed for Rose Cottage, and Robert squatted down to pet the puppy.

“Does he have a name yet?” he asked.

“Victor,” she said. “Molly came up with it. For Queen Victoria.”

“A good name.” And then he rose to his feet, and they stood there, separated, but so recently joined together. For just a moment, he let the pleasure of looking at her, being with her, overtake his concern.

She smiled almost shyly. “What are you doing?”

“Remembering.” He cleared his throat, then lowered his voice. “Remembering how you look naked, by candlelight.”

She blushed, her eyelids lowered, a sweet smile curving her lips. “Robert, you shouldn’t speak so.”

“I think I’ll have to make love to you outdoors.”

Her eyes flew wide. “Robert!”

He laughed and took both her hands to kiss them, wishing no gloves separated her skin from his lips. “Then I’ll change the subject to something more serious. Perhaps this will discomfit you, but I’m concerned about your closeness to Louisa’s son.”

To his surprise, her smile softened, and she reached up to touch his face. “I cannot believe how well you see what’s inside me, Robert.”

“You don’t seem to mind my concern.”

“I understand it. There were moments when I first learned of Arthur’s existence, that I felt too … connected to him. He is Martin’s son.”