Page 54

CHAPTER 28

RICHARD

L unging, I caught her in my arms.

“I’ve got you, my love.”

Throwing her arms around my neck, she began to sob.

Shouldering and kicking my way through the crowd, my servants finally realized what was happening and began to push and shove, clearing a path for me. As we neared the hidden servants’ door, a maid threw it open.

“Guard the goddamn door. No one gets through,” I shouted before rushing over the threshold.

The door slammed shut, pitching us into cool darkness.

Her body trembled violently in my grasp.

“Elizabeth?”

No response.

I squeezed her harder, trying to still her quaking limbs.

“Elizabeth!”

Nothing.

“Lizzie!”

She was going into shock. Racing up the stairs, I tilted my shoulders to the side as I navigated the narrow, dusty hallway.

A rabbit warren of hallways and stairs led to countless hidden doors in every chamber of the three-hundred-year-old estate house, allowing servants to come and go about their duties as silent ghosts, never mixing in the main hallways with their employers.

Knowing these paths from my own childhood, I quickly navigated through the darkness till I reached my own bedchamber. Kicking the door open, I cared little as I heard the ancient wood splinter and crack as it slammed against the wall, now dangling limply on only one hinge.

Carrying her still shaking form through the dark bedroom, which was lit only by the glow of the low fire in the fireplace, I entered the bathroom. Reaching into the polished black marble shower, I turned the knob activating the countless showerheads. Waiting for the water to get hot, I stripped off her torn gown, lingerie, and the only shoe that remained on her feet as I kicked off my own shoes.

Clenching my jaw, I saw the red scratch marks on her pale skin and the purple bruise that was already forming on her shoulder. My mark on her ass, showing the intensity of my desire for her was one thing… these were violent marks for violence’s sake. That was unacceptable. There were several cameras in the conservatory. Every man and woman who’d contributed to hurting my Elizabeth would pay… dearly. I would ruin their lives for this.

Even the thought of taking out my rage on those responsible didn’t quell the anger that tightened my chest and made it hard to breathe, for I knew I also had to accept part of the blame.

My arrogance in displaying my prize possession to those rabble almost got her killed.

Never again.

Never again would I share Elizabeth with the world.

Her tangled and matted hair was wrapped tightly around the back clasp of the tapering collar necklace, so I left it on as, holding her in my arms, I stepped into the steam-filled shower, caring little as the water soaked through my tuxedo shirt and slacks.

Showerheads on the ceiling and along the walls rained soothing hot water down onto her poor battered body.

With a gasp, her emerald eyes sprung open. For a moment they were sightless, frantically looking around till they zeroed in on me.

“You bastard!” she screamed as she began to pound at my chest with her small fists. “You left me! You left me to those animals!”

“No! Elizabeth, I swear?—”

“No! I hate you! I hate you and your stupid fucking games!” she cried as she continued to strike me.

Black mascara ran down her cheeks as the water streamed over her face. Grabbing her head, I leaned down. “Elizabeth, listen to me?—”

“No! No! Let me go!” Her fingers tore at the thin, wet silk of my shirt.

Seizing her wrists, I wrenched them high over her head. Still she struggled. Stepping forward, I pressed her body against the now warm tile.

“Let me go! I hate y?—”

My mouth slammed down onto hers. Pouring all my anger, fear, love, and lust into the kiss, I took possession of her mouth. Breathing heavily, my open mouth ran along her jaw then back to her lips. Pushing my tongue inside, I swallowed her rage.

The water beat down upon us as I shifted her narrow wrists into one hand and lowered my hand to palm her breast.

Breaking free from my kiss, she swore, “Fuck you! Let me go!”

“Never,” I growled, before pinching her erect nipple.

Leaning down, I kissed her neck, uncaring as the sharp edges of her diamond necklace scratched at my jaw and throat.

Wrapping an arm around her body, I placed the flat of my hand against her lower back and pulled her forward, bowing her body into my embrace as I lowered my head to her breast. Pulling the nipple in deep, I bit down with my teeth, reveling in her cry of aroused pain.

Her wet wrists slipped free of my grasp; pulling at my hair, she brought my head up to her own.

“I hate you,” she cried through clenched teeth before kissing me.

Reaching down, I tore at the fastening of my trousers till my cock sprang free.

Sliding her up along the shower wall, I wrapped her legs around my waist. “Hate me then,” I growled as I placed the tip of my cock at her tight entrance, “but love this.”

I thrust in deep. Throwing my head back and howling as the beast inside of me was unleashed at the feel of her hot body clenching down on my cock.

Elizabeth cried out, her arms flung wide, clawing at the wet tile as, unbound, I pounded into her.

The jagged edges of her necklace tore my shirt to shreds as I ran my teeth along her jaw before moving down to the rapid pulse of her throat, craving the taste of her beating heart.

Thrusting in deep, my ragged breath lost in the steam, I commanded, “Come for me, baby.”

Slipping both hands under her slick thighs and the under curve of her ass, the tips of my fingers grazed her dark hole, teasing.

“Richard!” she cried out as her back arched.

Pulling away from the wall, I wrapped her tightly in my arms as I pressed balls deep into her heat, wanting to feel every ripple of her orgasm as it coursed over her body. The moment she went limp in my arms, I pulled her legs free and stood her up within the circle of my arms. Then spinning her around to face the wall, I pulled her hips back.

Grabbing the soap, I lathered my hands, then pressed my soapy palm between her ass cheeks before running my fist up and down my shaft.

Positioning myself behind her, I growled, “My turn,” before plunging into her tight ass.

She screamed and bucked. Wrapping my arm around her hips, I pushed my hand between her legs and rubbed her clit in hard circles.

“Oh, God! Oh, God! Fuck!” she yelled.

Her body gripped me to the point of delicious dark pain. After only a few thrusts, I was roaring my release as I pumped her ass full of my warm seed just as she came a second time, collapsing in my embrace.

Holding her close, I washed the evidence of our lovemaking away.

Stepping out of the shower, I sat on a nearby padded bench as I dried her skin with a soft cashmere towel.

Picking up a brush, I worked on the wet tangles in her hair. Gently unwinding her curls from around the diamond necklace, I removed its heavy weight from around her neck, hissing when I saw the scratch marks our violent lovemaking had caused on her skin under the necklace. Looking at them closely, I was relieved to see all were superficial.

Once her beautiful hair hung down her back in smooth strands, I carried her to bed.

Elizabeth didn’t say a word the entire time. Keeping her eyes closed, locking herself away from me. I could feel the distance between us with every tortured sigh.

Keeping her within my sight, I returned to the bathroom and stripped off my wet, clinging clothes. Drying off, I tossed the towel on the floor before climbing naked into bed beside her.

As I wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her back into my embrace, her body tensed. I held my breath, bracing for her to fight… and lose. After a moment’s hesitation, she relaxed against the warmth of my chest.

Pulling the heavy down covers over our shoulders, I held her sleeping form close.

The muffled sounds of laughter as guests left could be heard beneath our bedroom window.

I kept my eyes closed as I felt Elizabeth creep out of bed. The call of two nightingales could be heard just outside.

Morning.

The bitter taste of last night’s debauchery was still in my mouth. The memory of Elizabeth falling into the hands of those animals was like a fist squeezing my chest.

Through mostly lowered eyes, I watched her enter my dressing closet and emerge wearing a rolled-up pair of my sweatpants and my university T-shirt. I realized, with an odd start, I had not allowed her any of her own clothes or belongings the entire time she had been here. Her closet full of couture gowns was at my London residence.

Her hair was a mass of unruly curls around her small gamine face. She looked disheveled and vulnerable and I wanted with all my being to just hug her close but stayed silent in our still warm bed.

Opening the door, she crept out.

Leaning over, I picked up the phone by my bedside.

“Yes, Your Grace.”

“See that Elizabeth is driven back to London. Make sure the guards are alerted.”

“Yes, Your Grace.”

I hung up.

Falling back onto my pillow, I flung an arm over my eyes.

Taking a deep breath… I began to formulate a new plan.