Page 38 of The Lady Was Lying (Greydon #3)

Chapter Seventeen

B elinda had always liked Violet. Partly because Edward had been obsessed with her from the beginning, but also because Violet had a fierceness to her that Belinda could relate to. Violet’s life had not transpired as she’d initially intended, but she’d found a way to be happy anyway.

She’d always given Belinda hope.

Unfortunately, hope didn’t make time move faster. Nor did it lessen Belinda’s need to be closer to James. Why had Edward insisted the men ride? And why hadn’t she insisted on joining them?

The sun was still high in the sky when she decided they needed to stop for the day and the night. She didn’t care if stopping meant they didn’t make as much progress as they could have. Was there any reason to rush? Did it really matter if it took a day or two longer to reach Scotland?

“At the next inn, will you tell Edward you aren’t feeling well?” she asked Violet.

Violet’s brows drew together. “I’m perfectly well.”

“I didn’t say you were unwell, only that you tell my brother that you are.”

“Why?”

“Because I’d like a respite.” Preferably until the next morning.

Violet frowned. “We’ve only been traveling for three hours.”

“I’ve seen nothing but the back of James’s head since we left.” Not for lack of trying either. She had been glued to the window, only catching brief glimpses of him when the lane curved to the right.

“Oh…um…are you worried he’s going to change his mind? Because he seems quite committed to you.”

“I do not question his commitment.” Even though she wasn’t worried, being separated from him was eating at her.

The clarity she’d found in his arms was fading, and she knew she was being ridiculous, but she desired the reassurance that she was bound to find in his company.

Telling herself that he wanted her enough to kidnap her could only offer so much comfort. “I need to be with him.”

“ Be with him .” Violet smirked. “You’re willing to waste half a day’s worth of travel so you can copulate?”

“I was trying not to put it so bluntly, but essentially, yes.” It wasn’t necessarily the sex that she required but the intimacy that came with it.

A day ago, this would have scared her, but after spending the night in his arms, she’d realized how much she liked tenderness, and she refused to pretend otherwise.

Violet abruptly turned to the window.

“I’m sorry,” Belinda said, not exactly sorry, but frustrated with herself for making Violet uncomfortable. Violet’s shoulders quaked and Belinda straightened in alarm. Was her desire to spend time with James really so shocking that it made Violet cry?

“I’m sorry,” she repeated, reaching out to rub Violet’s back. As soon as she touched her, peals of laughter filled the carriage.

Not crying, then.

“I’m sorry,” Violet said between gasps. “I shouldn’t laugh, but you sounded so despondent just now.

” She turned away from the window, and Belinda’s hand dropped to her side.

“I’m not lying to my husband about my health, but I will keep him occupied for the afternoon if you require some private time with James. ”

More than a little relieved, Belinda smiled and nodded. “That is agreeable to me.”

Violet laughed again. “At this rate, will we ever reach Scotland?”

“Of course we will.”

Just not as quickly as they could.

* * *

When the carriage entered a bustling stable yard nearly an hour later, Belinda alighted as soon as it halted. Just like the previous evening, she sailed into the inn and demanded attention.

“Two rooms that are not connected?” the innkeeper asked, his bushy mustache emphasizing his frown.

“Yes. One for my brother and his wife. One for my husband and myself.”

“Two rooms for tonight?” he asked.

“Yes.” Was he daft?

“Until morning?” he clarified

“Yes,” she repeated, getting annoyed.

“Are you sure? Rain is in the air. It might be wise to continue on your way while the weather is cooperating. You could easily reach?—”

“Do you have two rooms available?” she interrupted.

“Of course. It’s the middle of the day. No one remains at a posting inn unless the weather is poor.”

No one except for her, apparently. “We would like the rooms.”

“Belinda,” James said from the doorway. “What are you doing?”

“Securing rooms for the evening. This gentleman believes rain is forthcoming.”

“But—” the innkeeper started and then stopped when she held up her hand and shushed him.

“With you and Edward riding, we should settle in before the weather turns.”

James looked over his shoulder. “It’s still sunny out, and we can always seek shelter in the carriage if necessary.”

“It’s going to rain,” she insisted.

He paused and tipped his head to the side. “You want to stay here for the night?”

“I think it would be best.”

He studied her for a moment and then nodded. “I’ll speak with Edward and then join you in our chamber.”

The innkeeper led her upstairs to a room at the top of the stairs. The set of armchairs before the hearth and a small table near the windows were the only furniture. Before she could question him, he shuffled across the sparse room and pushed open a narrow door.

“The bedchamber is here.”

She crossed the space and peeked inside.

“Thank you.” Two rooms were acceptable as long as there was only one bed.

The innkeeper departed, and she was left alone with her thoughts.

Now that she’d gotten what she wanted, she wasn’t sure what to do.

It occurred to her that she could make her wishes known if she stripped off her gown and displayed herself on the bed as she’d done the day before, but for some reason, the brazenness that had defined her life didn’t appeal.

Sinking onto the hard mattress and tapping her fingers against the worn linen covering it, she considered what would happen if she simply waited for him.

Earlier that morning, he hadn’t required seduction to couple with her, but waking up with his rod pressing against her backside was different than stopping at an inn while the sun still shone.

“Your bro—” He halted just inside the doorway. “Why do you look pensive? Is something amiss?”

“You are physically attracted to me,” she said.

It wasn’t exactly a question, but he treated it as such. “Of course. You are the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen.” He came closer and sank to his haunches in front of her. “Why are you questioning what you already know?”

What did she expect him to say? Or do? How could she be so confident and so unsure at the same time. “I seduced you yesterday.”

“You did.”

She bit her lip.

“I kidnapped you so I could marry you,” he added.

She chuckled and placed her hands on his shoulders. “You liked being seduced?”

“You like being kidnapped?” he countered.

She smiled almost shyly and nodded.

He studied her closely, eyes tracking down her face and her body. Could he read her? Did he understand what she couldn’t seem to put into words? “I like knowing you are mine,” he said.

“I am yours,” she agreed. “And you are mine.”

He leaned forward and pressed his lips to hers.

The questions and doubts that had been swirling in her brain disappeared.

Demanding a room hadn’t been subtle, but she hadn’t been required to do anything else to get him to kiss her.

She was even more reassured of his attraction to her when he pushed her back onto the mattress and plastered his body on top of hers.

He nipped at her lips and traced her neck with soft wet kisses while his hand crumpled her skirt and chemise until it was rucked around her waist. The cool air was a stark contrast to her fevered flesh.

His finger, the one that had a callous along the inner edge, trailed over the sensitive skin on her lower abdomen.

Featherlight touches were somehow more impactful than bold ones, and her body quivered beneath the onslaught, even though he wasn’t touching her anywhere forbidden.

“James,” she groaned. “More.”

He kept the same torturous pace and let all of his fingers brush the crease of her hip.

In reaction, her body arched.

“You’re so responsive,” he murmured against her mouth.

“Only with you,” she revealed, causing him to groan and then shift.

A moment later, his lips touched her hip bone, and she was completely lost. Every place he kissed was more sensitive than the last. His mouth explored the inner part of her thighs as his finger slid through her wet folds and into her tightness.

He stroked her with one finger and then two, but even though he rubbed the little nub that was the source of her pleasure, it wasn’t enough.

She squirmed with unfulfilled desire, and yet she didn’t beg him for more.

Some part of her liked being at his mercy.

Every time she’d pleasured herself, she was solely focused on achieving an orgasm, but with James she could simply enjoy.

His mouth joined his fingers, lapping at her soft folds with reverence.

Before long, the constant stimulation had her back bowing and her body clenching. Her orgasm tore through her, and with it, her heart cracked open.

By the time he slid inside her body, she was floating in her pleasure.

Her legs were bent and splayed to the sides because she didn’t have the energy to lift them and wrap them around him.

He didn’t seem to mind as he rocked into her, slowly at first and then increasing his rhythm when he leaned over and tugged on her bottom lip.

She poured every emotion swirling inside of her into the kiss. Awe. Joy. Relief. Surprise. Excitement.

It was probably impossible for him to identify all of them, but he kissed her back with the same reckless abandon as he pulled out of her sheath. His body tightened and his seed spilled onto her crumpled gown and partly exposed stomach.

He collapsed, his body blanketing hers.

Her heart rate slowed, and peace surrounded her.

He wanted her whether she played the temptress or not, and the fact that they’d both found satisfaction while partly dressed further assured her that she didn’t have to play a role with him.

As she started to drift off, there was something still nagging at her, but she couldn’t quite put her finger on it, and while she was snug in the safety of his arms, she didn’t have the energy to worry.

* * *

The rain battering the window invaded James’s sleep.

Snuggled under a pile of blankets with Belinda’s leg thrown haphazardly over his thighs and her body plastered along his side, he was too content to make any attempt to rise.

“It’s raining,” Belinda mumbled into his chest sometime later, stirring but not putting any distance between them.

“It must have started while we slept.” It certainly hadn’t rained while they were awake.

They had wasted hours of dry, pleasant travel time the previous afternoon, and he wasn’t even slightly irritated about it.

“If it keeps raining, Edward and I might have to join you in the carriage when we leave.”

“ Will have to,” she corrected.

Something about her tone made him ask, “Do you want me in the carriage with you?”

“Always,” she responded, before stiffening. “I mean…”

“I’m sorry.” Had she been disappointed when he had agreed to ride with her brother? “I should have ridden in the carriage with you yesterday.”

“Don’t be ridiculous,” she grumbled, keeping her face hidden against his chest. “I enjoy Violet’s company.”

“Belinda.”

“It was fine.”

It was obviously not fine. “I’m sorry,” he repeated. “I didn’t mean to abandon you. I don’t know Edward very well. Haven’t interacted with him much beyond cursory greetings, so when he suggested we ride, I agreed without considering your feelings on the matter.”

“I want you to get along with my brother.”

“But you also want me in the carriage with you.”

She grumbled something against his chest, her words indecipherable.

“I have no idea what you’re mumbling about,” he said when she finally fell silent.

She picked up her head. “I am an independent woman. I do not want to be needy.”

“Wanting to travel together does not make you needy.”

“It does.” She sighed. “It seems as if my happiness has become intricately tied to you.”

“Belinda, darling.” He gently stroked her hair. “We are to be married. I would be most disappointed if you did not want to share your time and your happiness with me.”

“Yes, but?—”

“I am happiest when I am with you too.”

Her chin dropped onto his chest, and she tipped her head forward to press a kiss against his warm skin.

“When we are together, I believe in the future we can create. I trust that you want me. And that I want you. But yesterday, when it was just Violet and I, doubt tried to creep in. The feelings between us are so new that it isn’t easy for me to trust them. ”

“Is it easier when we are here like this?”

“Of course.” She pressed another kiss to his chest. “We cannot remain in bed together all the time.”

“But we can be together. In the carriage. On horseback. When we dine.” Whatever she needed to feel secure, he wanted to give her.

“I don’t want to be difficult.”

“I kidnapped you so I could keep you forever. If either of us is difficult, it’s clearly me.”

“Forever,” she echoed. “Does that mean…do you think…you could love me?”

In all the words he had said to her since he had stolen her off the street, how had he never mentioned love? How had he never even thought about it?

“I already do.” The words slipped out, newly realized and not nearly as profound as she deserved.

Her eyes widened. “You?—”

“I love you. I love when you are brazen and when you are shy. I love when you are confident and when you are uncertain. I?—”

Her fingers covered his mouth. “Stop.”

The flow of words stopped at the same time as his heart.

“You don’t have to tell me the reasons. At least not now. I can’t handle any more words.” Surging upward, she replaced her fingers with her mouth. “I love you too,” she murmured between soft, featherlight kisses.

He hadn’t known how much he needed to hear those words until she said them.

“Belinda,” he growled, and in a blink, the kiss turned wild. He kissed her as if his life depended on it, and she kissed him back in the same way. The scandal they would be forced to weather no longer scared him. With Belinda at his side, he could face whatever challenges the future offered.