A Perfect Gentleman(35)

Miss Cooper moaned and Matthew was lost. Her tongue hesitantly mated with his, and then became more bold. They were melded together in a heady kiss that Matthew was reluctant to end. By the grip she had on his head, she wasn’t about to let him go either.

Though clothing separated them, her breast burned his chest and he imagined he could feel her tight nipples against him. They were wearing too much clothing so he wasn’t all that certain. He ached with need. It was much worse than earlier when he watched her slumber. His desire for her bordered on painful and if he didn’t get some form of relief he could possibly expire from it, or be very uncomfortable for several hours. He had ached this badly once, when he was younger and there was no relief, save himself, but he had been told that it was wrong to do such a thing so he suffered. Such would be the case tonight because he knew he wouldn’t go so far as to join with Miss Cooper and he knew he would need to rely on himself in the end.

As if his hand had a will of its own, it snaked around the front of her body, caressing her ribcage, slowly moving up until it cradled the full, round globe. He tested the heaviness and brushed a thumb across the erect nipple as he broke the kiss and moved his lips across her jaw line as Miss Cooper’s head fell back. Anticipating the taste of her, he continued kissing down the side of her neck and Miss Cooper groaned. His lips met the edge of her nightgown and Matthew began to unloosen the top buttons.

What was he doing? If he didn’t stop this madness now he would have her naked and beneath him before either of them comprehended what was occurring. He would not, and could not take Miss Cooper’s innocence.

He rested his head against her shoulder and tried to gain control of his breathing and his body. What kind of man was he? Her father lay downstairs close to death. Someone came into the house and tried to kill her and Mr. and Mrs. Thomas were just down the hall. She was vulnerable and he was taking advantage of her.

Matthew pulled back and rebuttoned her gown. She straightened and looked at him.

“I am sorry,” Matthew whispered.

She frowned for a moment and then her eyes grew wide as all color left her face. “Oh dear, what must you think of me.”

“I think you are a lovely and desirable woman,” Matthew wasn’t certain what he should say. Was she embarrassed or hurt or angry. He was never very good at understanding the feminine gender and it wasn’t like he was given many opportunities, especially in situations such as this. Perhaps if it hadn’t been ten years since he had been intimate with a woman he would have a better understanding.

“I behaved like a wanton?”

Matthew chuckled. “I wouldn’t call you wanton?”

“What would you call a woman who throws herself at her vicar, while in her bed?”

Matthew chuckled. Though the description did sound a bit promiscuous, he wouldn’t describe her as such. “Vulnerable, scared, lonely?”

“That is worse.” Tears welled in her eyes.

What had he said wrong?

“You only kissed me because you felt sorry for me after I threw myself at you.”

“On that point you are wrong.”

She blew out a breath and crossed her arms over her chest. “You are just being kind because you are a vicar.”

Matthew wanted to laugh. “There is nothing kind in my motivation in kissing you back.”

Confusion marred her brow and Matthew cradled her chin in his hand. “Do you have any idea how long I have wanted to kiss you? There are all manner of things I wish to do, but won’t because you are an innocent young woman.”

She bit her bottom lip and it took everything in his being not to kiss her again.

“And if I don’t leave right now, you are in danger of far more than kisses and caresses from me.”

“But you are a vicar. A perfect gentleman.”

Matthew gripped her chin tighter, but not enough to cause a mark or hurt her, and looked deep in her eyes. “Know this, Miss Cooper, I am a man and at this moment I am not feeling the least bit gentlemanly nor much of a vicar.”

Her eyes grew wide. “You wanted to kiss me?” Her voice almost held awe and wonder, as if she hadn’t really believed it possible.

“Miss Cooper, I’ve imagined doing much more?”

A slight blush spread across her cheeks.

“But, if I don’t leave you now, I am afraid you will learn just how much of a gentleman I am not.”

She swallowed and looked around the room. The fear returned to her eyes.

“I promise I won’t be far away, but I think it is best if I stay in the room across the hall.”

“Will you leave the door open?”

He wanted privacy, at least for the few moments it would take to attain relief.

“I will leave it cracked, but you must promise to stay in bed and try and sleep.” He stood and the glass crunched against his boots. “I don’t want you to cut one of your feet.”

She lay back against the pillows, her mahogany hair fanning out around her head. It was all Matthew could do not to join her in that bed. He pulled the blanket up to her chin and kissed her on the forehead. “Call if you need me.”

“I will.”

He added more wood to the fire so that it burned brightly then left her room, leaving the door only half open and crossed the hall. If Grace left her room she would need to open the door further and he would hear it squeak.

For a moment he stood in the center of the dark bedchamber and let his eyes adjust. The moon was bright enough that he could make out the placement of the furniture. He closed the door, leaving it open only a crack and stood behind it. He took his handkerchief out of his pocket and loosened the placket on his breeches. His cock sprang forth, hard and pulsating with need. As much as he hated to do this, a part of him still believing it was wrong; Matthew knew he would get no rest tonight until he had found release.

He grasped his member tight, imagining it was Grace who held him and moved his fist up and down, wondering what her mouth would feel like, the warm heat enveloping him, taking him deep, her tongue caressing the underside as her delicate fingers caressed his sack.

In a matter of moments Matthew was ejaculating into his handkerchief with enough force that it almost buckled his knees. He grabbed the wall to remain upright and bit his lip to keep from groaning.

With one last shudder he relaxed and let out a long sigh before moving to the chair beside the window and falling into it.

That one act left him completely drained. Had he been able to find his release the way he truly desired, he may have expired on the spot.

Matthew wadded up the handkerchief and shoved into an inside pocket and fastened his breeches. As inviting as the bed looked and as much as he wished to be out of his clothing, Matthew knew he couldn’t allow himself to fall into a deep sleep again. Someone had gotten past him before and he would not allow it again. He had to protect Miss Cooper and this chair was comfortable enough to see him through what remained of the night.





Grace lay in her bed wondering what had come over her. She had been having a nightmare. Someone was in her room. Then Vicar Trent was there and all she could think about was kissing him. Her face burned with embarrassment. How could she have behaved in such an ill-bred manner? Yet, he hadn’t rejected her. Instead, he had engaged her in the most delicious kiss she had ever experienced. Not that she had ever been kissed before, but nobody could kiss as wonderfully as Vicar Trent.

But how could she behave in such a way? Her father was below in his bed, and nobody knew if he would survive, and here she was, behaving like a harlot. Vicar Trent had not been appalled, but was he just being kind?

He didn’t act as if he was humoring her. He behaved as if he wanted to do more with her. Oh how she wished she knew exactly what men and women did together. She was certain it had something to do with the ache below, in her private area, which was mysteriously damp. Was that desire as well?

Grace rolled over on her side and clamped her legs tightly together. That only made the ache worse. She blew out a breath. What was she to do? Her breasts were heavy and tingling and her private areas pulsed. A girl couldn’t sleep in this condition, but there was nothing to be done. All she could hope was that it went away soon.

Slowly she brought a hand up and grasped her breast. The nipple was tight, like they were when she was cold, but she was very warm at the moment. Especially since Vicar Trent had built the fire up. Was that desire too? But why? She pinched the end and a jolt of desire rushed to her private areas making her ache worse. How odd that the two were connected.

She glanced around the room, even though she was certain she was alone and burrowed further beneath the blankets. With her other hand she touched the area between her thighs that pulsated. The most delicious sensation warmed her within and the ache became stronger but it wasn’t anything like the pains she suffered during her monthly.

This was all a bit disconcerting and Grace was fairly certain she was not supposed to be touching herself in this manner. Not that anyone had told her it was wrong but such things were never discussed.

Despite the pleasure, she took her hands away and rested them before her on the side of the bed. Maybe one day she would learn where all this led.

Her lids grew heavy and Grace let her eyes close, trying to ignore the new sensations her body was experiencing and find slumber.