A Perfect Gentleman(45)

The fire crackled and hissed. Shadows danced on the wall and limbs scraped the windows.

Grace pulled the covers up to her chin. She was being a ninny. Nothing could harm her now. Three people were in the house to protect her.

But what if her uncle still got in?

She rolled over to her side and willed herself to sleep but the thoughts kept coming. First the pillow and then the gunshot.

She knew she was safe, but that didn’t matter. Pushing the blankets aside, she rose from her bed and crossed the room. There was only one way she would find rest tonight and it wasn’t in here.



Matthew bolted up in bed as the door to his room was pushed further open. Grace stepped inside, a lamp held in her hands.

“What is wrong?”

“I can’t sleep.”

She stepped further into the room and closed the door behind her. It clicked in the silence and Matthew became aware of only her. Slowly she walked toward the bed. She set the lamp on a table and turned down the flame before she crawled into bed beside him.

Every part of Matthew became alert. Did this woman have any idea what a temptation she was? He did not have the strength to remain in this bed with her and not touch her.

Grace sighed and laid her head on his shoulder. “This is better. It is much warmer than my bed.”

“I don’t think you should be here.”

“Why not? My reputation is already ruined.”

“Because I don’t trust myself.”

She pulled away and looked up at him. He could see the reflection of the flames in her emerald eyes. “You would never hurt me.”

“No, never intentionally, but I can’t promise that I won’t touch you.”

“Like you did the other night.”

“Yes.”

Instead of leaving as a wise woman would, she leaned in and kissed him.

“Grace, this is not right.”

She pulled away. “I know. I just don’t want to be alone.”

Of course she didn’t. He wasn’t sure he would wish to sleep by himself if someone had tried to murder him twice. Matthew pulled her close and pressed her head against his chest. It would be along night, but they would get through it. In a few days they would be married and he would no longer need to restrain himself from making love to her.

She sighed and the palm of her small hand rested on his chest. He hoped she didn’t touch him anywhere else because she might be shocked to find him completely naked in the bed. He had considered keeping his breeches on in case he had to leave the room in a hurry, but they were over the edge of the bed and he could put them on quickly enough. At least Grace wore her nightrail, not that it was much of a deterrent. The linen was so thin he could feel her heat penetrate the material, almost burning him where they touched.

“Grace, I cannot lay her like this with you.”

She pulled away. “I understand. You are probably not used to sleeping with someone else.”

He nearly laughed out loud. “Sleeping has nothing to do with it. I desire you so badly I won’t get a wink while you are here.”

Confusion marred her brow. Certainly she knew what men and women did together, once they were married, didn’t she? It never occurred to him that she would have no idea. Then again, her mother died when she was young. Perhaps nobody had explained. He certainly didn’t want to explain, especially here and now. Perhaps he would ask Elizabeth to speak with her tomorrow, so that she was prepared. In the meantime, he would keep reminding himself how innocent Grace was and not do anything he didn’t have a right to do.

Hell, he already was. She was in his bed and he was naked. He wasn’t strong enough to resist the temptation.

“You wish to make love to me.”

Perhaps she did know. “Yes, but we aren’t married so I won’t.”

“But we will be,” she reminded him.

“That doesn’t make it right.” He forced her head back against his chest. Looking at her clear green eyes only made him want her more.

She began to trace a pattern on his chest with her index finger. “I’ve always been curious about what happens in the marriage bed.”

Matthew groaned. Now was not the time for that discussion. His cock was hard, straining against the covers, eager to show her, but he would resist the urge to roll her on her back. He was a gentleman and would treat her as such. “In a few days you will know.”

She sighed and snuggled against him. “Very well.”

At least her hand stilled and Grace was silent. In a short time her body grew heavy against his as she fell deeper into slumber. Matthew stroked her hair, enjoying the quiet solitude of just the two of them. This was his future and he was very much looking forward to it.





Grace woke and stared into the darkness. She lay on her side. Matthew was pressed against her back, his hand cupped her breast. “Matthew?”

He didn’t say anything. Perhaps he was asleep.

“Matthew,” she whispered again.

“Hmmm.” He pulled her close. Something rigid pushed against her backside, warming her insides. She had lived in the country all of her life and wasn’t ignorant of the various mating rituals of animals and she suspected what she felt was Matthews desire. She wiggled her behind. After all, this was the positions most animals mated in. Of course, she wouldn’t know for sure until they were married, but her curiosity got the better of her, especially since he was so close and his hand was now massaging her breast and he pinched her nipple. She would never get back to sleep now that the ache in her privates began again.

“Are you awake?”

“Hmmm.”

He kissed her neck and shivers slid down her spine. If he affected her this way in his sleep, how could he make her feel when he was awake? Her breast swelled in his hand and her nipple tightened. Heat spread throughout her body. If she woke him would he stop?

Matthew’s hand slid from her breast and down to her belly. Her pulse increased with each inch he moved toward the place between her thighs. He must be awake. He wouldn’t be doing such things in his sleep.

He pressed his palm against the place that pulsed and Grace groaned.

Matthew stilled.

Grace’s eyes flew open.

A moment later he was pushing away from her. “I am sorry.”

She rolled over to face him “Sorry?”

“I thought I was dreaming. I never meant to take such liberties.”

“Does that mean you are going to stop?” He couldn’t. Not now.

“Of course,” he insisted.

She blew out a breath. “Please don’t,” she finally whispered.

“Grace, you don’t know what you ask.”

“No, I don’t.” She searched his eyes. “But I do know you make me feel things I never felt before, or even imagined. Right now my body is, oh, I don’t even know how to explain.”

“Don’t tell me these things, Grace.”

“Why?” she cried.

“We can’t, not yet.”

“So I am to lay here and wonder why I ache.”

Matthew blew out a breath.

“You think me a horrible wanton don’t you?”

“No, never.”





Matthew stared into her eyes, wishing to find some semblance of control, but it was too far away to grasp. He didn’t want to think about Grace aching. He shouldn’t think about her in this state. Yet, she did, and it was his fault. It was the sweetest dream, making love to her; until he woke and found out he had taken liberties he did not yet have a right to.

“Then please show me.”

He wasn’t this strong and Matthew gave up trying to fight the desire and bent to take her lips with his. She parted for him almost immediately as she snaked her arms around his neck and weaved her fingers through his hair. At that moment he was lost and an urgency to make her his took over.

He repeated in his mind to go slow and remember that she was innocent, and he fought to keep from moving too quickly and frightening her.

He trailed his lips across her cheek and down her neck as he molded her full breasts. Her nipples pebbled beneath his fingers and Grace arched into him. He wanted to taste her, but he couldn’t through the linen. He pulled away and began bunching the material of her gown, drawing it up her body until he pulled it over her head and tossed it on the floor. She now lay naked before him and he wished he would have built the fire more so that he could see her more clearly.

Grace moved to cover her breasts but Matthew captured her hands and bent to suckle a nipple. Grace’s head fell back and she was arching again. He let go of her wrist and caressed her stomach, moving lower until his fingers brushed the curls of her womanhood. He moved to the other breast and nibbled as his fingers parted her folds, already damp. He needed to bring her pleasure quickly or he may not last long enough to join with her.

He circled the nub slowly, drawing her body’s moisture. Grace’s thighs fell open and it was all he could do not to settle between them and plunge forward. But Matthew restrained himself and increased the pressure. As her moans grew louder he brought his mouth back to hers, taking her cries into himself until she shuddered and fell limp against the bed. He pulled away and watched her face. He eyes opened slowly.

“Oh my goodness.”

Matthew bit back a grin and moved over her. He found her opening and slid one finger in, then a second, stretching. This first time would be difficult and he feared he might hurt Grace, but whether it was tonight or in a few nights, he would have to breech her maidenhead.