"I'm on my way to prepare for your guests. There is no reason to be upset."
"I'll order you a bath immediately. I can't imagine what you were thinking being down here like that." She waved her hands at him in disgust. "Go. Some of the guests have arrived. What if one of them caught you in such a state?"
"I don't intend for that to happen." Richard turned and made his way to his bedchamber. He knew his mother was anxious to see him married, but he imagined the ladies would not care about his appearance; it was his title they craved. In any case, he had already decided who would become his marchioness, and her opinion was the only one that mattered.
Soon he was in the safety of his bedchamber without having run into any guests. Before long, the bath his mother had ordered arrived and, once alone, he thankfully stripped off his clothes. Sinking into the inviting warm water, Richard allowed the tension to drain from his body.
Feeling more relaxed, he cleansed his body and tried not to dwell on the upcoming events. Keeping his mind clear didn't last long, for soon visions of Brianna flashed into his thoughts. As usual he could feel his body reacting to her. He debated waiting for the water to cool to take advantage of the effects of a cold bath, but decided against it. Due to his exhaustion, he would fall asleep, and his mother would not forgive him if he were absent for her gathering.
Stepping out of the tub, he stood, allowing the drops of water to fall down his body. The sound of a feminine gasp alerted him. He spun around, unsure of who would dare enter the marquis' chambers unannounced, particularly on a day when he was in residence. The rebuke he prepared died on his tongue when he saw Brianna standing before him. Unable to comprehend her presence, he remained frozen until he realized upon which part of his anatomy her eyes were resting.
Her face was flushed and her eyes were wide. He watched as she licked her lips, and his member swelled to a greater size. As the corners of her mouth turned up slightly, he pulled himself out of his preoccupation with her reaction.
"What the devil are you doing here?" he demanded, grabbing a towel and wrapping it around his waist. "Regardless, you must leave now."
She blinked, but her eyes only rose enough to rest on his chest. The way she was staring at him made him wish he was not standing in his undressed state, or rather that she too was similarly clothed. When her eyes slowly traveled to his lips, her mouth curled up in a full smile.
"I remember you promising me a kiss upon our next meeting." Her breathless voice made his chest tighten in anticipation. "I wish to collect it now."
She sauntered toward him, and his mouth went dry. This was wrong, but he was powerless against her. When she was within arms distance, he fought the urge to drag her against him.
"Stop," he rasped. "I promised you a kiss, and you shall have it, but not now."
"Why not? There is no one around to catch us. I think now is a perfect time." Closing the distance, she boldly placed her hands on his bare chest.
The feeling of her warm hands upon him nearly destroyed his resolve, but he refused to give in to her. His body ached and having her here in his bedchamber tested his control. As she looked into his eyes, she rubbed her hands up his chest until her arms encircled his neck. Her body pressed against his, and he could feel every delightful inch of her. The sensation was almost too much to bear.
"Brianna, I, we, can't do this now."
She ignored his plea and pressed her mouth against his. Groaning in defeat, he wrapped his arms around her in surrender. He may have lost this battle, but it felt like a victory as pleasure flowed through his veins. She rubbed her body against his, and he vehemently kissed her mouth in response. His resistance melted in the presence of her willingness, and he could not stop his hands from running across her back and cupping her bottom.
Richard's body hummed in gratitude and frustration when Brianna drew back from him. He knew he lacked the willpower at the moment to accomplish such a feat. Due to his desire for her, his body had grown hard, causing him physical pain, and all he could think about was the big bed looming before them.
They stood there breathing heavily, only inches apart. She had a strange look in her eyes, a mixture of determination and something else he could not place. Regardless, the look would not bode well for him.
When she took a step back, Richard cursed under his breath. Realizing his lack of restraint mixed with his unclothed state had scared her, he took a step back as well. She didn't speak, but took another step away from him. He was grateful for the distance, yet angry at the need for it. Her eyes never left his as she continued to back up until she almost hit the bed. He cursed again as he struggled against the compulsion to follow her.
"Brianna, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to . . ." The words stuck in his throat as Brianna's hands moved to the front of her dress. He watched in enthrallment as she began unfastening buttons and exposing the creamy white skin beneath. His hands itched to help her, but he knew he needed to find his voice to stop her.
"What are you doing?" he finally choked out.
"I believe it would only be fair if we were similarly dressed." There was only a hint of uncertainty in her voice.
What should he do? He desperately wanted her, and she was willingly offering herself, but he knew making love to her would be wrong. Although determined to have her as his wife, traditionally the much-anticipated event occurred after the wedding. On the other hand, nothing about their relationship had been conventional, and his selfish side reminded him that going forward would force her to accept his suit in the future.
Fighting with himself the entire way, Richard took the necessary steps toward Brianna. Stopping inches in front of her, he reached out to still her hands, unsure of how to proceed. She gazed up at him with such emotion on her face that he could not deny her.
"Would you care for some help?" Without waiting for a response, he captured her lips. She eagerly met him, while he efficiently unfastened the remainder of the buttons. With anticipation clawing at him, he pushed the dress off her shoulders. The fabric caught at her waist, so he untied her petticoats, not satisfied until they, along with the dress, pooled around her ankles.
When she was clothed only in her thin chemise, he drew back to survey his prey. His eyes drank in the sight of her half-dressed body, but it was not enough. She shivered, watching him from under her lashes. Although she obviously tried to hide it, he could see fear lurking in her eyes. He desperately wanted to keep going but refused to do something she was not ready for.
"Are you sure?" he asked in a voice he no longer recognized. Holding his breath, he prayed she would say ‘yes'.
"I am." She lifted her chin as if confirming her resolve. "What about you? Do you wish to continue?"
Richard would have laughed at the absurdity of the question had he not been trying to keep a tight control over himself. Knowing a response was unnecessary, he scooped her up into his arms and laid her on his bed. Hesitating, he realized he needed to distance himself, or the experience would be over much too soon. Grabbing his trousers off the chair, he slipped them on before discarding the towel. With a more restrictive garment, he was able to cool a little of his ardor.
Returning to the bed, he saw Brianna lying completely still, and he wondered if she was aware of the mechanics of what they were about to do. Knowing she was new to this, he decided to take things as slowly as possible. He sat down on the bed and gently ran his finger over her cheek.
"Don't worry. I will not hurt you. I promise to bring you pleasure," he whispered huskily, then leaned over her to press his lips to hers. Her arms wound around his neck, bringing him closer, so he allowed himself to stroke her soft breast through the chemise. She arched her back, clearly enjoying the contact. Encouraged, he slipped the chemise down and then returned his hand, loving the feel of her naked flesh. The sound of her moan forced Richard into a frenzy. He sat up, pulled her chemise off, and fell on top of her.
Once again claiming her mouth, he caressed her breast. Her hands tugged on his shoulders, asking for more. Only too happy to comply, he replaced his hand with his mouth. Brianna let out a small cry as her hands dove into his hair, holding him to her breast. She was so sweet and responsive Richard knew he would not be able to deny himself much longer. His hand slowly slid down her soft body until it rested on the place for which his body ached.
As he slowly trailed kisses up her neck toward her lips, he began to stroke her. Breathing heavily, she brought his lips to hers as she squirmed beneath his touch. Suddenly, she jerked back, calling out as pleasure overtook her. Her fiery passion and her enjoyment was such a beautiful sight Richard smiled tightly through the cloud of lust welling up inside him.