His Perfect Bride(19)

When her spasms subsided, he left her for a second to rip off his  trousers. His body raged and burned with desire for her, but once  positioned at her entrance, he held himself back. Suddenly he had a  stronger need. He needed her acceptance of him. He knew withdrawing now  would be near impossible, but he had to have her assent before he  continued.

"Do you understand what this means?" he asked through clenched teeth.

She peered up at him, eyes wide with surprise, then tentatively nodded.

"Tell me," he demanded, wanting to hear the words.         

     



 

"I understand." She drew him down against her. Capturing her lips, he  slowly began to breech her entrance. Her body was so tight and the  feeling too intense, but he fought to continue at an unrushed pace. As  he felt the obstruction, he instinctively thrust harder, hoping to keep  her discomfort to a minimum. She froze and her face tensed with pain, so  he again took her mouth, waiting until she began to relax.

Unable to hold himself back any longer, he began moving inside her.  Before long, she matched his rhythm, joining him in the age-old dance.  Their bodies perfectly matched, and he could feel his need building.  Quickening his pace, he was soon struck by mind-numbing pleasure as the  white heat of completion exploded through him.

Falling against her, he turned his head to Brianna, completely in awe.  He had never been so thoroughly pleasured with a woman both in and out  of bed. Without question, she was his perfect bride. She was passionate  and unpredictable, beautiful and intelligent, yet clueless as to who he  truly was.





Chapter 7



For once in her life, Brianna was stunned silent. Despite watching James  and Miss Ashley, she had never imagined the act between a man and a  woman could bring such intense pleasure. Breathing heavily, Richard  rolled off her, lying on his back beside her. Every nerve in her body  tingled. The sensation felt wonderful.

When she began exploring unlocked rooms, she had not intended to enter  the marquis' chambers. She still could not believe her good fortune at  finding Richard here, especially in his unclothed state. Then to have  her impulsive seduction bring about such a response from him, she was  left speechless. He had not actually proposed to her, but she could not  fathom any other meaning for his insistence she admit to understanding.  Now, with Richard's claim on her, she no longer feared meeting the  marquis. Regardless of his interest, she would soon be unavailable.

Thoughts of the marquis snapped her back to reality. Inwardly giggling,  she wondering how he would react if he found them lying about so  languidly in his bed. Quickly sitting up, she allowed her eyes to drink  in the sight of Richard's perfect form before climbing off the bed and  snatching up her clothes.

"You are not leaving yet. We need to talk." He stood and donned his trousers.

"We will have sufficient time for talking later. I have lost enough time  already. I have to go now. Please help me dress." She nearly ripped her  chemise as she worked to hastily put it on.

"I know, but this is important and can't wait."



"Richard, my mother has probably been searching for me this entire time.  If I don't leave now, the chance of me being caught leaving the  marquis' bedchamber increases. My reputation would be ruined, and I  would find myself being forced to marry him."

Richard helped her don her clothing and expertly fastened them. She  wondered how he became so deft with dressing women, but she decided she  would rather not know.

"I understand. However, your argument only confirms the necessity of us speaking now."

"Please let us leave this moment perfect," she pleaded. "We can work out  any problems later." She could not explain the sense of impending dread  that came over her at his insistence, but it was strong. She didn't  understand his adamancy, but surely another couple of hours would not  make such a difference. Without being able to fathom what he wanted to  speak about, she had no desire to discuss it now, particularly with the  possible questions her prolonged absence would raise.

She stood, her hand on the door latch, and looked back at him. He  appeared so dejected, she almost gave in to his request. Not wishing to  leave him in such a state, she crossed the room and threw herself into  his arms. She kissed him with every ounce of passion within her and was  pleased when he returned her kiss with the same fervor. When her body  began to melt, she knew the time to leave had passed. Stepping away from  him, she turned and walked to the door without giving him a second  glance. As she closed the door behind her, she praised and cursed her  willpower.

Glancing around to ensure privacy, she dashed down the hallway until she  arrived a safe distance away. Slowing her pace, she surveyed her  opulent surroundings. When her bedchamber door was within sight, two  maids came around the corner and exclaimed in relief. They quickly  ushered her into her room and had her dressed and ready faster than  Brianna thought possible.



As she made her way down to the large front drawing room, she felt her  heart pounding wildly in her chest as her nerves returned. Entering the  room, the number of guests present astonished her. She counted at least  two dozen debutantes as well as their chaperones, all engaged in various  conversations around the luxurious space. Both Jillian and Sarah were  in the crowd and many other female faces she recognized, but she didn't  see a particular gentleman present. When her eyes met with her mother,  who was coming toward her, Brianna could see disappointment and relief.         

     



 

"Where have you been?" her mother demanded. "I had wanted us to be the  first to arrive so we could have private time with the marquis and  Adora."

"Has he already arrived?" Brianna scanned the guests again, assuming she had overlooked him.

"Well, I understand he is here at Stonemede. However, he has yet to make an appearance."

Brianna opened her mouth to question why her delay was a problem if he  was not available, but she didn't wish to rile her mother. She had been  in a positive mood lately considering how close they were to meeting the  marquis, and Brianna didn't want to change that. Sarah caught Brianna's  eye and started in their direction. Not wishing for her mother to be  within hearing distance for their conversation, she decided a  distraction was in order.

"Don't worry, Mother, I'm sure he will be here soon. I see Lady  Stonemede looking this way. Perhaps you should go speak with her."

"I will not be long, for I wish us to be one of the first to obtain Lord  Stonemede's attention. Don't fret. Today we shall meet him, and I'm  sure you will be able to charm him," her mother replied lovingly, then  turned toward Lady Stonemede.

"Brianna, I didn't expect to see you here," Sarah said, appearing beside her.

"Who could refuse an invitation to Stonemede?"



"I would think since you have been pursuing that untitled gentleman, you  would not be inclined to accept an invitation so grand."

"I don't see how my pursuit, or lack of one, would necessitate declining  an invitation to visit Lady Stonemede. Regardless, I can't imagine a  short absence could affect my friendship with Mr. Gregory."

"Friendship? It didn't look that way to me back in London. You seemed  quite taken with him. At the dinner party, your attention focused on him  the majority of the night."

"I was concerned he would become bored with the evening and choose to  retire early. I simply wanted him to have an opportunity to become known  to more of the guests."

"I take it he isn't entirely comfortable in society?" A touch of concern lit Sarah's voice.

"On the contrary, he is quite comfortable once he has had the necessary  introductions," Brianna replied quickly. "It was nice to speak with you  again, but I believe my mother needs me now."

Brianna left Sarah's side before she could ask any more questions.  Although happy to see Sarah's interest, she was afraid to say the wrong  things and ruin Mr. Gregory's chances before he could prove himself. In  addition, she did see her mother trying to obtain her attention, and she  knew the long awaited meeting was about to take place. With a calming  breath, she took the last steps to her mother's side.

"Brianna, Adora told me her son should be arriving soon. Although I know  you are as anxious as I, it would probably be best if we waited for him  to approach us." Her mother continued with instructions on how Brianna  could secure his interest while she fidgeted about, fixing Brianna's  perfect hair or smoothing out her straight dress. Brianna quietly  allowed her mother to go on without her attention. Using every effort to  contain the unease welling inside her, she kept perfectly still.



When the door opened, her body swayed at the urge to faint. Seeing it  was only Richard who entered and not Lord Stonemede, she took a deep  breath in relief. His eyes scanned the crowd until they rested on her.  He looked grim. What had occurred to affect him so?