“That was perfect,” he murmured as he gently tugged her skirts back down over her legs. “Did you enjoy it?”
She laughed despite the intensity of this moment and the gravity of what she had just allowed this man, this veritable stranger, to do to her.
“Were my gasps and cries not proof enough of my enjoyment?” she teased.
He arched a brow and reached out to trace a circle around her nipple with the edge of his fingernail. She gasped at the sensation as desire flooded her a second time.
“Women can pretend their release, you know, far easier than a man can.”
She shook her head. “There was nothing pretended about that, I assure you. It was…wonderful. Better than anything I’ve found on my own.”
He nodded, and she thought there was a moment of relief on his face. Like he was afraid she hadn’t truly wanted him or liked what they’d done. But then it was gone and he was stoic and unreadable again.
“Good,” he said, his tone more formal. “Would you like me to rebutton you?”
She nodded slowly and slid her arms through her sleeves before she put her back to him a second time. He was just as swift and efficient in tidying her as he had been in making her so very undone. When she was returned to some semblance of order, he moved to his side of the carriage where he settled against the seat, watching her with those intensely bright blue eyes.
She shifted under his scrutiny. “Er, isn’t there something we can do for…you?”
Those same eyes went wide. “For me?”
“Although I’m an innocent, or I was an innocent. Am I still an innocent? You’ve not taken my maidenhead, but—”
“Marianne,” he said softly, and she shut her mouth. She was rambling. Again. But he had a tiny hint of a smile on his face, like he was not annoyed by it.
She cleared her throat and refocused herself. “I have heard told that men are very uncomfortable if they are…excited and then cannot find release.”
He shifted. “Men who do not understand the value of anticipation, perhaps,” he said, his voice dropping back to that low and dangerous tone. “I do. There will be hours for me to picture what it will feel like to slide home into that sweet pussy of yours, Marianne. To feel you pulse around me, tight as a glove. Hours to imagine the way you will arch beneath me as you give yourself over in every way imaginable.”
Marianne’s lips parted as excitement coursed through her. In truth, she had been hesitant about joining with this man. It was one thing to like his kisses, or even the wickedness of his mouth against her most private of places. But letting him mount her was quite another thing, one that was permanent. One that some of her married friends had described as less than pleasant. But when he held her stare and said those words…those wicked, heated words…she found herself wanting just what he described.
“Why don’t you rest?” he said, turning his face to stare out the window. “It’s a long ride and I doubt you slept much last night. You’ll likely not sleep tonight either, if I do my job right. So it will be in your best interest to nap if you can.”
She tilted her head, searching his face. A moment ago he had been tender and passionate with her. Now he had placed a wall between them. But what was she to do about it? Their bargain was about pleasure, but it was at his whim. She certainly had no right to press him if he no longer wanted to talk to her.
And he was, of course, right. The night before had been sleepless and she was exhausted.
“Very well,” she said softly.
He reached down and opened a drawer that had been built into the bench of his seat. From it, he pulled a small pillow and a neatly folded blanket. “For your comfort,” he said.
She took the offerings and carefully set up her place on the seat. She rested her head on the pillow, propping it against the wall next to her and watched him for a moment.
Finally, she took in a deep breath and said, “Alexander?”
He glanced at her. “Yes?”
“Thank you for being…kind,” she said.
His mouth thinned and he shrugged. “I look out for my best interest, Marianne. Kindness has nothing to do with it.”
With that, he pulled a folded paper from the gap in the seat next to him and opened it, closing off communication between them. She sighed and shut her eyes, but even as sleep overtook her, she couldn’t help but think that his final words to her were not correct. And that he simply wished to hide any gentleness or softness from her.
Which made her wonder about him all the more.
Chapter Five
Darkness had gathered in the carriage, but the occasional reflection from the moonlight outside still allowed Alexander a good look at Marianne. She was tucked up on the seat across from him, sound asleep. Just as she had been for hours. The depth of her sleep made him wonder just how long it had been since she had really rested.
