Page 53 of Seducing the Marquess (Lords and Ladies in Love 1)

Eugenia and Jennie flew over the ground, passing trees, bushes, and a low wooden fence. They headed toward the shrubbery about a mile distant. She leaned over the animal and egged her on. The wind whipped through her hair, sending her hat flying. She grinned and studied the hedge as it grew closer. She narrowed her eyes, and a slight panic started when the hedge began to rise. The closer she got the, the taller it became, until she pulled on Jennie. “No. Stop.”

The animal kept going, ignoring her panicked voice. The hedge grew higher, and Mother’s face emerged from the center of it, scolding her. She felt the sweat on her body and the tears gather in her eyes as she realized Jennie would never make it over the hedge.

“Jennie. Stop. Please, stop.”

“Eugenia.” A low, rumbling voice pulled her out of the horrible place from which she had been trying so desperately to escape. “Eugenia.” A warm, strong hand cupped her face, shaking her slightly. His thumb wiped at the tears streaming down her cheeks.

She opened her eyes, staring directly into Devon’s chocolate brown ones. “Devon?”

He sat alongside her on her mattress. Placing a candle on the table alongside her bed, he said, “You were having a bad dream, my dear.”

“Oh, thank heavens it was a dream.” Her heart pounded in her chest, and her breaths came in short gasps. A fine sheen of sweat covered her body. She attempted to shift in order to sit up and winced at the sudden pain in her shoulder. “Ouch.” She dropped back down. “My injury. I forgot.”

“Let me get you a cold cloth for your face.” Devon moved from her side and dipped the washcloth sitting on her dresser in the now cool water from her wash before bed. “What were you dreaming about?” He returned to her side and smoothed the cloth over her face.

Now that her heart had resumed its normal rhythm she could speak with some intelligence. “I dreamed Jennie and I were racing happily through a pasture and headed toward a hedge. However, it grew taller and more menacing as we approached.”

Devon smoothed back the hair from her forehead. “Considering the spill you took today, that is quite understandable.”

Eugenia became aware of Devon wearing a red and blue printed banyan. The hastily tied belt told her he was probably naked underneath and had thrown the garment on quickly to get to her. The heat from his body and the scent of bergamot that always surrounded him rose to her nostrils, comforting her.

“Would you help me sit up?” Now that she had him in her bed, naked except for his robe, perhaps she could entice him into spending some time. That thought brought a smile to her face and warmth to her belly.

“Certainly.” He gently placed his hands around her waist and, without any effort, lifted her to settle against the back of the bed. “Lean forward,” he said.

He then positioned two pillows behind her back. Once again she remembered his strength and how she melted when he set his large hands on her body. After he settled her to his satisfaction, he ran his knuckle down her cheek. “Do you feel better now?”

She stared into his eyes, the remnants of the dream fading with his presence, but something else disturbed her peace of mind. She wanted so badly to lean forward and kiss his warm lips, taste the brandy and whatever other flavor was there. To feel him nudging her lips to allow him to enter her mouth, sweeping in to touch all the sensitive parts.

“Yes.” It came out a whisper. “I do feel better.” She shuddered at the thoughts keeping her mind in a whirl and her body sensitized in places she longed for him to touch, to caress, and fondle.

His eyes narrowed. “Are you cold, Eugenia?”

Yes, warm me up, please. Take me in your strong arms and love me the way you did once before. The way you would if I were your mistress.

The thought of a paramour brought desperation, and a sense of time running out. “Perhaps if you slid in beside me, the chill would pass.”

Devon hesitated slightly, then lifted the counterpane and climbed in next to her. “I don’t wish to cause you pain by jarring your shoulder.”

How to tell him the only pain she felt was the one in her lower parts that ached for his touch or her breasts that longed for his attentions. She smiled softly. “It is feeling stronger already.”

The light from the candle cast a golden wash over his strong features. In moving next to her, the shoulder of his banyan slipped, and part of his chest, along with dark curly hair, peeked out. Her fingers itched to run through the curls.

Devon gently placed his arm around her shoulders and drew her to him. The heat from his body swept over her, driving away any chill she’d had before. Eugenia rested her head on his chest and looked up at him. “I feel warmer already.”

Turning slightly toward her, Devon cupped her chin. He studied her for a long moment, then whispered, “I cannot help this, Eugenia.” With that statement, he slowly moved his head down until his lips settled on hers.

Chapter Sixteen

“If one wishes to be naughty, there is no better place than a house party in the country.”

Secrets of the Bedchamber, p.142

Devon knew it was a mistake the minute he crawled under the covers with Eugenia. He’d struggled to keep his hands off her from the time he’d entered her chamber and witnessed her thrashing on the bed. Concerned that she would injure herself further, he’d woken her, resisting the urge to crawl on top of her and slide into her warmth.

Pulling her against him had been even worse. Now he could feel her soft breast pressed against his side and smell the delectable scent of whatever she’d used to wash her hair. Huddled together as they were, with only the flickering candlelight keeping the darkness at bay, encouraged a sense of being alone in the world, in their own dark, private space, with no one to judge, condemn, or question.

This was not good. He needed to distract himself until she went back to sleep and he could return to his bed. “Would you like more of the laudanum?”