Page 24 of Marrying the Wrong Earl (Lords and Ladies in Love 2)

Here he was on his wedding night, holding his beautiful bride in his arms, and unable to do anything to assuage the lust. He sighed and closed his eyes, trying desperately to sleep so the time would pass. Arabella turned the other direction and shoved her plump bottom into his side. He groaned.

Sometime later he woke up covered in sweat. He’d never been so hot in his life. Lying next to Arabella was like lying next to a fireplace. When he tried to ease away from her, she moved back again. Finally, unable to take it anymore, he hopped off the bed and hesitated at first, then slid his breeches down. The cool air on his naked skin felt wonderful.

Arabella began moving her arm over where he’d lain, whimpering. Well, there wasn’t much he could do. He climbed back in, wrapped his arm around her middle, and drew her close to him until they were huddled together. Her nightgown had ridden up to her hips, and his very delighted erection was trying desperately to find its way inside her moist warmth. With a groan, he moved his hips back slightly, which she seemed to allow, as long as his arm encircled her.

With a sigh, and counting the horses in his stable one by one, name by name, he attempted to go back to sleep.

Nash kissed the soft skin under his lips. He pushed aside the long braid covering said soft skin and continued to kiss, lick, and suckle. The scent of lemon and lavender drifted to his nose. Only half awake, he pushed his hips against more soft, warm flesh. It had been some time since he’d awakened like this, and his raging erection told him it was time to correct that situation.

Slowly his hand wandered up the front of a sweet-smelling woman, cupping a full breast with a stiffened nipple. He encircled the nipple with his thumb and received a slight moan for his efforts. His hand slid to the other breast, and the woman shifted her lovely, plush bottom against him. He slowly opened his eyes, and jerked back. Dear God, he was fondling a sick woman!

Arabella must have awakened at the same time. She squeaked and moved so far, so fast away from him, that she tumbled to the floor. “Ouch!”

“Arabella! Are you all right?” He leaned over the side of the bed. She lay on the floor in a heap. Her nightgown was twisted around her waist, displaying beautiful, well-shaped calves and thighs. Thighs that joined right where black curly hair nestled against her alabaster skin.

“Close your eyes!” Arabella struggled to get her gown down. Nash tried, honestly he did, but he could not take his eyes off her lovely body displayed right there in front of his very happy eyes. “Nash!”

Grinning, he reached over and she took his hand. Once she stood, the gown fell in waves around her legs, covering that wonderful sight. He sighed, and she blushed a deep red. Holding her nose in the air, she climbed into the bed next to him. When she lifted the sheet, she sucked in a deep breath. “You’re naked!”

“And you must be feeling better since you are aware of all these things.” He reached over and rested his palm on her forehead. “You are much cooler. In fact, I would say your fever is gone.”

“I do feel better. My throat is still sore and my head aches, but the aches in my body seem to have stopped. And—I’m hungry.”

“Excellent. I will ring for Sophia and have her bring a tray for both of us.” He swung his legs over the side of the bed and stood. Looking over his shoulder, he grinned as Arabella studied his nakedness with curiosity, despite the flush of embarrassment on her face. No shy swooning maid, his wife. All the more reason for her illness to hurry up and pass.

He pulled on his breeches and strode to the door and rang the bell for Sophia.

“Do you suppose whatever plagued me all day yesterday is truly gone already?”

Nash came back to sit on the bed next to her. “It might or might not be.”

“Well, that’s a definite answer.”

“Sometimes you can feel better, only to have the symptoms come back again. That is why doctors say the patient should remain in bed for at least two or three days after the fever breaks.”

“I will find it most difficult to stay in bed that long.”

Visions of both of them naked in bed for three days had him hardening again. He would certainly have no problem keeping her entertained. He pushed those thoughts aside as a scratch at the bedchamber door drew their attention. “Come,” Nash said.

Sophia entered, a slight blush on her face when she saw Nash sitting on the bed with Arabella, only wearing his breeches. “Good morning, my lady. You are looking a bit better than the last time I saw you.”

“Thank you, Sophia. I am feeling somewhat better, and I would like some breakfast.”

Nash turned to the maid. “Nothing too heavy. Some porridge, and maybe a bit of toast. And tea.”

…

Arabella chafed at his overbearing manner. “I am capable of choosing my own breakfast, my lord.”

Ignoring her, he turned to Sophia. “You may leave now. As for me, please have Cook fix my usual breakfast. We will both be breaking our fast in here.”

Well. This marriage was not starting off the way she had planned. He had already demanded she stay in bed for three days and ordered her breakfast for her, as if she were a child. Deciding she would have her say, she tapped him on the shoulder. “My lord, please understand I have no intention of allowing you to order my sleeping habits or my meals. I am a woman grown, and I intend to conduct myself in such a manner.”

To her absolute horror, he laughed. Laughed! How dare he? She drew herself up. “I do not see what is funny about this.”

Now he doubled over and continued to laugh until she had an urge to smack him over the head with the pillow. Or something hard.

“Do not laugh at me. You were the one who insisted on this marriage, and I will not be a biddable wife who listens to your every command.”