A True Bride

 

Again, Ella had greeted Ashton with another tantalizing view of her slim legs. She was such a beguiling mix of innocence and sultry curves. She’d filled his every waking thought these last few days. He’d settled his affairs and struck a bargain with the devil—wasn’t that really what all bankers were? He had gambled with not only his life, but Ella and Cyril’s, as well. If his grandmother didn’t bestow upon him her money… Well, he couldn’t consider that possibility.

A pang of guilt stabbed. Was it fair to woo Ella with the hope she would fall in love with him when his prospects were so tenuous?

Aye, it was. She’d married him. One way or another, he intended to take care of her and Cyril. If he could make her fall in love with him, he would ensure she never regretted it. Starting with speaking with his grandmother about how to maintain Kinnettles.

In the two days before leaving Kinnettles, he’d been startled to notice the fences that needed repair, the stable roof that leaked, and the hen house certainly had seen better days. Even today, as he’d ridden up the drive, he’d noticed the stones on the far corner of the south side of the castle had begun to crumble.

Ella shifted within the circle of his arms. “You’ve returned,” she breathed.

Ashton drew her close. “Perhaps with your distaste of skirts, I should ride off for a tailor straightway.”

Ella met his gaze squarely. “You have no idea how much women suffer. I daresay, running in breeches is a far sight easier than running in a dress.”

His blood heated. Running naked would be easiest of all.

“What is it?” she asked.

She felt so soft, so fragile, and so very right cradled in his arms. “You should be careful, lass. Dangerous men wander about Kinnettles today.”

Ella frowned.

“What is it?” he asked.

“I did see a man—at least I think it was a man.”

He tensed. “Where?”

“In the woods near—” She broke off, eyes wide.

“Near what, Ella?”

“The barn.”

“Barn?” he repeated, then understood.

“I was walking with Angel,” she said in a rush. “Someone was in the woods.”

“Did you see who?” he asked.

She shook her head.

“You are positive it was a man?”

She hesitated. “Angel barked.”

“He would bark at an animal,” Ashton said.

Ella nodded. “I suppose so.” She stared up at him, so innocent. He ran a palm up her spine.

His blood began a pleasant hum. “Were you looking for a man?” Her brow drew down in a fierce frown and he quickly added, “Me, perhaps?”

Her mouth parted in surprise, and he caught her lips with his.  She tasted even sweeter than he remembered. He thrust his tongue between her lips and she relaxed against him. Her breasts rose and fell against his chest as their tongues met and meshed. God, how he’d missed her. Did the eagerness of her kiss mean she’d missed him, as well?

His body surged with the primal desire to claim her. He slid his hands over her buttocks and pulled her against his growing erection. This time, she didn’t flinch, but pressed against his hard length. He nearly came in his breeches.

Ashton thrust twice. He was a heartbeat away from pushing her against the wall and burying his shaft in her tight, hot depths. Nae, he couldn’t take her here in the stables. She was a virgin. She deserved the gentleness of a bed for the taking of her innocence, not a pile of hay. He broke the kiss.

“The rain has stopped,” he murmured. “We should go. You’ll catch your death in those wet clothes.”

She shivered and nodded, but from the rosiness of her cheeks, he suspected she didn’t shiver with cold. He entwined his fingers with hers and pulled her to the door. They crossed the stable yard and continued around the castle to the kitchen door. The scullery maids looked up as they entered the warm room. With a hasty nod of greeting, Ashton urged Ella up the servants’ stairs toward their rooms.

Once inside, he began unbuttoning his coat.

“Heavens, I reek like a barn.” Ella wrinkled her nose at her mud-spattered skirts. “I must look a fright.”

He paused and looked at her. Her soaked dress clung to her slim body. “Hardly,” he said.

She flashed a shy smile. “I’ll change quickly.” She disappeared through the bedroom door.

Ashton stared. She’d left the door open. Was that an invitation? He sat on the couch, withdrew the sheathed knife he kept in his right boot, then removed his boots, and sloughed off his shirt. Ashton rose, hesitated, then strode to the open door. Ella stood, her back toward him, dressed in a dry shift. An instant later, he reached her. He wrapped his arms around her waist.

“I want to touch you,” he murmured into her hair.

Her breasts heaved. He pushed his arousal against her buttocks. She pushed back and leaned her head against his chest.

“You are touching me,” she whispered.

He slid a palm over her flat belly and cupped her mons. She went ramrod straight, but he’d expected as much.

He nuzzled the back of her ear. “Here. I want to touch you here.”

Ella drew a ragged breath, and for a moment, he thought she would refuse. Then, she replied in a voice so soft he scarcely heard the words, “Touch me.”

He kissed the back of her neck. With one hand, he inched up her shift and, with the other, he cupped her breast. She was the perfect handful. He began to knead the soft mound, while lifting her shift until, at last, he reached the hem. Slowly, ever so slowly, he slid his fingers between her thighs. She arched as he brushed her soft curls. His cock strained uncomfortably against his breeches as he slipped a finger into the seam.

“God, you’re so wet, Ella.” He thrust his erection against her backside.

She arched. The motion thrust her breast into his hand. He caressed her nipple almost as an afterthought as he burrowed his fingers deeper between her slick folds. He released her breast and unbuttoned his breeches. His cock sprang free of his breeches. He swallowed and slid his finger into her channel. Her breath hitched, and the sound nearly caused him to spill his seed. He swung her into his arms, carried her to the bed, and laid her down.

He stood over her, his cock hard as marble. She stared, eyes wide. Control reasserted itself.

“You excite me, lass,” he confessed with a half-smile. “You’re too bonny by far.”

Eyes locked with hers, he shoved his breeches down over his hips, then crawled onto the bed by her side.

Ella emitted a nervous giggle. “I have no notion what to do.”

He nuzzled her ear. “There is only one rule, sweetheart.”

“And that is?” she breathed.

“Enjoy yourself. The rest follows.”

She released a satisfied breath as he trailed kisses over her collarbone. He could listen to her sighs all night. Gently, he gazed at her nipples through the thin cloth. He rubbed his erection against her thigh as he suckled her nipple through the shift. She gasped and buried her hands in his hair.

His heart hammered. Control, he ordered.

Slowly, he skimmed a palm over her belly and down to the hem of her wet shift.

He drew her shift over her head. “I need to taste every inch of you.”

She was so beautiful. He closed his mouth over her breast and rolled the taut peak with the tip of his tongue. As he drew deep, she arched into his mouth. She was so responsive. He moved his mouth to her other breast and suckled.

“Ashton,” she moaned.

His name on her lips sent his heart into a wild rhythm.

“I want to touch you,” she whispered.

She wanted to touch him? “I am at your command.”

 He rolled onto his back and waited. She shifted onto her side. Eyes on his cock, she tentatively trailed a finger along its side. He shuddered.

Ella looked sharply at him. “Is something wrong?”

“Nae,” he said in a rough voice. “Don’t stop.”

She gave him a curious look, then returned her attention to his erection. Again, she slid her finger along his cock. He gritted his teeth against the exquisite need to climax and forced himself to remain motionless. When she touched the crown, he feared he would lost control.

“Wrap your hand around me,” he said in a hoarse whisper.

Her mouth dropped open. “Truly?”

He nodded. She hesitated and he held his breath as she slowly wrapped her warm fingers around him. Her eyes widened with wonder as he slowly thrust. The compulsion to climax coursed through him.

“Hold me tighter,” he pleaded.

She complied, and he pumped in short bursts. Dear God, the pleasure bordered on pain. Ashton pulled her hand away, then pushed her onto her back and kissed his way down her soft, flat stomach to the soft dip of her bellybutton.

He turned his head and met her gaze. “Open your legs for me, lass.”

Her cheeks flamed pink, but she obliged.

He slid off the bed and positioned himself between her legs.

“What—” she began.

“Hush,” he whispered as he gently parted her folds and placed his mouth over the pink heat that begged to be tasted.

“Ashton,” she gasped, half rising from the bed.

He gripped her thighs firmly and began to suck her swollen nub. Her scent drove him mad.

“This is indecent.” She twisted in an effort to move away.

He grasped her legs. She might fear the indecency, but the breathless note in her voice told him she liked what he was doing. Gently, he inserted a finger into her tight, little channel, careful not to rupture her innocence. God, she was so tight. Carefully, he added another finger and began to thrust as he began to lick her. She moaned. Her legs relaxed, granting him full access to her most private parts. He removed his fingers and drove his tongue deep inside her channel, in and out, in and out until her breath came in pants.

She was on the verge. Ashton sucked her sex. She cried out and arched against his face as her pleasure consumed her. He looked across her belly at her. Eyes shut, head back in ecstasy, she was so beautiful. Waves of heat flooded his groin. He stood and pulled her down to the edge of the bed. Cock in hand, he fitted the crown to her opening.

“I will be gentle,” he promised. “The pain is over quick.”

Ella stared, eyes glazed with pleasure as he inserted the head of his cock into her opening. He drew a long, shuddering breath and inched forward until he felt her virginal barrier. Ashton tightened his grasp on her hips and, with one quick thrust, broke the barrier that marked her as an innocent. Her eyes opened wide in surprise.

“The worst is over,” he whispered as he held still, snug against her mound.

 He pulled his cock halfway out, then slowly thrust into her soft, velvet walls once again. Her body fit him like a glove. Again, he pulled out and thrust in a little harder. She arched her hips to meet his next thrust. He drove deeper. She drew a sharp breath. With her channel wrapped so tightly around him, he knew he wouldn’t last long. He would do better next time. His climax seized him. Pleasure ripped through his body. With a groan, he seated his manhood bollocks deep inside her and filled her with his seed. When he’d milked the last from his shaft, he collapsed next to her on the bed and dropped a soft kiss on her lips.

 “Incredible,” he breathed.

They kissed again, a slow, lazy kiss, and when they were done, she started to rise, but he pulled her close. “Where are you going?”

“Your grandmother expects me at luncheon to play whist,” she said.

He rolled onto her. “Not today, lass.”

She lowered her lashes. “Shall I send a message that I will be busy for another hour or so?”

Ashton nibbled her bottom lip. “You will be busier for far longer than that.”