Chapter Twenty-Nine
Lifting her skirts, Eleanor twirled under the stars, tears in her eyes. Never had she felt so foolish, and giddy and utterly perfect as she did at that moment. The rose scented air once again made her think how magical her life had become. Four more days and she would be married to a man she knew she would love for the rest of her days. It was exhilarating and amazing and wonderful. Storm had become the center of all the good in her life and she was never going to let him go. Love was something she had not expected for her life after her father had died. But it found her. And in four days, in this magical garden that was nearly as perfect as papa’s had been, she would take her vows and know what it was like to never feel alone in the world again.
Her dress tonight was extraordinary. After much debating, she had just given in and allowed him to purchase a new set of gowns for her. It had not, she admitted, taken much convincing. A Duchess, after all, needed to look her best. Eleanor laughed at that thought. Bonnet had made the argument, and of course she was right, but Eleanor gave in simply because she loved the ways his eyes lingered on her when she was dressed like this. Tonight, she was quite sure his gaze would be burning through her the whole evening. She had chosen a dark rose color for this evening. For the last ball before she would be a wife, she wanted to look as lovely as the roses in her garden. Which, she reminded herself, was why, after she was dressed, she found her way to the garden in the first place.
The girls had arranged her hair and suggested she come pluck a rose to decorate it with. Eleanor could think of nothing she would enjoy more. Choosing a rose, she delicately arranged it in her hair. Deep down inside, in a place she never knew existed within herself, Eleanor realized that for at least this one night she did feel like the most beautiful woman in England. She spread out her arms and twirled again, laughter escaping her lips. And then, just when she thought the happiness would consumer her, she felt his gaze.
She stopped spinning, a small blush creeping to her cheeks. He always made her blush with his gaze and right now, Lord help her, he looked like he was going to devour her on the spot. And, good heaven, she had the most ridiculous notion that she wanted to be devoured. Storm Westbrook was the most beautiful man she would ever know, inside and out. Tonight, he stole her breath completely. Trapped in his gaze, Eleanor felt the heat of his gaze as he simply stared at her with those amazing gray eyes allowing his warmth to seep right into her soul.
Neither of them moved. Eleanor was not sure she dared to break whatever it was in the air that surrounded them. When she was with Storm, most of the time she felt as if the air around them vanished into a void. Tonight though, the air was thick. It was filled with desire and warmth and comfort and Eleanor was suddenly very scared that if she moved, even an inch, the magic would just disappear. After what seemed like forever of gazing at each other, Storms eyes lowered and slowly drifted to take in the rest of her.
Eleanor felt every moment of his examination. But it did not distract her from allowing her own eyes to roam his body. Storm was wearing the suit she had purchased for him all those weeks ago. It had looked amazing on him the first time he had worn it, but tonight, well tonight he simply looked magnificent. Something had changed in him these past few weeks, something had changed in them both, and tonight, for the first time, they were comfortable with that knowledge. Storm had allowed himself to become the man he had buried with his parents. Only he was even more than that now. He was that man, and still the man who he had been after they passed. For the first time since she had met him, Eleanor realized it was because of her.
But any further thought left her mind, because Storm chose that moment to move forward. Despite her determination to remain still, Eleanor’s body seemed to disagree, because she was moving toward him also. They had still not spoken. Words seemed unnecessary. What they felt, what lingered in the air around them, what had seeped into their very souls was obvious. Love. They may not have yet said it out loud, but Eleanor rather suspected it had been hiding there all along.
They reached each other now, Eleanor bringing her hands to rest against his chest, his hand coming to gently caress her cheek as the other settled against her waist. Passion, unlike anything she had ever known raced through her body. More than anything, she wanted Storm. Right here. Right now. In the garden. The thought was so ridiculous. But then she realized this was what his parents had felt. A need for each other that was beyond a place or a time. It did not matter where they were. All that mattered was that she was with him and that he wanted her as much as she wanted him.
His lips were pressed to hers then. Eleanor had expected her need for him to explode, but his kiss, this kiss, was so tender, so gentle, and filled with so much more than just desire. This kiss was what love felt like. Sliding her arms around him, she allowed her fingers to drift into his locks, her other gripping his sleeve, pulling him closer. And right when she thought their kiss would deepen, his lips left hers. Startled, she opened her eyes to fall into the storms in his. His lips still lingered close and their ragged breath mingling in the cool night air.
“Nora…”
Her eyes widened at the nickname. No one had called her it since papa. But from his lips, when he felt so much desire, it seemed to suit her. She wondered if he knew it is what her father called her. But no one ever really knew that about her. Not even her brother she remembered. Papa only ever said it when they were in the rose garden.
“Nora, I love you.”
And then, he kissed her again. He kissed her with such adoration that Eleanor actually felt a tear slip down her cheek. And then, she was lost. There was so much she wanted to tell him. So much she had been feeling. But right now, all she could do was kiss him back with every ounce of love in her body. This moment was worth every inch of pain she had experience in her life. Because this man loved her and she would be his. Desire seemed to engulf the air around her and all she knew was that she wanted to be his. Damn the ball, damn their families, damn all of England to be honest. Eleanor dragged her lips from his and cupped his face as she pleaded.
“Please William, please… I just want to be yours. Right now.”
His voice sounded raspy and hoarse when he finally spoke.
“You called me William.”
She had told him she never would. It had not suited him. But somehow, right now, when she was filled with desire for him, it was exactly the name he should be. Just as right now she was Nora.
“I… I know. It seemed right.”
He did growl then. His hands pulling her so close she thought she may not be able to breathe.
“It is right. When I am in your arms, you should always call me that. When I am in your arms, I am more than just Storm. Blasted it all, Nora, I want to make you mine”
She pressed her lips to his, encouraging him not to listen to the reason. Or logic. Nothing else mattered right now. Nothing.
“William, please, I love you too.”
He was completely undone when she looked at him and told him she loved him. This was completely impossible. Bonnet would kill him if she found out. But damn it all, he wanted her. And she wanted him. There was not a gentleman in the world that would have been able to resist the plea in her eyes. Not to mention he had no desire to resist her. She would be his wife in four days. Storm had squelched his desire for her for weeks. Surely no one would begrudge him four days.
The moment he had stepped in the garden he knew he would not survive the night without having her. When he spotted her twirling in the night air amongst the roses, her face lit with happiness, there was no turning back. It was a moment, he knew, he would remember for the rest of his life. More because he knew he was part of the reason she was that happy, than anything else. Eleanor was the center of his life right now, and his future was everything his parents had always wanted for him. No thought could have surprised him more, and because of it, Storm realized he could let it all go. The guilt of not living up to their expectations had weighed on him every day since they had past. Being the eldest, he knew what they wanted for all their children. It haunted him.
Now, though, there was Eleanor, twirling in his rose garden, and she had made everything right. Storm, in that moment, knew exactly who he was, and it was exactly who he should have been. And then he kissed her. He kissed her and he knew he would never let a day pass without kissing her. He had not expected that she would offer herself to him or that she would plead with him to make her his. With Eleanor, nothing should surprise him. It did though, she was full of surprises his Nora. Then she told him she loved him, and bloody hell, there was no resisting the look in her eyes. Besides, there was no way he would survive waltzing through a ballroom with her if he did not know she was his, heart body and soul. He wanted it all.
There were at least a dozen reasons flying through his head why this would be a terrible idea, but love had no logic, he was coming to realize. Taking he hand he guided her further though the garden. Wedding decorations were scattered around already and Storm felt a wave of possessiveness course through his body at the thought of their marriage day. His need for her grew with each agonizing step until, at last, he reached the private alcove he had been seeking.
Drawing her too him, his whispered her name and kissed her, fueling their passions once more. His hands explored her gentle curves, his demons growing with each moan that escaped her lips. Storm trailed his mouth to her neck, his fingers quickly undoing the laces of her dress. It would have to come off, else the grass would leave a mark, but when his lips found their way to her bodice, concern about her dress was the last piece of logic he had. Storm pulled his lips away, just long enough to remove her dress and feast on the image of her in only her chemise.
She looked radiant in the moonlight, and as his eyes lingered over every inch of her, Eleanor blushed but made no move to cover herself. Storm realized that she finally felt beautiful. No longer did she worry that she would be lacking in anyway. It made her completely irresistible. And again, he had the notion that perhaps he had freed her of some of the things that had been haunting her. Then, his glorious fiancé found a way to surprise him once more.
Eleanor knew, in her heart, Storm had never looked at another woman the way he was looking at her standing there in only her chemise. She did not care about his reputation or his rakish ways, because at this moment, all he wanted was her. All he would ever want was her. It was a ridiculously powerful feeling. He was completely enthralled by her. While he stood, motionless, just staring at her, Eleanor knew that precious time was going by, and he was completely frozen. It was like he wanted this moment to go on forever. But forever was for another time. Right now, was the time for action. So, in one quick motion, she removed her chemise and pressed her naked body to his.
“Oh, dear god, Nora.”
His hands were on her again, exploring. His mouth was on her, drinking her in as if his very life depended on it. Her fingers slipped beneath his jacket, trying to push it away. She needed to feel his skin. To see if it burned for her the way her own burned for him. Somehow, between them, they managed to rid him of his jacket and shirt, and before Eleanor could blink, she felt herself being lowered to the ground. Storms lips never left her. It was the most astounding feeling in the world. Wantonly, Eleanor arched into every caress, every touch. There was no point trying to disguise what she wanted.
“I love you, William, so much.”
He did lift his mouth then, his eyes meeting hers, now a tempest of emotion.
“Nora, I will always be yours. Always.”
The truth of his words sunk into her soul with his next kiss, and Eleanor wanted to cry and explode with happiness at the same time. It was such a ridiculous notion. But if she planned on trying to figure out, Storm did not give her the chance, because at that moment, his mouth clasped around her breast and all her wits were gone. All that remained was an endless array of need and yearning.
She felt like heaven. One day, he thought, one day very soon, he was going to spend at least twelve hours in a row exploring every inch of her. A lifetime with her was not going to be long enough. Wanting her as he did, neither of them could last much longer. It was clear her need for more was almost unbearable and so Storm released her breast from his mouth and trailed it lower. Pressing soft kisses against her stomach, Storm spread her wider, and watched her face as she arched into his touch.
When at least he tasted her, her cry was full of longing. She was panting with need now, her hands reaching toward him, wanting something, anything more. He chuckled at it. Who would have thought she would be such a wanton? Yes, life with Eleanor Pinecrest would be wonderful, but nights with her… nights with her would be sublime.
“William, please, please… I need…. I do not know what I need, but I need something!”
He smiled, lifting his mouth, taking her flailing hands in his own and raising them above her head, pinning her completely beneath him. Their eyes met, locked and Storm whispered his thoughts without even knowing he had spoken out loud.
“Nora, you will never need for anything for the rest of your life. I will give you everything.”
And then he clamped his mouth to her and thrust inside her. Her scream was lost in his mouth, her breathing ragged and harsh. He knew she would feel pain, but it would pass, and when it did, when it did, they would both know how gratifying love could be. Storm just stilled inside her, focusing her passions on their kiss until he felt her relax around him again. Lord, but she was stunning.
So, Storm lifted his lips one last time to look at her. To memorize the look in her eyes now that she was filled with him. It was time to make her his. He moved so slowly at first it was agonizing, but then as he felt the need in her grow, his thrust grew faster, harder, and he tried to remember every second of it. She was his. His. And as he felt her explode around him, he thrust one last time, felt his own release and fell into her arms with a raspy whisper.
“You are mine Nora. You are mine.”
Eleanor did not know how long they stayed lying in each other’s arms, but she did know it was most likely too long. His family would be looking for them soon. Chances are they were already late. Neither of them really had the motivation to move, but Eleanor knew they could not be discovered like this, even if the wedding was only four days away. So, placing one more gentle kiss to his lips, she cupped his face and met his gaze.
“We have to go. Your family cannot find us like this.”
She could tell by his face that he truly had no desire to move, but after a moment, his brain began working again and he rose. Holding out his hand to her, he helped her rise, his hands cupping her bottom on last time before he released her to retrieve his shirt. The dressed in silence, until at least, Eleanor turned to him and motioned to her back.
“I do not suppose you know how to lace it as quickly as you unlaced it?”
He chuckled at that but stepped behind her and started lacing her gown up.
“You do realize, I hope, that this goes against every natural instinct I have.”
“Helping me with my gown?”
“Helping you into anything that requires you to be covering up more of your skin than revealing less of it.”
Eleanor laughed. When at last he was done, she inspected him. Other than his hair, he looked perfectly presentable. Twirling once for him she smiled.
“How do I look?”
Then, to her surprise, passion was back in his eyes and he drew her to him.
“You look like you are mine.”
A gasp escaped her, but the possessiveness in his voice was almost flattering, she thought. But any exchange that would have happened was cut off by the sound of Bonnet’s voice calling their names. Storm turned to her one more time though, before they headed back toward the house.
“You look like you have been thoroughly kissed, but other than that, you look perfect.”