Chapter Twenty-One
“I have the key.”
Guy led Hetty up to the front door of an impressive house in South Audley Street. Doric columns flanked the doors with a pretty fan-shaped window above.
Hetty took a deep breath as she looked at the handsome man beside her. An hour spent alone with him was enticing.
Guy unlocked the door and led her into the marble hall where elegant stairs curved away to the upper floors.
“It’s very grand.” Hetty’s hushed voice echoed around the lofty space.
Guy took her hand and led her through the empty rooms. Then they mounted the stairs to the upper stories.
“This is the drawing room.” He threw open a door.
Crimson silk walls rose above the dark polished wood of the wainscoting, rising to a high plaster ceiling. The Adam fireplace was of white marble. Tall French windows opened onto the garden. She crossed the bare boards to inspect the magnificent carved fireplace. “I can imagine it furnished.”
“That will be your domain.” Guy gazed down at her. “How pretty you look today. The lilac suits your hair.”
She smiled. “I’m glad you didn’t say red hair.”
“I have learnt my lesson.”
She reached up and touched the cleft in his chin. “The first of many.”
He pulled her against him. “That sounds threatening.”
She laughed. “It’s only fair to warn you.”
He tilted up her chin. “Ah, but you are not fair.”
“Why am I not?”
“The way you look at me when I want you so.”
Her hand at his nape, she pulled him down for a kiss.
“Hetty,” he murmured when they parted. “Don’t torture me. Let’s examine the rest of the house.”
She smiled and took his arm. “Yes, I’d love to.”
Guy threw open another white and gold paneled door. “This will be our bedchamber.”
Hetty found it difficult to breathe. The room was empty of furniture but was carpeted in the pinks and blues of a rosy dawn. Another handsome fireplace where she could visualize flames crackling cozily in the grate as they lay in bed together. The thought thrilled her.
She pressed her hands together and gazed up at her handsome fiancé.
Hetty was determined to have Guy make love to her today. Her breath quickened as she walked to the window. “We overlook the garden.” She pulled off her lilac pelisse and kid gloves and began to untie her bonnet strings.
Guy came to stand behind her, resting his hands on her shoulders. “What are you doing, Hetty?”
“I’m a trifle warm.”
Aunt Emily wished her to act with decorum, but her aunt wished she’d experienced love with the man she adored. It seemed to Hetty that Aunt Emily compensated for a life not lived by immersing herself in poetry.
Hetty turned into his arms. She reached up to slide a black lock back from his forehead as his eyes roamed her face.
So much had happened. It seemed irrational, but Hetty feared he’d be snatched away from her. He was tense, she could sense it when she touched him, and she wondered why. He was withholding something from her. Perhaps if they became lovers, he might tell her, although she doubted he would listen to her and stay safe.
“Shall we view more of the house?” When he drew her away toward the door, she silently took his hand and tried to pull him down with her onto the dense carpet.
“What mischief are you up to, Hetty?” Guy said, removing his hand as if he’d been burned.
She sank down. “Lie with me.”
He shook his head, doubt in his eyes. “We should wait.”
Afraid he might not desire her after all, she tucked her legs beneath her, suddenly foolish.
Guy laughed and sat beside her. “I swear I’m never sure of what you’ll do next.”
Hetty hesitated. She wasn’t entirely sure how to proceed but determined they would not leave there today without making love. She trusted Guy to keep her safe from scandal. Now that she’d made up her mind, her senses were on fire. A twist of desire curled deep inside her.
Guy eyed her cautiously but kept some distance between them. She reached out to him. “Kiss me.”
He leant over and gave her a gentle kiss, pulled away, then with a soft moan, moved closer, and kissed her again. One kiss turned into many, and his tongue thrust against hers, teasing, taking. Desire built to a heavy throb low in her belly. Her nipples tingled.
He drew away. “You are playing a dangerous game, ma cherie.”
Something odd had happened to her breath, she was gasping, her heart pounding. “I know, but it’s worth it, isn’t it?” She ran a finger along his bottom lip.
Guy kissed her throat and untied the strings at the back of her gown to lower it, kissing the swell of her breast. A delicious ache spread over her breasts, and her nipples tightened into rigid buds.
She shivered with expectation at his deliberate movements. He seemed a different person as her shift was pulled down to expose her breasts. Suddenly shy, she put an arm across her breasts.
“Don’t hide from me,” he murmured huskily, removing her hand. He lowered his head and took a nipple in his mouth.
As exquisite sensations flooded through her, Hetty gasped and raked her fingers through his dark hair.
*
Guy couldn’t resist kissing her full creamy-skinned breasts. Lust slammed into his body as he cupped a firm globe and teased the taut nipple with his tongue. It tasted deliciously of woman with a delicate floral scent. But he could not let it go far. Not when he feared he may not live long enough to marry her. He’d already gone further than he intended. Her long slender legs enticed him, and a wicked voice in his head urged him to settle between them and make her his own. Her soft words of encouragement made him want her so much he had to fight not to take her right there on the carpet.
“Mon dieu!” he groaned. “We must stop this, Hetty.”
“What? No.” Her beautiful eyes were unfocused, which made his blood run hot.
As his last shreds of resistance slipped away, Guy pushed her back, his mouth sliding over hers. He nipped at her full under lip, evidence of her passionate nature.
When Hetty gazed deeply into his eyes, revealing the trust and respect she held for him, he pulled away, making a valiant effort at restraint.
“This is not going to happen,” he said, his voice hoarse while aware the evidence of his body made a mockery of his words.
“You’re trembling,” she whispered. “I don’t think you mean it.” She pressed herself ruthlessly against him, hip-to-hip, her hands sweeping over his back. He gave a strained laugh.
“Hetty, have mercy!”
He struggled to resist as hot blood surged through his body. His hand stroked up the soft skin of her inner thigh under her petticoats and located the soft feminine folds at the apex. Hetty’s body tensed, she flushed, and with a small sigh of pleasure, gave herself up to him.
With a moan, Guy stroked her hot damp flesh while she wriggled, uttering mews of pleasure. His free hand went to his breeches as desire drove him to mount her. They were panting with need, and his brain, turned to mush, ignored the danger.
There was a time when he would have taken her and worried about the consequences later. But not now. Surprised at how much he’d changed, and knowing his love for Hetty had changed him, he pulled his hand away from his breeches and focused on her enjoyment.
Hetty clutched at Guy’s shirt and emitted small shrieks as he continued his rhythmic stroking. “Guy, oh that’s so…”
She moaned, sank back, and opened her eyes.
Guy smiled at her. “It was agreeable, my love?”
Hetty’s eyes had a dreamy look, and her pink tongue toyed with her bottom lip. Guy struggled to inhale as he moved to ease the discomfort of his swollen shaft straining against his breeches. He wanted her so much he fought for air. Somehow, the bitter reminder had found its way through the fog of lust enveloping his mind. What he faced tomorrow. He could die and leave her unmarried and pregnant. Withdrawal was never a guarantee. He moved to put distance between them.
*
Guy’s deep groan vibrated through her. She bit her lip, contrite. When he jumped to his feet, she saw with a small measure of satisfaction how she had affected him before he turned away to adjust his clothing. “Get dressed, Hetty,” he said, his voice tight. “I shall be back in a moment. And then I think we should leave.”
Filled with an odd languor, Hetty struggled with the ties of her gown. Her muscles seemed to have gone to water. Tears gathered, and a sob formed in her throat. He had proved remarkably un-rake like. Was he disappointed in her?
She climbed to her feet and straightened her clothes. She was struggling with the ties on her gown when he returned.
“Let me assist you.”
She studied his face as he helped her into her pelisse. He was so handsome, so wonderful, and her behavior had been appalling. “Thank you.” Despite her best efforts her chest heaved, and her voice trembled.
Guy sighed and placed his finger beneath her chin to raise her gaze to his.
Hetty gave a sigh of relief at the amusement she found there. He touched his lips lightly to hers. “What motivated this attempt at seduction?”
“I’m afraid I’ll lose you, Guy,” she murmured. “That you’re not telling me everything.”
“You aren’t going to lose me,” he said and pulled her against him, his hand cupped her head as he took her lips in a long passionate kiss. “Sweetheart. I would like nothing better than to make love to you. But I know more about life than you do, so please, just once, will you let me take care of you?”
“But I wanted to give you pleasure,” she whispered.
“You think you didn’t?” He laughed and tucked a lock behind her ear and bent to give her another brief kiss. “I plan to make love to you in the proper manner. In our marriage bed.”
At those words, any vestige of remorse fled. “I remember the stories you told me–when you believed me to be a man–of making love in hay lofts, carriages, fields, and wasn’t there one incidence involving a table?”
Guy laughed. “You have changed me.” He shook his head. “I am not that man anymore.”
Guy was an honorable man, one of the things she respected and loved about him, but she didn’t want him to change from the passionate and thrilling lover described to her in the woodland hut. She was determined they would do all those things together because she wanted to eradicate the memories of his past lovers. Lords were known to take mistresses, but he would never wish for anyone but her.
She tied her bonnet ribbons firmly beneath her chin. “I’ve yet to see the dining room. I fancy a long table, with enough room for all our friends and family.”