Chapter 29

Lucian saw the wave of disappointment then sadness in her grey eyes, which had not been his intention. He’d questioned Eliza because he wanted to make certain that she understood what she was proposing and the only reason he had rung for the maid and then opened the door was so that they would not be disturbed.

“Close the door.”

Eliza frowned.

“Close your chamber door but remain in here.”

Would she obey?

She reached behind her and did as he asked.

“Will Stella be waiting to assist you tonight?”

Eliza frowned. “No. I have not required the assistance of a maid to undress since I was a small child.”

It would have ruined everything if her maid, more mothering than anything else, would come looking for Eliza.

“What is it you want, Lord Garretson?”

“For you to come here.”

Eliza tilted her chin and narrowed her eyes but did not move.

Lucian always knew that no matter where they were, in the garden, or parlor, library, or dining room that when it came to Eliza there would be a battle of wills, which would soon extend to the bedchamber. However, she would soon learn that tonight, he would be the one in control.

“I said, come here.” He crooked his finger at her.

“Why?”

“Eliza,” he ground out.

“Not until you tell me what you want,” she responded.

“We are not finished with our discussion. However, if you would like to remain there, and me here, dressed as this for the maid to find us, I have no objection.”

The last part was a lie because he did not want to see Eliza ruined simply because she had been alone with him while he was in a state of undress. Her ruination would be complete in the privacy of his chamber.

“Oh, very well,” Eliza blew out and came forward.

“In there.” He pointed to his bedchamber.

“I thought you did not want to see me ruined.” However, she continued walking and Lucian followed, closing the door behind him. When the maid did arrive to collect the dishes, she would assume that Eliza was in her chamber, with the door closed and that he had retired.

Eliza turned and faced him, hands fisted on her hips. “What more is there to discuss?” she demanded. “I thought we were finished with this matter.”

“You will know when I am finished with you.” And with those words he drew Eliza into his arms and placed his lips against hers. At her gasp, he delved and kissed her most thoroughly, deeply, passionately so that there was no doubt whatsoever as to what he wanted.

When her hands rose to his shoulders, Lucian stopped and stepped away.

“Do not touch me.”

Eliza frowned. “Why?”

“I must keep control.”

“What if I do not want your control?”

He fingered the buttons at her bodice as he began to undo them. “Eliza, for once, let me lead and you follow and do as I say.”

“You wish to order me about?” she demanded as she took a step back.

“Either we do this my way or you can return to your chamber.”

She gulped.

“Do we have an understanding?”

“Yes,” she whispered.

This might be the only time that he ever had complete control of Eliza and Lucian was going to enjoy every moment. Once she learned how to please him, no doubt she would be the one who demanded. That is, unless he never allowed it.

That, however, was a decision for later.

As she looked up at him, Lucian made quick work of her buttons then slid the gown from her shoulders until it fell to her elbows. Beneath was a white shift, her breasts full and tight peaks pushing against the fabric. He nearly salivated at the idea of taking them into his mouth one at a time. Instead, he bent and placed his lips against her neck and was rewarded with the sharp intake of her breath next to his ear as he lifted his hands and palmed each of her glorious breasts then pinched the nipples.

Eliza swayed and Lucian grinned.

He then pushed the shift from her shoulders until her breasts were revealed in all their perfection. He stood back and stared down at her. Eliza attempted to raise her arms to cover herself but they were pinned at her sides because they were still within the sleeves of her dress and shift.

Lucian caressed each, noting the smoothness of her skin, and the weight as they swelled within his hands before he leaned forward and took one perfect bud tip into his mouth.

Eliza gasped as he sucked then nipped, and she dropped slightly at what he assumed was her knees nearly buckling from pleasure. It was then that he wrapped an arm about her waist, lifting her so that she was not required to stand fully on her own as he continued to feast on one breast and then the other.

Eliza let her head fall back as a moan escaped. He then stood back and placed his hands on the sleeves and pushed them down until her hands were free. Both dress and shift fell free and pooled at her feet.

Eliza’s eyes widened and she moved to place a hand over her womanhood to hide it from him.

“Do not!” Lucian ordered and he shrugged out of his dressing gown, now as naked as she.

“But…”

Lucian arched an eyebrow in warning.

“Do you trust me?”

“Yes.”

“Then you will do as I say.”

“I… um…”

He stopped and stepped back. “If you have changed your mind, I understand,” he said. “It is not too late, nor will I be angry or upset.”

If she had any sense at all, Eliza should run from the room with her virginity still intact.

“I have not.”

Thank goodness. At this point, if she would have left him, Lucian would have had no choice but to find comfort alone. It was taking everything in his power not to pick Eliza up and toss her on the bed then take her, but he would never do that to her, especially not tonight while she still remained a virgin.

“Are you certain?” he asked.

“Yes,” she answered with exasperation. “What do I do?”

He nearly laughed. She needed to do absolutely nothing. God, she was gorgeous and her body, with perfectly shaped and full breasts, rounded stomach, and generous hips, was made for passion, desire, and mating. The perfect form to bring a man the deepest of pleasure.

He studied her from the tips of her toes to the top of her head and did not find one imperfection.

Her face, however, had taken on a rather red hue, but soon she would be over her embarrassment.

“Look at me,” he ordered.

The entire time that he had studied her, he knew that she’d only looked at his face or neck.

“I have been.”

“Look beyond my chest.”

Eliza bit her bottom lip and she slowly looked lower but her eyes grew wide and her mouth opened when her gaze settled on his manhood, hard and aching.

“Are you certain?” he asked again.

“Yes.”

“You are aware of what I will do to you?”

Eliza’s breathing grew heavy. “I…yes…I know but no practical…”

He reached forward and traced a line from her bellybutton toward her curls but stopped before going any further.

“Practical what?” he prompted.

“Experience,” she answered.

Lucian continued his descent through her curls and encountered dampness and then cupped her.

Eliza’s hands flew up to grasp his arm just as her knees gave out.

Encouraged by her response, Lucian swept her up in his arms and carried her to the bed where he gently laid her down but did not join her. Instead, he remained standing at the side where he could feast upon her with his eyes and could touch her anywhere.

Eliza held out her arms to him, likely assuming that he would now join her on the bed, but that was not the plan.

“Arms above your head,” he ordered.

“Why?”

He said nothing but arched an eyebrow.

She drew in a shaky breath and raised her arms.

“Clasp your hands together.”

She did as instructed.

“Keep them there.”

“Why?”

“So that you do not touch me.”

“I do not understand.”

“Control, Eliza. For once, I have it and you do not.” He leaned forward to kiss her.

“Is that fair?” she demanded.

He slipped a finger between her damp folds. “Is it?”

Her only response was a moan.

As much as Lucian wanted to prolong her pleasure, and bring her to release over and over, he also knew his limitations and would not last long. However, he did not rush either and as he caressed, she responded, her hips rising, reaching for what he teased to offer, while he watched that pure pleasure upon her beautiful face, her lips parted and eyes closed, lost in each and every sensation until he allowed her to crest and crash.

Her entire body stiffened as her cry came from deep inside before she slowly relaxed onto the bed. Those perfect breasts rose and fell as if she had just run a long race and then she opened her stormy eyes filled with wonder.

As Eliza was one to speak and question, he did not give her the opportunity and climbed onto the bed and settled between her thighs.

She gulped and stared up at him.

“Are you certain?”

“Yes,” she whispered.

He lifted her hips and moved close and brought himself to her entrance.

“You cannot go back once the deed is done.”

“Please, Lucian?” she begged.

He clenched his teeth for control as he stretched her further, looked her in the eyes and thrust forward.

As her tight walls closed around him, Lucian was afraid to move because first, he did not want to hurt her, and afraid that perhaps he already had; and second, he feared that he might spill his seed instantly, and did not want this to end too soon.

His eyes bore into hers and she slowly smiled.

“Can I touch you yet?” she asked quietly.

Lucian smiled. “Yes, Eliza, you can.”

Her arms came around him and he lowered his mouth to hers as he started to move, forward and back, deeper each time, until she was once again moaning and tightening around him and just when he could not hold off any longer, Eliza stiffened and cried out a second time, which pushed him over the edge.

Eliza wasn’t certain what to do, or even if it was possible to do anything?

She’d not experienced just one release, but two, and they were the most exquisite experiences ever known to woman.

She assumed Lucian had undergone the same for he had stiffened and moaned and eventually fell to the side of her, an arm resting across her abdomen and a leg over her thighs.

Goodness, she was naked and in Lucian’s bed, where he was equally naked.

Well, they weren’t technically in bed but on top of the counterpane, not that it mattered to her.

She had finally experienced passion, desire, and intimacy, which was so much better than she had ever imagined.

When she had first seen his manhood, Eliza nearly backed away from this opportunity. But she was not one to let fear dictate her desires and discovered there was no reason to fear.

As his breathing returned to normal Eliza wondered what to do next. She assumed that now that the act was complete that she should probably leave. Lovers did not remain in bed for long together, did they? Husbands and wives did not even share a bedchamber so it was likely Lucian was waiting for her to leave.

At one point she’d lost her embarrassment of being naked in front of him, but now she was acutely aware of her state of undress and wished to cover herself, but her clothing was on the floor in the middle of the room.

When Lucian sighed and rolled away, his back to her, Eliza took the opportunity to get off the bed. Maybe if she crawled, he would not see her and she could quickly dress and be gone.

She dropped down to all fours and started to make her way along the side of the bed but was halted by a stinging slap to her bottom and glanced back to find Lucian grinning at her.

“Where are you going?”

“I need my clothing,” she answered slowly, her face heating at her position, her bare arse angled at his face. This was even worse than standing naked in front of him.

“Why?” he asked.

“I thought you would want me gone now that we have...” Her face began to burn. Nobody told her that the aftermath of intimacy would also bring such embarrassment. “You moved away, and I assumed…”

“Eliza, get back in bed.” Lucian held the covers up. “We will be warmer underneath instead of on top.”

“Are you certain?”

“Unless now that you have taken your pleasure, I serve no other purpose.”

Eliza turned around and gaped at him. “I am not a rake.” That is what they did, wasn’t it?

“Then get back in bed.”

“Do you not wish to sleep?” she asked.

“Maybe I do not want to sleep alone,” he suggested.

A warmth came over her. She’d never slept with anyone and didn’t think anyone did, but it sounded quite pleasant.

With a small smile, Eliza crawled back into the bed then quickly brought blankets up to cover her nakedness.

Lucian wrapped an arm around her, bringing Eliza close until she rested her head on his chest, her arm across his stomach this time and leg over his. This was very nice.

“You slapped my bottom,” she said after a moment and even though she should be outraged, she was not.

“I did and will do so again if I find it necessary.”

“Why?” She had never been struck before and was not certain if she liked worrying about being struck again.

“Two reasons,” he said. “No doubt there were many times in your youth that you should have gotten a spanking.”

Eliza gasped, though he did speak the truth. Nobody had every truly disciplined her except for her teachers and that was just being sent to her sleeping chamber.

“The other?” she asked.

“Because you are now mine.”

Despite being a very independent woman, a thrill still ran through her at his declaration. Though, she did wonder to the extent of his meaning. Was she his for the night, or the rest of her stay at Wyndhill Park, or a longer duration? How long did a gentleman keep a lover?