Chapter 15

When Easton remained silent, Vanessa wondered if she had made a grave error and made him uncomfortable. She had always felt like she could talk to him about anything, but perhaps her innermost thoughts on this particular subject weren't what she ought to share. "I'm sorry. I—"

"Don't apologize." His voice was husky. "Don't ever apologize for sharing yourself with me." Vanessa's breath caught as he got up and moved to where she sat. On instinct, she rose, and he set a finger under her chin and tilted her face to his. She wondered if he might kiss her, and she prayed that he would. "I wish I could tell you what love feels like, but I don't have anything to compare it with. I had casual conquests in the past but nothing meaningful. Nothing that made me feel like I do…" He traced her fuller, lower lip with his thumb. "Right now."

Her lips trembled, eager for his touch, and when he lowered his head, she lifted up on her tiptoes and met him halfway. The instant that their mouths joined, Vanessa wondered if she didn't know what love felt like after all. If it was anything like this all-consuming need that coursed through her veins, the desperation to be with Easton, then perhaps love wasn't just an ode comparing a flowery feeling to a rose. It certainly felt like much more.

"Vanessa." He parted long enough to breathe her name on a sigh. "God, you're driving me mad with the desire to possess you for my own."

"I want you, too," she sighed, realizing she spoke the truth. She no longer cared about Frank and his mistress or their son. She didn't care if she broke the vows he'd shattered the moment they were said. She just wanted Easton. "Take me somewhere we can be alone."

He paused, looking at her. "Are you sure? I don't want there to be any regrets."

"There won't." She hoped that her eyes were fervent, that he could read the sincerity in her gaze.

He gave a brisk nod. He moved away, and she mourned the loss until he held out his hand to her, as if giving her one more chance to change her mind. She slipped her palm in his.

He pulled her behind him, but as they were about to make their way out of the room, they heard the sound of determined footfalls. They stopped to see Lady Beauvais rushing toward them. Her face was white and her mouth was open slightly, as if she'd received a terrible shock. Vanessa's chest clenched, and she squeezed Easton's hand for courage. The pressure she gained in return made her feel that she could face whatever came next.

Vanessa could hardly get the words past her wooden lips. "What's happened?"

Lady Beauvais shook her head. "I have just returned from the local magistrate's office. It appears that the baron's visit has been postponed. There has been a dreadful accident." She paused to compose herself, but it only added to the anticipation. Vanessa held her breath. "Apparently, your husband's mistress had a lover of her own. Rumor has it that the father of her child was the baron himself and not Mr. McGavin after all." Her expression became even more grim, and Vanessa knew the countess was about to reveal something dreadful. "In a fit of rage, McGavin challenged the baron to a duel. They met at dawn just this morning. Two shots were fired, but only one hit its mark. Frank is dead."

Vanessa's lungs turned to ice. The entire world started to spin on its axis. She wasn't sure what to feel, and certainly the appropriate response in learning that she was a widow would have been to express some sort of raw emotion. She told herself that she ought to show remorse, or at the very least, shed a tear or two for a life that was lost. But the only thing that penetrated her mind was the respite that his death presented.

At long last, she was free.

Her knees buckled in relief.

The viscount was there to keep her upright, and the look he had on his face was one of sorrow. She couldn't seem to find the words to say it wasn't grief that was so devastating, but rather the reprieve she felt in knowing she no longer had to suffer Frank's retribution.

"The poor dear. It's such a terrible shock. Help me get her to her rooms," instructed the countess to Lord Fane.

He nodded somberly in return and instead of allowing Vanessa to walk on her own, he lifted her into his arms and carried her. She breathed in his spicy masculine scent and closed her eyes. It was a wonderful sensation to know that when they were finally together, they wouldn't have any impediments between them. Frank was gone, and Vanessa was certainly not beholden to him or his memory. She shouldn't be feeling joy at a time like this, but she reminded herself she had tried to be a good wife to Frank. She had done everything he'd asked, but it still hadn't been good enough. He had always wanted more, demanded more, and this was the crossroads of where his selfishness had led. She couldn't feel sorry for that.

Easton gently set Vanessa on top of the counterpane in her room, and although her head was spinning, she reached out for him. "Don't leave."

He gently kissed the back of her hand. "I won't go far, but I do need to speak with Lady Beauvais."

She nodded and closed her eyes. No more would nightmares haunt her. Instead, her dreams would be filled with the possibility of hope and a bright future.

* * *

Easton clenched his jaw as Vanessa shut her eyes. He wanted to know what she was thinking, but he also knew that she needed time to acclimate herself to Mr. McGavin's loss.

As he followed the countess out into the hallway, he softly shut Vanessa's door behind him. He crossed his arms and regarded his hostess. "What of James Theroux and his accusations?"

"I'm afraid that is still a threat at this point," Lady Beauvais returned. "But now that the baron has this latest ordeal to deal with, it may take a bit more time before he can make it to Burnham-On-Sea. Until then, I think it would be a good idea for you to remain here."

"And Mr. Porter?" Easton prodded.

"I believe he will also stay under my roof until the baron arrives. He was quite adamant about being compensated for his services, as you well know. He is quite determined to keep you in his sights." Lady Beauvais rolled her eyes, and then she turned serious once again. "In light of Vanessa's altered circumstances, I will have to insist that she return to the Society. As a new widow, if she were to stay here with not one, but two single men, there would undoubtedly be talk. I have enough of that when I make my way to London. I don't need there to be any unnecessary speculation about how I run things here."

Easton nodded his head. He had wondered the same thing, but it made his chest ache knowing that Vanessa would soon be lost to him again. "I understand."

"I know that you two have become close," the countess began. "I believe that you are good for her. I can see her artistic ability flourish with your influence." She tilted her head to the side. "I shall head downstairs and keep myself busy for a time if you would like to bid Vanessa a fond farewell."

Easton lifted a brow. "Are you sure you don't wish for her to be chaperoned?"

She offered a slight smile. "I was young once, and after a lifetime of misery, Vanessa deserves a man like you to treat her right for a change. Just make sure you don't muck it up." With a pointed glare, she turned and retreated down the stairs.

It took Easton a moment before he came to his senses. He couldn't believe that the lady had actually given him leave to seduce Vanessa. But then, it was apparent that the lady was more open-minded about matters of the heart than most.

Taking a deep breath, Easton walked back into Vanessa's room.

He expected her to be asleep, but when he saw her sitting up in bed, her legs hanging over the edge, he was slightly taken aback. "Is everything all right?" she asked.

"Shouldn't I be asking you that?" he murmured.

She gave a light laugh that shot straight to his groin. He felt like such a scoundrel to be thinking with his cock at a time like this, but he had long learned that his manhood had a true mind of its own. "The countess is sending me back to the Society, isn't she?"

He was impressed by her astute guess. "It appears to be that way, yes."

She nodded. "I thought so, although I can't blame her for the decision. It's better this way for all involved."

Except for me, Easton thought, but he left that addition unsaid.

"Did she tell you when I'm to start gathering my things?"

"Not for a while yet." This is where he had to tread carefully. "She is allowing us time to… chat first." Blast, he still managed to stumble over his own tongue. It was as if he'd never spoken to a member of the opposite sex before.

"That was kind of her."

Easton would have said it was more than kind, it was quite generous in fact, but since he couldn't seem to speak what he actually wanted, he merely agreed with some sort of noncommittal mutter.

He saw Vanessa stand and move toward him, but he wasn't fully prepared for what happened next. "Then I suppose we shouldn't waste any more time."

She reached out and moved his jacket off his shoulders.

Luckily, it didn't take long for Easton to respond to her persuasive advances. In seconds, they were in each other's arms.

* * *

Vanessa wanted to feel. But she didn't want it to be fear or pain. Those were emotions she was more than familiar with. She wanted to know love, or at least the variation that brought about pleasure of the most intimate kind. She wanted to feel Easton moving inside of her, and the moment of blissful release when they found mutual passion. It had been a sensation that she'd only dreamed of until now. She had certainly never found such fulfillment with Frank.

She was tired of watching other people live their outwardly happy lives while looking on from a distance. She didn't want to waste another minute wishing or hoping. If it was only for this moment, she wanted to enjoy every minute she had with Easton.

She looked at Easton, into those unique amber eyes, and saw his mouth kick up in the corner. It was such a simple reaction, but one that promised much more. "I like the way you think."

"That's just it," she said, as his jacket fell to the floor. As she started on his cravat, she added, "I don't want to think anymore. I want to forget everything—" The strip of silk fluttered to the floor. She followed its progress, and then she returned her gaze to his. "But you."

He reached out and slowly traced a path from her ear to the exposed line of her collarbone. But he didn't stop there. The tip of his forefinger slid across the top of her breasts and she exhaled sharply. "I can't wait to touch every smooth inch of your body."

Vanessa shivered, eager to engage in that promise. "Likewise, my lord." She removed his shirt from his trousers, but when she would have removed it, he took over and grasped the edges, pulling it over his head and tossing it to the ground. Her gaze widened as she spied his muscled chest. His arms rippled with every movement, his taut stomach causing her to lift her hands and run them over the hard expanse. There was a light brush of hair over the center of his pectorals, as if an artist had carefully designed him to perfection.

"You're magnificent," she breathed. Although she didn't want to bring Frank to mind, in this instance, she had to admit that there was no comparison. She barely saw her late husband without his clothes because they always came together under the cover of darkness.

Vanessa was grateful for the light streaming through the open window, so that she could truly appreciate the man standing before her.

"My turn."

She gasped when he turned her around and began to untie the laces of her gown. Generally, Vanessa wore gowns that were easy to don since she had lived alone. Either way, Easton made short work of the lacings, and it soon sagged in front of her. When it started to slide down her body, she allowed the muslin to pool at her feet, before stepping outside of the circle of material.

Easton turned her back to face him, and she saw his nostrils flare as he began to work on her front-lacing stays. His focus appeared to be on her nipples, which were visible through the thin shift that she wore beneath. When her stays fell away, he reached out and grasped her breasts in his hands, squeezing gently. Vanessa moaned lightly as he teased her. But it wasn't until he pulled the shift down and bared her upper half to him that she became delirious from desire. His head lowered, and he took one aching peak into his mouth and began to suck.

She shoved her hands through his hair, her thumbs brushing over his neatly cropped sideburns.

"God, you are amazing…" His voice was low and husky, and she thrilled at the sound of it. "I want to taste all of you."

He grabbed her around the waist and carried her over to the bed. When he set her down, she sat on the bed, expecting him to follow as she lay down, but instead, he fell to his knees on the floor and parted her legs. She lifted herself on her elbows and watched in wide-eyed wonder as his eyes glittered dangerously—just as he set his mouth on her.

Immediately, a burst of awareness traveled over her skin, through her veins, sending shockwaves all the way from the tips of her toes to her eyes. She fell back to the bed, grasping the counterpane on either side of her. Her back arched as he licked her, slowly at first, but increasing his pace when she started to moan his name. She didn't care if she begged, it felt so good.

"Don't stop," she panted, knowing she was creeping steadily closer to something miraculous.

His movements became faster, relentless, and something coiled inside of her. She felt as if she might splinter into a thousand pieces, but when the dam burst and the orgasm overtook her, her lungs seized, and she called out his name as she went soaring toward the heavens. Nothing would have prepared her for the tremors that swept over her body. It was like the tide when it crashed over the sandy beaches of Burnham-On-Sea.

Glorious.

* * *

Easton was overcome. Hearing Vanessa's reaction, combined with the sight of her beautiful, flawless body convulsing from her release was something that would forever be burned in his memory. He had wanted to make this a timeless event for both of them, and he realized that he could stop right now and live the rest of his life with a satisfied smile on his face, knowing that he had given her something that worthless McGavin had never bothered to offer.

However, since Easton was too selfish not to feel her wet heat squeezing his cock, he slowly removed her stockings and slippers, and then he divested himself of his trousers. He crawled up her body, and he was pleased to see that her limbs were still loose, her expression languid and relaxed, her cheeks blooming high with color. But when he bent to kiss her sweet lips, she immediately started to stir with renewed interest.

He gathered her shift in his grasp and swept it effortlessly from her body. He threw the discarded undergarment behind him, and when she wrapped her arms around him, the embrace quickly started to spiral out of control. He held her close, rubbing his hands all along her naked form. He relished every luscious curve, and although he wanted to make their time together last, his cock was pulsing with almost painful intensity.

"I'm not sure how much longer I can wait." He gritted his teeth, grinding his jaw so tightly that he wondered if it might crack. It was taking all his self-control to hold himself back this long.

"Make love to me, Easton."

It was the softly spoken plea that was his undoing. When she reached between them and grabbed his cock and guided it to her entrance, he couldn't hold back any longer.

He pushed inside of her and with every blessed inch she took, his head started to buzz. "My God…" he breathed. He wasn't sure he'd ever felt this all-consuming need to join with another person so completely, but when he was fully seated inside of her, he realized this was what heaven must be like. Vanessa wasn't just his muse—she was an angel, sent to redeem him.

For years he'd lived as a devoted artist, but with a single thrust into her body, he knew that nothing would be the same again. Each stroke she accepted was another piece of his soul that melded with hers, another part of him forever bound to her.

A sheen of perspiration began to break out on his forehead, but he was determined not to let go until she had reached her pinnacle a second time.

He increased his pace, and although he wondered if he might go mad from the sheer ecstasy of doing so, she started to moan, her legs moving restlessly. "Come with me, Vanessa."

It was the command that made her start to fall apart. For the second time, she trembled about him, and as her pleasure flowed through into him, Easton found it impossible to wait any longer. His arms coiled with the strength he'd been holding back, and when he expelled everything he had into her with one last thrust, his breath came in sharp pants as spots abruptly danced behind his eyes.

He had never felt so… complete.

It was as if they had truly become one entity.

Unable to support his own weight any longer, he slipped out of her body and then collapsed on the bed beside her. As he slowly returned to normal, the familiar sounds starting to come back into focus around him, he turned his head to look at Vanessa. She was staring at him with a mixture of awe and—dare he hope to admit—happiness.

"That was definitely worth the wait."

For some reason, a chuckle burst from inside of him, and he realized that he wasn't the only one who was feeling… joyous. "Indeed, it certainly was."

She sighed. "It's too bad we can't repeat it."

He lifted a brow. "If you think that, you don't know my prowess very well."

She gasped lightly and glanced down at his flaccid member. He actually wasn't sure how it was possible, since he'd just left her body and returned to earth, but his unruly cock began to stir with renewed interest. It was as if it couldn't get enough of her.

Easton was inclined to agree.

He reached out and pulled her to him. He gave her a playful kiss on the nose. "What do you think? Shall we enjoy a bit more… conversation before you are forced to pack your bags?"

Her lips curved sensually at the corners, and she wiggled a bit closer to him. "I would like that very much, my lord."