Chapter 10

CHAPTER 10

E lwood held his breath. He prayed that he hadn't overstepped and caused her to refute any progress that his servants might have made on his behalf, but neither was he appreciative of the thought that she would soon be leaving him. For someone he'd only known for a handful of days, he admired her integrity, and applauded her passions. He merely wished that they were shared in his bed, and not just on the paper she so desperately wanted published.

She cleared her throat and gently wiped her lips with her serviette. "While I admit that is a wonderful offer for a woman in my unfortunate position, I daresay I have dreams that I want to fulfill first. Until that is done, I can't commit to anything more than a brief acquaintance."

His heart sank, but he allowed a smile to spread across his face so she couldn't readily read his disappointment. "I respect your dedication to your craft, Miss Newton. Just know that the offer stands if you change your mind."

She inclined her head and when she pushed back her chair, he was honor bound to stand when she did. "This was a lovely dinner and conversation, my lord, but the hour grows late and if I wish to accomplish anything in the morning, I should retire."

He glanced at the clock on the mantel. "It's only half past nine."

"That may be true," she concurred. "But I am not used to the same town hours that you are. When you work for a living, you are taught the merits of rising with the sun."

As she took her leave, Elwood watched the gentle sway of her derriere and nearly groaned aloud. It was too bad that he was a man of such voracious sexual appetite, or he might have taken her rejection a bit easier. However, when he couldn't seem to rid her from his thoughts, and her very presence was torture, he knew he had to do something to persuade her to accept his offer. His desire would accept no less.

For tonight, however, he would have to resort to sleeping alone.

He trudged up the stairs, but as he passed by Miss Newton's room, he heard the sound of sloshing water.

He froze. Dear God, was she in the bath ? When had that been approved?

Nearly groaning aloud, his heart started to pound as he stepped steadily closer. Surely he was just hearing things and the fates weren't so unkind as to allow?—

A soft moan caused any other conscious thought to fade into oblivion.

He grasped the edge of the doorframe and stared at the hard oak, as if he could see through it to the naked woman on the other side. Instead, he was forced to use his imagination as the gentle mewling sounds she made caused his cock to turn as hard as marble. It throbbed with an urgency that almost surprised him. It had been years, during the true rowdy years of his youth, since his manhood had been so insistent. Then again, Miss Newton was different from the rest.

As the sounds continued, Elwood closed his eyes and let his imagination take flight.

Meliah had intended to do as she'd said and go to bed when she arrived at her chamber, but when she entered the room and found the copper tub filled with steaming water, she hadn't been able to resist the temptation it presented. It had been a long time since she'd been allowed to indulge in something so lovely. And this one was much better than the cramped washtub her parents had. She didn't know if the earl or someone else was responsible for such a luxury, but she wasted no time in removing her clothes and sinking down into the heavenly abyss.

A bar of lavender scented soap had been set out near the edge, as well as a soft, white linen. She intended to make good use of them, but for now, she leaned back and enjoyed the sensation of the warm water lapping over her skin.

She gripped the edges of the tub as she closed her eyes and sighed in contentment. However, it wasn't long before something shifted. The water that had been innocent suddenly became seductive, as if being led by Lord Belmont himself. The ripples became his hands as they touched and teased her, the heat the feel of his breath as he licked the side of her neck.

Her fingers tightened as the image grew in intensity. She pressed her thighs together and saw the earl standing over her body, caressing her breast, waist, hips with his wicked gaze before he reached into the water and allowed his hands to follow the same path.

Meliah braced her feet against the opposite end of the tub as her legs fell open slightly. She had never before considered touching herself intimately, but recalling the glorious feeling that had pulsed through her at the earl's hands, she found that she wanted to replicate it.

Biting her lower lip, she pictured Lord Belmont's hand slipping down, down . When her finger grazed her core, she allowed a soft moan to escape. Recalling the rapid movements he'd made, she attempted to mimic the same actions and soon found her body starting to coil with her efforts. Her breath was coming in short pants, her back arching off the edge of the tub.

It wasn't until she allowed the flash of memory of the earl taking his pleasure when she'd been hiding in the wardrobe that the pressure built to the point of pain.

Abruptly, her eyes popped open. Was this what he'd been referring to when he'd mentioned the line between the two worlds?

She quickly got out of the tub and without even drying off, she grabbed her robe from the end of the bed and wrapped it around herself. Her body was still humming, demanding the satisfaction that she craved, but she found that she didn't want to reach that pinnacle by herself. She wanted to share it with someone. With Lord Belmont.

But did she dare approach him with the request without expecting anything more than a night of bliss in return, even if that was all she could give?

She started to pace her room, desperate for her mind to quiet so she could put this torture behind her and go to sleep, but when she heard the sound of a gruff noise on the other side of her door, she walked forward without conscious thought.

Meliah yanked open the door and gasped when she found the earl standing there with a pained expression on his face. She glanced down and noticed that his trousers had a decided bulge and realized the reason for his discomfort. Immediately, her cheeks heated. "My lord, what are you?—?"

"For the love of all that's holy," he gritted through his teeth. "Shut the door so that I'm not tempted to put my face between your legs."

She lifted a shaky hand and gathered the top of her robe together. Swallowing past the lump in her throat, she asked, "How long have you been standing here?"

His nostrils flared, another indication that his control was tenuous. "Long enough to know that you were pleasuring yourself."

The blood rushed away from Meliah's face, but then returned in a flurry. If she had been waiting for the opportune moment to invite the earl into her bedchamber, this was it. The throbbing between her legs was still insistent.

Deciding not to think anymore, she released her grip on the robe and slowly untied the sash holding it closed. Allowing the damp material to slide to the floor, standing in front of Lord Belmont in all of her naked glory, she whispered, "I've found it's so much better when you pleasure me instead."

Elwood didn't have to be asked twice. Stepping over the threshold, he kicked the door shut with his booted foot and lifted her into his arms. He wished like hell he'd removed more clothes after dinner than just his jacket, but he didn't need to be unclothed to do what he'd promised—what he wanted to do to her.

He carried her over to the bed and laid her down on it horizontally, where her legs were dangling off the edge. He bent down on the floor and lifted her legs, spreading them wide. Her core glistened at him, as if urging him to come forward. He was more than happy to oblige.

He bent forward and licked a perfect swipe up her center. The sensual gasp Meliah uttered from deep in her throat for his efforts was more than enough for him to continue. He inhaled her feminine scent, the musky scent that made him want to spiral over the edge into oblivion. There was something about women that drove him crazy with lust, but the nectar that Meliah offered was more potent than anything else before.

He started a rhythm that soon had her hips moving restlessly. Her hands clutched the coverlet, her back arching and gaining him a perfectly desirable view of her pert breasts and their delicious rosy peaks. He intended to feast on those as soon as she reached her release.

"My lord…"

That could not be borne. Regretfully, he paused to say, "My name is Elwood. Say it."

She groaned in frustration. He adored it.

"Elwood."

He loved the way it crossed her lips. It gave him a sense of possession he'd never cared to feel before. "What do you want from me, sweet Meliah? What do you need?"

He slid a finger into her passage and she groaned again. "Pleasure."

She was so hot and tight, a perfect combination. He wanted to tease her more, to make her release that more intense, but he was starting to find the pain he was feeling was almost too much to bear. He returned to her core and slid a second finger in place, the rhythm matching that of his tongue.

It didn't take long for the muscles in her legs to tighten, her breathing to suddenly cease, and then a small cry erupted from her as her body began to quiver. A purr erupted from his throat as he absorbed every ounce of her orgasm. She was perfection itself and the thought that she might offer herself to anyone else was one he didn't want to consider at the moment.

Perhaps never.

When her body started to relax, he slowly rose above her. Although it was the worst sort of punishment he could do to himself, to see the sight of her flushed bare body spread out on the bed and not be able to take things further, he couldn't help but look his fill. "You are exquisite," he breathed.

She lifted herself on her elbows and he might have mistaken the slightly wicked gleam in her eyes if it wasn't for the fact that she said, "Don't say you want to leave?"

" Want is a particularly mild word when it comes to what else I imagine doing to you."

She sat up straighter and keeping her gaze on him, she said, "Then do it."

Meliah shocked herself nearly as much as she appeared to surprise Lord Belmont—correction, Elwood .

It seemed… right to call him that. Especially after what they'd shared. What they were about to share.

Her stomach fluttered at the heated look in his gaze. His blue eyes had darkened to the shade of glittering sapphires, and her heart was pounding with desire. Although she had just experienced one of the most wonderful sensations, she found that her maidenly apprehension had vanished. She was eager to learn more of what Elwood could teach her. While there was still the uncertainty of what might happen after this affair had concluded, she had resigned herself to the inevitable. And was enjoying it immensely.

"Be careful what you wish for," he murmured as he began to loosen his cravat.

Meliah was finding it difficult to draw a full breath as he tossed the linen to the floor in a flutter of forgotten silk. That should have been the cautionary action to wake her up from this sensual spell, but she didn't want to think about anything but the pleasure he continued to promise in his eyes. The air pulsed with raw energy and his virility. She knew this was going to be a night that she never forgot for the rest of her life. She told herself to put an end to this foolishness, but she wasn't inclined to listen.

His waistcoat was next and an action as simple as shrugging those broad shoulders out of it made her want to press her thighs together again. His shirt was next and when he revealed his sculpted chest, her fingers itched to reach out and touch him. He was… magnificent.

The perfect rake.

Again, that should have been the warning to stop this before it was too late, but she realized she had been lost to this man the moment she'd agreed to climb into his carriage in London.

She swallowed any further hesitation and asked, "May I… touch you?"

Rather than reply, he reached down and grasped her hands. Bringing her to her feet, he placed her palms on his pectorals. "Anywhere you like."

She nibbled at her lower lip, wondering what he might like. She had the feeling he would instruct her, but for now, she was eager just to explore his body. She slid her fingers along the entirety of his chest and was awestruck with how the corded muscles in his shoulders bunched when she drew near. She grasped his shoulders and slowly made her way down to his wrists, her gaze following her every movement.

From there, she slid a coy look at him and then moved around to his backside. He turned his head and watched her with a clenched jaw until she disappeared behind him. Now that he wasn't watching her, she felt emboldened. She pressed her breasts against his bare back and slid her hands down the sides of his ribcage until they reached the point where his waistband began.

"Take them off," she demanded softly.

Without a word, he obeyed. Unfastening the flap, he slid them down over narrow hips. She could just see the tip of his jutting manhood eagerly awaiting her next command. She reached around and slid the side of her hand along the thick length. She was surprised at how hard it was, and yet, so smooth to the touch.

Curiosity won out over the last of her apprehension and she moved back around to his front. He had returned his focus to her and when she slid her hand back down to his member, he grasped her wrist. He guided her palm to curl around his length and began to stroke himself up and down.

She vividly recalled the way he'd moved in his chamber and so she quickly mimicked the same actions. For a moment she wondered if her mouth might fit around him and offer the same results.

She lifted her focus to him. "Is it possible for me to please you as you did me?"

He closed his eyes and made some sort of noise. "My God, you'll be the death of me."

"Does that mean no?"

He opened his eyes, and if she wasn't mistaken, his expression was more of a grimace. "The moment you sucked me into that tempting mouth I wouldn't last very long and that is not how I want this night to go. I want to lose myself in you."

With that, he grasped her hand and placed both her arms around his neck, pulling her flush against him. There was nothing between them any longer and Meliah should have felt vulnerable.

Instead, she felt… free.