Ever since Alyssa was old enough to know what appealed to her with the opposite sex, she had known Travell was the only one for her. It hadn’t taken her long to appreciate his charming grin and the twinkle in those ocean blue eyes that changed as frequently as the tide when his mood varied. For so long she had prayed that he might feel the same way she did, but in the short time they’d been together at Rosewood, with different burdens of their own to bear, something had shifted dramatically. It was as if the stars had finally aligned and fate was starting to smile down on her. She wasn’t sure why she’d held back this long, unless he’d been right, and she’d just been scared of being alone, for Travell was all she’d ever wanted.
While she knew she ought to feel shame or embarrassment as she started to untie the ribbon holding her nightdress together, the only thing rushing through her veins was the feeling that nothing else had ever felt more… right.
Travell’s nostrils flared as the material slackened, revealing the valley between her breasts, but when she would have shrugged out of it, he put his hands on her shoulders and shook his head. “Not yet.”
She shivered, for his voice was so perfectly raspy with desire, his eyes swirling with the anticipation of what was to come. She might be innocent, but she wasn’t completely naïve about what to expect for she’d already had a delightful taste in the conservatory. Not only that, but she’d heard the whispers long before she’d officially entered polite society. Lady Alwan’s sewing circle had been a place for gossip of a scandalous nature and many of the older women had often twittered about a man’s phallus, as well as discussing its many uses. Of course, if Aunt Pearl had any idea that Alyssa had eavesdropped on their conversations, crouched down in the hallway when she should have been napping in her room, the lady would have been horrified.
Alyssa had always heard that a man’s member had a mind of its own. She had always imagined Travell’s phallus would be rather impressive, and the few times he’d ground his erection against her, she no longer had any doubt.
As she glanced down between them, she wondered what would happen if she slowly lowered her hand and rubbed the length of the bulge in his trousers…
She bit her lip and did just that, only to have him capture her wrist and draw her away.
She stilled at the abruptness of his move. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to hurt you—”
“Hurt me?” He laughed, although there was a definite strain to the sound. “Far from it, but if I allow you to touch me before I’ve had a chance to pleasure you, I’m afraid this will all be over way too quickly.”
She frowned slightly. “What do you mean?”
This time he groaned outright. “I’ll spill my seed, and then it will…” Here, he paused.
“Deflate?” she prompted.
He winced. “Of a sort, although I wouldn’t have chosen to put it quite that way,” he muttered. He pulled her against him — his body still hard and firm. “I don’t even want to know how you learned so much about male anatomy. In truth, I’d prefer that we talk about something else. Or rather,” his voice deepened, “nothing at all.”
He kissed her passionately, the kind of kiss that caused her thighs to quiver and her entire body to erupt in flames. Any further thought of his phallus and her aunt’s sewing circle evaporated like dust in the wind, her only focus on each nerve ending that had suddenly come alive with sensation.
His thumb brushed the tip of her hardened nipple through the thin cotton of her nightdress and she moaned against his mouth. When he offered the same attention to her other breast, she drew in a sharp breath and clutched his shoulders. When he cupped their fullness in his hands and began to knead gently, she had to pull away to draw more air into her lungs. He took advantage of this to kiss his way along her neck, nipping and sucking gently as he moved down along her collarbone.
When he sank to his knees before her, she stared at his dark head as he slowly began to lift her gown, his fingers brushing the back of her legs as he lifted it higher and higher, until she was fully exposed to him from the waist down.
He cupped her bottom in his hands and said, “Open your legs.”
She did as he asked, although she couldn’t imagine what he could be doing on his knees —
“Oh… my… .Travell… .” She gasped, threading her fingers through his hair as he kissed her there. She had never heard of this sort of thing discussed before, but surely, as wonderful as it felt to have his mouth on her most intimate place, she couldn’t imagine why every woman wasn’t singing the praises of this sort of bliss.
Her knees grew weak as he continued to caress her, but when he made the first swipe of his tongue, she raised up on her toes. After that, his ministrations became more fervent until she threw her head back and closed her eyes in complete abandon, and then she soared among the stars.
Alyssa was still floating on a cloud when he got to his feet and lifted her into his arms. She was as limp as a rag doll as he carried her over to the bed and gently laid her down. “You’re magnificent,” he breathed, and then removed her gown with one deft movement.
He instantly bent down and captured her breasts in his palms, kissing and caressing each of them until she was writing with need once again.
“Travell, please…” She didn’t even know what she was begging for, but he seemed to understand, for he kissed her lightly and then moved away. But when she started to panic, believing that he was leaving her, he merely started to divest himself of his clothes.
His waistcoat was tossed aside first, and then his shirt, which he grasped from the back and drew over his head, exposing a rippling array of muscles that ran up his arms and across his broad, hairy chest. She started to pant when he unbuttoned his trousers and kicked off his shoes. When his manhood was revealed, her gaze widened, for she had to admit that his phallus was, indeed, quite impressive.
She yearned to touch him, to see if it felt as hard as it looked. She sat up and licked her lips, noticing that his eyes darkened when she did so. “Can I… touch you?”
His throat worked, his Adam’s apple bobbing as if he was having trouble speaking. So instead of replying, he took her hand and guided it to his shaft. She wrapped her fingers around him and began a gentle exploration. He throbbed under her palm, the thickness like nothing she’d felt before. His skin was as soft as silk, but as she started to rub her hand up and down his length, he stilled her movements. She looked at him and his jaw was clenched so tightly, she imagined he might be in pain.
She withdrew immediately. “I’m sorry. I don’t seem to be very good at this.”
“Far from it,” he returned huskily. “But unless you wish to be disappointed tonight, you need to stop.”
He crawled over her on the bed, and she lay back down. She thought he might enter her now, but instead, he kissed her, touching and loving her until she was pleading for more. When she was sure that her body could withstand no more of this sensual torture, he positioned himself at the apex of her thighs and began to push forward.
Alyssa’s eyes widened slightly at the strange sensation, a fullness that she hadn’t expected, and when he thrust forward, she tensed slightly at the sting of pain. He paused, allowing her to recover, and when he started to withdraw, she clutched his shoulders. But when he returned, she gasped, an entirely new feeling taking over the initial foreign intrusion.
As Travell began a rhythm of advance and retreat, she shivered in delight, anticipating each movement as the discomfort receded and she began to embrace this carnal dance. Her body thrummed and as Travell’s movements became more fervent, she found that the tension he’d brought back uncoiled in a shuddering wonder that sent her soaring back among the heavens. With a guttural groan, Travell gave one last thrust and stilled.
***
Travell opened his eyes and it was as if he was seeing the world for the first time. He’d had lovers in the past, and even a mistress or two on occasion, but nothing had ever compared to what he’d just experienced with Alyssa. It was as if she’d taken over control over his entire body and soul. Words had failed him, coherent thought had fled, for the moment he’d entered her he was lost.
He glanced down at her and saw that dark hair spread across his pillow, her green eyes filled with wonder, and it made his cock instantly stir with interest. But rather than give in to the urge, he withdrew and lay down next to her, propping his head on his bent arm. He reached out and caressed her cheek. “I… tried to take things slow.”
She rolled onto her side and reached out and touched his cheek. “It was only a brief discomfort, but one you quickly mended.” Her smile was infectious, causing his lips to lift at the corners as well. She allowed her hand to slip downward, to run her fingers along his chest. Her nose wrinkled. “I had no idea you were so… furry.”
He chuckled at the description. “You make me sound like some sort of animal.”
“Well…” She looked up at him through her lashes rather coyly, and he had to clench his teeth to keep from responding. “I believe you did growl at one point.”
He couldn’t resist the temptation she presented. “Saucy wench.” He grabbed her wrists and rolled her over onto her back, pinning them above her head. “I haven’t even begun to growl yet.”
She licked her lips and he had to wonder exactly who was in charge here, for she was quickly making him lose control. “Is that so?” she said rather breathlessly. “In that case, perhaps I should get on top to restrain you.”
The noise that erupted from his throat certainly resembled a growl when he said, “Alyssa Breyton, you are going to be the death of me.”
She smiled slowly, as she withdrew her hands from his grasp and wound them around his shoulders. As she brought his head down for a kiss, he whispered against her mouth, “But then again, what a way to depart this earth.”
The next time he withdrew from Alyssa, he was breathing heavily and stars danced in front of his vision, but he wasn’t sure if it was from a lack of oxygen, or how this woman made him feel inside. She had definitely unlocked something within him, for a new warmth spread across his chest as his lungs slowly returned to normal.
He glanced at her to see that her eyelids were already shut, her breathing deep and even in contented sleep. He yearned to draw her within the circle of his arms, but it wouldn’t do to scare her maid out of her wits in a few hours when she came in to check on her mistress and found a naked man there. Not only that, but he would have trouble sleeping if he remained. The sight of her flushed cheeks and perfectly curvaceous body was enough to tempt him back to her side.
Reluctantly, he rose from the bed and donned his trousers, and then he pulled up the covers, tucking the counterpane gently around her. She sighed but didn’t wake. He glanced at the mantel clock as he gathered the rest of his clothes in his arms. It was nearly four in the morning. He had a long day ahead of him if he intended to travel to London to gain a special marriage license, so it was best to get a few hours of rest.
He turned back to Alyssa once more and for the first time in his life he was looking forward to the future.
***
Alyssa raised her arms above her head in a long, satisfying stretch. Her eyes opened to closed curtains, although it was obvious with the sun shining brightly beyond, that it was already midday. She couldn’t even remember the last time she’d slept so late, but when she recalled the reason she’d stayed abed, she couldn’t help but hug herself.
The night before had been absolutely amazing, and while she’d tried to hold back from giving herself wholly over to Travell as long as possible, there had been no hope of denying the inevitable. Her heart was too engaged to back down now. There would never be any other man but him.
She rang for her maid and donned her nightdress as she waited for Daisy to arrive. When she did, she held a tea tray in her hands. “Good morning, my lady. The duchess has been wondering if you were ever going to rise. But then, Travell told her what had happened and—”
Alyssa’s mouth fell open and she pressed a hand to her pounding heart. “He told her?”
Daisy had begun to fix the tea the way Alyssa liked it, but now she paused and faced her. “Was it to be a secret that you assisted the earl last evening?”
Relief flooded Alyssa. “Oh. No, that’s perfectly… of course,” she stammered, feeling her cheeks warm with her error. Travell was a gentleman. He wouldn’t have gone downstairs first thing this morning and bragged to his sister that he’d deflowered her best friend. Instead of satisfying the curiosity on her maid’s face that she’d missed something, she asked, “How is Lord Trenton this morning?”
“He seems rather calm. Dr. Perimore told me that he was actually smiling at breakfast.”
“I’m glad to hear it,” Alyssa returned sincerely.
Daisy walked over and set the tray across her lap. The steaming scent of freshly brewed tea tantalized Alyssa’s nostrils, and she picked up the cup to take a refreshing sip. Noticing that two scones had been placed on a saucer next to her cup, she picked up one and bit into the flaky, sweet pastry. Truly, had anything ever tasted so good? But then, after an evening spent in Travell’s arms, it was a wonder she was still on solid ground, her spirits still soared.
Hoping that it sounded like an innocent question and not a breathless query, she asked, “What is Lord Curdiff doing this morning?”
“He left just after breakfast for London, my lady.”
This got Alyssa’s attention. “Did he say what for?”
“No.” The maid reached into her pocket and withdrew a note and handed the sealed missive to her. “But he said to give you this.”
Alyssa’s hand shook as she took it and broke the seal where she read Travell’s neat, masculine handwriting;
I regret that I had to leave so abruptly to meet with my contact in the city. I will return this evening, where I pray I shall find you in good health.
Your servant,
—Curdiff
Alyssa turned the paper over with a frown, but there was nothing written on the other side. No flowery words of poetry, just a brief, impersonal note that one might send to a casual acquaintance. Some of her earlier happiness deflated, but then, she hadn’t ever really known Travell to offer any sort of prose. He’d always been rather practical, even if she thought after what they had shared; he might have closed with more than just his title.
Since her maid was still in the room, she refolded the note and set it on the bedside table. “Thank you, Daisy.” She finished off her tea and the last of her scone and set the tray aside. “I should like a bath before I head downstairs.”
“Of course, my lady.”
As Daisy left to attend to her duties, Alyssa threw back the covers to see a slight smear of blood on the white linen. Now how might she explain that to her maid when her courses weren’t yet due?
Alyssa could feel her cheeks warm, but she refused to let anything mar her current joy. While she was disappointed that Travell hadn’t come to her personally, she knew that he had someone looking into Sophie’s whereabouts. She hoped that he received good news this time, but she also rather hoped that when he returned, he would ask for her hand again. Before, she’d refused him, but he would receive a decidedly different answer next time.
With a smile on her face, she hugged herself and prepared for the day.