Mary leaned her head back against the towel that was placed on the edge of the enormous tub that engulfed her tired and stiff body. Despite Duc de Valois’s coach being well sprung and luxuriously padded, it didn’t change the fact that she had been sitting for two solid days and her muscles were stiff from lack of use. Relaxing in the warm water, Mary let her thoughts roam freely. A luxury she had never experienced before. Baths weren’t particularly enjoyable when surrounded by the constant racket of voices and prying eyes, even if the “angels” swore they weren’t looking.
“My lady, you will turn into a prune if you remain any longer.”
Water splashed as she raised a hand to inspect her skin. Wiggling her wrinkled fingers, she grinned as she replied, “Greene, you might be correct, but the water has yet to cool.”
“I’ve never known you to lounge in the tub this long.”
A twinge pulled at her heart. She worried how long it would be before she would see Phillip and Lady Frances again, but the solitude was enough to make her forget her worries. Now that she couldn’t see or hear them, she could convince herself she was entirely alone except for Greene.
“Just a few more minutes.”
Greene lifted a bottle to her nose. “How kind of Duc de Valois to send along the jasmine-scented oil.”
“Yes, my cousin recalls the most unremarkable things I care for.”
“Don’t you find it peculiar that he knows so much about your likes and dislikes after only such a short period of acquaintance?”
“No. He is a great listener.”
The creases on Greene’s forehead deepened. “And when was it you mentioned your love for jasmine?”
Water sloshed as Mary stood abruptly. “Please assist me out.”
Greene placed a warmed linen cloth about her as Mary’s feet landed upon a thick rug. She missed such luxuries.
Tucking the ends of the material in the valley between her breasts, she swiveled to follow Greene into the changing chamber. Only she came to an abrupt halt as she came face-to-face with bronzed skin.
Mary leaned back to see whose neck tempted her lips. “Gilbert!” She stumbled backward, but his warm hands wrapped about her arms and pulled her to his chest.
“Shh. Greene will hear you.”
“What are you doing here?”
“I needed to see you.”
“Why?”
Confusion flickered in his eyes. What had prompted Gilbert to risk coming into her chambers?
His hands rubbed her arms. “I need to know what you and Valois discussed these past two days.”
Mary pulled back and searched his eyes. There was a vulnerability she’d never seen before. She was about to reassure him that Valois posed no danger when he bent and his lips lightly brushed against hers. She reached up and wrapped her hands behind his neck and rose on her tiptoes, following him and preventing him from achieving a full retreat.
Gilbert closed his eyes. “I apologize, but all I’ve been thinking of is you.”
She rubbed her thumb along his neck. When he opened his eyes to meet her gaze, she demanded, “Kiss me.”
Like the dutiful soldier he was, he obeyed her command. But unlike before, there was an urgency as his lips glided over hers and down her neck. When his mouth returned to hers, he didn’t relent until she gave him access, and his tongue swept inside. Her head spun at having a part of him inside her, and she tentatively returned the gesture. It was like they were mating with only their tongues. If his tongue could evoke such delicious feelings, what would it be like to have him fill her in the most intimate ways? His kisses were dizzying. Gilbert began to lift her, but her legs were tangled in the sheet, and she wasn’t able to wrap them about him. Bending, he scooped her up into his arms and strode over to the bed.
Mary looked over his shoulder to where Greene was peering around the curtain from the changing chamber and gave a slight head shake. The partition material fell back into place as Greene retreated back into the chamber.
Gilbert wanted her. She didn’t need anyone else to tell her it was so. She had seen it in his eyes. For years Lady Frances had told her he did deep down inside. But for years, he had never shown any such interest. Oh, he had shown care but like that of a guardian or caretaker. But now the heat in his gaze told her he wanted her in the most carnal of ways, and she wanted to experience whatever it was he was offering while the voices remained silent.
As he laid her on the bed, the knot in the linen came undone. Bent over her, Gilbert’s gaze lowered to her chest briefly before it flickered back to land on her lips.
She reached for him. Gilbert turned toward the adjoining chamber. Oh, she wasn’t about to lose this opportunity. She sat up, letting the material fall to her waist. Reaching for his hand, she placed it upon the swollen globe that now ached to be touched.
Gilbert withdrew his hand from her breast and cupped her cheek. “Mary. You have yet to agree to marry me.”
“I’m agreeing now.”
“Are you certain? I’ve not had a chance to properly court you, and I thought that is what you wanted most.”
“What I want most is for you to believe in me, to trust me. You not interfering these past two days proved more to me than showering me with compliments, poems, or flowers.”
“Poems?”
“Isn’t that what young bucks do to gain a lady’s hand?”
“I’m no young buck.”
Mary shifted closer to the edge and pulled his shirttails from his breeches. “Then you know what it is I’m asking for.”
“But do you?”
Did she? Having grown up with brothers that were not at all shy, she believed she had a relatively good idea of what intimate relations would entail. She might not have seen, but she had undoubtedly heard enough bragging from her brothers. There was also the matter of the possibility of conceiving. Her gaze roamed over the man before her.
Her mind decided, she scrambled to her knees and reached under his shirt to place her hands upon his waist. With a groan, Gilbert grabbed the back of his shirt and pulled it over his head. Mary inhaled a deep breath. His sculpted muscles were marked with scars, no doubt incurred while he was on the battlefield. It wasn’t the markings upon his skin that held her interest, it was the trail of hair that led down into his breeches. She traced the line of hair with her finger as she hooked a finger along the edge of the material that prevented her from exploring further.
Gilbert’s hand covered hers. “Lass, you promise to become Lady Waterford?”
Is that what she wanted? She had known for years this was to be her destiny, but ultimately, it was still her choice. Did she want to marry the Adonis before her?
She had prolonged the inevitable for long enough, and the gravitational pull was undeniable. She had no fears of Gilbert being unfaithful, unlike her own papa. Once Gilbert made a vow, there would be no question as to his loyalty. He was stable, reliable, and oh the warmth that radiated from him. She wanted to press herself against him and soak it up like when she lifted her face to the summer sun.
She nodded and tugged on his waistband.
He let out a long breath and crawled upon the bed, forcing her to lie back. As he loomed over her, she ran her hands up over his chest shoulders and back down his arms. She was about to retrace her movements when he bent and said, “I love your hands upon me, but I want to see to your pleasure first.”
What did he mean? She didn’t recall her brothers mentioning such a thing. Mary withdrew her hands from his arms. “You would prefer I not touch you?”
Staring into her eyes, he said, “You can do as you please.” Gilbert lowered his head and placed soft kisses along her jaw.
Remaining undecided as to where she wanted to place her hands, Mary lay unmoving until Gilbert ran his tongue along her collar bone. The glorious awakening of her skin had her running her hands through his hair. When his tongue continued to make a trail to her nipple, she inhaled with anticipation. Flicking his tongue on her hardened nipple twice, she wasn’t sure if it had been her to pull his mouth down to suckle upon her or if she had arched up, pushing her breast into his eager mouth. Either way, she didn’t want him to stop.
She moaned as Gilbert teased and pinched a nipple with one hand as he laved and suckled the other. Glorious sensations filled her. Mary’s core contracted and ached for attention. Without thought, she ran a hand down Gilbert’s back and slid it between them to touch herself.
Gilbert lifted his head and flicked her nipple once more as he shook his head. Eyeing her hand, he growled, “Lass, it is my duty to see to your needs.”
Mary quickly removed her hand. “Of course.” Unsure of where to place her hands, she rested them upon his shoulders. With a smirk, she added, “I’ve never known you to fail in carrying out your duties, but—”
She couldn’t finish her thought as Gilbert shifted backward and placed his tongue where her hand been moments ago. The man knew exactly the right amount of pressure to apply. Mary hitched a breath as he raised her hips and began to lick and tease every inch of her center. Sparks flew before her tightly closed eyes. On her own she had not managed to invoke such intense sensations. Gilbert’s warm breath and the feel of his skin beneath her hands added a different element to the experience.
Unable to remain still, Mary squirmed, pressing back onto the bed. Gilbert was no novice. The man was adeptly building up the tension within her. His hands shifted to her sides, and he ran them up along her body, stretching out his arms until each rough palm finally rested upon a breast. While his tongue continued to flick and circle the sensitive flesh at her core, Gilbert’s fingers circled and pinched her erect nipples.
Mary’s heart thudded hard against her chest. She wanted him to taste her again. She wanted his fingers to continue their teasing, pinching, and pulling upon her now engorged nipples. When Gilbert acquiesced and gave her all she wished for simultaneously, she melted against the bed and allowed the pleasure to build.
At the loss of heat against her left breast, Mary opened her eyes to catch Gilbert gliding his palm down to her core, where his skillful tongue continued to circle, around and around. He pressed his hand against her, and she lifted her hips off the bed. This sensation, this experience engulfed every sense in her body. Gilbert slid a finger deep into her center until she felt his knuckles brushed up against her. Her inner muscles contracted as he began to withdraw his hand.
Concerned he was about to stop, Mary reached out, grabbing his biceps that was flexed taut, halting his movements. “Gilbert— don’t—”
“Shhh. Not to worry, lass. I always finish what I start. Lie back, and I’ll take care of you.”
Ignoring the condescending words he chose to use, she did as he bid. Moments later, she was writhing against the bed as Gilbert took her to heights she had never known before.
It was a release she had never achieved by herself, and as soon as she floated back to reality, she realized Gilbert hadn’t taken his own pleasure. He lay next to her, skimming his hand over her side, with a very smug look upon his face.
“But what about you?” Mary sulked. Did he not want her?
“Lass, once I have you, I’ll not want to let you out of bed for days. I’ll have to wait until you have scrawled your name in the register.”
Blood was returning to her head, but all her brain could manage was, “Oh.”
Chuckling, he tucked her under the covers and stood to put his shirt back on. Mary’s eyes were glued to the bulge in his breeches. Surely he had to be in discomfort.
Gilbert looked to the adjoining chamber and back down to his obvious state of arousal. “I’ll have to take the service exit. I can’t wander the halls in this condition.”
Mary couldn’t help but giggle. He gave her a wink and strode over to the dressing chamber.
From behind the curtain, she heard Gilbert say, “Make sure your mistress is ready for dinner.”
Mary closed her eyes. If Gilbert had spoken the truth about not letting her leave the marriage bed for days, she had been a ninny not to have convinced him sooner to make her Countess Waterford. But—if she was like her mama, who became enceinte every time she lay with her husband, then she was right to have avoided the man all these years.