Whirlwind Wedding

'Touch me,' he invited his voice a soft, raspy caress. 'I'm completely at your disposal. Explore all you like.'

She needed no further urging. Leaning forward she placed her hands on the undersides of his raised arms and dragged her fingers slowly down his body. Fascinated she watched his muscles flex beneath her touch. He groaned and gazed at her through half-closed lids, his eyes stormy and dark.

'Do you like that?' she whispered.

'Hmmm…'

Thus encouraged she allowed her curiosity to take over. Running her fingers through the crisp hair on his wide chest, she marveled at the combination of textures. Springy hair on warm skin over hard muscle. With each ripple of his muscles and each moan he emitted her confidence grew.

Eager to bring him as much pleasure as he'd brought her, she imitated his earlier actions. Leaning forward she kissed his chest and was rewarded with a sound that resembled a growl. Flicking out her tongue, she lightly caressed one of his small, flat, brown nipples. His groan let her know he liked that. Her tongue grew bolder, laving first one nipple then the other, drawing each one into her mouth and circling them slowly with her tongue. As his groans grew more lengthy, a surge of feminine satisfaction swept over her that she could affect this powerful man so.

Austin clenched his jaw and prayed for strength. When he'd invited Elizabeth to explore his body, he hadn't realized what sweet torture he'd suffer. His painfully aroused body ached to be buried inside her, begged for release, but if he gave in to his raging need he'd no doubt scare her. And he'd definitely disrupt her wide-eyed exploration of his body, a double-edged sword to be sure. He didn't know how much more he could stand but he bloody well didn't want her to stop either.

He somehow managed to keep his hands linked behind his head but his fingers were numb from gripping them together so tightly. Until tonight he'd considered himself a man of extreme self-control-his mind ruled his body, not the other way around. He was always able to defer his gratification for as long as he pleased.

But not tonight.

Not with Elizabeth's gentle hands running over him. Not with her soft tongue caressing him. Not with his arousal straining, rock hard and about ready to burst. Not with-

Her fingertips brushed over the head of his arousal and a sizzling bolt of desire shot through him.

He gritted his teeth and clamped his eyes shut as her hands softly caressed him, moving up and down over that part of him that ached and throbbed for her. Desire washed over him in ceaseless waves, drowning him in a sea of sensations. If she didn't stop soon, he was going to explode in her hands. Seconds later she wrapped her fingers around his shaft and gently squeezed and he knew he was done. A man could only take so much.

He could take no more.

Emitting an agonized groan, he flipped her onto her back and buried himself in her with one deep, powerful stroke.

'Austin!'

'God I'm sorry.' He couldn't believe that he'd just plunged into her with all the finesse of a green boy. And all because he couldn't help himself. Couldn't control himself. Holding back was beyond him. But, he realized with deep chagrin, if he'd waited any longer to sheath himself within her, he would have disgraced himself in a way he hadn't since he was a lad. Some force he couldn't control and didn't understand had him firmly in its grip. Dropping his forehead onto her brow, he fought to control the uncontrollable.

She surrounded his face with gentle hands. 'Did I… displease you in some way?' Her voice held confusion and worry and Austin would have laughed at her ludicrous question if he'd had the breath to do so.

'No. You pleased me greatly. Too much,' he whispered his voice a hoarse rasp he didn't recognize. He began moving within her, his strokes long and forceful. 'Elizabeth… wrap your legs around me.'

She brought her long limbs up and clasped her ankles together behind him. She matched him stroke for stroke as he drove into her, faster and faster, harder and higher until he was lost in a vortex of sensation. He heard her murmuring his name over and over again, felt her pulsing around him, squeezing him in her velvet warmth.

Completely lost, he drove himself into her again and again, his heart slamming against his ribs. His climax pounded through him, so strong that the force of his final thrust nearly drove her into the headboard. He collapsed on top of her, his head falling limply into the crook of her shoulder. Perspiration dampened his skin, and his ragged breathing burned his lungs. He couldn't have moved if his life depended upon it.

After several moments she shifted beneath him and he somehow managed to lift his head. He looked down into her beautiful eyes-eyes soft with tenderness that reached inside and touched his heart.

She brushed her fingertips across his lips. 'You're wonderful,' she whispered.

Her words flowed over him, surrounding him, and his heart rolled over. You're wonderful. Words he'd heard before from the lips of a satisfied lover, but this time he somehow knew they were different. Because of who said them. And because he sensed she wasn't talking about his lovemaking skills.

You're wonderful. No other woman had ever spoken them to him and meant him. That he was wonderful. Hell, he knew he wasn't, but pleasure rushed through him just the same.

A sense of… what was it?… enveloped him. Well-being? Yes, but something else. Some other feeling he couldn't quite place enveloped him, leaving him warm and content. It took him a moment to realize what that feeling was. It had been so long since he'd felt it, he didn't recognize it at first.

It was happiness. She made him happy.

But he forcibly reminded himself that there were still unanswered questions about his wife. There were secrets about her past that she hadn't shared with him. And their marriage was only one of convenience.

But it would be so easy to believe otherwise.

Chapter 13

Robert stood in the drawing room at Bradford Hall, his ears still ringing with the shocking news the magistrate had brought. Half his face was blown off, impossible to identify, but he was clearly a Runner. Wore the red vest of Bow Street. Looks like a robbery, but we '11 have to conduct an inquest. Gave your groom quite a turn, finding the body like that. We '11 need to notify his grace immediately.

'I cannot imagine why a Runner would be at the ruins,' Robert said to Miles, who stood near the mantel. 'But whatever the reason, the entire episode has given me a bad feeling.'

'Perhaps Austin knows the man,' Miles said. 'We'll find out tomorrow when we arrive in London.'

'Yes. I've arranged for the coach to be brought around at first light. I didn't tell Mother or Caroline why we're going, but they are always eager for a trip to Town, thank God.' Robert dragged his hands through his hair. 'I couldn't very well tell them Mortlin discovered a dead body in the bushes and there may be a murderer on the loose. Of course, Mother balked at interrupting Austin and Elizabeth's wedding trip, so I appreciate your inviting us to stay at your town house.'

'My pleasure,' Miles said tossing back his brandy.

'I'm relieved that the last of the guests, including Lady Penbroke, departed this morning,' Robert continued 'so it wasn't necessary to make awkward excuses to them.'

'Indeed' Miles said pouring himself another brandy and downing it.

Robert stared at him. 'Are you all right?'

'Fine. Why do you ask?'

'Because you've practically emptied the brandy decanter in the last five minutes.'

'Just a bit unnerved I suppose.'

Robert nodded. 'I understand perfectly.' He glanced toward the mantel clock. 'It's almost midnight. I'm going to retire. I suggest you do the same.'

'I'll be along shortly. Good night.'

The instant Robert left the room, Miles poured himself another hefty brandy. Leaning against the mantel, he