Page 84 of Unmasking a Wicked Marquess
There was one person who had declined his invitation, though, and that was Arthur. He’d written a letter to Juliet, apologizing profusely for his part in staining Edward’s name, and explained he had simply been driven mad by love for her. He was now at his country seat where he intended to stay and had recently met another young lady who returned his affections. He had hope for the future at last.
“Look, look, have you seen?” Edward paused partway down the churchyard and gestured through the crowds.
Juliet strained to peer through the falling petals, where she saw two people who had not been seen together in years. Edward’s uncle, Hugh, and Juliet’s aunt, Emily, stood together. Hugh offered his arm to Emily, and she took it, such nervousness in her expression but a smile growing across her cheeks that Juliet couldn’t help mirroring that look.
“Perhaps our family’s reconciliation has brought more than one couple together,” Juliet whispered for Edward’s ear only.
“Perhaps so,” he murmured. “Thank God. It’s about time my uncle was happy.”
Juliet sighed with contentment, for by the expressions on Hugh’s and Emily’s faces, neither of them had been this happy for some time.
“Come, let us get out of here. Before anyone else stops us to congratulate us,” Edward pleaded.
Juliet laughed as she was led towards the carriage and stepped up inside. She and Edward smiled, leaning together as the coach set off, and she threw the bouquet in the air, where many ladies gathered behind her, ready to catch it. Juliet did not see where it landed, for she was turned towards Edward, thinking only of him.
“We will not have long,” she whispered. “Our families may be coming on foot back to the church, but they’ll be there soon.”
“Then we’ll have longer together tonight when they have all gone home.” He took her hand and lifted it to his lips, kissing the back. “But until then, I want to share something with you now.” He winked at her.
Since their betrothal, they had not had a chance to be alone together. Either their mothers or fathers seemed to be in the room as chaperones, but now, there was no need for chaperones anymore.
When they reached the house, Edward helped her down from the carriage and kissed her with such a passionate touch that she would have happily stood there kissing for some time, but he was much more impatient. She laughed as he took hold of her hand and drew her into the house.
They didn’t stop anywhere downstairs but darted past the room where the wedding breakfast was being prepared. They hastened up the stairs and towards Edward’s bedchamber toward the rear of the house. When he pulled her inside, Juliet grew distracted, looking around the beautiful room furnished in rich mahogany wood. As the door was kicked shut behind her, though, all focus drew back to Edward.
He reached for her, his hands gripping her waist as his lips neared hers. She was so certain he was going to kiss her that her eyes closed, but he did not. He started whispering things instead.
“Tonight, we shall take our time,” he promised, then reached for the back of her gown and undid her laces, pulling the dress to get her out of it. “I shall adore every part of your body as I reveal it, kiss every part of you,everypart,” he said with such obvious meaning that she shuddered in excitement, allowing him to turn her around so he could get rid of the gown fully.
He urged her forward as she stepped out of it, directing her to the bed, where she fell onto her knees on the mattress with her hands in front of her. “I will make you reach your climax so many times you’ll forget the number.”
“Oh, Edward.” A moan slipped from her lips, for she was so intoxicated by all his words and the promises he was making to her.
He flipped up the skirt of her chemise, gathering it around her waist so that her rear was completely exposed to him. He bent over her, kissing the lower part of her back and across her hips.
“It will be a night we will not forget, and we’ll be exhausted in the morning.”
She laughed at his words, not wanting him to stop. Just at his promises alone, she could feel her body growing wet, wanting more of him, wanting him to stop teasing her and touch her.
He drew his hands down the outsides of her thighs and then inwards, to their inner part and up towards her centre.
“Edward!” she cried, pleadingly now and throwing back her head. “Do you wish me to beg?”
He chuckled softly and bent down, kissing across her rear cheek and back to her hip again.
“You’ll be adored from this night on, Juliet. I promise you that, but this …” He moved towards her, and from the sound, she judged that he was reaching for his trousers, releasing himself. “This I cannot do without for any longer. God, you do not know how much I have been needing this.”
Then she felt him, his length nudging her entrance. Her body stiffened on the bed, desperate to feel him. She rocked back, full of need, and they both made a breathy sound, as all she could feel was the very tip of him, then he entered her from behind.
Juliet arched her back at the sudden feeling of fullness and pleasure. Unlike their first time, this didn’t hurt at all. It was full of excitement and thrill as he started to rock their bodies together, gripping her hips and moving them in such a way that she could feel every part of him as he slid inside and out of her again.
Juliet moved her face down to the bed sheets, burying her head there to try and muffle the sounds she was making.
“Edward …” the moaning of his name still broke through, and she bit the sheets, trying to stop the sounds altogether.
He moved faster, the sensuality of his fingers increasing as he moved them from her hips and up her waist, gripping her bare skin just where her stays reached down. It was such an intimate touch, using that grip to rock them together, that Juliet writhed against him. All she wanted was more of this sensation, more of Edward.
“Edward!” She released the sheet and cried his name louder as that building climax he had promised her began to build.
