Page 55 of Awakening a Lord's Desires
“I do not know if that will fit in there,” she said, making him chuckle.
“Oh yes, it will. I promise. We were made for such things.” He slid another finger inside her, and she leaned her head back again. “I will go slowly at first,” he said, and then she felt the sweet pressure of his head against her opening, begging for entry.
She closed her eyes tight, gripping hard to him as he pushed deeper and deeper. There was a tightness, a beautiful fullness, but then, when he thrust forward, there was a quick snap of pain that made a little whimper come out of her mouth.
“Are you all right?” he asked, looking down at her, so deep and full inside her.
“Yes,” she said, swallowing and nodding. “I believe so.”
He kissed her then, his tongue plunging forward as his hips did the same. In an instant, the pain was gone, and all Caroline could think about was how lovely it felt to have him inside of her. Out of instinct, her hips lifted, and her legs spread wider, and he groaned into her mouth as he slid impossibly deeper. Leaning up to put his weight on his hands, he stared down at her as his hips angled to thrust harder into her.
“Charles,” she moaned, her fingers unable to reach him and so, instead, they coiled in the bedclothes around her.
Her legs wrapped around his waist as his hips continued to move, ever faster, ever harder, and soon, she could feel the rise of that familiar pleasure again. But this was different, more powerful, more primal, and in seconds, she had to clamp her hand over her mouth to muffle her scream as it broke over her.
He didn’t stop his pace, only increasing it, drawing out her pleasure further as she trembled and writhed underneath him. And then, his pleasure came too, and he pulled out of her quickly, spilling over her belly as he shook above her.
She watched him as he pulled out and slid next to her, putting his arm around her. His smile was wide and lazy.
“Dear God, Caroline, that was the most beautiful thing I have ever experienced.”
“And I,” she added, still amazed that it had happened, that her body had been able to experience such things. “I love you.”
“And I you.” He pulled her close and kissed her on the temple, and his sigh made her believe that he was just about to fall asleep.
She wanted nothing more than to fall asleep in his arms, but her body was alert with all the things they had to do in order to keep their plans.
“I must go, Charles. I must collect my things and prepare for our departure.”
“Yes, of course.” He sat up on one elbow and stared down at her. “I would like for you to stay with me, but I know there will be time for that. Go home and get what you need. I will meet you in the morning. Meet me at the spot in the woods where we met. It will be the perfect place to keep things secret and safe.”
She smiled as she slid out of bed and began to dress. “I know it well. I will see you there in a few hours.”
She left, sad but also happy. Her life was going to change—and finally in the way she wanted it to.
Chapter 56
Charles slept a little but then he was too excited about the prospect of their plans, and he sent his butler to work to make the preparations. He wanted everything to be perfect for Caroline as they made their escape to Gretna Green. For any woman of nobility, it was a difficult thing to not have a wedding in the church as well as one that had been announced in the church banns, and so he wanted to make up for it as best he could.
If only the baroness had not forced us into this position, I might have been able to give her a proper proposal and a proper wedding.
So, he had the butler prepare hot tea and hot whisky, fresh warm rolls, warm blankets, and whatever else they needed in the carriage to prepare them for their journey. It would be a long one, but Charles knew from the bottom of his heart that this was the right decision. He wanted to marry Caroline, and he didn’t care how he did it. When he arose, he washed and dressed, and he went downstairs quickly to find that everything was prepared.
He collected his hat, gloves, and coat, and he left the house in the carriage, riding to the spot in the woods, that fateful place where he had nearly stumbled upon rather literally the woman who would now be his wife.
When the carriage slowed, he held his breath as he opened the door and stepped out into the dawn. But he looked around and saw that there was no one. No one awaited him, no one stood breathless with their belongings hoping to see him coming to collect them.
He didn’t jump to conclusions, but rather he searched around, hoping that perhaps they had thought of different places where their fateful meeting had occurred.
That is right. Perhaps she and I believed it to have happened in different places. I must only keep searching, and then I shall find her.
And so he did, searching for nearly half an hour before the hard truth came to him. She had not come. She had come to her senses and knew that this was a crazed plan, and that she wished to remain home and to never think of such a thing again.
Slowly and with hesitation, he returned to the carriage, ready to feel betrayal. But as he sat inside, he remembered how his assumptions had gotten him into trouble before. He closed his eyes and took a breath, remembering the night before. Their lovemaking had been more than beautiful; it had been life-changing.
She was not a woman he simply wanted to bed, but she was the woman he wanted to spend his days with. And she had told him the same, showing her affection and her passion in every word, look, and touch. It had not been merely an exchange of sex but of true love.
I must go to her. I cannot leave and just hope that she will come to me. She took the risk of racing to my home in the night to tell me the truth, so I know that she loves me. I must go now to her home to find out what has transpired.
