Page 20 of The Earl and the Vixen
But a troubling thought crossed his mind.
“Have you been with anyone else?” he asked, not slowing his movements, keeping the pace she commanded.
She moaned and pushed against him, driving him deeper inside of her. “Why should you care?” she said between each of his thrusts.
“Just tell me now,” he said through gritted teeth, punishing her with each thrust. “I shall issue a challenge to anyone who touched you.”
“Don’t stop,” she panted. “Thatis so fucking good.”
He continued holding one of her hips and slid his other hand to rest on her back, holding her in place against the desk when he thrust harder. “Answer me, Eliza,” he said through labored breaths.
“No one, Nick,” she panted. “Only you.”
He turned feral, the intensity of his thrusts claiming her. She was still his. There had to be a reason she hadn’t been with anyone else, or accepted any of the proposals she received. Fool as he was, hope crept in that perhaps he could win her heart. That he would learn why she abandoned him and ensure she never did so again.
Clenching hard around his cock, she covered her mouth when she reached the pinnacle of her pleasure, rocking hard against him. He withdrew just in time and moaned her name in a low whisper as he stroked himself to claim every bit of his well earned climax, his seed shooting across her bottom.
He pulled his handkerchief from his pocket and gently wiped between her legs before wiping away the evidence of the most exquisite experience he’d had since he’d been with her over three years ago.
Nick tenderly kissed the flesh of one of her supple arse cheeks before he pulled her skirts down. He helped her to stand, then tucked himself back into his falls. He placed a light kiss on her lips before pulling away and staring into her eyes. Aching for answers to all of his questions.
“Why, Eliza?” he finally asked. “Why do you hate me so?”
Confusion and hurt marred her beautiful face before she released an angry laugh. “Are you quite serious?”
“I find nothing humorous about it,” he replied. “I thought you loved me.”
“Have you gone mad?” she asked.
He released her and dropped his arms. Perhaps she was just as heartless as he had believed her to be for the past few years. He had been nothing more than a fool to allow himself to hope otherwise. “So you never loved me then?”
“Why are you being so cruel?” she asked. “Do you wish for me to say the words so you can reject me again?”
He ran his fingers through his hair. How dare she? “Reject you?” he scoffed. “Reject you? Now who has gone mad?”
She poked her finger at his chest. “You are the one who is mad. I waited at the hunting cabin all night for you and the next day you told me you never loved me with a letter. A letter. My love for you was so intense and true that I would have sold my soul to the devil himself to be your wife, to have you inside me every night, to be the one you loved and cherished. Is that what you wish to hear?”
His stomach reeled, and he fought to keep his balance. “What letter?”
Eliza stepped around him. “I can’t believe you.” She released an exasperated groan and flailed her hands in the air. “This is done. Play your games with someone else. You’re still a great fuck, but I am done being sucked back into your web of deceit and playing your fool.”
She raced from the room before he could stop her. He gripped the side of the desk. Letter? What letter? He never sent a letter.Hell and damnation.He closed his eyes, fighting to keep himself from losing control. He fisted his hands and slammed one down onto the desk.
Someone tore them apart. That was the only thing that could possibly make any sense. Undoubtedly, their fathers.Goddamn them.What a fool he had been, playing right into their deceit.
He left the small study and noticed that the house was quiet. The other guests must have retired to their rooms for the evening. The lack of movement in the household would prove to be beneficial so he could speak to Eliza again. It couldn’t wait. He needed to know what letter she spoke of so they might ascertain what evil scheme their fathers had played on them both, robbing them of their lifetime of happiness together.
He crept up the stairs and made his way down the hallway as quietly as he could until he reached her door. Trying the knob, he was thankful to find it unlocked, and stepped inside, closing and locking the door behind him.
From the light of the fire crackling in the fireplace and the single candle lit on the bedside table, he saw Eliza sprawled across her bed. Her shoulders were shaking as she sobbed into her pillow. It had been there the whole time if he would have allowed himself to consider the pain she carried. If he had only known. His heart ached and tears welled in his eyes, realizing she had hurt as much as he had in their years apart.
“Eliza,” he whispered.
Chapter 9
Eliza didn’t pick her head up when she heard Nick’s voice. The pain was far too great to face him again. She deserved to feel the depth of her suffering in peace and not to have him bear witness. “Go away,” she cried into her pillow. “Please.” The last word came out as a sob.
He didn’t do as she asked and stepped closer, kneeling on the floor beside her head. “My love, I never sent you a letter.” His voice cracked on the last few words.
