A Most Unsuitable Earl (Regency Collection Book 3) Page 8

  “What?”

  “Your mother suggested it.”

  And that was when he lost his erection. “My mother?”

  Unaware of the very unromantic effect the announcement had on him, she nodded. “I did as she suggested, so you don’t need to do it again.”

  He shuddered and removed his finger from her so he could wipe the olive oil off on the covers. He immediately wished he had wiped it off on something else. Now he’d need to have his covers washed so it wouldn’t smell like the kitchen when he slept.

  “What’s wrong?” she asked.

  “What’s wrong? You’re serious about asking me what’s wrong?”

  “I wouldn’t have asked the question if I wasn’t.”

  “It’s not…good…when you mention my mother while we’re in bed.”

  “But I’m trying to help you. There’s no need to put more olive oil in me.”

  “I can’t do this tonight,” he finally said. As embarrassing as it was to admit, he knew he was better off just coming out and saying it. Why go through any more torture than they’d already endured?

  She gasped and sat up. “But we have to! It’s our wedding night.”

  “We can do it tomorrow night. Just don’t put olive oil in you. I’ll do it next time.”

  “Ethan!” She reached for him as he turned to get off the bed and pulled him into her arms. “I can’t be a virgin after tonight. It’ll be a disgrace. My duty is to get this done.”

  “I don’t know if I can get it done,” he argued as he fell back next to her. She was lying partially over him now, successfully pinning him down. “There’s too much pressure.”

  “But you’ve done this many times. If you can do this with other ladies, why can’t you do it with me?”

  “I haven’t done it before. With anyone.” As soon as he said the words, he wished he could take them back. The shame! The horror! Why couldn’t he keep his big mouth shut? Looking at her stunned expression, he weakly asked, “You won’t tell anyone, will you?”

  “Are you telling me you can’t consummate the marriage at all? Your penis won’t stay big long enough to go into me?”

  His jaw dropped. Good heavens, that was worse than being a virgin! “I’m not impotent! It’s just that when we’re talking about my mother, it’s impossible to do it.”

  “We won’t talk about her anymore. It’s just you and me. What can I do to make you get bigger so we can do this tonight?”

  He groaned and stared at the ceiling. “It’s not something I can force. It happens on its own.”

  “But there must be something I can do to help.” She scanned his body, her gaze settling on his limp member. Looking at him again, she said, “I promise I won’t tell anyone that you haven’t been intimate with a lady before. I’ll keep your secret.”

  “Well…” He ventured a glance in her direction and realized she meant it. She wouldn’t reveal the truth. “I spent a lot of time convincing everyone I was a rake.”

  “I know you did. You had me convinced.”

  “I don’t want anyone to know the truth.”

  “No one will. I just told you I would keep your secret. Do you doubt I’ll keep my word?”

  He studied her serious expression and relaxed. “No, no I don’t doubt you.”

  She smiled. It suddenly occurred to him that in all the time he’d known her, he’d never seen her genuinely smile. She’d offered the obligatory smiles when they’d been at balls. She’d also given the same type of smile to other gentlemen, so he knew it was something she did to everyone. But now as she smiled at him, he realized there was more to her than anyone else knew about.

  He brought his hand up to cup the side of her face and brushed her cheek with his thumb. Her skin was soft. In fact, as he took careful note of her face, he realized she had a smooth complexion. Her cheeks were slightly flushed, her deep brown eyes twinkled in the candlelight, and her hair cascaded over her shoulders in gentle curls. Why hadn’t he noticed how appealing she was before?

  He brought her face toward his and caressed her lips with his. Warmth spread through his body, and he felt a stirring in his loins. Encouraged, he deepened the kiss. This was much better than their trite kiss at the wedding. Of course, that kiss was in front of everyone, and she’d been crying at the time. But she wasn’t crying now. In fact, she was responding quite nicely to his advances.

  She shifted into a more comfortable position, an action which allowed her breasts to press against his chest, something which caused him to finally become fully erect. Now this was more like it. He wrapped her in his arms and brought her fully on top of him. His erection settled between her legs, and she let out a slight gasp of surprise but he kept his lips on hers so she wouldn’t get shy and pull away from him. Not that he knew whether she’d pull away from him or not, but why take the chance?

  He brushed her lower lip with his tongue and was delighted when she parted her lips for him. Accepting her invitation, he interlaced his tongue with hers. She tasted wonderful. He lowered his hands and traced the sides of her breasts then went lower to her hips. He moved her hips and was rewarded as she rubbed up against his arousal. She felt wonderful. So very wonderful.

  Still kissing her, he embraced her and rolled over, taking her with him so that she was under him. She wrapped her legs around his waist, her flesh beckoning him to enter her. He wasn’t sure what to do. Well, that wasn’t entirely true. He knew he was supposed to enter her in order to consummate the marriage, but another part of him wanted to explore more of her first.

  Then he unwittingly recalled her father’s warning to make it quick. He pulled away from her for a moment and scanned the bedchamber, just to make sure that her father wasn’t hovering in the shadows somewhere.

  “Is something wrong?” she asked, her breathing heavy.

  Shaking off the strange sensation that her father was somehow watching them, he turned his attention back to her and took the moment to look at her body. What in the world made him think she was ordinary? She was the most exquisite creature he’d ever seen. He cupped one of her breasts in his hands and brushed her hardened nipple with his thumb. She shivered under him, and he glanced at her, relieved when he saw that she had her eyes closed and that her mouth was turned up into a slight smile. Good. She didn’t shiver because she was repulsed that he’d touched her so intimately.

  Further encouraged, he lowered his head to her breast and traced her nipple with his tongue. This resulted in the lovely sound of her moaning as she tightened her hold on his arms. This was even better. Who knew Catherine could be so passionate? Sure, he knew she could passionately detest the idea of being married to him, but it was much better when she was passionate about being in his bed. He didn’t dare question it. At the moment, he was more aroused than he thought possible, and he didn’t want to break the spell that had fallen between them.

  He settled back on top of her so that his erection was between her legs, pressed ever so nicely against her. He shifted and his tip centered on her entrance. She moved her hips in silent encouragement and kissed his shoulder, her fingers digging into his arms in a way that excited him. She wanted him. Really wanted him. He groaned in pleasure and brought his mouth to hers, and this time his tongue was more insistent as he explored her.

  She lifted her hips and her legs pulled him closer to her, and given how moist she was, he slid into her until he came to a part of her that was tight. He wanted to pause, to figure out what he should do, but her flesh was much too enticing and he had no control. He pushed into her, and they both gasped. But it didn’t sound like her gasp was the same as his. It seemed as if she gasped in pain.

  His eyes flew open and he looked at her. There was a slight grimace on her face, and in that split second, he saw the condemning look on her father’s face for hurting her. Before he lost the little control he’d managed to gather, he pulled out of her and noticed that she was bleeding. He couldn’t be sure how much blood there was, but it was enough to convince him this
wasn’t good. He could only hope she wouldn’t tell her father he hurt her.

  He rested on his back and wondered if he should even attempt to look at her. Would she be crying? Would she be fuming with rage?

  “Is that it?” she asked.

  Surprised by the bewildered tone in her voice, he dared a peek in her direction. Thankfully, she didn’t have tears in her eyes, and she wasn’t frowning at him. Instead, her eyes were wide, and she rolled on to her side to look at him.

  He wasn’t sure how to answer her. While he hadn’t finished, imagining how upset her father would be to know he’d hurt her was enough to make him not-so-erect again. He really hated this. He had no idea being in bed with a lady demanded so much of him. If he didn’t remain erect, the whole thing was impossible.

  “Ethan, is that it?”

  He should’ve known she wouldn’t let the matter go just because he didn’t want to answer her. With a reluctant sigh, he asked, “Do you want me to keep going when I just made it painful for you?”

  She rose up on her elbow and peered down at him. “I thought it was supposed to hurt the first time.”

  “That makes no sense.”

  “It’s something ladies go through, but it wasn’t that bad.”

  “Wasn’t that bad? You’re bleeding.” He motioned to the area between her legs. “Down there.”

  She checked between her legs. “It’s only a little bit.”

  “It shouldn’t be there at all.”

  “I’ve suffered far worse than this.” When he shook his head, she continued, “I have. Once a month, I endure far greater pain than what I did just now, and that lasts for hours if I don’t drink the right tea as soon as my cycle starts.”

  He pressed his hands to his ears and cringed. “All right. You’ve convinced me.” Good heavens! Was there nothing she wouldn’t tell him?

  She removed one of his hands from his ear. “Does such talk disturb you?”

  “Of course it does.”

  “I’m sorry. I won’t say any more about my monthly flow.”

  “Thank you.” He lowered his other hand and set it on his stomach.

  “Do you want to finish?”

  “Not right now,” he said. “I’d rather wait until you don’t feel any pain at all before we try this again.”

  She frowned in disappointment. “But I wanted to get this done tonight.”

  “We did. Well, we did enough. You’re not a virgin anymore.”

  “So we finished?”

  How could he explain it to her without embarrassing her? He glanced at her. Forget embarrassing her. He didn’t want to embarrass himself! All these years, he never once took himself for a prude, and yet, he was finding out just how prudish he was.

  He offered a helpless shrug and said, “No, we didn’t finish, but since I penetrated you, you’re not a virgin. That’s why you bled. But I’m not ready to do this again right now.”

  “So when will you be ready?”

  “I don’t know.”

  “You don’t have any idea at all?”

  “No, I don’t, but when I am, my body will let me know.” She opened her mouth to speak, but he kissed her. “Blow out the candle, so we can go to sleep. All right?”

  Despite her disappointment, she nodded and did as he asked. He took her into his arms and closed his eyes. It was nice to hold her. Even if he couldn’t get the image of her scowling father out of his mind, it was still nice to have her in his arms. Exhausted from the day’s events, he soon drifted off to sleep, only to wake up periodically through the night with dreams of her father challenging him to a duel.

  Chapter Ten

  Catherine woke up alone, and for a moment, she thought it’d been a strange dream. But the slight ache between her legs and the fact that she was in Ethan’s bed proved that the previous night’s events really did happen. She sat up in bed and glanced around the room. Where was her husband? She’d hoped he would finish consummating their marriage this morning, but that wasn’t going to happen as long as he wasn’t with her.

  Deciding not to spend the day waiting to see if he’d return since he most likely wouldn’t, she got out of bed, retrieved her shift and hurried to her bedchamber. She requested that a bath be brought up as soon as her lady’s maid entered the room, and when the maids filled the tub with soothing warm water, she stepped into it.

  She leaned back in the tub and closed her eyes. She hadn’t slept much the night before. Her efforts to fully consummate the marriage had been in vain. She didn’t understand why it should be so difficult for Ethan to go through with it. Sure, it had hurt when he put his penis into her, but it hadn’t been as devastating as he made it out to be. She rolled her eyes. It was a good thing he wasn’t a lady. If he was squeamish about a little blood, he’d never survive the monthly flow.

  But it was sweet that he didn’t want to hurt her, so she shouldn’t be critical of him. She had her heart set on completing the act, and it didn’t happen. Sure, she was disappointed, but it wasn’t the worst thing that ever happened to her. It would help if she knew when they’d do the entire deed from start to finish, but if he had no control over his penis, then what could she do? She had no way of making it big, so she couldn’t help him along. The thing seemed to have a mind of its own, and there seemed to be no predicting when it was ready to enter her. She wondered what happened when the act was done.

  Opening her eyes, she turned her attention to the soap and picked it up from the nearby table. One thing she definitely had to do was wash up between her legs. As she cleaned up, she recalled the way Ethan made her feel while he was touching her. She’d enjoyed the way his hands and tongue felt on her breasts, of course. She definitely wanted him to do that again, but when he caressed the area between her legs, the pleasure was more intense. She hadn’t even known her body was capable of producing such sensations until he touched her.

  Curious, she took the time to explore herself, wondering what it was Ethan had felt. If she hadn’t been so nervous when she was putting the olive oil in herself, she might have noticed how sensitive she was. But now she did notice, and she noticed other things as well. How her body’s heat rose, how her breathing grew shallower, how the pleasure increased until it peaked in a way she never anticipated, and how her body hummed in satisfaction when it was over. Truly, she had no idea what Ethan was starting last night could lead to such bliss!

  Once she gathered her composure, she thought of being with Ethan again. She finished washing herself off, thinking of what she might say or do to encourage him to come to her bed that night. It was too early in the day to lead him to her bedchamber now, but even so, she needed to have a plan. Somehow, someway, she was going to get him to finish what he started if it was the last thing she did.

  ***

  “Why aren’t you doting over your bride?”

  Ethan slammed The Canterbury Tales shut and shoved the book behind the pillow on his chair. Standing up, he turned to face his mother. “Can’t you knock before you barge into my sanctuary?”

  His mother stepped into the library and shook her head. “This isn’t your sanctuary. It’s where you come to read books you know I wouldn’t approve of.”

  “Seriously, Mother. Why do you assume I’m reading something inappropriate?”

  “I won’t justify that question with an answer,” she replied, crossing her arms and scanning the room. “Sometimes I miss your father. There were times I’d come into this room and…” She glanced at him and shrugged. “Well, he didn’t consider this room off limits to me.”

  Ethan grimaced. “If I am a rake, it’s because I have you for a mother. You have no more sense of propriety than I do. The only difference is, you hide it from the Ton.”

  “What your father and I did wasn’t wrong.”

  “I don’t want to know what you two did.” Eager to change the topic, he asked, “Did you come to discuss my reading habits again?”

  She made a sign of the cross and shook her head. “No. I only hope y
our wife won’t stumble upon such…such… You know.”

  He resisted the urge to laugh. After last night, he doubted that Catherine would be so appalled by books his mother deemed inappropriate…if he had them. She’d probably insist on reading them to satisfy her curiosity.

  The butler entered the library. “The Duke of Rumsey is here, my lord.”

  Ethan blanched.

  “What’s he doing here so early?” Ethan’s mother asked, not hiding her surprise.

  Ethan groaned. “Isn’t it obvious?” Ignoring her response, he sighed and told the butler. “He’s here to make sure his daughter isn’t still crying.” He could only hope Catherine wouldn’t say anything to her father about being disappointed with him. With a resigned sigh, he said, “Make sure there’s a place for him at the breakfast table.”

  Once the butler left, his mother turned to him and smiled. “How wonderful!”

  “It’s not wonderful,” he muttered. “He’s not here on friendly terms.”

  She waved her hand at him and shook her head. “You need to have more faith, Ethan. Today might be awkward, but I assure you that soon enough, you’ll be on good terms with him.”

  Unable to believe her unwarranted optimism, he passed her so he could leave the room. Maybe he could sneak upstairs and plead with Catherine to pretend like she was content so her father wouldn’t panic. As he turned for the staircase, he heard Catherine welcoming her father at the entryway. Blast it! Forcing back a frustrated scream, he straightened and approached the two.

  “Are you sure you’re all right?” her father asked her.

  Catherine nodded. “Father, I already told you I’m fine.”

  He examined her face with a worried frown. “You’re not just saying that to ease my nerves, are you?”

  “No, I’m not. I really am fine.”

  He breathed an audible sigh of relief. “I couldn’t sleep at all last night. I kept seeing you being pursued by that husband of yours.”

  Ethan halted his steps and stared at the duke in disbelief. Pursued? If anyone was pursuing anyone last night, she was pursuing him!