Read Online The Earl's Stolen Bride (Marriage by Deceit Book 4) by Ruth Ann Nordin - Free Book Online
Authors: Ruth Ann Nordin
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lake?”
“The lake isn’t a good place for making love,” he said, even though his thickening arousal argued with him.
He wasn’t the only one who noticed the contradiction because she replied, “I think you’d like to.” For emphasis, she slid her hand down his shaft and brought it back up.
A low moan escaped his lips. She was getting surprisingly bold in her actions, and while part of it excited him, another part made him apprehensive. She wasn’t a lady of ill repute whose sole purpose was to provide a gentleman pleasure. She was his wife—his virginal wife—who needed to be treated with great care and tenderness. The last thing he wanted to do was hurt her like he had on their wedding night.
“As tempting as it is,” he said, taking her hands into his so he wouldn’t get further distracted, “we’re better off waiting until we get to my bedchamber.”
“You want to wait until we’re at your bedchamber?”
Forcing aside the disappointment in her voice, he brought her into his arms and kissed her. “Or your bedchamber. We haven’t been to your bed yet.”
“Who says we have to do it in bed? I’m sure there are other places we can enjoy each other.”
He let out an uneasy chuckle. “What’s wrong with the bed?”
“Well, nothing’s wrong with it. I was just thinking it might be fun to try something different sometime.”
“We will. But right now, let’s focus on getting you used to the water.” He led her to a deeper part of the lake. “We should take advantage of the day.”
“You’re right. Unlike you, I don’t want to come out here when it’s raining.”
Glad she hadn’t pressed the issue of lovemaking, he turned his attention to teaching her how to float in the water.
***
Two hours later, Chloe and Orlando were on their way back to the manor, laughing and having a wonderful time, when her gaze went to the familiar carriage in front of the manor. Her steps slowed on the grassy path. Oh dear. Of all the things her parents could do, she hadn’t once thought they’d come all the way out here.
“What’s wrong?” Orlando asked, his hand resting on the small of her back.
“My parents are here,” she replied, wishing she didn’t have to say the words. She was a married lady, and yet, she felt like a little girl who’d been caught sneaking off to do something she had no right to be doing. She gestured to the carriage still a ways off from where they were. “I-I’m afraid they aren’t going to be happy.”
“Because you married so soon after Lord Hawkins’ death?”
She nodded. “It was scandalous of me to do so. No doubt the Ton is talking about it.” And that would only make things more difficult with her parents.
“The Ton talks about the littlest scandal, and what’s more, the Ton is easily scandalized. If you dare to even look at someone the wrong way, it’s worthy of the Tittletattle .”
Despite his joke, she couldn’t bring herself to laugh. How could she when her stomach was all twisted up in knots? “My parents don’t share your humor. They must be greatly displeased if they came to your estate.”
He turned her so she was facing him. “I’m with you. You have no need to worry. As long as we stick together, we can overcome anything. All right?”
If only saying it would make it that easy, but he didn’t know her parents.
“We could return to the lake or take horses out for a ride,” he offered. “It’ll give you time to get ready to see them.”
“No. We should get it over with.” There was no preparing her for their visit. The sooner she saw them, the sooner they’d leave and she could go back to enjoying her time with Orlando. “You’ll be with me,” she told him. “It won’t be like I have to face them alone.”
“You’re right. You won’t.” He took her hand and squeezed it. “No matter what they say, I’ll be with you.”
Smiling, she
“The lake isn’t a good place for making love,” he said, even though his thickening arousal argued with him.
He wasn’t the only one who noticed the contradiction because she replied, “I think you’d like to.” For emphasis, she slid her hand down his shaft and brought it back up.
A low moan escaped his lips. She was getting surprisingly bold in her actions, and while part of it excited him, another part made him apprehensive. She wasn’t a lady of ill repute whose sole purpose was to provide a gentleman pleasure. She was his wife—his virginal wife—who needed to be treated with great care and tenderness. The last thing he wanted to do was hurt her like he had on their wedding night.
“As tempting as it is,” he said, taking her hands into his so he wouldn’t get further distracted, “we’re better off waiting until we get to my bedchamber.”
“You want to wait until we’re at your bedchamber?”
Forcing aside the disappointment in her voice, he brought her into his arms and kissed her. “Or your bedchamber. We haven’t been to your bed yet.”
“Who says we have to do it in bed? I’m sure there are other places we can enjoy each other.”
He let out an uneasy chuckle. “What’s wrong with the bed?”
“Well, nothing’s wrong with it. I was just thinking it might be fun to try something different sometime.”
“We will. But right now, let’s focus on getting you used to the water.” He led her to a deeper part of the lake. “We should take advantage of the day.”
“You’re right. Unlike you, I don’t want to come out here when it’s raining.”
Glad she hadn’t pressed the issue of lovemaking, he turned his attention to teaching her how to float in the water.
***
Two hours later, Chloe and Orlando were on their way back to the manor, laughing and having a wonderful time, when her gaze went to the familiar carriage in front of the manor. Her steps slowed on the grassy path. Oh dear. Of all the things her parents could do, she hadn’t once thought they’d come all the way out here.
“What’s wrong?” Orlando asked, his hand resting on the small of her back.
“My parents are here,” she replied, wishing she didn’t have to say the words. She was a married lady, and yet, she felt like a little girl who’d been caught sneaking off to do something she had no right to be doing. She gestured to the carriage still a ways off from where they were. “I-I’m afraid they aren’t going to be happy.”
“Because you married so soon after Lord Hawkins’ death?”
She nodded. “It was scandalous of me to do so. No doubt the Ton is talking about it.” And that would only make things more difficult with her parents.
“The Ton talks about the littlest scandal, and what’s more, the Ton is easily scandalized. If you dare to even look at someone the wrong way, it’s worthy of the Tittletattle .”
Despite his joke, she couldn’t bring herself to laugh. How could she when her stomach was all twisted up in knots? “My parents don’t share your humor. They must be greatly displeased if they came to your estate.”
He turned her so she was facing him. “I’m with you. You have no need to worry. As long as we stick together, we can overcome anything. All right?”
If only saying it would make it that easy, but he didn’t know her parents.
“We could return to the lake or take horses out for a ride,” he offered. “It’ll give you time to get ready to see them.”
“No. We should get it over with.” There was no preparing her for their visit. The sooner she saw them, the sooner they’d leave and she could go back to enjoying her time with Orlando. “You’ll be with me,” she told him. “It won’t be like I have to face them alone.”
“You’re right. You won’t.” He took her hand and squeezed it. “No matter what they say, I’ll be with you.”
Smiling, she
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