Seven Rogues for Christmas: A Historical Romance Holiday Collection Read online

  "Did you enjoy the show?" Her words interrupted his silent musing.

  "I've seen this opera before."

  She cocked her head and smiled, a twinkle of lamplight reflecting in her eyes. "That's not what I asked."

  He heaved an irritated sigh. "Are you always this impertinent?"

  "Do you always have to behave like obstinate mule who refuses to budge?"

  Edmund leaned back against the cushions and folded his arms across his chest. "That's exactly the analogy I would expect from a farmer's daughter." He felt a stab of regret at his harsh words when her smile fell and pain flickered in her eyes. "And yes, I do."

  Her lips tilted up again, but the hurt in her eyes remained. "You're a cold man, Lord Winterbourne."

  "Edmund, and I cannot change who I am."

  "But that is what confuses me. Your actions and your words are at odds with each other." Jess twisted her hands in the fabric of her gown.

  "Please, elaborate." He teased her, but something deep inside of him wanted to hear her observations.

  "You stole those jewels, and yet you claim you are not a thief."

  "I'm not." When she sighed in exasperation, he continued. "You can't steal something that was yours to begin with."

  "The jewels—"

  "Belonged to my family. I was merely recovering my own property." He watched the play of emotions across her face.

  "What..." She stopped as if realizing it was none of her business to be asking such questions. The matter did not concern her that much was true, but he responded to her unvoiced curiosity anyway.

  "I was going to use the jewels to gain information. When you stole them, you jeopardized my mission." He ran his hand across his face and glanced out the window again.

  "Mission? Do you work for the queen then?" The confusion in her voice made her sound innocent.

  He shook his head. "I work for myself alone."

  She opened her mouth to speak but closed it quickly. After a few seconds, her reply filled the space between them. "Of course."

  "Was that your only observation into my behavior?"

  "I beg your pardon?" Jess turned to face him again.

  "You said my actions are at odds with my words. Were there other instances you care to share with me?" He waited. Why was he drawing out the conversation? And what did it matter what this little innkeeper thought of him?

  "You seem to anticipate—" she struggled to find the right word "—my needs. And yet, your words are often icy and brusque as if you can hardly tolerate to speak to me."

  Her thoughts struck home. He swallowed, his throat suddenly dry. She proved observant, intelligent, and confident. A poor, little country mouse caught in the snare of a calculating man. A desire washed over him, stronger than it had when he'd kissed her at the Forsythe's ball. Those three days he'd spent hunting for information were as much of an escape as an obligation. Being with her made it difficult for him to maintain the façade his life required. She stripped him bare, and he found himself revealing more than he'd ever anticipated. He could truly be himself around her. The sudden realization captured him in a silent panic.

  "Have I misspoken?" she asked breaking into his thoughts.

  He cleared his throat. "Not at all. Your candid honesty is one of your better points, even though it makes you sound like a harpy."

  "See, there. A compliment wrapped in an insult." Jess shook her head. "Are you incapable of giving one without the other?"

  "There's no point in flattery." He smirked at her.

  "I've seen you compliment people in conversation."

  "It can be a powerful motivator." Edmund closed his eyes and leaned his head back.

  "Charming lies to manipulate people into doing what you want," she said softly. "Powerful yes, but not at all genteel conduct."

  Edmund shrugged. The conversation lapsed into silence, and a few moments later the carriage rolled to a stop. Climbing from the conveyance, he offered his hand to her. As they approached the front door, her skirt snagged and the fabric tore. Jess stumbled but before she could fall Edmund snatched her by the waist and pulled her against his chest.

  "I'm so sorry," she mumbled against his jacket. "I'll mend the gown."

  "Don't worry about it. Anna will take care of the dress."

  Her grip on his sleeves tightened as he helped her stand. The door opened to reveal Bates awaiting their arrival. He collected their outer garments and hung them in a small wardrobe. Jess walked toward the staircase. Edmund grasped her elbow unwilling to allow her to leave him so soon. She turned to face him, her lips parted in surprise.

  "Join me." He led her into his study. "Bates, that will be all for the evening." With a bow, the butler left them, and Edmund closed the door.

  Jess' gaze followed him, her hands clasped behind her back. He moved to the small table and poured two glasses of brandy. Jess accepted the proffered glass, and he watched as she sipped the dark liquid.

  "Why did you take me to the opera, Edmund?" She met his gaze over the rim of the glass, licking the edge where a drop of alcohol clung. "You said you had already seen that particular show."

  A surge of lust coursed through his veins, and he drank the brandy in one swallow. "I have my reasons." His reply sounded colder than he'd anticipated, but an image of Jess and her unbridled joy flashed into his mind. He set the glass down and crossed his arms.

  She took another sip and set the unfinished brandy on the hearth mantle. He straightened his spine as she stepped closer. He could smell the lavender soap she'd used, the hint of brandy on her breath as she leaned closer. Her fingertips brushed across his lapels. He grasped her wrists, and her lips twisted in a lopsided smile.

  "I have discovered something about you." Jess' smile caused his heart to twist in apprehension and pure desire. Another careless word from her lips and the only thing she'd discover is how much pleasure he could bring her.

  "And that would be?" He narrowed his eyes, and her smile deepened.

  "You're not the cold-hearted bastard you want me to think you are." Jess tried to slide her hands from his grip, but he refused to release her.

  "Is that so?" He stroked the soft skin of her inner wrists with his thumbs. With a quick motion, he spun her and wrapped his arms around her, pressing himself against her back. His hands slid along the smooth satin beneath her breasts. "You think you know me so well, do you?"

  Her breaths quickened at his touch. "You want people to think you're cold and indifferent, calloused and uncaring." She whimpered as his fingertips trailed over her chest and came to rest against her neck. Her pulse pounded beneath his hand. "You manipulate, steal, and lie while maintaining a proper gentleman's persona."

  "You've said as much already. Enough." He whispered as he leaned down pressing a soft kiss against her fluttering pulse. "My question is, do you know me well enough to satisfy me?"

  "No one will ever be able to satisfy you, Edmund."

  He grasped her chin in his hand and turned her face to see her flashing eyes. Brushing his thumb across her lower lip, he admired the flush of pink as it stained her cheeks. "Such a smart mouth for a country lass. I can think of a much more pleasurable way to utilize that tongue of yours."

  Her eyes widened as he closed the remaining space between them and kissed her. He turned her in his arms, not breaking the sweet contact as it stole her breath. Different from previous kisses, this one demanded nothing. It requested her submission to him. He'd longed for her since the night of the masquerade. Hell, even before that. He slid his hand into her hair, pulling her closer and forcing her to open to him.

  Heat and brandy mingled on his tongue as he explored her mouth. She sighed when he slowly loosened her gown with his free hand. He stepped back briefly to pull the cumbersome gown from her body and toss it onto the floor. As he feathered kisses along her jaw, he untied the bustle, then let it tumble to the ground. Jess moaned, and he hooked his thumbs into her drawers, pulling them down her legs.

  "Why am I the only on
e being undressed?" she murmured as he kissed her throat.

  He covered her lips with his and whispered in her mouth. "The only thing I want to hear is you moaning my name."

  "What—"

  He kissed her hard, nipping her lower lip in warning. He pulled the strings of her corset loose with the skill befitting a jewel thief. Tearing it from her body, he focused on the thin chemise she wore. His hands slid beneath the material and cupped her breasts. They filled his palms, and he couldn't help but brush his thumbs across her nipples. The ragged gasp from her lips made him grin. Her clouded gaze betrayed the need raging through her. He pulled the material over her head and glanced at every glorious curve of her naked body. Edmund licked his lips.

  "Sit down on that chair." He pointed to the wing-backed armchair before the fireplace. "Place one leg on each arm."

  Chapter 11

  "What?" Jess stared at him in horror. If she did that, it would...well, expose her, all of her. She tried to cover herself with her hands and backed up a step. He reached out and caught her by the wrist. She collided with his chest as he jerked her against him. The scratch of the fabric against her bare skin brought the simmering desire roaring to life. Her body burned for his touch, but deep inside she feared her inexperience might disappoint him.

  "Sit. Down." He led her to the chair and pushed her down onto the velvet cushion. "I want to see all of you." Lifting each leg, he draped it carefully over the padded arms.

  Jess closed her eyes. She'd never let her husband look at her like this. Hell, she'd only ever been intimate with him a handful of times and even those encounters had been over in moments not to mention severely unsatisfying. Edmund's kiss alone enflamed whatever part of her had lain dormant during her marriage. Isn't this what you wanted, passion so hot it singed your soul?

  "Open your eyes, Jess." His deep tenor reverberated through her.

  Taking a breath, she met his gaze. He knelt before her, and the soft touch of his warm hands on her thighs pulled an involuntary moan from her throat. He leaned closer, his breath causing a riot of sensations as it brushed her exposed center.

  "I want you to watch me."

  Her mind ceased to work, and she nodded in reply. A devilish smirk crossed his lips before his tongue darted out to taste her. Jess shivered at the contact. His hands kept a firm grip on her thighs as he devoured her.

  "You...you...I..." She whimpered as his wicked tongue caressed the most intimate parts of her. He drew her into his mouth and suckled. Her hips shot off the chair, arching against his face. Mesmerized, she writhed beneath his administrations. Watching him made her desperate for more. Her body pulsed with need.

  He slid his hand from her thigh to tease her before slipping his fingers into her body. Her hands instinctively gripped the chair as her hips met the rhythm of his hand. Edmund pressed kisses to her thighs as he drove her pleasure higher. When his thumb grazed the sensitive spot he'd suckled before, her body arched higher, searching, begging, pleading.

  "Edmund!" she shouted as intense pleasure seized her body. Jess trembled as her body descended into weightless bliss. He leaned back, the lack of contact leaving her bereft. She watched beneath hooded lids as he stood and pulled her to her feet.

  Taking her seat, he pulled her astride his lap. His hands settled on her hips. The brush of his trousers against her thighs created a delicious friction.

  "Look at me, Jess."

  She hesitated for a moment before meeting his intense gaze. The flicker of the fire reflected in his eyes as if trying to penetrate the bottomless grey depths. Jess pressed her palm to his cheek. The light twisted in his eyes as the corners of his mouth turned up into a smile. He reached between them and freed himself from the confines of his trousers. Pushing the material of his pants aside, he stroked his cock once.

  "Come here," he murmured, gripping her hip to position himself at her aching core. "Lower yourself onto me."

  Following his instructions, she rested her hands on his shoulders and took him slowly. He filled, consumed, and subdued her as she surrounded him. Jess collapsed against him as he rocked his hips against hers.

  He kissed her forehead. "You may not be a virgin, but I can see I still have much to teach you." His arms encircled her as he moved within her again. "Ride me."

  Jess thought back to the few times she'd ridden a horse during her youth. The two hardly compared. "How?" She bit her lip in embarrassment.

  Edmund gripped her hips and guided her. "Move against me." She tested the movement, and he nodded. "That's it. There is no wrong way. Take control." He kissed her deeply as she quickened her pace. "Take your pleasure."

  His whispered encouragement made her bold. Jess met his gaze and ground her hips against him, taking him deeper. His eyes narrowed as his fingers dug into her backside. She grabbed fistfuls of his jacket and rocked her hips faster. Edmund buried his face against her neck, nipping and kissing along the sensitive skin.

  Their combined movements drove the need inside her to a crescendo. When his fingertips brushed against her clit, a strangled cry ripped from her throat. The pleasure she'd just experienced rushed through her body again, but even more intense than before. She bucked against him before collapsing against his chest. Jess tightened her fists holding onto him with a desperation that left her weary. The gentle brush of his hand against her cheek brought a smile to her lips.

  "I'm not finished with you yet." His voice rumbled against her ear, reverberating deep in her chest.

  "You've made a wanton of me," she murmured as she glanced up into his handsome face.

  He smiled, but this time the humor reached his eyes with a shimmer of firelight. "I regret nothing."

  Jess stared at him. "Was that a note of teasing in your tone?"

  Edmund drew her against him for a slow, intoxicating kiss. When he pulled away, Jess swayed against him, wanting more. He was still hard inside of her. She rocked against him.

  "Vixen. I believe I've created a monster." With a quick shift of position, he withdrew from her and set Jess on her feet.

  Before she could protest, he stood and swept her into his arms. She clutched at him, nervous butterflies descending on her insides at his sudden actions. "What are you doing?"

  "Claiming you properly." He strode to the door, opening it somehow, and then carried her up the staircase.

  "Someone will see us!" Jess buried her face in his jacket.

  "Everyone is abed." The soft brush of his lips on her forehead caused her to glance up at him in shock. When they reached his room, he kicked the door closed and approached the bed.

  The smooth silk of the comforter slid across her skin, creating an erotic friction as he lay her down. He took a step back and slowly pulled the cravat loose. His gaze never wavered from hers as he stripped every article of clothing from his body. The light of the fire highlighted his tall frame, casting his face into shadow.

  Her heart pounded. Jess licked her lips as she watched him disrobe. As he revealed his bare chest, she trailed her hand across her own, grazing a nipple with her fingertips. A tingle of pleasure ricochet through her, not from her own touch, but from the look on Edmund's face when she touched herself. Sudden inspiration struck, and Jess slid her hand down over her stomach barely touching the curls at the juncture of her thighs.

  A stern expression crossed Edmund's face. "Do it." He growled as she slid her fingers between her legs and across her aching center. With one smooth motion he slid his pants down and climbed onto the bed, prowling toward her like a ravenous wolf. Jess whimpered as his bare skin pressed against her thigh. She wanted to be devoured.

  He covered her body and pulled her against him. Skin to skin, she arched into his warmth savoring the sensation of his body touching hers. His kiss consumed her with delirious need.

  "I should punish you for teasing me," he whispered against her mouth.

  "Punish me?" She arched her brow at him. "I didn't..."

  He gripped her wrist and guided her hand to his shaft. "See wha
t you do to me?"

  She stroked him, reveling in the power she wielded when he groaned and pulled her closer. Edmund kissed her again, punishing and possessive, stealing her breath and leaving her body an aching mess.

  "Please," she whimpered as his broke the kiss to nip at her neck.

  His hand slipped between her thighs, cupping her. She moaned when he slid a finger inside her wet sheath. Jess wrapped her arms around his neck and spread her legs at the gentle nudge of his knees. Then he was there, pressing at her entrance. Edmund filled her completely in one fluid motion.

  "Sweet mercy." Jess whimpered as he moved above her, inside her.

  "I shall grant you no mercy, only sweet, torturous pleasure." He kissed her again, stealing her protests on his tongue. Their breaths mingled as their bodies found a rhythm that made her body sing in the delightful showers of pleasure raining upon her. He wrapped her legs around his waist and thrust into her while pressing his hips against that sensitive area she'd come to treasure. As her body approached the recognizable peak, she writhed beneath him.

  "Edmund...please..." Jess gripped his back, digging her fingernails into his skin as his pace quickened. When her climax washed over her, she felt Edmund tense, his breathing ragged and his brow damp. He pulled from her body, coating her stomach with his seed, and then collapsed beside her on the bed.

  They lay there, limbs intertwined, slick and sated. His hand idly stroked her hair, and she reveled in the silent caress. Still the inevitable question lingered in the back of her mind; what did this mean to him? This passionate affair. Jess glanced at him. His eyes remained closed, his breaths even and measured. Leaning closer, she pressed a soft kiss to his forehead.

  "Let me get you a handkerchief." Edmund rolled from her side and handed her the linen kerchief.

  "Thank you." Quickly cleaning herself, she moved to get up. "I should return to my room."

  "No." He snatched her by the waist and pulled her back against him on the bed, shuffling the blankets for them to burrow beneath. "You're staying with me from now on."

  From now on. What did that mean? Jess blinked up at him. His warm, naked limbs wrapped around her as he pulled her flush against his body under the sheets. She sighed, allowing him to hold her. Although she'd never admit it to him, she didn't want to leave his side, at least not at the moment. Her joy seemed stained by the ever present truth of their circumstances.