Filed To Story: Alessia Mistaken as Mistress Book PDF Free
He cupped her face and smiled into her eyes. “Mother,” he said, without turning his head. “Will you see that Mrs. Rose is settled? Give her a room upstairs.”
“Call me Hannah, please,” the girl suggested.
“Come on, dear,” Leda said.
“I’m going to see to it that you always believe that,” he said and kissed Alessia.
His warm lips kindled a barely banked fire, and embarrassed, Alessia stepped back and glanced around. There were still a few lingering guests.
Nicholas took her hand. “We’re newlyweds. We’re expected to leave.” He led her up the back stairs, which bypassed the foyer and led directly to his wing. “Do you need to see to William?” he asked.
“He’ll probably sleep until early morning. He’s been doing that. He’s very contented back in his lovely crib.” And well nourished and well cared for, she thought gratefully.
“I have you all to myself, then,” he said and whisked her into his suite-the suite they’d be sharing now. “And now that you’re my wife, I can tell you how much I want you and not suffer the angst of waiting.”
Alessia’s heart beat wildly at their newfound liberty.
“I can show you how much I want you.” He pulled her flush against him, and the length and strength of his hard body pressed along her curves. “How much I love you.”
Alessia looked deeply into his eyes and needed no further proof. Rising on tiptoe, she took his jaw and guided his mouth to hers. Their kiss held joy and reverence and promise.
She wrapped her arms around his back and clung to him. He spanned her waist, but her corset prevented her from feeling his touch. Much to her satisfaction he moved to cup her breasts. She leaned into him hard, but he supported her weight easily.
She pulled back and spanned her fingers across the front of his shirt. Beneath her palms his heart beat furiously. She wanted to touch his skin.
He covered her hands with his for only the briefest moment, then led them to his tie as though he were a mind reader. She tugged on the bow and let the black silk fall to the floor. She worked on the pearl buttons until he had to help her tug the tail from his waist. He shrugged from the shirt, but she didn’t allow him to drop it.
She carried the cotton garment to her nose, closed her eyes and inhaled his scent: starch, tobacco, man. The smell loosed an all-consuming craving as strong as that which his kisses created. When she opened her eyes again, he was looking at her, his dark gaze smoldering, and the look made her knees weak.
She dropped his shirt and caressed his chest, the dark hair springy, his skin hot and smooth. A tremor ran through him, telling her she had the same effect on him.
Gently, he turned her away and unbuttoned the row of buttons that ran down her entire back. “I imagined you in a color like this,” he said. “Thank you for choosing it.”
With a swish of satin, Alessia stepped out of her dress. Nicholas untied a petticoat, and she discarded it. “How many of these do you have on?” he asked.
“Two more,” she said, and he grinned as she removed them.
His fingers went to work in her hair, removing the cluster of white flowers, finding pins and plucking them out. At last he had them all, and the mass fell across her shoulders.
He turned her back to him, but dropped his hands to his sides. “This,” his said, his voice a deep vibration, “is the way I’ve wanted to see you.”
He didn’t have to tell her she was beautiful. His eyes said it for him. To her surprise, he sank to his knees. One at a time he unbuttoned her shoes and drew them off while she steadied herself with her hands on his broad shoulders.
He glided his palms up her calves and inside the legs of her drawers to untie the ribbons on her garters. He removed each stocking slowly, brushing behind her knees gently, skimming her ankles, and setting the path on fire.
He stood again, seducing her with a lazy smile. Anticipation tingled along her skin and up her spine. A new kind of longing spread a surge of warmth on the inside, a bold urgency she hadn’t been prepared for.
Without unbuttoning it, she drew her satin corset cover up and off, tossing it aside. Nicholas reached for her corset hooks, a perceptible trembling in his fingers. The garment met the same fate as the last, and with incredible gentleness, he untied her chemise, leaving her standing in only her white silk drawers.
“I thought we’d never get all those clothes out of the way,” he said. “How does poor William ever wait?”
The air touched her breasts and her ribs where they’d been confined, and Alessia’s skin turned to gooseflesh. He caressed her breasts. “You’re skin is like touching silk.”
Self-conscious but eager, Alessia closed her eyes and concentrated on the exquisite sensation of his hands on her flesh. Too soon, his touch disappeared, and she opened her eyes.
He removed his boots and held his hand out to her. She took it and he led her to his massive bed, where he pulled back the counterpane. Alessia contemplated the white sheets, the mound of pillows, and the ornately carved headboard, and a thread of apprehension squeezed her heart.
She was his wife now. He’d married her for better or for worse. He’d pledged his love and his fidelity. And she was so undeserving.
As though sensing her hesitation, he pulled her to sir beside him and held her face in one palm, his mahogany eyes asking the question for him.
“I’m afraid,” she whispered.
“You know I won’t hurt you,” he said.
“No,” she said. “I’m afraid you’ll be disappointed with me. I’m afraid you-” She drew a shaky breath past the lump in her throat. She’d been a disappointment to her father from the day she was born. It seemed no matter what she’d done or how hard she’d tried, she’d never done anything to please him. Or make him love her.
Obviously, she hadn’t pleased Gaylen, either, or he wouldn’t have turned tail and run at the first mention of commitment.
“I’m afraid you’ll be sorry.”
“Alessia,” he said, and pulled her head to rest against his bare shoulder. “I will not be disappointed or sorry. I love you.”
Twisting at the waist, she clung to him, wrapping her arms around his wide shoulders, clenching a fist in his hair. Yes, he loved her. Nicholas loved her. She didn’t have to do anything to make him love her. His love was hers already.
He loved her.
He wanted her.
He feathered his fingertips up her sides. She curved her upper body away from his without releasing him, so he could reach her breasts. He ran his thumbs back and forth across the tips.
Alessia bracketed his face and kissed him hard.
His tongue teased at her until she met it with her own. This kiss was wild and hot and daring, and she hadn’t imagined the emancipation a husband would bring. Excitement rushed though her-she was going to love being this man’s wife!
She never had to hide her feelings from him again. She never had to worry what anyone would think.
At once it seemed so natural to be here like this with him, to feel this incredible need to be closer, to have more, to have it all.
She followed his lead as he urged her to stretch out on the soft mattress, as he removed their last pieces of clothing and the entire length of his hard, hot male body molded against her side. Nothing lay between them now, not clothing, not miles, not lies. His mouth, hot and velvety on her breasts, created a rush of sensation deep inside her. His fingers touching her within fired a depth of want that had her quivering.
She strove to give him pleasure in return, eager to learn every column and plane of his body, to learn the sleek rough textures so delightfully different from her own. He rewarded her with seductive short-breathed sounds and reckless, passion-inflaming kisses.
Alessia’s body and emotions were strung so tightly, a little sob escaped her throat.
“What’s wrong?” he asked in a husky voice.
She gave a quick shake of her head, as confused as he. “Nothing. I don’t know.”
Beneath him, her body trembled.
“Tears aren’t the release you need, love.” He rose above her then, and joined their bodies with slow, measured ease.
Alessia closed her eyes, arched toward him and reveled in the heat, the wonder, the pleasure.
“Ah, you’re beautiful,” he praised, setting her heart to thrumming and their bodies to straining with sleek thrusts.
An unexpected wave of fulfillment spread from the point where their bodies were joined to each of Alessia’s limbs. The sensation took her breath away and brought a cry to her lips.