Chasing Eliza (Cavendish Mysteries 3)

He took advantage of the meagre space between them to slide his hands upwards and into the long tendrils of her hair, holding her head steady for his marauding lips. She moaned softly as his tongue probed deeply into the moist recesses of her mouth. She felt consumed, possessed by his sheer power as he began to use the pressure of his chest to ease her backwards onto the bed.

“We can’t do this Edward.” Eliza protested softly as her back met the cool sheets.

“I know. We aren’t going to make love. I want to pleasure you.” He whispered, dropping nipping kisses along her jaw as he leant over her.

The luscious mounds of her breasts were as soft as they looked, and he groaned softly at the feel of their plush weight against his bare chest. He moaned softly at the delicious sensation of her feminine curves pressing against him and knew he would have to dig deep to find the strength to stop before they went too far.

“P-pleasure me?” Eliza whispered, not sure if she liked the idea, but his wicked fingers were already creating wonderful sensations against her breast as she was pressed down into the soft bed by his weight.

“I won’t hurt you. I promise.” He whispered huskily, tugging the sheet down and away from her leaving her bare to his rapt gaze.

She instinctively tried to cover herself, but he would have none of it. Carefully grasping hold of her arms, he tugged them high above her head, holding her wrists together in one loose palm as he eyed the mound of her raised breasts and the glorious dips and hollows of the rest of her.

Eliza gave he

rself over to the delicious sensations that began to coil low in her belly as he explored her body with his clever fingers and mouth. The only sounds within the room being the crackle and pop of the fire in the hearth, and the soft moans his masterful seduction drew from her.

She gathered the strength to raise her head and look down at him as he paid homage to her breasts. The sight of his lips on her pale skin, combined with the heat pooling low in her belly made her squirm restlessly in search of something she couldn’t define.

He knew instinctively what she was asking for. Drawing closer to lie on his side facing her, he tugged her around to lie facing him and draped her leg over his hip, leaving her open to him. It was as far as he dared go without actually lying between her legs and possessing her. He deepened the kiss and tormented her breasts as his fingers sought and found the moist warmth of her.

Eliza instinctively recoiled against the intrusion of his fingers but he wouldn’t relinquish his hold on her. He swallowed her soft moan and was rewarded for his persistence when she began to move her hips restlessly beneath his hand.

The delicious feel of her warm body undulating beneath his hand, along with the scent of her was enough to have him gasping. His body ached with the need to possess leaving him with the desperate need to dig deep into his self control.

“God Eliza, you’re killing me.” He growled, gritting his teeth against the need to possess her.

“More.” Eliza demanded. She was bathed in a fine sheen of sweat, her sexually charged body burning with desire. It was more than she ever thought possible. He was more than she had ever considered probably. She wanted everything he had to give her and wasn’t going to let him leave her without having the answers she yearned for.

“Eliza.” Edward whispered, drawing back until his eyes locked with hers. His eyes searched the amber depths, seeking her permission to change her forever.

“If we make love, there is no going back.” He warned; every fibre of his being locked on her answer.

“Take me.” She whispered.

His answering groan was all she heard as he eased her onto her back.

Edward lay over her, waiting for the thundering of his heart to ease and his senses return. In all of his sexual encounters, he had never experienced such intense satisfaction before. Such toe curling, mind numbing sensual release that made him forget everything. Including withdrawing in time to prevent a child, he thought with a frown as he slipped out of her and moved to lie beside her, struggling to believe he had been so reckless.

Eliza could feel the distance immediately begin to grow between them as soon as he left the warm haven of her body, and wondered what she had done to cause it. The soft glow of pleasure what had engulfed her rapidly began to wane as he moved to lie on his back, one arm draped over his eyes. He made no move to hold her, or even speak to her. Closing her out as effectively as if he had picked up his breeches and left the room.

Immediately she was filled with bitter regret. She hadn’t expected any declaration of devotion, but she hadn’t expected to feel so used and discarded either. After all, it wasn’t as though she had forced him. Sitting upwards she winced at the soreness between her thighs and tugged the sheet up to cover herself, swinging her legs over the side of the bed to sit with her back towards him.

“Where are you going?” Edward murmured softly, lifting an arm and eyeing the delicate curve of her back as she sat on the edge of the bed.

“Nowhere.” Eliza replied, fighting tears as she clutched the sheet tighter around her. There was nowhere to go. “I think you should go back to your own room now.” She whispered, feeling the bed move as he sat up in bed.

He had made her no promises, nor had she asked for any. Although he had said he wouldn’t make love to her, clearly what he had done had aroused him enough to want her regardless. She had wanted him regardless. Now it was obvious he regretted what they had done. She couldn’t stand to hear his awkward apologies or him actually give voice to his regret.

Straightening her shoulders, she shook her head and rapidly blinked her tears away, offering him a quick, insincere smile over her shoulder. “I’m tired, that’s all. I think it would be better if you slept in your own bed.”

Edward studied the rigid length of her back, not convinced at all that she could dismiss what had happened between them so readily.

“Eliza.” He began to reach a hand out to touch her back, only to pause half way and slowly lower his hand to the bed. He was busy studying her, waiting for her to turn around and wasn’t aware that Eliza could see his actions through the mirror on the wall at the foot of the bed. Her heart broke at the look of bitter regret on his face as he studied her. She ached to cry out loud with the unfairness of it all and needed some time alone to get her battered emotions under control.

“You aren’t going to dismiss me Eliza. Or ignore what we have just done.” Edward argued, peeved at her casual dismissal of him. She had enjoyed what he had done, he had been inside her when she had found release.

“I’m just tired.” Eliza argued, feeling inexplicably angry with him.