Page 70 of The Rogue’s Countess

Gideon’s body was as taut as a bowstring as he waited for Phoebe’s reply to his question. The fact that she’d invited him into her bed was something he’d not expected tonight. It had been his intention to make her feel at ease with him. She was still somewhat skittish in his presence. Yesterday’s misstep when it came to his intention to find Currer had been a regrettable decision.

His mother had been right. Phoebe didn’t know him well. In fact, neither one of them knew much about the other. Although tonight had been an excellent start to convincing her that their marriage would be one she didn’t have to fear. The evening had also emphasized how deeply he’d wronged her by believing she was like Edith.

If her father had been present when she’d shared how the man had used her to gain his own personal goals, Gideon would have found it impossible not to leave the man lying on the ground, bloodied and battered. The small amount she’d shared with him had made him ashamed to have believed ill of her.

Gideon knew of only a few women who possessed the inner strength in surviving the worst life had thrown at them. Phoebe was one of them. It had made him even more determined to ensure she was happy from this day forward. She had been a delightful companion throughout the evening.

Phoebe’s reaction to his teasing and compliments had only served to strengthen his belief that they would be comfortable with each other in the years to come. He also believed he’d succeeded in making her see he wanted more from their marriage than simply bedding her. But he would have been lying if he’d allowed himself to think not seducing her this evening had been easy.

It had been exceedingly difficult not to seduce her. Everything about her had fired Gideon’s imagination. The way his compliments made her cheeks become a bright pink had filled him with pleasure. Gideon had complimented dozens of women over the years, but Phoebe was the first woman who hadn’t simpered in response to his flattery.

Even more satisfying was his certainty that she had known he was being sincere in his comments. It had surprised him how much pleasure he’d derived from her reactions to his words. His enjoyment of the evening had exploded into a desire that had caught him off guard moments ago when her pulse had accelerated beneath his thumb. It had been the hardest thing he’d ever done not to act on her obvious reaction to him.

Instead, Gideon had occupied himself with the mundane task of putting the cards back where they belonged, but the moment she’d asked him to join her, his body had shouted with jubilation. He’d wanted to act immediately on her request, but he’d held back, albeit with great difficulty.

It was one thing to act out of desire, but Gideon suddenly realized he wanted more when it came to their marriage. What that was, he couldn’t define or even understand. But he was certain of one thing. Gideon needed her to come to him not out of obligation but because she desired him. Now, as he studied her in silence, the strain of not having accepted her invitation immediately was becoming more difficult by the second.

“I do not feel obligated. I would like…very much…for you to join me.”

The moment her whisper drifted through the air, shouts of triumph echoed in his head. Slowly, Gideon closed the distance between them to reach out and caress her cheek with his fingers. Phoebe trembled at his touch, and he drew in a sharp breath at her reaction. Before he could move, she took a step forward and pulled his head down, and kissed him while her soft body pressed deeply into his.

Instantly, he wrapped his arms around her and pulled her even closer. Her mouth was soft beneath his, and he struggled to contain the raging desire surging through him. As her lips parted to give him access to the inner warmth of her mouth, a groan rumbled in his chest. The gooseberry tart they’d had for dinner echoed faintly on her tongue as she tentatively swirled her tongue around his.

Hard inside his trousers, he sucked in a harsh breath as her hand glided over his erection. Christ Jesus, he wanted her now more than he had the other night if that were possible. Everything about her was drawing him into a blinding mist of craving to take her now, right here on the card table.

No, he was tired of not having complete access to her beautiful body. He wanted to taste every inch of her. With a harsh oath, he thrust her from him. Embarrassment made her pale and flinch as he took a small step back. He shook his head.

“I’m not rejecting you, my sweet. I simply want to spend our wedding night in a bed, not against a tree or on a couch,” he growled as he bent slightly and lifted her up into her arms. At her gasp of surprise, he bent his head to nibble at her neck. “I want complete access to every inch of you, Phoebe. I intend to feast on you until you cry out my name in ecstasy, and then I want to do it again.”

Pink color flooded her cheeks, and his body hardened with desire as she met his gaze with a slumberous look that made his heart crash into his chest. My God, but she was lovely. Almost as if she were embarrassed by his openly displayed need, she turned her face into his shoulder as he strode quickly out of the salon and made his way up the steps. She murmured a small protest when he was halfway up the stairs.

“I can walk of my own accord, Gideon.”

“Of that, I have no doubt,” he said in a husky voice as he breathed in the fragrance of roses in her golden hair. “I simply don’t want to let you go.”

“Oh.”

The soft exclamation made him smile with satisfaction as he walked down the hallway to his bedroom. His bedroom door was opened, and as he carried Phoebe over the threshold, he used his foot to close the door behind them. The moment he set her on her feet, Phoebe began undoing her gown.

“Stop,” he commanded softly. “I want to do that. Tonight, I want to discover you slowly.”

“I’m not sure I…I don’t think I can wait that long.” Her breathless response made him smile as anticipation barreled through him.

“Good,” he murmured as he turned her around and began to undo the buttons of her dress. Gideon’s fingers quickly worked their way downward as he bent his head to kiss the silky soft curve of her neck. “I want you to feel needy. I want you to sob—no, plead with me to satisfy you completely.”

“Oh God, I’m ready to beg now.”

Phoebe’s voice vibrated with desire, and he wondered if he was going to have the wherewithal to restrain himself from sinking into her hot core until they were both completely disrobed. As Gideon slid her gown downward, he allowed her to push it past her full hips, while he made short work of her corset.

Piece by piece, he removed her clothing until she was naked in front of him. The sight of her made his body cry out for her, unlike any other woman he’d ever been with. Obviously flustered by the intensity of his gaze, her face flooded with color, and he smiled.

“Do you have any idea how beautiful you are?” he rasped as he studied her with a need that was threatening his control.

Phoebe flushed again, her cheeks a bright pink in the soft gaslight. Indecision flashed across her face before she appeared to reach a decision. Avoiding his gaze, she stepped forward and pushed his jacket off his shoulders. As he shrugged out of the coat, he tossed it to one side and fought to control his harsh breaths as she dropped his vest to the floor and then his shirt.

She drew in a soft gasp before she reached out to press her hand into his chest. The warmth of her fingers on his skin made him shudder, and a small, womanly smile tipped her lips upward. Her smile didn’t vanish as she reached for the buttons of his trousers, and in seconds he pulled them off, followed by his underdrawers. Appreciation lightened her features as her gaze roamed across his body and downward.

“I think you’re beautiful too,” she whispered as she tentatively reached out to stroke his hard length. His body immediately reacted, and grabbing her hand, he pulled her to the bed.