Page 59 of Marriage with a Proper Stranger

“How tactless of me. But I’m curious about you. Your past. You’ve told me next to nothing even though I have asked before this.”

“There isn’t much to tell.” He shrugged. “There is time yet to consider all options.”

She met his gaze. “What options?” She shouldn’t have started this discussion on his salary, but blast it, she was tired of him revealing next to nothing about himself. Also, she longed for him to mention staying married as he’d done at the registrar’s. Say it, please.

Riordan reached for another biscuit. “It’s your future, Sabrina. Your choice. The end of the three month period may be a better time to discuss it.”

How embarrassing. She’d made a fool of herself. Biting her lower lip to stem any tremor in her voice, she tossed her napkin on the table and rose to her feet. “I believe I’ll retire.” She hurried from the room. Mary followed right on her heels and closed the door behind her.

“Oh, Mary. I feel entirely stupid.” She sat on the edge of the bed.

“What happened between you?” Mary asked gently as she sat next to Sabrina.

“Something wondrous. I’m caught up in emotions that are carrying me in four different directions. I love him. I’m beginning to believe he does not feel the same. Not completely. There are secrets, I know it.”

Mary took her trembling hand. “I’ve seen the way he looks at you. Even tonight, when I first entered the room. If it’s not love, it is very close to it.” Mary sighed. “Let me explain an important fact about men: for the most part, they are confused by their emotions, reluctant to acknowledge them, as if doing so would make them weak and vulnerable. I’m not sure such is the case with Mr. Black, for he appears all confidence in most situations.”

Mary slipped her arm about Sabrina’s shoulder. “Perhaps he is simply allowing you to come to your own decision. You’ve been through so much. Why not allow things to unfold naturally? Do not worry for the future. I’m positive he will tell you all you wish to know soon. Let’s say you wish to stay married. With his income and your settlement, you can both live comfortably enough.”

“What about you?”

“My dear, your late husband was a complete rotter, but he did pay his servants well. I’ve saved a pretty penny the past decade. A cottage by the sea for the two of us? Good. Staying with the fine looking schoolmaster? Even better. How thrilling to actually have a choice. Know that I’m with you whatever you decide. For that is my preference. My choice.”

The tears came. Sabrina could not stop them. Mary held her close, rocking her, humming a quiet tune.

As a loving mother would.

* * * *

For two days, Riordan admonished himself for his curt reply at supper. Sabrina asking about his salary had caught him unawares. And in front of Mary. Forty-six pounds was mere pocket change to him. The truth of it was, most people got by on much less. A farmer or laborer would be lucky to earn nineteen pounds per annum.

Referring to himself as a “middle class lad” wasn’t a complete lie, for he was such at this point in his life, since he lived within the means of his teaching salary. The more intimacies he and Sabrina shared, the more questions she would ask. Riordan could keep his distance, but after observing her come apart in his arms, he could no more stay away from her than not draw his next breath.

They sat at supper, barely speaking. Riordan pushed the sausage about on his plate, for he had little appetite tonight.

“The pork sausage not to your liking?” Sabrina asked.

He looked up. “No, it’s tasty enough.” He cut a piece, placed it in his mouth, chewed, and swallowed.

“I…I asked Mary not to come tonight,” she stated shyly.

He stopped cutting the meat. His heart slammed against his ribs. “You wish to continue with…”

“Making love? Yes, I do.” She paused. “Are we moving too quickly? Am I being too bold?”

“Please, be bold,” he croaked.

“In your best, sensual, schoolmaster voice, explain what you’re going to do to me. And with me.” Her eyelashes batted coquettishly and he grew hard.

Damn, he did like it when she acted audacious; he would as well. Placing his utensils across his plate, he gave her his full attention. “We will remove every last piece of clothing from each other. Touch and caress, lie on the bed, and continue to explore. Taste, kiss, lick every inch of skin. Then I will prepare you.”

Sabrina smiled. “Prepare…how?”

“As I did last night. Suckle your luscious breasts, stroke your folds until you’re soaking. Next I will grasp my…” God, he was aroused beyond all imaging. Hard as oak. Sabrina’s lips parted, her cheeks flushed, and her breathing came in short bursts the same as his. His emotions were raw, exposed. As will his words be. “Grasp my cock, place it at your heated center, stretch you wide, fill you….” Swiftly vaulting from his chair, it fell to the floor. Scooping her up in his arms, he marched the few steps to the bedroom.

“Enough talk,” he growled. He’d planned to bring her along slowly—those plans had been ground to dust. Once in the room he lowered her, clasped either side of her head, and kissed her savagely. Hungrily. Sabrina returned every stroke of his tongue. Without needing to vocalize it, their hands started to tear at each other’s buttons as they continued to kiss. Frenzied movements. He must slow this down, a least by a notch or two.

Breaking the kiss, he pulled away, far enough to capture her gaze. Never had he seen such heated desire in a woman’s eyes. Without breaking eye contact, they peeled the layers away, kicking aside petticoats, skirts, shirts, and trousers, until they were completely nude. Sliding his gaze downward, he drank in her curves, her plump breasts, the curve of her hips, her long legs. “You’re beautiful. Every part of you.”