When Strangers Marry (Vallerands #1)(56)

“Then let me remove all doubt,” he said climbing over her, boots and all. His body crushed the shimmering material of her skirt between them. Lysette giggled at his onslaught of ardor, and wrestled with him. He subdued her easily, yanking up the hem of her gown and settling between her flailing thighs.

“Max,” she protested, breathless with laughter, “my gown, you’ll ruin it!”

“I’ll buy you another. A dozen more. Now let me have my way with you.” His teeth closed over the silk-covered peak of her breast, and Lysette stopped struggling. She was not wearing a chemise, and as he wet the thin slippery fabric with his tongue, the textured crest rose against his tongue. He rubbed his mouth over the tender point, flicked at it, nibbled, until she lay gasping beneath him.

Reaching between their bodies, he found the soft heat of her cleft and teased his finger inside her. She was wet and pliant, her body accepting him eagerly. Sliding a second finger inside, he covered her mouth with his. Lysette moaned and struggled to press closer to him, her h*ps arching into the warmth of his palm.

He kissed and teased her, loving the small sounds she made in her throat, the urgent writhing of her body. When he felt her tensing at the approach of a cl**ax, he withdrew his fingers and unfastened his breeches.

Greedily Lysette reached for his c**k and guided him into place. Her body clasped him with a delicate, snug fit, sheathing him sweetly. She whimpered in pleasure as he circled and ground himself against her, burying his c**k in deep slick thrusts, bringing her to a shuddering release. Obeying his gravelly murmur, she wrapped her legs around his waist, and he made love to her until his passion was spent in an explosion of bliss.

———

On the night of the ball, Max and Alexandre occupied themselves with drinks in the library while Irénée and Lysette remained busy upstairs. “Women,” Alex grumbled, “and their primping.”

Max smiled leisurely and lifted a glass of burgundy to his lips. “Why are you so eager to arrive at the ball on time, Alex? I do not believe it is to catch a glimpse of Aaron Burr.”

“Perhaps I’ve taken an interest in politics,” Alexandre replied, and Max snorted in skeptical amusement.

He refilled Alexandre’s drink and rested his elbow on the marble mantel. “You realize, Alex, that as an unattached man, you’ll be occupied the entire evening with mothers and tantes parading their young charges before you. Usually you can’t abide such evenings.”

“Ah, well, I will bear it for one night.”

Max grinned, suspecting that some girl had caught his younger brother’s roving eye. “Who is she?” he asked.

Alex smiled sheepishly. “Henriette Clement.”

“Jacques’ youngest sister?” Max inquired with surprise, remembering the last time he had seen the girl outside the milliner’s shop with her older brother. “Hmm… an attractive girl, as I recall.”

“Sang de Dieu, I haven’t even danced with her yet! Just because you’ve plunged into marriage doesn’t mean the idea holds appeal for me.“

Max smiled at him. “I said nothing about marriage.”

Flustered, Alex cast his mind in search of a reply, and was saved by the sound of the women’s voices. “Bien, they’re ready now,” he said, hurriedly setting down his glass.

Following his brother to the entrance hall, Max stopped at the doorway, still holding his drink. At first he did not see Lysette, who was standing beyond Irénée and Noeline, but then the pair moved to the mirror to inspect a coil of Irénée’s hair. He stared at his wife with open pride. Lysette was striking in an exquisitely simple amber gown, the warm color flattering her skin and vibrant hair. The low scooped bodice and high waist displayed her slender body beautifully.

Lysette possessed an astonishing composure for a girl her age, seeming calm and relaxed, her blue eyes bright with the intelligence that attracted him so strongly. Max was not ordinarily a humble man, but as he watched her come down the stairs to him, he was aware of a deep gratitude and sense of wonder. Fate had so often been unkind, but having Lysette for his wife made up for everything.

Her gaze traveled over his ruffled white shirt and starched cravat. “How handsome you are.” she said, picking a thread from the lapel of his black coat.

Max’s dark head bent, and he kissed the side of her neck. “You’ll have no equal tonight, Madame Vallerand. I’ve never seen you look so beautiful. Here, I want to give you something.” She went with him willingly as he drew her to the parlor, away from the others’ view.

He withdrew a black velvet pouch from his pocket and gave it to her. “In honor of your first ball.”

Lysette flashed him a smile. “I wasn’t expecting a gift, Max.” Unlacing the pouch, she tilted the contents into her hand. It was a set of earrings and a matching bracelet, made of diamonds set in a flower pattern. The centers of the ten blossoms were set with rose-cut diamonds, each two carats in size.

Lysette shook her head, apparently at a loss for words.

“Do you like them?” he asked.

“Oh, Max, you’re too generous. How utterly magnificent!” She slipped the glittering bracelet on her gloved wrist, and held still as Max fastened the earrings to her ears. The rich gleam of the jewels paled in comparison to her smile. She shook her head to set the dangling earrings swinging. “How can I thank you for such a beautiful gift, mon mari?”