The Unlikely Lady (Playful Brides #3)(90)

“Take me!”

He pushed into her warm wetness and took a deep breath. He wanted to control himself, but the overwhelming feeling of being inside her made him mad. He thrust again, rocking a bit farther this time. Then he kissed her mouth and slid in to the hilt.

Jane winced.

Not moving inside of her, he kissed the side of her eye, her ear, her cheek. “Are you all right?” he whispered.

“I will be. Show me the rest.”

That was all Garrett needed. He pulled out slowly and plunged in again. He repeated the action, watching her face for any sign of discomfort. Instead, a slow smile soon spread across her face.

He pressed his forehead hard against hers and stroked into her again and again. He clenched his jaw. He needed to make this good for her too.

His hand worked its way between her legs and found the little nub of pleasure there. Jane’s eyes widened. He rubbed her up and down, over and over until she slid into another climax.

Her inner muscles clamped him and Garrett was lost. He pumped into her again one final time and wrapped his arms around her fiercely. He groaned her name while shudders racked his entire frame.

*

“That was … incredible,” Jane said moments later, tugging the sheets over her still-trembling body.

He pulled her into his arms, cradling her against his belly. “That’s what you said the last time we were intimate.”

“I’m much more eloquent when you’re not touching me.”

He traced his finger along her collarbone. “That’s too bad, because I find that I cannot stop touching you.”

“You’re v—very good, you know.” Jane did her best to concentrate, despite the fact that he was already making her hot and wet again.

“Are you saying you prefer a rake after all?”

“I suppose I do.”

“Then I hate to disappoint you, but I am not and never have been a rake.”

She leaned up on one elbow to look at him. Her dark hair fell over one shoulder. “What are you talking about? Lucy always said how popular you were with ladies and—”

“Popular as a friend, yes, and I do admit to a certain amount of experience, but hardly of the sort you convicted me of in your head.”

Jane fell back to the mattress and bounced slightly. “I suppose that’s what I get for being such a know-it-all.”

He buried his nose in her hair and nipped her ear. “I never called you that.”

“No, but you were thinking it.”

He rested his chin atop her head. “You do tend to pontificate upon every subject. However, if you weren’t such a know-it-all, Isabella may have thought she’d got away with her handwriting subterfuge.”

Jane smiled. “That’s true.” She smoothed a hand over the pillow and sighed. “Being a know-it-all was how I dealt with being different when I was a child. I tried to impress people with my knowledge rather than my appearance.”

He lifted the sheet and stole a quick peek. “You’re doing a fine job of impressing me with your appearance.”

She laughed and swatted at his hand. “Be serious, you rogue. No one ever … wanted me the way a man wants a woman.”

Garrett’s face sobered and he pulled her back into his arms and kissed her forehead. “You are as lovely as you are intelligent. I love you for both.”

Her eyes filled with tears. “You love me?”

“Of course I do, my darling. I think I’ve loved you since you argued with me about Much Ado About Nothing. I’d never met a woman I couldn’t charm before I met you.”

“And I never met a man who argued with me so vehemently. I cannot tell you the number of times I dreamed of tripping you.”

His crack of laughter bounced against the far wall. “Do I need to watch my step?”

“Never.” She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him soundly. “I love you, Garrett. I love you very much.”

“And I love you, my Jane.”

She pulled away and gave him a sidewise smile. “So, no knives or tying me up tonight?”

He cocked a brow. “Interested?”

She shrugged. “Perhaps.”

Garrett pulled her into his arms again. “Whatever you say, Lady Blue. Why don’t we—” He whispered something positively indecent in her ear.

Jane shivered with delight. “Ooh, as you wish, Lord Green.”





CHAPTER FORTY-NINE

One month later

“You cannot possibly have an objection to the plot of Much Ado About Nothing any longer, Garrett,” Jane said as they sat in the gardens behind Julian’s town house playing cards. Julian and Cass had recently returned from their honeymoon trip and Jane and Garrett had come to visit, along with Lucy and Derek.

“That’s ridiculous.” Garrett tossed a card on the small table the footmen had set up for their game. “Why would you think I no longer object to it? I’ve objected to it for years.”

Jane played her next card. “Yes, but correct me if I am wrong, you objected to it based upon the argument that the plot was so outlandish, it could never possibly happen to two sane, intelligent people like Benedick and Beatrice.”

“That’s right,” Garrett replied with a nod, waiting for Julian to place his card. “Especially Benedick. Just because you’re my wife now, doesn’t mean I’m going to agree with you about everything. I do hope you’ll resolve to show me the same courtesy.”