Wrong Place. Wrong Time. Right Viscount.

Chapter 18

Alec’s hands shook slightly as he cradled her face, lips firm and warm against hers. He pressed them there once, twice, before pulling away enough to speak.

“Elle,” he whispered. “I’m sorry, I—”

She cut him off, leaning in to kiss him again, going up on her toes and fisting her hands in the front of his soaked shirt, pulling him closer. She knew she shouldn’t, knew that this could only end with both of them being hurt, but the moment his lips brushed against hers, she decided to be selfish. So fucking selfish. She had to know what it felt like to touch him, at least once before everything went to shit. The love she’d seen in his eyes when he’d proposed, and then the hurt…Well, it had damn near broken her. After this, she was going to hurt him all over again, but she couldn’t make herself stop. Instead, a terrifying urgency overtook her, like a timer had started to countdown on the brief window of happiness she could have with him today.

Better make it count.

She urged his lips apart with her own and he understood exactly what she wanted, opening his mouth and gently rolling his tongue against hers. She shuddered, moaning at the sensation. He was sure and gentle, but with the promise of unbridled passion just beneath the surface. She shivered at the thought of him releasing the reins.

Elle quickly undid the double rows of buttons and pushed his jacket off of his shoulders, the thick material landing with a wet thud on the floor. She yanked at his shirt, pulling it free from his pants so that she could tunnel her hands beneath the fabric. She ran them upward over the hard ridges of his stomach, the muscles clenching and jumping at her touch. He groaned and shuddered. His skin was smooth and tight and warm, despite the cold rain having soaked them both.

He ran his hands over her shoulders, down her back, palming her ass and using the grip to pull her harder against him. She gasped when she felt him, hard and ready. She nearly whimpered, needing him to touch her so badly she felt like she was going crazy. She clawed at his shirt in a frenzy, somehow getting it off of him and flinging the sopping material away. She pushed him back, managing to pry herself away long enough to stare at his bare chest.

Dear God.

Elle wasn’t really sure what the hell men of this time did to work out, but whatever it was, Alec was a pro. His shoulders were broad and heaving, his chest defined, a scar running across his left peck that she would one day ask about. Her eyes traveled lower, and she bit her lip at the sight of his stomach, taut and flat, the ridges and hollows of his abs contracting as he breathed, the lightest trail of nearly-blonde hair leading downward from his navel. She swallowed when her gaze reached the waist of his pants. They sat low enough that she could see the slight indentions beside his hips that honestly turned her a little feral. She wanted to run her tongue along those ridges, over every single inch of him.

“Elle?” he breathed, voice gone husky. “Elle, we shouldn’t…We can’t…God, when you look at me like that I can’t think.” He ran his hands through his rain-soaked hair, and the way it made his muscles bunch and flex made her entire body shudder, her toes curl. There was no stopping this now. It was a runaway train and she was sure they would crash and burn, but she didn’t care.

She stepped forward again, leaning in to kiss his chest, just over his heart. He sucked in a ragged breath. She planted another one as her fingers ran along his stomach, making him groan. She couldn’t stop touching him, couldn’t get enough. She’d been longing to do this for weeks, had been desperate to feel him beneath her fingers, feel his skin against hers. It was like setting a match to a pile of kindling, every inch of her going up in flames with no hope of stopping the spread. She had every intention of making her way downward, sliding to her knees and showing him just what kind of tricks women had learned since this century, but she never got the chance. He gripped her shoulders, turning her suddenly so that her back was to his chest. She gasped.

“Alec, I don’t want to stop. I don’t care if it isn’t proper or any of that. I want you. I need you. Please.”

“Elle,” he said softly, and it sounded like a prayer.

He leaned down to kiss her neck, just below her ear. She moaned and tilted her head, urging him to do it again. He did. He trailed kisses down her throat and lightly over her collarbone. She gripped his thighs behind her, wiggling her ass against him, moaning when she felt his cock hard against her.

“Eleanor, if you don’t stop that, this will be over sooner than I’d like,” he rasped at her ear, nipping the tiniest bit and making her moan obscenely. God, he was sexy. He stepped away from her and she missed the heat of him. He tugged at the laces on the back of her dress. His fingers were deft, the laces quickly loosening as he worked, leaning down to kiss her shoulder or neck every few seconds, as if he couldn’t help himself. She realized with a jolt what he would find in a moment once he got her dress off: she’d worn her own bra and panties today. She did that sometimes when they were safely hidden away at Chestwick, a way to feel more like herself. Well, we’re about to find out what he thinks about twenty-first century lingerie.

He slid the dress from her shoulders and it fell to the floor around her ankles in a damp heap. She stepped out of her slippers and waited. He fingered the black strap of her bra and she could hear the slight frown in his voice.

“What is…I’ve never seen…Christ almighty,” he gasped. Elle turned her head to find his eyes fixed firmly on her ass. He scrubbed a hand over his mouth. She had to admit that the black lace cheeky briefs looked phenomenal on her. He reached out, seemingly unable to stop himself, and ran his big hands over her ass. He kneaded her flesh gently before raising his eyes to hers. He swallowed hard.

“Elle, if you want me to stop, you must tell me now.”

In response, she licked her lips and turned to give him the front view. His eyes moved downward and he shuffled his feet apart as he uttered low curses. She was fairly sure he wouldn’t know how to unhook her bra, so she did it for him, unclasping the small closure between her breasts and letting the lace slide away.

She tossed it aside and waited, watching him while he watched her.

“Eleanor,” he rasped. He moved quickly, pulling her hard against him, their bare chests pressing together as he kissed her like he couldn’t survive another second without his lips on hers. His tongue delved, thrusting against hers as her breasts slid against his slick chest. Her nipples puckered at the friction, and she needed more. As if he could read her thoughts, he raised his hands, covering her breasts. She gasped, thrusting her chest forward into his palms, begging for more. He moaned into her mouth, thrusting his tongue harder as he massaged and kneaded.

“Christ, you’re beautiful,” he whispered against her lips before kissing along her jaw and down her throat, over the swells of her chest. He didn’t make her wait: he immediately laved his tongue around one aching nipple. She cried out in pure bliss, her back bowing as shock waves of pleasure rippled through her body.

“Oh God,” she moaned as she tunneled her fingers into his hair. He licked, rolling his hot tongue all around before closing his lips over the hardened peak. She bucked forward, digging her nails into his scalp as she held him against her. He groaned against her nipple, flicking his tongue over it again as he ran the pad of his thumb over the other. Dear God. It had been so long, she might come from just this.

“So sensitive,” he whispered. “So responsive…”

He moved so quickly that she yelped in surprise, making him chuckle, as he lowered her down to the floor beneath him. He laid her on the plush rug in the center of the space and walked on his knees to the pile of pillows and blankets in the corner to tug a few over. He settled a pillow under her head, leaving a few others nearby.

He ducked his head to kiss her breasts again, making her squirm. He began to move lower, kissing and licking down her stomach. He seemed especially intrigued by her belly button ring. She’d never imagined anyone would be seeing her stomach, so she hadn’t seen the harm in leaving it in.

“This is…interesting,” he breathed as he planted a kiss just beside her navel. She laughed lightly but it quickly turned into a gasping moan as he kissed lower. Her stomach clenched. Did…did men here do that?

Dear God, she hoped so because right now, if he didn’t, she might die.He made it to the waistband of her panties, kissing lightly along the top, from one hip bone to the other.

“I’d very much like to kiss you, Eleanor,” he whispered against her skin, dipping lower to brush his lips ever so softly over the thin material of her panties, making it very clear where, exactly, he meant to kiss her. “Is that alright?” His voice was low and smooth, far too seductive to be legal.

“Yes,” she breathed. “Please.”

He glanced up her body, the look in his eyes purely carnal, making her toes curl and her breaths shallow. He rose to his knees between her thighs and hooked his fingers in the sides of her panties. She would have bet a million dollars that he wasn’t breathing as he slowly slid them down her legs. She didn’t try to hide, just let her knees fall wide and let him look his fill. She’d never been particularly shy with this kind of stuff, never self-conscious. It wasn’t because she thought her body was perfect by any means, but she’d always figured her body was her body, flaws and all, and if someone else didn’t like it, then fuck ‘em. That was a them problem.

But even if she had been shy when it came to her body or being naked, she could never be with Alec. The way he looked at her, the way he touched her, it was like he was worshiping her. How could you possibly be self-conscious when someone was acting like you were a goddess?

“Christ,” he bit out, staring between her legs. He absently tossed her panties aside and reached forward, running a finger over her smooth skin. She’d teased him about this very thing once, and now she was fairly certain he’d been imagining it ever since. She had gotten laser hair removal years ago, mostly because she had sensitive skin and shaving often left her with razor burn which drove her absolutely crazy, but also because she was lazy. It had been the best money she’d ever spent to not have to worry about shaving ever again. His big body shuddered as he brushed his fingers over her, again and again, seeming to marvel at the feel of her.

“God almighty, Elle. I thought you were jesting.” He shook himself. “Your skin is so smooth, like cream,” he said, almost in wonder.

She arched her hips upward, desperate for him to stop trailing his fingers everywhere but where she wanted him, where she needed him. He seemed to understand and held her gaze as he finally slid one between her lips before pressing it inside her. She bit her lip and clawed her fingers into the rug beneath her, gasping loudly.

“Bloody hell. You’re so…tight. So slick.” He looked as if he were somewhere between pleasure and pain, some blissfully torturous place that looked sexy as hell on him. He leaned down to kiss her as he started to thrust his finger slowly, in and out, in and out, driving her crazy. She bit at his lower lip and he gave an appreciative mmmm sound. Elle wrapped a hand around the back of his neck, holding his mouth to hers, digging her fingers in when he added a second finger. She cried out and he caught the sound.

“Oh God, Alec,” she breathed against his lips.

“Are you alright?”

“YES,” she moaned, slowly losing her mind to the sinful rhythm of his fingers. He kissed along her jaw, chuckling low and raspy against her neck before kissing her there. She was already on the verge, could already feel the familiar tension building. It had been months, almost an entire year at this point since anyone had touched her like this, and she was on the razor’s edge. She’d always likened coming to a roller coaster: first is the slow, steady climb up the hill and then the brief weightless feeling when you crested the arch, just before you careened over the edge. She was already halfway up the hill, the tension building and building—but he pulled his hand away, making her whimper.

She didn’t stay upset for long: he settled to his stomach, shoulders between her thighs and when he dipped his head, she held her breath…before crying out in utter ecstasy, her voice barely audible over the pounding rain. The first lap of his tongue was like fire, setting her entire body aflame. Nothing had ever felt so good. He made a highly arousing sound that was somewhere between a growl and a moan.

“Eleanor,” he rasped. A shocked plea and an expletive all wrapped into that one single word. She met his gaze and his eyes blazed like fire. “Your taste…my God.”

“More,” she begged. “Please please please, Alec.” His lips curled at the corners in the sexiest little smirk she’d ever seen. He licked her again, slowly rolling his tongue up her pussy, and she threw her head back. He knew what the hell he was doing, that was for sure. He alternated between long, slow laps of his tongue and deep thrusts, turning her into a mindless puddle of lust. She couldn’t stop herself from moving, undulating against his open mouth, wanting it all over her and to never stop.

“Stay still,” he scolded, pinning her hip down with one hand and using his other to spread her lips with two fingers. He licked her slowly, like he was savoring every minute. “You taste good, Eleanor,” he said in a low voice, a bit hoarse. “So damned good.” She shuddered at his words, not expecting them from him, but wanting to hear more. The dirty talking viscount. Who fucking knew?

He moved upward, flicking his tongue against her clit and she yelled out.

“Fuccckkkk!”

She dug her hands into his hair as he licked and sucked, sliding a finger back inside her. Her eyes flew wide: she was suddenly cresting the hill, that weightless feeling making her stomach flutter before—

“Alec!” she screamed, barely intelligible as she plummeted over the edge, down, down, down in an endless freefall. Lightning flashed brightly behind her eyes and thunder cracked, rattling the windows. Waves of pleasure crashed against her, and her muscles shook from the force of it.

“Elle?” he asked, uncertain. She opened her eyes and met his gaze. He looked too sexy for words with his hair even more tousled than usual from her fingers, sweat and rain making his skin glisten in the lantern light, his eyes burning like green flames. She sat upwards, a hand shooting out to grasp his neck and pull him to her for a searing kiss. He seemed frozen in surprise for a moment, but then quickly recovered, kissing her hard, hands roving all over her body: up her sides, across her back, over her breasts. It was as if he couldn’t decide where he wanted to touch first, so he just touched everywhere.

She pushed at his pants, desperate to get them off, and he nearly choked when she gripped his cock in her fist. She moved her hand, up and down, slowly, enjoying the feel of him. Thick. Hard as steel. Skin hot against her palm.

“Christ,” he bit out, arching his hips forward as she pumped. He maneuvered while she continued, managing to kick off his boots and lose his pants. She sucked on his bottom lip while she ran her thumb over the crown, spreading the bead of moisture around and around, and making him shudder.

God, she wanted him so badly, she couldn’t stand it any longer. She released her hold on him and laid back, beckoning him to join her. He took a minute to let his gaze travel down her body, his lips curling into that sexy, cocky smile of his. He licked his bottom lip before biting down lightly, making her squirm.

“You are beautiful, Eleanor Montgomery. Beautiful.”

“You aren’t so bad yourself, Lord Kentworth,” she teased, breathless, as her own eyes drifted down his sweat-soaked body, over his straining erection. She writhed her hips, wanting him to fuck her so badly she might combust.

“Alec, please,” she begged.

He swallowed hard. “Do you know…Do you understand what will happen?”

She arched a brow. “And if I say yes? Will you think less of me?”

“Of course not,” he said, reaching out to trail a finger down her stomach. “Nothing you could ever do would make me think less of you, Elle. Nothing. I don’t care if you’ve been with a man before. All I care about is the fact that you’re here, with me, now.” Talk about fucking swoon. She was so lost for this man it was unreal.

“I know what will happen, Alec. You don’t have to worry.”

He nodded, studying her for another endless moment.

“And you’re sure that you want this?” he asked, dark eyes searching hers.

“I’m sure,” she breathed.

He exhaled in what seemed like relief, eyes sliding closed for a brief moment. When he opened them, they were dark and determined. He reached over and grabbed one of the pillows he’d dragged over.

“Up,” he commanded simply. Elle frowned in confusion. In a voice so low and husky and sexy it should be outlawed, Alec said, “lift your hips, Eleanor.”

She inhaled sharply. Well, well, well. She’d sorely underestimated men of this century. She did as he asked, a knowing smirk quirking his lips. He settled the pillow beneath her and then spread his body over hers, holding himself up on one straightened warm. The other bicep flexed as he stroked himself and she wiggled her hips at the sight, desperate for him.

He stared down with an expression she’d never seen before. There was desire there, of course, but there was a look of such love that the word didn’t seem remotely adequate. He was looking at her like she suspected a blind man might react to seeing a sunrise for the first time. Her chest constricted and tears pricked her eyes.

He stroked a drying curl away from her face, letting his fingertips trail down her cheek.

“Alec, please,” she whispered. She reached down and trailed her hand over his. He released his grip and let her wrap her hand around his cock. She stroked once, twice, before positioning him in just the right spot, pressing the head just inside. He hissed and shuddered, and holding her gaze, he slowly eased his hips forward. They both gasped, the gasps turning into moans of pleasure as he slid inside her in one long, slow thrust.

“Elle,” Alec bit out, stilling for a moment. “Elle, are you alright?” he asked in a ragged whisper. She wiggled her ass a bit, adjusting and getting him seated even further. She nodded and he leaned down to kiss her as he moved his hips backward before easing forward again. She half moaned, half cried against his lips, digging her fingers into his lower back. He gripped her hip with his free hand, clenching her so tightly, as if he were afraid she would disappear if he didn’t hold on for dear life, but she only wanted him to hold her tighter.

He kept up a slow, steady rhythm, but it seemed as if he were holding back, his muscles trembling from the exertion.

“Harder, Alec,” she whispered. “You won’t hurt me, I promise.”

He looked down at her, gauging if she was serious or not. She arched her hips, demanding and desperate, fingers digging into his back, begging. Finally, he began to move, really move, and Jesus, Mary, Joseph, and the Great Pumpkin, it was beyond good. He thrust his hips forward, slamming into her over and over and hitting all the right spots. He forced her hands up, pinning them beside her temples, intertwining their fingers. He kissed her hard and she hitched her leg over his hip, urging him to keep going, and squeezing his hands so tightly she thought she might break the bones.

Alec shifted back to his knees, hooking her knees over his elbows. With the pillow beneath her, the angle was sublime. She moaned and writhed as he pounded his hips forward over and over. She grasped her breasts, kneading and pinching her own nipples, the pleasure nearly too much.

“Jesus,” Alec rasped, “Elle, you’re…My God, don’t stop that.” He watched raptly as she gladly obeyed, as he continued to thrust and grind his hips. As if he couldn’t stand for his lips to be apart from hers for a second longer, he moved again, body long and hard against hers as he kissed her deeply, keeping up his savage rhythm.

“Alec, oh God, harder,” she moaned, digging her nails into his back. He obliged, slamming his hips forward until she was nearly mindless. He nipped at her lip and this time she shifted, pushing him away. Confusion was plain on his face for a moment until she followed him up, easing him back so that he was sitting and settling herself over his lap.

“Elle,” he whisper-moaned as she slid down onto his cock, wrapping her legs around his waist and her arms around his neck. She kissed him again as she rocked her hips. He reached behind her and pulled the pins from her hair, letting the drying curls fall loosely down her back. He tunneled his hands through it, cupping the back of her head, holding her to him.

“I love you,” he whispered against her lips. “I love you, Elle.” Her heart sputtered, the words suddenly making the entire world shift, making her feel as if she were exactly where she had always been meant to be. And though she knew it would splinter soon enough, she ignored the coming pain, holding onto the truest thing in her life. Alec. He was hers. He had always been hers, she’d just had to travel two hundred years into the past to find him. Fate really was a crazy, drunk bitch, wasn’t she?

He tilted her head back, exposing her throat to him.

“I love you too,” she whispered as he kissed down her neck, using his other hand to wrench her hips harder against him. “I love you, I love you, I love you,” she repeated.

“You feel so good. I can’t…I’ve never…” He couldn’t seem to be able to finish the thought and that was alright because she was nearly beyond hearing. All around them, lightning lit up the sky, thunder rumbled, and rain pounded against the roof, drowning out their gasps and cries and moans. Sweat ran down her temples and over his chest, their skin slipping as they moved.

“Right there. Fuck, Alec, I’m going to come.” She had no idea if he would even know what that meant—what the hell did they call it nowadays?—but he seemed to understand what she was getting at, his eyes flying wide. He slid his hand between them, and lightly ran his fingers over her clit, massaging with just enough pressure. Oh, he absolutely knew what the fuck he was doing.

“Oh God!” She exploded around him, head thrown back as her entire body spasmed and shook. This wasn’t a leisurely roller coaster ride. This was being strapped to a rocket being shot out of the stratosphere by NASA. She screamed out in pleasure, fingers digging into his shoulders, hips undulating as she continued to ride him. Stars darted across her vision, heat flooding through every inch of her body.

She’d had good sex in her life, had always been fairly lucky when it came to partners, but this was on a different level. The reason, she knew, was because she’d never felt love like she had with Alec.

And the cruelest irony was that now that she understood, now that she’d finally found it, she was going to lose it all.