Chapter 33
CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE
“Iwant to touch you, too, Mungo.” She said it so quietly, he almost wasn’t sure he’d heard her.
He rolled over, taking her with him, wanting her above him where he could see every emotion that chased across her sweet face. He studied the delicate line of her neck to those lovely breasts he’d yet to taste. Mungo would be rectifying that soon.
God help him, he knew her touch would be torture and that he’d have to call on every ounce of willpower to not lift her and sink his aching shaft inside her.
Her fingers touched his throat first, featherlight. Then they drifted down his chest, tracing him as though she was memorizing him. Every place she made contact with burned. He shut his eyes briefly, dragging in a ragged breath.
She touched his nipples, and he bit back a moan.
Eliza leaned down to kiss him, her breasts brushing his chest. Desperate now, he gripped her waist and lifted her briefly so he could draw a tight nipple into his mouth.
Her gasp made him move to the other and administer the same torture before releasing her.
Her eyes were full of desire when she looked at him, and Mungo wasn’t sure how much longer he could control his need for her.
She rose to her knees and shuffled down his body to straddle his thighs, her hair loose around her slender shoulders, breasts full and lush, and her face flushed with the heat of passion. It was a sight he’d always remember.
“Your skin is so warm,” she whispered, running both hands over his chest and stomach again. “I feel as if I’m always cold.”
“I’m Scottish,” he gritted out.
“Aye, I know,” she said in a terrible accent.
She touched him then, and where he thought he’d been aching and hard before, it increased tenfold as her fingers ran up and down his hard length. When she wrapped around his shaft, he arched off the bed, nearly dislodging her.
“Does that hurt?”
“No and yes,” he gritted out. “But I’ve had enough of your torture.”
“It’s hardly that,” she protested, but it turned into a squeal as he flipped her onto her back and rose up over her.
He swallowed any further words as he kissed her long and deep. Then he said, “Open your legs, Eliza.”
She did as he asked, and then he was there, pressing at her entrance, easing slowly inside as her body made room for him.
Slow, Mungo. He fought to thrust, to take her, and then he was there, buried deep inside Eliza Downing, and never had he felt with any woman before the way he did in that moment.
“Christ, lass….” He buried his face against her neck, needing a second to gather any semblance of control. He felt her fingers in his hair. Lifting his head, he kissed her again, their lips clinging. “Are you all right, Eliza?”
“Oh yes,” she whispered.
He moved then, easing out of her body and back in slowly. The rasp of her breathing increased with every thrust.
She clung to him, and the world narrowed until all he knew was the heat of her and the sound of her breath against his ear.
“Look at me,” he whispered because he needed to see her face then.
She did, and their eyes locked and held. Mungo thrust into her again and again, drawing sounds from Eliza that made his blood turn molten. He felt the moment she shattered as she cried out his name, and then he lost his own control a heartbeat later.
They rode the wave of ecstasy together, and when it was over, their harsh breathing filling the room, he didn’t roll away, instead bracing himself so he wouldn’t crush her and letting his forehead rest against hers.
“You’re heavy,” she murmured.
He eased out of her carefully, then gathered her against his chest. Eliza fit along him perfectly, her breath warm against his throat. His hand drifted down her spine without thought, soothing both of them.
Outside, dark pressed against the glass. Mungo knew this moment would be etched in his mind, and what terrified him most was that he wanted it to be something he never forgot. Perhaps even something they shared together often.
“Mungo?”
“Aye?”
“Do you regret it already?”
His entire body went still. “Do you believe I would?”
“I don’t know,” she whispered. “My uncle said any man would take what I offered in the moment and think better of it afterwards, as Niall did when he asked him if he would wed me.”
He swore under his breath, a long, vicious sound. “I’m going to find this man one day.”
“He is far away.”
“Not far enough.” He tipped her chin up, making her look at him, no room for misunderstanding now.
“Eliza, I’ve made more mistakes than I can count.
Followed orders I shouldn’t. Fought battles I shouldn’t have.
Hurt people I meant to protect. But tonight?
You? This? If there’s anything in this cursed world I don’t regret, it’s you. ”
Her throat worked, but she said nothing.
“You may feel differently when you’ve slept on it,” she murmured. “And I want you to know I expect nothing from you, Mungo.”
The words made him angry because she didn’t believe herself worthy of happiness. Of a future.
“Shut up and go to sleep. We’ll talk more when we can both think straight.”
“You can’t sleep here,” she said, but the words were slurred.
“I’ll leave soon.”
Mungo had never held a woman like this after lovemaking.
He’d always left immediately, but Eliza was different.
In fact, he never wanted to leave her bed again.
But that thought was for when the sun rose.
His eyes felt heavy as he slipped into sleep with his face in her hair and his arms full of Eliza Downing. Mine, he thought.
Mungo woke still holding her a few hours later. Looking at the clock, he knew the household would be stirring, and neither of them wanted anyone to see him leaving her room.
As he eased his arm out from under her, she muttered something and went back to sleep.
After several maneuvers, he managed to get to his feet.
He bent to kiss her soft cheek before pulling on his clothes.
At the door, he gave her a final look and realized that the woman in that bed had done something no other before her had.
She’d broken down the walls he’d built around his heart.
He went downstairs to his room and stripped off his clothes. After washing, he dressed in clean ones and then headed farther downstairs. All was quiet still.
Entering the kitchen, he found Bud.
“I’m glad you found your niece, her maid, and Miss Downing, Mungo. You sit now, and I’ll get you some food.”
“I’d be grateful.”
She poured him tea and lowered a plate of eggs, ham, and bread in front of him a while later. Mungo pounced on it.
“Do you love her, then?”
He choked on the mouthful he’d just eaten and then looked at Bud.
They’d always had an understanding between them. They had each other’s backs and ran this household together.
“Why are you asking me that question?” he said, taking a large mouthful of tea.
“I’ve eyes, don’t I? Plus me and Mr. Dumple have discussed it at length.”
“Have you now.”
“And I like her. She’s good for you. Won’t put up with your ways.”
“I’ve ways, do I, when you’re a bleeding saint, apparently.” But there was no heat behind his words.
The simple truth was that Mungo felt different this morning. Lighter inside.
“Of course I’m a bleeding saint. Everyone knows it.” She smiled at him.
Mungo didn’t comment to that obvious lie, and refused to speak about Eliza.
Instead, he left after thanking her for the meal.
He pulled on his outer clothing and then headed outside.
He walked slowly to the left until he reached the Douglas house.
Standing outside, he studied the exterior.
It would need a paint, but it was solid enough.
Brick and wood and a small front garden, with another at the rear.
The front door opened, and there stood Mr. Douglas. “Morning, Mungo. I’ve the tea on. Come along, or Mrs. Douglas will start scolding. It’s too chilly to leave this open for too long.”
He walked up to the front door and entered the house. When he left thirty minutes later, he was the new owner.
As he stepped out onto the road again, a group of five were striding past, all residents, and in the lead was Mavis.
“Hello, Mungo.”
“Why are you lot not warm inside your homes?” he demanded.
“Mavis thinks we need to be stronger and fitter to live longer, as she’s afeared we’ll die,” Miss Alvin said.
The woman would blow over in a good puff of wind.
“Well then, I’ll leave you to your madness,” he said.
“We like Miss Downing, Mungo, if our say holds any weight,” Mr. Greedy said with a smile.
“Kindred spirits meet not by chance, but by quiet design—for when the heart knows, it knows,” Mr. Alvin said.
They then all raised their gloved hands and walked on. He watched for a few minutes as Mavis herded them like ducklings.
“This street,” he muttered.
Mungo returned to 11 Crabbett Close and entered. Bram was in the parlor with Ivy, drinking tea. Lottie sat on the floor by the fire, reading a book.
“Good morning, Mungo!”
“Good morning, Lottie.” He bent to ruffle her hair.
Ivy poured him a cup of tea, and he took the seat opposite. These two knew him better than anyone. He wouldn’t lie to them.
“I’ve been to visit with your brother and check on the girls,” Bram said.
“I’d planned to go soon too,” Mungo added.
“I know you will. They’re doing well considering what they’ve been through. Your niece seems to be in good spirits, as does your brother, and they’ll come here for a meal today, we’ll talk things through,” Ram said.
“We’ll ensure those two girls are cared for also, Bram,” Mungo said.
“That we will. They will not be subjected to more pain, we’ll make sure of it. As yet, I’m unsure how, but this family will find a home for them where they can feel happy and safe.”
Mungo nodded, knowing his friend’s words were the truth, and then told him what he’d just done.
“I’ve purchased the Douglas house, and I’m going to ask Eliza to marry me.”
Ivy burst into tears and hugged him across the table.
Bram’s smile was wide. “I could not be happier, my friend, on both counts. You’ll be close and married to a woman you love. It’s all we’ve ever wished for you.”
Mungo looked into his third cup of tea for the morning, trying to find the words he wanted to say.
“I can never thank you enough for your friendship, both of you.” He looked at them then. “You gave me a home and allowed me to be part of your family, and for that I will be forever grateful. You saved me from a life of solitude.”
Ivy started weeping harder then.
“It has worked both ways, Mungo. You helped us with six broken children. Helped us to love and help them become the wonderful people they are today. Neither Ivy nor I could have done that without you.”
They meant it. He saw that in their eyes.
“Now go and tell your woman what’s in your heart, my friend,” Bram said. “And use your words—all of them.”
He found a small smile at that. Talking or expressing himself was not something Mungo excelled at. After yet more hugs from Ivy and Bram, he left.
Eliza was coming down the stairs as he started up them.
“I’m late,” she whispered. “I overslept, and—”
He pulled her into his arms and kissed her right there on the steps.
“Mungo!”
“You will marry me.” The words came out an order.
“Oh, come on, Mungo, you can do better than that,” Fred said from above them.
“Yes, that was pathetic.” Theo appeared at her side.
“Put your back into it,” Anna added as she squeezed under Theo’s arm and sat on the top step.
“I’m to do this with an audience?”
“Aye,” they all said.
Eliza was now pink cheeked and mortified. “Stop this. We can discuss it later.”
“And try for eloquence,” Bram said from below.
“God’s truth, you lot are trying,” Mungo muttered. “Can I not have a moment’s peace for this?”
“No, because if we leave you alone, you’ll make a mess of it,” Anna said.
He snorted at that, and then looked at Eliza—his woman and the person who had worked her way into his heart. She’d given him hope that his life would not be spent alone.
“Eliza, I love you.”
“Oooh, that’s good,” Matilda said. She was now seated beside Anna.
“Will you marry me and live in the Douglas house that I have just this morning purchased?”
He got a round of applause for that little speech.
“But it’s so fast, Mungo,” she whispered. “We barely know each other.”
“Speak up,” Theo said.
“She’s worried she doesn’t know me well enough,” Mungo said.
“We know him, and he’s wonderful,” Matilda said.
“And we think you’re wonderful, too, Miss Downing,” Fred added.
“E-Eliza,” she stammered out. “C-call me that.”
“Well?” He raised a brow at the scarlet-cheeked woman before him.
“I-I doubt anyone else would have you, so I guess I must.” Her smile was the sweetest he’d ever seen.
“Yes, you must,” Mungo added.