Rescued (Flowers of the Bayou) (37 page)

She could hear the slight grumble he made and rolled her eyes. What a child he was for all his airs.

“I don’t trust him Amelia, he is after you.” Jordan stated in a hushed tone.

“Doesn’t matter what he’s after.” She threw back before the reality of what he’d said sunk in. “I hope you know you’re being silly! Jordan look at me, I’m pregnant and I’m married to you aren’t I?”

“I had to force you.” Jordan countered.

“I’m married to you.” Amelia stressed. “I’m Mrs. Jordan Bradford as you so often proclaim, what woman could want more than that? I love you and you know it. Miles Grady is not you and he never will be so you’ve nothing to worry about.” Amelia was still upset and her voice let him know it.

“I don’t like him around you I just don’t. For my sake please?” She made him resort to begging and at the moment Jordan resented her for it. “Just avoid the man.”

“If it will make you happy.” Was all she was willing to give him still feeling embarrassed from the way he’d forced her in the carriage like a bad child. Placing her hands on her swollen stomach she thought, one trait she didn’t want her child to inherit was Jordan’s temper. “Come here.” Amelia bid and when he complied she laid her head on his shoulder. “Eat your muffin brat, the hell you put me though I just don’t know if you’re worth it.”

Jordan chuckled at that and leaned down to capture her lips in a sweet kiss. “Now how do you feel on the matter?”

“You really have your nerve don’t you” Amelia looked up as if in thought.” However might I ask you to do that once more?” Amelia felt his lips on hers as soon as she’d finished her sentence but this time he was slow and drew her bottom lip into his mouth and sucked it slowly before releasing it. “You’re worth it.” She sighed a heavenly sigh. “But barely.” All she could hear from him was laughter just before he kissed her again. “Where are we headed?”

“Home, I thought it was about time I got you off that stuffy cargo ship.” Jordan replied. They made the rest of their trip in relative silence. Amelia leaned against his frame in silent comfort. The green hills acting as a picturesque sedative lulling them both into a dreamlike state. Jordan almost dozed off and upon seeing the old mansion crest above the hills before him, nudged his wife awake. Clambering out he offered her his hand in support as she followed suit. There was a comfortable silence and a bit of suspense as they walked up the long pebble trail to their home.

*

Home was unlike anything Amelia had ever seen before. It made the manor back home look plain and small. This was no cottage this was a palace. Marble floors you could see your face in. Golden banisters that led up an unbelievable stairway. Rich velvet indigo curtains hung from every window and there were many windows. Large oil paintings lined the walls, the home was simply breathtaking. “Where did you find this place?” She asked Jordan who was leading her from her tour of the gorgeous garden back inside.

Dropping her hand Jordan turned to look at her. “I didn’t so much as find it, but came back to it. I lived here with my first wife.” The words felt like poison on his lips. “I haven’t been here in years. I couldn’t find a new house for us in such short time. If you hate it you need not worry I will find somewhere else as soon as possible.”

“We can make it like new and you’ll love it.” Amelia squeezed his hand knowing that it must not have been easy for him to settle on coming back here. He’d yet to tell her much about Regina but the woman had caused him a considerable amount of damage. “I want you to be happy here, don’t worry about me, I’m pleased as long as you’re near.”

“You deserve to have the fairy tale you’ve always dreamed of.” Sweeping her up in his arms Jordan made his way up the massive stairway. “Tell me now am I making your dreams come true?”

“Jordan must you always be so silly.” Laying her head on his shoulder Amelia took in the sight of her new house. And was again amazed at the grandeur of it, tapping him on the shoulder she felt him stop and slid down on her own two feet. “You know with this double staircase we could have some amazing races.” Amelia smirked hiking her skirt above her ankles. “Which bedroom is ours?”

“They all are.”

“Good!” Amelia squeaked taking off in the opposite direction; she ran a few feet once she and reached the top of the stairs turning down the hall she randomly picked an engraved oak door and pulled it open. The bed in the room was small compared to what she had recently been accustomed to but she threw herself onto it in a hurry pulling the covers over her head much like a child.

Jordan followed behind her slowly; he wanted the anticipation to eat at her. Purposely he opened the first door several feet ahead of the room she was in and slammed it loudly so that she could hear. He could picture her pouting, full-lipped and beautiful, at his mistake. However he knew something that she didn’t—placing his hands on the bookshelf he pushed it apart to reveal a hidden doorway leading into the room in question.

He wasted no time entering into the other side. And the sight that greeted him was his wife sitting on top of the bed, legs crossed and arms too, and looking much too smug.

“I knew you had something up your sleeve I just had no idea what it was.” Amelia said coolly from the bed. “That’s a nice trick; I mean hidden entries and all.”

“Spoil sport.” Grumbling Jordan gave her an unsure look.

“Come sit with me.”

“No, we are going to our room in the South Wing.”

“The South Wing, hmm? Sounds fancy.” Amelia teased.

“You mock yourself my dear, for this house is also yours.” Chuckling Jordan tugged her from her seated position and led her out the door. “Besides the fancy south wing has the largest bed and the softest goose down bedding.”

“Womanly knowledge isn’t that?” Amelia could not relinquish her quirky mood.

“Hush you little brat.” Jordan said with forced fire.

“Lead the way.” Amelia giggled still holding his hand; she waited for him to do as she bid.

The house was almost too much to take in, one could get lost it was so vast. Or become very lonely she thought solemnly but moved it from her mind quickly. They would fill the house with children and laughter soon enough if God allowed.

“When will Georgia arrive? Her face will light up this house.”

“She is due back in another week; Margaret is out spoiling her as we speak, surely buying her all that London has to offer.” After walking for what felt like a mile Jordan turned the corner of the large carpeted hall and finally stopped, turning the silver lever he pushed the door open. “Mrs. Bradford.”

Winking at him mischievously Amelia walked past him into the wide expanse of a gloriously lavish room. Adorned with lush white and gold velvets and satins and accented every so often with a deep ebony black. It was bright and welcoming and Amelia loved every inch of it. “The South Wing?”

“The South Wing.” Jordan laughed. “I assume it meets with your approval.”

“It will do.”

“Will it now?” Jordan let his eyes ravish his wife. “I’m suddenly ready for bed.”

His meaning was not lost on Amelia but she shrugged the statement off. “The day is still young…how about a game instead.”

Jordan was intrigued. “Cards?”

“If you like, do you have a deck here in the South Wing?” Her voice was laced with mirth and mischief.

“That might pose a problem.” If there was a deck he’d no idea where to locate it, it had been years since he’d been in this house. “A wager then perhaps” “What will you barter?” He was beginning to enjoy their game a lot.

“It does not matter to me, ask and I will give.” Amelia replied toying with her hair while running her other free hand along the dark cherry wood boudoir.

“What will you take?”

“I haven’t decided yet.”

“If I don’t know what’s at stake I’m not so sure I can go all in.”  “Pity,” Lounging against the heavy bedpost Amelia summoned him to her with only a look. “Yet I do find it odd for a man whom always wins to need to know what is at stake.”

Jordan who’d begun undoing his shirt stopped immediately a deep smile claiming his finely chiseled features. “I’ll take your wager minx, and gladly.”

Amelia stifled a laugh of her own and turned into his chest replacing his warm hands at the lapel of his shirt with her own she went to the task of removing Jordan’s shirt.. Leaving a kiss on each spot she had exposed. “I’m going to enjoy beating you Jordan.”

Jordan felt his pulse quicken when she looked up at him with those honey brown eyes and smiled. “You little imp you’re inviting trouble and you know it!”

Silencing him Amelia placed one finger to his lips then freeing the last button pushed the shirt from his broad shoulders before sliding the article completely off and leaving it to the floor. Still looking into his eyes Amelia let her hands slide down the hard muscles of Jordan’s abdomen to settle heavily on the waistband of his trousers. Deafly she undid the single button then never breaking contact blazed a scorching trail to the spot she’d just left.

Jordan could scarcely breathe and nearly felt weak as she slowly, meaningfully removed his last piece of clothing and freed him, before taking his hand and pushing him down to their bed.

Amelia nearly laughed as his eyes glazed over in pleasure as she ran her hand up his thigh. She was in control and she was savoring every moment. This game they were playing was far better than cards.

Jordan relaxed fully in his wife’s hands letting his eyes drift closed trustingly, and with great anticipation for what was to come. He relished in the scent of her, the touch and feel and lost himself in the moment content beyond belief. The whole time wondering how in the world he’d gone so long without his angel, his heart.

Jordan was snapped out of his deep thought when suddenly her hands could be felt along the shaft of his hard member and before he could move the sweet feel of her tongue flicking over the tip tore a cry of pleasure from him and he nearly bolted from the bed. Instead he was stilled by one of her dainty hands placing itself on his stomach and a sultry voice saying, “Relax.”

Immediately Jordan did as she bid but the small phrase was not lost on him he’d spoke them to her in a similar moment before. She was quite clever his wife, clenching the heavy bedding as she ran her tongue along the length of him slowly, purposely, Jordan took in every sweet second and made a permanent record of it in his head.

“Do you trust me?” Amelia asked administering her slow torture.

“You are a brat indeed.” Jordan said through pleasure-clenched teeth.

“That’s not was I asked Mr. Bradford.”

“I trust you.” The omission garnished him more pleasure than he was prepared for as Amelia took the tip of him in her mouth and sucked sweetly. Jordan had had enough, his sweet angel would pay.

Placing his hands along the side of her head Jordan managed to bring her face up to his and he had to catch himself before he got lost in the desire-filled gleam of her eyes. Amelia was everything he ever wanted. Jordan refused to give in however. He was going to show his little minx a little something about control. Driving his hands into her wildly wavy hair. Jordan let the other rip away the front of Amelia’s dress, the action winning him a sultry chortle.

Pulling the frayed fabric from her body Jordan captured her lips with his own and roughly pulled her legs about his waist lifting them both up from the bed then and pushing her back gently against the wall. His strong arms holding her securely to him.

Amelia felt her pulse quicken as Jordan’s mouth fell on her neck and she found herself trying to mold herself closer to him.  She could feel him capture her hands and raise them over her head in a tight grip and she yielded to him as he took her breast in his mouth the pleasure almost pushing her over the edge.

Yet he stopped all too soon to settle her back on the bed arching her back and tightening her legs about his waist in anticipation Amelia closed her eyes tight feeling him pressing against her thigh. Instead however he moved himself from her to the foot of the bed to blaze a excruciatingly slow trail of kisses from her lower leg to her inner thigh.

“My Princess.” Jordan said in a ragged breath laced with mirth.

“My love,” Amelia moaned. “Please.”

“Ahh sweetheart you make this so hard, but…” Jordan ground out in torn breaths “I told you I always win,”

“You’re an ass.” Amelia whispered, a sweet smile upon her swollen kissed lips.

“Say it.”

“No.” Amelia laughed down at him, he would not win, summoning up her strength Amelia pulled him up till he faced her then wrapping her thighs about him once more positioned herself along his shaft and grinned. “Tonight I win.” She whispered in his ear before thrusting her hips forward joining their bodies at last.

“Woman you will be the death of me.” Jordan began to move at a deliberate and tantalizing pace to both their pleasure and with each movement and soft moan he brought them closer to ecstasy. When she reached up and drew him deeper within her than ever before he lost all control and yelled her name in release.

Amelia joined him a moment later and after the sweet assault of spasms had finally passed she proudly proclaimed “I win.”

“Princess, losing never felt so good.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

Jordan yawned and released his hold on Amelia’s form. They’d been lounging in bed all morning but now as noon approached Jordan knew it was time to do what he dreaded. Get up and get to work as well as get Amelia up and hand her over to Margaret. “Princess?”

Amelia heard him but closed her eyes even tighter. She was warm and she was content and she wasn’t about to move. Curling her knees as high as her expanding waist would let her she managed to ignore him completely.

“You little minx, I know you hear me, get up. Today you get introduced to London.” Rubbing the small of her back he hoped the stimulation would help persuade her.

“I don’t recall requesting an introduction.” Grumbling Amelia turned to face Jordan. “We are newly married; we are supposed to stay out of sight for weeks.”