The Earl's Stowaway. Krystina Daryl

believe your parents did not live in the same home as your grandparents."

      "Why?"

      She stroked his neck like she was trying to calm a tempered horse. "They loved you. And sparing you of your parents' distain would be want they wanted most. I had not the means to spare my siblings and now they have no one to protect them from my parents' cruelty."

      He stayed quiet. He didn't trust himself to speak, he might just agree to everything she asked of him with those hypnotic eyes. He had to applaud her for her perceptive nature; it was a good quality in a woman. He wouldn't have to explain himself for her to understand and act accordingly. He would add that to his list when his search for a wife resumed.

      "My father beats on my brother Jesse for sport. He is only ten and cannot defend himself without me. And my mother hates my sister Jessica for her existence. She is just six and I'm afraid my step-mother may carry out her threat." Her voice broke at the end.

      He went back to stroking her hair. "What do you mean by that?"

      "By what?" she whispered.

      "Why does she hate Jessica's existence?"

      Melanie closed her eyes. "She wasn't..." she swallowed hard, "She wasn't conceived out of love or lust... she was..."

      He finished her thought. "Your father forced himself on your step-mother, and Jessica was the product of his cruelty."

      She cried, "If only I had the strength to help, but I was so scared, there was nothing I could do but watch!"

      Christopher stiffened. That couldn't be possible, was she sure he was her father? He couldn't be that much of an animal. "You were in the room when it happened?"

      She nodded. "I hid under the table, holding Jesse tightly against me. I didn't understand what was happening... I was so afraid he would do the same to me... I just stayed hidden until it was over," she whispered.

      He wrapped his arms around her shivering frame. "Why are you telling me this?" he asked confused.

      She turned, her mouth close to his ear and whispered, "Why would you help me if I do not confess the truth to you?" She pushed him up to look in his eyes. "My father doesn't believe either of them are his, and my step-mother is too angry and bitter to love them. Do you now understand why I have to save them from that home?"

      He nodded. His parents suddenly did not seem too bad. Despite his reservations, he said, "It will be difficult, but I will try my best. You will have to give me your name and address and write a note to your siblings. I do not believe your parents will agree to let them go willingly. The only way would be to steal them in the night, with their mutual aid." He saw her smile brighten as she nodded. "What is your name?"

      "Melanie Monroe Bronson," she answered with a cheer in her voice.

      "I'm Lord Christopher Ronald Thomas Wimberley, Earl of Ashworth." Her confused stare made him chuckle. She had no knowledge of titles and station. "You may refer to me as Christopher." Then he turned serious. "Melanie, I cannot promise you that the venture to bring your siblings here will be successful, but I do promise I will try my best."

      She nodded with a wide smile. "As long as there is hope." Then out of the blue, she pulled his neck down and pressed her lips against his.

      Chapter Two

      Christopher was caught by surprise, and before he recovered, the kiss ended. "Why did you do that?" he whispered hoarsely, his shaft tightening with desire.

      Her face flushed and she shrunk back. "I'm not sure... forgive me..."

      Christopher kissed the rest of her words away. He'd watched those supple lips move and restrained himself from tasting. But since she made the first move, he was going to indulge in the unintended invitation.

      He moved his lips gently over hers, keen not to frighten her further. Then her body relaxed, and her lips began to move with his. He parted her lips and pushed inside, gently stroking and provoking her tongue to dance with his. She moaned, tightening her hold on his neck.

      Her moan stirred the pit of his stomach, sending a rush of heat through him. He buried his arm under her and pressed her tightly against him. In response, she circled her arms around his neck, arching her body up to him.

      He groaned. He knew he should stop, but her response to him was making it impossible. He deepened the kiss, running his hand over the side of her body. She shivered and moaned louder, pulling him hard against her.

      Stop now! She's an innocent! His mind yelled, but his body urged him forward. He had never ruined a girl, but her moans and movements under him were making it impossible for him to stay in control.

      His hand fitted on her breast barely covering it and she let out a sharp gasp, pressing her body into his palm. His thumb stroked her hard nipple and then he squeezed the swell gently, massaging it.

      She gasped loudly in his mouth, her body writhing under him. Christopher felt his shaft press tightly against his breeches on her warm thigh, the pained member begging for release. "I have to stop!" he mumbled against her lips.

      She moaned again and his other hand released her back and sunk to her thigh, pulling the sheet up so that he could feel her skin. He caressed it, gently at first, and then his hold tightened around it. He pushed her thigh away and settled between her legs. Just a rub! He thought, pressing his aching bulge on the juncture of her thighs. She whimpered, pressing her head back into the bed. She sank her nails into his back spreading her thighs further apart to deepen the rub.

      He groaned burying his face in the juncture of her long neck and slender shoulder. He inhaled deeply, grazing his teeth from her neck to her chin. She smelt like pure temptation! He captured her lips in a rougher kiss and she responded by gripping his hair in a vice hold and pressing his head down.

      He trembled, pulled away and lowered his lips to her ignored breast. She tasted wonderful!

      Just one thrust! He drove hard against her and she shrieked, her hips shooting up and off the bed. His body tightened and the need held him captive. He wanted to be inside her, but went on thrusting and rubbing hard against her, his mouth making love to her breast. She writhed and buckled ferociously, her cries increasing as her head jerked from side to side. Then her body tightened as it shuddered. Her head dug deeper in the bed, a loud cry parting from her lips.

      She then collapsed under him and stopped moving except for the heaving of her chest, "What's happening?" The words were barely audible mixed with her heavy breathing.

      Christopher froze. What was that? He released her breasts and pushed himself up, separating their bodies. She sighed, turning to her side and pulling her knees up, heaving for breath. The sheet had gathered at her waist, barely covering her ass. Her long hair was spread out behind her, one hand came over her exposed shoulder, and the other was wrapped around his wrist.

      She resembled a kitten, her swollen red lower lip sucked into her mouth, her long eyelashes resting on her cheek and her face flushed red. She looked so calm and content, almost exposed under him. If it wasn't for the fight she had put up a few minutes ago, he would have questioned her innocence.

      But an experienced woman would have begged him for penetration, Melanie didn't.

      He took a breath to calm his heaving chest. "Melanie, have you ever been touched intimately before?" He spoke with ragged breath.

      She shook her head, keeping her eyes closed.

      "Before me, have you ever felt a man's need pressed between your legs?" She blushed harsher, shaking her head. He chuckled. She had just had her first climax and didn't know it.

      He smiled. "Have you ever been kissed?"

      Her grip on his wrist tightened. "The man who bought me... he stole my first kiss." She sounded hurt.

      He forced himself to stay where he was. If he lowered himself even an inch, she was going to have her first of every bodily experience there and then. He felt a little proud being the first