Page 54 of In Compromise with the Earl
“I…” she paused and rubbed her arms, “will it be uncomfortable with him knowing that he used to know your late wife?”
“No,” Oswald reached out and took her hands, rubbing them with his. “Leo loved Claire like a sister, he will love you too.”
Secretly, Aphrodite doubted it, but she marshaled a smile. “I hope so. May we take a turn in the garden? It seems so lovely.”
“My pleasure,” he stood.
It did not take long to descend the stairs and exit one of the palatial French doors into the generous half-acre garden. It was late spring, only the daffodils, primrose, and crocus were out. The roses were budding again, and the trees were heavily laden with sweet blossoms. A few ancient elms lined the property line, and the grass was cut evenly over the lawn.
“It’s sublime here away from the hustle and bustle of London,” Aphrodite said as they took the walk to the small fountain in the middle. And it’s so peaceful. I confess, that London sometime makes me terribly restless with all its constant movement. It’s as if no one will take the time to justbreathe.”
“I must admit, I haven’t taken time to enjoy the countryside for over two years,” Oswald said. “Have you ever been to Vauxhall Gardens?”
“No, and while I really wish to go, I stayed away because I know the rumors about the Gardens and how easily anyone who goes there can be mired in rumors about trysts and amorous rendezvous. With my father already sullying my name I decided to not add more, and moreover, I understand it can be quite dangerous.”
“For a Lady alone, yes, it is,” he replied, then quirked a brow. “Are you truly afraid of a little danger?”
She eyed him. “I did not wish to be assaulted by a ruffian.”
“Hm,” Oswald plucked off a rose. “Remind me to take you when we get back to London. I’ll take the greatest care of you in the insidious gardens.”
“Are you laughing at me?” Aphrodite narrowed her eyes.
“I am,” his lips ticked up while he reached over and cupped her cheek. She could see him reining in his passion, as he bestowed a series of gentle kisses on her lips, at the corner of her mouth, on her bottom lip, and then on her upper lip.
Gathering her in his arms, he feathered tender kisses along her jawline, down the side of her neck, and then back to her lips. She melted into him, lacing her arms around his neck while she kissed him back.
Smoothing a hand over her hair, he asked, “Shall we take this to bedchamber?”
Shuddering, Aphrodite whispered, “Yes.”
* * *
The door barely closed behind her when Oswald pressed her against it. His mouth hot and his kiss passionate, her inhibitions melted in the searing bliss. She felt when every one of the buttons pop as he undid them and felt a strange searing under her skin the more he stripped her bare.
When the dress pooled at her feet, she repaid in kind smoothing her hands over his chest while slipping the fine lawn shirt off. His eyes were hooded and dark with sensual promise; it was all Aphrodite could do not to shudder under his heated gaze.
Anticipation was a thick knot in the middle of her chest, but she knew that Oswald would take care of her. When he grabbed her hip and nipped her earlobe, Aphrodite gasped out a sound halfway between a moan and a whimper and gained a rumbled growl from Oswald in exchange.
Impatient with the layers that separated them, he did away with the clothes between them and after she slipped into the bed, he followed. As he covered her body with his rigid bulk, she slipped her hands into his hair while he kissed a burning stripe down her neck.
A large, callused hand cupped her breast, the silken weight fitting perfectly in his palm, a thumb, coasting over the budded nipple. Her back arched when his mouth, hot and wet, closed over the other and sucked her breast into a ravenous inferno.
“O…Oswald—” Hot, smooth hands swept over her thighs, as he coasted his tongue down the valley of her breasts and over her belly, heading to the valley of her thighs. Aphrodite sunk her fingers into his thick hair while he kissed every inch of her body.
Palming her hips, he buried his face deeper, using his lips and tongue to pleasure her. He tongued her folds and her nub sent pleasure hurtling through her like a lightning strike. He worked two fingers inside her while fitting his tongue over the button of her pleasure and sucked.
Aphrodite felt herself clutch at his pumping touch, and when she felt his hot breath against him, she was lost in the raw pleasure. He suckled her pearl, and she bucked against his mouth. Heat, lush and wet raced up her spine, incinerating her thoughts as she shouted her pleasure.
As the tremors shuddered through her body, Aphrodite smiled to herself in post-orgasmic bliss. Her hand stroked through his hair while she felt Oswald kiss her inner thighs. Cupping a hand around his neck, she gently tugged him to her and shared a languorous but heated kiss.
“Your turn,” she whispered.
Maneuvering him on his back, she kissed his neck, tasting the faint salt and musky cologne on his skin, sliding her tongue over him and biting gently as she explored his neck, nipped at his collarbones, and skimmed the breadth of his shoulders with her hands.
Satisfied, she ran a hand down his ridged abdomen, stroking her fingertips through the thin hair that ran from under his belly button to his manhood, spreading her fingers wide as she moved lower down to grip the root of his shaft.
“Aphrodite,” he said in a hoarse tone.
