Page 75 of The Pleasures of Passion
He thrust a finger inside her, and she murmured a soft, “Howmarvelous. . .” that shot his arousal to new heights. He didn’t know how he’d control himself until he’d brought her to release.
But he must. Because he refused to be the sort of selfish lover she was used to. He intended to make her blood race and her head spin, to make her forget about anything but how this felt, how they felt together.
It was the only way he could think of to reassure her that they would make a good match. That they could start again. Together. No matter what secrets he had to continue keeping.
She was panting now, making little mewling sounds that turned him harder than the trunk she leaned against. Feeling the blood rising in his cock, he increased the strokes of his tongue across her hard little pearl as he drove into her with one finger, then two, in his desperate bid to bring her tola petite mort.
Soon she was shimmying and pushing against him like a greedy urchin eager for more, until he could hear her moaning and feel the spasms signaling her release against his tongue.
It was all he could do not to crow his triumph as she pulled him hard against her and let out a low cry of pleasure. At least he could make her feel this, damn it. Perhaps for now, that would be enough for her.
While she gasped and shuddered, he relished the taste and smell of her as he brushed kisses to her bared thighs, smoothed his hands over her silk-clad calves . . . indulged himself in the glory that was Bree’s body.
Once she calmed, he wiped his mouth on her petticoat, then rose.
“You are . . . full of . . . surprises . . .” she choked out as she clung limply to him.
He drew her arms about his neck. “You’ve scarcely seen a tenth of what I can do, my dear Lady Rebel.” He rubbed against her, knowing she could surely feel his hardened cock even through his drawers and trousers. “Shall I show you more?”
Her eyes softened, and he was sure she was about to agree to more wild and woolly swiving, when a faraway cry arrested them both.
“Lord Margrave? Are you down in the orchard?” came a voice from the top of the hill.
Bree tensed up and Niall groaned. “Don’t answer,” he ordered her. “He’ll move on.”
“But it might be important.” She fixed him with an anxious gaze. “It could have to do with Silas, who has surely been awake for some time. Or it could even concern Aunt Agatha.”
“Damnation. I can’t wait until the day I can have you to myself, whenever and wherever I please, without all these cursed interruptions.”
She shot him a sad little smile as she pushed down her skirts and straightened her clothing. “That day won’t come until Silas—and whatever other children we have—are grown and have moved away. So you’d best get used to interruptions.”
Nothing could have reminded him more effectively of how different they both were now. Although he was still a carefree bachelor, she was no longer the virginal innocent. She was a mother with responsibilities he couldn’t begin to fathom, as well as a landowner who must take care of her own people.
He must do the same for his, which would mean juggling the needs of his estate with the needs of hers. Somehow he’d have to make sure that by marrying him, she didn’t lose any more than she already had as a result of her husband’s selfishness. He would have to accept the messy circumstances of her situation and Silas’s, to make room for all of it in his life, if he was to gain her.
“Very well,” he said. “Let’s go see what the blasted fellow wants.”
At least she’d spoken of possible children with him. That heartened him.
After making sure they both looked presentable, they left the trees and headed up the hill. Spotting his underbutler coming over the top of it, Niall called out, “Down here! We were touring the orchard.”
The servant hurried down the hill to meet them. “You said to let you know at once if Lord Blakeborough answered the message you sent to him at Stoke Towers earlier, sir, and it just arrived. So I came right out after you.”
He’d completely forgotten that he’d sent a note to Edwin asking to meet with him at his earliest convenience.
As the servant handed over the sealed missive, Bree gazed up at Niall. “Why is Lord Blakeborough at Stoke Towers?”
Gritting his teeth at the need to evade the truth with her yet again, he said, “Edwin thought my sister could use a respite from the excitement of town, so he brought her out here to take the country air for a while.”
Bree frowned. “But at the party, I got the distinct impression that she meant to stay in town until close to the end of her time.”
He didn’t answer right away, so intent was he on reading the message. It said,Come whenever you can. I have no set engagements.
Good. Niall had been worried that he might have to return to town for the card game tonight before he’d had a chance to see his brother-in-law.
Shoving the note into his pocket, he told his underbutler to go fetch the gig and bring it to the top of the hill. As the servant scurried off, Niall offered Bree his arm. “We must return to the house. I need to go over to Stoke Towers and discuss something important with Edwin before you and I get back on the road this evening.”
Bree took his arm and let him lead her up the hill. “We can stop on our way back to town. Aunt Agatha and I would love to visit with Clarissa while you’re closeted with her husband. And I’m sure Clarissa would enjoy seeing Silas.”
