Page 18 of The Rake and the Muse
Theo kissed his way to her breasts and drew her nipple into his mouth, sucking the tight bud, eliciting a string of moans from her lips. He continued his journey down her body until he was positioned between her legs.
He lifted her legs so that they rested over his shoulders, giving him full access to her most private place. He licked and sucked her nub, then slid two fingers inside of her already-wet sheath. She arched her back and clasped his head, holding him where she wanted him.
“Theo,” she moaned in a low whisper.
He moved his fingers within her, pulling them out and inserting them again. He replaced his fingers with his tongue and shifted a single finger lower, teasing the opening of her arse. He worked his finger inside the tight hole, pushing his finger further inside each time he withdrew and entered her again.
The sensation was so intense she rocked harder against him. In a matter of moments from his continued licking and sucking, in addition to his wicked finger inside of her arse, she shattered. She covered her mouth to muffleher moans. He removed his finger and used both hands to spread her folds, lapping up the proof of her orgasm.
“So damn good,” he said when he finished. He kissed the inside of her thigh and then shifted her legs to lie on the bed.
He removed himself from the bed, and she watched him dress himself, sated and unable to move. Theo grabbed his satchel and then turned to face her. “I shall see you in the breakfast room. Although the offerings will be lacking compared to my first course.”
She just shook her head and rolled her eyes at him. He was far too much of a flirt, and it was obvious why he was popular for his prowess.
He winked at her and then poked his head out the door before departing.
She couldn’t help but wonder what it would be like to feel him inside of her. His words indicated he wished to do so. Perhaps if she told him she wished to as well, he might consider it. If she didn’t intend to marry, what would it matter if she lost her virginity to the man she had grown to care for? Perhaps it would grow to love one day if she were willing to admit it, but she would be a fool to fall in love with a known rake.
Juliet rose from her bed and wrapped her dressing robe around her body. She positioned her easel and pulled out her newest painting from behind the others and movedit to the front. Needing to clear her head from all the thoughts and feelings for Theo, she did what always worked to distract herself. She painted.
Chapter 7
Theo had never slept so well in his life. Waking up to the jasmine that wafted from Juliet’s hair and the feel of her warm, soft skin against his was almost more than his senses could bear. Not to mention that he could start his day by bringing her pleasure.
When he saw her again over the breakfast table, he hoped a pretty blush would reach her cheeks. As rakish as it was, he enjoyed the secret between them. Guilt nagged at him for a moment, thinking about the scandal that would ensue if they were to be caught, given that she was an innocent. Not that her mouth and the way she touched herself were all that innocent. Even so, he wasn’t upholding any kind of gentlemanly principles for taking anything from her, but he couldn’t help himself.He wanted her. He wanted all of her. And worse, he wanted her to want him.
It was something he couldn’t allow himself to imagine. Holding back from discovering what it would feel like to be inside of her would prove to be his biggest challenge yet. He reminded himself of the promise to his brother, and that he had kept the title free from scandal thus far and must continue to do so.
Since he seemed to enjoy torturing himself, he couldn’t stop thinking about the drawing of her while his valet helped him to dress. It was the best drawing he had ever done. He didn’t just capture her physical beauty; he captured the very essence of her. The feat he had been chasing for years. It was the first time he was satisfied with his work and could translate his vision onto the parchment.
When he wasn’t thinking about how perfect she looked on paper drawn with charcoals, he was thinking about her lips and how he longed to kiss her again. He rarely kissed his bed partners, as it wasn’t the type of connection he typically sought, but she was different. Everything about her spoke to him—perhaps spoke to his heart—and he’d had to taste her lips, to possess them, and once he did, he knew it wouldn’t be the last time he didso.
His heart pounded, and he wouldn’t allow himself to consider the cause. There weren’t any feelings between them. They had the duration of the house party to enjoy each other’s company. He would draw her as much as he could, and then he’d figure out where his art would take him since he’d achieved what he had been searching for.
Nowhere, most likely. He still had a title to protect, and the ton wouldn’t accept him as an artist. It was the constant war he fought within himself, even though he already knew which side would be the victor.
Once he was dressed, Theo departed his chamber and made his way to the breakfast room. Like something akin to a lovesick schoolboy—although he wouldn’t call it as such—he looked for Juliet as soon as he entered. When he fixed his gaze on his siren, his expression immediately turned to a scowl. Not that he should think of her as his to begin with, but pushing that aside, he scowled at Lord Duncan settled beside her at the table as if the odious man had triumphed over him.
Duncan said something to her, and then she released a laugh that sounded like the tinkling of bells. He tamped down the frustration building within him upon seeing her enjoying the company of another man, especially that one. He told himself he wasn’t jealous. But hell, even if he was, didn’t he have the right to be? His was the tongue between the lady’s thighs not even an hour ago.
Theo made his selections from the sideboard, putting the food on his plate with short, annoyed movements. A couple of guests glanced his way when he clanked the serving utensils. He huffed and took a seat across from Juliet and Duncan, doing his best to do so without the dramatics he was inclined to invoke to call attention to his irritation.
At least she would be sure to see him and be aware of his presence seated before her. He took a bite of eggs and then looked up at her, finding that she stared back at him, confusion written across her expression. Theo gave her a tight smile, regretting it the moment he did. He tried to shift his visage to something friendlier, but when he smiled with his teeth, he knew he took it too far the other way. What was wrong with him?
“My lady,” Duncan started, capturing her attention. “I do so look forward to shopping with you in the village today.”
Why was she accompanying the man on the outing to the village? If the man thought he would get her alone, he was mistaken.
“It should be an enjoyable trip, my lord,” she replied.
Theo seethed at her response and took a bite of his toast to distract himself. Never had he cared so much about a woman conversing with another man, and he didn’t care to consider the notion any further.
Duncan droned on about his horses and all manner of topics that allowed him to list out the requirements he believed a lady might find desirable in a suitor. Juliet listened and paid him attention but didn’t have the chance to say much in return. At the rate he was going, the man would be out of anything to discuss with her before they ever departed for the village, which would suit Theo just fine.
Once breakfast was over, the group departing for the village had gathered in the foyer so that carriages could convey them. Theo planted himself at Juliet’s side, hoping to ensure that he would be in the same carriage as her.
To his frustration, Duncan had the same idea and wouldn’t cease from sniffing around her skirts.
