Regina did not fault him for wanting a respite. Even his visits to her would be considered work, an obligation he could not escape even if he wanted to. She didn’t want to examine too closely the idea of him thinking of bedding her as an obligation.
“Very well. Will you tell me where you’re taking me?”
“A place where we can indulge in a few hours of freedom from the worries of everyday life,” he hedged, lighting a lamp and holding it up to inspect the contents of her dressing room. He studied rows of dresses before selecting a plain, long-sleeved gown of forest green velvet. It had minimal trim and flounces, and would keep her warm with the added layer of the matching pelisse. “This should do nicely.”
“But, it isn’t black,” Regina protested, though she did not resist when he began helping her out of her nightgown.
“Which makes it the best disguise. Everyone would expect to see the Widow Hurst in black. Really, they wouldn’t expect to see you at all. Besides, we both know you only mourn Hurst due to propriety and not because you actually wish to. When was the last time you wore a gown that complimented your figure and coloring? When was the last time you enjoyed yourself?”
He fired these questions at her while easing a chemise over her head, then urging her to sit on a cushioned stool so he could help her into a pair of stockings. Watching as he went to one knee, Regina noticed he knew his way around a woman’s dressing room and clothing quite well. Not a surprising trait considering his secret profession.
“I cannot recall,” she murmured as he tied off one of her garters. “On either front. Randolph controlled every aspect of my life. He hated for me to call attention to myself, and if any man set eyes on me for longer than was seemly, it was always my fault. Eventually, I stopped accompanying him to parties and dinners and such. It was simply too difficult to figure out how to act in a way that would please him.”
David paused with one hand braced on her thigh, his gaze lifting to meet hers. Regina had expected to find pity in his eyes, but realized that he seemed more angered than anything else.
“What an insufferable ass he must have been.”
Her lips quivered with a suppressed laugh. It was refreshing to hear someone speak so baldly about Randolph, when no one else seemed to want to admit the truth. It was uncouth to speak ill of the dead, but just now it felt good to have someone share in her feelings.
“Yes,” she said with a little giggle. “He was an insufferable ass. I … I am glad he’s gone.”
“So am I, for your sake,” David remarked, going back to his work. A pair of boots followed the stockings, which he tied with swift, deft movements. “I have a hard time imagining that a man could have a wife as sweet and lovely as you and not want to flaunt her like the jewel she is.”
Regina took a deep, slow breath, reeling from the impact of those words. He uttered them so casually, as if he hadn’t given them a second thought before opening his mouth. He finished her boots but remained on his knees, hands resting on her ankles.
“Were you mine, it would gratify me to watch other men make fools of themselves over you and be secure in the knowledge that none of them could have what’s mine. It would delight me to gaze at you from across the room and watch your cheeks flush at the memory of what I’d done to you hours before, and what I plan to do to you when I get you alone again.”
“David … oh!”
Her fingers tightened around the seat of the stool as David pushed her legs wider, urging her chemise up to her hips. His gaze was fixated between her thighs, where she was already slick and wanting. Their one perfect night together had not been enough. David had awakened something in Regina that she feared could never be put back to sleep. The yearning was tearing her apart, eating her alive, consuming her entirely.
“I cannot help myself,” he whispered, lowering his head to nuzzle at her mons. His tongue flicked at the seam, and Regina shivered with anticipation. “It’s been too long, and I missed you. I missed this.”
A startled gasp flew from her lips as he put his mouth on her. He made an appreciative sound as if tasting something sweet, both hands bracing on her thighs to keep her open. Regina’s back arched and her arms shook with the strain of keeping upright as he licked and sucked her as if starving for every last drop of her resulting wetness. Her legs were trembling within seconds, heat and ecstasy erupting in her womb and expanding out to encompass her entire body. The artful movements of his tongue were precise and purposeful, lacking the playfulness of their last encounter—almost as if he were in a hurry to get to the matter at hand.
This was no leisurely exploration giving her room to grow accustomed to the intimate invasion of his tongue. It was an onslaught, one that grew more intense with each passing second. One of his hands crept up her body, snatching Regina’s chemise off one shoulder and baring her breast. She threw her head back and moaned when he cupped it, his thumb and forefinger teasing the nipple. Each tug and squeeze sent waves of sensation washing through her middle, exacerbating the pleasure of his tongue rubbing her clit in the perfect, exquisite rhythm.
She climaxed in mere minutes, shaking and sighing, thighs clenched on either side of his shoulders as he slid a finger inside her and heightened the finish with swift, precise strokes. He came up on his haunches, licking his lips and covering her legs as she struggled for air and composure. She was quite out of sorts, uncertain how he had gone from helping her dress to being on his knees with his head between her legs.
David stood, revealing the swollen ridge outlined at the front of his breeches. Moisture pooled in Regina’s mouth at the sight of it, her cunny clenching for want of him inside her. Following her gaze downward, he laughed, then urged her to her feet.
“I think not. You have distracted me enough tonight, and I will not be swayed. We are going out, and you will simply have to wait until we return.”
It was difficult to feel disappointed after the explosive orgasm he’d just treated her to, so Regina bowed to his wishes. They made quick work of her stays and petticoat, and before Regina knew it, she wore the gown and its matching coat, her hair pulled into a simple knot.
“Perfect,” David declared, before taking her hand and leading her from the room. “That shade of green is stunning on you, by the way.”
Regina’s cheeks heated, but she offered no response as they descended the stairs. It was odd, being the recipient of such praise. She hadn’t been offered such treatment since her courtship with Randolph. Her husband’s effusive compliments and gestures of affection had dried up after the wedding, and Regina had not realized how starved she was for kindness of any sort. For someone to tell her she looked well in green, or that she was lovely, seemed so trifling. And yet, just now they felt like a gift—one she had been anticipating for years and years.
Powell awaited them in the entrance hall, a pair of Regina’s kid gloves held in his meaty hands. He traded a wary glance with David before giving her a questioning look. “Will you require my presence this evening, ma’am?”
She gave him a smile and accepted the gloves. Regina heard the question he did not ask aloud and noticed his perusal of her attire. He looked pleased to see her out of black, yet also uncertain about her leaving in the company of David. Leaving him alone with her in the bedchamber was one thing. Allowing Regina depart in his company was quite another, and they both knew it.
It felt like a massive weight had been lifted off her shoulders as she shook her head. “No, Powell. I think perhaps you ought to take the rest of the evening off and rest. I’ll be perfectly safe with Mr. Graham.”
Powell’s stunned look told her he could hardly believe his ears. Regina had to admit she had shocked herself, but in a good way. She trusted David in a way she had only ever trusted Powell. Her courtesan had earned that with his patience and persistence.
“Very well,” Powell replied, though he was now looking at David with a clear warning in his eyes.
Regina knew that look. The man could promise violence and mayhe
m without even speaking a word—one of the reasons she suspected her husband had kept him around for so long. If she were being honest, it was one of the reasons she felt safe with him. It was difficult to be afraid of anyone or anything with Powell nearby.
Tucking her hand into the crook of his arm, David gave the footman a nod, as if acknowledging the silent threat.
“I’ll see her home safely. You have my word.”
With a grunt, Powell opened the door for them, revealing that her carriage had been readied and stood waiting for them.
“I hope you don’t mind,” he said while guiding her down the front steps. “My own carriage is in need of repair, and I want you to be comfortable for the drive into Preston.”
She waited until he had settled her on the carriage squabs and climbed in after her before offering a reply. “Preston, at this time of night? Whatever for?”
The carriage rocked as her driver set off, clearly having been given his orders by David already. He smiled, his teeth a brilliant flash in the dim interior of the vehicle.
“My dear, I am taking you to a public house.”
David was far too amused at Regina’s wide-eyed shock when he ushered her through the door of The Crimson Dove. He might have never brought a gently bred lady into such a place if not for the fact that tonight, this particular public house was hosting a dance assembly. He had gotten wind of it through one of his tenants, and it occurred to him that he hadn’t been to a party in months. The last few routs he attended in London had been frightfully dull.
There would be no observance of the social niceties of the ton here, and it was exactly why David had wanted to come. Like him, Regina had no true connection to the nobility, but neither was she of the class of people currently filling the public house from wall to wall. This lessened the likelihood of her being recognized, and he hoped it would also prove enough to allow her to unwind and enjoy herself.
It didn’t take much prompting to urge her to stay close to him as they weaved their way through the crowded taproom. A partition that usually separated this main room from another had been pushed open, widening the space for dancing. The tables that typically sat clustered in the center of the room were pushed to the perimeter, many of them laden with platters of food. The aromas of fresh bread and ale mingled with those of several bodies—some sweetly perfumed and others unwashed, all cloistered together in the humid box of a room.
Near one of the hearths, a trio of musicians plied their trade for coin. As long as the hat resting at the feet of the fiddler was kept filled with shillings, they would play to the delight of those who wished to dance. Mingling with the music were dozens of raised voices in a tangle of accents and inflections.
Pressed against his side, Regina took it all in with wide eyes and parted lips. David had convinced her to leave her pelisse, gloves, and hat in the carriage, having anticipated the warmth of the room. The lighting seemed to embrace her, making the deep red tones of her hair gleam and brightening the translucence of her skin. It made the forest green she wore even more of a delight. Her eyes sparkled with curiosity as she glanced about before finally turning her gaze up to him.
“There, you see?” he murmured, wrapping an arm around her waist. “No one is paying us the slightest bit of notice.”
She stiffened at his open display of affection, but then seemed to notice he was right. The center of the room teemed with dancing couples. Others stood in shadowed corners, sweat glistening on brows and bosoms as they flirted shamelessly, laughed too loudly, and generally acted as if they hadn’t a care in the world. Everyone was so intent on their own amusement that no more than a few pairs of eyes had flicked to them upon their entry.
“Do you come to many of these assemblies?” she asked, raising her voice to be heard over the din.
“Not since I took up residence in London,” he replied, shouldering his way toward the bar and pulling her along with him. “But in my youth, I lived for them. They were a nice distraction from what I thought of as the tedium of country life.”
He quickly maneuvered them into an empty space created by two men wandering off with their drinks and leaned his elbow on the counter, facing her. They were met with a barmaid wearing a threadbare gown and stained apron. He ordered ale for them both, yet another development that took Regina aback. At the incredulous look she gave the amber brew filled to the brim of a pewter mug, David chuckled.
“Just try it. The Crimson Dove has some of the best ale in the county. I wouldn’t take you just anywhere to have your first taste.”
He did not have to ask if she’d ever had anything stronger than champagne or the occasional cordial. Considering how controlling her husband had been, perhaps she hadn’t even sampled that much.
Taking a deep breath, she raised the cup to her lips.
David halted her with a hand over her am. “Wait. This is a special occasion.”
He raised his mug between them and she followed suit. “What shall we toast to?”
“To new experiences, and leaving the past behind us, where it belongs. And to you, my dear.”
Her smile faded as their cups clinked, and she held his gaze while he took his first sip. Seeming encouraged by this, she drank, eyes flaring wide as she stared at him over the rim.
“Oh!” she exclaimed, staring into the cup and licking foam off her lips. “That is far better than I expected.”
“Only the best for you,” he murmured. “Careful not to drink that too fast. Though, if you become soused I’ll carry you out of here. However, I cannot promise not to take advantage of your lowered inhibitions.”
Regina laughed, sending one of those perplexing pangs of feeling through him. His reaction to her laughter was unsettling, yet he still craved more of the sound.
His cock twitched in his breeches as she dipped her fingers into the front of his waistcoat and pulled him closer. Ale sloshed over the sides of his mug to wet his hand, but he could pay that small aggravation no heed while drowning in her eyes.
“It wouldn’t be taking advantage if I wanted it.”
“Christ,” he muttered, squeezing his eyes shut and battling down a raging cockstand.
It had taken a great deal of effort to restrain himself in her dressing room, though he hadn’t fought the need to taste her, to feel her climax against his tongue and hear her moan his name. By the end of the night, he would find his way inside her … but it was too soon. She would enjoy it so much more if he dragged the matter out and made her wait, if he teased and wooed.
Switching his ale to the other hand, he lifted the wet one between them and promptly licked the sweet, slightly fruity, slightly bitter liquid off his knuckles. Her breasts swelled against her bodice with a sharp inhale, and her eyes grew heavy-lidded. Was she remembering the way he’d tongued and sucked her clit not an hour ago? God knew it was all David could think about at present. The scent of her was still on him, and it seemed sharper just then.
“Noted, my dear,” he said with a raised eyebrow. “Duly noted.”
He downed half his ale in one long swallow and then glanced about the room. The fiddler and his friends had just struck up a new song, and space opened on the dance floor as a few couples stepped outside to cool off.
Offering Regina his hand, David inclined his head toward the remaining dancers falling seamlessly into a country dance. “Shall we?”
She hesitated only a moment before nodding, setting aside her half-finished ale and letting him lead her onto the dance floor. Conversation was impossible with such a racket going up from the other occupants of the public house—voices raised in song, laughter, cheers and groans from those gathered around tables where men tried their luck with cards. But David couldn’t have found the words even if she could hear him. It became difficult to think of the steps of the dance when all he wanted to do was observe her in an environment that wasn’t her dimly-lit bedroom or some other stuffy chamber of her mausoleum of a house.
Her steps were timid and reluctant at firs
t, but at the encouragement of several women around them, Regina began to loosen up, a soft smile curving the corners of her perfect mouth. That little smirk grew by the minute, turning into a broad smile as she seemed to realize this dance wasn’t like any she’d have attended in the past. Half the people in this room didn’t know the proper steps but were pleased to improvise. Even knowing she had not danced in public in a long time, she put even his own skill to shame. She was light on her feet and graceful, which should come as no surprise to David. Even the slightest fluttering of her hands had struck him as poised and refined. Why shouldn’t she also dance like a veritable angel?
From that first dance, time seemed to move past them with undue speed. They alternated between turns about the dance floor and respites at the bar, where Regina proved more than capable of holding her drink. After her third mug, all her sense of propriety seemed to have fled, and David watched her down the fourth one with all the relish of a sailor fresh home from sea. He goggled at her in disbelief as her throat worked with every swallow, head tipped back and deep, noisy breaths echoing through the hollow inside of her mug.
Their gazes met as she slammed the mug down, lips glistening and eyes bright. A tiny belch emitted from within her chest, and the startled look on her face sent David into peals of laughter. She stared at him for a moment, face flushed and one hand pressed over her mouth. Then, she burst into a fit of giggles, bending at the waist as she clutched the edge of the bar as if for dear life.
Taming of the Rake (The Gentleman Courtesans Book 4) Page 18
