by Golden Angel
“No.” The question, coming from Collins, surprised Rex so much, he answered without thinking. The two men did not get along, as far as he knew, because Lucas had a tendency to flirt with, well… everyone, and Collins was possessive of Carlisle. “Why?”
Collins’ eyes darted between him and Mary, who was starting to come out of her dreamy haze. Feeling like growling, Rex gestured, indicating Collins should hurry up and say whatever he needed to say.
“I… I thought you should know. I saw him talking to Julian Mitchell yesterday.” The words came out in a rush, then Collins nodded and hurried past Rex, who was now frowning fiercely.
Lucas and Mitchell? Why the devil would they need to speak? And where had Collins seen them? Rex had no idea where Lucas was, but…
Mary was stirring beside him.
“Michael?” she murmured, awareness returning to her eyes, which had been hazed with erotic anticipation. Before she could ask anything else, Rex bent his head down to catch her lips. Later, he would find Collins and question him more. Right now, he was going to finish what he and Mary had started. Collins, Mitchell, Lucas… they would all keep until later.
“Come, petal.” He drew her onward, his cock already recovering from the brief interruption. Running his hand up to the back of her neck, he toyed with the little curls that had escaped from the knot of her hair and felt her shiver in response. Like him, she easily fell back into her aroused mindset. “Let us find somewhere we can be alone.”
Having an audience had never bothered him, though it did not particularly titillate him, either, but with Mary… he did not want to share, and she did not seem disappointed over his search for privacy.
It took only two tries to find an empty room. None of the doors were allowed to be locked during a Society event, especially not after the contretemps with Mitchell, but a closed door meant the occupants did not welcome additional participants or viewers. Someone might peek in, for safety’s sake and to ensure everything was as it should be, but they would do no more than that.
Closing the door behind him, Rex led Mary over to the chaise on the far side of the room.
“Close your eyes,” he murmured, setting her to stand in front of the chaise. With a deep breath, she followed his order, and Rex circled around her, his fingers lightly touching her exposed skin. The gown she was wearing was soft, the amber color appealing against her hair and skin, and—most importantly—it was easily removed. Wearing nothing underneath, Rex could see her nipples puckering, pressing against the fabric. Dropping his hand, he rubbed the little buds through the material, and she whimpered. “What did you like most about what you saw? No, do not open your eyes. Just tell me.”
The blush in her cheeks deepened. Reaching down to readjust his cock, he moved the hard length to a more comfortable position while he continued to tease them both. Passing close by her, he breathed across the back of her neck, and she moaned before answering him.
“Wondering what it felt like.” Her voice was a husky whisper. “Imagining us in their place.”
“Did you want the audience?” he asked, gut tightening. If it was what she desired, he would arrange it, but he would not like it.
“No… I do not think so,” she answered, and his tension relaxed. Standing before her, Rex curved his finger under her breasts and around each nipple. Mary arched her back, thrusting her chest out toward him, silently begging for more. He gave each nipple a harsh pinch, holding tightly enough, she went up on her toes, and he kept his hold rather than releasing them quickly. Her lips parted, panting for breath. “Yes… that… and…”
“The whip?”
She shuddered. “Maybe?”
Rex had to smile. He was no hardened sadist, and despite her enjoyment of a bite of pain, Mary’s threshold for it was not particularly high by the Society standards. They suited each other admirably in that way.
“I think I liked watching and imagining more than I would enjoy the reality of the whip,” she admitted, her eyes opening to meet his, a hint of worry in them as if she thought he would be disappointed. Rex smiled, tightening his hold on her nipples, then releasing them.
“I prefer using my hand,” he said, pulling her in and bowing her back for a passionate kiss.
Mary
Her breasts were crushed against his body while his lips devoured hers, nipples throbbing from the sharp hold Michael had used. Mary kissed him back fiercely, her kindled passion flaring with need. Running his hands down her arms, Michael pressed them behind her back, taking complete control of her body. With an easy flick of his fingers, he undid the buttons on the bodice of her dress and released her wrists long enough for the dress to fall from her curves, letting it pool around her on the floor.
Although used to being naked before him, Mary was aware of the people moving through the halls beyond the door, the occasional cries that were audible even through the walls, reminding her that they were not alone, and someone could walk in at any moment. The possibility made her anxious but excited, especially knowing no one would think twice about anything they saw.
Unwinding his cravat from around his throat, Michael looped it around her wrists, and Mary’s breathing came faster as her helplessness increased. Heat pooled between her thighs in anticipation. While she loved him holding her in place, binding her hands allowed him to do so many other devious things to her.
“On the chaise,” he murmured, using his hands to direct her where he wanted her—facing the back of the chaise, where he used the ends of the cravat to tie her wrists to the ornate decoration there. With her back to him, Mary could not see what he was doing without craning her neck over her shoulder.
With her knees well apart to help her balance on the chaise, bottom high in the air, she knew he could see every part of her—her creamy cheeks, the wet lips of her pussy, and the little crinkled hole he was so intent on exploring. Fingers traced the center of her bottom, over that little hole before dipping between her swollen folds to tease her clit.
Gasping, Mary tilted her hips back, seeking more contact, but Rex pulled his hand away… then brought it down on her right buttock with a short, crisp swat. The sting flared and faded, but his hand was already delivering a similar blow to the opposite side of her bottom—back and forth, heating her cheeks, occasionally pausing to tease her clitoris before returning to the erotic spanking. This was not punishment but pleasure, the sting melding with her growing passion, feeding the fiery ecstasy flickering along her senses.
“Michael… please…” Mary begged, not because she wanted him to stop the spanking, so much as she wanted him inside her. A flurry of short, sharp swats followed her plea, leaving her gasping and writhing, her senses humming for more.
Then he was there, sliding into her from behind, his hands gripping her hips as he thrust in hard and deep, filling her completely. Mary cried out in pleasure, her body rejoicing at the sensation, clamping down around him in eager anticipation. His hands slid up her sides to her breasts, fingers once more closing around her nipples in a harsh pinch while his cock dragged out of her, then shoved in.
Using her breasts for leverage, the tugging on her nipples approximated what she had seen in the other room, making the tiny buds tingle and spark. Rex rolled them between his fingers, tormenting the sensitive nubbins, while he rode her with slow, smooth strokes that filled her over and over.
Moaning, Mary pushed back against him, her body aquiver with the burgeoning rapture, her pussy fluttering with the first ripples of her oncoming climax. Moving harder, faster, Rex’s hands on her breasts grew rougher. Mary cried out as the pleasure and pain crashed against each other, a complex chorus of conflicting sensations that amplified each other until she did not know where one began and the other left off.
“Michael!” she cried out in abject passion, body throbbing and clenching around him. She heard him groan her name before thrusting fully into her pussy, his cock pulsing with his own orgasm only a few moments behind hers.
Chapter 23
/> Rex
Watching his wife eat her breakfast, a dreamy expression on her face as she stared into nothing, Rex allowed himself a certain amount of male smugness. He was the one who put that expression on her face. Last night had been supremely satisfying for both of them.
Unfortunately, thinking about the night prior also reminded him of the thought he had been avoiding—Collins’ report about seeing Lucas with Mitchell.
He understood why Collins had felt the need to tell him, though it was just as likely Collins had done so because he was hoping to cause Lucas trouble. Consorting with Mitchell would not be enough to remove Lucas from the club, but it did make Rex question what was going on with his friend. The situation was exacerbated by the question of a traitor within the Society, but even without that, Rex would have wondered.
What could Lucas possibly want with Mitchell? Rex liked to think Mitchell had approached Lucas, only to be rebuffed, but he could not be sure. It irked that he could not simply call upon Lucas and find out. Perhaps he should call upon Collins and ask where he had seen the pair. Somewhere disreputable, likely. Lucas had not been showing his face anywhere respectable of late.
“I must get dressed,” Mary said, getting to her feet. “Josie and Lily will be here any minute.”
“They will?” Rex asked blankly, his thoughts having to do an abrupt turn to remember what she was talking about.
Mary smiled, pausing to kiss his cheek as she passed on her way out of the dining room.
“We are going shopping.”
“Right, right.” Now he recalled. Watching her go, he smiled. Once his wife’s skirts had whisked out the door, it was only a few moments before the happy expression faded from his lips, his thoughts turning to dwell on Lucas. At some point, he would need to tell Mary she may be correct about her suspicions… but he owed it to Lucas to talk to him first. He just needed to find the damn man.
That was something he could attend to this morning since Mary was otherwise occupied, though he had no idea where to start. It was too early in the day to call on Carlisle’s home, the gambling hells would certainly be closed by now, and if Lucas had arrived back at his own home, Barnes would have sent a message. Ambling into his study, Rex idly pulled out his map of London, trying to figure out where Lucas might have gone to ground.
He was still sitting, pondering his next move when he heard Mary’s friends arrive and her leave. The house felt emptier with her gone. This was the first time they were spending time apart since their wedding day. How odd to feel a little bereft at her absence.
Married life was not at all what he had expected—it was far, far better. Even if his enthrallment with his wife was not fading as he had thought it would. Given how much he was enjoying himself, he did not particularly care if it ever did. He also thought he was well on the way to winning her love and loyalty. Which made him feel a bit badly about not discussing Lucas with her, but he would… eventually. Once he knew more.
Half an hour later, he was still pondering Lucas, the Society, and possible treason, wandering round his house… mostly the front of the house. Not because he was waiting for Mary’s return. He just happened to feel like walking about the front rather than the back. Which was why he heard the banging on the door before Cormack did.
Welcoming a distraction and hoping it was a message from Barnes about Lucas, Rex hurried to answer it. His eyes widening, he frowned when he recognized Captain Jones on his doorstep with another man standing beside him, both of them blankly serious.
“Gentlemen.” Rex raised his eyebrows, cock his head. “What can I do for you?”
“You can answer some questions for us,” the stranger said, pushing the door open and out of Rex’s hands, aggressively barreling forward.
Rather than giving way, Rex lashed out. While pugilism was not his favored sport, he was proficient, big, and strong enough to make a serious impact when he did. To his shock, the stranger caught his fist, turning and pulling Rex forward, neatly trapping him between Captain Jones and the stranger who was now standing in Rex’s foyer.
“Anthony—” Captain Jones started to say, pulling the other man’s eyes up. Having regained his balance and seriously riled by the invasion of his home, Rex took advantage of his distraction, quickly slamming his fist into the other man’s gut. Rather than softness, he met hard muscle and heard the man’s soft ‘oof’ before an elbow caught Rex across his chin. “Bloody hell, you two, stop!”
Hands pulled them apart, and Rex glowered at the stranger, this Anthony, who glared back at him. As tall as Jones and only an inch or two shorter than Rex, he had dark hair and eyes and a heavy jaw. He was dressed like a gentleman, despite his behavior. Rex did not recognize him, but that did not necessarily mean he was not of the ton. Like Jones, he had the bearing of a soldier, and it was entirely possible their paths had never crossed before. Rex would be perfectly happy if they never did again.
“I do not like uninvited guests in my home,” he growled, directing his words at Jones.
“We need to speak with you on behalf of White Hall,” Jones said imperiously. Rex groaned, stepping back so he could see Jones without turning his back on Anthony. “This is Captain Anthony Browne, who is going to apologize for his rudeness.”
There was a moment, then Browne shrugged.
“Sorry,” he said shortly, not sounding anything of the sort, eyeing Rex with hostility. Jones made a derisive snorting noise, shaking his head in disgust at his companion and shutting Rex’s door behind him.
“Please excuse him, Rex, we have had a frustrating few days. I am hoping you will be able to help us.”
“You should tell Stuart he would have done better to just send you. Or Elijah.” Rex deliberately turned away from them both. If Browne was the type to attack from behind, he doubted Jones would stand for it, not if they needed Rex, for whatever reason. “I suppose you might as well come in then.”
“How did you know about Elijah?” Browne asked suspiciously. Rex ignored him, striding down the hall. Cormack was hurrying toward him, probably worried about having missed the door.
“Sorry, my lord, I was in the back with Mrs. Maple… Captain Browne?” Cormack’s eyes widened when he looked past Rex to see their guests, perplexing Rex even more. Grinding to a halt, he turned to see Browne squinting at Cormack as if trying to place him. “Nah, you would not remember me, but you saved my regiment when we were on our way to Waterloo.” Real gratitude was in his voice.
“Ah, the almost-ambush,” Browne said, relaxing and smiling back at Rex’s butler. “I do remember. You were the singer.”
Cormack shrugged, clearly embarrassed, his voice gruff when he answered. “Aye, that was me.” Then his expression changed. “What are you doing here, though?”
“Investigating Lord Hartford,” Browne said as Jones answered at the same time.
“Requesting Rex’s help.” Exasperated, Jones turned to glare at Browne. “Elijah and I both told you, Rex has nothing to do with this.” Cormack’s jaw dropped open in shock.
“I am glad to hear the two of you vouched for me,” Rex murmured. He gestured. “Follow me, gentlemen, and we can talk. Cormack, you should come, too.” If for no other reason than Rex wanted to know more about this Captain Browne.
Mary
Being out with her friends rather than with her large and impossible-to-ignore husband by her side felt almost odd. She had become so used to him looming over her shoulder, the missing presence made her a touch anxious. Doing her best to ignore the unsettling reaction, Mary did her best to be distracted by her friends.
“Elijah? Truly?” Josie whispered, sounding scandalized, horrified, and perhaps a bit intrigued. “I know Rex said he had joined the club, but I cannot imagine him…” Her eyes unfocused for a moment as she made the attempt to imagine him in the position Mary had described.
“What do you think of this bonnet?” Lily asked. Unlike Josie, she was not particularly interested in Elijah’s exploits. She had listened agog to Mary’s de
scription but did not dwell.
“The orange ribbon against the cream is very fetching,” Mary said, leaning forward to inspect the fashionable construction. Beside her, Josie made a noise of aggravation.
“How can you two talk bonnets when—” She was loud enough, Lily shushed her as the shopkeeper looked in their direction, thankfully prompting Josie to lower her voice to a more discreet whisper. “When Elijah did… that… last night with a woman.” Color rose in her cheeks.
“Why should I care what Elijah does?” Lily asked, appearing confused. She was still holding the bonnet. “We came in here so I could buy a hat.”
Mary stifled a giggle when Josie scowled. Grumbling under her breath, Josie swung away, looking at the other offerings in the store while Mary and Lily discussed the benefits of the cream bonnet with its orange ribbon on Lily’s coloring. Once Lily had decided to purchase the bonnet and made her way to the shop keeper, Josie came back around to where Mary was standing, looking perturbed.
“Do you… do you think Joseph is like Elijah?” Josie whispered. Mary blinked. She had not even considered…
“I cannot picture that,” she said, shaking her head.
“Well, that is what I thought about Elijah.” Josie frowned. Mary thought Josie might be hoping Joseph’s inclinations ran along the same lines as his brothers’. Even more than Lily, Josie had been fascinated by Mary’s descriptions of the Society’s perversities. Mary had the sneaking suspicion they appealed as much to her friend as they did to her. With Lily, it was harder to tell, but she didn’t ask Mary to stop any of her descriptions, and she listened with interest.
“I have more trouble picturing Joseph,” Mary murmured. In truth, there was something about Elijah that reminded her of Rex. Not just his bossiness, but his general demeanor. In many ways, they were two peas in a pod. Joseph, on the other hand, did not have that same air of command. Mary had always attributed it to Elijah being the heir, but perhaps there was more to it than that.
