Vexing the Viscount

by Christie Kelley

  “Because you are a woman and White’s is strictly for men.”

  “Oh.” She supposed she should have known that. But there weren’t any men’s clubs in the Midlands of which she was aware.

  He squeezed her hand. “You wouldn’t have known that. I apologize.”

  “How do people learn all this?” she asked quietly. Back home, she always felt quite intelligent. But here? She was completely ignorant of some of the most basic of information. She didn’t belong here. Perhaps it was time to accept that fact and return home.

  “It’s no different than how you were raised.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “You were raised by a woman who made you read books on herbs, taught you how to set a bone, birth a baby, and help an elderly person pass comfortably to the afterlife. The women here are made to read Debrett’s to learn every peer’s name, how to converse about the weather, and other unimportant things so as not to look too intelligent in front of a prospective husband. Personally, I would rather have a conversation with you than any of the women of Society.”

  “You would?”

  He stared down at her with a smile. “Of course.”

  Sneaking a look up at him, she sighed. If she returned to the estate, she would miss him terribly. How was it possible that she would miss him? But she would. That was the most ridiculous thought ever. She barely knew him.

  But she was discovering that he wasn’t the man she’d assumed he was from all the rumors. He certainly wasn’t heartless. She had a terrible feeling that she was falling in love with him.

  “What is wrong?” he asked. “You have gone quite pale.”

  “N—nothing,” she muttered.

  “Tia . . .”

  Thankfully, the carriage slowed to a stop in front of his home. As soon as she could, she scrambled down with his help and rushed into the house. “Good afternoon, Nelson,” she said and continued up the stairs to her room.

  She ripped off her bonnet and gloves, tossing them on a nearby chair. Then she paced. And paced. She couldn’t be in love with him, she told herself. That just wasn’t possible. She wasn’t that naïve. She knew nothing could come of it. His offer of marriage was only to ease his guilt for breaking his vow. Nothing more!

  A knock halted her stride. Assuming it was Mrs. Abbott, she said, “Come in.”

  She turned away from the door and continued her pacing. It took a few seconds to realize just how quiet Mrs. Abbot was this afternoon. Tia turned and found Middleton with his back against the door and his arms folded over his chest.

  “What are you doing in my room unannounced?”

  “You told me to come in,” he said with a smirk.

  “I thought you were Mrs. Abbott.” God, why wouldn’t he leave? The longer he stood there sending her those smoldering looks, the more her thoughts turned sensual. And she shouldn’t—no, wouldn’t—let her mind go there.

  “There are usually only two reasons women pace in their bedchambers.” He tilted his head slightly.

  “Oh? Only two? I can think of many reasons a woman might wish to pace in her room,” Tia retorted. Perhaps if she could summon her anger at him, then she wouldn’t think about stripping off his jacket and shirt so she could run her fingernails down his chest.

  “The first is that she is not telling her lover something important.”

  “You are not my lover,” she countered.

  “Then it must be the obvious.” He stepped away from the door, slowly stalking her. His blue eyes shimmered.

  She took a step back for each he went forward. “What is obvious?”

  He continued to pursue her until she felt the wall behind her. He smiled at her predicament. “The only other reason for a woman to wear a carpet so thin is frustration.”

  “What frustration?” He couldn’t possibly know her thoughts.

  “Frustration of a carnal nature,” he whispered near her ear.

  She shivered when his lips plucked little kisses around her ear. “I believe you might be wrong about that.”

  “Am I?” He trailed kisses down her jaw.

  “What about your vow?” she whispered hoarsely. She couldn’t want this again. Well, she shouldn’t want this again.

  “We have already discussed that.” He kissed just both corners of her mouth before bringing his hard lips down on hers.

  Resist him, her conscience screamed at her. But she didn’t want to resist him. Slowly, she opened her mouth for him, letting his tongue find hers. The heat of his mouth on hers made her melt against him.

  He broke the kiss and stared down at her with those penetrating eyes. “Do you have any idea how much I want you right now?”

  Emboldened by the desire she would see in his eyes, she placed her hand on his trouser-covered cock and stroked him. “I believe I do.”

  “Tia,” he groaned as he ripped off his jacket. “If you weren’t so inexperienced I would take you against the wall right now.”

  “Against the wall?” The image that came to her mind excited her, sending moisture to her folds. “How?”

  “God, I love your curiosity.” He backed her against the wall again and then lifted her up. “Put your legs around my hips.”

  She wrapped her legs around him. Feeling the pressure of his bulge against her, she whispered, “Oh, yes, please, Braden. Like this.”

  Braden groaned. He couldn’t do this to her yet, no matter how much his body wanted him to sink into her wetness right this second. “You’re so new at this, Tia. It might be too much.”

  “Now,” she said as she rubbed herself against him.

  “No,” he said. He wrapped his arms around her back and carried her to the bed. “I am going to make love to you . . . properly.”

  A slight look of disappointment crossed her eyes. “You don’t have to be such a gentleman with me.”

  He tore at his clothing until he was naked. Slowly, he knelt over her. “You make me want to be a gentleman for a change.”

  She blinked her eyes quickly, as if attempting to hold back tears. “You shouldn’t say such things,” she whispered.

  He stretched out over her and kissed her sensually. When he broke away from her, he stared into her brown eyes. “I will never be good enough for you, Tia. But I’m going to spend a lifetime trying to be.”

  Before she could utter a sound, he kissed her hard, demanding a response to his passion. Feeling her soft tongue scrape against his sent desire flaring through his body. Her soft moans encouraged him. Skimming his hand down her throat to her bodice, he realized his mistake. With a slight laugh, he pulled away.

  “What is wrong?” she panted.

  “We are doing this all wrong,” he said, rolling off her.

  “We are?”

  Braden rose from the bed and pulled her up with him. “We both really should be naked. Now turn around.”

  She did as he requested and he had her stripped out of her clothing in just a few moments. Standing before him in just her stocking and garters, she shivered from either desire or the room temperature.

  “Sit on the bed so I can remove your stockings.”

  “I can do it.” She reached for the garter, but he pushed her hand away.

  “I will do that.”

  “As you wish.” She sat down on the edge of the bed and waited.

  He quickly untied the first garter and slowly skimmed it down her leg. She released a staggered breath. After undoing the second, he brought his lips down to the soft skin of her thigh. Kissing his way down her leg, he removed the other offending stocking.

  Once the stocking was off, he trailed kisses back up the long length of her leg. When he reached the apex of her thighs, he drew a finger along the crease. Feeling her quiver brought a smile to him. He moved his head between her legs and let his tongue follow the path of his finger.

  “Braden,” she exclaimed. “What are you doing?”

  “Enjoying the taste of you.”

  “Oh,” she said with a sigh.

 
Tia lay back against the bed as his tongue slid between her folds. This couldn’t be right. But it felt so good. Her body tingled from the sensations. She felt a finger probe her entrance before sliding into her. Her heart pounded in her chest as he continued bringing her closer to the edge. As he stroked her harder, his finger sliding inside and out of her, her every nerve drew taut.

  “Braden,” she screamed as release finally washed over her. Her entire body shook from the powerful climax. “Oh, my God,” she whispered.

  He crawled back on the bed and kissed her softly, the taste of her still on his lips. Slowly, he kissed her neck, drawing gooseflesh to her arms. When he reached her breasts, he stared down at them for a long moment before plucking a tight nipple into his mouth. Instantly, her body reacted and readied for more.

  She moaned as his mouth moved to the other nipple, eager for his attention. She reached for his hard cock and stroked it softly until he groaned.

  “You are driving me mad,” he whispered, staring down at her.

  “Good,” she replied with a slight smile.

  He moved away from her reach and settled between her legs. Feeling his manhood at her entrance, she tried to relax. She knew it wouldn’t hurt like the first time, still, she had no idea what to expect.

  He entered her slickness gradually, as if testing her comfort level. Her body eased him inside, stretching to accommodate his size. The feeling of fullness was overwhelming.

  “Are you all right?” he asked as he filled her completely.

  “Yes,” she replied with a shiver. “You feel so good inside me.”

  He groaned slightly. “You feel so good around me. You’re so tight and wet. I just want to stay here all night.”

  “It’s still afternoon,” she said with giggle.

  “Exactly.”

  Then he moved slightly and her laughter stopped. Just that minor movement was enough to make her realize how close to the brink she was from his being inside her. This time he slid out of her and then back in. She looked up into his eyes and was lost. She was his in body and spirit. She loved the man.

  Watching his face tighten as he fought off the passion trying to take over his body made her love him more. She lifted her legs and wrapped them around his hips, bringing him deeper inside her. Her body was on fire. Climbing higher with every stroke, she never wanted this to end. But soon, she was at the top with no place to go but over.

  “Yes,” she whispered as she tightened her inner muscles around him.

  “Tia,” he moaned.

  An explosion of color burst upon her. “Braden, oh Braden,” she said, shaking with the emotion and passion sweeping over her body.

  “Tia.” He stroked her twice more before closing his eyes to his own climax.

  He collapsed down on her, his breathing ragged. She wrapped her arms around him, enveloping him in her love. “I love you,” she whispered.

  Chapter 18

  Braden stilled. His breathing all but stopped with her words. She didn’t mean them, of course. Far too many women had spoken words of love in the heat of the moment, only to retract them once morning came and they fully realized whom they had fucked. He would let it go for now. He couldn’t speak words of love to her. Not when he wasn’t certain what he felt for her was anything but six months of pent-up lust.

  He didn’t like red hair and freckles on a woman.

  Did he?

  “Braden?”

  Oh God, she was going to want to talk about this. He supposed he could pretend to have fallen asleep.

  “I know you’re awake.”

  “How could you know such a thing when I’m on top of you?”

  She laughed softly. “Your breathing is much too erratic for a sleeping man.”

  Damn her and her wise woman skills. “Well, you have me there.” He rolled off her and brought her close. Please don’t bring up words of love right now.

  “Is it always that good?”

  Oh, thank God, she wanted to speak of sexual intercourse. “No. Sometimes it’s even better. Were you sore?”

  “No.” She wrapped an arm around his chest. “When can we do that again?” she whispered.

  “After I rest.”

  She looked up at him with worry on her face. “Did this exhaust you? I knew we shouldn’t do such a thing until you were completely healed from the poison. I should let you get some—”

  “Sweetheart, I am well. After making love, it takes some time before a man is ready to do that again.”

  “It does?”

  He smiled at her innocence. “Yes.”

  “I am learning quite a bit about the male anatomy.” She put her head back down on his shoulder.

  “What did you do if someone asked you a question about such things?”

  “I referred them to my mother.”

  He chuckled. “I think I’d prefer you to your mother when discussing such things. She is . . .” His voice trailed off so as not to insult her mother.

  “A termagant?”

  “Now, I wouldn’t have called your mother that,” he said in an innocent tone.

  This time she laughed. “I would. Sometimes I think she scares her patients as well.” She sobered. “Honestly, her patients respect her completely.”

  “I have heard she is excellent at what she does.”

  “Yes,” she said faintly. “Definitely better than me.”

  Braden closed his eyes. He was certain she was thinking back to her patient that died of the belladonna poisoning. If only there was some way of helping her get over her guilt. He rolled her over onto her back and stared down at her. “Have you ever asked your mother if she suffered something similar to what you are going through with that child?”

  She shook her head. “No. How could I? She is the one who told me to let it go and learn from it.”

  He cupped her cheek with his hand. “Sweetheart, you did learn from it. I’m living proof of that.”

  “I know. And you might not be here if I didn’t take my mother’s advice, but letting that little girl’s death go is impossible.”

  He couldn’t imagine the anguish she suffered over this child’s death. He wanted to take away all her pain. Slowly, he brought his head down and kissed her softly. Kissing her warmed his heart in a very unexpected way. He pulled back and stared down at her again. Oh dear God, he loved her.

  The shock was almost too much to bear. He hadn’t loved someone since.... Thankfully, a knock on the bedchamber door interrupted his insane thought process.

  “My lord, Mr. Adams and Mr. Cranborne are here to see you.”

  “I shall be down in a few minutes. Pour them some brandy or tea.”

  “Of course, my lord.”

  Braden kissed the tip of her nose. “I must go. If you would like to join us in the library that would be fine.”

  “Thank you,” she said, before wrapping her arms around his neck and kissing him sweetly.

  “Do that again and I will forgo my friends in lieu of your tempting body.”

  She smiled up at him. “Go speak with them. Let your poor body rest a while longer.”

  She had no idea that his body was nearly ready to go again. “As you wish.”

  Braden dressed quickly and joined his friends in the library. Walking into the room, he said, “Good afternoon. What did you find out?”

  He walked to the corner cabinet and poured a brandy for himself. Both of his friends were already sipping their drinks.

  “Breaking your vow again?” Jack asked before putting his glass on the table.

  “We had this discussion earlier,” Braden reminded him. “We will marry.” Now more than ever he wanted to marry her.

  “Bunworth was at White’s. He told us that Jonathon paid him a visit last night. He said Jonathon attempted to extort some money out of him.”

  Braden scowled. “Did he say why?”

  “No. Nor did he say if he gave Jonathon the money,” Adams replied.

  Braden shook his head. His brother was in a far wo
rse state than he imagined. Why was he trying to extort money from Constance’s husband? Maybe Bunworth was keeping a mistress and Jonathon was trying to protect Constance. “Anything else?”

  “Yes, Bunworth said he was supposed to deliver the money tonight at the Edmondsons’ ball.”

  “Did he now? Hmm, I believe we are all going to a ball tonight,” Braden said.

  Jack shrugged. “Nothing better to do tonight. Are you bringing her along?”

  “No, she would only be a distraction.” And Braden didn’t want her to see how low Jonathon had sunk.

  “A very lovely distraction,” Adams commented.

  “Yes, but a distraction I don’t need when trying to find Jonathon.”

  “She won’t take it well,” Jack added.

  “She is not to know where I am going. I will tell her that it is a club and women are not invited.” And he hoped she would believe his lie.

  Tia sat in the library reading while Braden investigated another potential sighting of Jonathon at another club. She glanced up from her reading and wondered just how many clubs there were in London. Not that it mattered. As a woman, she wouldn’t be allowed entrance to any of them.

  She could hear a slight commotion at the front door, but assumed Nelson would handle the issue. What could she do? She had no authority in this house. Footsteps sounded in the hall.

  “Miss Featherstone, you have a caller,” Nelson announced as he stepped into the room.

  “At this hour?” It was nearly eight.

  “Yes, miss. It is Lady Eldridge.”

  Emily was here! At this hour! Something must be dreadfully wrong. “Where is she?”

  “In the salon.”

  Tia rushed past Nelson and ran down the hall to the salon. “Emily, what is wrong?”

  Emily sat on the edge of the sofa, wearing a beautiful russet silk gown. “It is just as I thought. You and his lordship haven’t heard the news.”

  “Middleton is not at home. What is the news?”

  “Mr. Tavers is supposed to be at the Edmondsons’ ball tonight.”

  Tia tilted her head up toward the ceiling. Of all the nights that Braden had to leave her alone. “What are we going to do?”

  “You are going upstairs right now to dress for a ball.” Emily rose and then yanked on Tia’s arm. “We don’t have much time. The ball has already started and I don’t know how long he will be in attendance.”