How the Lady Charmed the Marquess

by Laura A. Barnes

  “So that proves to you I am Charlotte?”

  “Yes.”

  “How so?”

  “Because, my dear, your eyes are begging me to kiss your lips.”

  “Utter nonsense,” Charlotte sighed, as Jasper brushed his lips across hers.

  Jasper couldn’t help himself. His jealously fueled the desire to stake his claim on her. To let Charlotte understand that he meant to pursue her. Before Duncan Forrester arrived and Charlotte clung to the earl’s side, he'd been about to approach her to apologize for his behavior. But when she greeted Duncan like a long-lost love, he wanted to slug the man. When Lady Forrester paired him with Charlotte, he'd tried to calm his temper, but the wink Duncan sent Charlotte and her giggle only angered Jasper more.

  Jasper had intended to find them a room for privacy and forget the game. He wanted to confront Charlotte on her behavior and discover how deeply she was involved with Forrester. But when Charlotte’s eyes darkened at his touch, all he wanted to do was to taste her.

  One brush across her lips wasn’t enough. He desired to savor her lips for an endless amount of time. Jasper slid his tongue inside her mouth, stroking it along hers. With each touch, she responded. Jasper growled and pulled her into his arms. Charlotte slid her hands around his neck, fingers sinking into his hair, pulling his head closer. Their mouths pressed to each other, desperate to quench their thirst.

  Charlotte clung to Jasper, his kisses stealing her sanity away. Each time they parted to draw a breath, their lips would lock again. Whenever Jasper kissed her, he overtook her senses, where the only thing Charlotte wanted was him. Ever since this house party started, Jasper had been hot and cold with her. She no longer knew where she stood with him. At this moment, the heat overwhelmed her. She only wanted more. But more would never be enough with Jasper Sinclair.

  Jasper pulled away, brushing his thumb across Charlotte’s lips. Charlotte's eyes fluttered open.

  “That, my dear, is how I know you are Charlotte. Charlotte makes the very air whoosh from my lungs. Charlotte makes me want to kiss her senseless. Charlotte makes me want to shower her with affections.” Jasper paused, lowering his head to whisper in her ear. “Charlotte makes me want to lay her on my bed and worship her body with kisses before making her mine.”

  “Oh my.”

  Jasper would have laughed at the affect his words had on Charlotte if he weren’t so consumed with such conflicting emotions. As from before, Charlotte’s kisses overtook all rational thought. His only clear thought was his need for her. Even though holding her in his arms Charlotte’s body displayed her desire for him, Jasper's jealously over Forrester stayed forefront in his mind.

  He reached behind her and turned the knob on the door. Jasper looked inside and noted the storage room. He urged Charlotte inside and closed the door. The door held no lock. He stepped away and located an old chair, propping it under the knob. Jasper wanted a few moments alone with Charlotte with no interruptions. After he'd had a few questions cleared and he'd stated his intentions toward Charlotte, they would resume the scavenger hunt.

  Glancing around, he saw unused furniture covered in sheets. The servants had drawn the drapes to keep the sun from fading the woodwork. An old table sat in the corner with crates of dishes and candlesticks. Oriental rugs were rolled up and leaning against the wall. He walked over to a couch and took off the cloth covering it.

  Charlotte stood next to the door, her eyes darting everywhere but at him. He wanted to put her at ease. Walking to her side, he offered his arm. Jasper escorted Charlotte to the settee and stepped back. He paced one length of the room before he blurted out.

  “Are you in love with Duncan Forrester?”

  Charlotte’s laughter only made him pace again. She never answered him, the laughter growing uncontrollable. Her body tilted, while she clutched at her sides. Jasper frowned at her.

  Charlotte couldn’t help herself. Jasper’s question was ridiculous. Duncan and her? No, Duncan was her brother-in-arms. Was Jasper jealous of Duncan’s attention when he arrived? Did their attraction to each other confuse Jasper as much as it did her?

  “Well, are you?” Jasper demanded, standing in front of her with his hands clenched in fists at his side.

  Charlotte took pity on him. She reached out, wrapping her hands around one of his fists, prying his fingers loose. Her fingers stroked his to lay flat against her palm.

  “No, Jasper, I am not in love with Duncan. At least, not in the way you think.”

  “Yet, you love him?”

  “Yes, but only as a cousin or a brother. Nothing more.”

  Charlotte intertwined their fingers and smiled at him. Jasper breathed a sigh of relief. As he replayed Charlie’s greeting to Duncan, he saw it for what it was. Brotherly affection.

  Charlie tugged on Jasper’s hand, bringing him closer. Jasper sat down next to her. Charlie shouldn’t be so bold, but she wanted to kiss Jasper now more than anything. She leaned over and brushed her lips against his.

  “Charlie, we must talk.”

  “Shh, in a minute.”

  She only wanted one little taste before Jasper got all serious on them. She wanted him reckless, drawing her deeper into his passion. Charlie wanted Jasper to unravel under her touch.

  She slid her tongue across his lips. Slowly back and forth, then inside, tasting Jasper. He sat still, returning her kiss, but letting her take control. Her strokes grew bolder, staking her need. With each groan from Jasper, Charlie’s doubts of inexperience evaporated. She followed her instincts instead. Her hands stroked along his chest, her fingers slipping his buttons undone. Charlie's hand slipped inside his shirt, her fingers trailing over his firm chest, sliding lower. She wanted to touch more of him.

  Charlie’s touch drove Jasper wild. Her innocent exploration only heightened his need. He needed to stop this before it got any further out of hand than it already was. But her kisses were too delicious, and not to mention what the soft stroke of her hand did to him. If Charlie slid her hand any lower, she would find out for herself. When her hand moved past his stomach and her fingers slid inside the placket of his trousers, Jasper pulled back, grasping her hands.

  “Charlie, this is madness.”

  “Is it?” she whispered.

  Jasper looked at Charlie lying sprawled across the settee while he rose above her. Her cheeks were a light pink, her lips plump from their kisses, and her hair lay in disarray from his hands. He hadn’t even realized he ran his fingers through her hair, so lost in their passion. While her dress was still intact, it showed the wrinkles from his hold. His eyes trailed the length of her, noting the effect of his touch. Before he stopped himself, he brushed his thumb across a hardened nipple straining against the dress. Jasper raised his gaze, taking in Charlie’s fluttered lashes. Not once did her eyes close; instead the emerald depths stared back boldly asking for him to continue.

  “Yes,” Jasper groaned.

  His mouth devoured her, drawing out the madness. His hand slid inside her dress to stroke the bud between his fingers. Jasper removed his hand and unbuttoned her dress. He slid it off Charlie’s shoulders, pooling it around her waist. Her linen chemise was held with thin straps that came off her shoulders without the support of the dress. Charlie watched him in anticipation and he didn’t make her wait long.

  Jasper lowered the chemise, displaying her breasts. The pale globes beckoned him closer. The rosy tips begged for his mouth. Jasper no longer thought of their need to talk, or to make sense of this madness. His only thought was how to please the woman underneath him. His lips trailed a blaze down Charlie’s neck to settle between her breasts. Jasper caressed them, his fingers tracing the contours of Charlie. When his tongue traced lightly over the pebbles, Charlie moaned. Charlie’s fingers slid into his hair as he drew a bud into his mouth and sucked softly. He sucked harder, and Charlie gripped his head to her breasts. Jasper had held no clue to his starvation for this woman. But now that Jasper realized the impact she had, he would no longer deny
himself.

  Jasper pulled Charlie underneath him, laying them the length of the settee. She slid his jacket off his shoulders, untying the cravat. The silk fell from her fingers when Jasper’s teeth scraped across her nipples. Charlie arched her back, her body begging for Jasper’s devotion. Charlie never imagined a man could make her feel so free, so uninhibited. For that man to be Jasper only heightened her senses. He was the only man who ever pushed her past her safety net. It was only fitting that he would be the man to make her fly. When his hand traveled up her legs and his finger slid up and down her closed thighs, Charlie’s curiosity got the better of her. She spread her legs open, welcoming his touch.

  His heat consumed her when his touch became bolder. Jasper swept his thumb across her core, settling against her clit. Slowly brushing back and forth, building an ache inside Charlie. When he slid a finger inside her, his mouth clenched on her nipple again. Charlie felt her body floating at the divine sensation. She opened her legs wider, sinking into the pleasure.

  Charlie was softness, strong, wantonness, innocence all rolled into one amazing lady. Her curiosity from the pleasure he showed her allowed her to be free with her body. Yet, it was her inexperience that turned Jasper from a gentleman into a man possessed.

  Jasper sunk his fingers into her wetness, while his mouth loved her breasts. He slid another finger into her tightness. Her pussy gripped him while he slid them in and out, her wetness clinging. Her moans were music to Jasper’s ears, soothing his jealous anger. Jasper pulled his mouth away from her breasts, watching his fingers slide in and out of her fiery core. He only wanted to savor her sweetness. Then he would stop this madness.

  When he lowered his head, Charlie asked, “Jasper?”

  He didn’t answer her. Instead, he placed a soft kiss on her wetness, his tongue tracing a path back and forth. Only one treat would not do. He hungered for the full course of Charlotte Holbrooke. His fingers drove in and out as his mouth consumed Charlie’s heat.

  He heard Charlie mutter, “Yes, madness.”

  She had no idea, but Jasper planned to show her. His mouth was relentless on bringing her to the brink of their madness. When his tongue lingered on her clit with forceful strokes, he felt her unraveling around him. Jasper drew his fingers away, replacing them with his tongue. Charlie’s hands drifted down to his head, holding him to her. He pressed his tongue in deeper as her hips swayed into him. With a flick of his tongue, Charlie came undone. He raised his head to watch her give herself to him. Her gaze never wavered. He saw every emotion. Pleasure. Desire. Need. Love. That last emotion should scare him. However, it didn’t.

  Her fingers drifted to his lips. He kissed them and rose to place a softer kiss upon her lips. Her lips clung to his as he slowly drew the kiss out. Jasper gathered Charlie in his arms and held her. Neither one of them spoke. The reason for bringing Charlie into the room, forgotten. He wished to spend the afternoon in each other’s arms. Jasper flirted with the danger of them being caught. Their absence wouldn’t go unnoticed.

  Jasper pulled away and started putting Charlotte’s dress back into place. Once she sat before him looking like an innocent debutante, he slid his clothes back together. Charlotte tilted her head, giving him a questioning look that he didn’t know how to answer. He moved to the mirror propped against the wall. With a few quick flicks, he made his cravat presentable. He stalled, messing with his clothes.

  Charlie would expect a declaration of some sort. One he wasn’t ready to make. His feelings toward the minx had changed. But he still didn’t understand the emotions she brought forth. Jasper jumped when her palm rested on his shoulder. He hadn't heard her coming closer.

  “Jasper?”

  Before he could answer Charlie, the doorknob rattled. Charlie's eyes jumped to his. He placed his fingers to her mouth for silence. Then he moved and pressed his body against the door. The voices in the hallway broke out in an argument.

  “Selina, my lass, come away from the door. It is time we met the others in the parlor, the game is about over.”

  “I am not your lass,” Selina gritted between her teeth.

  “Not for now, at least.”

  “Not now or ever.”

  “Ah, ever is such a long time. I love myself a challenge, though.”

  “You barbarian Scot, I am your cousin’s betrothed.”

  “A minor issue to overcome.”

  “Does your lust have no bounds? When you first arrived, your possessive display toward Charlotte Holbrooke shocked the room,” Selina sneered.

  “No need to be jealous, lass. You hold my heart. Now come away from the door, so we can join the rest of the party.”

  “I am not jealous, you fool. I only want to prove how little miss innocent Charlotte is not as innocent as she portrays. Sinclair snuck her away into this room. Probably for a secret tryst. What is even more hilarious is that, he plays with both sisters. I saw him sneak away with Evelyn into the woods during the pall-mall game. When she returned with her hair mussed, he was nowhere to be found.”

  “You are a vindictive shrew, Selina Pemberton, to take pleasure from other’s misfortunes.”

  The knob rattled with more force and the door shook. Charlie stared wide-eyed at Jasper while he tried barring Selina’s entrance. Charlie had thought they had been careful and no one realized their indiscretions. If Selina spread any rumors, would anyone believe her? If not, who else had seen them alone?

  “Let me go, you Scottish heathen.”

  As quickly as their time was interrupted, silence descended on them. Charlie moved to come closer to the door, but Jasper held up a hand to stop her. She paused, waiting. Then through the closed panel they listened to a resounding slap.

  “How dare you?” Selina screeched.

  Then the only sounds were of Selina’s footsteps stomping away. A loud chuckle echoed from the hallway. Duncan knocked, letting them know it was safe to come out, then he spoke to them through the door.

  “I am going to turn a blind eye to the fact you are alone in the room with Charlie, Sinclair. If you do not make right by her, I will make sure you do. Charlie, my girl, you owe me a favor. On the other hand, I might owe you.”

  They listened to Duncan walk away. Charlie turned to the mirror that Jasper had used. She fussed with her hair. Duncan’s threat hung heavy between them. Charlie didn’t want Jasper forced into anything he didn’t want to be regarding her. She wanted him to choose her and make a grand gesture. They had to return to the others before Selina sent a search party after them. When she turned around, Jasper waited by the door. He had moved the chair away and was waiting for them to leave. Charlie picked up the basket with the list. She glanced at the list and knew where to locate some of the items quickly.

  “Charlie, we need to talk.”

  She nodded.

  “Will you meet me tonight at midnight at your special spot?”

  Charlie was about to nod when she remembered she promised to meet Duncan there at the same time. She couldn’t call off Duncan, he would be too suspicious. If Duncan found out she was meeting Sinclair instead, he would attempt to protect her virtue. She didn’t want the men to have a confrontation.

  “I cannot get away then. Can we meet at dawn for a ride? None of the guests will rise that early.”

  “I shall await your company with much impatience.” Jasper brushed a tendril of hair away from her face. “I am not playing you false, Charlotte. I aim to prove it to you.”

  Charlotte nodded, stepping away from him. Jasper’s touch invoked too many desires. She needed to part from him before she threw herself at him again. Charlotte was not safe alone in the company of Jasper Sinclair. Their attraction sizzled between them, causing Charlotte to abandon all rational thought.

  Jasper noticed Charlotte’s nervousness and mistook it for embarrassment at almost getting caught. He wanted to ease her fears, but knew their time was limited before someone found them. Jasper cracked open the door and noted the empty hallway before ushering Charlotte out.
She held the list up and took off. The only thing Jasper could do was to follow her. She impressed him by finding a few items quickly, filling their basket. Soon they heard the tinkling of the bell, signaling the end of the game. Jasper continued to follow Charlotte at a discreet distance, not wanting to cause any gossip.

  When they entered the parlor, Charlotte glanced over her shoulder offering him a shy smile. A blush spread gracefully across her cheeks. She hurried over to her sisters and friends, laughing at them over the game. He stood there smiling like a besotted fool. Jasper turned to leave the room and ran into Charlie’s uncle and Forrester. Forrester glared at him, reinstating his threat. However, the Duke of Colebourne gave him a smile of approval. Did Forrester tell the old man of his suspicions?

  Chapter Ten

  Charlie snuck out of the house into the darkness, heading to her secret destination. She had promised Evelyn she would be careful and assured her that no one would discover her missing. Charlie risked getting caught, especially since the house had not quieted yet for the night. The ladies had taken themselves to their bedrooms, but the gentlemen decided on a late night game of cards and billiards. Uncle Theo’s entertainment room was grand enough for a billiards table and some gaming tables. Before she slipped out of the house, she heard the gentlemen’s raucous laughter and saw the billow of smoke floating out of the room. Their loudness could only be due to the amount of spirits consumed. After dinner, while they waited for the gentlemen to join them, Aunt Susanna made the comment of the gentlemen growing bored with country life to her elderly companions. Then one of the other ladies made a comment about sowing wild oats. A confusing comment Charlie would ask Duncan to explain once they met up.

  Once Charlie reached her destination, she swung on the low branch and made her way up a few more. Leaning against the base of the tree, she brought one leg up under her chin, while the other swung lazily back and forth. She looked toward the house and noted the many windows with lights ablaze. It would appear the gentlemen were not the only restless ones. Charlie wondered what Jasper was doing right now. Did he join the gentlemen for a night of relaxation? Or did he lie in bed? Did he think of her as she was of him? Throughout dinner, he'd occupied her thoughts with every glance. She didn’t even remember who she sat and talked with during the meal. Even now she couldn’t stop thinking about him and imagining what other delights he’d pleasure her with.