Wicked Wager

by Mary Gillgannon

  “Torture you.”

  “Ah, but you did,” she purred. “And now I’m paying you back.”

  She’d been watching him so far, enjoying the signs of his heightening arousal, the way the tension in his face increased with each slow caress. Now she closed her eyes and rested her face against his chest as she grasped his buttocks and gently squeezed. He gave a low groan and his body stiffened. His phallus throbbed against her belly, hot and alive, but she concentrated instead on the feel of his buttocks beneath her fingers. “You remind me of Hero,” she said. “Touching you, I sense your strength and power.”

  He grasped her shoulders. “Ah, but you ride Hero, while soon I will ride you.” His words and his hot breath near her ear sent a delicious thrill through her. Oh, she wanted that, she did. But not yet.

  She ran her hands down his back, then kneaded his buttocks, imagining the thick muscles flexing as he thrust into her. Her insides felt as if she was melting, and she was so aroused it was almost painful. But as badly as she wanted him, she forced herself to hold back, haunted by the idea that they might never do this again. She must focus on every magical moment before it all slipped away.

  But when he gave another agonized groan, she felt pity on him and grasped the pulsing rod of flesh pressing again her belly. He let out a gasp and his body went rigid. She squeezed his warm, solid flesh, experiencing a dazzling sense of power. Each movement of her hands seemed to affect him, and when she fondled the velvety tip she sensed he was on the verge of exploding.

  Indeed, the next moment he spoke in a raw, raspy voice. “Please…I wouldn’t deny you the pleasure of touching me, but I-I can’t bear much more.”

  “But I’ve just started,” she reminded him. “I haven’t yet used my mouth.”

  He let out a curse and drew away from her his expression agonized. “I promise I will let you do that…after…after I’ve found release.”

  She nodded. As enticing as it was to touch him intimately, she couldn’t endure much more either.

  His expression changed, turning somehow…wicked. “If you’re in the mood to explore, we could try making love in a different way.”

  Although she wasn’t certain what he meant, she nodded.

  “Turn around and lean over the bed.”

  She did as he asked, surprised and aroused. At one time she would have considered this position distasteful. But after all the other delightful things he’d taught her, she was intrigued at the thought of doing it the way animals mated. He would be the stallion and she the mare.

  She shivered with expectation as he touched her between her legs, stroking subtly. Rubbing her, making her wet. Now it was her turn to moan. She couldn’t remain still but found herself moving against his provoking fingers. When he slid one inside her, waves of bliss washed over her. And yet…she wanted more.

  Chapter Nineteen

  She was almost ready…Almost. He struggled to restrain his own raging lust. Just a little more. He didn’t want to hurt her, and a woman might find this position uncomfortable if she wasn’t intensely aroused. She was deliciously wet, but he wanted to make her even more so. And he knew exactly how to accomplish that.

  He nudged her legs farther apart. Getting on his knees, he brought his mouth to her sweet, secret opening. She cried out and her whole body convulsed. He nibbled and sucked, laving the delicate folds with his tongue, enjoying the way her hips quivered and writhed. She tasted of desire and intoxicating femininity, and he grew more aroused by the second.

  When he could endure it no longer, he stood. With one hand on her hip and one on his shaft, he pushed into her. She was very tight, and each inch deeper brought more excruciating pressure. When she made a soft moaning cry and began to tremble, he went still. “Are you all right? I’m not hurting you, am I?”

  She shook her head and moaned, as if incapable of speech. In another moment he would be beyond words himself.

  He made slow rocking movements, his control beginning to shatter. As much as he wanted it to last, he could not…could not—As he tumbled off the precipice, he heard her wild, piercing cry and knew she was with him as he fell.

  When Marcus caught his breath, he drew away and collapsed on the bed beside her. Eyes closed, he floated back to earth. When he could finally reason again, he opened his eyes to the blissful vision of her face next to his. He reached out to stroke her cheek. There were no words to describe what he felt at this moment. This piercing tenderness that made his throat tight and his insides ache with love. He couldn’t stop looking at her. He was utterly in awe of her beauty and the magic of what they’d shared.

  ****

  Although he didn’t say the words, Penny saw it in his eyes. This man, this hardened, cynical gamester, was in love with her. The awareness broke her heart. What they’d shared was so rare and precious. How could she bear to destroy it? Surely there was some way to work things out with Adrian.

  But then she thought of the terrible desperation in her cousin’s eyes and the familiar dread returned. She couldn’t gamble with Marcus’s life and be wrong. Thinking of it, she reached out for him. He drew her close. With her head on his chest, she listened to his heart beat and pretended this moment would last forever.

  ****

  Marcus woke to near darkness, with only a faint hint of summer twilight filtering in the window. At some point they’d gotten under the covers but Penny was still curled against him. The feel of her silky warmth made him almost instantly hard. Should he wake her? He wanted to make love to her again and he’d promised to let her pleasure him more. Mmmm. What further delightful ways might she find to tease and tantalize him?

  But she was sleeping so peacefully now that he hated to disturb her. He lay there a while, listening to the soft sound of her breathing. It felt so right to have her next to him. He wanted to wake up this way every day of the rest of his life. And he would, too, if she would marry him.

  Today he would do it. He would tell her about the wager with James, admit he was in love with her and ask her to marry him, not because she was part of the prize he’d won from her cousin, but because he truly wanted her to be his wife.

  The idea of it made him anxious, but not nearly as anxious as he’d felt yesterday. Something between them seemed changed. Now when they made love they weren’t two strangers drawn together by lust, but lovers expressing their feelings for each other. He’d caught her looking at him with tenderness and warmth. She might not be in love with him, but she was at least fond of him. That was certainly enough to build a marriage on. Indeed, it was great deal more than many couples had.

  He carefully slid away from her and climbed out of the bed. After pulling on an old robe hanging in the dressing room, he went out and used the necessary. On the way back, he grabbed the night candle in the hallway and took it with him. Bringing it near the bed, he stared at the beautiful woman lying there. She looked so delicate, almost fragile somehow. The deep, protective yearning he felt was stronger than his sexual desire. He would let her sleep. There would be time for more lovemaking in the morning.

  He took the candle back to the hallway table, then returned to the bed and climbed in next to her. Closing his eyes, he sought to relax and let the lazy pleasure of having her so near lull him to sleep.

  ****

  Penny woke feeling a deep sense of contentment. Marcus’s strong, warm body was right next to hers. But then she remembered what she had to do and the cold despair seeped through her. If only she could wait another day… No, that would only make things worse. Gathering her resolve, she opened her eyes.

  It was growing light outside. She’d better hurry if she wanted to get away before Marcus woke. She eased out of the bed, freezing in place as Marcus stirred. Then he turned over and his breathing grew deep and even again. She tiptoed to the dressing room and put on one of the plainer daydresses from Madame Dubonet’s. Although she felt guilt for taking the clothing Marcus had bought her, she had no choice. Other than the one worn, ill-fitting green dress, which
she’d given Maggie for rags, the only garments she’d brought from Horngate were trousers and shirts for riding.

  Once dressed, she grabbed her reticule and the valise she’d already packed and tiptoed to the door. Before opening it, she cast one last longing look toward the bed. Marcus was turned on his side away from her. The sight of his sleek beautiful back and shoulders sent a pang of yearning through her.

  She reminded herself she was doing this to keep him safe, then eased open the door and went out.

  Downstairs, she quickly made her way to the kitchen and then to the servants’ quarters. To her relief, Jeremy was waiting for her. “Is everything ready?” she asked breathlessly.

  “Yes, miss. If you’re certain you want to do this.”

  “I told you, I have no choice.”

  The footman shook his head. “It don’t seem right, miss. At least let me take you wherever you’re going.”

  “No, Jeremy, I don’t want to involve you, or force you to lie to the man who employs you.” She tried to smile. “I’ll be all right. My cousin isn’t going to do anything to me. I’m the heiress to Horngate.”

  As Jeremy left to fetch the hansom, she realized that at one time Horngate had meant everything to her. Now her inheritance almost felt like a burden. Of course, Horngate was the reason Marcus had wanted to marry her. And even now, although he might be in love with her, she doubted he would want her for his wife if she weren’t an heiress. Without Horngate, the best she could hope for was that he might make her his mistress.

  Of course, after what she was doing to him now, he likely wouldn’t want her for his mistress either. And unless she found a way to get out of marrying this mystery man to whom Adrian had lost the estate, she likely wouldn’t have the freedom to be anyone’s mistress.

  Her thoughts ran in wild circles again. She had to focus on her plan and find out this mystery man’s identity. And convince Adrian she was no longer involved with Marcus, so Marcus would be safe. And finally, she had to come up with some sort of scheme to get out of marrying a man who was capable of killing to gain control of her property. She shuddered at the thought.

  A moment later, Jeremy returned. Picking up her valise, he said, “Here, I’ll take you out the back. That way Bowes won’t see you.”

  Her nerves taut and her stomach in turmoil, Penny followed after the footman.

  It was only when she was safely in the hansom and well away from the townhouse that she could relax. Their first stop was the place Lily had told her about, where she would reside for the time being. It was in what looked like a decent area, although the small, rather shabby houses had been divided up into several living spaces.

  She found the landlady, Mrs. Bly, who lived in the lower portion of the house. As she took Penny up to see the room, Mrs. Bly warned, “I don’t allow no gentlemen visitors. And the rent must be paid promptly, or I’ll have you turned out.”

  Penny stared at the small, dingy room and imagined living there for weeks or months. Just the thought of it made her feel as if she were suffocating.

  “Well?” Mrs. Bly prompted.

  “I’ll take it,” Penny responded. “How much is the first month’s rent?”

  The amount Mrs. Bly quoted seemed quite high, and Penny realized she should have asked Lily what she’d paid. She suspected the landlady had adjusted the rent upward based on her well-made clothing.

  She paid Mrs. Bly, collected the key, then left her valise in the room before returning to the hansom.

  “Where to now?” the driver asked.

  “Madame Dubonet’s on Bond Street.”

  “Nothing will be open yet, miss,” said the driver.

  “It’s all right. I’m not planning to shop, but to meet someone.” She’d had Jeremy take a message to Adrian, asking him to meet her outside the modiste’s.

  A short while later, Penny stood outside the shop, trying not to pace. What if Adrian didn’t come? Should she seek him out at the gambling hell?

  At least it was warm and sunny, a truly lovely morning. She thought about how nice it would be to ride in Hyde Park on a day like this, with the sun on her face and Marcus beside her. Another pang of loss went through her, making her want to weep.

  “Why so blue-deviled, coz?”

  She whirled to see Adrian watching her with a cold, cynical expression. “You know why I’m distressed,” she snapped.

  “You’ll get no sympathy from me. You were raised as a princess, while I’ve always had to struggle to find my way.”

  “Well, my life as a princess is about to come to an end, isn’t it?” Glaring at him, she added, “I’ve done what you’ve asked. I’ve left Revington. Now you must tell me who this man is you’ve lost Horngate to…a second time.”

  “Why don’t I take you to meet him right now?”

  When he took hold of her arm, Penny jerked away. “I don’t think so. I’m not going anywhere with you until you give me the information I’ve asked for.”

  Adrian glanced around, as if trying to decide if he could get away with taking her by force. Penny tensed, prepared to struggle and scream. The hansom driver was waiting in his vehicle across the street, and if Adrian tried to drag her away, she believed the street cleaners would intervene. To press the point, she said, “If you try to force me to go with you, you’ll be sorry.”

  He met her gaze, his expression sour. “You always were an unnatural, unfeminine creature.”

  “That’s right. I’m a hopeless hoyden, which means I can hold my own against you!” She glared at him. He glared back.

  “Why did you ask to meet me here, if you’re going to be so bloody stubborn?”

  “I asked you here because I wanted you to know I have left Revington. And also because I want to learn more about this man you expect me to wed.”

  “What difference does it make to you who he is?”

  “You can’t expect me to exchange vows with a man I’ve never met!”

  “I’ve told you, I’ll take you to him now.”

  Penny backed away. “No. The first time I make his acquaintance, I intend do so in a public place. Now, tell me his name.”

  Adrian regarded her with an expression that could only be called cunning. “All you need to know is that he is a viscount. So, you’ll be marrying well. It’s actually a far better arrangement than the one I had with Revington.”

  No doubt better for you, Penny thought with bitterness. She was growing more and more suspicious. It especially disturbed her that Adrian wouldn’t tell her the man’s name. Did that mean he had such an awful reputation Adrian was afraid she’d refuse to marry him if she knew who he was? She thought again of seeing Brakestoke not long before she’d met Adrian on the previous day. And Brakestoke was a viscount.

  Somehow she had to get Adrian to give her some clue as to who this man was. “If this man’s a viscount, why does he need Horngate?”

  “Most of the nobility are deep in debt. The man may have claim to an estate of his own, but it’s probably mortgaged to the hilt. Horngate is damned prosperous by London standards.”

  Penny felt a flash of fury. Adrian had always expressed scorn for Horngate and the horse operation. Now he acted as if it was some sort of great prize.

  She pushed aside her anger and focused on getting information. “You say you lost Horngate in a card game. When was that? And what gaming house or club were you in at the time?”

  “I told you, none of this is any concern of yours.”

  “Of course it’s my concern! I need to know what kind of man you’ve betrothed me to. For all I know he’s some sort of vile monster!”

  “That’s ridiculous. You know I’d never marry you off to someone like that.”

  “Oh, I think you would…especially if there was anything in it for you!” She wondered if Adrian had made an arrangement with this man. Perhaps, unlike Revington, this man had agreed to let Adrian keep part of the profits from Horngate.

  She regarded Adrian warily. “Why don’t you want me to meet h
im? What are you holding back?”

  “Nothing. I’ve told you, this is actually a better arrangement than the one with Revington. As for why I’m reluctant for you to meet him, I can’t help worrying you’ll try to scare off the fellow like you did with Revington.”

  Penny felt a surge of hope. Perhaps if she met this man and reasoned with him, explained that she didn’t want to marry him and that Adrian was trying to coerce her… Looking back now, she realized that’s what she should have done with Marcus. Instead of trying to manipulate him and “scare him off” as Adrian put it, she should have told him the truth. Marcus would never have forced her to marry him. He wasn’t that sort of man.

  But this man might be. After all, Adrian had implied her new betrothed was so eager to get his hands on Horngate that he was willing to kill Revington. She stared at her cousin, wondering what was the truth and what was a lie. Somehow she had to find out…and just this moment she’d thought of a way to do it.

  Adrian appeared to give in. “All right. It’s agreed. You can meet him tonight. As far as a public place goes, what about Vauxhall Gardens? Is that public enough for you? Say tonight at eight?”

  “I’ll be there,” Penny said.

  Adrian drew near to her, assuming a threatening posture once more. “You’d better. If you don’t show, I’ll make certain something happens to your precious Marcus.”

  Penny watched Adrian saunter away. As soon as he was out of sight, she went to the hansom and told the driver. “If you could please wait here a while longer.”

  ****

  Marcus stared at the breakfast food on his plate. The gnawing ache in his stomach made it impossible to eat.

  When he awakened and found Penny gone, he’d been surprised and disappointed, but not concerned. Later, when he discovered she wasn’t in the house, he decided she must have gone riding in Hyde Park. He was disappointed she hadn’t asked him to accompany her, but perhaps she wanted some time alone. Or maybe she hadn’t wanted to wake him.

  But if she’d gone riding, surely she would be back by now. Where is she? Has something happened to her?