As for in the bedchamber…Christ. Their interludes just kept getting better.
They held nothing back from each other when it came to desires and questions and comfort. And there was so much care and affection alongside the fierce pleasure. Never did he feel used or excluded or ignored. Just important. Valued. And he had become rather proficient in licking quim, if he did say so himself. Nothing brought him greater satisfaction than making Susie come just as hard as Clayton. And now Clayton had introduced them to pleasure toys like jade cock rings, small silver clamps held together by a fine chain for Susie’s nipples, and a luxurious leather dildo about the girth of two fingers that they were using to train and widen her ass.
Joseph shivered as they halted outside the music room. He was very much looking forward to the day she was ready to be taken simultaneously in quim and ass. There was something extra special about the fucking when they were all connected together, and he was twice blessed with a beautiful lady and a handsome gentleman as his lovers.
“My lord, you have a certain expression on your face that leads me to believe you are thinking naughty things.”
He shrugged. “How could I not be, with you and him around? I was a little concerned this morning might have been too much, with Clay’s cock in your mouth, my cock in your quim, and that little dildo in your backside. But you seem to be quite well.”
Susanna leaned closer. “I am more than well, and eager for more. Perhaps tonight we could…you know…”
Groaning, Joseph knocked on the door. “Tonight is so far away.”
His wife gave him an unrepentant smirk. “There, there.”
A muffled call of enter sounded from inside the room, and they opened the door and walked in. Clayton stood, rather disheveled, in the now familiar smock and breeches beside the roaring, crackling fireplace that he had kept well-stoked to assist with the drying process. Apparently, oil paintings needed to be done in layers, and he couldn’t wait to see the final result, for Clayton had not permitted them to see the canvas while he was working on it.
“It’s ready?” said Joseph eagerly.
Clayton nodded, but he looked a little a pale and grim-faced, and his hands were twisting in front of him. “Indeed.”
“Is something wrong?” asked Susanna anxiously.
“I am exceedingly nervous. I mean, I always hope my subjects are happy with the end result, and that others admire my work, but with you two…those emotions are tenfold.”
As one, he and Susanna stepped forward and wrapped their arms around him. Clayton sighed, a little of the tension leaving his muscles, and kissed them each on the lips. Then he moved away to stand beside the canvas that faced away from them, and turned it around.
Susanna gasped. Joseph just stared in awed silence.
For the painting wasn’t just of Susanna, but the three of them together, naked in bed. She lay in the middle, kissing Clayton while holding Joseph’s head to her breast as he licked her nipple. Her legs were spread, both men were stroking her quim, and their fully erect cocks jutted out from their groins, one golden and one so dark, anticipating the magnificent fucking about to take place. The art was exquisite, so true to life it was like being a voyeur to his own pleasure.
But more than that…at the bottom of the painting, words that made his eyes burn: Three thirds make a whole.
“Oh my,” said Susanna, choking out the words. “It’s…it’s…”
“Us,” breathed Joseph.
“Do you, uh, like it?” said Clayton in a low voice.
“It’s splendid.”
“The m-most splendid p-painting ever,” added Susanna with a teary smile.
“I didn’t want to just say how I feel,” Clayton said slowly. “I wanted to show you. So we’ll have something to remind us in the difficult times that we are best together. We love and cherish each other, which will always light our way. And in bed…”
“Perfection,” finished Joseph solemnly. “Absolute perfection. But how could it be otherwise with the woman I love and the man I love with me? I’m looking forward to having this framed and hanging it in our bedchamber. Although it probably needs a curtain to protect the servants’ delicate sensibilities.”
Clayton grinned and his shoulders finally relaxed. “True. I’d better do that. Don’t trust anyone else with my work but you and the other Society members.”
“You mean the Royal Academy?” asked Susanna.
“No, the Surrey Sexual Freedom Society. I can’t wait to introduce you to my friends there. We hold meetings each month at Lady Portia Butler’s home. That is why I couldn’t make the first date you suggested. The next meeting is in about a week’s time.”
Joseph nodded. “Lady Portia is very interesting. I can’t help but admire the way she tirelessly campaigns for the rights of women and children. She only has to raise an eyebrow at me, and I’m ready to write a draft.”
“That’s our Pistol Portia,” said Clayton affectionately. “A tempest with a heart of gold.
I quite adore her. You’ll love the others as well.”
“We’ll be pleased to attend with you. But in the meantime, you’re going to be busy. Especially once the Prince Regent commissions an erotic portrait from you.”
“As long as it’s not of himself,” he replied, his eyes gleaming. “Not sure I could stomach that.”
Susanna burst out laughing, and they joined together for another warm embrace. “I must concur. His Royal Highness is not nearly as svelte as he once was. If he continues to expand, it will cost us a fortune in fabric.”
Held against Clayton’s chest, his arm around Susanna’s waist, Joseph sighed in contentment. Never had he thought that such happiness would be possible, and now he had conquered his past demons and always spilled inside his wife, it seemed quite possible he would make her dearest wish come true. A wish that might actually be rather wonderful for them all.
But for now, he must be the luckiest man alive. To love and be loved by his wife, and their gentleman painter.
And that was the greatest miracle of all.
Epilogue
Guildford, Surrey, November 1814
There was nothing better than a Surrey Sexual Freedom Society meeting. Except perhaps attending the meeting with the woman and man you loved.
Clayton sat back in his chair and just absorbed the excited chatter around him. To his left, Bea and Amelia were discussing the care and storage of dildos with Susanna. On his right, Joseph was receiving an impromptu lecture on sexual practices of the Ancient Egyptians from Ethan and Maddy. All was splendid in the world.
“Order!” barked Lady Portia, as she clapped her hands together. “Order, I say. Let this Society meeting come to order so we may hear everyone’s news.”
Well. Perhaps not all, then.
Clayton turned his head and raised an eyebrow at Maddy. She shrugged, clearly having heard the extra edge in their hostess’s tone, and equally unsure why. Bea and Amelia were gazing at Lady Portia in alarm, but Denham was almost scowling. What the bloody hell was going on?
“Lady Portia?” he began.
The older woman’s smile looked nothing short of brittle. “Wait your turn, sir. I know you have the most wonderful news, but we shall progress around the semi-circle in an orderly fashion. So Beatrice and Amelia will start.”
“Just so,” muttered Denham.
“Beatrice and Amelia will start,” Lady Portia repeated, glaring at the captain.
“Ah…” said Bea, her eyes wide. “We’ve begun spending a few days a week at the orphanage Lady Portia sponsors. Reading to and playing with the little ones. They’re so sweet, even though their beginnings have been much less than ideal. It’s humbling really.”
“Very humbling,” added Amelia, glancing nervously at their hostess. “And we love our little cottage. We are planning to plant roses in the spring. That’s all really.”
Lady Portia nodded. “Excellent. Madeline and Dare?”
Maddy pursed her lips. “Are you wel
l, my lady?”
“Quite well. Thank you,” she replied tightly as Denham snorted.
“If you say so. I am currently assisting Ethan in collating the notes from his travels in Egypt. A publisher is interested in his stories and research.”
Clayton sat forward. “Wonderful! We’ll be sure to buy the first copy. Although you might need to have a caution at the front for those who might think it will be just another treatise on the pyramids rather than ancient erotic practices.”
“Caution is excellent advice,” said Denham. “Others would do well to heed it.”
“Oh, do be quiet,” snapped Lady Portia. “Mr. Irving? Allow me to welcome your very special guests.”
He sent apologetic glances to Susanna and Joseph. The air in the room had definitely changed. This was not exactly how he’d thought their first meeting would go; usually they were naughty and so much fun. Today the tension between Lady Portia and Denham was almost palpable, and he wondered, yet again at the true nature of their relationship and what might have gone awry.
“It is my honor today to introduce Lord and Lady Fenton. My beloveds, Joseph and Susanna. While we shall make our home in London to be close to their warehouses at the docks, I solemnly swear we shall never miss a meeting. Well, if dear Lady Portia grants them membership, of course,” he finished with a pleading grin.
“Please do,” blurted Susanna. “I can tell already that the conversation will be infinitely superior to most London salons, as well as the company. We would love to join Clayton here for meetings, they are special to him so will be special to us. Guildford is charming. A nice change to the city.”
“Oh, and Lady Portia, my wife and I join Clayton in being great admirers of your charity work. You may rely on us for generous donations,” added Joseph.
“Thank you,” their hostess said, her smile wobbling. “It’s nice to be appreciated rather than growled at for trying to do good in the world.”
Good God.
Was Lady Portia going to cry? She never wept. Pistol Portia flayed alive and conquered the world each and every day. And yet right now she looked…fragile.
Almost in unison, several sets of eyes turned to Denham.
“Don’t you glare at me,” snarled the captain, abruptly getting to his feet. “Glare at the damned hellion who put herself in danger because she doesn’t bloody think, just charges in. Those men don’t care about the rights of women or children. They never will. And they’ll hurt her without a second’s remorse.”
Lady Portia flinched. “Sit…sit down, Denham.”
“No,” he replied, moving over to the trestle table laden with perfectly presented food. “Not this time, damn it.”
“Denham,” she said, hurrying over to him, her cheeks flushed, and soon the two of them were having a whispered, but very heated argument if the gestures and folded arms were anything to go by.
Clayton grasped both Susanna and Joseph’s hands, needing the warmth as his mind reeled. Bea and Amelia, and Maddy and Ethan were doing the same, clearly as shocked as him.
“My lords and ladies,” he said slowly. “It seems we have a mystery to unravel. What the hell is going on between Denham and Lady Portia?”
“I wonder if they are secret lovers,” said Maddy.
Beatrice shook her head. “Don’t think so. Far too much erotic tension there. Reminds me of all the times I just bathed and dressed Amelia when I desperately wanted to tumble her onto her bed.”
“Hmmm, yes. Like when I found Madeline reading Aristophanes in nothing but a satin dressing gown,” said Ethan. “Thought I might expire on the spot.”
Joseph nodded. “The first time Clayton showed us his sketches.”
“The air was positively ablaze,” added Susanna.
“Indeed, darling,” Clayton said softly. “Perhaps it might be best if we all left Denham and Lady Portia to, er finish their discussion. Somehow I don’t think we’re going to hear her read aloud from the French courtesan’s diary today.”
Joseph shifted in his chair, his gaze hot. “It’s a long journey back to London.”
“Mmmm,” said Susanna with an impish smile. “So very long.”
Clayton grinned. Indeed, it was a long way. But now he had an actual place to belong, with the two people he cherished most in the world, and he would travel over broken glass to reach it. Because anywhere Susanna and Joseph were, that would be home.
For always.
THE END
Also by Nicola Davidson
Regency
The London Lords
To Love a Hellion (#1)
Rake to Riches (#2)
Tempting the Marquess (#3)
Fallen
Surrender to Sin (#1)
The Devil's Submission (#2)
The Seduction of Viscount Vice (#3)
Surrey SFS
My Lady’s Lover (#1)
To Tame a Wicked Widow (#2)
My Lord, Lady, and Gentleman (#3)
Standalones
Once Upon a Promise
Joy to the Earl (In the anthology A Very Wicked Christmas)
Tudor
His Forbidden Lady
One Forbidden Knight
Contemporary
Ladies First (erotic short stories)
About the Author
NICOLA DAVIDSON worked for many years in communications and marketing as well as television and print journalism, but hasn’t looked back since she decided writing wicked historical romance was infinitely more fun. When not chained to a computer she can be found ambling along one of New Zealand’s beautiful beaches, cheering on the champion All Blacks rugby team, history geeking on the internet, or daydreaming. If this includes chocolate—even better!
www.nicola-davidson.com
[email protected]
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