Gina Lamm

by Geek Girls Don't Date Dukes

  “You’ve missed me too, haven’t you?”

  She didn’t give him a chance to respond before she took him into her mouth. Her hot, wet mouth closed around his length and his knees buckled. Gripping the wall to steady himself, he threaded his free hand into her hair.

  She took him deeply, throat working around the sensitive tip of him. He never looked away. He couldn’t. The sight of her beatific face as she moved her hand and lips in concert was the most sensual thing he’d ever seen.

  “Leah,” he whispered, “you must stop.”

  At his words, she ran her tongue up the underside of his shaft. A drop of crystalline fluid appeared at the tip. Avery gritted his teeth to stop the flood of pleasure that threatened to sweep him away.

  He must regain control of this. Of her.

  Gripping both her hands in one of his, he laid her back into the sweet-smelling straw. She pulled against his grip, but he tightened his hold. The way she smiled, writhing and twisting against him, was proof of her approval.

  He kissed her deeply, mastering her mouth with sweeps of his tongue. With his free hand, he lifted the fine satin of her skirt. Silk stockings covered her legs, but he knew the fine fabric could not match the beautiful flesh between her legs for softness.

  She moaned her passion into his mouth when his hand parted her wet folds. Her thighs fell open, and he settled between them eagerly.

  “Avery.” She’d torn her mouth from his, gripping the length of his hair in both hands. “Please, please take me.”

  He couldn’t. Not yet.

  Releasing her hands, he rose on his knees and lifted her hips to his face.

  “Oh God!”

  Her cry was muffled by the yards of satin and lace that covered his head. Her taste was as incredible as it had been those weeks ago. He spread her petals wide, licking and sucking every part of her most precious flesh.

  Her movements quickened, becoming frantic.

  “Avery, please!” Her high, thin plea broke through to him, and he relented.

  Entering the well of her body with two fingers, his lips closed on her fluttering, swollen bud.

  She screamed.

  He held on as the spasms wracked her, coming slower and slower until she stilled. He unearthed himself from her skirts and smiled down at his beautiful, dazed-eyed angel.

  “More,” she whispered, holding her arms up to him.

  He needed no second invitation.

  Falling atop her, he kissed her mouth with all the fervor he’d shown to her tender flesh only moments before. She quickly matched his intensity, gripping his shoulders and moaning as he probed at her entrance.

  “Are you ready?”

  “God, yes,” she cried.

  He plunged into her, high and hard. They cried out together as her warm sheath welcomed him home. Avery trembled as he held his upper body aloft, hips moving instinctively.

  “You are so beautiful,” he whispered as he thrust. “Leah, oh, Leah.”

  Her name was a litany, a prayer that was necessary to his continued life. Her throaty cries quickened his movements as he strained for that peak, for the both of them.

  He grew harder within her as her channel grew wetter, more swollen around his length.

  She buried her face in his shoulder as her pelvis moved to meet his.

  It felt so wondrous, so completely incredible, he wanted it to go on forever.

  But then he reached between them to fondle her swollen button. Her explosion took him along with her.

  They came together, her body wringing every last drop from his. He shook with the effort of holding himself upright. He must not crush her, but he wanted to remain there, sheathed in her warmth forever.

  His world, in that moment, was perfect.

  A nearby whinny caused them both to laugh, but it broke the spell of the moment. Reluctantly, Avery rolled to the side and gathered a panting Leah against his chest.

  She pressed sweet kisses against his chest. “You’re pretty damn good at this.”

  He laughed. “You are exceptionally skilled as well,” he said, toying with a blond curl. “An admirable trait for the woman I love.”

  The admission surprised him, but once the words were uttered, he was glad of their release. He did love Leah Ramsey. She was altogether too headstrong and impetuous for her own good, but she was also selfless, caring, and compassionate.

  His love could not change their circumstances, but that did not negate its value.

  “Oh, Avery,” she whispered, and brought his mouth down to hers.

  Their lips had met for the briefest of seconds when the creak of a door sounded.

  “Miss Ramsey?” a young maid’s voice called. “Are you here?”

  “Hi, Muriel,” Leah called in a shockingly calm voice as she smoothed down her skirts. Avery picked straw from her hair as she continued, “Sorry, I was just playing with some kittens I found in here. Go ahead, I’ll be right up.”

  “Are you sure, miss?”

  Avery swept Leah into his arms for one last kiss. With a regretful sigh, she pulled free of his arms.

  “Here I am.” She left the stable with Muriel, not looking back in his direction.

  Once he’d dressed, he picked up her discarded lace fan and tucked it into his coat pocket.

  He’d tumbled her in a stable. What a common, lowly beggar he was. But try as he might, he could not regret what had passed between them. He could only resolve to abstain from future lapses.

  But that conviction, as he left the empty stable behind, was shaky at best.

  Twenty-Five

  Leah peered out her bedroom window as unobtrusively as she could. Even though her bedroom overlooked the stables, she never saw Avery leave. He’d probably followed her out, the high-handed, ridiculous, sexy bastard.

  Muriel picked pieces of straw out of Leah’s skirts, her scolding comments about young ladies who play with kittens in ball gowns going right over Leah’s head. She was too sodden with afterglow to give a crap about ruining an expensive dress.

  Avery loved her. The confession had come in a roundabout way, sure, but he’d said it all the same. In a fog, Leah lifted her arms over her head at Muriel’s command. While enveloped in the column of her beautiful dress, a sudden thought struck her.

  She hadn’t told him that she loved him too.

  Well, shit.

  He had to know that, right? She hadn’t had a chance to say the words, but he had to have gotten the gist of her feelings by the way she jumped him like a bullfrog in heat. Wait. Do bullfrogs go into heat?

  Muriel’s yawn startled Leah as her nightgown settled around her.

  “I’m sorry, Muriel. I didn’t mean to keep you up so late. Go ahead to bed, okay?” Her swift hug must have startled the maid, because she jumped.

  “If you have all you require, then I shall see you in the morning.” Muriel pulled away with a tired smile and headed for the bedroom door.

  Leah sank onto the edge of her fluffy, comfortable bed.

  Muriel probably had to get up at o’dark-thirty, just like Leah had during her brief stint as a maid. It had to be after two in the morning. While Leah had been wound up in Avery, the poor girl had been stuck waiting for her, probably wishing she could just go to bed.

  When had she become such a self-absorbed bitch? After Kevin, she’d thought she learned what it felt like to be used. She’d never thought she might be thoughtlessly using people herself.

  Lady Chesterfield and Muriel would both be getting a sincere apology tomorrow, she promised inwardly as she sank into the covers.

  And Avery would get his return declaration of love as soon as she saw him again.

  She smiled as she drifted off to sleep.

  ***

  Her eyes opened only a brief second later. Sunlight streamed through the window, making her soft peach bedroom glow. She stretched luxuriously, relishing the tenderness of her thighs.

  “Avery.” She couldn’t help but say his name aloud. The sound made her f
eel warm, safe, and loved. What a man she’d found, and she hadn’t had to slay any dragons to do it.

  A soft knock on the door drew her into a sitting position.

  “Come in.”

  Muriel appeared with a tray.

  “Good morning, miss. I’ve your chocolate here.”

  Leah grinned. “Great. Bring it over.”

  Muriel cocked her head curiously as Leah held her hands out for the tray. “You want the tray in bed with you, miss?”

  “Hand it here.” Leah set the tray on the foot of the bed and scooted over. “Now here. Sit with me.”

  “Oh, miss, I couldn’t.” Muriel shook her head, but an embarrassed smile was beginning to spread across her face. Leah patted the spot next to her.

  “Come on, I don’t bite unless you ask.”

  Muriel giggled and settled on the edge of the bed next to Leah.

  Picking up the cup of chocolate, Leah smiled at the maid. “See? I’m not so scary.” She took a deep whiff of the chocolate in the cup. It smelled like heaven, but she passed it over to the maid anyway.

  “Here.”

  Alarm crossed Muriel’s face as she took the cup. “But it’s yours, miss. Is it not to your liking? Shall I have the cook make a fresh cup for you?”

  Leah grabbed Muriel’s arm to prevent the maid from running to the kitchens and overhauling them to produce the most perfect cup of hot chocolate the world had ever seen. “It’s fine, you goof. But I want you to have it.”

  Muriel settled back down as Leah smiled wryly and continued, “I haven’t exactly been the most courteous houseguest. I kept you up way too late last night. You’ve been so wonderful to me the whole time I’ve been here, and I’ve taken you for granted. And believe me, anyone who can empty chamber pots for a living really deserves much more of my gratitude. So thank you.”

  Muriel’s head bob nearly spilled the chocolate gripped in her eager hand. “It was my pleasure, miss.”

  “Drink up.” Leah’s flop into the pillows wrenched a giggle from the maid. “We can chat and relax for a few minutes before you go attack whatever dust bunnies and dirt devils are on your list for the day. I can even help if you want.”

  “It wouldn’t be proper, miss.” Muriel’s eyes closed in bliss as she took a sip of the hot chocolate.

  “You haven’t known me too long, but I promise that I can be improper with the best of them.” Leah winked.

  They fell quiet for a moment as Muriel sipped the chocolate. A memory sparked in Leah, about a story Jamie had told her.

  “Muriel, wasn’t there someone you were interested in? A footman or something?”

  The maid’s cheeks went red. Leah hastened to fill the gap.

  “Sorry if the question is rude. I just wondered if the two of you were still together.”

  Muriel stared down into the cup. “He became a sailor, miss. He’s in the Royal Navy. I’ve not heard from George for nigh on a year now.”

  Leah didn’t know what to say, so she rubbed Muriel’s back. “I’m sorry.”

  Muriel drained the rest of the chocolate. “Never mind that, miss. When he returns, we’ll wed. I’m sure of it.”

  Leah nodded and smiled. “That’s the spirit.”

  ***

  Leah didn’t get the chance to make good on her offer of housecleaning assistance, because Lady Chesterfield called for her only half an hour later. Muriel helped her dress, and Leah descended the stairs feeling a little more at peace with the world.

  Only one more apology to go through, then she’d start focusing on the future. Rounding the bottom of the staircase, she laughed to herself. How would Avery take to life in the twenty-first century? The thought of him on a motorcycle was definitely appealing. As was the thought of him in full armor as he jousted at the Renaissance Faire. For that matter, she couldn’t think of a situation that he wouldn’t be sexier than Magic Mike to her.

  “Good morning,” she greeted Lady Chesterfield with a smile. The lady was seated at the head of the dining room table, a plate of breakfast in front of her. She nodded to Leah, her smile unusually subdued. For that matter, she was only wearing a few feathers in her hair today. A frown wrinkled Leah’s brow as she helped herself to the breakfast spread on the sideboard and took her seat at Lady Chesterfield’s side. Something was clearly bothering her patroness, and Leah had more than a sneaking suspicion that it was probably her own fault.

  “Are you feeling okay, Lady Chesterfield?”

  The older woman cleared her throat. “I am well enough, my dear. But when I woke this morning, Graves informed me that a missive came for you.” She picked up a folded paper that Leah hadn’t noticed before. “It is from the dowager Duchess of Granville. Naturally, as your guardian and chaperone, I read it.”

  “Naturally,” Leah agreed drily. Privacy was a luxury she hadn’t realized she’d miss so much.

  “Her Grace has decided that you are entirely unsuitable for marriage to her son.” A little tear formed in the corner of Lady Chesterfield’s eye. “Oh dear Leah, whatever can you have said to give rise to this opinion? I only hope you have not lost your chances with him.”

  Leah’s fork clattered to the table. “I’m so sorry, Lady Chesterfield. But listen. The duke isn’t really interested in me at all, he wants—”

  “Never mind that, my dear. We may yet have a chance to set things right. I shall ask dearest Granville to accompany us to Ranelagh Garden in two days.” Lady Chesterfield’s eyes glowed. “You shall apologize for whatever it is you have done to anger the dowager. I am certain that in such a romantic setting, dear Granville must come up to scratch, no matter what the dowager feels.” With that, Lady Chesterfield patted her feathers. A self-satisfied smile spread across her face.

  “No, I don’t think you understand. I don’t love the duke.”

  Lady Chesterfield stared at her, brows climbing in question. “But of course you do not, my dear. Love is what occurs between a husband and wife after many years of marriage. You will come to love him.”

  Her chair scraped back and she stood to go. She gave a little pat to Leah’s cheek. “Your world of the future must be quite different from this. But you must trust me, dear. I know how you are to go about things in this society. I’ll not lead you astray.” She turned to leave, but before she reached the door, she looked over her shoulder at Leah.

  “My dear, I shall never forgive myself if you do not marry advantageously. You are too precious to squander yourself on anything less than a peer of the realm.” She disappeared through the door, leaving Leah’s jaw hanging open. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t quite convince it to shut.

  So much for her apology. So much for laying things out on the line, thanking Lady Chesterfield for her kindness but firmly stating her feelings for Avery. So much for planning her exit ASAP.

  She munched on a piece of bacon dejectedly. It appeared that she had another couple of days to figure out exactly how to get Lady Chesterfield to realize that she was perfect for Granville, not Leah.

  Why hadn’t she stayed home and started collecting cats or something?

  Twenty-Six

  He’d never been a dreamer. Though his realities were not always pleasant, they were better than being caught unawares. His beliefs had not changed, but his dreams were much stronger than they’d ever been in the two days since he’d seen her last.

  Several times, he’d shaken himself to regain control of his mind from the memories that replayed through it over and over. Leah smiling up at him, straw in her hair and laughter in her eyes. Leah’s kisses, passionate and fervent. Leah sinking to her knees…

  He dropped the brush he’d been using on His Grace’s coat. The clatter of the heavy object on the polished floors brought some clarity to his foggy mind. Scowling, he picked up the brush and resumed his brushing on the sleeve of the duke’s fine, blue coat. He must hurry and finish his duties so that he could watch out for her.

  That night in the stable had not changed his station, nor had it m
agically gifted him with the means to support a wife. He’d revealed his feelings to her, but he should not have. She had come to land a husband, not ensnare herself with a boxing valet, his bedridden aunt, and a puppet master named Prachett.

  Avery’s strings would be jerked again on the morrow. He was to face Emersen in the Jackford. Their match was sure to be the biggest draw in years. The underdog, Russell the bruiser, against the as-yet-undefeated Emersen? With Prachett’s careful planning, the odds were stacked against Avery. If he were to win, Prachett and his cronies stood to make thousands of pounds.

  “Bloody fool,” he hissed under his breath. He was an idiot for forgetting reality for that night in the stables—and for nearly every minute since then.

  The door opened behind him.

  “Your Grace.” He turned and bowed without looking up. “You have returned early. Is everything well?”

  Instead of his employer’s gray-haired form, Prachett stood in front of him. A self-satisfied smile crossed his face, an expression so unpleasant that it tensed Avery’s spine.

  “What are you doing here?” Avery nearly spat the words, clenching his fists at his sides. “How did you get in?”

  ***

  Ranelagh Garden wasn’t at all what Leah had expected. She and Lady Chesterfield arrived and were shown to His Grace’s private table in the Rotunda. An orchestra played somewhere nearby, their soft refrains a sharp counterpoint to the boisterous crowd around them. Lords and ladies of the ton filled the Rotunda, but more normal people were scattered along the various paths through the garden.

  “Are we early?” Leah wasn’t sure why she was bothering to talk to Lady Chesterfield. The woman hadn’t bothered to listen to a word Leah said for the last two days. She’d tried to reason with her. She’d yelled; she’d even mustered up a tear or two. But nothing she said could convince her patroness that she wasn’t, and never would be, in love with the Duke of Granville.

  “Oh pish-posh,” Lady Chesterfield said. “You look ravishing.”

  Yup. She didn’t hear a word.