“No indeed,” he breathed. His vest and shirt were quickly discarded, and he held her close to him.
“Can I take your hair down?” he asked. She shook her head.
“No, we do have to go back downstairs. Let’s try not to mess it up,” she said. She kissed him and ran her fingers over his chest while he pressed her back with his hands. He made a little moaning noise as her fingers brushed across his nipples. She smiled under his kiss, then dipped her head to attend to his nipples. She put her open mouth on one, letting her hot breath warm it. She kissed it softly, then she put the flat of her tongue on it, stroking it across the puckered skin. He closed his eyes and let his hand rest on her shoulder, the other continuing to stroke her back, working its way to her butt.
She took his nipple in her mouth and sucked. He grunted and squeezed her rear in his hand. She shifted her attention to his other nipple and repeated. His reaction was the same. She then trailed kisses down his chest, across the flat expanse of his belly. She pushed him to a seated position on the bed and knelt before him. She spread his legs and kissed his thighs.
Darcy swallowed hard. Was she... could she possibly be going to... ? he wondered. He rested his hands on her shoulders and closed his eyes when he felt her hot, wet mouth descend over his erection. Yes, she is! he thought gleefully. She hadn’t given him this particular attention since June, before they broke up. He hadn’t forgotten, but thought perhaps she had.
He looked down and watched her head move, little jeweled hairpins glinting in the light. That dark hair, against his own pale skin, bobbing up and down... he let out a sigh. She touched him with her hands.
“Yes,” he whispered and guided her hand to his satisfaction. She continued her touching, causing him exquisite pleasure. Oh, my, he thought, she’s never done that before. He closed his eyes again, letting her sensations wash over him. He heard her make a little noise and opened his eyes. She was pleasuring herself with one hand and him with the other. He watched her with increased interest and arousal, watched her fingers move over herself. His heart was pounding at a ridiculous rate, blood rushing to only one spot in his body. She did something with her tongue.
“Oh... my.. .fuck!” he exclaimed. He thought his eyes might be crossed but as he had closed his eyes, it didn’t matter. She did it again.
“Lizzy, stop, I’m going to come,” he rasped. Although he told her to stop, he fervently did not want her to stop. She did not; she instead increased her attentions. His fingers were twined tightly in her hair; he was jabbing his own palm with a hairpin but he didn’t feel it. His muscles tensed, long biceps curling as he pulled her head closer to him, thigh muscles taut as his hips thrust toward her. He put his head back and uttered a guttural groan as he spilled into her mouth. She swallowed once then again. His arms trembled as he fought the instinct to jerk her head over his length again and again; he didn’t want to hurt her. He let out what sounded suspiciously to him like a whimper. After a moment he opened his eyes and carefully uncurled each finger from her hair. She gave him a final swirl with her tongue and pulled away from him.
Her face was flushed and her eyes were bright; she had not reached her own satisfaction. He pulled her up and laid her on the bed, her head hanging over the edge. He was still stiff despite his climax but he didn’t have much time. He pushed himself into her, one hand supporting her neck and the other pulling up her thigh, fingers exploring her bottom as he thrust into her. He worked furiously, sweat beading his forehead. She panted beneath him, then looked up at him.
“Stop,” she laughed. He opened his eyes and looked at her in confusion, breathing heavily. “It’s not working,” she said gently. He frowned in disappointment.
“I’m sorry,” he said. She pushed his hip slightly with her hand, signaling him to pull out. Then she took his hand and placed it between her legs. She guided him gently, slowly, into rekindling her pleasure. She leaned her head back against his hand and smiled, closing her eyes. There was a knock at the door.
“Lizzy, what are you doing in there? Everyone is asking for you!” came her mother’s voice. Elizabeth opened her eyes and looked at Darcy with revulsion.
“We’re just freshening up, Mom, we’ll be down in a few minutes,” she called.
“Don’t take too long!” came her mother’s response. Elizabeth looked at Darcy, who was laughing softly.
“Yes, don’t take too long,” he murmured.
“Talk about a mood-killer,” she said quietly. She gently pushed his hand away from her and wiggled back onto the bed, laying her head on his shoulder. He kissed her forehead and ran a hand down her arm.
“Lizzy, have you been practicing your technique?” he asked her after a moment. She laughed into his neck.
“I have been doing some research, yes,” she said.
“Does this involve any practical experience?” he laughed. Not that he really thought she was cheating on him but it had been exceptionally good...
“Not per se but I was shown proper technique,” she said.
“As in a diagram or a mock-up?”
“Not exactly.” He sat up, surprised, and looked at her.
She grinned. “I asked Lou. He showed me some interesting things, including certain pressure points,” she said.
“Did he...” he began but didn’t know how to ask the question without blushing.
“Yes, he pulled out his penis and showed me. You know he’s gay, right?”
“Of course, but still...”
“You’re not jealous of him, are you?” she asked, looking up at him. He looked down at her and laughed.
“I suppose now I’m exceedingly grateful,” he replied. He kissed her. “But I really must return the favor,” he said. “On you, not him,” he sternly clarified.
He eased his hand again down to the joint between her legs and began to massage her lightly. He kissed her lips and allowed his tongue to run along her teeth and lower lip. She responded with a smile and returned his kiss. Through his ministrations, her passion was renewed. She guided his hand, adjusting rhythm and pressure until she was quite aroused. He watched her with great interest; watching her expressive face as she bit her lip, creased her brows, and frowned in concentration was exciting to him. It was not long before his own excitement returned. She shifted so that her head hung over the side of the bed again, to prevent messing her hair. He was just easing onto her when there was another knock at the door.
“Go away!” they both shouted in frustration. He looked back at her and grinned.
“Elizabeth, you have ten minutes before we get a lock-out key and drag you downstairs!” came Lou’s voice.
“If you’d stop disturbing me I’d only need five!” she shouted back. They heard him laugh outside the door.
“Only five minutes, that’s a lot of pressure,” Darcy murmured, interrupted by a soft grunt of pleasure as he eased into her.
“I have every confidence you can accomplish the task, especially if you do it in French,” she said, putting her legs around his waist.
He grinned and kissed her. Then he began his rhythm of thrusting into her, met by her own thrusts. He put one hand behind her head, supporting her neck. He put his lips to her ear and began to speak French in a soft, seductive timbre. He made intonations as if he were paying lewd, sexual compliments to her; in reality, he was reciting the Gettysburg address, the only thing he could recite without actively thinking. He was concentrating instead on not failing to give her an orgasm, paying close attention to her movements and breathing patterns. The act of hanging her head over the side of the bed was increasing her pleasure, making her slightly light-headed. He was gratified when he recognized her pattern of arousal and that she was near her crescendo. She arched her torso into him, rolled her head back, and let out that familiar low moan. Only this time she spoke:
“Will Darcy you are a god,” she said. He grinned widely into her throat and achieved his own climax...
He was exhausted, all of his limbs felt leaden. All h
e wanted to do was go to sleep.
Yet she poked him and said, “We have go downstairs now.”
He sighed heavily. She was right, they were already being missed by the wedding guests. He lifted himself heavily from her and stood up. He dressed quickly but was too tired to work his tie back on.
She put on her dress but left the undergarment-of-despair on the floor where she had dropped it. She looked no different without it to him.
“Shall we?” he said, offering his arm to her.
They made their way back downstairs to the party, where they were not, in fact, as missed as Mrs. Bennet and Lou had made it out to be. Elizabeth gave Darcy’s arm a squeeze and then went to Jane. Darcy found himself a moment later next to Lou at the bar.
“I owe you an apology,” Darcy said to him, staring straight ahead. Lou said nothing. “And a car,” Darcy continued. He saw the corners of Lou’s mouth curl up in a reluctant smile in the mirror behind the bar. “And possibly a retirement plan of some sort,” Darcy concluded.
Lou laughed. “She wouldn’t take all of my advice,” Lou replied and took a sip of his drink.
“There was nothing lacking in her performance, I assure you,” Darcy replied and took a sip of his own drink. Their eyes met in the mirror. Lou replied:
“Yes but it would be vastly improved by the removal of her front teeth.”
Darcy burst out laughing.
Chapter 34
Darcy drummed his fingers on the table and waited for Elizabeth. She had promised to meet him here for coffee when she finished her Christmas shopping; thankfully she hadn’t asked him to join her with her shopping. He flicked open a magazine and glanced at an article. San Francisco was still quite warm despite it being December; he sat outside and watched people bustle by doing their shopping. He leaned back in his chair, sipped his tea, and held the magazine up. Over the top of the page he caught a familiar flash of curly hair. He lowered the magazine slightly. Elizabeth was looking at him from across the plaza, seated at her own table. She smiled and raised her cup to him. He put down his magazine and crossed his legs. What is she doing? he wondered.
Elizabeth had been watching him for about ten minutes when she caught his eye. She enjoyed watching him. He was beautiful. He was long and graceful and today he was in one of his impeccable suits and a camel overcoat. He was the picture of a refined British gentleman. She pulled out her cell phone and called him.
Darcy’s phone rang. The picture ID showed the picture Elizabeth had taken of them in bed at Pemberley; he had somehow never taken another picture of her. He answered the phone.
“What are you doing?” he smiled, looking at her.
“I’m stalking you. I’ll have to find a new hiding place now,” she teased.
“Are you going to come over here?” he asked.
“In a minute. I’ve been watching an interesting development. There’s a cute redhead who has been checking you out for about five minutes. I think she’s wondering whether to approach you. I wanted to see how it plays out.” He looked at her and she discreetly indicated. Darcy nonchalantly turned his head and swept his eyes past a redhead who was looking at him.
“Mmm, she’s quite pretty,” he said. “I’ve never had a redhead before.”
“I think she was going to go for it but my call interrupted her.”
“Then by all means, please hang up,” he smiled. “I could use the flattery.”
“Are you saying I don’t compliment you enough?” she smiled.
“Look, calling me ‘The Master’ in bed doesn’t quite carry over during the day,” he laughed quietly.
“It doesn’t exactly apply out of bed... well, actually, I guess it does, doesn’t it? I will however say you’re dashingly handsome. Could you flash me one of your dazzling smiles?”
He looked at her and smiled.
She laughed. “Uh-oh, she looks like she’s losing her nerve. I’ll call you back.” Elizabeth hung up. Darcy flipped his phone closed and sat patiently at his table. He thought Elizabeth was insane. And charming.
“Excuse me,” came a hesitant voice. Darcy looked up. The redhead was standing before him. “It’s a bit crowded; may I?” she said, indicating the chair. He nodded pleasantly and invited her to sit. She sat down and smiled thankfully at him.
“Have you read the article on cancer research?” she asked, indicating the magazine.
He shook his head. “No, I haven’t. What does it say?”
She gave a brief summary of the article and he listened with interest. She concluded with a little laugh and said, “My name is Jennifer.”
“Hello Jennifer, it’s nice to meet you. I’m Will.” His phone rang. He looked at it under the table and saw Elizabeth’s ID.
“Excuse me,” he said, smiling apologetically to Jennifer. “Darcy speaking,” he said in a business-like manner.
“Is she hitting on you?” Elizabeth asked quietly.
“Yes,” he said curtly.
“And... ?” He could tell she was enjoying this game immensely.
“I’m sorry, Bennet, your terms were not to my satisfaction. I’m closing the deal with someone else. Better luck next time,” he said and flipped the phone shut. He turned a smile back to Jennifer. Out of the corner of his eye he saw Elizabeth laughing.
“What do you do, Jennifer?” he asked, assuming an interested expression. For some reason, this game was turning him on. She liked to know that other women were attracted to him. He thought he would be jealous if another man showed interest in her, yet she seemed to like the attentions he drew from other women. He didn’t quite understand it. Maybe she is a voyeur? he thought.
He talked with Jennifer for a few minutes, glancing surreptitiously at Elizabeth. After a few more minutes, his phone rang again.
“I’m so sorry, please excuse me,” he said as he answered it.
“Are you turned on at all?” Elizabeth asked him. He turned a laugh into a cough into his fist.
“Yes, I am,” he answered, curtly.
“Should I come rescue you?”
“That’s not necessary but please don’t forget our appointment later tonight,” he said in his formal, businesslike tone.
“I bought something for you,” she said huskily.
“Yes, I am anxious to close that deal as well,” he answered.
She laughed and hung up.
“I’m sorry, Jennifer, what did you say you do again?” he asked her, snapping his phone shut again.
“Interior design. Here’s my card,” she said, pulling it out of her purse and pushing it toward him.
“Oh, yes. My wife and I are looking for a designer,” he said nonchalantly as he looked at her card. He saw the subtle shift in her expression.
She smiled at him and looked at her watch.
“Oh, is that the time? I’ve been far too long shopping, I have a dinner engagement. I should be going. It was nice meeting you, Will,” she said as she gathered her purse and stood. He stood and shook her hand as she left, always the gentleman. He sat and opened his magazine again. His phone rang.
“What did you say to her?” Elizabeth laughed.
“I mentioned my wife. Why does this turn you on so much?” he asked, amused. He looked over at her; she was chewing on a straw in a rather seductive manner.
“Darcy, you are the sexiest being on earth. I’m just short, chubby, Lizzy Bennet. It does wonders for my ego to know that out of all the beautiful women who want you, you only want me,” she said honestly.
His breath caught a little; he hadn’t known that she felt quite so attracted to him. He actually blushed.
“Ah, so you’re using me?” he grinned.
She laughed.
“Lizzy, why haven’t you invited me to Christmas dinner with your family?” he asked her gently. He met her eyes across the plaza, and she dropped them to the table.
“You know how I feel about my family,” she replied.
“And you know how I feel about your family.” She raised her ey
es back to him.
“Do you really want to spend Christmas with my family?”
“No, Lizzy, I want to spend Christmas with you. Whoever else is involved is merely incidental.”
She looked up at him and gave him a dreamy smile.
“Do you have any concept of how much I love you?” she said.
“I’d like you to show me,” he answered. “Let me spend Christmas with you.”
“Alright.”
***
The Bennet family had a tradition of celebrating Christmas on Christmas Eve rather than Christmas Day. This developed as a result of various family commitments that intruded on Christmas Day, Aunt Phillips always demanded dinner be held at her house, various boyfriends to Jane and Kitty had caused some strife, and Mr. Bennet always wanted nothing more than to tipple some scotch and snooze; thus, true Bennet Christmas was on December 24; December 25 was for everyone else.
In the early years, gifts had been plentiful and opening them took hours; but as each daughter matured, the gifts became fewer, but more meaningful. Now there were usually only three or four gifts per person, and frequently they were hand-made.
Darcy drove Elizabeth, Jane, and Bingley to the Bennet household on Longbourn Street at around 3 pm. They were greeted at the door by an effusive Mrs. Bennet, who hugged and kissed them all.
“Thank you, Mrs. Bennet, for allowing me to join your family at the last minute,” Darcy said as he hugged her. She laughed and said, “Please, Will, call me Fanny.” Darcy looked over her head and winked at Elizabeth.
Bingley sat easily on the couch next to Mr. Bennet, who updated him on all the college bowl games being played. Darcy joined them and soon they were all discussing college football standings. Elizabeth watched Darcy with increasing warmth as he interacted seamlessly with her family. Maybe they aren’t so bad after all.
Festivities began around 5 pm, when dinner was being prepared. It was served around 7 pm, and by 9 pm everyone was relaxing in the living room drinking Bailey’s Irish Cream and trying to stuff just a little more fudge into their packed bellies.
“How about some music, Mary?” Jane asked. Mary smiled and sat down to the small upright piano and began to play Christmas carols.
The Trials of the Honorable F. Darcy Page 36
