“Well, I know, but…”
When he didn’t finish, she loosened the cravat around his neck then slipped it off. “There’s no harm in trying something new.”
She proceeded to undo the buttons in his waistcoat, followed by his shirt. She noticed the slight increase in his breathing and the way his hands hesitated just below her breasts. Surprised when he didn’t move them further up, she whispered, “You can touch them when we’re not in bed.” Then to ease the tension when she saw him shyly glance away from her, she teased, “Though I wouldn’t suggest doing so while at a dinner party or ball. At least not at a moment when others can see us.”
He let out an uneasy chuckle. “Surely, you don’t want me to touch them at those places.”
She shrugged as she got off of him so she could continue to remove his clothes. “It might be fun. But you need to be discreet. It’d be easy to do it in a carriage or if no one was looking. A light brush can be exciting.” To emphasize her point, she let her fingers trace his male hardness as she unbuttoned his trousers.
He let out a low moan, rewarding her for touching him. She thought it was both odd and cute that he always let her initiate their lovemaking. Why he did so, she could only guess, but she suspected it was mostly because he was the type of gentleman who would never do anything unless he had her permission.
She removed her clothes, very much aware that he watched her with intense interest. A glance at his erection notified her that he enjoyed the slow and methodical pace she was moving at. Perhaps she should have blushed and hurried through the process, but she rather liked the way she could hold his attention. It made her feel as if she was the only one he cared about, the only lady he ever had and ever would desire. Undoubtedly, her brother would laugh at her foolish thinking, but she couldn’t help it. When Perry looked at her with a mixture of passion and adoration, the past melted away. And only the present and their future mattered.
Once she discarded the last of her clothing, she returned to him, straddling him again and wrapping her arms around his neck. She lowered her head to kiss him. The kiss started out softly, almost a whisper across his lips. But then he responded to her and she parted her lips and encouraged him to open his mouth. He did and her tongue brushed his. There were times when they made love that she had the urge to be more assertive, to give herself fully to the moment, but he was usually so reserved—even in their lovemaking—that she was reluctant to do it.
Whether it was the fact that she needed him to make love to her without any inhibitions or the fact that they were in the drawing room where it seemed to be a wicked place to be intimate, she disregarded her inhibitions. Judging by the way he hungrily kissed her, she knew he felt the same way. He wanted to be as consumed by her as she was by him. He just didn’t know how to do it.
Her body crying out for release, she rubbed her sensitive nub against his shaft. How often when they made love had she wanted to experience such heightened pleasure and now that she’d finally given herself permission to do it, she couldn’t slow down. Her hips rocked faster, developing a rhythm that matched the pace her tongue sparred with his. He brought his hands up to her breasts and cupped them in his palms then lightly squeezed her nipples. The action sent a spark straight to her core that brought her to the peak. Gasping, she dug her fingernails into his shoulders and stilled. He left a trail of kisses down her neck as she rode out each wave of pleasure.
“Paula?” he whispered, seeming hesitant.
Lightheaded, she pressed her forehead to his and waited until she could catch her breath before answering him. “I love you.”
“I love you, too,” he replied and kissed her earlobe.
When her head cleared, she took him inside her and rocked her hips once more, this time for the purpose of his pleasure. His hands were still on her breasts, his fingers still teasing her nipples in a very pleasant way that made her clench around him. She didn’t notice the tension building in her core until she was moving faster without his leading. Biting her lower lip, she focused on the way he was stroking her deep in her core. She murmured that she needed to keep going, that she needed to find her release once more. He prompted her to do whatever she had to do to get there.
She nudged him to lean back and established a rhythm in her movements that enabled her to take him as deep into her as she could. Whispering over and over that he felt good inside her, she continued until she was over the edge once more. This time she called out his name. He joined her, calling out her name in return as he grew taut and spilled his seed into her.
Together, they remained suspended in their state of bliss until she collapsed in his arms. “That was…that was…”
She couldn’t think of how to describe it, except that she had no idea such physical pleasure was possible twice in a row or that she could fully let herself go and know he would still love her tomorrow, even after she’d satisfied him. It was wonderfully freeing to lose herself to someone like Perry.
Her lips met his in a lingering kiss. “I’m glad we’re married.”
“Good,” he replied, his voice soft as he hugged her. “I am, too.”
“Why don’t we get dressed and continue this in bed?” she suggested, a mischievous grin on her face.
“I’d be a fool to say no.”
“Good thing for me you’re not a fool.” She gave him another kiss before she got off of him so they could dress.
***
“I’m sorry but we don’t have any inkwells that match what you’re looking for,” the merchant told Paula the next day.
She scanned the shelves full of inkwells and tried to figure out how that could be when she’d checked every other place that sold them. This store had been her last hope.
“Perhaps there is something else that will suit your needs?”
With a sigh, she shook her head. “No. It’s the only kind I want.”
“If something like that comes in, would you like me to send you a message?”
“No.” She couldn’t afford that in case the message got to Perry before it got to her. “Thank you for your assistance.”
She left the store and scanned the businesses. There was nowhere she could go. Her mission was a lost cause. She didn’t know what to do now. Her brother would never give it back, and if she stole it, he’d run straight to Perry and tell him everything.
She considered her options as she trudged down the street. She could keep pretending she had no idea where the inkwell was if Perry mentioned it. She could make up some story about losing it. She could even come out and tell him she gave it to her brother. But then he’d want to know why she’d give her brother something that was a gift from his friend. And what could she tell him? Because her brother would tell him he made a mistake in marrying her? She couldn’t bear the disappointment he was bound to feel.
So telling him the truth was not an option. That left her with the choice of acting like she had no idea what happened to it or telling him she misplaced it. Either way, she’d be lying, and she honestly didn’t see how those options were any better than the first.
As she crossed a street, she caught sight of the townhouses and paused when she recognized Nate and Claire’s. The only reason she knew it was theirs was because Perry had pointed it out to her during one of their walks. She slowed her steps and bit her lower lip. If she could ask Claire where she and Nate got the inkwell, then she’d know where to go to get it. But she couldn’t just go right up to the door and arrive unannounced. The best thing to do was to ask Claire if she could visit her.
She turned away from the steps leading to the townhouse when a carriage pulled up next to her. Surprised, she looked up in time to see Claire and Lord Edon’s wife—Catherine, if she remembered right—wave at her from the small window. She offered a tentative wave back. She wasn’t sure what she had in common with ladies who never did anything wrong. From the dinner party, she got the impression they were perfect. Perfect in their manners. Perfect in their past. Perfect on their weddi
ng night. She hadn’t known what to say as they talked in the drawing room and had been relieved when Perry asked her if they could leave.
Now, as the footman helped them down from the carriage, she took a deep breath and told herself to relax. It would be all right. All she had to do was ask about the inkwell. Then she could be on her way to the place Claire got it from.
“Would you like to join Catherine and me for some tea?” Claire asked as she tucked a hatbox under her arm.
“Oh, um,” Paula cleared her throat, “I’m on my way home. But,” she quickly added before she lost Claire’s attention, “Perry showed me the inkwell you and your husband gave him. Do you remember it?”
“Of course I do. We had Mister Williams make it.”
“Mister Williams?”
“He’s a friend of my brother-in-law. He makes things for people that can’t be duplicated anywhere else. That’s why we wanted him to make the inkwell for Perry. We wanted to make sure no one else had something like it.”
That explained why she couldn’t find it anywhere. What were the chances Mister Williams would make it for her, knowing full well that he’d made it for someone else? Maybe she could explain her case and he’d make another one. All she had to do was tell him she lost it and didn’t want to upset her husband. It was another lie, something she didn’t want to do. But it was better than nothing.
“I’d love to go there and see what else he can make,” Paula said. “Where can I find him?”
“I can take you there.”
“No,” she quickly said then stopped when she saw Claire’s eyes grow wide in surprise. “That’s not necessary. You and Catherine,” she smiled at Claire’s friend, “are enjoying the afternoon together. I don’t want to intrude.”
“You’re not intruding,” Catherine assured her.
“Certainly, you’re not. Come on in and have some tea with us.”
“That’s very kind of you,” Paula said, “but I should get home. Could you please tell me where I can find Mister Williams when I have time to talk to him?”
Claire told her where he lived then added, “You’re welcome to stop by for a visit any time you wish.”
“Thank you,” Paula replied then hurried off before they could try to talk her into having tea with them again.
Good. Now she knew who could make Perry another inkwell and if she was lucky, he’d never find out what happened.
Chapter Thirteen
Perry stared at the book in his hands. He couldn’t believe he was actually contemplating whether or not to read it. But being with Paula the previous night… He never imagined she could be so passionate. There was something different in the way she made love to him. It was a surprising blend of raw need and devoted love. He had no idea such a response from a lady was possible. And it had excited him.
Not that he hadn’t been excited before. Just being near her was enough to enrapture him. But he wondered if he could seduce her the same way she had seduced him. She had him naked and enjoying her with reckless abandon, for goodness’ sakes. He had no idea anyone could—or even should—make love outside the bedchamber. The possibilities enticed him to learn more, to think beyond what he had thought about marriage before she came into his life.
Though he didn’t want to give credence to anything Christopher thought was good, he would be lying if he didn’t admit that this book might hold some promise. He studied the cover again. It was a plain blue cover. There was nothing on it that testified to its contents except for the title, How to Pleasure a Lady. Paula had said he could touch her whenever and wherever he wanted. Perhaps he should try it. See where things led. See what he might do to please her.
He glanced at the closed door of his bedchamber to make sure no one was there to see him. Assured he was alone, he opened the book and began to read it.
***
“You don’t mind going with me tonight, do you?”
Paula turned from the small window of the carriage so she could face her husband. “I’d go anywhere with you, Perry.”
“While I appreciate that, I also remember how much you wanted to go to the country.”
“Well, you said Nate and Claire will be leaving in a couple days, and this is the last ball they’re going to. You should see your friends.”
He smiled and clasped her gloved hand. “That’s very sweet of you. I promise that we’ll leave soon. It won’t be long before it’ll be just you and me at Blackburn.”
“I’m looking forward to it.”
Even more so now than ever. Her brother wouldn’t be at Blackburn. He’d be safely away from them, and she could relax…at least until next year when they returned to London. She was as trapped as she’d been before she married Perry. It’d only been because of her hasty—albeit failed—elopement with Lord Holloway that he practically imprisoned her in his home. She couldn’t go anywhere or do anything without his permission. He’d made it so that no one ever found out about her disgraceful behavior and for that she paid a heavy penance.
She closed her eyes and released her breath. And she was still paying it, except she’d get a reprieve while at Blackburn. She could think of nothing better. How she looked forward to the moment she and Perry left London!
She tightened her hold on Perry’s hand. “You do love me, don’t you?”
Smiling, he brushed aside a few strands of hair from the side of her face with his free hand. “I believe I told you that this morning.”
“I know but I like to hear it.”
He cupped her face in his hands. “I love you, Paula. I know it sounds foolish, but I loved you from the moment I met you. And every day we’re together, I love you more.”
“How did I end up with someone as wonderful as you?”
“It was fate.”
“You think so?”
“After all the failures I’ve been through, it has to be. It seemed every time I took an interest in a lady, she ended up with someone else. Those were never meant to be. We, however, are.”
Blinking back tears, she smiled at him. “I’m glad I didn’t end up with anyone but you.” And that was the truth. When she was with him, all the pain in her past melted away as if it never happened. He made all things new, and if she had to go through all the pain again just to be with him, she’d gladly do it.
He lowered his head and kissed her.
The carriage came to a stop, ending their kiss before she was ready to part from him. Despite her disappointment, she smiled at him and accepted his arm. They entered the ballroom, and to her surprise, he offered to dance with her.
“I thought you didn’t like to dance because of your cane,” she replied, not sure she heard him right.
“It’d be a shame to be here with my wife and not share at least one dance with her. I know all the steps of every dance since I’ve been watching how they’re done for years.” He glanced at his cane. “I’ll probably be awkward though. If you don’t want to—”
“No!” She chuckled and led him to the area where other couples were getting ready to dance. “I want to dance with you.”
She curtsied and waited for the music to begin. He held his cane as the music played, and though he limped from time to time, she was surprised at how well he knew the steps. Sure, he’d told her he knew them, but knowing the steps and performing them were two separate things.
When the music ended, she got ready to tell him he did wonderfully but a familiar voice called out, “I don’t believe it. Lord I’ll-Never-Dance-Till-The-Day-I-Die actually danced!” They turned in time to see Christopher approach them. “That just goes to show how much of a miracle worker Paula is.” He bowed to her. “It’s always a pleasure to see you.”
“Thank you, but the dance was your cousin’s idea,” she replied.
“Well, that only reinforces my point. You are a miracle worker. Maybe next time I see him, he’ll be enjoying himself.”
“I enjoy myself just fine,” Perry said. “What are you doing here? I thought you and Agatha lef
t London already.”
“I wanted one more opportunity to talk to Paula.” Christopher turned to her. “My lady, would you do me the honor of sharing a dance with me? I’d be delighted if you’d share your secrets with me.”
Paula stiffened for a moment. Secrets? What did he mean by that? Did her brother talk to him?
Perry sighed but patted the small of her back. “He won’t relent until he does. You might as well do it. I’ll find Nate.”
“Is it wrong for me to like talking to your wife?” Though he gasped, his amused tone betrayed his humor.
Perry rolled his eyes and muttered, “There’s one in every family,” before he left.
Bowing again, Christopher said, “Don’t mind him. He has no sense of humor.”
“He has a marvelous sense of humor,” she replied as the music began. She stepped in time to the melody and added, “I should thank you for introducing us. I couldn’t think of a better gentleman than him to marry.”
He almost tripped but quickly recovered. “Good heavens. You sounded just like Claire when she talks about her husband.”
“Do I?”
“Yes. She’s blind to a fault when it comes to him. Despite his many bad qualities, she refuses to see a single one.”
Hoping he’d forget to ask her about the secrets he had mentioned earlier, she pressed, “Surely, he has enough good qualities to make up for the bad.”
“When I say she’s blind, I mean she’s completely oblivious to all of his flaws.”
“What’s wrong with that?”
“Nothing, I suppose. She’s married to him. She has to see the best in him or else she’ll fall into depression. I feel sorry for her. She’s such a nice lady, too.”
She laughed. Never before had she met anyone so dramatic. “I’m sure she’s fine.”
“She’s a brave soul. But what I wished to speak about was you.”
She mentally cursed herself for not thinking of another topic. She’d been so busy minding her steps that she forgot to think of another way to distract him, and to be fair, they couldn’t talk about Claire during the course of the entire dance. “Didn’t Agatha tell you what I said about my past? That I grew up in the country with my parents who are no longer living and how my brother brought me to London to find a suitable husband?”
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