His Hand-Me-Down Countess: The Lustful Lords, Book 1

by Sorcha Mowbray

  He swirled his tongue into her pussy and pumped in and out in mimicry of what he would soon do with his cock. She thrust her hips and tried to grind against him. He recognized she was close to the edge, so he swiped up and over her clit until she screamed with her climax. He drank her in and ruthlessly worked her back up to another peak. She broke on the dying waves of her first crisis. Her knees softened as she flooded his mouth with her pleasure. Still not satisfied, he continued to thrash her sensitive nub, forcing her to yet one more climax. This time, her body resisted his demands, so he took one wet finger and pressed against her tight sphincter until she relaxed into the pressure. As he slid in to the knuckle, she yielded, and she fell over the edge once more. Her voice hoarse from her bliss-driven screams, she could only whimper as the orgasm ravaged her.

  Content with his efforts, Stone worked to release first her ankles and then her wrists. Her limbs weakened by satisfaction, she sagged against him as promised. Shaking with his need to be inside her, he hefted her up and carried her to the bed.

  Having settled Theo on the mattress, Stone stripped to the skin and lay next to her. The way she cuddled closer to him caused an odd warmth to suffuse his chest. Having had very little experience with any pleasure outside the physical realm in the past five years, it took him a moment to recognize his state of happiness. The sense of rightness that came from caring for her, tending to her needs.

  With his prick eager to be warm as well, he took but a moment to savor the heretofore forgotten emotion. Could it be love? He pushed the notion aside, certain his desire played tricks on him. Then his amorous side took over, and he embarked on a deeper exploration of his wife’s form. He let his hands stroke over her ribs and down to the flare of her hips.

  She curved into a delectable backside that begged for attention of any type. He caressed her pink cheeks and gave a gentle squeeze that garnered a response from his pleasure-drunk wife. She silently slipped her hands up his chest to loop around his neck and then pressed her breasts against his chest.

  “I see my pet is recovering from her stupor.” He wanted to bury himself inside her, but he also wanted her awake and coherent enough to enjoy their lovemaking. Because, despite the equipment, the rules, and his overbearing nature, it would be something gentle and tender. And that was something he had never done before.

  Still bound by silence, she pulled his face down to hers and plunged her tongue into his mouth. Though she initiated the kiss, he immediately took over and ravaged her tongue, teeth, and lips. He tasted and touched every part of her mouth as they shared their air, their joy, and their very souls.

  Then he rolled her over and sank into her cunny with a swift, sharp thrust of his cock. She moaned and shook beneath him as he breathed through the initial rush of bliss. Ever so slowly, he withdrew to the huge swollen tip of his shaft and hovered. As he pushed both himself and her to their breaking point, he knew without a doubt he could never touch another woman, let alone master one. He was as much a slave to Theo as she was to him.

  With a groan, he drove back into her channel and proceeded to pound into her depths with a fierce determination born of his newly discovered tenderness. As she exploded around him, her hips jerked up to meet his powerful thrusts. He pumped into her over and over until his own release burst through him in a jolt of cosmic sensation that would have brought him to his knees were he not already there.

  Never again would he share her. Never again would another man be allowed to touch her as he touched her. Theo was his wife, his slave, and the physical embodiment of his heart.

  Chapter 21

  Theo rolled over as someone swept open the drapes, blasting her face with sunshine. “Mary, close those curtains, or I shall dock you a week of pay.”

  “How very shrewish of you, pet.” Stone’s sardonic tone caused her to roll back over and crack a single eyelid.

  “It’s you.” Surprise had her heart fluttering beneath her breast.

  He raised a dark eyebrow. “And who am I, pet?”

  A wave of disappointment in herself pushed her stomach down near her knees as she sat up, the sheet clutched to her breasts. “You are my master.”

  “Very good. Do try to remember that, or I shall have to assist you.” He stalked toward the bed with a determined stride that sent frissons of excitement and trepidation sliding through her from head to toe. “Do you often threaten to withhold pay from your maid?”

  Somehow, her stomach had shot from her knees to her throat in the blink of an eye. “No…err…yes, Master.”

  His upper lip quivered, but she wasn’t sure if it was in derision or because he resisted the urge to smile.

  “What I mean is, I often threaten her, but she is well aware I do not mean it. I tend to be a bit querulous in the morning, Master.” While she knew Stone would never hurt her, she was learning to dislike disappointing him.

  “Well, this is something new I have learned about you. Unfortunately, I believe today you shall have good reason to be peevish.” He sat down on the edge of the mattress and cupped her face with one hand. “You see, pet, today you must go and visit your mother. Then you shall make a stop to visit your sister. After that, if you have time, you will need to visit my mother, as well.” He leaned forward and placed a kiss on her forehead. “After those visits, you may either come home or address any other business you have a need to attend.”

  Theo repressed the desire to sigh heartily over the itinerary he had laid out. Visiting both of their mothers in one day? With an aching bottom? Well, at least Lizzy would be able to commiserate. “Yes, Master.”

  “Now, I suggest you arise and prepare for your busy day. I have a number of issues to address with my man of affairs and shall be closed away most of the day.” He had walked across the room and opened the door to leave when he turned back and caught her rising stiffly from the bed. “I shall enjoy knowing you think of me with every seat you take today.”

  “Yes, Master.” She wanted to hurl every epithet known to her at his head as her bottom flared to life again.

  The door closed, and she cursed with her first true step. “Son of a pox-ridden whore.”

  “I do believe the dowager countess would object to such a characterization.” His laughter followed the statement as he strolled down the hall.

  She should have known he would listen through the door. Shaking her head, she managed to get to the privy as Mary appeared.

  “Good morning, my lady.”

  It seemed cruel that Theo’s maid enjoyed mornings so much, but there were many who did. Why, she had yet to fathom. “A bath, please, Mary. I do need a good soak with some salts before I can bring myself to visit Mother. I think I shall see her first.”

  “Of course, my lady. Do you have a dress you desire to wear today?” The sounds of cabinets opening and closing could be heard as Mary went about her day.

  “The clover-green walking dress will do nicely. And my oldest petticoats, as well. I fear anything rougher than a feather would be too harsh today.”

  “Very good, my lady. I shall be back shortly with your bathwater. Your dressing gown is on the bed.”

  Once Mary had left, Theo made her way over to the bed and found her robe. She pulled it on and then decided that sitting to wait for her bath was far less desirable than standing.

  * * *

  Stone walked up the stairs to his cousin’s rooms and rapped smartly on the door. A moment later, he was shown into the nice—though not lavish—apartments. With only one servant to act as butler, maid, and valet, Hugh managed, but not with the same level of comfort as Stone had when he was at university.

  “My lord.” Hugh emerged from the sleeping chamber, fully clothed as though he had been about to depart. “To what do I owe this honor?”

  He sat down across from Stone on the other small sitting sofa. “I am certain it cannot be beyond your expectation that I might visit after yesterday’s incident in the park.”

  Hugh paused from tugging at his cuffs and looked up
at Stone. “Oh, that.” He chuffed. “A bit of fun between cousins-in-law.”

  Stone stared at him, his temper rising at his cousin’s intentional obtuseness.

  “I daresay no one shall even hear of it. Certainly not from my lips,” Hugh said.

  Of course, they wouldn’t, not from the one who’d lost to a female. His countess had handily trounced his cousin, but that did not rate. “Oh, I am quite certain you shall not mention your loss to my wife. But I fear it is the wagging tongues of every dandy, fop, and chit who also happened to be strolling in the park at the same time who shall be your doom.”

  “Doom?” His voice squeaked like a rusty hinge.

  “Perhaps doom is a bit strong. But word of both the race and your subsequent loss have already made the rounds of White’s.” His cousin paled a bit, but he forged ahead. “I have already addressed this issue with my wife. However, I feel it is appropriate I convey to you the level of my displeasure. So let me be crystal clear on this point: if you feel the need to race through Hyde Park again, you will find some other man’s wife to challenge. Or, better yet, I suggest you find a man. But if you involve my wife in such antics again, our next interview will be far less civil.”

  Hugh stood, his hands balled into fists as though he resisted the urge to punch Stone. A laughable notion at best. Then he relaxed his hands and pasted on a smile that rankled more than any other action or words could have. “Well, I think you’ve made your point. And while I do sincerely regret involving your wife in such indelicate activities, I might suggest you worry about taming that hellion you made a countess, and less about who I may or may not lose to in a future race.” He strode toward the door and opened it wide. “If you will excuse me, I have an appointment I must get to.”

  Stone rose, still perturbed, but short of punching the man in the face or calling him out, he had little recourse. As he departed his cousin’s flat, he wondered when it was he’d lost his edge as an officer. There was a time he could make grown men cower in fear with a mere look.

  Regardless, he doubted his cousin would make the same mistake twice. Nobody wanted to be known for losing a carriage race to a woman.

  * * *

  Theo shifted in her seat for possibly the twentieth time in the last hour. Of course, each time she fidgeted, her mother gave her that look. The one that once upon a time struck fear into a little girl’s heart.

  “…and then Lady Fairbottom fainted dead away in the middle of the musical. I do believe it was the sour note from the poor Morton chit that caused it.” Lady Upton cackled, oblivious to the byplay between mother and daughter.

  Determined to make her escape, Theo set her tea down and rose. The relief from standing was short-lived, however, as walking had proven almost as painful as sitting. “Mother, I fear I must be off. I have two more stops to make before my day is done.”

  “Oh, are you visiting the Dowager Countess Stonemere?” Her mother thoroughly enjoyed running in the same circles as Lady Stonemere. Their family had held the earldom for over two hundred years. It might be a lesser title than her father’s, but it was old and prestigious.

  “I am. Stonemere particularly asked me to check in on her. I do hope you ladies enjoy the rest of your afternoon.” Lady Upton and another woman Theo had already forgotten the name of tittered as she swept from the room. Unfortunately, her mother was right on her heels.

  “Dear, can you and Lord Stonemere join us for dinner next Saturday?” Her mother looked so hopeful. “En famille, of course.”

  “I believe we are available. I shall have to consult my calendar to be sure. Now, I’m off, Mother.” Theo kissed her on the cheek and departed the house before she had to accept some other invitation to one of her mother’s silly salons. Theo had frequently suffered through salons hosted by her mother that were a parody of the real thing. The women would gather about, and once one person said something that sounded reasonably intelligent, they all agreed until someone had to leave.

  * * *

  At her next stop, Theo gratefully sank onto her sister’s sitting sofa and leaned onto her hip. Lizzy giggled at her sister’s rather obvious predicament. “Oh dear. I daresay Stonemere learned of your adventure yesterday. Did he not?”

  Theo dropped her chin upon her fist as she leaned against the armrest of the chair she’d chosen. “Of course, he did.”

  Lizzy looked pointedly at her sister. “You knew when you accepted the challenge things could go badly with him.”

  Theo sighed. “I did. But that rotten Lord Brougham tattled to Stone. We should never have involved him in the wager.”

  “Yes, well, I’m glad he was there, and that Mr. Denton paid up once you trounced him.” Lizzy defended the rotten scoundrel. Maybe if she knew what had occurred between her, Stone, and Cooper, she’d feel differently about his betrayal. Theo certainly did.

  “The thrill was in the race and the win. I wouldn’t have given the money a second thought.” Theo was not much of a betting woman, probably because she often lost when she did wager.

  “It is the principle of the thing, Theo. A man—or woman—of honor always pays his or her debts.” Lizzy seemed more scandalized by Theo’s disinterest in the money than by the actual fact of the race.

  “Yes, well, I have my doubts about men and their honor.” She rubbed her tender bottom.

  Lizzy giggled again. “You poor thing. Are you terribly sore?”

  Theo grinned. “It was worth it. Everything that came after was absolutely amazing. I’d take the punishment a thousand times over for the pleasure that followed.”

  Lizzy’s eyebrows rose. “Well, just don’t go getting into trouble just so Stone has a reason to spank you.”

  Theo laughed. “No, no. He has assured me I need only ask if I would like to be spanked.”

  The women fell into a fit of laughter before settling down to discuss the rest of the day’s gossip. Two hours later, after a stop with the Dowager Countess of Stonemere, Theo headed home. She had intended to visit the orphanage, but neither time nor her backside would permit any further stops. Once home, she sank gratefully into a hot soaking tub for the second time in a day. As her aches and pains eased with the heat, she relaxed and planned a nice quiet dinner at home for her husband.

  Chapter 22

  Stone had just returned home from White’s after having lunch with Cooper and Flint. He left early when his stomach became upset, and now that he was home, he was glad he’d departed. As he went to sit behind his desk, his arms and legs trembled like a leaf in the wind, and when he took his seat, a clammy sweat broke out on his forehead while a chill skittered down his spine. Deciding he needed to lie down, he tried to rise again, but his stomach chose that moment to revolt. He barely made it to his feet before tossing up his accounts in a nearby planter.

  After a short while, he was able to make his way back to his desk, where he rang the servant’s bell. Mrs. Beats appeared, and upon seeing he did not feel well, she immediately marshaled the staff. Before long, Stone found himself ensconced in his bed with Evers and his wife fussing over him.

  “Theo, this is simple food poisoning. Please, stop fretting. I will be fine by morning.” Stone was certain his worrying wife might drive him mad. And, most importantly, he needed to sort through events in his head. When he considered all the various accidents and near misses he’d escaped of late, it was getting harder and harder to deny that something foul was afoot.

  “Do you recall what you had to eat today?” She stood next to his bed, her hands clamping tight only to shift and repeat the motion.

  “I had halibut for lunch. I am sure it was simply a bad piece of fish. Do go on and eat your own dinner. Evers and Mrs. Beats will see that I am cared for, and then I plan to sleep. All this has taken quite a toll.” He yawned, his energy waning with each passing moment.

  His wife looked mutinous. “Absolutely not. I am your wife, and I shall see to your care.”

  “Theo—” He yawned again.

  “Stone, sleep for now.
I shall be here when you awaken, and we may argue about your care then.”

  Exhausted and unable to argue further, he drifted off to sleep.

  The next morning when Stone awoke, he found a sleeping Theo perched in a chair, fully dressed with multiple locks of hair hanging about her face. He moved to sit up but found himself still feeling poorly.

  Theo sat up and yawned as she stretched. She looked delightfully rumpled, and, if he were honest, it touched him deeply that she cared enough to linger at his bedside. She glanced over at him and, upon realizing he was awake, turned a concerned gaze upon him. “How are you feeling this morning, Stone?”

  “Better.” He fibbed because she looked as exhausted as he still felt.

  “Excellent. Why don’t I go see about a breakfast tray for you?” Her eyes sparkled with a desire to help.

  He wanted to groan at the idea of food, but decided to agree with her. “That would be excellent. If you’d send in Evers, I will clean up a bit so I can…eat.”

  “I am so glad you are feeling better. I must say, you scared me terribly yesterday.” Theo rose and came over to the bed. With a gentleness that suggested she did not fully believe his story of feeling better, she leaned over and kissed his still-damp forehead. She departed, and as she opened his chamber door, Evers slipped in as though he knew his presence was required.

  Alone with his valet, he quickly dashed off a note to Cooper alerting him to his predicament. Perhaps a trip to Scotland Yard was in order after too many coincidences. Then again, he and Cooper could look into a few things first. Possibly substantiate his thoughts before filing a report.

  Besides, it seemed this incident would fall into the same failed category as all the others. Whether it was by luck or some other factor, he seemed to have survived what appeared to be an intentional poisoning. After all, Cooper had had the same lunch and had not been feeling poorly when they parted.