Instant arousal. Lust raged through him. Was it because she had always been forbidden fruit, the sister of a good friend? The chit wasn’t even concerned that her reputation was most likely already ruined.
“You don’t know that,” he growled, his voice husky. An experienced woman would have known what effect she had on him. Apparently, Lady Tuesday did not. She seemed to be oblivious to the fact that he was so aroused, he was very close to throwing caution to the wind.
Perhaps if he frightened her, she’d be willing to return to Swandown. He dipped his head, his mouth now an inch from hers.
“Don’t think for a minute, Jack Drayton, that I will allow myself to be seduced by you so that I will return home. You are a rake. Charlie always said so. Mama does as well. I will not fall for your ruse,” Tuesday said heatedly.
Though she tried to hold her composure, her breathing quickened. Jack glanced down, He watched her bosom rising and falling beneath the linen shirt. Her cheeks were flushed. Her lips parted. She leaned fully against the door. He leaned closer, allowing his body to press against hers. Both palms now rested firmly against the door on either side of her. He could feel the heat emanating from her. He wanted to taste those lips. Good God he wanted to taste every inch of her!
Just the thought of kissing her in places other than her lovely lips nearly undid him. Her French blue eyes darkened and her dark golden lashes fluttered against her cheeks when she closed her eyes for a moment. She sighed, opened her eyes once again and met his gaze. Tuesday Inwood was a beauty, of that there was no doubt. There had never been any doubt in his mind that her body would be a treasure, and in her lad’s clothing, he could see much more of her than he ever had before.
Though his rational side cautioned him not to taste her, his baser self urged him onward. Jack gave in. He was touted to be a first class rake after all. No point in disappointing anyone.
He touched his lips to hers, gently at first. When her lips parted further, he plundered her mouth. He kissed her demandingly, passionately, willing her to be frightened. He needed to take her home to her mama. He had business to attend to in Cornwall. When the empire of the Knights of the Brown Order was eradicated, he would return to Swandown and marry her.
He ran into trouble quite quickly. Apparently, she did not fear his attentions. Quite the opposite happened.
The chit kissed him back! Bloody damn hell!
Instead of pulling back as he originally intended, his kiss grew more demanding. With her eager response, all thoughts of halting the seduction disappeared.
Tuesday responded to his kiss. She had been kissed three times in her life. None of them came close to this kiss. Jack’s kiss was wonderfully exciting and stirred up what felt like heat and fire in her body. Before she could even think of what she was doing, her arms coiled around his neck and she leaned in to him.
She didn’t just…Bloody Hell, yes she did! He told himself to stop, but couldn’t. His arms wrapped more tightly around her. He pulled her closer against his body. Blood pounded in his veins, his body was aflame. He couldn’t think about anything except thrusting himself deep inside Tuesday Inwood. He wanted, no he needed, to claim her, to brand her as his own. As she molded against him, he burned. His growing erection throbbed. Expertly, he peeled off her coat and let it fall to the floor. His eyes rested on her hardened nipples now straining against the linen of the man’s shirt she wore.
Remembering how well the trousers fit her, his hands slid down her back to the rounded globes of her bottom. His fingers splayed across her bottom and he pulled her tight against his throbbing cock.
One hand slid quickly upward and after teasing one of her full breasts through the fabric, he quickly unfastened her shirt. He pushed away the fabric barring his view of her naked breasts and gazed at her beautiful, naked upper torso. He dipped his head to suckle one breast and then the other. She cried out softly, arched her back and pressed tighter against him. Jack thrust his hips against her, pinning her against the wall. As he licked, and sucked at the pink buds.
All reason and all sanity left him. There was only one thought on his mind. He had only one goal, to bury himself deep inside Lady Tuesday Inwood. He’d wanted this for four years, since the day they had danced at Roseland Abbey. He remembered the burning need he felt then. It was a pale shadow compared to the fiery need raging inside him at this moment.
He suckled her hard, drawing each breast into the warm cave of his mouth. He nipped at one nipple. Her surprised cry of pleasure brought a growl of satisfaction from him. He did it again. When she moaned softly, he grinned with delight. His hand moved to the fall of her trousers. First, he reasoned, he must strip them off her before he could do what he most desired. There was a small sofa in this parlour. That would have to do.
Encircling her trim waist with his hands, he turned them around slowly, his lips never leaving hers. With his arms full of warm, soft Tuesday, who smelled like violets and clung as tightly to him as he held her, he backed her toward the sofa.
A knock sounded upon the door.
“Your meal, my Lord.”
“Damn!” He whispered hoarsely as clarity crashed in upon him. He leaned over, scooped up her coat and hat and all but pushed her behind the screen in the corner of the room. “Get dressed!” he ordered gruffly.
His eyes had darkened from golden amber to the color of a dark brandy. Was he angry? Did they burn for another reason? As she redressed herself, she noticed the tiny bruising teeth marks he left around her nipple when he had grazed her with his teeth. She shivered at the memory of the pleasurable sensations he had brought to her. Tuesday guessed him to be angry. She wondered why. Had he truly wanted her? At one point she was certain he did want her, for he seemed to be driven as mad with passion as she had been.
As she re-fastened her shirt and shrugged into her coat, she wondered if Jack was truly attracted to her, or did he behave in such a manner with all women he knew? She carefully wound her braid around her head and put her hat back on.
“A friend will join me in a moment. Leave two tankards and another plate,” Jack instructed the serving woman.
“Yes, my Lord.”
When the woman shut the door behind her, Tuesday came out from behind the screen. Jack glared at her. It appeared he was truly angry. How could he be angry when he was not two minutes before kissing her naked breasts? He had kissed her so passionately. Her belly fluttered and there was a peculiar twinge between her legs as she remembered the overpowering but highly pleasurable experience.
“Sit down and eat, Tuesday. We have some hard riding to do if we are to reach Swandown Manor by nightfall.”
His tone sounded sharp and cold.
He’s the one who kissed her! He was the one who nearly undressed her. Tuesday remained standing. How dare he be angry with her!
“I’m not going home to Swandown. I told you, I’m going to Menadue with or without you.”
“Bloody Hell! You are not going to Menadue, Tuesday.” Jack stood from his chair so quickly it scraped back several inches along the wooden floor. His eyes flashed and the muscles in his jaw were taut.
“Oh, but I am!” Tuesday gave him an affirming nod. “If you return me to Swandown Manor, I will tell my father that you took advantage of me.”
“What?” Jack reached for her arm and pulled her closer. “You are still a maiden. You would not dare accuse me of such a thing. Might I point out Tuesday, that you were kissing me as well? It was you who put your arms around my neck and pressed yourself against me.” Jack grinned knowingly, “What innocent girl would want to ruin her reputation in such a manner?”
“First of all, I am not a girl. I’m a woman, and considered to be quite on the shelf at age six and twenty. Secondly, I’ve already told you I am determined to avenge my brother’s death, or in the very least be present when one of you does so. If my reputation is ruined, then so be it. I am going to Cornwall. I have every right to be there. Charlie was my brother.”
Jack watched
her for a few moments. He decided to call her bluff. He did not think she would truly ruin her own reputation.
“You can prove nothing. It would be your word against mine.” He tilted his head and settled a mocking smile upon her.
A dangerous, devilish grin lit his features. He did not believe she would do it. Tuesday gave him a calm, cool smile.
“I am certain the daughter of a peer would be believed. I could even say you lured me to travel with you, that you seduced me and promised me marriage. Then I could show them your teeth marks upon my breast!”
“That would be a lie!” Jack snapped. He stepped back then ran a hand through his hair. “I left marks?” His eyes moved to her breasts. “Did I hurt you, Tuesday?” he asked softly. He hadn’t done so intentionally.
Tuesday saw the glimmer of genuine concern in his eyes before his gaze moved lower to her breasts. She shook her head.
“I am not wounded. A little bruised. You are correct, what I would tell my father would be a lie except the part about you kissing me, and the part where you removed my coat and unfastened my shirt. Nor would my telling him that you kissed my bare breasts and bit one be a lie. It would also not be a lie to tell him you had your hands on my bottom. I would only be lying when I said you lured me to travel with you and that you seduced me and promised marriage.” She shrugged.
“It wouldn’t actually be a lie about seducing me either, I guess. Most of what I can tell my father will be truth. You would have to marry me and eventually I would get to Menadue – as your wife. It would be best for both of us if we did not have to marry. At this point I’ll take either option.” She held his gaze. She tilted her chin upward.
Jack’s hand moved to the fastenings of her shirt. “I’m going to have to have a look at your proof.” He half expected her to move away, but she didn’t. She stood perfectly still, her French blue gaze locked with his.
His fingers deftly unfastened her shirt. When he pushed the linen aside, his body ignited once again at the sight of her exquisite breasts. Just as she had said, her right breast sported two teeth marks above her pink, rosy nipple, and two below it. The indented marks left by his teeth were actually slightly blue. He had bruised her! Bloody Hell! Though she remained an innocent, in all truth, he had compromised her. All because of his body’s reaction when he was near her. Only she did this to him. It was a strange spell Tuesday had over him.
Trouble! He had given the name to her when she occupied his thoughts and dreams four years ago. She was even more trouble today.
“I am sorry, Tuesday. It was never my intention to hurt you. This changes everything.” Jack nodded soberly. He would have to offer for her. When she pointed out every single way he had compromised her aloud, he realized he had crossed the line. She was Charlie’s little sister for heaven’s sake. An innocent! Charlie wasn’t even here to defend her. Guilt settled over him like a heavy blanket.
As he continued to gaze upon her lovely breasts, he actually didn’t mind the thought of marrying her sooner than later. True he had been giving marriage to her a great deal of thought over the past week. He had planned to court her after her mourning period was over.
He definitely desired her. If her reaction to his kisses and attentions was any indication, there would always be passion between them.
Her waist was slender. Her hips and derrière he knew from exploring with his hands were just as enticing. They may as well get on to Menadue. He could make the necessary arrangements once they arrived. Suddenly, he was very keen to continue disrobing her and see the rest of her. She would be his wife. His body burned for her.
He thought of her parents, still grieving over their only son and heir’s death, and who were no doubt now worried about their daughter’s disappearance. This kind of situation would definitely hurt them.
Yet he was an Earl and heir to a Marquessate. He was Charlie’s friend. Tuesday welcomed his attentions. He supposed her parents would accept his offer, even a hurried and quite necessary offer such as this would be.
He told himself he should get her back to Swandown, yet the damage was done. He had compromised her, and taken liberties with her. She was his now, and would be his wife. The more he thought about it, the more he wanted to take her to Menadue. He would marry her and bed her. Actually, he wanted to bed her now.
Tuesday beamed. “So we will go to Menadue?”
“Yes.” Jack grinned at her. “We will.” He nodded.
Tuesday knew by the gleam in his eyes, that he was up to something. She started to step away from him. She was unsuccessful.
He pulled her against him. “Since I have to offer for you either way, Tuesday, I will taste your charms now.” His hand began to caress her uninjured breast. He rolled her hardened nipple between his thumb and forefinger. He cupped her breast in his hand and caressed her. Her soft moan of pleasure widened the grin he flashed just before he covered her lips with his. When she molded against him, he forced one large hand into the waistband at the back of her trousers and within seconds was cupping one bare globe of her firm bottom. Her skin was as soft as silk.
He held her tightly against his cock. He slanted his mouth over hers and kissed her demandingly, pausing to nibble, suck and lick. She returned his kisses with an equal measure of passion. He dipped his head and placed soft kisses to the teeth marks he had left on her breast earlier. He removed his hand from her bottom and began to unfasten her trousers.
Tuesday panicked. She didn’t truly want to marry such a notorious rake, did she? She was thoroughly enjoying what he was doing to her and how he made her feel, but marry Jack? She reasoned that it was a poor idea. She pushed at his chest. He pulled her tighter to him.
“No!” She managed to say when she pulled back from his searing kiss.
“No?” Jack studied her heavy lidded eyes and her swollen lips. He noted the flush on her cheeks. He lowered his gaze to observe her puckered nipples.
“No, we cannot do this until we are married.”
“Yes we can. We will be married very soon, I assure you. Within days.”
“No, I truly do not want to do this before I am married.” Tuesday’s mind was whirling. She never dreamed Jack would offer for her. Oh dear, what had she done. She had no desire to marry a man who would be unfaithful to her on a regular basis. He was rumored to have scores of mistresses. She backed toward the door. It was best if she made it to Menadue on her own considering this strange turn of events.
“Are you certain?” Jack tossed her thick sandy braid over her shoulder to trail down her back. He left a hot trail of kisses down the side of her neck. His hands circled her waist and he backed her further toward the door. Visions of pinning her against the wall while he pumped into her nearly undid him.
“Y-yes.” Tuesday moaned as he sucked her earlobe into his mouth.
“Make up your mind, Tuesday. Yes or no.”
His husky whisper tickled her ear. “Y-yes I am certain that I do not wish to do this before I am married.”
“Then why are you rubbing against me like that, hmm?” Jack asked her, his voice thick with his desire.
“Oh!” Tuesday realized she was rubbing against the very large and hard evidence of his desire. She placed her palm against his chest. His very firm, muscled chest. She tried to push him away. He didn’t budge.
“Stop Jack. I want to stop. I don’t want to marry a rake like you. I want to be happy. I want a husband who is faithful!”
“When we marry, Tuesday, I shall be faithful to you, only you.” Jack’s dark amber gaze met hers. He dipped his head and brushed his lips against her temple. “Starting right now, I am faithful to you,” he whispered huskily in her ear.
“So, since you don’t wish to marry me, you’ll go home to Swandown?” he posed hopefully. This woman was going to be the ruination of him if he didn’t get her back to her home and put a great deal of distance between them until the time was right for him to claim her. He was well on his way to ruining her. In the eyes of society, he already
had.
“No, I’m going to Menadue!” the determination crept back into her voice again.
“Then you’ll marry me, if you wish to go to Menadue,” Jack whispered. He imagined going to bed with Tuesday every night and waking with her every morning, and it was all he could do to keep from undressing her further.
Jack’s eyes gleamed when he saw the uncertainty in those large French blue eyes. He had her. She would return to Swandown now. He breathed a sigh of relief. Though he wanted nothing more than to bed her, it was for the best that she did return to her home until he could arrange everything properly. She deserved a proper courtship and a proper wedding. But she would marry him!
Tuesday wondered how this situation had become such a twisted mess. Her anger flared anew when she realized he had seduced her yet again. On purpose, to frighten her, to trick her into going home!
She had two choices the way she saw it. She could allow him to seduce her and marry the rake or she could flee and make it to Menadue on her own. Though she didn’t know the way, she was certain she could ask for the Duke’s direction. True, she had only a small amount of coin and was a woman alone. Surely, she could manage. She had to get him away from the door.
Jack was far too large and muscular to push away. One of his hands was still holding the door closed. She had to get him away from the door if there was any hope of her going on alone. Tuesday decided to let him continue, and perhaps she could persuade him to move away from the door.
“So, you’ll marry me, then.” Jack’s lips grazed her ear. He backed her against the door.
“No.” She shook her head. She took a tiny step forward putting inches between her and the door.
He nibbled along her slender neck. “You’ll go home, to Swandown?” he asked her as he rained kisses along her jawline. He placed both hands on either side of her neck, slid them under the linen and pushed the fabric of her shirt off her shoulders and down her arms. It fell into a forgotten heap upon the floor. His lips worshipped her lovely shoulders that were now uncovered. One hand moved to her uninjured breast. The other moved to the place between her legs, where he began to massage her through her trousers.
Lords of Retribution (Lords of Avalon series) Page 20
