by Darcy Burke
“Felix?”
He suddenly felt as though he were prey.
That was silly. Sarah wasn’t hunting him. And yet here she was, standing inside his study with the door closed.
Closed?
Perhaps she was hunting him.
“Sarah, you shouldn’t be here.”
“Why not?” She sauntered forward and removed her wide-brimmed hat, tossing it atop his desk.
“We need to talk about what’s been happening.”
“You aren’t going to tell me we have to stop again, are you?” She kept moving toward him and then beyond. She loosened the ties on the drapes and drew them over the window. The room was plunged into near darkness with just strips of light filtering past the edges of the curtains.
“Sarah,” he rasped. The mere action of closing the curtains had sent his body into a state of anticipation.
She turned from the window to face him and put her hands on his waistcoat, her fingers opening each button. “Yes?”
He had to put a stop to this. “It occurs to me that you’re using me to avoid your grief.”
Her hands stilled, and she blinked, her dark lashes fluttering for a bare moment before she looked up at him. “Is that what you think?”
“Am I wrong?”
“I’m not sure how I can use you when you won’t allow me to do anything to you.” She resumed unbuttoning his waistcoat, flicking the last one open and then pushing her hands beneath the garment to stroke her hands across his rib cage.
His breath vacated his lungs, and his cock jerked in response.
“Let’s say I am using you,” she said, her fingertips caressing him through the lawn of his shirt. “Would you mind?”
God, no. “That isn’t the point.”
“I would argue that you are Felixing me.”
Confusion crowded up against his lust—for which he was grateful. “Felixing? Are you referring to being foxed?”
“No, Felixing.” She scraped her nails across his chest and pressed her thumbs against his nipples. He tried to suppress a groan, but it erupted low in his throat. “You’re diverting me. You are the Duke of Distraction, I’ve decided.”
“Christ, I have one of those bloody nicknames now?” He fought to retain some semblance of rational thought and feared he was failing beneath the onslaught of her seduction.
“Only between us.”
“Sarah, we must stop.”
She pushed his waistcoat over his shoulders and dragged it down his arms, then let it fall to the floor. “I wanted to see your bare chest, but I can see I must get right to the matter.” She skimmed one hand down his abdomen and found the buttons of his fall.
His cock stretched, hardening at her touch. “This is a very bad idea.”
“This can be the conclusion of our…distraction. But I insist on giving you the same pleasure you gave me. Twice. Or at least trying to. I may not be very good at it.” She gave him a sheepish look as she unbuttoned the front of his breeches.
“If you do nothing further, I will already declare you are quite excellent.”
She gave him a saucy, seductive grin. “You are too generous, but then I knew that already.”
The fall of his breeches fell open, and she reached into his smallclothes. Her fingers found the tip of his cock.
“You are already wet,” she murmured.
“You know about that?” A mix of jealousy and wonder shot through him.
“Don’t ask questions. And don’t think I’ve done this before. I just told you I haven’t.”
She hadn’t said that—she’d said she might not be good at it—but he wouldn’t correct her. He was far too eager for her to try and convinced himself that to make her stop would be cruel.
Later, he would realize what an asinine thought that was.
She closed her hand around his shaft and slid it to the base. Her fingertips grazed his balls, and he groaned again, more loudly this time.
She whispered, “Shhh,” before kissing him, her free hand moving up to cup his nape while her other hand continued to stroke his cock.
Closing his eyes, Felix swept his tongue along hers, ravenous for her kiss. His hips moved forward as she worked his shaft, urging her faster.
And then her mouth was gone from his as she dropped down before him. He opened his eyes and saw her on her knees. Then her mouth was in—or on—an altogether different place, and he had to bite his lip to keep from crying out.
This was the moment he’d both dreamed of and dreaded. She drew his cock along her tongue, her hand holding him at the base. She moved slowly, but with such heat and precision that he had to work to rein in his body lest he pump himself down her throat.
She took him deep and then eased back, still going slowly. Stroke after stroke, she maintained a sedate but sensual pace. He was glad because it stopped him from coming. And oh, how he wanted to.
What was he thinking? He couldn’t come in her mouth. She’d never done this before, and he’d shock the hell out of her. And yet there was no way he wasn’t coming. This wasn’t like the other times when he’d kept himself in check until he was alone and frigged himself until he couldn’t see straight.
There was no escaping completion. She was going to get what she wanted. And so was he.
Suddenly, she began to move faster, her mouth moving over and around him, up and down, her tongue licking along his greedy shaft. She tightened her grip and braced her other hand on his thigh.
He clasped her head, unable to stop himself from moving now. He thrust into her mouth as pleasure built and blood rushed to his cock. His head fell back, and he closed his eyes, certain his orgasm was just a moment away.
But then her mouth was gone. Cold air shocked his bare flesh, and he opened his eyes to see her standing before him. Her blue eyes were wide and luminous, her cheeks flushed, her lips red and glistening from what she’d been doing to him. She was the most beautiful thing he’d ever seen.
She lifted her hand and touched his face. “I want to have sex.”
Chapter 12
Lust glazed Felix’s green eyes as he stared at her. His lips parted, and she traced her thumb across the lower one.
“Sarah—”
She rotated her thumb to a vertical position and covered both lips. “Shhh. Don’t tell me we shouldn’t. I have no idea what my future holds—beyond a millinery shop—and I don’t want to regret not experiencing this.”
His brow creased, and he did not appear convinced. “May I speak now?”
“Only if you plan to agree.”
The hint of a smile tugged at his mouth. “Against my better judgment,” he said. “You are incredibly hard to refuse. Impossible, it appears. Since you had the forethought to close the drapes, dare I hope you locked the door?” He cringed slightly, and she suspected he was thinking how he should have asked that question earlier.
“Of course I did.” She stroked her hand along his erection, which hadn’t flagged in the slightest as they’d stood there. She was amazed at how she enjoyed touching him there, everywhere. “I suppose it’s too much to hope to be naked.”
He moaned before claiming her mouth in a swift but thorough kiss. “It is, I’m afraid. But we’ll make the most of what we have.” His eyes locked on hers. “You’re certain?”
She clasped the side of his neck, drawing his head down. “Kiss me, Felix.”
His mouth opened over hers, and his tongue drove deep inside, stirring her already white-hot desire to even greater heights. She kissed him back, moving one of her hands beneath the hem of his shirt to feel the smooth plane of his back. He was warm and hard, his muscles taut against her palm.
He tipped his head up. “There is no good place to lie down in here.”
“The carpet?” she suggested.
“It wouldn’t be comfortable.” He looked down at her with a hint of mischief in his eyes. “How adventurous are you feeling?”
“With you, I want to explore everything.”
His gaz
e darkened, and he took her hand, leading her to the small settee angled near the fireplace. Turning, he sat down. “Lift your skirts and put your knees on either side of me.”
Sarah’s sex pulsed as she looked down at his jutting erection. Reaching down, she raised her skirts and situated herself as he’d directed. She immediately felt the heat of him against her and inhaled sharply.
He burrowed his hand beneath her skirts, and his fingers found her sex, stroking along the sensitive folds and stoking her arousal. His eyes met hers again. “You’re certain?”
“Yes. Stop asking me that.” His finger pressed inside, and she closed her eyes in ecstasy. She put her hands on his shoulders, letting her skirts pool around them.
Sliding in and out of her, he used his thumb to tease that spot that seemed to be the point of release. Whenever he touched her there, her body tensed with pleasure and she wanted to shout with rapture. Shouting, however, would be bad, so she only allowed a soft whimper.
“Kiss me, Sarah,” he urged.
She dipped her head and held him tightly as she put her mouth on his. He continued his campaign on her sex, and she was helpless against the sensations. Her hips moved, almost of their own volition, as he propelled her toward her climax.
Just as the waves of pleasure broke over her, his hand moved, and she felt his cock against her opening. He pushed inside, his other hand outside her skirts clasping her waist and holding her steady.
She cried out into his mouth as her body spasmed, and his shaft filled her. There was discomfort but also an intensifying of the shocks streaming through her body.
Taking her mouth from his, she fought to breathe, her heart pounding. He kissed her neck, the edge of her collarbone, the base of her throat. “Move, if you want,” he said against her, his tongue teasing her flesh. “In this position, you can control everything.”
She was working to become accustomed to having him inside her. It was an incredibly different and exciting sensation. She rotated her hips against his pelvis, a hesitant inquiry to determine what she wanted.
She realized she liked the feel of him against her on the outside as well as having him on the inside. His hand splayed on her outer thigh, massaging her and urging her on.
“It’s a bit like riding,” she said.
“Exactly.”
“But far more pleasurable.”
“I should hope so. I am beginning to wish we were naked. This position is ideal for giving me access to your breasts.”
She glanced down and saw that he was indeed perfectly placed to take them in his mouth. “Well, that’s a shame.” She wanted to say they would be naked next time, but she was fairly certain there would be no next time. He’d tried to behave as a gentleman ought, and she’d already pushed him past the limit. She wouldn’t do so again.
This would have to be enough.
Sarah cupped the sides of his head and kissed him again, sweeping her tongue along the inside of his mouth as she increased her pace, rising and falling as if she were indeed taking her horse from a trot to a canter.
His fingertips dug into her thigh, and she moved even faster. It was such an incredible feeling as she drove them toward release. Her muscles tensed, and she knew she was so very close. Was he? She had no idea.
But then his hands tightened on her waist and her thigh, and he thrust up into her, his body meeting hers with ever-greater need. Another climax rushed over her, and she broke the kiss, trying hard not to scream his name.
And still he moved, his cock driving into her again and again. Then he tensed, and she knew he was there. Satisfaction poured through her and then broke when he left her body.
She opened her eyes to see his head cast back against the top of the settee. His eyes were closed, his face drawn, his lips parted in ecstasy as he drew and expelled air from his lungs in rapid succession.
“Why did you stop?”
“I didn’t.” His voice was strained, and his eyes remained closed.
She felt a sticky wetness between them and understood. Lavinia had told her about a man withdrawing his sex before he spilled his seed in order to prevent making a child. She appreciated his forethought, because she certainly hadn’t thought of it.
At last he opened his eyes, and she’d never seen them a more pure green or more incandescent.
“Thank you,” he said simply and leaned up to kiss her again, his lips moving softly and deliciously over hers.
“Felix, I have news!” The door crashed open.
Sarah turned her head, and her entire body froze.
Anthony stood at the threshold and stared at them together on the settee, his jaw dropping nearly to the floor. “What the hell are you doing?”
Sarah scrambled to Felix’s right side, using her body to shield him while he put himself back together. Not that it mattered. The damage was done. There was no way to interpret what Anthony had walked in on other than the truth.
Once his fall was rebuttoned, Felix stood and faced his best friend. “I know you’re angry, but this really isn’t any of your concern.”
Anthony stalked toward him and, before Felix saw it coming, had planted his fist against Felix’s cheek. Felix’s head snapped back, and pain exploded across his face.
Sarah leapt up from the settee and clasped Anthony’s arm. “Stop!”
“I demand satisfaction,” Anthony growled. “Name your second.”
Felix rubbed his hand over his cheek. “A duel? You’re mad.”
Anthony ripped his arm from Sarah’s grip and advanced on Felix once more. “You’re the one who’s mad if you think you can ruin my sister and go unpunished.”
Sarah dodged between them, putting her back against Felix’s chest. “Anthony, stop. There isn’t going to be a duel. I am not ruined.”
Anthony shifted his wild gaze to Sarah. “I know what I saw.”
“And I’m sorry you saw it. But that will teach you to barge in on a closed door.” She turned her head to look at Felix. “I was certain I’d locked it.”
“This is my fault?” Anthony thundered.
“No, it’s mine,” Felix said calmly, hating the pain creasing Anthony’s face.
“It isn’t either,” Sarah said, narrowing her eyes at Felix before she returned her attention to Anthony. “It’s mine. I seduced him. If you want to punish someone, it should be me. But I don’t think you ought to punish anyone. Felix and I are able to make our own decisions and are prepared to live with any consequences.”
Felix inwardly winced. Did she have to use that word? Hopefully there would be no child—he’d certainly tried to avoid it, hard as that had been.
“You bloody well will live with them,” Anthony said with considerable venom. “You’re getting married.”
“We’re not doing that either,” Sarah said firmly. “Really, Anthony, this is between Felix and me.”
While Felix appreciated what Sarah was trying to do, there was no point. However, before he could say so, Anthony continued on, his eyes raging with fury and a dozen other gut-wrenching emotions. “I am the viscount now, Sarah, head of our family. It is my responsibility to ensure you aren’t ruined and to see you safely, if not happily, wed. I can’t allow Felix—or any other man—to take advantage of you and walk away without concern.”
Felix saw the guilt, already a daily challenge for Anthony, rise to the surface and knew there was nothing he wouldn’t do to ease his friend’s suffering. “We’ll marry.”
Anthony’s body relaxed the slightest bit, but not as much as Felix had hoped. He was still furious, and he had every right to be. Felix was the worst sort—he had taken advantage of Sarah. Whether he wanted to acknowledge it or not, she was incredibly vulnerable right now, and he never should have allowed her to persuade him.
As if he’d required much persuasion at all.
Sarah moved to the side and turned her head to frown at first Felix and then at Anthony. “We will not marry. Felix doesn’t want to—”
“It doesn’t matter wha
t he wants.” Anthony kept his gaze pinned on Felix, and Felix worried their friendship was forever damaged.
“No, it doesn’t.” Felix bowed his head briefly before looking Anthony in the eye. “I humbly beg your forgiveness.”
“You’re a cad and a reprobate. I never imagined you could take advantage of a woman in Sarah’s position, let alone my sister.”
“He didn’t,” Sarah said, her voice rising. “Stop talking about me as if I’m not here.” She looked at Anthony. “You don’t speak for me.” Then she turned her attention to Felix, her eyes blazing. “And if you want to marry me, ask.”
“Will you marry me, Sarah?” Felix didn’t even recognize his own voice.
“No.”
“It’s what our parents wanted!” Anthony shouted. “If they were here—” He didn’t finish, but he didn’t have to. The damage was quite done.
Sarah paled, her lips parting in horror. Then she turned and fled the room.
“I know you’re angry,” Felix said, his own ire now pricked. Sarah hadn’t deserved that. “But trying to make her feel as guilty as you do is cruel.”
“Fuck you, Felix.” Anthony stalked from the room next, leaving Felix alone.
Emotion swirled in his chest. He took several deep breaths and briefly closed his eyes. Then he went around and picked up the discarded items of his clothing, slowly putting everything back on. When he was finished, he sat back down at his desk and began to read the correspondence George had given him.
Distraction was the key to harmony and peace. Distraction was all he knew.
Thankfully, Sarah had managed to keep the tears from flowing until she’d left the house. She didn’t cry for long—angry tears never lasted as long as sad ones.
It was her own fault. She never should have pressed Felix. The look on Anthony’s face… Angry as she was at him, she felt awful. She was a wanton and selfish, and her parents would be horrified.
No, she wasn’t going to think about them right now, because then the tears would turn sad and she would dissolve into a puddle and likely never find her way back to the house. As it was, she was striding purposefully along the path toward the pond without actual purpose. And she didn’t want to return to the pond.
