A Deceptive Wager

by Ruth Ann Nordin

  “No,” he said, “he doesn’t think she should go to sleep.”

  Since there was nothing a person did in a bedchamber other than sleep, she had no idea what he was alluding to. “What does he think?”

  “It’s not important. I’m here to offer you comfort after what just happened with your brother. We should focus on that. How can I most help you feel comforted?”

  She thought about letting the matter go, but now her curiosity was piqued. “I want to know what a gentleman thinks.”

  “It doesn’t matter.”

  “But I’m curious.”

  “Yes, I understand you’re curious, but it doesn’t matter.”

  She debated whether or not she should push the issue. She’d like to know what kind of thoughts were going through his head right now. Lilly and Emilia alluded to things with their husbands, but she had trouble understanding what they were talking about. “It’s safe to ask you since you’re my husband, isn’t it?”

  “I realize you’re only asking because you’re naïve, but I’d rather not say. As it is, I’ve said too much already.”

  “You said it because I asked you why you were sitting in that chair instead of sitting next to me.”

  “Yes, I remember that.”

  When he didn’t continue, she said, “I’d like to know what you’re thinking.”

  He groaned. “Why must you be so persistent? Isn’t it enough that I’m staying here with you in order to make you feel better?”

  She frowned. Was that the only reason he stayed here? He felt obligated to? “Does that mean you don’t care about me?”

  “I do care about you. In fact, over the past few weeks, I’ve grown to care for you a lot.”

  Her heart gave an unexpected leap. “You have?”

  “Of course, I have. I don’t make it a habit of visiting someone every day unless I care about them.”

  Her skin warmed in pleasure, and she felt a shy smile tug at her lips. “I care about you, too.”

  He returned her smile. “Good. I’m glad to hear it.”

  A moment of silence passed between them, and she took another sip of the sherry. She tried to convince herself that everything would be all right with the world if she never knew what gentlemen thought while a lady was in a bedchamber with them, but try as she might, the need to know kept prodding her.

  She let out a sigh. “I really want to know, Aaron. Why can’t you tell me what gentlemen think?”

  He stared at her in disbelief for a moment then stood up. “I can’t do this. I’ll ask your friend to come up and comfort you. I’ll be by tomorrow to take you for a walk.”

  She jumped off the bed and set the glass on the nightstand before she ran after him. She managed to reach him before he got to the door. “I don’t understand why this is such a difficult question for you to answer. You spent a night with me in my bedchamber, and all we did was sleep.”

  “You slept. I was awake.”

  “Why?”

  “Because…because…” He groaned again. “All right. You really have to know this, don’t you? You’re going to be as determined to get your way as you’ve been from the moment you found out I hired someone to chaperone you.” He pointed to the bed. “The entire night we were in the bedchamber together, all I wanted to do was get into the bed with you.”

  “But we weren’t getting along back then. I don’t see how pleasant sleep would have been.”

  “I didn’t want to sleep. I wanted to touch and hold and kiss you and,” he paused as he searched for the right words then continued, “do other things with you. There’s a part of me that isn’t ruled by logic. It doesn’t care if we’re getting along or not. All it cared about was that you were wearing nightclothes.”

  “What’s wrong with my nightclothes?”

  “They’re thinner than your gowns. I could see the shape of your…your,” he gestured to her breasts, “in surprising detail. And I was already attracted to you anyway. Why do you think I insisted you cover yourself from the neck to your ankles at all times?”

  Her eyes grew wide. “That’s why you had me dress in those insufferable clothes? You weren’t worried someone else was going to look at me. You were looking at me?”

  “Sadly, yes. I’m not perfect. I might not have wanted to force the issue with the heir, but I’m only human. I have my weaknesses.”

  Then that meant… “Does that mean you think I’m pretty?” she asked.

  He seemed surprised by the question but answered, “Yes, I think you’re pretty. Very much so in fact. I thought so from the moment I met you.”

  “You thought that even though you didn’t want to get married?”

  “Wanting to be married had nothing to do with my attraction to you. I’m not blind. I can see what you look like.”

  In the past, she had trouble understanding why her friends went to such lengths to pretty themselves up for their husbands, but now it made sense. It was a thrill to know Aaron was attracted to her.

  “Now that I explained what a gentleman thinks when he’s in a bedchamber with a lady, do you mind if I sit in the chair while we talk about other things?” he asked.

  She bit her lower lip. She had already pushed her luck. He had finally satisfied her curiosity. But there was a part of her she didn’t know existed that prompted her to push her luck further. “What would happen if you sat on the bed with me?”

  “This can’t be happening,” he muttered to himself as he shook his head.

  “Maybe I want you to show me these other things you referred to. I know what holding and kissing are, but no one’s ever taken the time to explain what ‘other things’ are.”

  “I’m trying to act honorably toward you. I know you’re a virgin. The last thing I want to do is take advantage of the situation. I brought you up here to comfort you.”

  “I feel much better now.”

  “Yes, I think the sherry has done its job.”

  She couldn’t argue that. Ever since drinking it, she’d stopped trembling. But she also felt better because he had stayed with her to make sure she was all right. “What harm would it be if we went to the bed?”

  His gaze went to the sherry. “You’re not used to drinking that, are you?”

  “I know most ladies have some kind of wine at dinner, but I prefer water. Water doesn’t leave me feeling thirsty. The sherry isn’t making me act in ways I otherwise wouldn’t, though. I don’t feel lightheaded like I did with the brandy.”

  “I remember you drinking brandy and the ridiculous things you said because of it.”

  “I was in full control of myself then, and I’m in control of myself now,” she insisted. “Show me what husbands do to their wives in bed. I assume it results in a child. I don’t mind trying for an heir.” When he hesitated, she added, “I’m being sincere. After learning that you told Willard the dowry belonged to me and watching you release your fury on him, I’m attracted to you more than I’ve ever been attracted to anyone.”

  Though she caught a hint of a smile on his face, he said, “I wouldn’t say I released my fury on him. I just struck him before he could strike me.”

  “But you did that to defend me. You never would have gone on that veranda if it hadn’t been for me.”

  “Well, I couldn’t let him abduct you.”

  “You came to my aid like a warrior going into battle.”

  “It wasn’t a battle.”

  “It was to me. I wasn’t able to stop him.” She had never flirted with anyone before. Up to now, she’d had no reason to. But she found herself wanting to do so with him. Thinking over the ways Lilly had encouraged her suitors to ask her to dance in the past, Kitty tilted her head to the side and gave him a smile. “You didn’t know how things would go. You risked getting hurt, and you did it for me. I’ve never seen anyone show more courage.”

  He gave the same flattered expression she used to see on other gentlemen’s faces when Lilly complimented them. “You’re my wife. I couldn’t let someone harm y
ou. I only did what was prudent.”

  “You don’t have to be so modest. You were wonderful.” On impulse, she kissed his cheek. “You don’t have to be so shy about admitting it.”

  Before she could blink, he slipped his arm around her waist and brought his mouth to hers. The action happened so suddenly that it took her a moment to respond, but when she did, he pulled her closer to him.

  She didn’t know if kissing was supposed to produce a strange tingling sensation through her. At first, it alarmed her, but when she realized the sensation was a pleasant one, she leaned into him. He cupped the side of her face with his hand then kissed her cheek and her neck. The soft kisses might have tickled her if there wasn’t something else stirring within her.

  Her mind unwittingly went to the time when Lilly had encouraged Emilia to take Benjamin to her bed. Since then, she hadn’t thought much of that conversation, but now, as Aaron brought his mouth back to hers, she did recall Lilly saying that it wasn’t hard for a lady to encourage a gentleman to be intimate with her. She had mentioned offering him a certain look or touch, which Kitty was sure had to do with flirting. But those looks and touches had to go beyond a certain point if they were meant to be more than mere flirtations at a ball.

  Come to think of it, Kitty was sure Lilly had also mentioned removing clothes. That made her think of what Aaron had said about seeing her in her nightclothes. Lilly would probably tell her if she wanted Aaron to get into the bed with her—and find out exactly what the ‘other things’ were that Aaron had alluded to—then she should remove her gown.

  Since she was unable to coax him into telling her by asking, she might as well try it. Unfortunately, the particular gown she was wearing had a ribbon tied in the back. She was going to need his help.

  She waited until he was done kissing her before she said, “I want to be your wife, Aaron. I want our marriage to be complete.” Despite feeling a bit awkward, she turned her back to him. “If you untie the ribbon, I can take off my gown.”

  He didn’t respond right away, and for a moment, she thought he might say no, but then she felt him untying the ribbon. After he was done, he removed it from her gown. She was about to lift the gown over her head when he kissed the side of her neck. Her skin warmed in pleasure. His lips were as gentle as before, but there seemed to be something more sensual in his kiss than had been there when he was kissing her neck before.

  He dropped the ribbon and moved his hands to her waist. She thought he intended to keep his hands there until he brought them to her breasts. The tingling sensation was back, and this time, it was accompanied by an unfamiliar ache between her legs. She would have panicked if everything didn’t feel so good. He left a trail of kisses down the side of her neck, and she heard a low moan escape his lips. She wasn’t sure why, but the moan excited her even more.

  He let go of her breasts then proceeded to lift the gown over her head. She might have given more thought to the cool air around her if he hadn’t started unlacing the strings in the back of her corselet. Once he discarded the corselet, he removed the rest of her undergarments except for her stockings. At first, she thought he intended for her to keep them on, but after he carried her to the bed, he removed them.

  He took a long moment to study her body. She didn’t know exactly how to describe his expression except that it seemed to be a mix of tenderness and desire. And it made her feel powerful. Lilly was right. The removal of clothing could persuade a gentleman to come to a lady’s bed.

  Aaron’s gaze went to hers before he lowered his head and kissed her. On instinct, she cupped the back of his neck and pulled him closer to her. He let out a low moan and deepened the kiss. He traced her lower lip with his tongue. It took her a moment to realize he was asking for her to part her mouth for him. When she did, his tongue brushed hers. She wouldn’t have thought this was a way someone might kiss another person, but after taking a couple of seconds to think it over, she decided she liked it. She wiggled closer to him and gave herself over to discovering the other things he was going to do to her.

  He proceeded to kiss and touch her. Up until this moment, it hadn’t occurred to her how personal kissing and touching could be. He not only kissed her mouth, but he kissed other parts of her. Parts where his hand had been. Parts her clothing had covered up. Parts she couldn’t imagine letting anyone else touch and kiss. No, this was much too private. This was something she could only see doing with him.

  She didn’t notice how arousing all of the kissing and touching were right away. At first, she was only aware of how his hand and mouth felt on her. He was being gentle with her and going slowly. He was taking his time in easing her from being a virgin into being his wife. But, after some time, she became aware that the way he was kissing and touching her was making her eager for more kissing and touching. It seemed like a strange contradiction. He was satisfying her by continuing his ministrations. He hadn’t stopped. He wasn’t giving her any indication he was going to stop. But the ache building up between her legs demanded he do more—and that he do it faster.

  She moaned and tightened her hold on him.

  He lifted his head from her breast and asked, “What is it? Did I hurt you?”

  “No, nothing hurts. I need you to keep doing this. I don’t think I could bear it if you stopped. I think I need…” Her voice drifted off as she concentrated on what her body was telling her.

  The ache between her legs was so insistent. He had brushed the patch of curls between her legs and had caressed her thighs, but that wasn’t where the ache was. Perhaps if he explored her more intimately, it would help ease the tension building up within her.

  “Maybe if you touch me here,” she said and brought his hand between her legs.

  She was surprised to note how wet she was. That had never happened to her before. It must have something to do with what they were doing. She guided him along the folds of her flesh and, when she realized how good his touch was making her feel, she encouraged him to slide two of his fingers into her.

  Both of them groaned, but she was the one who said, “Yes, that’s much better. I need you to touch me there.”

  He nodded and followed her instructions as she told him what she most liked. At one point, she couldn’t take the slow build anymore and whispered for him to stroke her with greater urgency. He did as she wished, and, just when she thought she couldn’t take it anymore, her body reached the heights of pleasure. She cried out and held onto him. Who knew her body was capable of this? It was no wonder Lilly and Emilia were excited to be alone with their husbands.

  “What do you want me to do now?” Aaron asked once she relaxed.

  “Nothing,” she replied, out of breath. “I’m satisfied. Are there more things for us to do, or is that it?”

  “There’s more.”

  Before she could ask him what else there could be, he began to remove his clothes. She watched him until he unbuttoned his breeches. She couldn’t look at him beyond that. She might not have felt the inclination to shy away from him when he had taken her clothes off, but she wasn’t ready to see all of him yet. Perhaps she would in time. After they’d been together a few times, she would probably be comfortable enough with him to do it.

  He settled back next to her. “Are you all right?”

  “I’m fine. I just can’t bring myself to look at all of you like you can look at me,” she admitted, her voice soft.

  “I know you find it embarrassing, but I like knowing you’re shy.” He cupped the side of her face and turned it toward his. “I’m the first one you’ve been with. Your body is a gift you’re offering me. I don’t take that for granted.”

  She relaxed. “I won’t be with anyone else.”

  “I know.” He traced her bottom lip with his thumb and smiled. “You’re my first, and you’ll be my only one. We’ll have children, and both of us will raise them.”

  She returned his smile. “I think marriage might be wonderful.”

  “Yes, I think it will be, too.”


  He kissed her, and she pulled him closer to her. His kissing started slowly, and he did bring his hand back to her breasts. But he wasn’t as patient as he’d been with his clothes on. Perhaps that was why he’d kept them on. They had forced him to go slower and concentrate on pleasing her. Now, however, it wasn’t long before he was more urgent in his actions.

  And from there, it wasn’t much longer before he entered her. He did pause and wait for her to adjust to him, but it didn’t take long until the discomfort ebbed and she was able to receive enjoyment from feeling him inside her. Once she assured him she was fine, he proceeded to make love to her in earnest. After he was done, he held her in his arms, still kissing and touching her, but this kind of kissing and touching had the sense of contentment in it that was simply there to express his happiness in being with her.

  “As much as I want to continue being with you this way,” he began, “I don’t feel like staying here all night. I realize since we’re married, this isn’t scandalous. Nothing we just did will make it into the Tittletattle. It’s just that I didn’t come up here with the intention of doing this, and I don’t want anyone else to know what we just did.”

  “I’d rather no one else know, either.”

  He gave her a kiss and followed it with a hopeful smile. “I don’t suppose you’d want to come home with me? I’d like to be with you for the rest of the night.”

  She pretended to think about it. “Well, it was interesting to learn about the things a gentleman thinks about when he’s with a lady in a bedchamber. There’s a lot I didn’t know.”

  “Then you should come with me. I can satisfy your curiosity about anything else you want to know about gentlemen.”

  “In that case, I should go with you.” She chuckled and kissed him. “Will you help me dress? I want to be fully clothed when I send for someone to take my trunk back home.”

  “I’ll do better than help you dress. I’ll also help you pack.”

  Not hiding her excitement, she hurried to get out of the bed.

  Chapter Twenty-Five