Chapter Three
A fter a furtive glance around the room to make sure no one paid them any attention, William hurried up the stairs just behind Lucinda. The very beautiful, very charming Lucinda. What had begun as curiosity about a lady who fancied herself in love with a rake had become much more. The lady was lovely beyond belief, her nervousness around him quite endearing, and her determination to get him alone more than a little flattering. Of course, she thought she was getting the cad Will alone instead. However, William hoped it was his own charm that was actually driving her to this ruse of needing to lie down. He suspected when she got him into the drawing room, she would inveigle him into kissing her with the hopes of eliciting a proposal afterward. As long as the flirtation went no further, William would have no blot on his honor if he should not be so inclined to offer for her.
Although to tell the truth, William was well on his way to insisting on being so entrapped. The lady had beauty, spirit, and an ample settlement according to Mr. Banks, the tavernkeeper. How had the man put it? “Many’s the man who’d want a comely lass like that to warm his bed, especially one that comes with a dowry the size of hers.” William had to agree with the man. The mere thought of the luscious Lucinda naked in his bed at home made his cock rise. So the prospect of kissing her petal pink lips, of thrusting his tongue between them and plundering the softness inside her had him all but running up the stairs after her.
Once on the second floor, Lucinda turned immediately to the door to the right, which was slightly ajar. Lucinda hurried inside, pulling him in after her, then whirling around to shut the door. “Here we are, Will.” She turned toward him, her eyes shining with triumph that left him weak. “We’re alone now.”
Stunned by the undisguised desire in her face, William looked around the room, a sinking feeling stealing through him as he took in the cheerful fireplace, the cozy chaise before it, and finally, the feminine pink-and-green covered poster bed. She’d brought him to her bed chamber. Finally, it dawned on him that perhaps Lucinda had more than a mere kiss in mind. Was she that determined to marry the unworthy Will? He grasped at her words downstairs. “You…you said you needed to lie down.”
With a giggle, she came to him, pressing herself against his chest until he could feel every curve of her breasts against his damp shirt. “Of course, I do.” She slid her arms up around his neck and gazed lovingly into his eyes. “With you.”
In that second, all William’s good intentions about only kissing the lady flew straight out the window. A man could only stand so much provocation without his body reacting in the only way it knew how to a woman throwing herself at him. And he’d been sorely lacking in female company in recent months. While he’d been courting Sylvia, he’d thought it not polite to indulge in the pleasures of another woman’s charms and so had denied himself his regular trips to Mrs. Marion’s, his preferred School of Venus. The result was that having Lucinda pressed against him was wreaking havoc in his breeches to the point he was more than ready and willing.
With a sigh of relief, William sank his mouth onto her upturned lips, groaning with delight at the exquisite softness and delicate taste. He gathered her to him, cupping her head, turning it until their lips fit together as snug and perfect as a hand in a glove made expressly for him. A slight pressure along the seam of her lips and she miraculously opened, like an oyster shell revealing its treasured pearl.
Without hesitation, he plunged inside, moaning loudly at the sweetness of her, reveling in the feel of her innocent mouth. When she tentatively touched her tongue to his, William was hard put not to take her in that moment. His cock was rock hard, aching to sink into the soft nest it longed for. But there was one thing he must do first. Slowly, he broke the kiss and stared down at Lucinda, the wonder on her face melting his heart. “Do you wish for us to do more than kiss, my dear?”
Dazed, she nodded, not taking her gaze from him.
“Then you must promise me one thing.”
As if spellbound, she nodded. “What’s that Will?”
“That afterwards, you’ll agree to marry me.” He wouldn’t put his honor in jeopardy by ruining her then having her refuse to marry him.
“Oh, yes, Will! Yes, I will.” Her eyes shone with an absolute happiness that William prayed would remain with her always—even when she discovered he wasn’t the man she thought he was.
“That makes me very, very happy, Lucinda.” William sighed with relief, then glanced at the door. “Will anyone come to check on you? We don’t wish to be interrupted.”
“My cousin will come looking for me unless I give her a reason not to.” She bit her lip, thinking. “I have an idea, but you must hide over there,” she pointed to the corner behind the door, “and don’t breathe a word.”
William nodded, getting himself under control as he headed to the place she’d indicated.
Lucinda tugged on a bell pull, then flashed him a huge smile. “I’m ringing for our maid, Kitty. I think I know the perfect thing to tell her so my cousin doesn’t come and disturb me.”
“What will you tell her?”
Lucinda was about to speak when there was a scratching at the door.
“Miss Lucinda? Are you in there?”
She held up a finger to William, then opened the door, being careful not to let the maid in. “Yes, Kitty, I’m here,” Lucinda said, sounding terribly annoyed. “Please tell my cousin that she has nothing to worry about—I spoke to Will and he was just awful to me.”
William could hear the distress in Lucinda’s voice. The lady was as talented as any actress on Drury Lane.
“Tell my cousin I sent him away with a large flea in his ear and I don’t want to see anyone else tonight. I have a horrible headache and I’ve taken a powder for it. So I’m going to bed and hope I never have another birthday like this one.”
The maid said something soothing that William couldn’t hear, then Lucinda said “Good night,” and shut the door. She turned to William, grinning. “I think that should certainly do the trick.”
He applauded softly, walking toward her. “You would be stunning on the London stage, my dear.”
“I’d much rather be right here with you, my love.” She stood on tiptoe and brushed her lips across his in a fleeting kiss that made his member leap with anticipation. “Now will you unbutton me?” Her smile promised so many things. “We may have all night, but I cannot wait for you to begin.”
William’s mouth dried, but he nodded, took her by the shoulders, and turned her back to him. His fingers fumbled with the fastenings, but he got himself in hand and sooner than he’d have believed, Lucinda stood before him, the peach gown a puddle of silk on the floor, her stays and chemise beside them, her exquisite, naked body revealed for him to feast his eyes on.
Smooth alabaster skin everywhere, save for the two dusky-pink nipples riding high and proud, and the tawny thicket of curls below. She removed a single comb, and her golden hair cascaded over her shoulders partially obscuring her breasts with the shimmering veil. Raising her chin, she looked him in the eyes once more, and demanded, “Now it’s your turn.”
Every ounce of self-restraint drained from William’s body. The next thing he knew, his clothes were strewn across the floor, including his boots, and he was pulling Lucinda into his arms, her smooth, soft skin pressed against his making the fire in his veins a raging inferno. He plunged his mouth onto her lips once more, then swept her into his arms and onto the bed.
*
Never had Lucinda felt so hot and cold at the same time. The room’s chill on her naked flesh had brought gooseflesh to her skin. However, when Will swept her into his arms, all thought of the cold vanished. Everywhere their skin touched, a fire burned within her. When he laid her down on the bed, she scarcely noticed the chilly coverlet.
Another searing kiss from him and Lucinda was moaning aloud, the delicious sensations he was evoking within her making her yearn for more. Scattering kisses down her neck, Will continued across her chest until he reached the tip of her breast.
Lucinda held her breath as his tongue stroked the nipple until it hardened, making her ache deep inside. Oh, this must be why rakes made the best husbands. They knew exactly what to do to make a wife happy she married him.
He lingered there a while, drawing on her tightly furled flesh until she writhed beneath him, wanting more, but not knowing what she wanted. Will, however, seemed to know. Moving over top of her, he slid his hand down across her belly, low enough to touch the patch of curls that shielded her womanhood.
Gasping, Lucinda shot her hand down, trying to stay his. Suddenly, as though a bucket of water had been poured all over her, she wasn’t too certain she should be doing this. Even if he had asked her to marry him. Maybe they should wait—
“It’s all right, my love.” His voice was strained, but kind. “If you wish to stop, I can, but you must tell me now. A man can only hold himself back for so long.”
“I just…I didn’t know…” But she had known what to expect this to be like. Her friend Gertie had told her about the time she and her beau Fred had…done this.
“Are you afraid of the pain?”
“N…no. Not really.” Gertie had prepared her for that.
“Does this not feel good?” Will slipped his finger down through her curls and brushed against a tiny part of her, making her gasp.
She sucked in a breath, her eyes opening wide at the exquisite sensation. “Ooohhh, yessss.” He touched it again and the world seemed to spiral out of control. Panting, she lay transfixed as he plied his fingers against her, until deep within her something seemed to burst, her inner body pulsing to the beat of his rhythm.
When she could breathe normally again, she looked up into Will’s adoring face, his eyes deep black, seeming to stare straight into her soul. “Did you enjoy that, sweetheart? This is the pleasure, the joy we can give one another.”
“Oh, yes, Will, it was…I don’t know how to say it…” She shook her head, frustrated by her lack of words. “More pleasure than I’ve ever had before.” Relaxing into the mattress, now reassured, she cupped his dear face. “But how can I give you that same joy, Will?”
“Let me come into you. Let me show you how wonderful it can be between a man and a woman.” He kissed her lips, sending heat coursing through her once more.
“Yes, Will.” She twined her hands behind his neck. “Show me everything.”
“Thank you, love.” He moved over top of her once more. “Bend your knees and open your legs.”
Breathing deeply, Lucinda did as he asked and suddenly down below there was a hot, hard presence. She closed her eyes and nodded.
“I’ll be quick about it,” he said, and immediately thrust forward.
There was pressure and a sharp pain, then an odd fullness as he flowed into her. Lucinda panted against the strangeness of the sensation, like nothing she’d ever felt before, and then it was over. Will lay over top of her, inside of her, filling her to the brim. There was no pleasure to this, certainly not for her. She looked up into Will’s face, his eyes closed, his jaw clenched. “Did that give you pleasure?”
It took a moment before he spoke, sweat popping out on his brow. “I need a moment, Lucinda. To calm myself.” He opened his eyes and peered down at her. “Did it hurt very much?”
“Not as much as I’d feared.” She frowned. “But it does feel peculiar.”
“It will feel better in a little while.” He seemed to relax, then moved back, pulling himself almost to the edge of her, then slowly thrusting back in again. And when he did, he brushed against that little nub, sending fresh excitement through her body.
“Ahhh.” That sensation was absolutely wonderful.
“Yes, that’s it, sweetheart.” Will continued to thrust in and out, slowly at first, then more frantically. Deep inside her body, the spiral began its journey once more, tightening and coiling until it once more seemed to explode into a thousand pieces. She cried out as she clasped him over and over again, the pleasure intensified this time by his presence inside her.
Unexpectedly, Will gave a great cry, thrust hard into to her, and drenched her insides in warmth. He slumped against her, his head coming to rest beside hers as he whispered, “Thank you, my love. Thank you.”
Completely spent, but happier than ever, Lucinda wrapped her arms around him. “I hope that gave you pleasure, Will.”
“More than you’ll ever know, sweetheart.” He sighed deeply, then pulled himself from her and rolled onto his back. She scooted over next to him, and he put his arm around her, drawing her close. “Was your second time as good as the first?”
“Oh, yes.” She snuggled against his sweaty chest, the smell of him more intoxicating than wine. “Much better because we were together.”
“I think so too.” He stroked her cheek and she wanted to melt into the mattress.
“Once we’re married, we can do this every night?” No wonder everyone was in such a hurry to get married if these sorts of pleasures were part of married life. She wouldn’t have wanted to wait until she was eighteen if she’d known about this.
“Every night, every day.” He kissed the tip of her nose. “Any time you wish it, my dear. I will be ready to please you.”
Lucinda looked up at him, a smile on her lips. “Can you please me again tonight?”
Will chuckled and squeezed her tight. “In every way I can, my sweet.”