Chapter Twenty-One
Saying those words was sad but true. Her father’s decision to sell her to Chesterfield nearly broke her at the time.
And when Chesterfield stole her and Samuel’s son away, it left her crushed with grief for a long time, but now, she was her own woman, able to make her own decisions, do what she wanted within the rules of Society if she wanted to stay welcome in it.
It was freeing. “Perhaps you should show me those silks.”
“Yes. We veered away from our original conversation. And as for making any decisions regarding the stud farm, I can’t decide until after the upcoming races. After that, I’ll have a better idea of the future. Why don’t you sit down, and I’ll be right back.”
Samuel walked away and entered the dressing room. Clarice sat down on a navy-blue tufted-back chair. Moments later, Samuel returned with a box, which he placed on the chair next to hers. “Are you ready?” he asked, his eyes bright with excitement.
“Whenever you are.”
He removed the cover from the box and set it on the floor. Pushing aside tissue paper, he took out a shirt, which must be the jockey’s, and held it up.
Her eyes were fixed on the mixture of colors. The only thing she knew about silks was that they required two colors, but no more than four. They could be a pattern or a solid. The Jockey Club had to approve and document the design and colors so no other owner or jockey could have the same.
“You’re quiet.”
“Sorry, I’m taking it in.” She stood up and reached out her hand to feel the fabric, soft and silky as it looked.
“I love the peacock blue as the main color. Adding the vertical, vibrant yellow stripes on the front and back of the body really makes it stand out. What does the jockey’s hat look like? ”
Samuel pulled out a riding cap. It was blue with a yellow visor.
“Very nice.”
He wrapped them back up in the tissue paper and replaced the cover.
“Forgive me for a moment.” He disappeared into the dressing room again, and Clarice took that opportunity to walk over to the table beside the bed.
She picked up a book that was upside down and open. She looked at the title, then laughed.
“What’s so funny?” Samuel asked as he walked out of the dressing room.
“I should have known you would be reading a book about the origins of thoroughbred horses in England.”
He shrugged his shoulders. “Is there anything else to read about? Did you know that in the late 1600s and early 1700s, three horses arrived in England and were bred with our large English mares, and the thoroughbred breed was created?”
Her eyes widened as she absorbed what he said. “Does that mean Zeus and Clover are descended from one of those horses?”
He chuckled as he moved to stand beside her.
He put his hands on her waist and gently guided her to sit down on the soft bed.
“You catch on quick. Yes. Both Zeus and Clarice descend from the Darley Arabian.” He stepped back and his intense eyes met hers.
“I think we’ve talked enough about horses.
” He began removing his riding jacket and waistcoat.
“It’s hot in here. Perhaps we should shed some clothing.
” His long, capable hands and talented fingers began to untie his cravat, slowly and steadily.
The top buttons on his fine linen shirt were next.
He reached behind his neck with both arms and pulled it up and over his head, exposing his chiseled chest, which was worthy of being a sculptor’s model.
He sank onto the bed beside her, tugging off his boots and hose.
“Are you going to let me be naked alone, or will you join me?” He leaned and kissed her neck.
“I promise you will enjoy yourself if you get naked.”
She shifted to turn her back to him. “I knew you had other things on your mind when you brought me up here under the pretense of seeing your silks,” she said through her laughter.
Then she moaned as his fingers, having quickly loosened her ties, slipped her dress off her shoulders, and his warm lips moved across her skin as softly as butterfly wings.
Heat burned where his lips tantalizingly traveled across her neck, shoulders, and back.
His large, warm hands replaced his mouth as he rubbed and caressed her exposed skin, making her entire body melt.
She nearly fell back on the bed in utter contentment.
“You have the softest skin. I could stroke it all day and night and never get bored.” He released her bodice even more, slipped her arms out of her short sleeves, and let the top of her dress and thin chemise fall to her waist. “What is this? No stays today? What a fashion rebel you are!” He chuckled as his arm came around from the back and cupped her breasts.
Another moan escaped her lips, and she leaned back into his bare chest. Skin against skin.
“Stand, so we can get you out of this dress.”
Clarice stood as Samuel tugged her clothing over her hips until it pooled on the floor.
Wary of wrinkling it, knowing she would be dining with the baron and baroness, she picked it up, hurried across the room, and draped it over a chair.
It wasn’t until she turned to join Samuel back on the bed that she became aware of her nakedness and felt her entire body blush.
By now, Samuel had removed his breeches, stood naked and fully aroused with his hand out. “Come. Let me worship you and prove my love.”
A lump formed in her throat, and tears threatened to fill her eyes as his hand, which might as well have been his heart, reached out to her.
She took several steps toward his outstretched hand, clasped it, and let him lead her away.
They fell onto the bed on their sides, arms and legs entwined.
You couldn’t tell one body from the other as they were wrapped up as one.
“I’m afraid to move and spoil the moment,” Samuel said as the tips of his fingers gently traced circles along her back.
“I know what you mean.” Her lips went on a quest, kissing his neck and cheeks, before finally settling on his decadent mouth. The kiss intensified quickly. She couldn’t seem to get enough of his taste, nor he of hers.
Abruptly, he tore his mouth from hers, rolled her onto her back, and took one of her nipples into his mouth and sucked hard.
The instant connection with her core had her hips rubbing against his erection, and a deep guttural moan escaped his mouth as he moved from one breast to the other.
He repeated the sucking, and she nearly screamed out.
As his hand moved between their bodies, opening her folds, his thumb circling her nub, she thought she was going to explode.
Then he slipped a finger inside and out several times, and she did scream out.
Samuel continued his sweet torture until she shut her legs tight, trapping his hands.
He chuckled. “Why did you stop me?” He pulled his hand out from between her thighs. He nudged her legs apart with his knee, and she sighed as his manhood pushed against her opening. “Is this what you want?”
“Stop teasing me with words,” she gasped as he pushed and seated himself deep within her.
“Is this better?”
“Yes,” she cried out as he pulled one of her legs up over his shoulder.
“Better?”
“Yes,” she cried, feeling him deeper inside her than she ever thought possible.
His hips moved fast. She tried to keep up, but her body was reaching that pinnacle.
She felt it first, tingling in her breasts, then her lower belly as it traveled down to her core.
Her legs began to tremble and weaken. The sounds of their heavy breathing, the bed squeaking, and their hips slapping hit her oddly, and she almost laughed.
Except at the precise moment Samuel thrust inside her and stopped.
His hands gripped her hips, holding her and keeping her from moving.
He looked her in the eyes, and she couldn’t look away.
Not when he looked at her with a raw intensity and animalistic need.
“Come with me,” he said as his eyes glazed over, his body bowed back, and he moaned and groaned.
It was the most magnificent sight she’d ever seen.
Samuel at his most vulnerable, surrendering himself to her, body and soul.
It was then she realized the euphoria Samuel was experiencing was happening simultaneously with her own.
She felt her insides pulsing around his manhood, witnessed darkness descend and stars shoot across the room.
All while her body shook until her legs collapsed on the bed, her arms flung out to the side, and she inhaled shakily, trying to return to her body.
Samuel collapsed beside her and pulled her close to the front of him.
He kissed the back of her neck and sighed.
“I think a little nap before dinner is warranted.”
“My sentiments exactly.” She shivered, and without a word, he pulled up the counterpane that somehow had been pushed to the foot of the bed.
He wrapped his arms tighter around her and lightly brushed his lips across the top of her head. “Sleep. We have time before we need to get ready for dinner.” Words she wanted to say stayed unsaid as she drifted into a deep sleep.