Chapter 9
Chapter Nine
Oliver watched his Little Lilli grow more and more agitated and he felt his hand itch with the need to spank the sassy responses from her.
In the same breath, he fought his smile that she was showing more and more of her Little lady to him.
He yearned to take her to bed since he had first given her pleasure in her sleep and then after her spanking. Soon.
Until then, he would deal with her petulance in the way he intended to always deal with it. “Lilliana, I will not put up with any more of your sullenness. It is unbecoming of a lady of your position.”
Lilli stared at him with something akin to resentment. He was not going to allow that any longer. “We have three days, I imagine, before we see home. This is only our first day. Therefore, I would advise you to use your wisdom instead of letting your emotions overcome your good sense.”
“You have no right to speak to me like that.” She held up her hand to forestall his next words.
“Yes, I forgot for a mere moment, that you are my guardian, even though I am twenty and one. Even though I have been making all my own decisions for several years. Is it any wonder I resent this whole business?”
“No, but it does bring us to the fact that you are more than capable to accept your temporary situation with grace.” She opened her mouth, and it was Oliver’s turn to hold up his hand to stall her words.
“You will behave as you know is proper or I will take you over my lap and subject your back plumpness to a good, long thrashing until I’m satisfied we have come to an agreement. ”
“I don’t want that, Oliver. It isn’t right.”
“Then I suppose you should behave as a graceful young lady and not a spoiled urchin. I know you are disappointed that you did not locate your father. You are also cross because I came after you and curtailed your little adventure. Whether you admit it or not, the fact still remains that you should never have gone without speaking to me directly, first. You will not do that again.”
“You were out of the country. You said so yourself. I could not have consulted you had I even thought of it.”
“Then you would have waited, as was proper.”
“I feel sure I will do things without speaking to you directly. Often, I imagine.”
“Excellent. That will allow me to engage in what I have discovered is a most enjoyable pastime. Laying my palm across your hind parts. Parts that will be bared in future.”
“You will not!”
Oliver shrugged with a smug smile. “I am content to wait and show you. I am positive the wait will not be long.”
“Oliver. Your Grace, surely you understand even a small portion of why I am so peeved.”
Oliver softened his tone and placed his hand firmly on her thigh.
“I do understand but I would hope you also can see why this is necessary. A woman without a protector, needs one. You are more vulnerable than you know. Men watch you as you walk by them. If you smile or speak to them, there is a physical reaction that happens and they become ravenous for you.”
“How do you know this?”
“Lilliana, surely you are not so na?ve that you don’t know the effect you have on men.
You are like a perfect pixie, sprinkling your dust wherever you go.
You are beautiful, you can carry yourself with elegance, your tone is aloof and yet kind.
Every man has a physical reaction to you.
They want you. They want to take your innocence and then be with you as often as possible.
It is painful to watch you and not possess you. I know.”
Her eyes widened. “You want me?” She spoke in a whisper.
“More than is proper for a mere guardian. More than you would understand at this juncture, but I have the hope that will change someday soon. And I am often in a painful situation, something I hope to remedy as well in the near future.”
“You want to take my innocence as well?” she asked.
“More than take your innocence. I want you in my bed, under me for the rest of my life.”
She squinted. “Now I know you are speaking absurdities. It is more than obvious that you do not like me most days, nor do you enjoy my company. You merely endure me.”
He laughed. “I may endure your antics, your sassy mouth, the painful way I grow stiff when I am around you but endure being with you? No, my love, that is not a trial for me.”
“Oh.” She sat for a short time.
What did his words mean for her, for him, and possibly them? No, he couldn’t have those tingles and peculiar feelings when he was near her as she had with him. He was so confident and knowledgeable about life, he couldn’t think of her in the same way as she had been thinking of him.
“Do not tease me, Your Grace.”
He turned somber. “I do not. I am quite sincere. You aren’t ready for what a man does with a woman that he loves, but you will be. And when that happens, my darling, I will secure your future in a different way.”
“By finding me a husband.”
“In a way, yes. But you will approve of him when the time comes.”
“How can you know that? The man who I would like to be my husband will be kind and generous. He will not be demanding and he will respect me enough to allow me free rein. I will give him his heirs and he will give me my autonomy.”
“I fear your desires in a husband and the realities will be quite opposite in concepts. The husband I choose for you will love the lady and the little darling. He will respect you and be kind and generous when appropriate but he will also be demanding and have expectations of his wife.”
“I will refuse a man who wants it all his way.”
“So you should. But a man who knows where the balance is would be a treasure, would he not?”
“I want to follow my own path.”
“So long as your husband cuts the path, that is expected.”
“It sounds right and yet, I fear you have spoken in riddles enough to change my meaning.”
“I doubt that but we shall see how this all plays out, shall we not?”
She sighed. “Yes. I daresay we shall.”
Even as she described the characteristics of the man she had once thought to be a perfect mate, she privately rejected him now.
She wanted a man with a strong opinion based in his own understanding, sure of his convictions and a man who protected what was his.
He would be head of his own home and family while still giving his wife an ear when she wanted it.
That would be the man who would attract her now.
In many ways, Oliver was that man, but he would take over everywhere.
She couldn’t have that happen. No, they could not be husband and wife, even though she knew he would protect her and their children with his life.
He would also demand his desires be met and his rules kept. No, that would never work for her.
She was not a child. But when he treated her as if she were his little lady, or called her little darling, she melted into a puddle of hot butter.
In the last months, she’d discovered she possessed a temper and a vulnerability she would never have admitted before.
Neither of which she had been aware before Oliver, but he seemed to see that hidden part of her and accepted it.
She doubted any other man would. She longed for the respect and coddling to co-exist. Could she find a middle ground with the duke?
Lilli decided to heed his words on the result if she didn’t find a way to bury her frustration and irritation on this return trip home.
She did what she had done all her life. She shoved the larger feelings down deep and forced herself to think of something happy.
Today she thought of seeing her home and greeting everyone.
She thought of dinner at her table and sleeping in her own bed.
Oliver had been right when he said they had properties and estates to tend. She looked forward to taking up the reins again. Soon she was deep into planning her return to her orderly life, envisioning what she would do once resuming her well-established routine. Sadly, without Gran.
Day two rained and brought back her moodiness which, coupled with Oliver’s matching mood, landed her over his knee and wearing ten smacks on her bottom.
He did not start slow and easy. She was crying by the time he had landed the final smack.
She cried for much longer than was expected and Oliver showed his less authoritative side by holding her and cuddling her until she had fully recovered and sat up.
While it ended both of their grumpiness, being that close to Oliver when he was kind and gentle, was something she could not allow again.
It was her undoing, and she had to suffer the waves of longing that it brought out.
The shimmering prickles advanced throughout her body making her breathing more difficult.
There was something pushing against her midsection when she found herself napping across his lap.
When she leaned up to sit apart from his comfort, she glanced down to see what had gotten in her way.
His manhood was the culprit, and it was huge!
No, she needed to stay away from that. She ached so much it hurt.
It looked like he was in some discomfort as well, causing her to giggle, much to her chagrin.
“What is so funny, sassy little lady?”
“Nothing, I promise.” She giggled again while glancing at his manhood behind his pantaloons’ flap.
“Ah, yes, this good man’s rod is hard and growing more so.”
“Sir! You cannot speak of those things.”
“As you wish but we will be discussing him at some point.”
Her mortification was approaching overwhelming, and she scooted as far from him as she could. No sense tempting the inner beast, she thought. He laughed heartily and drew out some papers to peruse. She drew out her knitting.