Chapter Five #2
“It would depend on the man.” Her shrug only lifted on shoulder.
“Being a widow of some means offers me the opportunities to do whatever I want.” She glanced up at him, met his gaze in the darkness.
“Weymouth’s brother is in the process of moving house to London.
I organized the country property for him.
Once he takes possession of the townhouse, I’ll need to make my own plans of where to live and how to conduct the remainder of my life. ”
“Ah.” A bit of panic went through his chest. He couldn’t lose her when he’d only just rediscovered her, assuming she wished to live outside of London. Then he shook his head. What difference did it make, truly, for she wasn’t his, and she never would be.
The light snow came down, swirling about them as they strolled through the square.
Rectangles of golden illumination dotted the backs of the townhouses that lined the space.
There was a bit of an angelic hush in the air that allowed the soft hiss of the snowflakes hitting tree branches and the ground.
Not wanting to go back to the rout, Cornelius tugged her into a knot of trees off to one side of the square.
Comprised of evergreens and oak trees, it allowed for decent cover from any prying eyes.
The weather assured there wouldn’t be many people about, so he took full advantage by whisking her into his arms and fitting his lips to hers.
And damn the consequences. These were the kisses he should have had with her had he not taken a bloody commission with the military.
With a barely audible moan, Penny lifted onto her toes and slipped her arms about his shoulders as she pressed her body into his.
Several moments went by as they explored each other’s lips and mouths.
Tongues met and tangled; gloved fingertips began to wander.
When she pulled away, he assumed it because she was finished with the embrace, but with quite a cheeky grin, she quickly removed her kid gloves.
Once she’d tucked them into her reticule, the lady surprised the hell out of him when she put a hand to his frontfalls.
“Penelope? What are you doing?”
“Giving you the same attention you did to me earlier today.”
Bloody hell. “I don’t think—”
“Why do I have the feeling you usually don’t when it comes to women and carnal endeavors with them?
” When she didn’t kneel to orally pleasure him, he was confused.
She chuckled. “If you think I’m going to go down on my knees in the snow and mud, ruining my gown so that everyone will know what I’ve been doing, you are a greater arse than I assumed. ”
He couldn’t help a grin of his own. “Then, by all means, continue.”
“You’ll enjoy this just the same.” Penny positioned herself behind him. When his engorged shaft sprang out into her palm, she gasped. “I’m glad you are so lovely and large. I’ve dreamt about what you might look like…”
“What?” Another round of shock slammed into him. “You dreamed of seeing me thusly?”
“Well, not quite like this, but in other ways. What else was I supposed to do the times when Weymouth climbed on top of me?”
Amused but curious, he remained as still as he could. If she wished to explore, he would let her, for how else would she learn or become comfortable with him… or any man? “Does that mean you are pleased with my equipage?” He was inordinately anxious to hear her reply.
“Quite.” And she gave his hardened member an experimental squeeze. “Which do you prefer—fast or slow?”
“Uh, your prerogative.” Merely having her fingers on his length was pushing him perilously close to the edge.
“Mmm.” Tentatively, cautiously, she traced a fingertip along the side of his member. “Shall I proceed?”
The light touch paired with her tart mouth and inquisitive nature made her irresistible. “Only if you wish it.” For a few seconds, in the dark and shadows with the light snow falling, there was something oddly spiritual even if the pending act was directly the opposite.
“If I’m horrid at this, I’m sorry. I have only done it once.” She wrapped her hand about his stiffening length, but it was her words that made him more randy than he’d been in a while.
The press of her body against his back while she applied gentle strokes to his shaft would quickly send him to Bedlam if he wasn’t careful. “You don’t need to do this, Penelope.”
“I want to, because in this time of my widowhood, I’ll follow my own dictates.” Then she held him more firmly and drew her curled fingers up and down his member.
Bloody hell. He sucked in a sharp breath, for her trembling caresses had awareness and need shivering down his spine faster than the touch of a more experienced woman.
“Let me show you.” Gently, so she wouldn’t assume he wanted control, he settled his hand over hers, guided her in how to hold his length to maximum advantage.
“Go slowly. This portion of a man’s body doesn’t respond well to rough handling.
” Good God, how am I supposed to last in this?
After a few minutes, a faint smile curved her lips.
“It helps that you are firmer and thicker than Weymouth.” Soon she was stroking his flesh as if she’d been doing it all her life.
Up and down her fingers went, and at the tip, she gently twisted her wrist and flexed her fingers that had heated reaction streaking through his member.
Need tingled in his stones, but just when he suggested she stop, the cheeky woman cupped them in her other hand, squeezed them with a firm insistence that had his eyes ready to cross. A moan escaped him.
“Should I go further?”
A glance over his shoulder at her showed the sparkle in her eyes. “Only if you are enjoying this as well,” he managed to say through a tight throat.
“I am.” With a husky chuckle, she leaned forward. “In fact, I never knew how powerful doing this sort of thing would feel to me.”
With nothing else to do, Cornelius widened his stance and reached back with one hand to grab her hip. When she continued to stroke him off, push and pull at his engorged flesh, he knew he wouldn’t last far past this moment.
“I can almost hear the race of your heart,” she whispered, and before he could summon a response, she added, “This is probably pedestrian to a man like you, who has taken skilled women into your bed.”
“Nonsense.” Concentrating on anything else beyond her ministrations proved problematic.
What he truly wanted to do was turn around, slam her back against one of the wide trunks of the trees, and claim her body as he’d wanted to do on that long ago summer’s night, but he wasn’t in the habit of taking women against their wills.
And besides, this sort of intimacy between them was far too erotic.
And still her hand moved on his shaft until nothing remained of his reality except her.
He thrust his hips in time to her strokes.
His cane fell to the ground with a dull thud.
At one point, he put his hand over hers, guiding her, wishing to be part of the act.
All too soon, frantic pressure moved through his member.
His stones tingled, and urgency rode his veins.
“God, I’m going to come.” His breath clouded in the air from the cold.
“Well, let’s see it, then.” She moved her hand faster, with more friction from root to tip while she squeezed his stones with the other hand.
The fact she was curious and apparently intended to watch sent him careening over the edge into bliss.
With a half-stifled cry, Cornelius shattered, fell into a violent release, and as his length pulsed, thick ropes of ejaculate splattered on the closest tree trunk.
When his body finally settled, exhaustion rolled through his limbs.
“Damn.” The heat of embarrassment went through his chest, for he hadn’t wanted her to see him in such a state.
She snickered and maneuvered to his side. “Can I assume you enjoyed the little interlude?”
“Very much so.” As if he moved in slow motion, he stuffed his flaccid length back into his evening breeches and then did up the buttons.
“For what it’s worth, you weren’t rubbish at that.
A bit of finessing will have you much sought after if word leaks out.
” But he wouldn’t be the one to tell the tale. That belonged exclusively to him.
“I appreciate that.” Her grin could have lit the night. “It was exhilarating for me.”
“Cheeky.”
“Well, it was retribution, surely.”
Because he could, Cornelius tugged her into an easy embrace and then brushed his lips over hers. “What is between us is madness.”
“Agreed, but for the time being, I don’t mind.” The tinkle of her laughter as she pulled out of his arms renewed his awareness of her. “Let’s continue to walk, else I might be further tempted.”
For what? But he didn’t have the courage to ask.