31. Jonto #2
Throughout the next hour, all Jonto could think about was that Lady Pierpont had called her Lucrèce.
She tried to act normal but kept stealing glances at the old woman, wondering how she’d figured it out.
Of course, Jack had, too, but those were the only two people, to her knowledge, who had discerned her true identity in the past ten years.
As she thought back to the day of the ball, she remembered the knowing glint in the Archduchess’s eyes after she’d carefully studied Jonto’s features.
It never occurred to her that the venerable lady had guessed her secret.
The lady who was uppermost on her mind called everyone to order.
“It’s very late. Perhaps not for you younger ones, but for me, it’s well past time to retire.
That being said, this is a large home with enough bedrooms to accommodate everyone.
The storm has worsened, and I sent word to my stable master to unsaddle your horses or remove them from their traces, whichever the case, and I expect you to remain here with me.
We’ll breakfast in the morning and then meet King Jaydon when his ship docks and deliver the happy news. Sleep well, everyone.”
As if to punctuate her words, a loud roll of thunder rumbled, followed by a crash of lightning that sounded as though it was directly over the mansion. Everyone stood and bowed or curtsied as the lady left the room.
Ethan and two serving women appeared, and with a bow, the steward indicated the door into the hallway. “If you’ll follow us, we’ll take you to your rooms.”
Everyone looked toward Jonto, who was just as perplexed as the rest of the party. “Well, I, for one, don’t want to be the one to tell an Archduchess I won’t be following her orders.”
Celie nodded. “I know I wasn’t looking forward to braving this storm to get home.” She turned to one of the servants. “Well, Jenny, show the bride and groom to their room, and then you can return and take me to mine.”
Jenny, a fortyish, heavyset woman with kind eyes, curtseyed, “Yes, Mistress Celie.” She turned to Jonto and Isla.
“Felicitations, My Lord. My lady. If you’ll follow me.
” She led them in the opposite direction from where Lady Pierpont had gone.
“Her Grace had us prepare your suites in a remote wing of the mansion.” The woman tactfully omitted the reason for the isolation, something for which Jonto was sincerely grateful.
This entire experience had to be distressing and awkward for someone as innocent and na?ve as her new bride.
Jonto slipped her fingers between Isla’s and gently squeezed.
Judging by the red suffusing Isla’s cheeks, her embarrassment must be quite acute.
They followed the serving woman down several long corridors, up a set of stairs, and down a long hallway where suits of armor lined both sides of the corridor.
Thick wall hangings covered the walls, and where there weren’t hangings, exquisite works of art were displayed in gilded frames decorated with intricately wrought filigree.
Jonto wasn’t sure she’d be able to find her way back to the mansion’s main hall, and when Jenny led them through an ornately carved oaken door, Jonto asked, “Will someone be here in the morning to show us the way back?”
“Of course, My Lord. I’ve taken the liberty of setting out bedclothes, and I’ve kindled a fire.
Also, the bathing tub is over there.” She pointed to a corner where a Japanese screen featuring intricate lacquerwork tastefully concealed the bath from the rest of the room.
“And the water is already heated if you’d like to bathe.
” She curtseyed and let herself out before they could ask any more questions.
An enormous bed draped with a velvet comforter of the deepest maroon stood as the centerpiece of a room fit for a king.
Now that Jonto thought about it, it probably had been inhabited by a king, several of them, in fact.
A grand marble fireplace occupied much of one corner, while elegant wood paneling covered the remaining walls.
Tapestries depicting noble deeds hung from golden rods, and ornate oriental rugs covered the marble-tiled floor.
Jonto listened for the latch to click, slid the bolt into place, and pulled the heavy curtains over the windows to ensure their privacy.
She studied her bride’s face, hoping for a clue about whether or not it was her intention for them to consummate their marriage.
“I can see by your blush that you’re nervous, so if you’d rather not?—”
With a surprisingly sensual sway of her hips, Isla prowled forward.
“You mistake the heat in my cheeks for fear, My Lord. Far from it. I’ve waited my whole life to feel another woman’s body, to suck her breasts into my mouth and have her writhe beneath me.
” At Jonto’s stunned expression, Isla slid her fingers down the smooth satin lapels of her frock coat.
Her breasts rose and fell with each quickened breath.
“I may not know what happens between two women, My Lord, but I’m more than ready to find out. ”
Isla leaned in and gently kissed a still-shocked Jonto, whose passions awoke with a vengeance.
The infamous pirate captain ran her arms around her wife’s waist and pulled her in close, kissing her mouth and moving to her cheeks before running her tongue over that beautifully sculpted jawline.
As her mouth followed the line down to her throat, she sucked on Isla’s pulse point, moaning as Isla pushed her frock coat off her shoulders and let it fall to the floor.
Isla sucked on her earlobe as she undid the buttons on Jonto’s waistcoat before unbuttoning the ruffled cotton shirt.
She slipped them off, too, and let them fall on top of the coat.
Before unwinding Jonto’s breastband, Isla stepped back to examine its design.
“I don’t know how this bound you so perfectly, but I never suspected the treasure hiding beneath your disguise.
” Instead of leaning in, she stared at the breastband with hungry eyes, undid the ties, and began slowly unwinding the long strip of cloth.
Jonto couldn’t believe this transformation from a woman who’d seemed utterly na?ve to the ways of the world into this alluring temptress with her heated gaze and shaking, determined hands.
She wanted Isla naked, too, but chose to give her this time to take charge and explore at her own pace, not to mention she needed a moment to come to terms with this sultry siren doing her best to devour her with hungry eyes.
It seemed that Isla sensed her confusion because the side of her mouth quirked upward.
“My mother kept many salacious romances beside her bed, probably hoping I’d sneak in to read them.
Something I did regularly, by the way.” Isla never lifted her gaze from her work.
When she slid the final wrap off Jonto’s body, the hunger in her eyes increased tenfold, and she uttered a breathless “Oh.” Isla’s breathing became shallow, and with a slowness bordering on reverence, she bent and sucked Jonto’s erect nipple into her mouth.
Jonto threw her head back and groaned from the pulsing desire coursing through her veins.
Wetness immediately soaked her undergarments, and when Isla squeezed the second breast and moaned, a bolt of desire shot through her core.
Isla pulled back and replaced the hand covering the other nipple with her warm, wet mouth.
With awe in her voice, she murmured more to herself than anyone else, “I love that I did that to you. That you’re so responsive to my touch. ”
Responding to the wonder in Isla’s voice, Jonto managed to whisper, “And so much more than you know.” She undid the buttons on her trousers, took Isla’s hand, and guided it down between her legs.
Isla tentatively ran her finger through the slick folds, eliciting a long, low moan from deep within Jonto’s core.
Isla brought her hand out and whispered, “Show me what to do.” With sure hands, Isla undid the front fasteners of her bodice.
She held Jonto’s gaze as she slipped it from her shoulders, let the gown fall to the floor, and then pushed it aside with one foot.
Swallowing hard, Jonto took hold of the chemise and lifted it over Isla’s head, fully exposing those delicate breasts that rose like rolling hills on an enchanted landscape.
A blush blossomed on Isla’s throat, and in a deep, sensual tone, Jonto whispered, “So perfect.” She looked into Isla’s green eyes. “And all for me.”
Isla arched her back, put a hand behind Jonto’s head, and drew her forward.
“I’ve dreamed of having a woman’s lips on me, Jonto.
” She ran soft hands through her short hair.
“I want to feel your mouth on me. I want your lips—” Her words ended in a breathy gasp when she saw the ravenous hunger in Jonto’s eyes.
Another bolt of lightning raced from Jonto’s core, adding to the pulsing beat throbbing between her legs.
Isla’s nipples and areolae were the color of the petals of a dusky rose—a soft, muted pinkish-brown shade that contrasted with her milky white skin.
Jonto nuzzled the hard pointed nib, circling it several times with her tongue before pulling it between her lips and sucking gently.
When Isla moaned, Jonto ran her teeth from the breast to the tip, lightly biting down before sucking it fully into her mouth a second time.
“Oh my God, Jonto.” Isla’s breathing was rapid now as she pulled Jonto’s head in tighter against her breast.
Jonto reached behind Isla’s back and undid the ties holding the petticoat in place.
She tugged the garment over those seductively rounded hips and let it slip to the floor.
Without lifting her mouth from Isla’s breast, she backed her to the bed and pushed her down gently onto the pillow-soft comforter.