Chapter One #2
Far too quickly, she found a rhythm she’d apparently perfected long before he’d come along.
As he remained helpless in her hold, she worked him over with both her hand and her mouth.
How she swirled her tongue beneath the head of his shaft, how she tickled his length with said tongue and teeth?
Good God, what had she been doing between finishing school and coming out in the ton?
Well, he had a fair idea, since she didn’t deny being a social climber.
No doubt soon, she’d snag some unwitting man with a title who hadn’t a brain in his head.
Or wouldn’t after she was done with them.
With a groan, he buried his hands in her hair, tangled his gloved fingers in those tresses and because he needed some relief, Nathaniel thrust into her mouth.
Miss Delaney didn’t bat an eyelash, but there was anticipation and hunger in her eyes.
She delved her fingers tighter into the flesh of his thigh.
The faster and deeper he thrust, the more frantic and harder she worked him over, and the sight of her blonde head bobbing on his shaft was enough to hurtle him over the point of no return.
This was exactly what he needed tonight. No commitment, but all the pleasure.
Warning tingled through his stones as his muscles bunched and stiffened.
His member pulsed, and seconds before he uttered a groan of pure release as he lost control.
The release that held him captive was intense, but still she stroked him off.
Seconds later, he held her head steady, and as his shaft pulsed, the tendons in her neck worked as she swallowed every jet of his ejaculate.
“Well, damn.” His limbs were the strength of cooked porridge.
He released his hold on her head. Did she think to say that he’d compromised her and thereby force an engagement?
Well, that wasn’t going to happen. She might be carnally talented, but he was skilled in avoiding desperate young misses as well as their matchmaking mamas.
And he certainly wasn’t looking to marry any time soon, no matter the woman.
When she was finished swallowing, she even licked the remainder from the tip of his member before demurely wiping her mouth with a lace edged handkerchief she must have procured from a pocket in her skirting.
“Did you enjoy that, Lord Holdcraft?”
“I did.” As he stuffed himself back into his evening breeches and did up the buttons of his front falls, she stood and shook the wrinkles from her skirts.
Shit, he should have taken advantage of her breasts while he’d had the chance, but everything had happened far too quickly.
“Thank you for that interlude. You are quite talented in that regard.”
“I’ve had much opportunity to practice.” She nodded and let the fingers of one hand drift along the edge of her low bodice, no doubt to encourage his gaze to follow, further tempting him.
“Now that we’ve been introduced to each other, will you call on me this week?
I’d rather like to spend time in your company. ”
Of course she would. Cheeky woman. At least she didn’t dance about the issue. For that, he gave her a modicum of respect. “Unfortunately, this is our one and only meeting, Miss… Damn, I seem to have forgotten your name.” Not that he cared. She just didn’t matter, and he wouldn’t see her again.
“Gah!” The young woman stamped a foot. “Miss Delaney. I sucked you off and you can’t manage to remember my bleeding surname?”
Ah, good to see that she had upper-class manners. Sarcasm swung through his thoughts as he shrugged. “I don’t usually have a drought of women who wish to provide me with pleasure, so therefore, I owe you nothing.”
She pouted. “You didn’t decline.”
“I didn’t need to, and you didn’t ask permission; you just did it. That doesn’t mean an agreement was struck between us just because you crave every dick in London, apparently.”
“Argh!” Miss Delaney narrowed her eyes. “You might have a fine form, but you truly are the cad the rumors say you are. I never want to see you again.”
He snorted. “Easily done, since I’ll instantly forget you the moment you leave my company.” This was just how things were. If she didn’t soon bring a man up to scratch, she’d have a lovely, bright future as someone’s mistress.
“Bounder.” With a huff, the young lady strode off, her hips swishing. The gate in the garden wall slammed as it marked her passage.
“I never claimed I wasn’t that and so much more.” Nathaniel followed at a much slower pace, and after that spectacular release, he was in a rather better mood than he’d been when he’d arrived at the rout.
Fancy that, but then, this was where he was most comfortable.
Inside the house, he didn’t wish to return to the drawing room, not because Miss Delaney might be there, but because he’d long ago grown bored of the various societal events this spring.
Easter had occurred earlier in the month, so the next thing to look forward to was May Day.
Not that he cared. It was merely another day.
Instead, he popped into the library with the hopes of browsing his host’s collection of poetry, if any. He might be passionate about pursuing beautiful women—or alternately letting them pursue him—but his love for well-written lines competed with that for his favorite thing.
Before he could peruse the shelves, he spied his best friend sitting in one of the leather wingback chairs, an ankle resting on a knee, with an open book propped on his lap.
“I haven’t seen you in an age.”
William Sammerson would soon be the new Earl of Northfield, for his father was on his deathbed and had been for the past couple of months. They were both the same age of forty and had grown up in each other’s pockets, for their country estates in Surrey shared a border.
“Nathaniel!” The man was surprised to see him. “My God, good to see you, old chap.”
He grinned. “What brings you to London? I’d no idea you were back, thought you’d be in Surrey until after May Day festivities.
” There was always a big festival on the soon-to-be earl’s property each year to usher in summer, and some years, a travelers’ fair set up their encampment at the edge of the acreage.
William shrugged. Sadness was reflected in his expression. “Papa has taken a turn for the worse. His doctor is confident that there will not be a rally this time.”
Damn. What wretched news. “His heart will finally fail?”
“Seems like.” He set aside the book. “Mama is already mourning, as you can imagine, but since this was coming for some time, it’s been a bit easier on all of us. There is a certain comfort in the knowing. Not that it makes the situation less sad.”
“I’m sorry all the same.” Nathaniel sat in a matching chair. “Is the rest of the family traveling to Town, then?” He hadn’t visited with William’s siblings for many years.
“Yes. Meredith is set to arrive tomorrow with her husband and brood. Diana should be in London in the next few days.”
Just hearing her name sent an odd shiver down his spine. Despite it being years since he’d seen her of had even heard of her, his mind and body couldn’t quell that reaction. “It will be good for you to have your sisters with you. I know your mother will be thrilled.”
Since their father’s estates in Surrey were neighbors, the children had grown up together and, in the summers, they had the run of the land. Until the girls had to take lessons on proper deportment, and he and William were more interested in going to the village to tease tavern girls.
“Indeed.” His friend nodded. “Diana mentioned in a recent letter that she’s looking forward to being back in society. She couldn’t wait to be out of mourning.”
What the devil? She would return to Town?
Muscles in his gut tightened. Would he have the opportunity to see her?
God, what sort of nodcock was he? They didn’t move in the same circles.
Somewhere in the back recesses of his mind, Nathaniel remembered reading about Diana’s husband dying.
“Did she despise her husband that much?” He didn’t really know much about that sister’s romance.
There had been a time when William had hinted that he should court the younger sister.
Meredith was five years their junior, while Diana was five years their senior.
“I’m truly not certain. She refused to talk about her union. All I know is it was a long marriage, and she’s been a new woman since he died.” William cleared his throat. “And no, I am not going to ask. It’s not my business, and the past should remain there.”
“Interesting, but that is a good rule of thumb.” In any event, he hadn’t seen Diana in perhaps ten years.
Part of him wondered what she looked like, wondered if time had been kind to her, but then, he supposed it didn’t matter.
Diana had been a clever, lively young girl, and he hoped she would have married someone worthy of her.
“In any event, what of you? You seem relaxed tonight.” William grinned. “And I know it’s not due to your great love of society functions.” Sarcasm went through his worlds.
Nathaniel snorted a laugh. “I might have already been brought to release.”
“God, you’re a cad. You need to settle down. Forge a future you can be proud of.”
“Marriage isn’t for me.”
William shrugged. “You have a duty to your title.”
“Perhaps, but that doesn’t mean I should rush out and marry merely to procreate.” How dull would that be?
His friend leveled a fond but stern look upon him. “You’re getting on in years.”
“As are you, William.”
“Then we should prowl together. The spring Season has barely started. There is still time to find the women of our dreams, or at the very least, our responsibilities.”
He couldn’t help but grin. “There is that.” Somehow, he’d always known he’d probably wed an heiress in her come-out year, but he would keep a mistress on the side once he’d gotten his wife pregnant. Merely for mature conversation. “How depressing.”
“Agreed.” After William set aside his book, he gained his feet. “Shall we seek out some of our host’s fine spirits and drown our sorrows?”
“Absolutely, and let us leave this conversation for another time.” As they left the library, he asked, “Tell me about the new horse you found at Tattersalls…”