CHAPTER TWO #2
“Not at all,” she found herself repeating. She was happy to join Wickham but wanted a moment to calm the lust her reading had provoked. “I will be in attendance shortly.”
She wondered what she would do with the book. Should she leave it in the library and retrieve it later?
“Allow me to replace the book for you,” Wickham offered and picked up the book before she could stop him.
“That won’t be necessary,” she said quickly and tried to pluck the book from his hand. Their fingers brushed, and a palpitation went through her.
He did not relinquish the book but dropped his gaze to her hand, which half-covered his. In doing so, he saw the title. The surprise on his face was evident, and Lizzy felt the flush in her cheeks deepen.
“This is…Sir William’s?” he asked.
“I think not,” she confessed. “I found it and—and meant to—”
“Read it.”
“No!”
“You appeared to be reading it when I walked in.”
She dropped her hand and took a step away from him.
He took a step toward her. “Please, I did not mean to offend. I find it remarkable that one of the delicate sex would dare consume the contents of such a book.”
This unexpected compliment and the sincerity of his tone thawed her guard, and she was prepared to be amenable to him once more.
“We are not so delicate as your sex would believe or wish, but I am not familiar with the work of Mr. Cleland, so I cannot know if courage is required to read it. I found the book in the corridor and suspect it belongs to one of your brother-in-arms?”
He glanced from the book back to her and, taking her hand, placed it in her grasp. They stood with mere inches separating them. Her breath became uneven, and it seemed his did, too.
“I confess I am intrigued to know your thoughts on what you have read,” he said, lowering his head for his voice had become deep and husky.
She hesitated for she worried her voice would waver too much. “Mr. Cleland clearly intends to titillate the reader.”
“And do you find he is successful in his aim?”
He had lowered his head to such a degree that she could not comfortably focus upon the whole of his countenance, so she fixed her gaze upon his mouth. His nearness had scattered her thoughts, and she replied, without advanced contemplation, “Yes.”
The word emerged as a whisper and was the invitation he sought for he dropped his mouth to hers.
That flame she had hoped to quell moments before surged inside her.
He wrapped an arm about her waist, pulling her into him.
She required no further encouragement and returned his kiss despite the intuition that she was much less practiced than he.
Book still in hand, she wound her arms about his neck.
He ground his hips at her. Desire pooled low and hot within her as she felt the thickness of his cock pressing into her belly.
He swept her into his arms and laid her upon the sofa.
Prudence battled for dominance, and she looked to see that the doors were fully shut this time.
They ought not disrespect the home of Sir William.
But when Wickham’s lips claimed hers a second time, she found her passions a formidable foe.
He reached beneath her skirts and skimmed the bare part of her leg, making her tremble.
She ached for him to touch her most intimate parts, yet when he did, she gave a small cry, which was promptly swallowed in his kiss.
His hand was slightly rough between her legs, but the wetness allowed her to bear and even exalt in his brusque and fervent manhandling.
“Wickham! Wickham, where have you gone off to?”
Lizzy heard the giggling of her younger sisters in the corridor.
“Such an exasperating man!” Lydia grumbled.
Wickham emitted a soft and ungentlemanly oath.
“We must not be found,” Lizzy whispered, pushing her skirts down as she sat up. She was no less disappointed than he, but perhaps it was all for the best.
“Go,” she urged him. “I think Lydia and Kitty will not rest till they have found you.”
He straightened and adjusted the area of his fall. A bulge was still apparent there.
“Will you join us then? Or do intend more reading?” he asked.
She looked sharply at him, but she could not be angry when his eyes glimmered so bewitchingly. “I must properly dispose of this book first.”
“Have you no wish to further discuss its merits?”
She made no reply, but her lips curled faintly in a smile. She watched him take a deep breath before facing the library doors and exiting. A minute later, she heard Lydia exclaim, followed by much prattling before the voices faded down the corridor.