Page 71 of A Bluestocking for the Wicked Duke

Joane smiled and put her arms around his neck.

“Then kiss me William. Take my breath away.”

William kissed her neck first, tasting salt on her skin. He patted her neck with kisses trailing up till he got to her mouth. When his mouth met hers, he felt her eager and waiting for him. She turned her head to the side, allowing him more access, causing the kiss to deepen even more. She put her hands into his hair, holding it in clumps. William moved his hands to her sides and tickled her breasts from their underside. He heard her moan in response and kiss him even harder. William broke off the kiss suddenly.

“I could kiss you from now till night comes,” William said.

Joane didn’t reply. Her lips were still swollen from the intense kiss; her mouth was still slightly open. Her eyes were smoky again.

Just like they had been under the big tree.

“You want to say something,” William told her. “Speak.”

Joane shook her head and hugged William, placing her head over his shoulder. William waited for a few seconds before he slowly pulled her off.

“We really need to go back now. We have spent enough time,” William told her.

Joane nodded and turned back to face the road. She pulled William’s hand around her stomach again.

They said nothing as they rode on, finally getting into the city. A few people looked up but no one noticed who they were. Joane turned her head downwards, keeping faced down till they got to her house. When they got to her house, William stopped the horse beside her gate. He alighted and helped Joane down the horse. He looked into the compound; the stewards weren’t in a panic.

They have not started looking for her.

The gardener and stable boy did stand still and stare at Joane as she was dismounting from his horse. William turned to Joane and kissed her hand on the smooth back of her hand. He bowed and turned to mount his horse when he heard someone call Joane. He turned to see that a carriage had stopped in front of the gate to Joane’s house. Emma came out of the carriage.

“Where did you go? And did you go with him?” Emma asked.

Joane raised an eyebrow.

“Why do you ask such, Emma?” Joane asked her.

Emma walked to the space between William and Joane and pushed Joane away from him.

What is this?

“What is this, Emma?” Joane asked Emma.

Emma turned to William.

“I saw you,” she said, pointing to him.

What is she talking about?

“You saw me, where?” William asked her.

Emma laughed and shook her head. She turned to Joane.

“I told you that this man does not have good intentions. He is a schemer and is looking to use you as his revenge card,” Emma said.

A look of hurt ran across Joane’s face. She shook her head and placed her right hand on her chest.

“Why are you saying this?” Joane said in a small sad voice.

Emma turned back to William.

“I saw you with Esther Wembley. I saw you at Norfolk,” she said.

William didn’t know what to do.