Page 100 of A Gentleman's Wager

“You know your prick doesn’t agree.” Saucily, she circled his pucker. “Are you sure you want me to stop?”

The only noise he made was a piteous sort of whelp.

“You’re certain you don’t want me to push a finger in there?”

“Oh, God!” he groaned, which was definitively not a no. He shoved his coat cuff into his mouth.

Bella slipped in the tip of her index finger, and gently, gently circled around the inside of the muscle. His innards were inferno hot. Lucerne further stuffed his mouth with fabric but failed to stifle his ecstatic cries.

“I’m guessing that feels really good.” His cock was stiff as a yardarm. Bella lapped at his slit as she continued to tease his hole.

“Fuck! Fuck!” he swore.

“Are you ready to spend for me, Lucerne?”

His ballocks were pulled high and tight, and he was leaking copiously.

“Fuck!”

Hot seed pumped into her hungry mouth. Bella swallowed, instinctively, only releasing him once he was entirely spent. His cock flopped against his thigh as she sat back. Lucerne reached for her. He tugged her close so that he could smooch a kiss across her swollen lips.

“You’ve a wicked tongue, wench.”

“And wicked fingers.” She wiggled them before his nose.

Lucerne caught them and kissed her fingertips. His expression curiously unfathomable.

“Does he do that to you?” she asked, falling onto the seat beside him. She was a fool to bring up Vaughan, but she couldn’t help it. He was like a dark shadow in her mind. “What I mean is—”

“Bella, you meant what you said. Please, let’s not talk about Vaughan.”

“Very well.” Although, the fact he hadn’t outright denied it was confirmation of sorts. She straightened up her clothing, brushing at the worst of the wrinkles in her skirts. Williams, the footman, opened the door. Heavens, she hadn’t even noticed they’d arrived.

Lucerne caught her hand as she moved towards the step, pulling her back into his arms. He nipped her earlobe. “It’s complicated between Vaughan and I, and not something that ought to be discussed in public.”

Through the open carriage doorway, she could see Mrs Castleton coming towards them.

“Are you lovers, Lucerne?”

“Bella, please!” His eyes were wild as he gazed about.

“Do you love him?”

Virginia saved him from having to make a reply. “Lord Marlinscar, what a pleasure this is. And Bella—it’s been an age.”

“Yes,” Bella agreed, descending from the carriage, and taking hold of her old mentor’s hands. “How are you, dear friend?”

“The better for seeing you. You look well.” She shot a glance over Bella’s shoulder at Lucerne, then lowered her voice and asked, “Should I prepare myself for good news?”

Bella hastily shook her head. Virginia folded her arm around Bella’s. “It’ll happen soon enough, I’m sure. Shall we go inside? Perkins has quite outdone herself; I think you’ll agree. We’ve beetroot pancakes, potted venison, asparagus, and some of that wow-wow sauce of which you’ve always been so fond.”

“That does sound heavenly,” Bella agreed.

-54-

Louisa

Louisa paused at the library door; she desired a book to read, but she also possessed some measure of self-preservation. Through the partly opened doorway, she could see Pennerley’s forearm. She knew it was his arm owing to the spill of lace at the wrist, and the excess of rings. He had his back to her, so he could not be aware of her presence. Reading appeared to be a favoured occupation of his when he was not engaged in debauchery.