Page 68 of A Gentleman's Wager

It began in his finger, seemed to jump from the tip of his digit to her nub, from whence it zig-zagged through her body from nose to navel, to her thighs and belly. It stiffened her nipples, trembled through her limbs, and stole away control of her movements. Bella’s inner muscles clenched and released, as she shattered around him.

“That’s it,” he encouraged, the vibration of his voice rippling through her already feverish convulsions. He pulsed strongly inside of her. Shouted out her name, as his climax collided with her own, milking his cock, and melding his wetness with hers.

He rode the wave of it, until the last tremors faded. Then he collapsed over her, breathless.

Presently, his cock softened and slipped from her, whereupon he rolled onto his back. Bella snuggled against his side, her head resting contentedly in the crook of his shoulder. She could hear the thud of his heart, steady and sure.

“We couldn’t have timed that better if we’d tried.”

“Don’t spoil the magic,” she said, content to believe their coming together was entirely down to his skills as a lover and not a random anomaly.

Lucerne turned his head and kissed her tenderly on the brow.

“Do you suppose you’ll have to marry me now?” She tilted her head to see his reaction. She wasn’t serious. Well, she was, and she wasn’t. Lucerne predictably grimaced.

“I thought you liked me dishonourable.”

“I definitely do,” she agreed. “That was a joke.” He smiled obligingly, but remained too still, too quiet for her to feel entirely at ease. Bella wriggled against him. “Don’t tell me you’re regretting it.”

He put a hand on her shoulder and gently squeezed.

“Lucerne?”

“Honour’s a strange thing.”

“Really?” she chastised. She kissed him square in the centre of his chest. “I started it. I goaded you.”

“Aye, but I’m the one who broke his word. I pray your brother isn’t as proficient with his fists as he is at billiards.” He rubbed at his bruised ribs, while his mouth twisted into a sickly grimace.

Bella straddled his abdomen. “Stop it. Joshua never thumped anyone in his life. He’s soft as clarts. Besides, there’s no reason for you to fight. This was mutually agreed, and mutually pleasurable. Do you not think I should be allowed a say in what I do?”

“Of course, but I still don’t like abusing my authority.”

“Don’t be so bloody high-handed. You can’t be responsible for everything, and you have no authority over me, despite whatever nonsense you and my brother think you agreed.” She about turned and began to fish around for some sort of covering. The fire still burned brightly, but now the flush of pleasure was fading, the chill that lingered in the old building was once again apparent.

Lucerne propped himself up on his elbows and regarded her as if he were at loss for a response.

Not wishing to put on any of her wet clothing, Bella tugged Lucerne’s shirt over her head instead. It fell almost to her knees.

“You’re right, of course. In London, I couldn’t even be responsible for myself.”

“Is that why you came here, to run away from yourself?” She considered her stays and dismissed them. They’d have to be laundered along with the rest of her clothing. She folded the blanket he’d thrown around her shoulders earlier into a triangle and wrapped it around her like a shawl.

“Not entirely.”

Bella cocked her head towards him. “Then why did you?”

He beckoned her to come back to him. Bella went, and he settled her comfortably on his lap. “I suppose the truth is that I remembered I had it. London can have a strange effect on you. It makes even sensible young men do irrational things, and I was never too sensible to begin with. Too many of my associates ruined themselves mistaking ridiculousness for adventure. I nearly lost Lauwine without ever having seen it.”

Bella focused on the imperfect cupid’s bow of his lips as she considered the implications of him never having arrived. The tedious future that stretched before her, bearing scores of Garsdale Lumbs or Cockrofts. It was too horrid a notion to dwell upon. Better this version with its trials and tragedies and Pennerley’s alluring malice. “Well, I for one am glad you remembered.”

“Yes,” he agreed, pressing an affectionate kiss to her brow. “So am I.”

-39-

Lucerne

Lucerne retired to his bedchamber after Bella stole away, having reassured him she was quite capable of reaching her own chamber unseen by Lauwine’s other occupants. He stretched out naked on the bed ashamed and bemused at himself. He oughtn’t to have shagged her, and yet, it was a relief to have done so – to have kissed a woman, and swived her, and enjoyed every moment of it as purely as he’d ever done. Why what he’d done with Vaughan would have changed that, he didn’t know, only that it was reassuring to confirm that his fear was unfounded, and it simply wasn’t the case. Apparently, he could enjoy both having a cock thrust up his arse, and the soft delights of a woman’s body.