Page 8 of A Simple Marriage (Millionaires of Mayfair #2)

The next week, Pippa sat with Grace at the Winters’ musicale. She hadn’t seen Hugh once this entire week. Every day, she’d been at his home spending time with his great-aunt and mother as she worked on their dresses. The irritating man had promised to introduce her to eligible men in exchange for spending time with his family. It’s not that she didn’t enjoy their company. In fact, she loved spending time with them, but an agreement was an agreement.

Just then, Grace leaned near Pippa. “I think we should invite Lady Ravenscroft, Lady Edith, Lord Bryce, and the marquess to dinner next week.”

Pippa clenched her gloved hands in her lap. She merely nodded. Perhaps Grace would forget about the invitation if Pippa didn’t encourage the conversation. The last thing she wanted to do was to invite Ravenscroft and his family to dinner. Besides giving Lady Edith ammunition to declare that a betrothal was forthcoming, Pippa was at a loss as to how to handle the growing friendship with Ravenscroft and the need for her to find someone to marry.

The man was simply too charming. With little resistance, she’d give him all her secrets. Last week, after she’d practically bared her soul to Hugh, Grace had finally arrived for their perfunctory dinner. Pippa still couldn’t believe how she shared all her doubts about whether she should be taken seriously about her own abilities to run a successful business. But Hugh soothed her with a kindness and gentleness that was encouraging. He had also been honest. Her ideas were sound, but that didn’t mean that Pelham would agree.

She suspected as much, but now she had to come up with another argument that could convince her brother.

Pippa glanced around the sitting room of Mrs. Winters, their hostess for tonight’s musical. The room was close to capacity, and the murmurs of the restless crowd were growing in volume. Since she and Grace had arrived late, they were sitting on the back row.

“One of your beaus is sitting on the front row.”

Pippa scowled momentarily at the deep, low cadence of the voice behind her. As she slowly turned her gaze to see who addressed her, Ravenscroft took the empty seat next to hers.

Ravenscroft greeted Grace with a nod, then faced forward, completely ignoring Pippa.

“What did you say?” Pippa couldn’t be as nonchalant as Hugh. She stared at his profile.

He shot her a glance. “Stanhope.” His gaze returned to the front of the room. “Third seat from the right, front row.”

“Will you take me to him?” she asked softly so the others around them couldn’t hear.

He wrinkled his nose.

“Do you smell something offensive?”

“Yes. Desperation.” He turned to her.

She bit her lower lip to keep herself from laughing.

“Of course, I’ll introduce him to you, but don’t be too anxious, darling.” He leaned close enough that the scent of his soap teased her nose. “However, if that’s what you want…”

She straightened in her seat as the crowd quieted. The performing string quartet was warming up, signaling that their performance was about to start. Pippa nodded once but didn’t turn in his direction. “Yes.”

“Speaking of which, tell me again what you want in a man?” Hugh’s voice seemed to echo around the room.

The crowd turned his way and shushed him with looks that were reminiscent of surly governesses and tutors reprimanding their charges. With a pugnacious smile, Hugh nodded in apology.

He leaned across her with his shoulder brushing hers and placed an arm across the back of her chair. “Lady Grace,” he said softly.

Grace acknowledged him with a smile.

“May I take Lady Pippa to the back of the room?” He pointed toward the back of the room. “She can’t see the performance.”

“Of course, my lord.” Grace smiled benevolently. “Stay where I can see you both, hmm?”

“I’m always looking out for Lady Pippa’s welfare.” Hugh flashed an incendiary smile toward Grace and his great-aunt who’d accompanied them this evening. Lady Edith grinned in approval.

His smile reminded Pippa of a naughty angel who knew exactly how to extricate himself from a quandary of his own making. No doubt, his mother and great-aunt had seen it hundreds of times. To Pippa, it was a marvel and a wonder. Proof in point was the fact that her stomach looped in a perfect circle at his smile.

Goodness, she had to put such thoughts aside. He was simply a man helping her secure a simple marriage. “Where were you last week?”

“Amesbury. Now, come with me.” He slipped his hand under her elbow and helped her from her seat. With an ingrained elegance, he escorted her to the back of the room. They were the only ones in the back. As the fawning crowd became engrossed with the performance, Hugh took her elbow once again and led her out of the room.

“Where are we going?” Pippa looked over her shoulder to see if anyone had noticed them. Not a single person gawked in their direction. The talented quartet was all they were interested in tonight. Which suited Pippa perfectly. She wanted to grill the handsome marquess about his question about what she wanted in a man. Hadn’t she answered the man already? She just needed a man her brother would approve of. Plus, he had to be someone that she would feel comfortable with. He had to treat her kindly and let her run her dress shop.

“I have a surprise for you.” Stealthy, Hugh led her up the steps to the second floor. A balcony overlooking the salon was before them. Instead of taking her there, Hugh turned right and soon they were walking down a deserted hall. By then, he’d taken her hand in his and interlaced their gloved fingers together. At the end of the long hallway, a set of double doors greeted them.

Without hesitating, he turned the handle to one of the doors and threw it open. With a sly smile, he whispered, “After you, my dear lady.”

Hot, moist air rushed forward. The intensity of it stole Pippa’s breath. She knew exactly where they were. “It’s an orangery.”

He leaned and whispered in her ear. “With a bounty of fresh”—he leaned close and dropped his voice—“ripe, lush fruits waiting for us.”

When she stepped inside, the smell of ripe oranges and lemons surrounded her. It was a marvel of architecture to have the building be a two-story orangery with entrances on the first and second floors. There was a set of wrought iron stairs that connected the floors from the inside.

She twirled in a circle as she took in the magnificence of the structure. “This is amazing.”

Laughing, Hugh took a bow. “Thank you, my lady. It’s too dark, but I am blushing.”

Pippa joined in his laughter. “You’re taking credit for this?” she challenged playfully.

“Unabashedly,” he retorted. “Winters built it because I told him it couldn’t be done.”

She arched a brow and continued smiling. “I’ll keep that in mind. You tell people things, so they’ll prove you wrong.”

He nodded and took her deep within the space. “It’s my special power just like yours is creating dresses.”

She dug her heels and regarded him. “Wait. So, you told me that I would succeed with my purchase of the shop just so I’d fail?”

He turned her way. “Absolutely not. I know you’ll succeed with the dress shop.” He slowly closed the distance between them and gently took her chin in his hand as he looked into her eyes. “You possess the will and intelligence to make it a success. Your brother won’t stand a chance in telling you can’t do it.” His hand caressed her cheek, and his gaze turned tender. “He can’t deny that you have the social and financial acumen to accomplish it all. Your biggest challenge will be to tame your brother’s highly protective instincts.”

“Thank you.” She nodded, never taking her eyes from his. She wanted to stretch on her toes and press her lips to his. When a flicker of interest flashed in his eyes, she answered with one word, “Hugh, why did you ask me what I wanted in a man?”

“I wanted to make certain you hadn’t changed your mind.”

She shook her head.

“Excellent. Now, I want to show you something.” He took her hand and entwined their fingers again as he’d done before. She imagined lovers would do something similar when they wanted to steal away from a crowd to be alone. They rounded a corner to face a bank of windows that overlooked the formal gardens. Small lanterns flickered with the soft lights from the candles.

“It’s like a fairyland.” She squeezed his hand as she looked her fill. “How beautiful. I’ve never seen such a sight.”

“Neither have I.” When she turned to him, his intense gaze was locked on her.

Something magical swirled around them. It was as if destiny had planned for them to be here and there was nothing in this universe to keep them apart. Her heartbeat pounded at the hungry look in his eyes. She licked her lips anticipating…praying…for his kiss.

Instead, he turned and plucked an orange from a potted tree. The smell of tart, tangy citrus filled the area. “I’ll show you the proper way to peel an orange.”

She leaned nearer as he pulled out a small pocketknife. With quick movements, he cut off the bottom and the top. Next, he carefully scored the skin’s circumference. He pushed his thumb under the skin and like a surgeon, pushed the skin away revealing the perfectly ripe fruit. He broke it into segments.

“You make it look like an art.” She inhaled the fragrant orange scent that surrounded them.

“It is. You don’t want to waste any of the juice.” Hugh brought one segment to her lips and lowered his voice to a seductive purr. “Taste.”

Hugh’s gut tightened at the same time as his cock twitched when Pippa’s lips opened to imbibe in the succulent fruit. He should have his head examined for stealing her away from the music, not to mention Grace. If anyone found them alone, there would be hell to pay. Namely, the hell that would arise from a forced marriage because he’d compromised her. He wouldn’t even consider how Pelham would react if such a thing occurred.

Yet, he believed it was worth the risk.

Pippa hesitated for a moment to study the orange piece he held in his fingers. If this was what the serpent felt when it offered Eve the forbidden fruit, then Hugh fully understood and empathized with the poor fellow. There was no way to deny the hunger, or the temptation promised by that sweet taste of fruit. Every inch of his skin tingled at the sight of Pippa’s breasts rising and falling with each shallow breath. He had to tamp down the urge to lean and press his lips against her pulse that pounded against the soft skin at the base of her throat.

It would take little for him to hold her in his arms, then ravish her with his kisses. She lifted her gaze to his. He was riveted by the red lusciousness of her lips. Slowly, she opened her mouth and took a bite.

When she moaned at the sweetness that exploded on her tongue, he groaned in answer. Now was as good a time as any to ask his question. He’d been stewing on it ever since he’d first spotted her at the musical. “Pippa, you’re still determined to marry one of the Mayfair millionaires.”

Her gaze sharpened as she turned her focus to him. “Marrying one of those boring, staid men is my best chance for attaining everything I want in life.”

“Ah, yes. You want to marry ‘a friend’ if I recall correctly.” He popped a segment of orange into his mouth and held out another to her. She opened her mouth and he fed her. “What about kisses and embraces on the long winter nights when the snow howls and the north wind sings through the chimney.”

“Howling? Singing?” She laughed then tilt her flirtatious gaze his way.

“Appropriate since we’re attending a musical.” He lifted one brow and was rewarded by another sparkling laugh from her. “What about kisses and embraces?”

“What about them?” She shrugged. “I could ask the same of you.”

“Touché.” He lowered his voice. “Even I’ll admit that the winters are long, and I sometimes wish…”

“Wish for kisses?” she teased. “And the warmth and comfort another would give by your side?”

Slowly, he closed the distance between them. She closed her eyes when his mouth met hers.

“Christ,” he whispered against her lips. “You make me want things that I’ve never wanted before.”

“It’s not too farfetched for me to say the same.” Pippa wrapped her arms around his neck, anchoring him in place.

The need to hold her became nigh near impossible to ignore. Like those winter nights he’d described, he had the undeniable need for her heat. Hugh pulled her into his arms and crushed his mouth against hers. The tart taste of fruit lingered on her lips and in her mouth. He licked her lower lip, and when she opened her mouth, his tongue met hers. Tonight, he wouldn’t leave a single inch of her unexplored. She melted against his chest as he ran his hands slowly up and down her spine.

Pippa mewled softly as she moved closer, pressing her breasts against the hard planes of his body. She ran her hands up and down, cataloging every dip, sinew, and muscle of his chest. The intensity of their embrace grew as he growled in approval of her exploration.

On a whimper, she grasped one of his hands and brought it to her breast. “Touch me.”

Hugh stilled for a moment, then broke their kiss. “Friends don’t touch each other like this.”

“Then let us not be friends.”

“Please,” Pippa whispered. She wanted Hugh to be the first man to touch her in such an intimate fashion. She trusted him.

The hardness of his hips met hers, and a breathless sigh escaped. There was nothing she wanted more than to feel the hard length of hard length brushing against her, entering her, and bringing her to completion.

Such a thought should have scandalized her, but with Hugh, the growing need for such an intimate touch couldn’t be ignored. Every inch of her body felt on fire. He caused it, and he was the only one who could put out the flames. Pippa canted her hips, grinding against him.

“God, how I missed you,” Hugh murmured. With a slight movement, his leg was between hers. She whimpered at the change of position.

He whispered in her ear. “Move against me.” He kissed her ear, then brushed his lips against the sensitive skin below.

She moaned in response and angled her center until it met the hardness of his thigh. For a moment, she stilled at the sensation of his heat and hardness.

He was a masterpiece.

“Oh, the things I’d do to you if we were in my bed,” he teased, then nipped her ear lobe.

“Tell me,” she begged as she continued to grind against his leg. She took his hand in hers and brought it to her gown. Slowly, with their fingers tangled together, they lifted her skirt.

“I’d strip you bare, then I’d push your tits together and suck them until you screamed my name.”

“I want that.” She pulled her bodice down then pressed his hand against her stays.

He leaned close and buried his head against her hot skin. The feel of his lips and exploring tongue lit a fire within her.

Her heart pounded. For a moment, she feared it would break out of her chest to reach him. “Tell me more.”

“Oh, sweet darling,” he crooned. “I’d fall to my knees and lick every inch of you.” He licked the tender skin of her neck. “Christ,” he murmured. “You make me greedy. All I want to do is lick and lick until you cry out my name again. I would be unable to stop worshipping every delectable inch of you.”

He rocked against her, but it wasn’t enough. She wanted things that she should only ever do with her husband.

“I’d take my cock…”

“Yes.” The promise of release was a hairsbreadth within her grasp. “I’m close.”

He stilled for a moment. “Close to what?”

“A climax.” Pippa refused to be embarrassed. Her body was hers. “Tell me what you’d do with your cock.” She brought her hand and pressed against his hard length.

He groaned at her touch.

“Would you push it inside me?” Her voice turned into a gossamer slip of a whisper. Would you fuck me?”

He pressed his forehead against hers and stilled. But he struggled for breath as if he’d run a mile. She could see that he was struggling for control, and she’d never been more pleased with herself. She’d done that to him. For a crazy, wild, and wonderful moment, she had Hugh speechless and unable to move.

“Where did you learn such things?” His lips skated across her cheek.

“Honor brought several erotic books with her from York when she returned home for good after finishing school. I have known about climaxes since the age of sixteen. I know how to pleasure myself.”

His breath became ragged, and he cursed slightly as if in pain. “This is pure torture. But if we were alone, I’d torture you in return.”

At the deep rumble of his voice that promised unspeakable pleasure, she sucked in a breath of air.

He growled softly, then pressed his lips against her ear. “I’d take you to bed and put my mouth on you down there. I’d kiss and suck until you screamed my name. As you succumb to all that, I’d put my tongue in you and feel your body squeeze it, desperate for my seed.” He pulled her tighter against him. If possible, his member was even more engorged. “I’d enter you over and over...pumping everything I have into you until I scream your name in ecstasy.” He trailed his other hand slowly down her ribs, taking his time to squeeze and pet her. “But since I can’t do that.” He slowly and elegantly dropped to his knees and tilted his gaze to hers.

He could have been a knight of old pledging his fidelity to her. But she knew that once he touched her, she’d be the one pledging her allegiance to him. Her breath caught at the desire in his eyes. She had no doubt that if they were anywhere else, Hugh would take her to bed.

And she’d welcome it.

Slowly, never taking his eyes off hers, he carefully bunched her skirts and brought them to her waist. “Hold this,” he commanded. “Spread your legs.”

The feel of the cool air against her hot center did little to temper the need for an orgasm.

He lifted her leg and put it over his shoulder.

“I’ll fall.”

“I won’t let you, darling.”

She closed her eyes at the sound of the endearment on his lips.

He pressed a gentle kiss to her thigh, then the other. At the first swipe of his tongue against her sex, she sagged against the wall behind her. She couldn’t hold back the low moan. When he found the bundle of nerves that begged for attention, he set off a chain reaction. Everything inside of her swirled into waves of pounding sensation. She pushed her center hard against his mouth, begging.

No, she didn’t beg. She demanded.

He chuckled against her folds, but the dastardly man kept on devouring her. He continued to swirl his tongue around her nub, then suck it until she thought she’d scream. Somehow, she held on tight until he pushed his tongue inside her. Everything combusted into a vortex of colors that exploded behind her eyes as her muscles contracted in response. With each ragged breath, it felt as if her body had burst into pieces above her. As her heartbeat slowed, those pieces came together. Then, like a feather, they floated until she was once again grounded.

After he kissed the sensitive nub a final time, Hugh rose to his feet and pulled her close then straightened her gown. Like she was something precious, he kissed her tenderly. She could taste herself on his tongue. It was inappropriate, not to mention utterly wicked, but she craved more. “Hugh,” she cried softly.

“I’ve always thought you exquisite, but it pales in comparison to seeing you come. I’ve never tasted anything as beautiful as you.”

She struggled to catch her breath. That’s when reality returned like a bucket of cold water. What had she done? No one of her stature allowed such passion to erupt without the benefit of marriage.

She’d laugh if what she’d thought wasn’t so ridiculous. She didn’t want a marriage with emotions, passion, or anything that resembled affection…or, God forbid, love. She wanted to be free of such chains. She didn’t want what her parents had—a marriage based on passions that would somehow transform to hatred.

Yet what she felt tonight in his arms wasn’t something that could be so easily diminished. If she married a man who didn’t stir her passions, what would become of her in the dead of winter when those chimneys sang with the howling winds? She’d be miserable because she’d always be reminded of this night when she’d come undone in Hugh’s arms. From now on, every time she pleasured herself, she would think about this night and him.

Pippa shook her head to make sense of it all. She would not allow herself to fall under some false sense of true affection for Hugh just because he’d pleasured her.

Heat enveloped her cheeks, and her body was on fire. Which begged the question, how could she ever face him again? What must he think of her? She tried to create distance between them by pushing against his chest.

“Darling, what is it?” Hugh reluctantly released her.

She quickly set herself to rights, then slowly raised her hand to her mouth. “What have we done?”