Page 6

J ulian walked down the stairs into Lady Spencer’s ballroom, looking for Serena. She’d not been at the opera last night much to his disappointment, as he’d wanted to speak with her about the article in the Times yesterday. However, today’s article—about the costs of the navy patrolling the high seas for slave traders—couldn’t have been written by her. It had to be someone in parliament, as those numbers and the information within the article were solely known among the cabinet.

The relief that V. was not Serena was instantly coupled with anger and concern. Again Grenville believed it to be Julian writing the articles. He had to find out who was behind these stories and prove his innocence before Grenville demoted him, or worse, suspended him from the party.

He’d already talked to his father and elder brother, Tarquin. Tarquin was furious that Julian was under suspicion. His brother had immediately hired a Bow Street Runner to investigate who was delivering the stories to Walter. If they could learn who the messenger was, they could trace the articles back to the source.

He pushed the puzzle from his mind and concentrated on finding Serena in the glamourous crowd. Determined to advance his courtship, feeling his prize was in sight, he made his way past mothers with daughters eager to make his acquaintance because Lord Grenville had made it obvious he expected Julian to marry, and ignored the card room, to reach Serena’s side. She stood with his sister Courtney, Lady Claire, Miss Tiffany and Miss Valora. Valora’s brother, Lord Vale, was with them, along with Vale’s mother.

“Good evening, Lady Vale.” He bowed over her hand before acknowledging the other ladies. It always paid to have the mother of your intended bride welcome the match.

“Lord Julian, how lovely to see you! You look tired. I hope Lord Grenville is not working you too hard.”

“Mother. He does not look tired. He looks…” Serena’s words petered out as she realized what she was about to say. Vale merely laughed.

The sounds of a waltz started, and Julian grabbed the opportunity. “Our dance, I believe.”

Her radiant smile stirred his heart as he led her onto the floor. The minute he held her in his arms, all his troubles dropped away. This was what he wanted. He twirled her around the floor, the heat of her body firing his blood.

He wanted to have Serena in his life. He wanted to wake up each morning with her in his bed. He wanted to come home to her every night after a long day in parliament and know he had someone who he could share his thoughts with. Then he wanted to take her to bed and make love with her. He wanted her to be the mother of his children. He wanted Serena to share his life. No other woman would do.

“Why are you smiling at me like that?” he asked. He could almost feel her thrumming in his arms.

“I have a secret to share. You’ll be so pleased, but now is not the time.”

That made his eyebrows rise. “A secret. I thought you were excited because I’m holding you in my arms,” he said, blowing softly in her ear. He noted with pleasure, her responding shiver and the fact that she pressed closer to his body.

He maneuvered them so that when the dance ended, they were near the back of the room and the double doors that led down a dimly lit corridor.

Gliding through the doors, he pulled her along the corridor before slipping into a small room containing a desk and high-back wing chairs, with a chaise lounge situated in front of the stoked fire. Lord George’s study. George was Lord Spencer’s son and Julian’s friend. A friend who was delighted to oblige his needs.

Serena peered through the open door, spying the food and drink on the desk. “Did you plan this?” she asked quickly as she stood just outside the door with her hands on those womanly hips. His answer was simply to pull her into the room and lock the door behind them.

“I have a new adventure for us. But if they catch us together in this room, we will have to marry. If that concerns you, tell me now and we’ll go back to the crowded ballroom.” He held his breath. Her answer would tell him everything he needed to know.

She moved until she stood directly in front of him. “That doesn’t worry me, although it’s not quite the proposal I was expecting.”

“So, we should leave,” he stated, his lips barely moving.

With eyes wide Serena whispered, “No. I want to stay.”

He wished she’d stop licking her lips. It was driving him insane.

Releasing the tension in his body, Julian walked around her and sat on the chaise lounge. Giving into his need, he demanded, “Come here.” A thrill raced down his spine as she readily obeyed. She rarely obeyed him, but then, this was unfamiliar territory for her. He pulled her onto his lap. “I can’t wait. I’ve thought of nothing but kissing you and undressing you for years.” He kissed her passionately. He hadn’t meant to admit his craving for her, or to succumb to his body’s driving need.

As he released her lips Serena sighed, “You hid that well. Julian…” She shivered at the desperate desire that swept over her body when his mouth settled on the swell of her bosom.

“I promised myself that when I entered your body, it would be as man and wife, but I can show you just how much I love you and desire you without breaking my promise. I’ll prove just how damned compatible we are. You’re mine. You’ve always been mine.”

With a curse, he rose and placed her on the seat he’d just vacated, and went down on his knees before her.

Slowly, as if giving her time to stop him, he slid his hands up her limbs, pushing her skirts up as he went. When his lips found the inside of her thigh, she startled, unable to believe this was finally happening as he seared her skin with his searching kisses. She could barely sit still. Her breath came in small, rapid pants.

The sensuous path he made up the inside of her leg spoke of pleasure beyond imagining. This was so wicked, but she could not deny the excitement skimming through her at the same time. She loved this man. And she trusted him to show her about passion. He’d been there her whole life, teaching and helping her grow into womanhood. This was an irrevocable step and his actions spoke of his heart.

He would marry her. They would have the most perfect life.

“We don’t have enough time for what I’d really love to do to you, with you, but I can’t wait to taste you.” His voice was intoxicatingly sensuous. “Stop me if anything scares you.”

“You could never scare me. I trust you with my life—my heart.”

Desire played over her skin in ascending ripples of response. When she looked into his eyes, their color dark like molten honey, her legs parted of their own accord, allowing him greater access. His groan only inflamed her passion.

He used his hands to part her even further until she felt open and exposed. He kissed higher up the inside of her leg, his lips setting her on fire. A soft moan escaped, and she didn’t care.

“Julian, oh, God…” Serena gasped into the confines of the rapidly heating room.

“Don’t hold back. I want to hear your cries.”

She could feel how wet he was making her, and his hands hadn’t even touched her yet. When the touch of his fingers finally came, the beguiling strokes raised a throbbing need inside her that built and grew until she could barely sit still.

His tongue traced a molten path closer to the apex between her thighs, leaving a cool trail behind; elsewhere her skin was hot with feverish need. His unhurried movements fed her impatience. She let out another enraptured moan as his tongue swept closer to the part of her that desperately wanted his attention. This was scandalous, but she loved it because Julian was with her. Julian teaching her about love…

Just as she felt his warm breath at her core, he suddenly drew back. She looked down. Her skirts were around her waist, laying her feminine flesh naked to his possessive gaze. He reached out and ran a finger over her glistening womanhood and then raised his wet finger to his mouth. She could see it covered in her juices. He sucked it and licked his lips.

“As if I’d ever let you marry anyone else. As if I’d marry anyone else. I knew from the day I met you when we were both children that we would be together. But this is more than I could have hoped for. You’re everything I want and need. You’re my heart’s desire.” He didn’t hide the hint of smug male satisfaction in his voice.

She should have felt ashamed, but she didn’t. She’d never experienced her feminine sexuality before, yet he only had to look at her and she grew wet—wet for him alone. It was as if her body knew who this man was to her.

She spread her legs wider, biting her lip to stop herself from begging him to continue kissing her.

Finally, after one more lingering look, he leaned forward and touched her with his tongue, just lightly caressing her. Her body recognized the sensation and she pushed her hips forward, begging for more.

His hands encircled her buttocks, pulling her down and then upward to give his mouth better access. Julian knew exactly where and how to touch her to prolong her pleasure. She’d never ever felt anything like it and she was sure she was about to faint from the heightened sensations sweeping over her.

Her breathing grew ragged. She no longer cared whether anyone found them. She wriggled closer, urging him on. His tongue stabbed deep within her, making her shudder. Her head dropped back to rest on the seat. Her flesh seemed to burn; a heat was consuming her from the inside.

It was almost too much to endure, yet she prayed he’d never stop. Her eyes widened in anticipation of what was yet to come; then she closed them up tightly as her climax ripped through her. His tongue lapped at her, making it last, drawing out each shuddering sensation until she sagged limply into the chaise lounge, so satiated that she couldn’t move.

Before she could gather herself together, he stood over her and took her mouth in a deep, searching kiss. His tongue swept in so she could taste herself on his lips. Her arms crept around his neck and he pulled her in close to him. He lifted her into his arms and sat down with her in his lap, still kissing her as if he’d die without her.

Finally, Julian took pity on her, and he stopped.

“Are you all right?” he asked, brushing her hair back from her flushed face.

“I’m still sorting through everything you made me feel. It was wonderful,” she sighed.

“I love you, you know.”

She smiled avidly at him. “You’ve certainly taken your time to tell me.”

“I didn’t think you wanted to hear it.” He was always truthful with Serena.

She looked into his eyes, and her smile dimmed. “You know me so well. I probably wasn’t ready to hear it. I think it scared me. I thought if I loved you, you might change. You might treat me differently. But when I saw you with Lady Penelope…”

“I thought you knew me? As if I’d ever try to change you. You’re my best friend.”

“But she’s very beautiful.”

“Is she? I hadn’t noticed, when the woman I desire more than my next breath is in the room. You are more beautiful than anyone or anything I’ve ever seen.”

She rewarded him with a kiss.

“Are you in agreement that I speak to your brother tomorrow? I hope you’re not wanting a long engagement? I’m not sure I can wait that long to have you as my wife.”

“What about Lord Grenville?” Serena had to ask. This could hurt his career.

“What about Lord Grenville?”

She sighed and laid back on the chaise lounge. “He warned me away from you. He said he had big plans for you and indicated he didn’t see me as right for you.”

He reached for her and stroked his finger down her cheek. “Don’t worry about Lord Grenville. I’m already not in his good books, so one more disappointment won’t change that.”

That made her sit up. “Why are you in his bad books?”

“Someone is writing articles in the Times and the second article had information in it that could only have come from someone in the cabinet. As the views in the first article were similar to my own, Grenville, and half the cabinet, believe I’m this mysterious journalist V. I think he’s about ready to force me out.”

Serena jumped to her feet. “Oh, no. That can’t happen. You’re not this V. person. You can’t lose the job you love so much.”

“Calm down. I’m sure I can persuade Grenville of my innocence. Besides, Tarquin has a Bow Street Runner tracking the delivery of the article. I’m sure I’ll know soon enough and be able to clear my name.

“It was me. I’m V.”

Julian’s heart almost stopped beating. “I beg your pardon.” Slowly, he got to his feet. Serena paced the room, wringing her hands.

“I’m so sorry. I thought you’d be pleased as it made the public aware that we should do more than simply stopping the slave trade. We have to free them or people would still risk trading in them. If people understood the money—”

A deep chill pervaded his body. “How did you get the information?”

She stopped pacing and looked at him, her eyes wide with worry. “I didn’t mean to, but Axton asked me to give you a missive. I took it to your study to drop it on your desk and I really didn’t plan to read anything, but it was there and I read it…”

Her words petered out as she caught the look on his face. “How could you? That was my private correspondence. How could you read it, let alone use it? How could you have used me like this? I trusted you. Do you know what this will do to my career? I’ll have to resign. That was confidential information, only for the members of parliament.”

She reached for his arm but he brushed her off. “No. This is not your fault. It’s me. I’m to blame. You shouldn’t have to resign. I’ll tell Lord Grenville”—

“No,” Julian stormed icily. “Think of the scandal you’ll bring down on your family if it becomes knowledge that it was you who wrote the articles. Think of your mother and Valora. Besides, it will do no good. Grenville won’t trust me again if he knows my wife did this. It’s over. My career in parliament is over.” He could barely look at her. He hurt so much. She’d used him without even wondering how it might affect him or his career. All she’d thought about was herself. Why hadn’t she discussed it with him? Was that how she saw him? A man who she could lead around by the nose?

His heart felt like it was dying in his chest. How could he trust her again?

His life had been mapped out. He would marry her and have a sterling career as a minister, maybe even Prime Minister one day. Now his dream was gone.

He looked at Serena. She was crying, and he wondered how she could do something so hurtful to the man she professed to love.

“I’m so sorry. I didn’t think. I didn’t mean to get you into trouble.”

It was as if he were looking at a stranger. But he’d made his bed. He had to marry her after what they had done in here this night. He’d thought he loved her, but did he really know her? His throat felt as if it was filled with ash.

“We should get back to the ball.” With that, he unlocked the door and led her out into the corridor. “We can’t be seen together. Can you make your own way back?”

She nodded. He gave her a gentle push. She tried to grab his arm, but he reentered the study and closed the door, too scared to show her the tears of frustration and ruined dreams he felt rising.

He’d have to face Grenville tomorrow. There was no way he’d reveal it was Serena. She didn’t deserve to have her life and her family’s ruined because he’d been a trusting fool. He would simply resign for personal reasons.

He knew everyone would think he was resigning because it was he who’d written the articles. This was his fault. He’d indulged Serena in her dream when really, he should have shown her that some dreams couldn’t come true.

She’d destroyed everything he loved and cared about.

Now, he had to decide if he could ever forgive her. And as he felt honor bound to marry her, he hoped he could.