Page 31 of Rake in Disguise (Wicked Widows’ League #33)

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Orlando had not joined any conversation but had remained on the far side of the room, sipped his brandy and watched those who had gathered.

His expression was bland and she wondered if he might be bored. If so, then he should take part in a discussion or perhaps gamble.

But then she noticed his frown.

Had something upset him?

She couldn’t imagine what it would be since he had not spoken with anyone except her since his arrival.

A part of her wanted to go to him and ask if all was well, but she had intentionally avoided spending as much time by his side this evening because she did not want her attachment to him noted.

Instead, she bided her time as the evening progressed, then finally approached after the others had left and Athena’s Salon was closed for the night.

“What is wrong?”

“I would rather not say.”

“Is it because I would not understand or because it is foolish?”

Orlando chuckled. “Both, I suppose.”

She took his hand and led him to a settee. “Tell me and let me decide.”

“I discovered jealousy,” he announced.

Blythe pulled back. “You do know that such a thing existed before your discovery, do you not?” she teased. She couldn’t imagine who or what he had to be jealous of.

“Yes, well, not in myself.”

She could not help but laugh.

“I did not like it very much when you laughed at whatever witticism Shrewsbury may have uttered.”

“This is quite delightful, Orlando.” In fact, she was giddy that he reacted as such, though she hoped that he did not become possessive because that would never do.

“If I remain at your side for a third night, it not only will be noticed but remarked upon and despite my not caring what others may think, that does not mean I want to be gossiped about. I prefer to keep my affairs private.”

“I do understand,” he said. “The thought had also crossed my mind, but I did not spend much time on it because I was facing the fact that I was eaten with jealousy when it had never…”

“Never what?” she asked when he did not continue.

“I have suffered from jealousy before,” he said quietly and shook his head.

“When was this?” she asked though not certain she wanted to hear the answer.

“On the Continent, when I first saw you. No, after I had seen you cooking and hanging laundry and then learned that you were a wife, though I did not know who you were married to. I was jealous of John before I ever saw him.”

Goodness! He had wanted her even before they met.

Yet, she had been guilty as well, because she had noticed him.

But, as a wife, noticing was all she had been allowed, even if he had found him to be handsome.

“I assume this was when you were visiting camp followers during the day while other soldiers went about their duty,” she teased.

“I told you why I was there,” he ground out.

“I know, but I still think you are a rake disguised as a doctor.” She grinned and tugged on his hand.

“I thought we established that I was not.”

“No, we never did, and even if we had, my opinion changed last night.”

Orlando let Blythe lead him to the stairs and she was relieved that he showed no resistance.

“Well, I had not realized you were wicked until last night.”

She turned to face him and since she was a stair above, was able to look him directly in the eye. “Do you have an objection?”

His grey eyes turned stormy. “None whatsoever.”

* * *

They barely made it to her chamber and closed the door before she was removing his clothing and he, hers. Between kissing and caressing Blythe had managed to maneuver him to the bed and then dropped to her knees.

He was immediately ready for whatever she had in mind.

“Sit!” she ordered and he quickly complied and waited patiently as she removed one boot and then the other.

“Stand!”

He did so with a chuckle at her ordering him about.

She quickly undid his trousers and slid them over his hips, leaving him quite naked because she’d already removed his cravat, suit coat, waistcoat and shirt while she still remained in her shift.

He reached for her, prepared to drag it over her head then have her beneath him. Instead, she pushed him back on the bed then came over him.

Her boldness was shocking, and quite arousing, especially since he had not thought it possible to be more aroused than he was, but when she positioned herself above him, straddling his hips with her legs, he wondered if she was going to be the one taking him, which he certainly did not mind.

He reached for her again, but Blythe pushed his hands away and pressed his wrists to the mattress as she leaned over to kiss him.

Orlando could have easily overpowered her, but he did not.

Instead, he lay there and enjoyed her kisses, returning them with the same passion she bestowed upon him, but when her wetness brushed against his thigh, he could not hold out a groan.

He needed her, now, or he might just explode without the privilege of being inside of her.

Blythe broke the kiss then trailed her lips over his neck, down to his chest as her hands skimmed down his abdomen. He sucked in his breath, then let out another groan as her hand grasped the length of him.

He thought she would take him in her, but Blythe’s kisses continued to go lower and lower, until her lips were around him, then her tongue on the underside nearly brought him off the bed.

“Blythe, no,” he managed to bite out.

She stopped and looked up, worry in the blue eyes. “You do not like this?”

He nearly choked, unable to answer such an absurd question.

“When you kissed me in a similar manner, I thought you may like it if I did the same.”

“Oh, I do,” he quickly assured her before she got upset or embarrassed. His objection was not for the reasons she may believe. “It is just that…well…a man usually does not ask a lady to…well…”

“Why?”

That was an excellent question. Was there some foolish rule? “I do not know other than he is the one who should be pleasuring her before he takes his own.”

She pursed her lips and studied him, still poised above his cock, which ached with need.

“If you do not like this then I will stop.”

“That is not what I claimed,” he insisted.

“Then do be quiet unless I do something wrong.”

“Wrong?” he nearly laughed.

“I have never done this before, but I want to pleasure you.”

He didn’t think he could get thicker than he already was, and he nearly begged her to continue.

“Shall I continue?” There was mischief in her blue eyes as if she already knew the answer.

“I am but at your mercy, Blythe.”

She then took him in her mouth again and while not practiced or skilled at all, it did not matter but when she caressed below, it nearly brought him off the bed again and with a lick of her tongue, Orlando knew he was too close to let her remain, and rose up then reversed their positions, her beneath him as he pushed her shift over her hips, spread her thighs and pressed forward.

He did not last long before his climax caused a shudder through his entire being, and before he could bring her release.

Hardly able to catch his breath, Orlando fell to the side of Blythe and looked over at her ready to apologize, but she was grinning at him.

“Are you pleased with yourself?” he asked.

“Oh, very much so.” She rolled to her side. “I am convinced that I very much enjoy being wicked, Orlando.”

It also might just be the death of him.