Page 15 of Submitting to the Widow
He swept a low bow, doffing his costume’s large-brimmed hat trimmed with a sweeping feather in the style of another century. “I am totally at milady’s service.”
* * *
Stephen notedwith satisfaction the huge space within the late baron’s old-fashioned carriage. Soft, buttery leather lined the cushions to either side of the conveyance with ample space in the walkway between the two softly cushioned benches.
He knew exactly how he wanted this evening to go. Withdrawing a wineskin from within his cape, he removed the cork and offered Lady Trevellyn a sip. They would be on the road for at least thirty to forty-five minutes before reaching the town of Bath. He wanted her completely relaxed for what lay ahead of them. They would need to push the boundaries of propriety as far as they dared in order to replicate the episode she’d chosen from his blasted pages.
In spite of her seeming need for adventure, she jerked in surprise when he knelt in front of her and removed one of her bright red garters. He gazed upward, a question in his eyes. “You did say this is what you wanted?”
“I’m sorry. I guess I’m not used to this sort of…um…intimate attention.” She extended one long leg tentatively, spreading her legs apart slightly beneath the frothy pirate costume where the garter-free, leather-like stocking now rolled downward, exposing a tender, uncovered thigh.
When he moved close to her face, her eyes widened, and she clamped shut her lips.
He leaned in and pressed a light kiss onto her forehead before moving down to her lips and licking softly until she opened her mouth in a sigh. He seized the opening to swiftly change to the offense, invading her mouth with his clever tongue. When she groaned in pleasure and invitation, he used a knee to widen her legs further.
She’d barely registered his advances when he laid siege to the tender flesh on the inside of her thigh, rubbing softly, but insistently, with two fingers, circling ever closer to her quim. Jane whimpered and trembled and clutched at his moving hand.
“Shhhh, there’s no need to hurry, Jane. We have the whole evening left to explore every inch of your greedy body. You’re mine to torture until morning.”
He pulled the wineskin out again and urged her to drink a bit more.
She sipped and then looked back at him, her lips dark and inviting from the stains of the wine. “You called me Jane.”
“Yes, I did. It’s time you called me Stephen if you like.”
“Why now?”
“Because before this night is over, we’re going to explore every curve and crevice of each other’s bodies.” His hand inched closer to the moist place at the apex of her thighs. “Don’t you agree we should be on a first-name basis?”
* * *
Jane giggled.“But we’re wearing masks.” She smacked the back of her hand over her lips. Where had that unaccustomed hilarity come from? She’d better stop the wine intake. Even as she made that silent vow, Stephen dribbled more of the dark, peppery liquid onto her lips, forcing her to open her mouth for another sip.
Her limbs were warm from her extremities to her center. She was open to whatever came next. Allowing Stephen to ease her body more fully under his spell seemed natural. “How do you manage to be this sensual creature of the night and still work as a stuffy barrister by day?” She regretted the thoughtless question the minute the words tripped past her lips. “I’m so sorry, Mr.—“
“Please—Stephen.” He leaned back onto his heels and looked thoughtful for a minute. “I haven’t engaged in sex play like this since my university days.”
“Then why now?”
He simply stared back at her, eyebrows raised.
“Oh—.” Her brain seemed to have ceased functioning. Of course. She’d been such a goose. Her greedy sensual needs were putting him in jeopardy.
“I…I’m so sorry.”
“I’m not.” He bent so quickly down the length of her leg, she couldn’t stop him in time. Before she was aware of his intent, he’d completely denuded her of one of her heavy costume stockings.
When he’d taken charge of her naked foot, he caressed her arch lovingly while flashing a wolfish smile. “This…,” he said. “This…beauty like this has launched armies and destroyed ancient civilizations.”
Jane swallowed hard and nearly choked. For one terrifying moment she wondered what sort of crazed, perverse side of this normally sane man she’d unleashed. That was when she realized she was holding every muscle of her body as tensely as if she were about to do battle. Being debauched was supposed to be pleasurable. She relaxed all the way from her fingertips to her toes and flung her hands above her head against the soft carriage squabs.
Stephen pounced on that moment to claim her naked leg and lovingly place her knee over one of his shoulders. Which exposed her quim to him for the taking. All she could hear was his sharp intake of breath in the silence followed by a command: “Take off your other boot and stocking.”
She bent her remaining free leg onto the carriage seat and proceeded, albeit clumsily, to do as he commanded. He caressed her knee softly but firmly to his shoulder and murmured encouragement until her other leg was free of all impediments to his gaze.
Thank the gods stretching was part of her morning beauty rituals.
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