Page 17 of The Villain’s Vixen (Wanton Wastrels)

CHAPTER 17

B y the time he returned to London and made his way back to his lodgings in the East End, Dominic was ready to fall into his bed. He’d gone to his townhouse and checked for any messages and then made his way to the Crown & Sceptre, all without any further notice, until he was forced to retire and try again the following morning.

The rain that had been threatening with the red skies since that morning had finally opened up and drenched him completely through. He was dripping as he walked inside the cottage and removed his hat and overcoat. He was intending to strip the rest of his clothes when he caught sight of movement.

He immediately reached for his pistol, but before he could withdraw it, a small, wonderful voice said, “Dominic. It’s me.”

Forgetting that he was exhausted, he was hit with a burst of energy as he crossed the small confines and gathered Lexie into his arms. Holding her tightly against him, for fear she was nothing more than an illusion that would dissipate the moment he released her, he spoke harshly, “Dear God, I have been going mad looking for you. ”

“I’m sorry,” she whispered. “I didn’t know what to do when we were beset?—”

He silenced her with a devastating kiss. At least, it was for him, because it had been entirely too long since he’d tasted her sweet lips. “You are not to blame. I’m just glad you’re here now.”

She clung to his shoulders. “I am too. Please don’t leave me.”

“Never,” he murmured, as he kissed her again.

Her breathing was harsh when they parted. “Don’t stop,” she pleaded.

“We need to talk about?—”

“Later. Right now, I just need to feel you against me. I need… you.”

Dominic was only human, and he could deny himself of her sweetness no longer. They were to be married. The wedding night would just be earlier than planned.

He slipped an arm under her legs and lifted her. Although the small bed he utilized wasn’t the fashionable one he’d envisioned laying her upon for the first time, there was almost something symbolic about making love to her in such modest surroundings. She was the reason he was leaving all of this behind. It suited that she should be part of that transition.

He set her down at the edge of the mattress and continued kissing her as he slowly removed her pelisse and tossed the garment aside. She shivered slightly and he wondered if she was cold, but then he realized that the reason for the chill was her dress. He paused to glance at her attire and saw the stains and rips to the delicate material.

Immediately, his grip tightened on her hips. “What in God’s name?—”

She placed a gentle finger over his lips. “Not now.” She urged his head back down and he went willingly, but he vowed that he would return to the topic of her ruined dress before the night was over.

But since it was past repair …

He grasped each side of the muslin and rent it perfectly down the middle. Discarding the two sides, he leisurely took in the curves of her body outlined by her stays and the delicate chemise beneath. Her stockings and boots would be the last things he removed.

Preferably the former—with his teeth.

The image of her naked body finally displayed for his viewing pleasure made him want to quickly divest her of the remainder of her clothing, but he was determined to make this moment last. He’d been granted the honor of her body, and he didn’t intend to rush this gift.

He gazed intently into her eyes as he slowly undid her front lacing stays. The tops of her full breasts were proudly displayed as he worked to free them from their confines. When he finally tossed the garment aside, he could clearly see the rosy tips of her nipples, taut and eager for his attentions.

He was more than happy to comply.

Bending down, he sucked one of them through the thin lawn of her chemise and then turned his attention to the other. She moaned and the sound was music to his ears. He was sure he’d never heard anything so beautiful before her passionate responses. He was certainly humbled by them.

Grasping the edge of the last layer of clothing that kept her hidden from his hungry view, he fell to his knees and felt his cock harden to the point of pain as he stared at the apex of her thighs where a dusting of light hair covered her feminine mound. He licked his lips, eager for another taste of her.

Urging her legs apart, he kept her chemise held up around her hips as he leaned forward and began to feast.

Lexie’s eyes rolled back in her head at the first swipe of Dominic’s tongue on her cleft. It was just as intoxicating as it was the first time he’d pleasured her in such a wicked manner. But truly, could it be called wicked when it felt so good ?

She gasped when he bit down on the sensitive bud and she threaded her hands through his dark hair. She wasn’t sure if she was trying to push him away or draw him closer. Coherent thought was starting to slip away, and she was falling into the passionate abyss.

Time after time, she drew closer to the precipice until her body tightened in anticipation of something wonderful. “Dominic…” His name was a plea, or a benediction, as her legs started to quake. Her hips rocked back and forth, riding him, as her head suddenly fell back and she cried out incoherently as her core pulsed with white hot pleasure. Time seemed to cease as she became lost to the ecstasy.

When she was replete and languid, her body thrumming in the aftermath of her orgasm, Dominic crawled back up her body, but this time, he took the chemise with him and removed it from her body. He didn’t let her gain her breath before he was teasing her breasts, molding the flesh beneath his palms and sucking the tips until she started to feel the familiar pull of desire licking at her midsection.

He eased her onto the mattress and left her long enough to rip his shirt off and throw it aside. She was panting, her chest heaving with each inhale and exhale, as he held eye contact and bent down to remove her boots, and then taking his torturous time, began to remove her stockings with his teeth. It was one of the most erotic things that she could have ever imagined, but she knew there was so much more he intended to teach her.

She couldn’t wait.

Once she was fully unclothed, he instructed, “Turn over on all fours.”

For a moment, she was confused, but then he gently nudged her hip and she moved as he asked. The mattress dipped with his weight and his hands came around to cup her breasts. As he toyed with them, lightly pinching her nipples, he whispered in her ear, “Let me know if it gets too intense, but I want this to be a night to remember, not about pain, but pleasure.”

She nodded her head, her hair falling over her shoulders, but not for long. He gathered the length in his fist, but that wasn’t the first thing that registered in her scattered thoughts. She felt something nudging the entrance to her womanhood and while it was a foreign sensation, it wasn’t uncomfortable. In truth, it was quite… nice.

As he moved his fingers slowly out and back in, her lungs caught.

She supposed it was a bit more than nice.

As he started to tease her feminine walls with his fingers, she was startled when he began to give her playful little nips on her neck, her back, and even her buttocks. But the pressure starting to build inside of her eclipsed all else.

“Come for me again, Alexandra.”

She had always hated her full name, but the way Dominic growled it, she found it was terribly sensual, and his slight command had her body urging to return to the precipice.

As his other hand grasped her hip, his fingers dug into her flesh and the combination of sensations coursing through her body was almost too much to bear. She was dizzy, her eyes glazed and unfocused, and her hips started to slam back into the friction he was creating inside of her. With a cry, she splintered apart, her body soaring to heights she’d never dreamed.

He toyed with her breasts and made the sensation last even longer, until she was so relaxed that she wasn’t sure she could endure anything more.

She was hardly aware of him removing his fingers and urging her onto her back once more. She wondered if this was what it felt like to take laudanum. Her eyelids were heavy and her limbs felt leaden and so lax that she wasn’t sure she could stand if she had to do so .

Her lids fluttered, and she saw Dominic above her. She reached up to his face as there was another intrusion below. She gave a slight gasp as she was penetrated, but the discomfort quickly passed and he bent down and kissed her. Her head swam as he thrust into her over and over until finally, he gave a hoarse shout. The muscles of his neck tightened, as well as those of his arms, and she had to admire his strong chest with its light dusting of dark hair that trickled down past his navel and below to where they were joined.

She was amazed at such an intimate act, never dreaming that she would ever allow herself to be with anyone in this manner. It was a breach of everything she’d held dear—her privacy, her independence.

And yet…

As she watched Dominic take his pleasure and spill himself inside of her, then collapsing on top of her with heavy breaths, she thought it was the most magical thing she could have ever shared with someone. With him.

He lifted himself up on an elbow and looked down at her in concern. “Are you all right?”

She smiled. “I’m perfect.” And she realized she spoke the honest truth.

Dominic had meant to be gentler with her, but the sight of her luscious derriere and her dripping wet core had him losing his sanity more quickly than he’d anticipated.

Dear God, had any of his previous lovers showed the enthusiasm that she had shown him tonight? Or perhaps it was that none of the other women he’d bedded before could come close to comparing to Lexie. He was fascinated by every soft sound that she made, the nails that dug into his scalp, and the sweet release that had nearly caused him to ejaculate in his trousers .

He’d removed them in record time, unable to stop himself from taking her completely. The tip of his cock had instantly tingled and he had to grit his teeth to last as long as he had. And when he had finally allowed the release, it was the most powerful one he’d ever had before. He’d seen spots dance in his vision, his body threatening to pass out from the sheer intensity of it.

He was still vibrating in the aftermath, his cock fully satiated.

Rolling over to his side, he brought her with him until they were facing each other. Grabbing the coverlet at the foot of the bed, he brought it over them, knowing that now that their passions had cooled, so would their bodies.

Lifting his hand, he set the back of his knuckles against her jaw. “I didn’t hurt you?”

The smile had yet to leave her face, and his male pride wanted to applaud. “Not at all.”

“Good.” He released a breath and gathered her close in his arms.

They clung to each other for a time and then, as much as he hated to drag reality back into this moment, wanting to hold on to it for as long as he could, he realized that they were still facing a very real threat.

“I know this might not be the ideal time to discuss this, but I need to know how you got back to London.”

Some of the happiness fled from her expression and he had never hated himself more for being the cause of it. “You are right. We should talk.” She sat up and brought the coverlet up with her. He should have known that she might be feeling a little self-conscious about her nudity.

He got up and retrieved her chemise and handed it to her.

“Thank you.”

Slipping his trousers back on, Dominic decided this was for the best. He might be satisfied now, but he had no doubt that it wouldn’t take long for his cock to stir with interest once more at being this close to such a delectable woman as Lexie .

She sat with her knees bent, her arms hugging her legs, while Dominic lounged on the edge and waited patiently.

“Where to begin…” She clearly was conflicted about what to say.

“Hey. You can trust me.” He reached out and cupped her cheek. Rubbing his thumb along her lower lip, he found that words failed him, but he hoped that his gaze would portray whatever strength or support she might need to continue.

She covered his hand with hers. “I know. That’s why I’m here.” After drawing a deep breath, she said, “You already know that the earl paid me a visit this morning with a proposal of marriage.” She shook her head. “It is honestly hard to believe this all happened in one day.”

He nodded in understanding. “Go on.”

She kept hold of his hand as she said, “When I returned to the townhouse, I immediately instructed for my belongings to be packed and loaded onto the coach. Shortly after that, my aunt returned home, and as you can imagine, the conversation did not go well.” She frowned. “I can’t understand why she cannot accept that I chose you and not Lord Lindley.”

Dominic had his suspicions about that, but he said nothing. And he wouldn’t do so until they could be confirmed.

“She was so harsh, and I realized I was glad I was leaving, that I’d made the right choice.” She looked to the side, as if replaying the events in her mind. “What I never dreamed was that the coach would be stopped by Lord Lindley and a gang of bandits.”

He had to remove his hand because his fist suddenly tightened. “What did you say.” It wasn’t a question, but a demand, a statement of fact that he intended to react upon given the first opportunity.

“He said that my aunt was set on a match between us and no one else will do. He also said that he owed her everything and it was too late to disavow her wishes.”

“What else? ”

She shook her head. “We only talked for a few minutes in the carriage, and then the masked men with him started to drag me toward their horses. I knew that all would be lost if they took me, so I fought back.”

The terror that shot through Dominic at the image of her risking her life was not something he wanted to ponder for long.

“The Runner you’d sent with the driver yelled at me to run, so I did.” She closed her eyes momentarily. “I fear for what happened to them. They were outnumbered three to two.”

“Don’t fret about that. I only employ the best. They will have been victorious, of that you can be assured.”

“I hope so.” Her tone was soft, full of remorse, and Dominic had to admire her more for her selfless consideration of others. “I ran toward the forest and got lost in the woods. Thankfully, it was getting dark and by the time I stumbled across a cottage, I was hoping I hadn’t been followed. There was a widow there who took me in and took care of me for the night. This morning, she helped to secure a ride to London where I hired a hackney and made my way here.”

“I’m surprised you remembered how to get here,” he noted.

“Me too, truth be told.” She snorted. “And I’m glad I was able to find a loose window and climb inside with not too much effort.”

“A loose window?” he murmured. “And here I thought I was adequately secure in my hiding place.”

He was hoping to bring the smile back to her face with his teasing, and he was glad to see his ploy worked when her lips quirked with amusement. “That may be true, but you seem to forget that I am not without my cunning wiles.”

His nostrils flared. “Aye. I certainly know it now.”

His masculine pride flared at the rise of color on her cheeks, but then he recalled a very important detail he hadn’t yet shared with her. “Do you remember when I told you Lord Lindley had been speaking to a man at a seedy gaming hell? ”

“Yes.”

He was reluctant to relay this bit of information, but he knew it was imperative. “The man in question was found in the Thames. He’d been murdered. A knife right through the chest.”

Her jaw went slack and she visibly paled, but she kept her overall composure. “How do you… know?”

His mouth thinned into a tight line. “I saw the body at the morgue as well as gave strict instructions that it is not to be moved until I can discover who was responsible. He might be our only proof and it will still be difficult to point the finger of blame.”

She reached out and grasped his hand. Her eyes were blue pools of fear. “I don’t like this, Dominic. Whoever is threatening you is not above murder. The fact he nearly succeeded with you once already is frightening enough. Can’t we just run away together? I have heard that America is quite nice?—”

He put a finger against her lips. “As tempting as your offer is, I will not spend the rest of my life looking over my shoulder. I have to end this, and I will not flee like some coward. My honor would never allow it. I am the Duke of Cuthbert. You will be my duchess. We must set an example that we won’t be cowed, either to our peers or the commoners that live beyond the area of Mayfair some people prefer to focus their attentions on. If more people took a stand against injustice, then perhaps things would not be as bad as they are.”

She placed her palm against his slightly rough cheek. Tears swam in her vision. “I knew from the first moment I saw you that you were an honorable man.” She let her hand fall away. “But I cannot rest easy with us separated from each other. You have to let me stay in London. With you.”

He scrubbed a hand down his face. “You are putting me in a precarious position, and you in irrefutable danger. I’m not sure I can agree?—”

Her eyes flashed as she leaned closer to him and let the blanket fall away, exposing her breasts. He was captivated by their perfection and abruptly found that whatever they had been discussing was suddenly moot. When she laid a gentle hand on the front of his trousers, he found his mind was wiped clear of any memory at all. “I promise I will make it worth your while, Your Grace,” she purred.

He could feel his cock respond immediately. With his chest heaving, he glared at her. “I knew from the first moment I saw you that you were a devious vixen.” As more blood pooled in his manhood, he hissed through his teeth. “And thank God for it.”