Page 16 of The Wayward Lady (The Wayward Widows of Willoughby Hall #1)

T hey reached Barcelona the next afternoon. As they gathered their things, Lavender gave one last longing look around their private train compartment. She was excited for what the day would bring but also reluctant to be leaving the wonderful little cocoon of peace and passion they’d created together.

By tomorrow, they would hopefully have found Miranda. She wanted that for Kendrick more than anything, but she also had no idea how that was going to affect their relationship. At the very least, as he’d pointed out, they wouldn’t have the chance to be intimate again on the way home.

She shook herself, ashamed. That was a very small price to pay to have his daughter safely with him once again.

“What are you thinking?” Kendrick asked as they turned to disembark the train.

"I'm a little sad to leave our private little oasis," Lavender admitted, her eyes softening as she glanced at the cozy compartment. "It was like our own little world, just the two of us."

“I enjoyed it as well,” he assured her as they stepped off the train and onto solid ground once more. “But I guess all good things must come to an end.”

That’s exactly what she was afraid of. She didn’t want this to end. She didn’t want any of it to end. She bit her lip and followed him toward the station exit, trying not to read too much into his words.

Fortunately, her senses were soon awash with new sights, smells, and sounds, distracting her from her momentary bleak thoughts. The city of Barcelona seemed to welcome them with open arms. The vibrant colors, bustling streets, and sweet aroma of local delicacies were a world apart from the quiet solitude of their train ride.

They checked into a quaint inn, and once again, they got a suite with two bedrooms, as he’d hopefully be returning with Miranda tomorrow. The guest rooms were quaint and comfortable, and the garden in the back was breathtakingly beautiful, with vibrant blossoms as big as dinner plates. Their private water closet had hot and cold running water, so when their baggage arrived, Lavender decided she would take a bath.

“I’m going to bathe and change before we go exploring,” Lavender told Kendrick, taking that opportunity to go to her room and close the door, collapsing on the bed. The last three days had passed in a blur, and she was a little bit overwhelmed by it all. It felt nice to be alone for a few moments to let her emotions show. Kendrick had been with her every moment, and as much as she’d loved that, she’d gotten used to being alone and able to say and do whatever she wanted.

Her friends kept asking her why she had any interest in having a man in her life now that they had all gained so much independence. She knew what they were saying, and this moment really encapsulated that, but she wouldn’t give up the time she’d spent with Kendrick since leaving Kent for anything. Was it possible to have both? A man she loved and a life where she was more than just a part of his?

She would like to believe that there was. Kendrick was nothing like Geoffrey. He actually listened to her and seemed to value her for who she really was instead of insisting that she become what he wanted her to be.

She sighed and stood up, gathering a fresh gown, underthings, and toiletries. Then she went to the bathroom and started running the hot water. She slowly stripped off the clothes she had worn on the train, smiling a bit when she remembered how daring she’d been when she’d taken it off for him. With a sigh, she sank into the hot water, pouring a little lavender oil in with her since he had said he loved the scent.

She let the warmth sink into her bones, soothing away the aches and twinges the last few days had brought. As she did so, her worries faded as well.

There was no rush to decide any of this. He hadn’t indicated that he wanted to marry her. In fact, he hadn’t really mentioned the future at all. Why was she so worked up about an outcome that might never occur? He was still dealing with Isabella’s death and the realization that he was finally free.

The last thing she wanted was to make him feel pressured in any way. Besides, for the next few months, she was certain he would have his hands full with rebuilding his relationship with Miranda.

She wet a washcloth and brought it to her face, scrubbing the travel from her skin as she stared at her reflection in the mirror on the opposite wall. She looked happier than she had in a very long time, her cheeks glowing and her eyes sparkling. He was good for her, she decided. No matter what the future held, she wanted to wring as much happiness as she could out of this journey.

She didn’t exit the tub until the water cooled, and she took her time getting dressed. She wore a deep purple gown and took extra time with her hair, sweeping it up into a fancy chignon. When she was done, she gave her mirrored reflection the most confident smile she could muster.

Kendrick knocked softly on the door, interrupting her thoughts. “Lavender? Are you almost ready? It will be dark soon.”

“Yes, just a minute,” she called, loving the hominess of the interaction. She hurriedly finished the last few touches and met him in the sitting room.

His gaze swept her from head to toe, and there was no mistaking the appreciation in his eyes. “You take my breath away,” he said simply.

“Shall we explore?” she ventured, taking in how handsome he was in a fresh shirt and jacket, his dark hair freshly combed.

“Lead the way,” he replied, and there was something new in his tone, a depth that reverberated through her, setting her nerves alight.

They walked side by side through winding streets, their shoulders brushing intermittently, sending sparks of awareness cascading down Lavender’s spine. Kendrick’s hand brushed hers, a caress that lingered just a moment too long, charged with electricity. She caught his gaze, dark and fathomless, and felt as if she were teetering on the brink of an abyss.

“Look!” Kendrick’s voice cut through the thick air, gesturing toward a tree bursting with large orange blooms. “It’s a Royal Poinciana. Gorgeous, isn’t it? I’d love to grow one, but the climate in Kent wouldn’t allow it.”

“It’s magnificent,” she breathed, but she wasn’t looking at the flowers. Her eyes were locked with his, and in them, she saw the reflection of her own yearning. And she knew that yearning was for more than just the physical aspect of their relationship. She thought he had enjoyed the quiet moments when they’d curled up together and whiled away the hours talking just as much as she had.

For a long time, they simply walked around the city, holding hands and pointing out interesting things to each other, but at last, their rumbling stomachs forced them to look for a restaurant.

They found a quaint local cafe, the scent of garlic and olive oil wafting through the air. The walls were adorned with intricate tapestries, and soft lights hung from beams overhead. As they ate, they chatted about inconsequential things. Lavender made sure to steer the conversation away from Miranda as much as she could, not wanting to dampen the mood or put unnecessary stress on Kendrick.

She knew that he must be very worried about what tomorrow would bring. If he’d brought it up himself, she’d have tried to ease his fears, but she was relieved when he didn’t. She couldn’t imagine how badly it would destroy him if they’d come all this way just to find out that Genevieve’s information had been wrong.

After dinner, they strolled arm in arm back to their inn, stopping briefly in an empty courtyard to share a passionate kiss. She couldn’t believe she was kissing a man in a courtyard in Barcelona. Never in her life had she imagined such an adventure. Or that a man would desire her enough to kiss her in public.

“Kendrick...” Lavender breathed, but she didn’t know what she was asking for. She trembled when his fingers traced the line of her jaw.

She gasped against his mouth, her hands finding the solid warmth of his chest, then winding into the softness of his hair. He hugged her tightly, and she was shocked to realize that his embrace was starting to feel like home to her, even though they were a world away from everything she’d ever known.

“Let’s go back to our hotel,” he breathed near her ear. “I need you.”

“I need you too,” she replied, feeling dizzy with longing.

Somehow, they made it back to the inn, and he led her through the sitting room and into his room, pushing her gently down on the large bed. Holding her gaze, he slowly stripped off his clothes. She propped herself up on her elbows, enjoying the show with wicked delight. His body was so beautiful to her, so rugged and strong from the hard physical work he did in his garden. Most men of the aristocracy were pale and soft. She didn’t think a single other man of her acquaintance was built this way, his body long and lean and hard with muscle. She loved the neat trail of dark hair that dusted the area between his flat male nipples and then narrowed to a thin line that trailed all the way to...

She wasn’t even really sure what she should call that part of him. She knew that the technical term was penis from a book of anatomy she’d perused before her marriage, but she didn’t like the way that word sounded. She’d heard other dirtier words over the years, but she wanted to know what he called it.

As he kicked out of his trousers, she sat up and lightly ran her fingertips across his hard length, biting her lip. “What do you call this?” she asked him.

He gave her a wry smile though his eyes were already wild with desire. “There are many words for it.”

“I know,” she murmured, heat rushing to her cheeks. She didn’t want him to think she was completely na?ve. She had been married for many years, after all. “I just want to know your own word for it.”

“If I tell you, will you ask me for it?” he asked, his smile fading and his voice growing rough. To her surprise, she realized that her question had excited him.

She nodded slowly, feeling more daring than she ever had in her life. “Yes, Kendrick. Tell me what you call it, and I’ll beg you to put it inside me.” She tightened her hand around him, stroking him from base to tip as she spoke.

He moaned and closed his eyes for a moment as though praying for strength. “My cock,” he finally managed. “That’s the word I like.”

“Cock,” she whispered, liking the way it sounded, a little dirty, a lot sexy. “Tell me, my darling, what would you like me to do with your cock?” She couldn’t believe she’d had the courage to ask such a thing, but he’d shown her so much the last few days. She was certain there were things he liked that she’d never even imagined.

“I...” He swallowed thickly. “There’s something I’ve heard of but never tried, and if you don’t want to...”

“Tell me,” she breathed, hoping that it was something she could manage.

Taking her hand, he brought it to his lips and put her index finger into his warm mouth, sucking on it briefly before pulling it out. “Do you remember the way I put my mouth on you that first night?” he asked, his excitement palpable. “I’ve heard that sometimes women will do that to a man.”

When she realized what he was asking, her cheeks flamed even hotter. Surely not. But she looked at his flushed face and knew he wanted it desperately. It seemed shocking, but then she could say that about nearly everything that had passed between them in the past few days.

How could she possibly refuse him after all the pleasure he’d given her?

Taking her hesitation for disgust, he cleared his throat, looking abashed. “I’m sorry,” he told her hoarsely. “I shouldn’t have asked that of you.”

“No,” she hastened to reassure him. “The first night we were together, you asked me what I liked. I didn’t know because I’d never really tried anything. But if you’d like to try this, I will do my best.”

“Lavender,” he breathed, tenderly cupping her cheek. “Don’t do it if you don’t want to.”

“How will I know whether I like it if I don’t try?” She frowned suddenly. “Did you like it when you did it for me?”

“More than anything,” he hastened to assure her. “You tasted like heaven.”

She gave him a weak smile. “Well, I’m sure you will as well.”

He pulled her to her feet and then took a few steps back. “I think it will work best if you get on your knees,” he told her, and she loved the edge in his voice.

Her heart thundering in her chest, she did as he asked, licking her lips as she stared at the hefty girth of his... cock. As she continued to hesitate, he placed one hand on top of her head.

“There’s no wrong way,” he said thickly. “I’ll love anything you do. Just don’t... bite.”

She stifled a laugh at that, but his small joke gave her the courage she needed. Leaning forward, she ran her tongue across the bulbous head, eliciting a deep moan from Kendrick.

He tasted slightly salty but also clean, and she found she didn’t dislike it at all. Remembering what he’d done with her finger, she tried to mimic it, but he was far larger than her finger, and it was more difficult than she’d thought it would be. However, given the sounds he was making, she guessed that he was enjoying her attempts.

Since she couldn’t fit the length of him fully in her mouth, she wrapped her hand around the base of him, stroking him the way she had before, and he seemed to like the combination even more.

“Someday, I want to come in your mouth,” he said, breaking away and pulling her to her feet, then tossing her on the bed and following her down, bunching up her skirts, his chest heaving. “But right now, I just need to be inside your perfect little quim.”

Within moments, he had seated himself deep within her, and she gasped at the fullness. She was somewhat disheartened that he hadn’t let her finish, but the look on his face told her that maybe it had been almost too good for him. She loved that he wanted to ensure she was pleasured as well, though she made a mental note to ask her friends what they knew about that act.

But all thoughts of the future quickly evaporated, and all she could think of was this moment and this man, whom she feared she would love for the rest of her life, no matter how he felt about her. The pleasure built and built within her until it finally crested and shattered within her, turning her world upside down.

When she finally came back to herself, Kendrick pressed a gentle kiss to her forehead and once again pulled her into the circle of his arms.

“Thank you,” he breathed.

She snuggled close, burying her face against his broad chest, wishing she didn’t feel as though this was the last time he’d ever hold her this way.