Lord Valorous(35)

If she is able to ever care for herself again.

"Lady Carver is a wonderful woman, and will be just the person to deal with this," Poppy said. "W-was she very unwell?"

"Yes, very unwell."

Poppy's arms were wrapped around her body. Hamley had turned up the lamp and he could see she was chilled to the bone, her teeth chattering. Jacob pulled the blanket from beneath the seat and laid it over her.

"Thank you."

"You, madam, need to understand that when I issue an order, I expect it to be obeyed."

Her mouth pursed. "I do not take orders from you, my lord."

"Yes, you do," Jacob said, trying to keep his temper under control. For some reason, as soon as he had entered his carriage it had seemed to escalate, until it now encompassed his entire body. It seemed Poppy could achieve what not many had. She had pushed him one step too far. "You work for me, which suggests you do take my orders." 

"B-but not outside work hours!"

And suddenly he lost control. Reaching across the carriage, he grabbed her by the arms and hauled her onto his lap.

"My lord!"

He didn't speak, simply lifted her chin and kissed her. The first touch did nothing to ease the ache of need that had been smoldering inside him since this woman had come into his life, so he took more. He took her mouth deeper as he inhaled the scent that he'd only ever smelled on Poppy. She didn't fight him, instead her gloved hands went to his shoulders and held on.

"Stop me, Poppy." The words were dragged from Jacob as he lifted his mouth mere inches to look down at her. Her lashes fluttered up, and the heat and desire pushed him the last few feet into the abyss. His restraint was gone.

He wrenched off his gloves with his teeth, then lifted each of her hands and did the same. He then removed her bonnet and threw it on the seat beside him.

"My lord-"

"Jacob," he gritted out. "And I want to feel your hand on my skin, just as I want to touch you."

He took her mouth once more in a deep, searching kiss that had his head spinning, and Poppy making small sounds that hiked his passions further. He removed her scarf and worked the buttons of her coat free, and then slid a hand inside to touch her, feel the shape he had lusted after.

Jacob had fought his desire for this woman since he'd met her. Tried to rationalize this almost desperate need to get closer, but now, tonight, he had no more strength to do so.

He touched her neck, trailed his fingers softly over the chilled skin. So smooth. He placed his lips there.

"Oh, my lord."

"Jacob," he rasped. His head pounded, his body was hard with arousal, and every rational thought had fled. "Call me Jacob."

Her chin lifted and he kissed his way down the warm column of her neck.

"Touch me, Poppy." She shivered as his breath blew across the skin he had just kissed.

Tentatively at first, she opened the thick coat he wore and ran her hands up the front of his shirt. Jacob could never remember a woman's touch affecting him as Poppy's was. His skin was on fire.

Needing the soft weight of her breast in his hand, he tugged the bodice of her dress aside, and the worn fabric gave easily. Jacob shuddered as he cupped the full flesh, and the web of passion tightened further around him.

"Oh that feels wonderful, but I-I shouldn't-"

"Yes, you should," he rasped before taking her mouth again as she arched into his hand. He brushed his finger over her nipple and she moaned softly.





Poppy had never experienced passion. Not like this, with a man. But the feelings Jacob were creating inside her were beyond belief. She couldn't get close enough to him. His hand on her breast made her feel wanton. Suddenly every thought fled and there was only him, and now. Her body started to ache with need, and she could feel everything centering between her thighs. Pressing them together, she fought to quench the sensation, but it only intensified.

His chest felt hard beneath her fingers, and Poppy had the urge to explore each curve and muscle she encountered, but before she could, Jacob had moved lower, and suddenly his lips were on her breast.

"Oh my."

He cupped her, lifting her to his mouth, where he proceeded to lick her nipple and run long, hot sweeps of his tongue down her breast. It was beyond anything she had experienced before, and she never wanted it to stop.

"Jacob," Poppy sighed.

He lowered her onto the seat beneath him. His hands then lifted her skirt, stroking her legs through her stockings as he moved upward, and she could do nothing to stop him, only urge him on. The tension inside her was rising.