"I want to touch you, Poppy."
He lifted his head from her breast, and the fire in his eyes held her speechless. Gone was the calm, sophisticated lord, and in his place was this man. The savage need in his gaze had her nodding.
As he moved to the other breast, his fingers reached the top of her thigh and moved inwards, stroking the soft curls, and then lower, to touch her secret places. She should stop him, a small voice inside her head cried. He would stop if she asked, but Poppy could not form the words, as all that wonderful tension was building inside her.
He rubbed the small, hard nubbin between her thighs and Poppy's body went rigid as the sensations inside her spiraled out of control. His fingers then slid inside her, and she could think no more as wave upon wave of ecstasy hit her hard.
Poppy could hear sounds, and knew they were coming from her lips, but could do nothing to stop them.
"God, you're beautiful." The guttural words had her opening her eyes. Jacob was poised above her. Poppy reached for him, cupping his neck and bringing his mouth to hers for a long, searching kiss.
She felt the hardness pressed to her thigh. "Take me," she whispered, well aware what it was. Poppy knew what transpired between a man and a woman, the brothel had taught her that. "Please, Jacob, I want it now."
"I-I don't think-"
"Don't think," Poppy whispered, touching the waistband of his breeches.
His movements were quick, and seconds later she felt him at her entrance, the hot throb of his desire for her.
"There will be pain."
"I don't care." Poppy arched as he entered her, easing deep inside. There was pain, and she stiffened. Jacob kissed her. Soft, sweet kisses that left her reeling, and only when the tension inside her eased did he start to move, sliding in and out of Poppy, creating delicious tension.
She had overheard two of the girls at Miss Saffron's discussing the pleasure a man and woman could have together, but that it was a rare thing to experience. This, Poppy realized, was what they spoke of.
"Poppy, tell me you are not in pain."
She touched the rigid line of his clenched jaw. "I am not in pain."
There was discomfort, but the pleasure soon overrode that, and then she felt it again, that wonderful pressure building inside her.
His breathing was ragged like hers, and cocooned in the carriage, there was only them. Jacob and Poppy, and the wonderful sensation he was creating once more inside her.
"Let go for me now, Poppy."
"Yes!" She cried out the word as the tension climaxed. Jacob called out her name, and then he slumped down on top of her. She felt his heartbeat thud hard in his chest against hers.
Poppy did not mind his weight; in fact, it felt wonderful. Her arms circled him, but as she touched his hair, he rose.
"Are you all right, Poppy?"
She looked at him and felt her smile fall away as he moved off her. His face was suddenly closed and cold. Gone was the man who had been consumed with passion moments before, and Poppy wondered how something that had seemed so right and magical suddenly felt so very wrong. Misgivings crowded in on her as the stark reality of what she had done hit.
"I am." Poppy quickly sat up. She brushed down her skirts and then rearranged her bodice. "And you, my lord?" Please smile at me. Please give me some hope that what we did was not wrong and meant more to you than … what? A tumble with a willing woman?
"Forgive me, it was unpardonable to act as I did."
She felt cold inside, as if her heart had suddenly been encased in ice. "Why did you?" Poppy asked as she began to button up her coat. Her fingers shook, but she would not let her fears show.
"Let me help you."
She brushed his hands aside. "I can dress myself, Lord Hatherton, and have been doing so for many years."
"I wanted you, Poppy." He sat once again across from her. "I rarely lose control, but in this instance I could not stop myself, and for that I apologize."
"Just like the kisses?" Poppy managed to put some strength in her words.
"No, this was not like the kisses. This was more than that, but … ." His words trailed off, and with them her hopes. "I wish now to make amends for my behavior. I had no right to take your innocence."
The sense of foreboding inside Poppy increased. She did not know what she had expected. Perhaps to be held in his arms? For him to speak soft, sweet words to her? To believe there may be a future for them together? Her as Lady Hatherton? Looking at his face, she realized that yes, she had been a gullible fool. Now that reality had returned, Poppy understood just what she had done and with whom. He was a lord, and she a nobody. There could be no outcome from what had just transpired other than for him to walk away from her and not look back. She had allowed emotion to rule her head, and had given away her innocence.