Wicked Nights With a Proper Lady(39)

I am still awaiting news of any illicit behavior at the most talked-about house party of every season. Having already mentioned oddities, I find it rather peculiar that no stories have emerged after nearly two weeks. Never fear, this writer will dig up some tale before the week concludes.

The Mayfair Chronicles, August 2, 1846

There must be something about being reckless that appealed to her. Could it be an inherited malady that made her act so impulsively and scandalously? Whatever it was, it had her up past the witching hour and searching for her lover under the cover of night once again.

She’d contemplated sleep as opposed to what she was about to commit to. But after tossing in her bed for the past two hours with a frenzied mind on what she should do, she’d been unable to resist the lure as the midnight hour approached.

As she slipped around another corner of the tall-hedged maze, she worked her way toward the fountain. She could just hear the trickling sound of water at the center.

She knew perfectly well that Leo had suggested they meet here because of its total seclusion and privacy from the main house. And unless someone else was meeting for an assignation out of doors, the night was theirs alone. Rounding the last corner, she came to a sudden halt on reaching her destination.

The overhead sky was clear and dotted with millions of little stars, bringing light to the dark enshrouded path around them.

Leo stood up from one of the granite benches that flanked the fountain, reminiscent of a powerful predator stalking his mate. She swallowed against the sudden dryness in her throat and dropped both hands anxiously at her sides. She almost couldn’t believe she was here, willing and ready to be seduced by him.

He wore dark trousers and loose shirtsleeves. She could see the dip at his throat and the hair sprinkled on his chest at the open vee. She wanted to press her face into all the strength and listen to the steady beat of his heart. The thought brought back memories of their past times, and of last night.

The closer he came, the more real the moment felt. She could make out the laugh lines around his eyes, the softness of his hair now that the pomade taming his loose curls had been washed away.

Her gaze slipped past his shoulder for a moment where she spied a basket and blanket. The very idea that he came well prepared for an evening of seduction made her smile.

“I wasn’t sure you would come after all your teasing and hinting otherwise.” The backs of his fingers caressed the underside of her jaw and cheek, drawing her attention solely to him.

“I almost didn’t.” Her voice was throaty, seductive even to her own ears. “This feels more dangerous than last time. I’m more afraid of being caught.”

His thumb stroked over her lower lip and his fingers lightly grazed over her cheek. “What made you change your mind?”

“I’m not precisely sure.”

His smile was magnetic and wicked and she found herself leaning closer so she could have a nibble at his lips.

“I’ll make this worth your having to sneak around and the sleeplessness to come.” He took her hand and led her farther into the lion’s den. “How do you feel about a nightcap?”

“What have you pilfered from the kitchen?”

“Only some strawberries.” That dashing smile of his was like a flash of welcome light in the pitch-black night. “The champagne I purloined from the wine cellar.”

“Was it your plan all along to make me tipsy so you could properly take advantage of me?” Not that she had any objections to this mad plan of his.

He released her hand and bid her to sit on the blanket-shrouded bench. The dribble of water from the fountain was calming and added a pleasant ambiance to the setting.

“Though I don’t think we need to imbibe in anything to go down the path we’re headed.” He popped the cork smoothly on the champagne bottle and poured out two glasses. Removing a bowl full of tiny field strawberries, he plucked the green ends off two and dropped them into each of their bubbling, fizzy drinks.

Taking a seat next to her on the bench, he tipped one glass to her lips and bid her to drink. “Does this meet with your approval?”

The coolness of the drink infused her mouth as the bubbles trickled down her throat. The strawberry added just the right amount of zest to the dry beverage.

He eyed her intently as he waited for her answer. All the while he swirled the strawberry in his champagne flute round and round.

She licked at her top lip suggestively before finally saying, “There can’t be anything more delicious.”

“I can think of a few things.” His gaze dropped to her mouth and trailed a hot path down the front of her peignoir. She felt his gaze like a heavy petting touch, and it heated her skin and had her heart pounding in her breast.

Oh, God, she craved his touch like never before. These last two nights felt so much different than all those years ago when they’d been young and in too much of a rush for a slow seduction. Much like wine, time seemed to make some things better.

Leo tipped his head back and took a sip from his glass, catching the little red berry on his tongue. She shamelessly watched his throat work as he swallowed the champagne.

Setting the glass down on the edge of the fountain, he wrapped one big hand around the nape of her neck and inched her forward on the bench. His mouth descended upon her parted lips, the berry from his drink he held tenderly between his teeth. Her eyes slid shut as their lips met and the strawberry was pushed into her mouth. She didn’t bite into it right away, but let it slide over her tongue and around his as though it were a game to capture the sweet morsel of fruit. As he pulled away, her teeth sank into the soft flesh of the berry.

Tongue sweeping out to lick off her lips, Leo swooped back in for another taste. Though gentle and still playful, this kiss felt more demanding as their tongues tangled.

She wanted to wrap her arms around his neck, pull him closer, and never let him go. He must have had the same thoughts for he plucked the glass from between her lax fingers and settled it next to his on the edge of the fountain.

“I want to taste every inch of you again, Genny.”

Too afraid to express just how much she desired him in equal measure, she pulled loose the satin ribbon that cinched her peignoir tightly at her rib cage. Leo watched the material separate, and when it caught at the top swell of her breast, he pulled at the strands and slipped the soft muslin from her shoulders.

She shivered as the night air brushed the fine hair along her forearms. Leo ran the palms of his hands down them as if to warm her, but she was shivering for an entirely different reason than the cool breeze that wrapped around them.

Unable to resist any longer, she reached forward to pull the tails of his shirt free from his trousers. Though they’d been intimate yesterday, this still felt new. A lot had changed over the years for them. They were essentially the same people … yet different. And so much remained to be explored of each other.

Leo pulled away before she could hike the obtrusive material of his shirt over his head. “We have all evening, and I promised to take this slowly.”

“Not to me, you didn’t.”

His chuckled before standing from the bench to retrieve their drinks. Was he attempting to keep a safe distance? Trying to tamp down his attraction so he wouldn’t pounce like she thought he would have done only a moment ago? Oh, she really wanted him to seize and lay claim to her, body and soul.

“I asked you to come here not only to spend the night with me, but so we could talk privately without being overheard.”

“What is it you wish to discuss?” She held out her hand to him in invitation. “Leo, come back and keep me warm.”

He handed her glass back to her and topped up both flutes. “What happens after this?”

Genny tipped back the rest of the contents in her glass and held it out for Leo to top it up with more. “Why the champagne and strawberries if you don’t wish to seduce me? Is this part of your plan … your game? Do you want to lead on the hapless chaperone? Ruin me in society’s eyes for some sort of wager?”

“God, no.” He swept his hand through his hair in agitation. “Don’t be ridiculous, Genny. I only want to discuss what the outcome of the house party will be. I want to know your expectations. It was wrong of me to not ask you the first time after we made love, and I’ll not repeat that mistake.”

Was he rethinking his earlier sentiments of a more permanent attachment? Had she read him wrong last night, or had she misunderstood his meaning? “I’m a little savvier than I used to be and understand a great deal more about these types of affairs. We can cut our ties when we head back to Town. Just as we did in the past if that is what you wish.” Genny couldn’t help but take a huge swallow of the champagne before delivering the rest of her short speech. “I’ll not force or trap you into a marriage you do not want.”

“And if I don’t want to leave?”

She shut her mouth with an almost audible snap and tilted her head to the side in question. “What exactly do you want from me?”

“The only thing I know with certainty is that this isn’t the same as it was four years ago.”

And wasn’t that the truth. She was going in with both eyes wide open this time, and she still wanted something more, even though by all appearances this was only an affair.