by Chera Zade
She should be blushing, and surely she felt a flush of heat stealing over her face and chest, but the curious thing was that it wasn’t embarrassment. It was a very pleasurable heat, a heat that licked its way through her, all the way down to those very intimate places... the intimate places that Lord Carrington had teased open with his incredibly naughty tongue.
She didn’t look down at her feet, she held her head high... holding it with pride. She was a desirable woman. Odd that it had taken being stripped down to her skin in front of a roomful of Rakes to discover that, but oh, it was a discovery to savor.
Her awareness of her body, of her raw, sensual power was heady- their mouths gaping open, conversations left dangling, while their masculinity rose to meet her cool, magisterial gaze.
Chapter 27
Lord Carrington
Standish had been quite clear about the terms- Miss Hall was there as a statue only. But when he closed his eyes, she was no longer a wench posing on a pedestal in the Infernalis Club. No, she was a study in moonlight, alabaster skin barely covered by thin nightclothes, despite her height still tipping her mouth up to his.
He opened his eyes. Surely it was only his imagination. He was seeing what he wanted to see- the chance not taken and then regretted— surely it was impossible that the girl he had met at midnight in the shrubbery at Groton Park could have become a scullery maid at The Infernalis Club.
She had never told him her name that night. Had she been part of the Shreve family after all? It was impossible to believe that one of Mr. and Mrs. Shreve's pious daughters had run away to become a scullery maid. Not to mention that he would have heard of the scandal.
But, what if she wasn’t a scullery maid after all? Wasn't living at the club after all? Standish— what words had he used? He had called her a maid, but had that meant that she was a servant, or was that a reference to her virginity?
And that was another oddity— she certainly seemed keen for more, yet Standish was deliberately restricting her. And since when had Standish been such a proponent of matrimony?
Well, there was only one way to be certain. He would need to follow her at the end of the night.
Chapter 28
Gillian
The hardest part was keeping still while her body tingled with this new found knowledge, this new found power. There was no question at all that they were attracted to her, affected by her.
Even Lord Standish signaled his appreciation, as he helped her down from her pedestal of a brief break.
“Nicely done, he said looking her over. You’ve done a lovely job torturing them.”
“Them?”
“Torturing us all.”
“I doubt that was the—“
“Oh, don’t doubt anything with Standish.”
“Indeed,” Lord Standish said. “A bit of suffering makes everything sweeter. And speaking of sweetness, you’ll need to have Lettie apply more of the rice paste.”
“Are you certain, My Lord?” She asked, examining her limbs and torso. “Everything seems to still be—“
“A bit lower, my sweet,” Lord Carrington said, his voice becoming thick.
“A few streaks on your inner thigh,” Lord Standish explained. A natural consequence when a lady is enjoying herself.
“Or a wench,” Lord Carrington added cheerfully. “Seeing as how the paste needs to be reapplied anyway—“ he gave her a suggestive glance, and they both turned to look at Lord Standish.
“Seeking my permission for something, Carrington? If you’ve suddenly acquired a taste for rice paste, I don’t suppose I’d object to you taking a small repast. Just as long as it was quite clear what dishes were being offered up for consumption, and which ones aren’t on the menu.”
Lord Carrington groaned, but nodded, bowing down to her. “If we might go somewhere where such a feast can properly commence--”
“Why I had no idea you had such a fondness for rice paste,” she teased him.
“Oh, you’re about to discover the depths of my fondness.”
Lord Standish raised an eyebrow.
“Subject to the previously agreed on limitations... as unwelcome as they might be,” Lord Carrington clarified.
Chapter 29
Gillian
She expected Lord Carrington to take her somewhere private, but instead he led her to a long chaise.
“Yes, I’m going to lustily devour you in front of everyone. You’re absolutely breathtaking, my beauty. And I want everyone to see just how beautiful you are, and how lucky I am to be permitted to taste you deep within your—“
If he had meant to continue the thought, his mouth had other plans, other intentions that went beyond forming words. His tongue already assigned somewhere else, his hands holding her legs open as he licked the fleshy pink line on her thigh, the line where the dripping wetness from her own body had marred the marble effect.
“Not quite statuesque,” she moaned, as his lips brushed against her inner thigh.
“Better than that,”he said, looking up at her. “You’ve a warm heart, a rapid pulse, and a heated--”
“And a heated—“
But his face had lowered again. Only this time, he wasn’t looking at her thigh.
She could hear him inhale, and then hold the breath, seizing the scent of her for as long as he could, before his lungs rebelled. But his will was stronger, breathing her in one powerful breath after another, her most intimate scent.
She was hard-pressed to decide which was more thrilling- standing as a statue before a transfixed, aroused audience, or being appraised so intimately, so viscerally, and yet also publicly. But she didn’t have to decide, for his tongue, his firm, wet, knowing tongue took a taste of her, and she cried out, head thrust back, hips pushed upward, a wanton, desperate pose, a pose that offered up all sorts of delights to his mouth and to all of her senses.
Chapter 30
Gillian
It was quite late when she said her goodbyes, Lord Standish himself helping her into an unmarked carriage for her return home.
Tired, yet still brimming with excitement, she had so many thoughts running through her mind that she failed to notice that another carriage was following close behind.
With due care, she entered Shreve House and made her way to her attic bedchamber.
She had just put on her nightdress, when the door swung open behind her.
“Well, it seems I’ve finally paid off the right servant. And unless my eyes deceive me, you’re wearing my favorite nightdress,” Lord Carrington said, his large frame taking up much of the small room.
“There's something I need to ask you,” he said, kneeling down before her, his voice deep and serious, as he took her hand in his.
“There's something I need to ask you, as well. Or ask of you,” Gillian said, her voice sensuous and teasing as she lifted their hands up, kissed his, and then boldly placed it against her breast.
He shook his head. “Don't my love. I'm currently fighting every impulse that I have.”
“Am I truly your love?”
“With every fiber of my being.”
“Then don't fight your impulses,” she told him. “indulge them.”
“You realize this means that you will no longer be a maiden afterward.”
“Yes. A natural consequence.”
“And you are aware that there could be other natural consequences?”
She nodded.
“Then I think it is long past time that we do away with your maidenhead. Come, my darling, come with your legs wrapped around me, and let me fill your body with my love.”
“I want that more than anything.”
“Good. But first I want this,” he said, his lips crashing down against her own in a forceful, passionate kiss.
She could barely breathe, overpowered by him, and yet she wanted to stay like this forever, melting in his arms, surrendering her mind, her heart and her body to this incredible man.
He carried her to the bed like that, lyin
g down with her without breaking their embrace, without stopping their kisses. His lips were still attached to hers, his tongue entwined with her own, as he parted her legs and drew back, aiming between them. He pierced her quickly, his cock driving past her maidenhead with considerable strength. If she cried out, he swallowed it in his kiss, refusing to relinquish her mouth as he claimed her, his body rocking against hers with one powerful thrust after another, opening her to forbidden pleasures.
She writhed under him, responding to his dominance, responding to the wonderful way that his cock took her body, claiming her as his.
He held her tightly, and she gripped him as hard as she could, her fingers leaving marks on his arms and shoulders as she tried to hold him as close as she possibly could.
He was as far deep inside her as her body could take, moaning as each thrust jolted her to her core.
Scratching her way against his back, she shook with pleasure, calling out his name with lusty abandon.
“Gillian, my love,” he moaned, right before erupting inside her, the powerful rush of his seed filling her completely.
Chapter 31
Gillian
She lay there in his arms, as he continued to kiss her, her body continuing to shiver in delight.
“Ah, you aren't done yet, my naughty darling,” he said, his voice full of admiration as he slid one hand between her legs. Her little pearl was no longer little- full and swollen with desire- desire that he met with each caress of his fingers as he coaxed her further and further along until her body was beset by the sweetest madness- arching on its own, her mouth open and gasping, her words saucy, her words begging, her words demanding more.
He smiled, a proud, pleased smile as he watched her writhing to his touch.
Her face and body were flushed, and her eyes were glazed with lust. “Please,” she cried out, “please.”
“Does my darling want another fucking?” He asked her as he teased her breast.
She nodded. “Oh, yes, please.”
He shook his head. “I think anyone who can appear naked before the entire Infernalis Club ought to be able to say the naughty words, don't you?”
“If my Aunt heard, I'd get my mouth washed out with soap.”
“If your Aunt heard you asking me for a fucking, I'd say that would be a rather mild response. But I don't wish to think of her right now darling. Bring us back to what we were doing.”
“He doesn't seem like he's been distracted in the least,” she said, sliding her hand over the hard length of him. “He seems quite ready.”
“Ready to do what?”
“To go inside me again. To-- to fuck me. To fill me with your- ah-” she cried out as he moved, positioning himself over her, his considerable erection already aimed at that special, wondrous place of hers. She was still tender from before, tender from being opened and stretched for the first time, but her desire for the act overrode any delicacies she might have. She moaned as he entered her- just as hard and fast as before, no, harder, for he had already had a taste of her, and it seemed his appetite had only grown.
Fierce thrusts left her moaning, special, amorous moans that came from somewhere very deep inside her as she gave herself up to his plunder, needing to feel fully taken, fully claimed by him.
And Lord Carrington did not disappoint, driving her to the brink, only to pull back and begin again, as she wept from the most joyous frustration she had ever known.
It was not enough for him to take her cunny, he took her breasts as well, feasting on them until the nipple ends grew red and almost too sensitive to touch, his tongue laving them to harder and harder points until something powerful contracted inside her, her body jolting beyond her control.
He relinquished her breast only long enough to praise her as her eyes rolled back, and then, once again latching on, he mouthed her breast to the rhythm of his thrusts, his cock pounding deeply inside her until they both moaned together, a loud, sensual explosion of everything they had built together, as they crashed through it all, only to tumble down hard against her mattress, her bed creaking with every exertion.
Chapter 32
He was still inside her, kissing her deeply when they heard heavy footfalls approach- the sound of someone running to the bedchamber door.
Her eyes widened in fear.
He sprang out of bed and made for the door, but it was too late- the door had not been locked, and now it swung open. If not for the placement of her wardrobe, the door would have banged into him.
He was now behind the door, as a cold, angry voice bellowed out.
“In my house? Look at you, with the covers pulled to your shoulders. You think I don't know what you just did, you little harlot?” The voice spat out each angry word. “After everything we did for you! Well, you'll live to regret this when you're out on the street, you ungrateful strumpet.”
“Oh, please, Aunt,” she begged. “Please do not throw me out.”
“As if I would keep a bit of baggage like you under the same roof as my pious, worthy daughters. You and whatever stablehand or servant you encouraged can fend for yourselves.”
“I'm afraid there will be no fending for herself, and no cavorting with stablehands or servants. Or, at least there shall be no such cavorting without obtaining my permission,” he said, steeping out from behind the door.
Her aunt shrieked.
“Really? That isn't the usual response that I get when a lady is so fortunate as to view me sans clothing. Unless it is this slipper you object to,” he said, indicating the lone slipper in his hand, the one that he was holding over his more choice parts in an attempt to shield them. Owing to his size, the slipper was not nearly as effective a shield as a wide brimmed hat would have been, but it was all he had to work with.
She shrieked again. “I shall have the servants throw you both onto the street.”
“But what a silly use for them,” he said. “And quite unnecessary. I have no use for your servants as I have more than enough of my own. And as for the street, we shall only be on it long enough to enter my carriage. And from there, Gillian and I shall be going home.”
“As your filthy little strumpet!” Mrs. Shreve yelled.
“As my lovely wife. Although Gillian is also welcome to act as my filthy little strumpet whenever she feels the urge,” he said, turning from Gillian's irate aunt to Gillian herself. “Does that sound amenable to you, my darling?”
He was asking her to marry him? It was what here dreams were made on. Although under the circumstances, she was not without concerns. “I cannot marry you if that goes against your inclinations. I do not want you to feel trapped into marriage with me.”
“Not trapped at all,” he grinned. “I had been in the process of asking for your hand earlier.”
“You had?”
“If you recall, I had been on bended knee. I was preparing to ask the question when you distracted me. And then we were off to the races, anticipating our vows.”
“You will both leave my house immediately,” her Aunt said. “Or as immediately as you both dress. You've already visited enough scandal upon my home, Mr. ---”
“Oh, not a mister at all. Do you not recognize me? And should you encounter my wife at any point in the future, do please remember to refer to her as Countess Carrington. Anything else would be an insult to a lady of rank.”
“A Countess? Gillian? Impossible.”
“Quite possible as soon as the ceremony takes place. If I can't obtain a special license fast enough to suit my tastes, then we will be bound for the Scottish boarder.”
“Did she beguile you with stories about a large dowry? She has none,” Mrs. Shreve sneered.
“Quite fortunately, no dowry is needed- I'm free to marry for love. And, I am able to make ample settlements as well. Now, if you'll excuse us, our carriage awaits.”
And then, disregarding his own nudity, he wrapped Gillian up in her blankets, and carried his bride to be out of her attic bedroom, and to their waiting carriage.
It was a move out of a fairy tale. A debauched fairy tale, but nonetheless a fairy tale romance.
Chapter 33- Epilogue
Lord Carrington and Miss Halliday wed three days later by special license.
From time to time, Gillian resumes her role as a living statue at the Infernalis Club. And then, when she and her husband can no longer keep their hands from each other, the Carringtons retire to one of the Club's specially appointed bedrooms, where they might not reappear from for several days. From the creaking of the bed, and the accompanying moans, it is obvious to all that their passion for each other has continued to increase with time.
It has also become obvious that Lady Carrington has been increasing as well, a natural consequence of frequently indulged passions.
The Carringtons are looking forward to welcoming their wonderful new addition in several months time.
-finis-
I hope you enjoyed Statuesque, the latest book in the Infernalis Club series. Please take a moment to leave an opinion about this book! Readers really rely on reviews and your opinion can help others decide on future purchases. Make sure your vote counts!
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