Scandals of Lustful Ladies: A Historical Regency Romance Collection

by Meghan Sloan

  Cassandra froze, her breath catching. For a moment, Gabriel thought she was going to push him away. But then she was lifting her leg to curl it around his, tugging him closer.

  “Kiss me, Gabriel,” she whispered as she tugged his head up. “Please.”

  Please. He had a beautiful woman in his arms and she was begging for him. Gabriel didn’t think Cassandra had begged for anything in her life. How could he turn down that type of request?

  Pressing Cassandra against the door, Gabriel took her mouth again as he slid his hand over her hip and between her legs. He groaned when he felt how wet her core was, how responsive Cassandra was when he brushed his fingers through her soft curls. She seemed to be trying to climb up him, her hips tilting towards his hand.

  You shouldn’t be doing this. She’s meant to be your brother’s woman.

  That did sober Gabriel for a brief moment. Cassandra was meant to be courting Percy. He wasn’t supposed to be pawing her like a starving man. Gabriel knew he shouldn’t have gone into the office alone; being alone with this woman was not a good idea. His self-control rapidly went out the window.

  He should pull back and stop. But he couldn’t. Not just yet.

  Not until he made her say his name while she came apart in his arms.

  Growling, Gabriel thrust a finger into her. Cassandra gasped into his mouth, her muscles clamping down on his finger. God, she felt so good. So warm. Gabriel pumped his finger inside her, feeling Cassandra’s whole body tighten up as she wrapped her leg around his waist, swallowing her cries with his mouth. He couldn’t get enough of the sounds coming from her. If he ever got her where they would not be disturbed, Gabriel would happily make her scream.

  That will be Percy’s job in future. Not yours.

  That had Gabriel freezing. Common sense was finally working. And it washed over him like someone had thrown a bucket of water over him. He pulled back, reluctantly pulling his hand away from her heat and easing Cassandra back onto her feet before stepping back.

  The blood was pounding around his head, and Gabriel knew he was shaking. He should not be doing this. No matter how much he wanted her, he shouldn’t be touching her like this. She was Percy’s girl.

  Percy. His brother didn’t deserve this.

  You don’t deserve her.

  “Gabriel?”

  Cassandra was staring at him with a frown. The fog of sexual arousal was fading away and now she was looking confused. With her hair in a rumpled mess and the shoulder of her dress having slipped off, she looked like a wanton angel. Gabriel wanted to take her back into his arms and explore that body. Taste every part.

  But he couldn’t. He shouldn’t. If Percy found out…

  He had to remember what he was doing. Now was not the time to think about his own urges. Percy would never forgive him if he knew what had just gone on.

  Swallowing hard, Gabriel stepped around her, and managed to open the door. Cassandra stepped aside as the door nearly knocked her over, and Gabriel darted out into the hallway. He could hear Cassandra calling after him, but he didn’t turn around. If he did, he would be going back into that office and locking the door. That was not going to happen.

  Even if it killed him to walk away from the woman who had taken his heart.

  Chapter 17

  “You mean he took advantage of you when you were alone?” Emily gasped.

  “Keep your voice down!” Cassandra hissed. “I don’t want everyone to know!”

  “I...what…” Emily stared at her friend. “He...he took advantage and then he just walked out?”

  Cassandra winced. They were alone, down the far end of the garden, but Cassandra still felt like there were people listening in. And she certainly did not want anyone to know what had happened the day before with her and Gabriel in her father’s office.

  It had been on her mind ever since Gabriel had practically run out of the room like he was afraid of being set on fire. Only a moment before, he had been looking at her like she was a goddess, calling her a temptress. Then he went cold on her and ran. Cassandra didn’t know what to think anymore, other than she felt sick for having been taken advantage like that. She should have pushed him away to start with. Being so close to him was asking for trouble.

  And trouble she was in. If the kiss before had been incredible, the kiss after was something else. It made Cassandra want more. She was desperate to have more, even if it went against how she had been raised. No sort of fumbling of any kind before marriage. It was very much frowned upon, and Cassandra knew there would be a lot of talk if it got out what had happened.

  They hadn’t had sex, but they didn’t need to. It was more than enough to get people talking.

  But with Gabriel Tattershall, Cassandra found herself wanting to break all the rules. And she shouldn’t. Not with him.

  Why did I have to start having feelings for the worst possible choice for me?

  “I wouldn’t say he took advantage, Emily.” Cassandra knew her face was bright red. She stared at the ground, shifting on the stone bench. The throbbing between her legs hadn’t stopped from yesterday, and it was getting irritating. “It was more of a mutual thing, actually.”

  Emily’s mouth opened and closed. She looked like one of the fish in the pond next to them. Her friend took a deep breath and shook her head.

  “I...I don’t know what to say. I knew Gabriel Tattershall could set his sights on absolutely anyone, but I never thought you two would be compatible in that way.”

  “You what? You’ve insinuated it before!”

  “That was when I was teasing you. I knew you were sensible enough not to get involved with him.”

  “I’m not involved with him!” Cassandra protested.

  It was just a kiss. Or two. Or several with a few hands going where they weren’t supposed to go. Oh, God. What does that make me now?

  “I don’t know what to do now, Emily.” Cassandra jumped to her feet and started pacing. She couldn’t bring herself to sit down for too long. “I’m supposed to be courting his brother, and now it feels like I’m betraying him with his own brother.”

  “If it makes you feel any better, from what you said, Gabriel was just as shocked at what happened.”

  “That doesn’t make me feel any better.” Cassandra ran her hands through her hair. She felt like her head was about to explode. “Oh, God, this is a mess. I don’t know what to do.”

  She had been in a complete daze ever since Gabriel ran away from her. And run away he did. But not before Cassandra saw the look of horror in his eyes. Not horror at her, but at what they did. He knew as well as she did what they had done was wrong. If he hadn’t stopped, they would have taken it further.

  Not exactly how she wanted to lose her virginity, but Cassandra had been so on fire that she hadn’t really cared at that point. She just wanted to feel Gabriel inside her. Become a wanton woman for the first time in her life. The thrill that they were doing it close enough for people to hear them had certainly spurred her on.

  But Gabriel had stopped. Which was the right thing to do. He had realised that they couldn’t have this. And Cassandra had seen the way he dropped his head as he left; he knew he had messed up badly.

  Not as much as you have. He took a chunk of you as he left the room. You’re not getting that back anytime soon.

  “Oh, Cassie.” Emily rose to her feet and stopped Cassandra’s pacing. She took her friend’s hand, giving her a look of sympathy that had Cassandra wanting to cry. “I know you need to do something, but you’re not going to like it.”

  “You don’t need to tell me.” She was going to have to tell Percy that she couldn’t court him anymore. Cassandra swallowed. “He’s going to be heartbroken.”

  “He doesn’t need to know the reason. You don’t owe him a justification beyond ‘it’s not working out’,” Emily insisted. “If you’re lucky, you’ll be able to remain friends with him. Percy’s a sweet man, and he wouldn’t hold it against you if you were honest about it now.”
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br />   “Sweet is certainly how I can describe him.”

  Far too sweet for Cassandra. He would be perfect for any young woman. Just not her. Emily’s expression softened.

  “Sweet, kind, considerate, quiet and gentle, even-tempered...there’s so much I could say about him.”

  “I noticed.” Cassandra peered at her friend. She hadn’t seen Emily look so dreamy about a man before. “Is something going on between you two that I should know about?”

  “What?” Emily blinked. “What do you mean?”

  “Do you have a fancy for Percy Tattershall?”

  Emily’s eyes widened. Then her face went bright red and she dropped Cassandra’s hands.

  “No. Why would I have a fancy for him?” She touched her hair, absently tucking it behind her ear. “We’re not socially compatible. Even if we had feelings for each other, it wouldn’t be permitted.”

  But Cassandra knew otherwise. She could tell just by looking at her friend. Emily was in love with the younger Tattershall brother. She had sensed there was something between the two of themwhen she first met Percy, but Emily had kept herself at a distance and vaguely aloof. It was like she was trying too hard.

  God, to have feelings for a man and know that your closest friend was in courtship with him? That had to hurt. A lot. Cassandra sighed.

  “Oh, Emily.” She hugged her friend. “You and I are a mess, aren’t we?”

  “You have no idea how right you are,” Emily sighed. “Do you want me to come with you to talk to Percy?”

  “Aunt Alice is coming with me. I’m heading up there this afternoon.” Cassandra squeezed Emily’s arm. “I just needed to see you. There are some things I certainly can’t tell my aunt.”

  Like that a former rake had his hand up her skirts and Cassandra had let him do it. That she was most definitely not sharing with Alice. She would be horrified, and then she would be letting her father know.

  Ernest would be furious, and Cassandra didn’t want to have him disappointed. He wasn’t well enough, as it was, without having to hear about his daughter giving in to baser instincts with a man completely inappropriate for her.

  “Oh, Cassie,” Emily hugged her close. “I wish there was something I could say that could make this better. But we both know this is the right thing to do.”

  “It is.” Cassandra bit her lip. She wouldn’t not cry. Not now. “Doesn’t mean we have to like it.”

  Emily’s expression said she agreed wholeheartedly.

  #

  Cassandra was not looking forward to this. She had turned down men before. In society, it was often the woman who was permitted to break off a courtship, and Cassandra had no problem with doing that. But this was different. This one had a knot in her stomach that wouldn’t shift as she and Alice had made their way in their carriage up to the Tattershall estate. And the knot kept tightening the closer they got.

  Giving in to Gabriel had been dangerous. Cassandra knew any association with him wasn’t good, but that hadn’t stopped her falling for him. She felt it with every part of her body when he was in the room. And Cassandra found herself wanting to throw herself into his arms. Even when they were arguing.

  All they seemed to do was argue. That was hardly a good thing when it came to being compatible. But it just seemed to make the attraction build even more. It increased the tension, which threatened to explode when Gabriel touched her and kissed her.

  Touched her intimately.

  Cassandra shoved that aside. She was not about to think that, not with her aunt sitting across from her. Alice was normally open-minded, but even she would be horrified with the direction Cassandra’s thoughts were going in. Cassandra huddled miserably in her cloak and stared out the window, mentally going over what she was going to say.

  She had to be gentle about it but also make Percy aware of exactly what she was saying. There had been moments when the men she had courted hadn’t taken stock of what she had said, and Cassandra had had to be a little blunter about it, which resulted in her getting called some names. Percy didn’t seem the type to do that, and Cassandra hoped he would understand.

  She didn’t want to lead him on. He was a nice man. A very nice one. And now she knew that Emily was in love with him herself, Cassandra knew there was another reason not to be courting Percy; she wasn’t about to lose her closest friend over someone else.

  She should have kept her hands to herself. Then this wouldn’t be happening.

  Oh, it would be happening. It’s just happening now because you found an excuse not to draw it out for the sake of someone else.

  The Tattershall home came into sight and Cassandra felt her heart start to race. She was not looking forward to this. How could she get so worked up about something she had done many times before? It was ridiculous. Cassandra prided herself in being confident enough to speak her mind when needed.

  Then again, Gabriel Tattershall hadn’t been involved.

  The carriage stopped in the drive and Cassandra and her aunt were helped out. According to the footman, Lord and Lady Tattershall were not in at that moment, but Percy was, taking a walk in the gardens. Cassandra turned to Alice.

  “Stay close, but out of sight. I need to talk to Mr. Tattershall privately.”

  “Of course. You know I can do that.” Alice frowned, “Are you going to tell me what’s going on? You’ve been out of sorts all day.”

  “I’ll explain what I can later.” Most of it. But not all of it. Alice turned to the footman. “We’ll walk around the side of the house. No need to show us inside.”

  “Very good, Miss Seton.”

  Her heart feeling like it was going much too fast, Cassandra headed to the side of the house. She had taken a brief walk in the gardens before, and they were vast. Picturesque, but vast. How the gardeners kept on top of keeping everything as beautiful as it was, Cassandra had no idea. She was sure her back would go after ten minutes.

  Percy was by a fish pond beside the terrace. He was crouching by the pond and seemed to be feeding them with something from a ceramic bowl. Cassandra found herself stopping in her tracks to watch him. He looked so serene when he was like this, as if he didn’t have a care in the world.

  He looked a lot like Gabriel as well, but he wasn’t Gabriel. Percy was cool while Gabriel was hot. He worked on a different song sheet, one that suited his pace of life. Gabriel just picked up whatever sheet was nearest him.

  Cassandra wished she could have that sort of mentality. Percy was certainly a perfectly stoic husband for someone. It just wouldn’t be her.

  Taking a deep breath, Cassandra stepped through the archway. Percy looked up, blinking in surprise when he saw her.

  “Miss Seton. This is a surprise.”

  “Mr. Tattershall.”

  Percy rose to his feet and put the bowl on the bench behind him. Then he came around the pond. Cassandra allowed him to take her hand and press a kiss to her fingers. He straightened up and looked at her with a frown.

  “What are you doing here?”

  “I…” Cassandra swallowed. Then her words came out in a rush. “Forgive me for this, but it couldn’t wait. I know I should have told you in advance…”

  “No, of course not. I’m happy to see you.” Percy offered her his arm, “Come on, we can go for a walk in the gardens.”

  “All right.” Cassandra looked over her shoulder to see Alice under the archway. “I’ll be fine, Aunt Alice. You can rest, if you wish.”