Lured Into Sin By The Wicked Earl (Steamy Historical Regency Romance)

by Olivia Bennet

  “Tell me,” she breathed. She knew that she was blushing. She found herself immensely curious, however.

  He smiled, his eyes taking on a new look. There was hunger in his gaze. She had never felt so thoroughly wanted before. He leaned in, with his lips close to her ear. His breath was warm against her skin, causing something to stir within her.

  “Well, I would remove your clothes, slowly. Take my time, savoring the look of your skin in the firelight.” His voice was a low rumble. She looked down at their hands, clasped together. “Then, I would trail kisses, slowly down your spine. Do you know why?”

  She shook her head, daring to raise her gaze to meet his. She knew that she was a simple country girl. But she was learning to be someone else—a better version of herself. Someone who embraced passion and love and knew that she deserved it.

  “The trick to pleasuring a woman is in teasing her senses gently. I would move slowly.”

  “What if I don’t want you to move slowly?” She heard the coy note in her tone, surprising herself.

  “I’ll only do what you beg me to do,” he said, his lips brushing against her cheek. “I promise you, when I’m done, you will.” He placed his finger on her lip again, and she kissed the tip of his finger, watching his eyes go dark with desire.

  “That’s so—” She didn’t know how she wanted to finish the sentence. It excited her.

  “Scandalous?” He raised his eyebrow. She laughed as he used her own word. He was flirting with her.

  “Yes, but that’s not what I meant.” She shook her head, smiling and blushing. She wanted him to touch her.

  “You want me to do that, don’t you?”

  He raised her chin with two fingers, so that her eyes met his. She felt bold. There, in his arms, she wanted him to please her. “Yes, I want that.” She watched his eyes widen, and his smile deepen.

  He kissed her—there was fire in that kiss. She kissed him with a passion that she hadn’t known before. She wanted him to touch her—to stir her on to more. She wanted him to give her pleasure, just as he’d promised. She wanted to learn how to please him as well.

  She pulled away, panting. He exhaled, a coy smile on his lips, which were red from kissing. Her heart beat faster as she thought of what he wanted to do to her.

  * * *

  Adam smiled at Susannah. He had never wanted her more than at that moment. If she hadn’t pulled away, then he wasn’t sure that he would have stopped. She was panting lightly. Her eyes were soft, and he could see that she wanted him as much as he wanted her. He looked at her with such love, longing.

  “Well, for now, you’ll have to wait,” she murmured. “I’ll keep my virtue intact, thank you.” She stood up straight, taking in a deep breath.

  He smiled, watching as she turned away from him. He stepped in close to her, his body against hers. His arms wrapped around her waist. He leaned in to whisper in her ear.

  “Coy minx.”

  She fit so perfectly in his arms. He liked that they were able to talk so frankly about sex. He had gotten heated while telling her all of the things that he wanted to do to her. He saw them so clearly in his mind.

  His erection was just against her leg. As he gripped her, she leaned into it. He grabbed her dress. She let out a soft moan as she wove her fingers together with his.

  If he asked her, she would do it. She would give him everything because she couldn’t deny him. He didn’t want to. She fit there with him. Passion awoke within him—a hunger, unlike any he’d ever known. It was driving him nearly insane.

  “Do you want me?” he asked, his lips just against her ear.

  “Yes.”

  Good.

  “Do you trust me?”

  “Yes.”

  Even better.

  “Good. Now, kiss me. I promise…it’ll be nothing more…for now.” He stared into her eyes. They sparkled.

  She smiled. She rose up on her tiptoes; she kissed him. As he kissed her back, he felt dizzy. He placed one hand on her waist, pulling her in closer. She smoothed her small hands over his chest, feeling the hardness of his body. She wrapped her arms around his neck, letting herself lean against him.

  He sighed happily. He would gladly do whatever it took in order to have her for his own. Now that he knew she existed he couldn’t imagine living without her. It was as simple as that. He would fight anyone who tried to prevent him from marrying her.

  Chapter 24

  Susannah and Lucy were doing their morning chores. As she had been for the past few days, Lucy was silent. She worked furiously. Susannah let her. She figured that things would, in time, resolve themselves. After all, Susannah could only tell her that Adam would marry her. Lucy would remain angry until there was actual proof. Susannah knew that she couldn’t blame Lucy for this. If the shoe had been on the other foot, then she knew that she would need the same verification. It sounded too good to be true.

  Susannah knelt beside the hearth as she used the brush to finish sweeping out the ash from the night before. After she swept the final ashes into the dustpan, she dumped it into the bucket at her side. She got up, wiping her hands as Lucy stacked the fresh wood in the fireplace.

  Susannah’s thoughts were full of the night before. She found herself blushing as she thought about what Adam had said. Just when she thought she’d learned all there was about him, she found out that there was another side to him. And she loved this passionate one as equally as she loved the others.

  Once Lucy was done, she glanced at Susannah. “I have to get more wood,” she said, her tone flat. “You start the hearth in the drawing room. I’ll be back.” Usually, they walked out to the woodpile together. It made more sense for them to separate, but they never had.

  Susannah nodded, turning to go. She refused to feel hurt. Lucy’s steps faded into the distance. She was walking along the hallway with the bucket, brush, and dustpan in her hands. She glanced down at her pinafore which was covered in ash. She would have to change after they were done cleaning out the fireplaces.

  “Susannah,” Adam called to her. She looked up at the sound of his voice. She beamed. He motioned for her to come into his study. She glanced around. When she saw that there was no one, she ducked inside.

  “What is it?” she asked.

  He leaned in, pressing his lips to hers. She kissed him back, her mind going to their conversation the night before. His touches were more urgent.

  When he finally pulled away, he brushed her cheek with his fingers. “I’m going to speak with my parents today,” he said.

  Her heart pounded nervously. “You plan to tell them of me?”

  “The sooner, the better.”

  “I suppose so.” The swarm of butterflies was back in her stomach, with a vengeance. Now that it was all going to be known, she was panic-stricken.

  What if they never accept me? What if they think I’m not good enough to marry him?

  “I promise you—I won’t let them near you until they aren’t angry.”

  His eyes searched hers. She nodded, slowly—she believed that he meant to try. It was not a perfect world, after all. People didn’t change their minds easily. Titles meant something, as did a lack of a title.

  “I’ll be the one to face down their ire,” he told her.

  “I don’t want to be the person who ruins your relationship with your parents,” she said, giving voice to her ultimate worry. She would be devastated if she was the reason that he was estranged from them. It had, of course, occurred to her the night before while she lay awake.

  “You won’t be,” he assured her. “Our relationship needs to change. My father needs to know that he can’t bowl me over. This is between me and him. You are the bit of good news.”

  She sighed, then nodded. “Do what you think best.”

  What else can I say?

  He kissed her, once more. “Wish me luck?”

  “Luck,” she whispered, squeezing his hand. She glanced at his shirt, reaching up to smooth away a smudge of ash that she
’d accidentally gotten on his nice linen. He raised her hand to his lips.

  Adam left then, walking quickly. Susannah remained alone in the study for a moment. She closed her eyes, sending as much luck as she could with him.

  She glanced down at the cleaning supplies in her hands. She had another fireplace to do. Lucy would be back soon, with fresh firewood. It would look suspicious if Lucy arrived and Susannah wasn’t even in the room.

  When she left the study, Mr. Fort was walking down the hall. The valet had several of Adam’s shirts, slung over his arm. He paused his brisk walk. When he took her in, his eyes were sharp, appraising her a bit too closely.

  “You look quite red, Susannah,” he said. “Has something happened?”

  “Nothing, Mr. Fort.”

  He paused, studying her. Susannah felt as though she were fixed on a pin. She didn’t like it. “Are you sure? You look as though you’ve been kissed.” There was meanness in his eyes.

  “Me, Mr. Fort?” She sighed, rolling her eyes, then tried to walk away. He grabbed her by the wrist.

  “Don’t lie to me,” he said, leaning in. “If I hadn’t known any better, you’ve set your cap at his lordship.” Susannah could smell his breath, which was sour.

  “Let go of me,” she growled, trying to pull her hand away. If he kept tugging like that, then she’d drop the bucket of ashes on the carpet, which would be an awful time cleaning it up.

  “You think you’re the only servant girl who’s caught the eye of a young handsome lord?” he asked, his tone nasty. “You’ve got a long way to fall. If you think the Marquess of Wiltshire will allow you to marry his only son and heir, you’ve got another thing coming.”

  Susannah could only glare back at him. He laughed, his smile dangerous. He let go of her hand. “Off you go.”

  Susannah’s stomach roiled nauseously. She had never particularly liked Mr. Fort. He was always gossiping. She made her way downstairs.

  “Susannah,” Lucy called. She had just entered, her arms full of wood. She was frowning. Susannah didn’t think that she could handle Lucy’s ire on top of her encounter with Mr. Fort.

  “What do you want now?” she asked, setting the bucket, brush and dustpan down with a clank. Susannah felt as though she could barely breathe. “Do you want to tell me that I’m going to be rejected and be left out on the street, too?”

  She didn’t wait for Lucy to respond. She broke into a run for her room. Once inside, she burst into tears. She threw herself down on the bed, and then let herself cry. She knew that Mr. Fort was going to spread nasty rumors about her. She could almost see his words spreading like wildfire until the whole house burned.

  * * *

  As Adam sat in the carriage, his mind was full of nothing but Susannah. He was filled with joy. After that day, everything would be settled. Once he arrived, his mother would have smoothed things over. He and his father would apologize to each other, and then he could tell them the news that he was to be married to an absolute angel.

  He was sure that they would be hesitant, at first, but then they would be ready to welcome her into the family. It was all going to go well. He would make it so.

  His parents’ London townhome had been rented out while they were in the country so that it wasn’t sitting, all shut up and gathering dust. It was an impressive brick façade, which had been in the family for several generations, just like Adam’s home. This one had been in the direct line, while Adam’s had belonged to a long line of unmarried bachelor uncles with obscure taste in décor. Where Adam’s house had varying styles throughout, his parents’ home was all soft colors—whites and greys, with dark mahogany. It was light and airy inside.

  Their butler showed him into the parlor, where his mother sat, sipping a cup of tea. She was the picture of serenity—wearing a soft gray-colored muslin with a pale lace edging. Her hair was smooth and coiffed in a high bun with a few dark curls framing her heart-shaped face. He was reminded of when he was a child, when his nurse would bring him and Tom in, and she would be sitting there, alone, waiting for them.

  “Adam,” she said, smiling. “Come and sit. Have a cup of tea.” She gestured toward the seat across from her.

  “Of course,” he murmured, as he sat down on the white settee. He wondered where his father was. She poured him a cup, passing it to him.

  “Would you like some cake? I can ring for it, if you’d like,” she went on. Adam’s suspicions were piqued even more. She was trying to sound as though everything were normal. If they were, then his father would have been in here to receive him.

  “Where’s Father?” he asked. He raised the cup to his lips, taking a sip. It was his mother’s favorite tea—which meant that his father wasn’t going to show up. He never drank Earl Grey. Lord Wiltshire disapproved of the taste of bergamot.

  His mother’s face fell. She sighed heavily, then took a sip of her own tea. She set her cup down on the saucer with a delicate clink. Her eyes were on the set—blue and white flowers, with a gold edge.

  “He’s…he’s not seeing you at the moment,” she said at last. “It seems that he’s still very upset that you put him in his place.” She eyed him sternly. “No one’s ever done it before.”

  “Was it that bad?” he asked, with a sad sigh. His heart sank, though he supposed that he should have expected this. This was not at all what he had wanted.

  Why can’t he understand? Why can I be free?

  “He likes having his way. Your brother knew that. That’s why he always let your father have it. I daresay it’s good for him to not get his way once in a while, but it’s going to take him some time to get past it.” She smiled at him, her blue eyes sad. Her eyes reminded him, strongly, of his brother. He knew that she was on his side, which was heartening.

  “How long do you think it will be?” Adam wanted to tell them about Susannah. He wanted to marry her, immediately, if possible. He supposed that he ought to break the news to his mother. After all, she seemed to be taking his behavior in stride—almost as though she expected it.

  “I have no idea. However, I’m so glad that you’ve come,” his mother said. “Lady Monmouth and her daughters will be arriving soon.” She picked up her cup again, lifting it to her lips.

  “Why are you glad?” he asked, his heart sinking even further.

  “Her daughter—” she began.

  “Mother, no,” he said, shaking his head. “I cannot pursue another.”

  Her eyes widened. She leaned in. “Truly, my son—is there—”

  “Someone?” he asked, raising an eyebrow. If he couldn’t tell the both of them, then at least he could break the news to his mother. “Yes, she’s lovely. But I’m not ready—” His mother’s eyes widened even more. She set her cup and saucer aside on the table.

  “Have you asked her? Has she said yes?” she spoke in an outpouring of words. Her hand went to her mouth, and she beamed. “Oh, Adam!”

  “Yes. It’s all very certain. Can you keep it a secret? I just—”

  “Whatever you do, make it happen,” she said, cutting him off, “and soon.” She paused, her eyes narrowing. “Why can’t I tell your father?”

  “I don’t think he’ll approve, but there’s nothing he can do about it. I mean to marry her, and that’s final.”

  “Well, I suppose, if she’s really as wonderful as you say, I can be happy about it,” she said, carefully. She bit her lip.

  He smiled. She raised her eyebrow, waiting for him to tell her the whole of it. “Even if she’s not of the ton?” he asked, gently, giving her the final piece of the puzzle.

  “She’s not?” He knew that she would wait to understand all of it.

  “No. She’s a country girl from up North,” he said. “Her father is a vicar. She has met very few members of the ton. And I love her dearly.”

  She was silent for a moment, staring at him as she used to—calmly, but appraisingly. Adam waited patiently, allowing her to fully process that bit of information.

  “Will you be h
appy?” she asked. There was a small smile on her face.

  “Yes. I know I shall. I already am.”

  “I’ll say nothing more of Lady Monmouth and her daughters,” she promised, reaching for her teacup again.

  “Thank you,” he said, finally relaxing. It had all gone rather well.

  “I’ll admit, your father has been rather hard on you,” she said. “We want you to be happy, first and foremost. We understand the need to separate oneself from the ton. After all, that’s one of the reasons that we stay in the country.” She widened her eyes. “The people.”