Sinful Kiss (Sinful Ladies of London Book 2)

by Kristi Jun

  “But?”

  “I want you to be sure what you are asking of me.”

  “I am sure,” she said.

  Did she plan on leaving him? Or had Johnathan somehow convinced her to go with him back to Boston? “Where do you plan on going?”

  She hesitated. “With Ethan’s murder and this witness Johnathan is speaking of, my future seems unknown. I hope to take this memory with me if I have no choice but to return to Boston.”

  He thought about her words. This woman was not one to beg for sex. He was certain she could have any man she wanted, but clearly, she wasn’t herself today. Or was this about being a distraction for her then? This troubled him, because it was more than that for him.

  He didn’t want this to get complicated for her and for him if this was going to be casual sex. Not with her.

  For a moment, she thought she had made a mistake in asking this request. He looked as though he might deny her, but before she could speak, his kissed her and upset her balance, but he held her tight. His body felt sturdy and warm and made her feel protected.

  Their kiss became deep and playful. His tongue traced the length of her lips and her heart leaped with excitement as she felt his heart hammering against her own. He desired her, she thought as her heart swelled with happiness. She’d make the memory of tonight last for the lonely days ahead of her.

  As they sipped the sweetness of their kiss, his hands locked against her spine as they both landed firmly pressed against the wooden door. His kisses and caresses became urgent, hot, and hungry, and she welcomed them.

  Oh, God…how was she able to deny him for so long? His lips left her mouth to nibble at her earlobe, then moved down further to the curves of her neck. Her neck arched for him, and his tongue traced down further as he yanked her bodice down to free her bosoms.

  She let out a moan as his hands played with her nipples, coaxing and tantalizing her with his hands. In her desperate need to get his coat off, he assisted her and dropped it on the floor. Then she unknotted the cravat and slipped it off, then his shirt.

  Her breasts pressed firmly against his bare chest as her hands glided up to hold him to her. His muscles flexed and moved beneath her palms. His hands slid downward to pull her skirt up. She lifted her leg and wrapped it around his to give him access. His hand reached into the damp center through the opening of her pantalette and she gasped.

  This was heaven. Yes, yes, yes. His warm fingers felt delightful as he stroked her, doing magical things she never even considered. As he stroked, caressed, and rubbed with his warm fingers, she thought she would faint in delight. She heard a muffled groan in her ear and she had a sudden compulsion to touch him.

  His cock was hard against her. Solid and big. She freed her hand from the web of his hair and reached down to cup the large mound of his arousal. He grunted in pleasure at the touch of her hand on him, so she continued.

  Unbuttoning the top flap of his breeches, she reached in and held his cock in her hand. She stroked it and ran her hand through the patch of hair at the base. He moaned deeply in her ear.

  “Yes,” he whispered between hot heavy breaths.

  “Like this?” she said as she rubbed and caressed his manhood. She liked him like this, out of control and begging.

  Just when she thought she’d had enough, he did something with his fingers at the hot nub between her legs again, and she was immobilized by the intense pleasurable throbbing in the center of her core, ready to erupt. Oh my God. This feeling. This wanting. This sensation was nothing she’d ever felt before. Pure bliss? Yes.

  As if her body had a mind of its own, she writhed against him. This sensation pulsating through her body. She gasped when he found the most sensitive spot at the tip of her arousal again, and she knew she was going to wither away from unadulterated ecstasy.

  Unable to take it, her body squirmed beneath him, and when he lifted his hand, she fought the disappointment. Yanking her bodice free of her bosom, he lowered onto his knees and licked the tip of her nipple with his tongue. His soft tongue played and teased as he kissed her there and gentling nibbled her, then bit down. She gasped. He was gazing back at her with a smile.

  “Like that?”

  Her mouth fell open, but she couldn’t lie. “Yes.”

  Dear God, what was he doing to her? She saw him stand and lifted her up, the door supporting her back and his hands on her buttocks. Once they were positioned, he gently drove into her. Shallow at first, then slowly, the fullness of him was more than she could bear. This strange sensation wasn’t pain, but more of a discomfort. But once he was halfway inside her, it felt a little better.

  “Are you all right, love?” he said, looking at her.

  She couldn’t talk, but only nod at him. This sensation, the fullness of his cock inside of her, was overwhelming.

  “Do you want me to stop?”

  She shook her head. “Keep going. Now,” she said impatiently.

  He didn’t need more encouragement than that because the next thing she knew, he picked up speed as he drove deeper and deeper into her, completely filling her. His breathing became short, his muscles tight, and she held on to him as he took her. Again and again, he drove inside her until she felt her body slowly go limp with pleasure.

  Then in one motion, he pulled out of her and released in his hand as she watched.

  Unwrapping her legs and releasing him, she pulled away. Her knees were weak, and she felt the ground under her move. Roberts steadied her with his free hand as she stood.

  Slowly she retrieved a towel by the washing bin for him. She watched him wipe away his seed and button the flap of his breeches. Once done, he smiled at her and kissed her on the forehead.

  Gathering her in his arms, he walked over to the bed and gently eased her down onto the bed. “What are you doing?”

  “We’re going to do this again, slow and steady this time, love…”

  CHAPTER 14

  Early next morning, before the sun woke the earth, she put on her dress, donned a cloak and quietly left the house. She had asked Roberts to leave after their lovemaking as she didn’t want the children to find him in her room.

  The cold air pricked her face and brought back the memories of the nights she had spent roaming the streets, hungry and looking for a place to sleep for the night. Often, one of the women in the streets would take her back to a flash house where she slept.

  That instinct and fear came back as if it never left her. She wasn’t certain if it was a good thing, but that didn’t matter now. She needed to do this for those she cared about.

  The night before, she had asked the butler to have the carriage ready for her at dawn and informed him to keep this request private. The butler initially gave her the most censorious look, but then abided by her wishes. He knew better than to ask her where she was going.

  After giving the driver instructions, she stepped into the carriage, sat down, and closed her eyes. Old habits were difficult to halt. Perhaps it was the result of her living in the streets at such a young age, but whenever she arrived in a new town, she made sure she had the right connections.

  She had spent enough time in the streets to know that you can find someone to do just about any job if you had the right sum of money. In this case, she had heard about a man in East London who could procure anything she desired.

  She had a name and the tavern where he could be reached. The name, she surmised, was an alias, but they would never tell her that. After all, she had worked under one too.

  Would she eventually regret it? She wouldn’t allow herself to think on this subject because for her, the decision had been made. There were no more options left for her now.

  How would she think of Roberts once she left this place? Fondly, with regrets, or with indifference? She already knew the answer, but she would not allow herself to indulge in the emotions that would eventually do her no good. All she knew for certain was that she needed to know how it felt to be wanted again, to touch another human being wit
h the kind of tenderness she hadn’t had in a long time; not that she knew what true tenderness felt like.

  She did now.

  This thought conjured up an impossible dream for her. Even now, she could feel his mouth on hers, the way his body had felt under her hands, smell his scent. After the lovemaking, it nearly drove her to reconsider her options for a fraction of a second, to abandon her plans and allow her predicament to unfold naturally.

  Impossible. Because it wasn’t simply about her anymore. There were others involved, and she needed to do this. For them. For her. She could not, in any circumstances, risk all she had worked for and risk the safety of others.

  She arrived at the tavern as the sun was now fully smiling on the fresh earth. The driver stopped right in front and she stepped out.

  She looked up to read the sign: The Bull Tavern. It was where Amelia and Lord Blackthorn had met for the first time, the night he had risked his own life and saved them from the rookery boys.

  Few people were about, except milkmaids and those that were getting their carts and bandbox sellers ready with wares. A couple of women gave her a most curious look before going about their business. Realizing she should have changed into something more appropriate, she felt completely out of place.

  She’d been told to knock on the back door five times, then wait and do it again. She knocked as instructed, but there was no answer. Still, with hesitation, she waited patiently.

  An aging man with several teeth missing opened the door. He gave her a most disturbing glare, as if he’d rather like to take her into the alley and have his way with her. But judging by his frailty, she doubted he would succeed.

  “I am here to see Charlie O.”

  “Wot do ye want with ’im?” he said.

  “Is he here?”

  He gave her a look over as if she were some flesh to be devoured. “Wot is a pretty little thing want with ’em?” he said.

  “Is he here or not?” she intoned.

  “Feisty thing, ye are,” he said, widening the door to the dingy interior.

  She hesitated, but she crossed the threshold, remembering she had brought the pistol Roberts had given her.

  “Charlie O,” he shouted. “Get yer arse down ’ere.”

  They both waited for several seconds. She tried hard not to breathe in the smell of dirty rags and gin, which was bringing back too many memories.

  “Must be with that bitch. Wait ’ere.”

  A few minutes passed and a tall bearded man walked down the creaking wooden stairs, pulling on his shirt. He had the chest and muscled torso to impress any female in town.

  He buttoned his shirt and rolled his sleeves up. The ruggedly handsome man had sharp eyes and an exotic look about him. He would do just fine.

  The older man followed behind.

  “This lady ’ere wants to see ye.”

  “Oh?” he said and looked at her with interest.

  “Can we talk privately?” When he nodded, they sat down in the corner where it was quiet and dim.

  “I had been told a woman may be stopping by with a job offer.”

  She explained to him briefly what she wanted from him. “This is half,” she said, showing him an envelope that had the bank notes inside. “You will get the rest once the deed is accomplished and I am happy with the result.”

  “How much is that exactly?”

  The man had a faintly aristocratic English voice. “Hundred pounds.” Kate put the money on the table. “You will get another hundred once I am satisfied.”

  He watched her unnervingly. “I will be attending a ball with a few friends tomorrow evening. I will excuse myself at ten in the evening and will make my way to the parlor on the ground floor. I expect you to be—”

  “Wait a minute, lady. I didn’t agree to your little scheme.”

  “It’s not a scheme,” she informed.

  “I want more.”

  “More money?”

  He nodded with a crooked grin that exposed his straight white teeth.

  She sighed. “No.”

  “Well, good luck finding someone.” He started to rise.

  “Wait,” she said. “Two hundred pound now and two once it’s done.”

  “Three hundred pounds now. And three when I’m done.”

  “That is a ridiculous amount for barely an hour of your time.”

  He sat down close to her and looked squarely at her. “May I remind you, I will need a fashionable suit and a respectable carriage, which will be a considerable sum since this is a ball. None of which comes cheap. And my service isn’t cheap.”

  “Who the hell are you?”

  “Charlie O.”

  “If you say so.”

  “Three now. Three later. Agreed?”

  The man was insistent, and she knew she didn’t have many options. She was told he was the best. Besides, he had the perfect aristocratic regard about him—if he cleaned up—to pull this off. “Fine, Mr. Charlie O.”

  “Good,” he said. “Anything else?”

  “Make sure you are alone,” she ordered.

  “I will be.”

  Kate pulled out several more notes from her reticule and stuffed them in the envelope. “Here,” Kate said as she handed him the envelope. She paused and looked squarely at him. “I need this to be convincing.”

  “Don’t worry about that.”

  “And don’t speak with anyone, if you can help it. Try not to make eye contact.”

  “Do I need your permission to breathe?”

  Quickly dismissing his comment, she said, “There is a copy of the invitation and a few extra sums to purchase proper attire for the ball.

  “I have a proper suit.”

  “Oh? Well, then, please shave that beard.”

  “The beard stays.”

  “Honestly, Mr. O, you need to blend in.”

  “The beard stays. Or no deal.”

  She sighed. She was beginning to think she made a mistake. “All right,” she snapped. “There is one more thing that I need to ask of you.” She paused in hesitation. “I need a body.”

  His lips quirked up curiously. “I’ve been asked for many things, but this is a first.”

  “It has to be a female. About my height and hair and well…my shape.”

  His eyes raked over her and landed on her bosoms. “Curious,” he said. “What do you need the body for?”

  “Can you acquire one for me or not?”

  “I can’t guarantee anything, and this will cost you.”

  “I am well aware of that,” she said. “I will require you to send me word as soon as possible, hopefully today.”

  “Impossible.”

  “What is your price, Mr. Charlie O?”

  He observed her with his sharp gaze. “Thousand pounds. This does not include the ball.”

  Of course, he’d ask for an outrageous sum. “Five hundred.”

  “What you ask is nearly impossible, not within your time frame, which means I will have to use all of my resources and time on this,” he said firmly. “One thousand pounds. Or find someone else.”

  She neither had the time or another contact she could use. “Fine,” she said curtly. “I will have the money ready for you today when you send word informing me that you can guarantee me the body. Here is the address.” She handed him the address of the Foundling Hospital, as she wanted to keep this private.

  “Interesting location.”

  She made no reply to this. Instead, she said, “Please provide the contact only. There is a head nurse there by the name of Mrs. Ann. Please give her the message and inform her that it’s for Ms. B. I will make my visit tomorrow morning. If you can’t deliver, don’t bother sending a message.”

  Then she realized the body must be wearing something she’d been seen in. “Wait,” she said when she saw him walking off. “I will leave a dress with her as well. Make sure you ask for it.”

  “You’ve thought of everything,” he said with a crook of his brow. “I will be in contact.�
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  With that, she walked out of the tavern, her heart beating harder with each step and doubt running through her mind. He may not show, but it was a risk she had to take.

  ~ ~ ~

  “Where have you been?” Mr. Roberts said as soon as she entered the foyer at Blackthorn Hall at nearly nine in the morning.

  She placed her hand on her chest, startled. “You startled me.” Clearly, he was an early riser.

  “Well?” He crossed his arms and stood there waiting for her to answer, as if she were a child who had just broken the rules set forth by the elders.

  “I had to post a letter,” she lied. She didn’t want to lie, but at this point in her life, why would it matter? She was leaving London and would be out of their lives in days.

  “This early in the day?”

  “If you must know, I needed some fresh air.” He was still frowning at her. “Are you satisfied?”

  “You could have asked me to escort you.”

  “I could have,” she said. “But this was something I needed to do on my own.”

  “Inform me next time.”

  He looked at her with determination in his eyes. There wouldn’t be a next time. She thought about responding with her usual retort, but she needed to distance herself as soon as possible.

  Was this something all woman had to contend with when they were involved with men? “I have the pistol you forced on me, and I have been well taught by a very capable instructor,” she said with a smile. “Besides, the doctor asked—ordered, in fact—that you remain off your feet.”

  When he tried to argue, she continued, “Besides, what good will it do for any of us if you don’t get better as soon as possible,” she noted. “I have to make a visit to the Foundling Hospital this evening.” She waited, but he made no argument. “I will have one of the footman escort me if that makes you feel better.”

  The look on his face told her he wasn’t satisfied. “I will be spending time with an infant, as I have promised the head nurse I would do. It’s not going to be dangerous in the least.” She was waiting for Charlie O to send word about the body and pick up the dress she had told him about. She was running out of time and tension was mounting; she felt it in her neck.