Calvin turned to Dr. Hanford. “Good day to you.” Then he took Alice’s elbow and left the hospital with determined strides.
They walked to the street, and Calvin hailed a hack and put her in.
Alice was staring at the hospital as they drove away.
Calvin leaned in his chair and asked, “You left Dr. Hanford with the impression that we were getting married.”
She turned to him. “Have you changed your mind?”
He leaned forward and took her head. “It was not my mind that needed changing.”
Alice smiled.
“Will you marry me?”
She nodded. “Yes.”
He smiled and regretted the large windows of the hack. They were visible to anyone on the street, which meant he couldn’t kiss her but he planned to once he got her alone.
Alice said, “We must return to Genie.”
Calvin closed his eyes as her words sank in. He’d forgotten. “Of course.” He’d see Genie and then he’d deal with the matter of Alice’s shooter.
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CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
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Alice was not surprised when she felt a warm body settle next to hers that night. She opened her eyes just as Calvin’s arm came around her and his chest pressed against her back. The temperature had dropped and the firelight flickered over the walls, illuminating shadows and casting others. The cracking of the wood and Calvin’s breathing were the only sounds she could hear.
His face was deep into her hair and she heard him inhale before he laid back down, pulled her even tighter, and allowed his breathing to slow.
He’d had a long day. They hadn’t left Genie’s house until late with Lorena staying behind to spend the night with her friend. Then Calvin had gone to meet one of the men who worked at her father’s club to find out what he could about Louisa’s daughters. He was sure they were getting close to the heart of the mystery and that Alice would be safe soon. Alice wasn’t sure if one of Louisa’s daughters would have done it, though knew it to be a possibility and their best one yet.
She and Maura had returned to the house, chatted for a moment or two, and then went to bed. Alice had stayed up awhile to think about what she’d learned about Maura. She’d thought about Genie, too. She seemed to be better during Alice’s return to her house.
Genie had sat on a couch with everyone surrounding her, giving them all her thanks and accepting every man’s pledge to protect her. Genie didn’t know the cousin who would be inheriting her father’s estate but she was nervous about meeting him. She’d talked until it was obvious she was tired and Lorena had seen her to bed. Then Alice had studied the room and was thankful that she’d found a place amongst people who were so caring. It was what she’d been thinking about when she’d fallen asleep. Now that she was awake, she was sure that there was no man more caring than Calvin.
Her fiancé.
She turned around in the bed and took in the large tan body of the man who would soon be hers. His arm still held her tightly but his eyes didn’t open until she touched his chest right over where his heart beat. His eyes seemed to darken just before he leaned forward and brushed his mouth over hers.
Alice closed her eyes just in time for the second brush. His lips were tantalizing and soft, like a whisper that seemed to communicate with her body, speaking a language she’d never realized she’d known. Her breasts ached and liquid warmth began to spread past her belly, and all this from the barest of kisses. His mouth moved as though asking her permission and Alice decided to give it in the most creative way.
She licked his lower lip and immediately heard him hiss before his hand went to her hip and gripped her tightly just before he took over the kiss. His other hand slipped behind her neck and pulled her closer. His tongue penetrated her mouth and, unsure of what she was doing, Alice sucked it. She felt his entire body tremble.
“Damn,” he whispered.
Then he flipped her over on her back and followed her. He straightened, reached out, and helped her from her night-rail. Then he sat on his knees and studied her. Alice sat up on the bed and allowed him to see her in nothing but firelight.
He knelt on his knees, still in cotton trousers, and Alice saw the bulge that pressed against his fall flap. He reached out and touched one of her nipples.
Alice pressed her legs together as he rolled it between his fingers before doing the same with the other. Then she felt the slight brush of his breath before his mouth settled on her breast, sucking her with a strength that made her harden in his mouth and set a throbbing between her legs.
And then his hand was there, and Alice opened her legs. The smell of her wanting filled the air, and she heard Calvin groan against her nipple before his fingers spread her and began to rub against her peak. Alice shamelessly moved her body against his hand and dug her fingers into the mattress as Calvin’s fingers circled her. Then she felt him insert a finger and explore her while his thumb rubbed her peak.
The invasion made her still.
He lifted his hand and took her mouth hard before he pulled away an inch. “Have you done this before?”
Alice shook her head.
His golden eyes were warm and a slight smile touched his lips. “Do you want me to stop?” His thumb kept stroking her but his finger remained still.
“No.” Her voice was hoarse.
His golden shoulders glowed so finely in the dark that she wanted to lick him. So she did, trailing her tongue up his throat and to his lips. One hand pulled her by the hair, making her open to his mouth as the other hand began to move again.
His finger eventually left and she felt two slip inside her, stretching her wider. His thumb teased while his fingers slid in and out, working her into a frenzy.
She moved her hands to his shoulders and clung to him as her body quivered. Clenching her teeth, she felt the first sign of the coming explosion just before it ripped through her body and out of her mouth. Her moans were swallowed by Calvin’s mouth and she felt herself falling. Her back hit the bed again.
She was too exhausted to move as she felt Calvin leave the bed. She distantly heard the sound of clothes hitting the floor right before his body was over hers again. He lifted her limp legs and placed them over his muscled thighs. He leaned over, lifted her bottom, and placed a stack of pillows underneath her.
Then something both hard and soft nudged her mound, sending another flood of sensation through her before she felt him pushing against her. She sat up and watched as he pulled out and the head of his manhood glistened with what had come out of her own body.
He positioned himself at her body again and slowly pushed inside her. The head of his manhood slipped inside and he began a short stroking motion that had Alice moaning and throwing her head back. She started to move her hips, lifting them toward him in order to have more.
“Alice,” he growled. “You feel so exquisite.”
Alice agreed and her hands idly went to her nipples and pinched them hard.
“God,” Calvin groaned right before he started moving faster.
Alice looked up and found him watching her. His hand left his groin and gripped her hip. His golden gaze was fastened on where her hands touched her breasts.
He rubbed his hands up and down her thighs as he breathed hard through his mouth. “Keep touching yourself.”
Alice ran her fingers up and down her chest before trailing over her nipples again, rubbing and pinching. Her body was thrown into pleasure’s heights just as Calvin drove all the way in, pumping in and out of her at a blurring speed.
She gasped and moaned as he took her, possessing her.
Calvin’s eyes rolled to the back of his head and his breathing grew erratic. “Alice, oh, god. I can’t...” Then he was slamming into her, and Alice was undone again. He threw his head back, pumping fast, and groaned as h
e filled Alice with his seed.
They remained joined as they both fought to breathe. Then Calvin slipped from her and leaned forward to rest his head against her belly. His hands spread over her sides, and he simply held her.
Alice ran her fingers through his short hair and smiled.
He looked up and rested his chin on her, still holding her with his hands and his intense gaze. “I’m sorry.”
His statement startled her. “Why?”
“I was rough. I didn’t mean to be but once I was inside of you, I couldn’t think past needing to be deeper.” His hand moved up and down her side.
She shivered. “It was all right. I enjoyed it.” Then she added, “Immensely.”
He smiled, dipped his head to kiss her belly, and left the bed.
Alice shivered again at the loss of his body heat.
The pillows were moved and she watched him as he crossed the room. Her eyes moved down the muscles of his back and thighs as he poured water into her basin. The muscles in his chest moved as he strode back to her. He spread her thighs, and Alice let out a sigh of relief at the cool cloth.
She stared down at what he was doing. “Have you done this before?”
“No,” he told her. “But a gentleman is taught what to do when he takes a virgin.”
“Is this a course they offer at Oxford?”
He smiled. “No. It’s a lesson a father tells his son.” Then he lifted the white cloth and showed Alice a touch of red on it. Blood.
“Is that my blood?” she asked.
He nodded. Then he leaned forward and kissed her. “You only bleed the first time. After that, we should be all right.” He moved back to the basin, dropped the cloth, and climbed into bed with her.
Alice was looking at the sheet when he settled in and stilled. “There’s blood on the bed.”
“I know,” he told her as he wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her down on his side of the bed next to him.
“Everyone will know,” she told him with wide eyes. “I must clean it before the maids get here. I know how to get blood out of a sheet. I’ve done it before.”
“You’ll do no such thing.” He kissed her head and settled her body over his. He pulled the sheet over them. “Go to sleep.”
Alice wanted to protest further but for some reason, she was very sleepy. Lulled by Calvin’s warm body, she was dreaming moments later.
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CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
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Alice’s bottom rubbed Calvin again, and he pressed his groin against her but held back from actually entering her body. She was still asleep but, more importantly, he knew she’d be sore that morning. He’d meant to be gentle with her the previous night but once inside…
She moved again, her fleshy backside teasing him. Before he could stop himself, he started to move his hips, running the length of himself over her. He placed his hand on her hip to gain some control, closed his eyes, and tried to concentrate on not disturbing her, but she was so soft and, with every stroke, he was leaking and making their friction all the better.
He pushed in a breath and closed his eyes as he went on, feeling himself reach the verge of a climax.
Alice moved again but this time she rolled on her back and stroked her rear up his shaft before sliding back down.
Calvin squeezed her hip and choked back a groan. “Are you awake?”
“Yes.” Her voice held just as much teasing as it did sleep. She wiggled.
Calvin shuddered and tried to hold her still. “Don’t move.”
“Why not?”
“If you move, I’ll want to be inside of you and I can’t be inside of you. Therefore, I need you to stay perfectly still.”
“Why can’t you be inside of me? You fit last night.”
He smiled leaned forward and kissed her shoulder. “You’re sore. I can’t have you again until later.”
“I’m not that sore.” Then, a moment later, she added, “I want you.”
Calvin pushed his face into her hair and inhaled deeply. “That would be unwise. If I have you too often too quickly, you’ll grow to hate it.”
“I don’t think that’s possible.”
He chuckled.
She wiggled her body again.
His shaft reached a new level of hard.
“Please,” she whispered.
He could refuse her no more.
She started to turn but his hand stopped her and lifted her leg. He grabbed his shaft and positioned it at her entrance. He was pleasantly surprised to find her wet. He rubbed the head of himself over her clitoris and entered her warmth.
Alice sighed.
He groaned.
They moved together and as the need grew, so did their movements. Eventually, Calvin hooked one of her legs over his and Alice leaned up on her side. She threw herself back and down on his lap, shouting and gripping him with her inner walls with every thrust. The sound of their flesh slapping and her shrieks of pleasure filled the room and Calvin didn’t hold back as he came.
Alice purred and twitched over him before falling back to the sheets. He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her closer before settling part of his body over hers and burying his face in her neck.
Calvin thought he could die inside her. Pleasure had never felt this way. He’d never allowed it to consume him the way he did with her, opening himself to her and everything she had to give. She had him completely and he wondered if she had any clue.
She turned around, dislodging him, and wrapped her arms around his back. His arms were still around her. He rested his head on her shoulder and told himself he needed to get up. There was much to do.
He lifted his head and was surprised to find her eyes closed and her arms easily giving as he backed away from her. He stared at her lean body for a moment before pulling the sheet over her, kissing her lips gently, and dressing.
He was back in his room at Francis’ house when he heard the knock.
He opened it and found Francis there with a note in his hand.
“Names and addresses of the St. George daughters. They were delivered this morning,” Francis said, handing it to him. “Who are you taking with you?’
Calvin looked at the list and said, “I need a good shot.”
“Morris hasn’t returned from wherever he slept.”
“Of course.”
“Will is barely holding it together after last night. You know what tragedy does to him.”
“Right.”
“Julius is up.” Francis shrugged.
“Just the man I need to see.”
And make sure he knows Alice is off limits.
Francis went on, “Though I’m starting to believe that if we’re all to go on these adventures frequently, it might be better if we all got good with a pistol. Rifles are quite difficult to carry on a daily basis. Getting serious about our boxing might be a good idea as well.”
“You think we’ll have more trouble after this?”
“Has Lorena returned to London?” Francis asked.
“Damn, you’re right.” He wondered why he’d not seen it before. He recalled the tame years before Lorena’s debut, and then recalled her burning down Emmett’s home a few months ago. Calvin slipped the note into his pocket. “Season’s almost over. Morris has the best hunting grounds. Tell him to host a party.” He started from the room.
“Let’s not call it a party. We’ve a friend in mourning.”
Calvin stopped and turned to look at Francis. “Am I bastard if I ask if the Marquess of Buckley’s death gets us all out of our scheduled commitments?”
“Yes,” Francis said with a lifted brow. “But only because you spoke it aloud. The rest of us simply thought it to ourselves.”
Calvin crossed his arms and leaned on the wall and grew serious. “How is she?”
“Bett
er. Like she said, it was only the shock that made her cry. The man treated her horribly but Evie loved him nonetheless. It’s what she does.” Francis told him. “I saw her this morning when I went to deliver some of Lorena’s belongings to the house. She plans on staying as long as Evie needs her.”
Calvin didn’t miss Francis’ personal sobriquet for Genevieve. While everyone called her Genie he’d always called her Evie. Everyone knew they dare not use it themselves or face Francis’ wrath.
Calvin, however, was in a positive mood and decided to test the waters. “You made the delivery personally? A footman could have gone to Evie’s for you.”
Francis narrowed his eyes but didn’t beat about the bush. “I wanted to see her.”
Calvin was surprised by the admission. “What’s your plan where she is concerned? You know Morris is planning to start courting her the moment sessions end.”
Francis stuck his hands in his pockets. “He’ll have to wait until after her mourning to do so. That’s a whole year.”
“I don’t believe he will wait.”
“Then he’s a cad.”
Calvin looked around the hall before turning to Francis again. “Was that information for me because you damn well know that I know.”
Francis frowned.
Calvin asked. “Why don’t you simply court Genie and be done with it?”
Francis shook his head. “It’s not that simple.”
“It is, actually.”
His friend lifted a brow. “Oh, so you’re the expert on courtship now?”
“Further along than you.”
“Ladies.”
They turned as Julius strolled from his room with bright eyes.
Calvin leaned off the wall to see around Francis and said, “She said yes.”
“Under duress, no doubt,” Julius said, coming to stand between them.
Calvin looked him over and said, “You’re in a good mood.”
Alice’s Shameless Spinster’s Society (The Spinster’s Society Book 2) Page 18