Lords of Honor

by K. R. Richards

  “Married lady talk? Like marriage bed talk?” Harry persisted.

  “Nothing derogatory, don’t worry, Harry. And, I’m not telling. It was amusing. Nothing like what we divulge. Of course once you marry, like you, it seems men divulge nothing anymore. Your sexual encounters, once you marry, become private and sacred, or some such thing.”

  “Tell me what was said Elveston, or I’ll have to kill you,” Harry threatened with a smile and a laugh.

  Jack laughed. He bent his head and whispered to Harry and Lyon, “They were just talking about how they get you hard, that’s all. They exchanged some information, offered some suggestions. That was it. They laughed and giggled all the way through it.”

  Harry and Lyon smiled. They both shook their heads.

  “I’m just beginning to realize that our wives could be trouble together, Lyon.”

  Lyon brandished Harry a broad grin. “I agree. We’ll have to fill Micah in. I fear our wives are thick as thieves already.”

  “Yes, it would seem so. We’ll warn Micah. Now back to work. Sit down, Jack. We’ll fill you in on our plan.”

  “Is that one of your new gowns, Libby?” Micah asked as he entered their chamber. The ladies retired upstairs to get ready for dinner forty-five minutes earlier. Lachlan and Newt stood watch in the hallway while they bathed and dressed for dinner.

  “Yes, it is. Do you like it?” Libby swished the sapphire blue skirts about.

  “Very much.” Micah came to stand behind her. He placed his hands on her waist and leaned around her to kiss her cheek. He paused to look downward so he might admire the display of her very lovely breasts. He proceeded to place soft, feathery kisses along her neck. She smelled of lilacs. “You took a bath without me?” His voice was deep and husky.

  “Yes, I did. You were not here. And thank you for the lilac soap, Micah. Your water is being brought up now. The tub should be ready for you in a few minutes, husband.”

  “If you weren’t dressed already, I’d ask you to bathe with me,” he whispered as he nibbled on her earlobe.

  “I will go downstairs and wait for the other ladies; I must be a good hostess, after all.” Libby turned to face him. She placed a kiss to his lips. She meant to pull away, but Micah held her to him and deepened the kiss. She smiled sweetly up at him when he released her.

  “Your hair is beautiful, though I will enjoy shaking the pins from it, and brushing it later. Martha is getting used to your hair, I see.”

  “Yes. She is very good, even with my heavy hair.” Libby leaned into her husband.

  “Is everything going smoothly with the household, sweetheart? Mrs. Clarke told me you are a very competent mistress. But I was quite aware of that already. I know you have run Roseland for a number of years.”

  Libby smiled with pride. “No problems at all. Today I could not spend as much time with Mrs. Clarke as I wished, due to the attack. Tomorrow, hopefully, I will have more time. Did you gentlemen finish your planning?”

  “We did.”

  “Can you not tell me about your plan?” Libby arched a curious eyebrow at him.

  “Tonight, after dinner, Harry will announce our plans, sweetheart. I would tell you, except, one of the gentlemen has to inform his wife of his important part in the plan. She may be upset. So, since rumor has it you ladies are as thick as thieves, I can’t tell you. Harry’s orders, not mine. I promise you, when we come to our room tonight, I shall talk about it all you want.” Micah hugged her to him. “You’re not angry with me, are you, Libby?”

  “No.” Libby shook her head. She smiled up at him. “But, you best tell me everything tonight!” She pulled back and prepared to walk away.

  “I promise. Now go, my lovely wife, before I drag you into the tub with me, new gown and all, and thoroughly ravish you!”

  Libby shrieked with laughter as he lunged for her playfully. She eluded him, but not before he smacked her bottom lightly with his palm. Grinning, she left Micah alone in their bedchamber.

  “Sophia?” Lyon entered his bedchamber. His lovely wife was perched upon the settee with a book. She had bathed and dressed for dinner. She looked stunning in an emerald silk gown, with her coppery hair arranged in a top knot with a mass of shining flame-colored curls framing her face. The gown fit her well and displayed her lovely breasts perfectly. He noted she wore no jewelry. Come to think of it, he did not remember her wearing any jewelry at any time. He decided at that moment he would purchase some emeralds for her at his first opportunity while in London. Emeralds would be exquisite with her eyes and against her creamy skin.

  “Sorry, my darling, I’m running a bit late. Our meeting just adjourned. I will bathe and change quickly,” Lyon smiled as he began to loosen his cravat.

  “I’ll go and leave you to your privacy.” Sophia rose quickly.

  “Please, don’t go, Sophia. I need to talk to you. Please sit.” Jack pulled him aside earlier and privately told him the deeper content of the ladies’ conversation. That Sophia thought he did not desire her, or want her. The knowledge pained him. He was trying to respect her, not hurt her. He did desire her. He did want Sophia. Tonight he would show her. Share with her. But he must tell her something else first.

  Lyon joined her on the settee. “There is something I need to discuss with you.”

  Lyon watched her eyes grow wide. She looked frightened. He reached for her hand and took it in his.

  “Yes?” she whispered.

  Lyon caressed her fingers tenderly. “We’ve decided to try and find this Mr. Crow. Since I’m the only one who has been close to him and knows exactly what he looks like, I’m going back to London.”

  Sophia was stricken with the loss. The fear. She said, “No! Surely someone else can go. You said your friend Newt saw him twice.”

  “They would suspect a trap if another one of us showed up in the opium dens, Sophia. They know Newt pulled me out and locked me up. The last Mr. Crow and his cronies saw of me I was a hopeless opium addict. That is what they will see when I return, however, I won’t be addicted to opium. Nor will I drink alcohol or take laudanum. But they will think I am doing so.”

  Lyon continued, “I’ll have two men near me at all times. Both Cornishmen sent by our friend Trevan Chynoweth. They will meet me in London in three days. We have to find out who Mr. Crow is. We must know if he is in charge of the Brown Coats or if someone higher up is. We have to stop this. We cannot continue to live like this, darling; stuck inside Horethorne Hall, all of us in fear of being attacked, unable to go out of doors or travel safely. I worry for you, Sophia.”

  “Can you go into an opium den and not smoke the opium, Lyon. Can you do that?” Sophia asked heatedly. Her cheeks flushed when her anger rose.

  “I can. And I will, for you, Sophia. I will do this for you.” Lyon bent, and kissed her gently at first. When Sophia responded, he allowed the kiss to deepen. The passion grew between them. He was surprised when he felt the wetness of her tears.

  “Sophia, darling? Why are you crying?”

  “I’m worried about you, Lyon. I’m worried about your being hurt or killed. I’m worried about the opium. Mr. Crow and those men wanted to kill you before. That is what they planned. What if they do it this time? We’ve never even had the chance to truly be man and wife…I wanted that. I know you do not, but I do.” A small sob escaped Sophia.

  “Shh, Sophia.” Lyon gathered his petite Sophia into his arms. “I do want us, Sophia. I do.” He whispered against her ear. “More than anything. I knew you didn’t directly after that night. Once we arrived at Horethorne Hall, I feared I might make you angry again. I was afraid to break the fragile bond we just made. The first time we conversed normally was in the carriage on the way here from London. I promise you, Sophia, we are truly man and wife. We’ll start tonight, this moment. Do you feel like going down to dinner?”

  She wiped her tears away and shook her head.

  “We’ll stay in our rooms. I’ll go find someone and have our dinner sent up. Would you like th
at, darling?”

  Sophia nodded.

  Lyon rose and walked out their bedchamber door into the hallway.

  Sophia could hear him speaking to someone. A few moments later he came back in.

  “I saw Libby out in the hallway. She will have our dinner sent up in about an hour. ‘Tis early yet.” Lyon did not return to his seat beside her. Instead he bent and scooped his wife up and into his arms. He carried her toward the bed, albeit he moved slowly with his wounded leg. He set her gently on her feet. He quickly unfastened her emerald gown, allowing it to pool upon the floor. He unlaced her stays. Her petticoats and chemise followed. Soon, there was just Sophia, standing naked before him save her garters and silk stockings. He made a quick job of plucking the pins from her coiffure and shook out her coppery hair. He pulled the creamy silk bed coverlet down.

  He picked her up in his arms once again and tenderly laid her upon the soft, smooth sheets. He divested himself of his clothing quickly. Minutes later Lyon lay naked alongside her, kissing her, touching her, wooing her. He rose up and gazed into her green eyes as he said, “I want you Sophia, more than I’ve ever wanted any other woman. I think about you all the time. I’ve been in agony these past weeks. Since…then. I want you and I want us to be truly man and wife. I want us to love, to have children, to be happy together.”

  “Truly?” she asked, a soft smile turning up the corners of her mouth. Tears threatened. She blinked them back.

  Lyon smiled back at her. “Yes, Sophia. I’ve been in sheer agony. I thought you might never want me that way again.”

  “I do want you,” Sophia’s hands ran over his arms, his chest. “I’ve thought of you every day as well, Lyon,” her voice was silky.

  “I want you, only you, Sophia.” Lyon’s lips traveled to her breasts. He suckled her, his tongue teasing and arousing her. He moved downward, over her flat belly. Lower still to the triangle of red-gold curls at the juncture between her thighs. His fingers, his lips, his tongue gently explored her folds. His tongue found the sensitive nub and brought her to the peak of exquisite pleasure. His fingers moved inside her. He didn’t stop until his wife found her release and was left panting and boneless.

  Sophia could see he was hard and ready for her. He moved upward and settled himself between her legs. He studied her face for long moments, smiled, then dipped his head to cover her lips with his. Lyon kissed her deeply, passionately. Their tongues entwined, they lost themselves in the joy of their kiss for a long time.

  Sophia felt the tip of his engorged erection at her opening.

  “Sophia, my darling.” He whispered in her ear as he nibbled on her lobe.

  “Oh, Lyon.” Sophia’s hands moved over his shoulders. She smiled up at him.

  Lyon smiled down at his beautiful wife. He entered her slowly. She was so tight. So hot and wet. He sighed from the warm pleasure he received merely from being inside her. He moved slowly at first. His strokes were sure, slow and deep. They moved in unison this way for a long time, tenderly loving one another. Sophia’s hands traveled over his back, his shoulders, and his muscled buttocks.

  She matched his movements, raising her hips to take him deeper. Her fingernails dug into his shoulders. She moaned in between his kisses. Lyon’s lips traveled over her face and neck, her shoulders, then upward again to claim hers in a long, slow, tender kiss.

  Sophia liked the feel of Lyon inside her, on top of her. Her hands explored the hard muscles on his back. She squeezed his tight buttocks, pressing him closer, deeper. Her fingers moved upward to tangle in his sandy hair. She was on fire. She burned. Everywhere their bodies touched, his heat seared her. She felt alive, warm, even loved. She gazed into the handsome face above hers. She saw tenderness in his brilliant blue eyes she did not remember seeing before. She looked into pools of blue so bright and deep she realized she could drown in them.

  “This is how we were meant to be Sophia, my darling.” Lyon never before experienced such a connection. He never felt so joined to a woman. He felt as if their souls merged this night, that they were indeed one. He focused on her eyes, glittering green and gold. Her coppery hair sparkled in the lamp glow. He studied her lovely, oval face, marveled at her delicate bone structure. Everywhere he touched her, her skin was soft as silk. Her lips were full and moist from his kisses. He lowered his head, drinking of her sweetness and her goodness. Lyon drank like a man thirsting for an elixir to save his dark soul.

  The first ripples of white hot heat erupted from the tight coil in Sophia’s abdomen. They grew and became powerful waves that washed exquisite pleasure through her entire being.

  When Sophia found her release in his arms, she moaned and arched upward against him. Lyon lost his control. He thrust faster, deeper and tumbled headlong into the abyss of ecstasy with her. Lyon groaned loudly from the power of the euphoric release that claimed him completely, body and soul. He spilled his seed deep inside her.

  They lay sated and boneless. Lyon rolled to the side, pulling her into his embrace. His hand stroked her pale shoulder. He inhaled the rose scent of her hair. “My Sophia,” he whispered and smiled at her, “my hell-cat.” He lifted his head to kiss the corner of her mouth.

  “So this is what it is like without the drug?” she asked him, her voice soft, sultry.

  “Yes. I hope you found it to be better.” Lyon turned to regard her with curiosity.

  “It was. It was beautiful, Lyon.” She caressed his face with her hand.

  Lyon captured her dainty hand, kissed her palm, then each one of her fingers. “You, are beautiful, Sophia.” He placed a soft kiss to her temple. “The most incredibly beautiful woman I have ever gazed upon. And you are mine, my wife. I am a fortunate man.”

  After long minutes of whispers and tender caresses, Lyon rose from the bed. He opened her wardrobe. “Where is your wrapper. We must cover ourselves. Our dinner will arrive soon.”

  “It’s light green, on the right.”

  Lyon pulled it out and brought it to her. He put his trousers and shirt back on. “Come with me, darling. Join me while we wait for our meal.” He came to her and helped her from the bed. Keeping her hand in his, he brought her to a wide chaise. They reclined upon it, side by side, facing one another. They smiled and kissed. Whispered and caressed.

  When the knock sounded on the door Lyon bade her stay on the chaise. He brought the tray and set it on a table beside the chaise. He lifted her to a sitting position. Side by side, they ate. They drank his watered down wine from the same cup. Lyon refused to drink any other kind of alcohol since the incident.

  After they finished their meal, Lyon reached inside her gaping wrapper and caressed her breast. “I could not help myself, Sophia. The sight of your lovely breast tempted me.” He teased the rosy tip into a hard pebble. His hand moved down. He pulled the sash, opening her wrapper completely. His fingers feathered downward, over her flat belly to the triangle of red-gold curls. They slid further to her caress her tender folds. He teased her until she came. After she recovered he eased her back and made love to her again on the chaise.

  An hour later, after his bath was prepared, Lyon carried his naked wife into the dressing room and placed her into the large, roomy tub. He joined her. They loved again.

  ..

  The men did not meet after dinner. They joined Rowena and Libby in the drawing room. Harry and Micah retired with their wives early.

  “Lyon said Sophia was upset, Micah. And I can’t blame her. It is very dangerous what he is doing.”

  “He volunteered, Libby.”

  “It makes it no less dangerous.” Libby looked into her husband’s silvery gray eyes as they lay together in the tangle of their bed sheets. She whisked away a lock of dark brown hair from his forehead. “I could not bear knowing you were doing such a thing. Promise me you will never agree to such a thing.”

  “I cannot promise anything of the kind to you, Libby. Lyon does what he does to free us all from being harmed by these men, to find the man in charge. If I felt it neces
sary, Libby, I would do the same.” Micah ran his finger along her jawline and let it glide lightly down her slender neck, and lower still through the valley between her breasts.

  Libby nodded slightly. She didn’t like it. But Micah was Micah. He was honorable and that was part of why she loved him so.

  Micah smiled down at her. He dipped his head to place a quick kiss to her lips. He was a fortunate man. His wife was sweet, lovely and sensuous. He was head over heels in love with her, and she with him. There was love and passion between them.

  “I know a little of what happened between Lyon and Sophia. I know how they came to be together. I know that she worries he does not truly want her as a wife, for she told us he does not touch her. And now this,” Libby sighed, “Poor Sophia. Rowena and I tried to help her. We told her some things.”

  Micah grinned. Jack, Harry and Lyon briefed him on the ladies’ conversation earlier in the day. He understood then. That’s what it was all about, to help Sophia. “Oh, you gave her some advice, did you? What did you tell her, Libby?”

  “I told her she should be naked in the bed. For every time you see me naked you get hard. You even told me so yourself in Salisbury.”

  Micah tried not to smile.

  “That is true.” His hand slid down her back, grazed her bottom, and moved back up to rest upon her breast.

  “Rowena told her to touch his…well to grab his cock.”

  Micah couldn’t help it, he laughed. “All good advice, sweetheart,” he nodded with a grin lighting his face. He felt Libby’s hand move down his chest, to his hip and lower still. Her fingers began to lightly caress his cock. Of course, he began to harden instantly as her hand closed about him and moved up and down the length of him. “Very sound advice, actually,” his voice was thick with huskiness.

  He eased onto his back after she pushed at his chest with her free hand. He savored his Libby’s ministrations. When she released him, and climbed atop to ride him, the exquisite pleasure she gave him nearly drove him out of his mind. He arched upward, pushing himself deeper into her each time. They exploded together, fused in blinding ecstasy as they peaked. They flew together, soared, then floated gently back to rest in a tangle of limbs, heaving chests, and loving whispers. They were both left boneless and sated from their blissful union.