Surrender Amanda Quick

by Surrender (lit)

  through gritted teeth. I knew this was

  going to be a mistake. I should never

  have allowed you to talk me into bringing

  you here."

  Hurry, Lucas. They are about to begin

  another round of play. You must rescue

  Ferdie."

  Now listen to me, Victoria ."

  I am not leaving here until you have

  rescued poor Ferdie. He's a very sweet boy

  and he does not deserve to get chewed to

  pieces by this Duddingstone person. Go

  on. Save him." She gave Lucas a slight

  push in the direction of the card table. I

  promise to stay out of sight."

  Lucas swore softly, but like any good

  soldier, he appeared to recognize defeat

  when he saw it. Without a word he

  turned on his heel and started back into

  the crowd.

  Victoria could see very little of what

  was happening, but a few minutes later

  Ferdie Merivale emerged from the throng,

  Lucas directly behind him. Victoria noticed

  that one of Ferdie's arms appeared to be

  twisted at an odd angle behind his back.

  The young man did not look happy as he

  preceded Lucas out into the street.

  Victoria caught Lucas's commanding

  glance and followed the two men at a

  discreet distance. Outside she could clearly

  hear Ferdie Merivale complaining loudly in

  a slurred voice.

  Damme, stone vale, you can't do this.

  My luck was about to turn. Just a few

  more hands and I'd have had the man."

  A few more hands and you would be

  obliged to leave town tomorrow to rusticate

  indefinitely in the country. You would not

  care for that, Merivale. You are a city

  creature. How much had you already lost

  to Duddingstone?"

  Ferdie muttered something indistinct

  and Lucas shook his head grimly. I

  know you don't much appreciate this

  at the moment, Merivale, and I am not

  particularly enjoying myself, either, but

  neither of us has much choice. Perhaps

  tomorrow you will be grateful." Lucas

  signaled a passing coach.

  Bloody damn, stone vale, I don't want

  rescuing. I can handle the play," Ferdie

  wailed drunkenly.

  Do us both a favor. Next time you

  decide to throw away your inheritance,

  do it someplace where I am not likely

  to witness it. You have been a greater

  nuisance than you know tonight." Lucas

  tossed the young man into the coach and

  gave instructions to the driver.

  The coach rattled off down the street

  and Lucas stepped back. He turned to

  look at Victoria.

  Satisfied?"

  That was very well done of you, my

  lord." Laughing with relief and pride in

  his rescue efforts, Victoria stepped off the

  sidewalk to join him. I swear, you have

  my undying gratitude even if you do not

  have Ferdie's."

  She saw him open his mouth to say

  something in response, saw the startling

  change in his expression as his eyes went

  to a point behind her, and then she heard

  the clatter of horses" hooves on stone and

  the rattle of carriage wheels.

  The wheels sounded much too close.

  Victoria turned around to see just how

  close and saw a black carriage drawn by

  two black horses bearing down upon her.

  At that moment the safety of the walkway

  seemed miles away, and the scream that

  began in her throat disappeared into the

  pounding hooves and the screeching wheels

  of a carriage.

  Then something heavy struck her, carry

  ing her back out of the path of the hurtling

  carriage. She sprawled under Lucas's full

  weight as hooves and wheels went past

  scant inches from her booted foot.

  Some drunken idiot showing off his

  lamentable driving skills, no doubt," Vic

  toria said from the opposite side of the

  carriage.

  No doubt."

  She tried to see Lucas's expression in the

  shadows. She was still somewhat shaken

  from the near miss, but mostly she was

  bubbling over with the excitement of the

  entire affair. Her main concern now was

  for her companion.

  Lucas had uttered barely a word since he

  had helped her up from the pavement and

  tossed her into a carriage. She could feel

  the angry tension in him. He was absently

  rubbing his leg and she wondered if he had

  hurt it rescuing her.

  You were very quick, Lucas. I vow I

  would have been run down if you had not

  moved so fast."

  Nothing.

  Does your leg pain you very much?"

  I'll survive."

  Victoria sighed. It is all my fault, isn't

  it? If I had not insisted on going to that

  gaming hell tonight, you would not have

  hurt your leg."

  That is certainly one way of looking at

  the incident," Lucas said.

  I'm so sorry, Lucas."

  Sorry?"

  Well, not about going to the Green Pig,

  precisely," she admitted candidly. For I

  did have a marvelous time. But I am

  terribly sorry you got hurt." Impulsively she

  slipped across the short distance between

  them and sat down next to him. Here, let

  me massage it for you. I am quite good

  with horses, you know."

  Is that a recommendation?"

  She smiled, relieved to hear the unwilling

  humor in the question. Of course. One

  needs to learn how to soothe a spirited

  animal after a bruising ride."

  You're the one who probably got

  bruised. You were on the bottom. You

  are certain you're not hurt?"

  Oh, I am quite all right. One of the

  useful things about men's clothing is that

  it provides much more protection for the

  body than an evening gown. If only you

  had not twisted your leg when you threw

  yourself toward me the way you did."

  As she talked she put her hands on

  his thigh and probed experimentally. She

  was instantly aware of the strong sinew

  and muscle under her fingers. The snug

  fitting breeches hid nothing of his natural

  contours. It was almost like touching his

  bare skin, she thought as she cautiously

  began to knead his leg.

  Lucas made no move to stop her. He

  simply sat there looking down at her as

  she worked over him. Victoria concentrated

  fiercely, anxious to bring him some relief

  from his obvious discomfort.

  There was very little give in him, she

  thought, squeezing the solid muscle. Hard

  as stone.

  I really do appreciate what you did for

  Ferdie Merivale." Victoria found herself

  speaking quickly in an effort to fill what

  seemed to her a highly charged silence.

  Her fingers dug deeper into his thigh.

  I'm glad you do bec
ause I doubt that

  Merivale does." Lucas sucked in his breath.

  Easy, if you please, Vicky. That is my

  injured leg, you know."

  Oh, yes, of course." She lightened her

  touch, glancing up to see his expression.

  Is that better?"

  Much better." He was silent for a

  moment longer and then he said, You do

  have excellent hands. I envy your horses."

  This time when she looked up into his

  shadowed face, she realized he was smiling

  slightly, a piercingly sensual smile that sent

  a rush of heated awareness through her.

  She could feel the tension in his leg

  changing in some indefinable fashion and

  she found herself running her palm along

  the inside of his thigh.

  He lifted a hand and drew his slightly

  rough fingertip slowly down the line of her

  throat to the nape of her neck. Victoria

  held her breath, sensing he was going

  to kiss her. She'd learned to recognize

  that glittering gaze. She'd seen it on the

  occasions when she'd stood with him in her

  aunt's garden after an evening's escapade.

  The anticipation alone was enough to set

  fire to her senses.

  Lucas?"

  Tell me, Vicky, do you like my good

  night kisses?"

  I ." The words seemed to get caught in

  her throat. Yes. Yes, I do."

  One of the things I like about you, my

  dear, is that you can be so delightfully

  honest at the most interesting times." He

  threaded his fingers through her hair and

  then his hand tightened on the back of

  her head, urging her close. I wonder if

  you have any idea of how it affects me."

  She went to him willingly, tumbling

  across his lap as the coach swayed and

  jounced. With a soft little sigh of pleasure

  she wrapped her arms around his neck and

  lifted her face for his kiss. There was no

  doubt about it, she thought, her appetite

  for this sort of thing had been well and

  truly whetted by those previous kisses in

  the garden.

  Lucas's mouth came down on hers, his

  tongue sliding along the edge of her lower

  lip, seeking admittance.

  Eager now for the heat and excitement

  she always found in his good-night em

  braces, Victoria nestled closer. His arms

  were strong and hard around her, and

  when his hand moved to the buttons of her

  waistcoat, she made no move to resist.

  All the pent-up excitement of the evening

  was flowing through her and this was the

  most thrilling moment of all. Victoria

  barely felt her cravat being loosened, but

  when his fingertips glided down her throat,

  she tightened her arms around his neck.

  Lucas laughed softly against her mouth

  as his fingers went lower to part her

  waistcoat and shirt. There is something

  rather strange about unfastening men's

  clothes on you, sweetheart."

  Victoria could not respond because he

  was suddenly cupping her bare breast in

  his hand. She gasped instead and went

  taut. Then, instead of protesting, as she

  knew she ought, Victoria turned her hot

  face into his shoulder and clutched him

  tightly.

  Do you like the feel of my hand on

  you, Vicky?"

  She nodded jerkily. Yes." She could feel

  her nipple tighten under the touch of his

  thumb.

  So honest. Can you feel what you're

  doing to me?"

  She could. He was growing hard beneath

  her buttocks. His thighs parted slightly,

  making her even more aware of the solid

  shape of his manhood beneath the tight

  breeches.

  Lucas, your poor leg."

  I assure you it is not paining me in the

  least right now.

  We must stop."

  Do you really want me to stop touching

  you?" Lucas whispered.

  Please don't ask me such a question."

  Breathlessly she dug her fingers into the

  muscles of his shoulders and strained

  against his hand. She was growing hotter

  and she could feel a warm dampness

  between her legs.

  As if he, too, knew about the moist

  heat between her thighs, Lucas moved

  his hands down to the fastenings of her

  breeches. Victoria completely lost her voice

  just when she knew she should be raising

  it to its loudest level in a fierce demand

  for him to halt. Instead she was suddenly

  fascinated with the masculine scent of his

  body and the sensual tension in him. Her

  fingers clenched and unclenched on his

  shoulders.

  You are damp and ready for me,

  aren't you?" Lucas slid his hand inside

  the open breeches and found her secret

  warmth. Your body is already preparing

  its welcome.

  Lucas."

  Do not be embarrassed, my sweet. I am

  glad to know you want me as much as I

  want you. When the time comes, we are

  going to deal very well with each other."

  Dazed, she managed to lift her head long

  enough to look up at him. When the time

  comes?"

  Not tonight. I would much prefer a bed

  instead of a carriage seat for our first time

  together. And I want all the time in the

  world, not the few minutes we have left

  before we reach your home."

  Lucas, we must stop. We must." He

  had never touched her like this and she

  did not know how to handle her own

  emotions. A delicious sense of eagerness

  was gripping her.

  Are you sure you want to stop, little

  one? You feel so good, darling." His mouth

  was on hers again and then on her throat

  as his fingers slipped lower, parting soft

  petals to seek out the tiny bud of desire.

  So damned good. And you want me. Say

  it, Vicky. Give me the words at least."

  Victoria sucked in her breath as the

  wondrous sensations made her tremble in

  need. She wanted to tell him again that

  he must cease touching her so intimately,

  but she knew she could not. Not yet, at

  any rate. She wanted more of this exotic

  feeling and she sensed that only Lucas

  could provide her with what she desired.

  The words, sweetheart. Is that so much

  to ask?" His voice was gentle, coaxing,

  intimate. All I'm asking is for you to

  tell me what you are feeling. Does this

  feel good?"

  Yes, oh, Lucas, yes." She squeezed her

  eyes shut so she would not have to meet

  the gleaming satisfaction she knew she

  would find in his intent gaze. She twisted

  helplessly against his probing hand.

  Keep talking to me, sweetheart. Keep

  telling me how you feel when I touch you

  like this." He slid one finger gently into her

  warmth.

  She cried out and muffled the sound

  a
gainst the fabric of his jacket.

  And this ."

  She flinched and suddenly she could not

  get enough of his long, sensitive fingers.

  She lifted her hips, silently pleading for

  more but not knowing what it was she

  sought. Lucas, do that again. Please touch

  me again."

  Like this, my sweet?" His fingers worked

  magic in the hot, damp area between her

  legs. God, you are beautiful, Vicky. You

  respond to me as though you had been

  made for me."

  Please." She could barely speak as she

  arched her hips and writhed again beneath

  his touch. I don't know I can't Please."

  Yes. I know. I will. Just give yourself up

  to it, darling. Do you want me?" he asked

  again.

  Oh, yes, yes, yes." And then she was

  beyond thought, beyond speech. Something

  tight and vibrant that lay coiled within her

  suddenly released itself without warning,

  reverberating through her body until she

  was shivering. The small convulsions made

  her tremble from head to toe, but she was

  not cold, nor did she know any fear.

  She had never felt so joyously alive in

  her life.

  And then she collapsed in an exhausted

  little heap against Lucas's hard chest.

  So beautiful. Such a sweet, hot passion."

  Lucas dropped light, reassuring kisses all

  over her face and throat as he withdrew his

  hand from between her thighs and hastily

  refastened her breeches. I will go out of

  my mind waiting for you. But I do not

  think you will make me wait too long,

  will you, sweetheart? You would not be

  so cruel."

  Victoria hesitated until she could breathe

  normally before lifting her head away from

  his shoulder. The carriage was already

  slowing. She looked up at him, still dazed.

  He was smiling faintly, a warm, knowing

  expression in his eyes.

  That was ." She licked her lips and tried

  again. That was very strange."

  Think of it as an experiment in natural

  history."

  An experiment?" In spite of her odd

  mood, the laughter welled up inside her,

  revitalizing her and flushing away some

  of the sensual lethargy that had held

  her in thrall. You are utterly impossible,

  my lord."

  Not at all." His smile was gentle, but

  there was a disturbing heat in his eyes.

  The things I want to do with you are all

  quite possible. Some may be improbable,

  but not impossible."

  She was staring wordlessly into his eyes

  when she suddenly became aware that the

  carriage had stopped. She gave herself a

  small shake and her fingers flew to her