“Is it me you don’t wish to know?” he asked her.
Her silence said everything and that hurt more than he thought it would. At every opportunity, she aimed to put distance between them. A smarter man would read her signals and leave her be but Morris was determined to break past that wall she kept around her heart.
“We can discuss this here or inside.”
She looked away. “Your mother wished me to come to the pond this morning.”
He grunted. “Isn’t it obvious why? She asked me to come as well.”
Sophia’s eyes widened. “Does she know?” She glanced over at Aaron suspiciously.
“All my friends know that you’re mine,” Morris told her. “And my mother.”
Aaron grinned.
Her gaze returned to Morris. “I’m not yours.”
His thumb stroked her cheek and he watched her cheeks pink. He smiled. “You are and whatever has happened to upset you will be put to rights. Do you wish to discuss why you are crying here or inside?”
She swallowed and turned toward the house.
Morris followed.
She led him into the library they’d been caught in the other day and he closed and locked the door behind him.
“There’s really no need for you to stick your nose in my business. I can handle it myself.” She’d crossed her arms and was standing by the fireplace.
He went toward her but instead of touching her fell into a chair that was a few feet away from her. He sensed she would need space for their discussion. He decided to not inform her of the fact that her business was his and approached the topic in the way that would offend her the least. “All right, then tell me what it is you are handling.”
She turned to him, her posture straight and guarded. “There’s a man here who believes we should marry.”
Morris stilled. “You mean someone besides me.”
She nodded.
“What’s his name? We’ll set him to rights on the matter.”
She laughed. “Oh, I highly doubt you will.” She shook her head. “Don’t worry about it. I can handle him.”
He watched her and decided he didn’t need her to tell him the name. Aaron would provide it. What Morris needed to know was why she’d been brought to tears at the thought of this other man approaching her. Surely, her father would not force someone on her. Mr. Taylor didn’t force his daughter to do anything, which could only mean the man had some other connection with her. “Is this man someone from your past?”
The noise from the rest of the house could be heard in low tones from the other side of the wall.
Their eyes locked.
“I slept with him.” Her voice didn’t waver or show any regret. “We had an affair.” She was trying to scare him away.
“He was your first.”
She turned her body away and went to the window, her back to him. “He was married but I didn’t know it at the time. I didn’t know it until his wife approached me.” She paused. “Apparently, she’d had one of her maids follow him, suspecting he wasn’t spending all his time at the gentlemen’s club like he’d told her.” She looked back at him, her face unreadable. “She was a country girl. She didn’t know the rules of Society, that gentlemen could do as they please and their wives should always look the other way.”
“Some men,” Morris told her, his anger growing at the thought of what this gentleman had done to her. “Not all men are like that.”
She shrugged as though she didn’t care about what he’d said. “Well, in the end, I broke it off with him and now Lady Helsby is dead and he wishes to replace her with me.”
Morris’ eyes widened. “Helsby? He’s here?” Morris knew the man well. “He’s old enough to be your father.”
She smiled sadly. “He can be quite charming when he wishes it.” She walked over and sat in the chair across from him. “I loved him and he broke my heart.”
He leaned forward. “And you believe I’ll do the same?”
“It’s a possibility.”
“It is,” he told her honestly. “But never in that way, I swear that to you.”
She didn’t take his bait. “And say we married. What if one day I refused to take you to my bed?”
“That wouldn’t last for long.”
She lifted a brow. “Why are you so sure?”
“Because you respond to my touch.”
She looked at her lap and bit her lip.
Morris knew her shields were lowering and decided to test just how much. “I’ve not slept with another woman since the day we met.”
She looked up at him. “You were going to marry Genie.”
“You were with Levi.”
She leaned away. “You refused to take me as your wife before.”
“We’ve already discussed this. I’ll not do it again. I’ll not aid you in justifying your anger.”
She stood. “Fine. Then we are done.” She was forced to walk past him to leave the room but before she could clear his chair, he reached out and pulled her down onto his lap. She fell with her skirts spreading around her and astonishment on her face.
He wrapped his arms around her to stop her from moving. “Are there things you regret about your past? Things you wish you could undo?”
She stilled through her brows were still pulled together, her breathing rushed. “Of course.”
“Then let us not play this game anymore. I regret what I did and said to you. Let it end there.”
She took in another breath and closed her eyes.
Morris pulled her closer and her body relaxed in his hold. He kissed her hair and breathed in her scent. “You work so hard to make sure that everyone else is happy and take so very little for yourself. Why is this?”
She adjusted herself and pressed closer to him, resting her head on his shoulder. The movement and her words helped him to relax. “I’ve been given so much in life. I dare not ask for more.”
He stroked her back and thought about what her words implied. “You mean when your father took you from the orphanage.”
“I could have been left there. He didn’t have to take me at all but he did.” She lifted her head and smiled. “I’m so very glad he did.”
His hand cradled the back of her neck, finding her skin to be soft everywhere. He held her eyes as he spoke. “I’m very glad he did as well. I don’t know how we’d have met otherwise.”
Her expression softened and she placed her hand on his chest. “Morris.” It was a plea for him to cease but he couldn’t. His heart was overflowing.
“Sophia, I love that you are the woman I fell in love with. You’re not only beautiful but strong and giving, and I don’t give a damn whose blood flows within you. All that matters to me is that it keeps your heart beating.” He wiped at her tears as he spoke. “That it keeps this gorgeous and kind woman alive.”
She kissed him first, grabbing his collar and pulling his head down to hers. He didn’t fight her or the power she had over him. Desires raged through him. His heart raced and his blood pulsed in his lower regions, awakening his need. Her hands moved up his neck and into his hair. Morris moved his hands to grip the chair arms and pulled his mouth away from hers.
Desperate for air and self-control, he took a deep breath. “No, Sophia. I didn’t want it to be this way. I don’t want you to think I only want you for your body ever again.”
She added more pressure to his head. “I want you, Morris. I want you right now.”
His cocked throbbed with life. “Have mercy.”
She leaned up and licked his throat. “Make love to me, Morris.” Her voice had deepened with her desire. “It’s what I want. You’re all I want.”
He kissed her and then tried to stand while lifting her. “Not here.” He had no clue how he’d make it to one of their rooms. It had been so long since he’d been in a woman, he feared spilling with his next step.
“Yes. Here. Now.” She fell off his lap and pulled him down to the floor. “I can’t wait any longer.” Her
hands swept down his chest and stroked him through his breeches, her fingers trembling as he undid his buttons.
He let out another breath when he finally finished the job. His member rose to meet her and soft eager hands, coating her fingers and making her movements slicker. He moved his body out of her reach, crawling away, and resting his head against her heart. He’d never been this consumed by a woman before.
He lifted his head and met her eyes. “Are you sure?”
She cupped his face and smiled. “I want you, Morris.” She kissed him and he fell on top of her.
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CHAPTER FOURTEEN
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Sophia was unsure if she’d ever wanted anything more than what she had at that moment, Morris in her arms, his mouth on hers, his hands touching her thighs. She’d avoided him for a week, but she knew deep in her heart she’d eventually give in, that she would let her heart lead and risk it with him.
His heat, the warmth of his mouth, and his clever tongue heightened the experience. She was more than ready for him and when his fingers made it to her mound, she knew he’d noticed.
He groaned, a sound full of agony and pleasure.
He broke the kiss. “I’ve no way to protect you.”
Her fingers played in his hair, wishing they had more time to explore one another. She wanted to see him naked, see his powerful body as it moved over hers, watch his muscles flex as he took her, making her his in the only way he could. “It’s all right, I’m protected.”
“How so?”
She kissed him. “Let’s talk about it later.”
He chuckled against her lips and lifted his head further away. “That’s not the way this works. Later can be too late. I already plan for you to be my wife but I don’t want you to feel trapped into it.” His honor warmed her heart to the point that it ached.
“I’ve started drinking smartweed,” she whispered. “I can’t get with child at the moment.”
“Smartweed?” He frowned. “What is that?”
Sophia sighed. “It’s an herb that stops a lady from getting with child.”
He stilled and set his hands on either side of her head, studying her. “Where did you get this information?”
She smiled, knowing her answer would be unexpected. “Maura.”
He blinked. “Maura? Where the hell would Maura learn a trick like this?”
“From her father’s journal. He’s very fond of herbs. This one grows all over the world but he found that the people in Turkey drink it nearly every day and women in a native group in America drink it to keep from getting pregnant.” Maura’s father, Dr. Shaw, was an explorer and there had been talk about knighting him for his findings upon his return to England.
Morris continued to watch her for a long time and then asked, “And exactly how many of you Spinsters are drinking this tea?”
Every lady who had a mate was on the tea and she’d joined them in its consumption a week ago but instead of telling him any of that, she kissed him and wrapped her arms around him. He fought to free himself and she bit his lip.
He growled and in seconds he had a hand on her hips and the other directing his cock to her slick entrance. He penetrated her slowly, opening her body an inch at a time, and moving in short strokes that drove her wild.
She pressed her lips together and threw back her head as she came, her body quivering over him and tightening around his member. She felt wanton for coming so quickly and so suddenly, and like a woman who lived to be pleasured, she wanted more.
He filled her then and locked his hands on her hips as he fed her more of himself.
“Yes,” she whispered with every savage pump of his body, in between begging him for more and asking him to never leave.
Morris leaned forward, settled on her body, and wrestled his tongue with hers. Scorching heat was rocked into her. The sounds of their lovemaking filled the room, their scent hanging in the air, their fevered moans and desperate coupling pushing Sophia to her extremes.
She came again, the sweet feeling ripped from her body right before he filled her, still taking her with angry thrusts until the end.
He cradled her as he spoke his next words. “Shall we tell our parents tonight?”
She swallowed, trying to find air. “Tell them what?”
He lifted his head. “That we’re getting married.”
Sophia touched his moist brow and cheek. She didn’t want to ruin the moment, yet she didn’t think this could wait until later. She didn’t wish to be cruel. “Morris, I can’t marry you.”
His expression became bland. “I spoke too soon.” He kissed her. “We’ll discuss this later in your room.” He sat up, wiped her with a handkerchief, fixed her dress, then rose. He began fixing his clothes and Sophia watched him for a moment, unsure of what she was waiting on. For him to take back his words? She stood and righted her dress.
“Morris, I’ve not changed my mind about us… well, I believe we can have one another occasionally but I can’t marry you.”
“There are already rumors.” He started to redo his cravat.
Sophia stepped forward and took over. “What rumors? What about?”
His expression remained neutral. He didn’t seem to find pleasure in his words. “A servant seems to have spread it.”
Sophia had been so sure that Lady Beth would keep what she saw to herself and even encourage her friends to say nothing. Perhaps it was their morning in the stairway that had started it all. “Well, this should work out beautifully for you, shouldn’t it?”
He handed her the pin and his hands went to her waist. “This was not the way I wanted it at all.”
“Oh, but you did want to compromise me.”
He smiled. “All right, perhaps this does please me slightly but in the end, I know I’ll make you happy.”
Sophia secured the pin and met his teal eyes. “How can you be sure?”
When he was back to being his perfect duke self, he took her face in his hands and kissed her slowly and heatedly.
Sophia became dizzy under the pressure of his lips.
He pulled away. “Come hunting with me tomorrow morning.”
“I don’t have time,” she immediately said. “Though I would love to.”
“Then do it.” He smiled softly and kissed her once more.
By the time she opened her eyes, he was gone.
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CHAPTER FIFTEEN
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"I can't believe you all do this every day." Calvin pointed his rifle to the snow-covered ground and looked at the other men. "It's cold out here." His eyes showed his annoyance.
"No one forced you to come." William sat on a fallen tree and had already taken a knife to his game, cutting around the deer’s backside in preparation for purging it of its insides. His shirt sleeves were rolled up to keep blood off him.
Morris leaned against a tree and smiled when Calvin made a face.
"Can't you do that inside?" Calvin asked.
"Outside is better," Morris said. "The cold covers the smell."
Calvin sniffed the air. "Does it?" He didn't look like he agreed. There were moments when Calvin was more refined than the rest of them. He was not a hunter, which never bothered anyone because no man in the Men of Nashwood enjoyed everything the others did, yet somehow, they all managed to remain friends.
Hugh, who'd also joined them that morning, enjoyed going for long walks without a weapon much more than hunting, but he went out a few times because that was the way of an earl. The other man who stood by him was Rollo. They'd just finished for the morning but none of them had made a move to go inside.
Morris looked toward the house as his impatience grew.
He'd hoped that Sophia would come but apparently, she would not. He hadn't known what he'd been thinking to invite her. He supposed he simply wished to share with her something he enjoyed. He'd never felt that way about any woman before. He'd never wanted a woman to understand him but Sophia…
He was mad for her.
Calvin looked at them all. "Are we really going to stand here and watch William slaughter a deer?"
Hugh hung his black head before lifted his dark blue eyes to look at Calvin. "Calvin, what's the difference between me and you?"
Calvin narrowed his eyes and tilted his head as he studied Hugh. "Well, I'm better looking."
Morris and the others chuckled. Hugh was the Earl of Evoy while Calvin was wealthy gentry but even that wasn't what Hugh had meant and Calvin knew it.
Hugh smiled. "No, I mean, what's the difference between you and the rest of us?"
Calvin looked around the group and shrugged. "I don't know."
"You're engaged," William told him, his blade hanging between his legs. "We're not."
Calvin shrugged. "So?"
"There's a party going on," Hugh said. "A party with unmarried women who none of us wish to entertain."
Understanding dawned on Calvin’s face. "Ah." He scratched his chin. "There has to be at least one lady in there of interest to you men."
"Not this again." William looked defeated.
Rollo pointed at him. "Not one more word."
Calvin lifted his hands and stared in bewilderment. "What did I say?"
Morris came to his defense. "It's not you. You're simply not the first man of the group to suggest the others marry."
"It's like a disease." William stabbed his blade into the tree. "First Emmett, then you, then Francis. We're succumbing to it one at a time."
"What?" Calvin put his arms down. "You mean love? Love is great." He looked at Morris for support. "Tell them."
Miss Sophia's Spirited Spinster's Society Page 10