by Laura Clarke
“It’s not proper,” she said.
“I’ve never been one for proper.” He drummed his fingers on the table. “One of the reasons why I’m not married is I’m different than most men.”
“How so?” Penelope clasped her hands together. On top of everything that had happened today, he was leading her in a direction that scared her. “You seem the same to me.”
“Perhaps I am in public,” he said. “But in private I’m a little more, oh, I’m not sure of the word to use. I’m afraid if I say dangerous it would frighten you.”
“You’re right about that,” she said. “As my guardian you’re supposed to protect me, you promised. When you use words like dangerous you don’t give an air of protection.”
“Who says a lover can’t protect a woman?”
He stood and pointed toward the end of the table. It was, as he’d said, bare, since it had only been the two of them at dinner. “If you’re nervous about taking up your skirts in front of me, when I’m not wielding a birch rod, that is, you can bend over the table and I’ll bare your bottom for you.”
Her body continued to shake. “You didn’t answer my question. You want to be my lover?”
The room seemed to be full of fog, as if someone had opened the windows and let in all the wispy air.
“I’ve frightened you,” he said.
“You’ve shocked me,” she responded.
“We’ll discuss it more in the morning,” he said.
“You’re making my head spin,” she said. “Either you want to inspect my bottom, or you do not.”
He advanced toward her, and Penelope backed up to the door. She wiggled the handle again. There was no key in the lock.
“Is that an invitation?” His husky voice made her close her eyes and groan.
“Unlock the door.”
“You made it sound that way.” He was right in front of her now. Even though he wasn’t touching her she could feel the heat from his body. “I do, you know, want to see your bottom. But I want you to obey me. Go to the table and bend over.”
“But I don’t know…” She leaned slightly forward and put her head against his chest.
“What are you afraid of?” He sounded somewhat amused. “You let me birch you easily enough. I saw your bottom then. Why are you putting up such a fuss about it?”
“Because I’m frightened,” she said. She looked up at him. His dark gaze looked onto hers.
“You’re not frightened, you’re curious, and attracted to the idea of a man playing with your body,” he said. “You didn’t love Bixley, yet you let him kiss and touch you.”
“I don’t love you, either,” she said.
“No, but I can guarantee I’ll give you much more pleasure than he would.” He ran his thumb from the edge of her mouth down to her chin and back.
“Well, when you put it that way, I’m ready to oblige you.” She ducked under his arm and went to the table where she moved a chair aside and bent over. She left her skirts in place.
Her hands trembled, and there was a large part of her that wanted to bolt from the room. The other part remembered the door was locked.
She watched as he walked toward her, his steps slow and even. When he was beside her he cupped her bottom and she thought she might burst into flames. He stepped behind her and placed his crotch against her backside.
“Oh, that’s not—oh,” she said. Was this how it felt when a man took a woman? Was the pressure like this, the incredible feeling of being right next to a person?
“Shush,” he said. He ran his hand down her back right before he pulled away from her and then thrust forward, pushing her into the table.
Her quim tightened, and her nipples pulsed with need. He did it again, and again, and again. Penelope clawed at the table.
“Oh, it feels incredible,” she said.
“Wait until I’m inside you,” he said.
“You’re going to… take me?”
“Not tonight,” he said. He leaned over so that his body pressed hers into the wood. “The first time is much more fun with a great deal of seduction.”
He moved away and started to gather her skirts. She wiggled her bottom in invitation and he dropped one side of the material and slapped her bottom.
“Did I give you permission for that?”
“Do I have to ask?”
“What do you think?” he asked, right before he slapped her bottom again.
She couldn’t help the words that came out of her mouth next. “I think I like this.”
“Yes, I thought you might.” One more slap, this one really just a tap against her now bare bottom. When he ran his fingers along the welts on her bottom she moaned.
“Not as bad as I thought,” he said. “But good enough to fool the maid.”
He tapped her bottom again. “Spread your legs.”
Penelope obeyed immediately. He ran his finger over her quim and she groaned.
“Get up on the table, on your back with your legs spread.”
She was such a whore, she thought as she obeyed him. Her body wanted to be touched, to be fucked. She would have allowed Andrew simply because she wanted a way out of this house. But then why was she allowing Emmett such liberties? She would think about the reasons later, after he’d touched her.
“You’re so beautiful,” he said. He ran his finger down the slit of her quim. “While you’re in bed tonight I want you to think about what it will feel like to have my prick in your quim, your mouth, your ass. Think about the way it felt when I thrust myself against you. Imagine how it will feel when we’re both naked.”
He massaged her ever so lightly.
“Your nipples are hard, and your clit is tightening,” he said. “Isn’t that right?”
“Yes,” she said. Mary had told her about a clit, the little bundle of nerves that could make a woman climax.
His fingers were inside her now, touching her ever so gently. It felt incredible, and when his thumb pressed against her clit she thrust up into his touch.
“What did I say earlier?” he asked. She was about to answer when he slapped his hand against her quim. She cried out as the sharp pain ran through her. “What did I say!”
“Not to move without permission,” she said.
“Get up.” He moved back to allow her to follow his instructions. “I’m going to unlock the door and you’re going to bed. You will not touch yourself. You will think about the things I mentioned earlier. Tell me what I said.”
“I’m to think about your prick inside me.”
“Be more specific,” he said.
She’d never experienced anything like this. If it was desire, she was not ready for it.
“I’m to think about your prick in my mouth, my quim, and my ass,” she said quickly, hoping it would help ease some of the pressure inside her.
“Go to bed,” he said. “We leave early in the morning, so we can get to Bath by mid-afternoon. We’ll be staying at my father’s house there.”
She started toward the door before she stopped and looked back at him. He unlocked the door and she raced around him, eager to get upstairs so she could think through the feelings that were taking over, feelings that were totally foreign to her.
Penelope wondered how she was going to make it through the ride to Bath. Her backside ached worse now than it had the day before. The marks were starting to fade, but not near as much as Penelope had hoped they would.
Plus, there was the man sitting across from her. He hadn’t brought up anything about what had transpired between them last night. He hadn’t asked about what she’d thought about last night, or if she had even dreamed about him.
She had, erotic dreams that had made her toss and turn and want to go up a flight of stairs to his bedroom where she would offer herself to him, right then and there.
Instead, all he was doing was reading a newspaper. They’d been on the road for less than an hour before he’d said, “We’re famous.”
“Excuse me?”
“You’re a future duke, and I’m a tutor’s daughter,” she said. “There will be no marriage. All you want is my maidenhead.”
“So, you’re psychic, are you?” He glanced up from his paper. “You know what’s in my mind?”
She looked out the window. “Can we stop and walk around for a bit?”
“No.”
“Please.” She didn’t want to sound whiny, but she was facing problems. “My backside aches worse today than it did before. I’d like to stretch my legs, and take some of the pressure off my bum.”
“Then lie down on your side. There’s plenty of room.”
“You’re a brute.”
“I can be,” he said. “Now, we have things to do. We have a party to plan.”
“A party?” Had he lost his mind? “May I ask the reason for the party?”
“It’s a welcome to Bath party,” he said. “I want all of society to know we’re there, especially Mary.”
She laughed. “She already knows. You know as well as I do that Andrew left for Bath the minute he left your house. He sought her out and he told her everything that happened between us.”
“Of course, he did, but I want to talk to Mary,” he said. “I’ve already sent ahead, and the staff is getting things ready for us. The party will be tomorrow evening.”
“Are you talking about a true crush?” she asked.
“Very much so,” he said. “The fact that our names have been in the gossip sheets will attract a great number of people. They will want to get a look at the young lady who caused such a fuss.”
“Shouldn’t you be included in the situation? You’re the one who busted in and caused the problem.”
He rattled the newspaper, then folded it and set it on the bench next to him.
“Only to your beautiful behind,” he said. “You know, it was when I saw you kissing Bixley that I decided I had to have you. Call it male pride, or jealousy, whatever you want. But my cock got hard when I heard you moan.”
“And here I thought you loved me,” she said.
“I love your body, and the soft sound of your moans,” he said. “To that end, let us play a little while we’re on the way to Bath. We don’t want to get bored. I want you to sit in the center of the cushion.”
She did as he asked without any questions. She loved it when he told her that her moans excited him. She savored the idea that he wanted to touch her. The fact he was jealous that another man had touched her made her body tingle.
“So we’re clear, this is not about marriage,” she said. “This is about sex.”
She’d been curious about sex ever since Mary had told her how things worked.
“Do I get to do more than bump into your cock accidentally?”
“Not today,” he said.
“That’s disappointing,” she said with a pout.
“Disappointments are part of life,” he said. “But if you turn them around they can bring about incredible pleasure. Now, I want you to reach out and grab the straps on either side of you. I’ll do the same and we’ll play a little game.”
“This should break up the boredom of travel,” Penelope said. She took hold of both straps, her shoulders pressing back and her breasts pressing out. Emmett did the same and his shirt tightened across his chest.
“Spread your legs,” he ordered.
“Should I lift my skirts first?”
“Do exactly as I say, and don’t add anything else to the game,” he said.
“You’re very bossy,” she said.
“Do as I say.” She did, and he followed her movement. She could see his hard cock pressing against his breeches. There was nothing for him to see because her skirts kept everything covered.
“It seems a little uneven,” she said. “I can see the outline of your prick.”
“And I can see the outline of your breasts,” he said. “They are rather magnificent breasts.”
“Thank you,” she said. A blush crept up her cheeks.
“I want you to tell me the truth about something,” he said. “If you do, I’ll take out my cock for you to see.”
“That’s a great trade,” she said. “Ask your question.”
“When you fantasized last night, what excited you the most?”
“That’s not an easy question,” she said. “I’m so inexperienced that all I could think about was you thrusting into me while I was bent over the table.”
“Were you naked?”
“In bed? Or when I was bent over the table?” She tightened her grip on the handles. If she didn’t keep her hands busy she would launch herself at him, and hope that more than her head landed on his crotch.
“Either, or both,” he said with a shrug of his shoulders. “Have you ever slept naked?”
“Wouldn’t you like the answer to your first question before you ask another?” She licked her lips, and she was happy to see his gaze darkened just a little. “Besides, if I answer one question I think I should be allowed to ask one.”
The carriage bounced, and she giggled.
“This is fun.” She wiggled her breasts. “Now, in answer to your first question the thing that made me most excited was seeing a cock for the first time. I want to know what it looks like. Mary told me things.”
“What sort of things?”
“Tsk, tsk, tsk,” she said. “I answered your question. Now I get to see your cock. I thought that was the rule.”
“The rules are for you to follow,” he said.
“That doesn’t seem fair,” she said.
“You keep using that word,” he said with a dark laugh. “You’ll soon learn nothing is fair. Still, you did answer my question, and well, if you were so excited about seeing my prick I suppose I should make your fantasy come true.”
“I would like that very much,” she said as the carriage jostled over another bump in the road.
“Now, you have to stay in position, with your hands on the straps. The moment you move the show is over.”
Penelope tightened her grip. “Please, show me. I want to see.”
“In your fantasy were you naked, or clothed?”
“Naked,” she said.
“In your fantasy or in real life?”
She squirmed just a little.
“That answers my question,” he said. His hand went to the stays on his breeches. He undid the buckle.
Penelope licked her lips and stared at his crotch. Was it her imagination or had it grown in the last few moments? Mary told her it got bigger as the lovemaking went on. How big did it get? She’d asked Mary that question but she hadn’t answered. She didn’t want to ask Emmett. She wanted to see for herself.
“You looked away,” he said. “Are you sure this was what you were fantasizing about?”
“I’m a little nervous,” she admitted. “But I do want to see.”
He undid a button, and then another.
“You’re moving too slowly,” she said as she let go of the left strap.
“Game’s over,” he said. He started to close his pants.
“Wait, wait,” she said. She put her hand back on the strap.
“Too late,” he said. He crossed his legs and cupped his knee as he interlocked his fingers. “You can entertain me by talking about your fantasy.”
“Doubtful,” she said. She let go of the handles and mimicked his stance.
“Let’s talk about this party you want to have,” she said. “I still don’t understand why.”
“Well, that has changed,” he said. “I received a message this morning that there were several parties we needed to attend. I decided that setting up one of our own would be too much work. We have other things to do. This is your first visit to Bath, right?”
“Yes.” She set both feet on the floor and pouted.
“Tell me some of the things you want to do.”
“We’re still in mournin
g. We can’t go to parties.”
“That didn’t stop you in London,” he said.
“Fine, on top of the party you want to go to, and the auction where we will recover the books, there are lots of things I want to do. I want to go to Almack’s, it’s all the rage, you know. Plus, there is a play at Drury Lane I want us to go to. Riding in the park will be fun. Shall I add more?”
The smile on his face made her body heat. “Of course, I’ve asked for many things from you, and gotten nothing, except a sore bottom.” She leaned toward him. “Please let me see your prick.”
“I’m sorry your bottom hurts,” he said. “Come across my lap and let me make it all better.”
She was too excited to not do as he instructed. She hurried to do his bidding, putting her bottom in the center of his thighs. He caressed her through the material of her skirt and petticoats.
When he started to pull the material toward her waist she moaned very softly.
“That’s the sound that attracted me to you,” he said. He ran his hand up her leg, stopping at the lace that held up her stocking.
“We’re going to raise quite a few eyebrows, living in the house without a chaperone.”
“Do you care?” he asked. His hand was under her skirt now, resting on her bare bottom.
“I should have known you wouldn’t wear any under things,” he said.
“I did it for you,” she turned to look at him.
“You want to have an orgasm, don’t you?” He stroked her bottom. “The welts don’t seem as bad as they were. Do they still hurt?”
“Yes,” she said. “Just a little, though.”
“Well, since you’ve been such a good girl, I’m going to make you come.” He righted her so that she sat on his lap, and then he kissed her. This one was gentle, sweet. He caressed her breast gently before he said, “Go and bend over the bench with your bum facing toward me, and I’ll give you what you desire.”
She turned to look at him. “Well, it’s about damn time.”
Chapter 8
“Spread your legs.”
Emmett’s words made Penelope shiver. She squirmed and tried to follow his instructions, but she felt as if she might tumble to the floor. Only Emmett’s strong grasp kept her from falling. He continued to caress her, running his hands up and down her thighs.