“Sarah, I have several errands. Please see that Samantha is properly attended to in my absence?” Liliah asked, widening her eyes as if communicating unspoken meaning.
Sarah studied her mistress, then gave a slow nod of understanding. Sarah had been long familiar with Liliah’s antics, even if she didn’t always agree with them.
“Very well.” Liliah nodded, exhaling a tense breath. Samantha gave one long look behind her as she followed the clerk, then disappeared behind the velvet curtain that separated the main shop from the fitting area.
Sarah followed, and soon Liliah was standing alone.
The prospect was thrilling, yet she found herself slightly reluctant to exit the shop. Instinctively, she knew that when she returned, she would be different.
It was a deliberate and very large step in her life, yet as she pondered Luc, she found she had more anticipation than trepidation.
Especially after the conversation this afternoon with her father.
The bell rang once more as she exited the shop. Glancing up and down the street, she searched for Lucas, wondering just how he planned to find her. Inwardly she chided herself for not giving him more information, yet she suspected he’d find a way to seek her out. After debating for a few moments, she took a left and started down the cobbled street away from the more popular shops. When Luc found her, she didn’t wish to have witnesses. She wanted to be ruined in body, not necessarily in reputation.
And she was quite certain there had to be a difference.
She glanced at the carriages rolling by, her attention drifting from the road to the shopkeepers lining the street, and her body started to relax.
“Having second thoughts?”
Liliah startled, then turned to smile at Luc as he gently touched her elbow.
“Not yet. Maybe if you’d waited a few more minutes. . .”
“Ah, then I’m just in time.” His clear blue eyes danced with a mischievous delight as his gaze lowered, studying her shamelessly.
Liliah’s body grew feverish with his study, and she grappled for something to say. “I must say, I had wondered how you’d locate me.”
“You’re difficult to miss,” Luc replied. “And if I’m not mistaken, our stolen minutes are numbered, are they not?”
Liliah swallowed. “They are.”
“Then let’s not waste them.” Luc arched a dark brow and glanced behind them. “I hired a hack, which I felt was in your best interest, since my carriage is quite recognizable. I’ll meet you at my residence . . . the driver knows where to go.” He nodded meaningfully, then paused, his expression guarded as he continued. “And should you change your mind, the driver will heed your request.” As he finished speaking, he waved a hack over toward them. Liliah was thinking of a witty reply when the carriage stopped, and Luc opened the door for her, offering his hand.
“I’m not so frail of heart, my lord,” Liliah replied as she took his outstretched hand and stepped into the carriage.
“Perhaps,” was all he said, then closed the door and tapped the side. The carriage lurched forward and Liliah leaned back, closing her eyes.
For a moment she thought of perhaps changing her mind, even after she spoke her brave words.
Yet the indecision was fleeting, and soon was replaced with tenacious resolve. If she were to learn about the act of love, then there was no other man she wanted to experience it with than Lucas Mayfield, Earl of Heightfield.
He was indeed a rake.
But he was an honest one.
And she held no delusions that he’d form some sort of attachment to her—which had to be for the best, did it not? She wasn’t expecting love—and he wasn’t offering it.
What she did expect was pleasure.
And if there was one man that personified carnal pleasure, it was he.
Chapter Eighteen
Lucas took his own carriage to his residence. He had considered a more neutral location, yet he resisted the idea. His servants were trained and trustworthy, silent as the grave. It was best to meet her at his London residence, where he could control the situation. As he stepped from his carriage, he took the steps to the door two at a time. The door opened immediately, as his butler was vigilant, and he gave but a curt nod before traveling down the hall and making his way to the back entrance of the house. Sure enough, the black carriage he’d hired turned the corner and started toward the assigned drop-off.
Lucas studied the carriage, both relieved and slightly surprised that Lady Liliah had followed through. Even for her brave words, he suspected she was slightly reluctant, as she should be! Yet he was sufficiently a rogue to hope she made good on all her talk.
His body agreed, enthusiastically.
As he took the last few steps to the carriage, he wondered at the wisdom of such a tryst. Liliah was no merry widow, nor was she a fortune hunter. She fit into none of the categories he’d assigned women to, which was both refreshing and confusing. In fact, his life had become exponentially more confusing since they’d met.
But after today’s encounter, there would be no more interactions.
At least that was the plan.
He opened the carriage door and held out his hand for Lady Liliah. Her white-gloved hand grasped his firmly as she stepped down from the carriage. He noted a slight tremble in her touch, and a twinge of tenderness hit him, yet he pushed the offensive emotion away.
“Welcome,” Lucas murmured as she glanced up at him, her blue eyes full of expectation and a hint of fear.
“Thank you.” She demurred, yet it wasn’t coy, rather it hinted at a shyness ignited by a passion that had been smoldering for days.
With a gentle tug, he led her toward the back door of his residence. The sound of the hack leaving punctuated their footsteps.
Lucas opened the heavy wooden door for Liliah, and waited a moment for his eyes to adjust to the dim lighting of the servants’ entrance. He made a mental note to see to its improvement later. Yet his attention was arrested by Liliah. The scent of rosewater perfumed the air around them, and he wordlessly led her to the back stairs. “I hope you don’t mind the more private route,” he remarked delicately.
“I’d much prefer it,” Liliah replied, offering a brave smile.
Lucas grinned. “I can only assume you’re familiar with your servants’ entrance as well . . .”
Liliah laughed softly. “You would assume correctly, my lord.”
Lucas paused at the top of the stairs, waiting till she glanced at him. Lifting a finger, he pressed it against her lips, watching as her expression grew curious. “From this moment on, I’m only Luc.”
Liliah nodded slowly, her soft lips rubbing against his sensitive finger. As he slowly withdrew his hand, she murmured, “Then you must address me as Liliah, no ‘lady’ before it.”
Lucas nodded once, then grasped her hand, leading her from the servants’ staircase into the main hall of the second floor. Their footsteps were soundless as they walked on the rich carpet. He glanced at Liliah, watching her study her surroundings. “Does it meet with your approval?” he asked with a slight edge to his tone. Was she finding his situation lacking? After all, she was the daughter of a duke.
“Offended easily?” She turned the remark back to him. “I find it surprising that you’d think any part of your person lacking.” Her tone held a teasing lilt.
“I do not. But I, however, cannot account for other people’s taste.”
“La, but you are a wicked one, are you not?” Liliah narrowed her gaze, her lips bending into a grin.
“I’d rather thought you’d be aware of that side of my nature—I’d rather think it was painfully apparent, given our current situation.” Lucas watched as the blood flooded to her face at his brazen implication.
Dear Lord. If she blushed so powerfully with insinuation, heaven help them once the door was closed.
Lucas glanced down the vacant hall once more, then opened the door to his private chambers. He had debated mightily about where to bed
Liliah, and while his private chambers wasn’t the most prudent of choices, he found it was exactly where he pictured her when he imagined the event.
The room was dominated by his mahogany bed with red velvet curtains at each corner. A fire burned warm in the hearth, and the scent of sandalwood and cedar permeated the air, relaxing the tautness of his nerves, erasing the last of his hesitation.
As he turned to Liliah, her gaze scanned her surroundings, taking the details into account.
“Is it as you expected?” Lucas asked, curious.
“Oddly, yes. It suits you.” She turned to face him as she pulled her lower lip between her teeth.
“Nervous?” Lucas asked, releasing her hand and starting to slowly circle her.
“A bit,” she answered honestly.
Lucas nodded, studying her as he made a lazy circle around her. He’d considered many different ideas for her seduction, and as he gazed at her, he debated among several.
Did he go in for the easy target? Use her passions against her to make the experience quick and effective?
Did he use the opportunity to coach her to benefit his own pleasure?
Or take it slow, building up the climax to the fevered frenzy his body craved?
“I rather feel like you’re a tiger and I’m your helpless prey.” Liliah arched a brow artlessly. “I wasn’t aware that this took so much forethought.”
Lucas chuckled, pausing in his stride. “That, my dear, is where you are most certainly incorrect, and where your innocence bleeds through your wit.”
“Is that so?” Liliah tipped her chin daringly.
“Indeed. And while I do not have to take my time in this area, I find that it pleases me to do so, and as such, you are quite at my mercy.” Lucas reached up and slowly unfastened his cravat, sliding the silk off his neck. Liliah watched with open interest as he set the garment on the side table.
“Should I . . .” Liliah tugged on her gloves.
“No.” Lucas shook his head. “Wait. It’s all about anticipation,” he stated, answering his own question concerning methods.
Slow and erotic.
His body almost wept in delight.
“Very well,” Liliah answered, her brow pinching slightly as he slowly unbuttoned his white shirt. As he stripped off his shirt, he tossed it to the side, his body pounding with heat at the fascinated expression in Liliah’s eyes.
Her gaze roamed his chest freely, exciting his body further. “Oh my,” she breathed, taking a slight step forward.
“Ah, no. Look only,” Lucas instructed, slowly striding toward her. Her chest rose and fell in quick succession, giving a luscious view of the shape of her breasts. With a mischievous grin, Lucas leaned forward just enough to feel the heat from her skin, to smell its fragrance, to breathe her air, yet not touch. Tilting his head, he moved from her hairline down to the curve of her neck, breathing out against her skin, grinning when she shivered slightly.
Her hands twitched as if to move.
“Wait, love,” he scolded teasingly. Breathing out against the sensitive space just below her ear, he leaned back and walked around her. Her gaze followed him, glancing behind her shoulder till he leaned in once more, this time nipping ever so lightly against her neck.
A soft gasp escaped her lips. “I—I thought we could not touch,” she challenged, but the effect was lost in the breathy nature of her tone.
Lucas chuckled lightly against her skin. “I said you could not touch, nothing about myself.”
She sighed softly as he nipped her again. “It hardly seems fair.”
“I care not.” He retreated slightly and carefully unfastened the few buttons at her back, belatedly realizing she’d had the forethought to wear something easy to remove, and replace.
Her forethought pleased him greatly, adding another layer of need to his already pulsing body. As he slipped the dress off her shoulders, his fingers tingled as they brushed the softest chemise she wore beneath. It was innocent and arousing all at once in its design and simplicity. Leaving just enough to the imagination to drive a man wild.
The dress pooled at Liliah’s feet, and as she shivered slightly, he ran his hands down her arms, savoring the smooth texture of her skin. “Turn,” he commanded quietly.
Liliah stepped from her dress, then turned, her expression wide and full of wonder. “When you touch me, it is like holding an open flame against my skin—yet no pain . . . I’ve never experienced the like.” She spoke with quiet awe and artless honesty.
Lucas nodded once, then tugged on her hand, pulling her in close. Lowering his head, he brushed his lips against hers, once, twice, and a third time before retreating. “Imagine that . . . but all over.” He used his nose to move her cheek to the side as he nipped her ear, then traced her jawline with his nose before capturing her lips once more.
He swallowed her reply with a searing kiss. His body strained against his remaining clothes, demanding he remove them and end the sweet torture of anticipation.
Yet he paused, and suffered and burned while he slowly tugged at Liliah’s chemise, only breaking the kiss long enough to remove it fully. He captured her lips once more, not wanting to give her a moment to think about what was taking place, his body growing fearful he’d not experience his own release should she back down from their agreement.
His body trembled with impatience, reminding him of how long it had been since he’d experienced the soft submission of a woman’s body. Willfully, he forced back his galloping passions and focused on the seduction—needing her to be as desperate as he.
He nipped at her lips as he reached up and cupped her breasts, glorying in the beautiful weight of them in his hands, the perfect shape of them against his fingers. She gasped as he touched her, but he silenced her shock with another kiss, then kneaded her artfully into submission. When he sensed her need growing, he released her delicate skin and quickly unfastened his breeches, stepping from them. His fingers caressed up her bare back and then moved back down, slipping around the last of her underthings and carefully removing them.
Liliah leaned back, her gaze unfocused, her breathing coming in soft gasps. “Dear Lord.”
“And we’ve only just begun.” Lucas grinned unrepentantly and spanned her hips with his hands.
Liliah glanced down as Lucas rubbed his most sensitive part against her. “Oh my.” She blinked and met his gaze.
Lucas simply grinned and met her lips once more, knowing that her mind was spinning; yet all she needed was to feel.
Damn, it was all he needed too.
With a chuckle, he released her from the kiss and lifted her in his arms. He muted her gasp with his lips before he set her on the bed and promptly covered her body with his. If she had any thoughts, she didn’t voice them as Lucas nipped at her lower lip, then traced his tongue against them, mercilessly devouring her as she opened her mouth to him. He situated himself just above her; feeling her hips reach up to meet him, he struggled against the primal need to go deep and hard into her. Grasping her hands, he twisted his fingers around hers, then slowly slid inside her, his body damn near coming apart at the warm and wet sensation. Her grip tightened on his hands and he paused, waiting for her body to adjust and welcome him. Bloody hell, he had to remember she was an innocent.
He was her first.
The idea was so damn erotic that he almost climaxed right then and there.
Breathing hard, he felt her relax slightly and he pushed in farther, swearing under his breath at the pleasure of her surrounding him. He wanted to push in deep, move against her, empty himself utterly—yet he resisted. Bloody hell, this was her first experience, he didn’t want it to be miserable.
He wanted it to be profound.
So profound that none after would compare.
So with Herculean strength, he waited till she was ready, and then without warning, he slid all the way in, flinching when she gasped slightly at her slight tearing.
“The worst is over,” he murmured against her lips, breat
hing in her breath, making it his own as he nipped at her lips, feeding off of their delights.
“It’s over?” Liliah gasped, her gaze focusing on his and blinking in confusion.
Lucas gave a small laugh, then kissed her sweet mouth simply for the pleasure of it. When was the last time he’d laughed during sex? He couldn’t quite remember.
“No. It’s not finished . . . but, if I’m correct, you are quite close, love.” He nuzzled her neck and then began to move his hips.
Liliah sucked in a shocked breath, then gave a soft moan of pleasure, causing his body to tremble with the need to release—yet he knew that he couldn’t let go within her, he’d need to pull out. His body and mind fought against one another, fighting what was right versus what was wanted.
And damn, he wanted to ruin her fully, utterly, and irrevocably.
“Luc,” Liliah whispered, burying her face against his neck as he moved swifter, harder, deeper inside of her as her hips rose up to meet him, their bodies mating with unreserved passion.
Her body stiffened slightly for a moment before she cried out, her hands clenching his as her breathing became great gasps as she slowly descended from her first climax.
Lucas ground his teeth as he waited for her to come back to herself, yet it wasn’t enough, his self-control had met its limit and he pulled out just before he spilled himself within her. His body shook with the power of it, his throat dry from the way it stole his breath, his arms trembling to hold him up over Liliah as he came back to himself from the soaring pleasure of sweet release. He sucked in a tight breath as the final spasms rocketed through him, and with jerky motions, he rolled off her and onto the bed beside her. His heart pounded out an excited yet sated rhythm as he turned to meet her wondrous gaze.
“I . . . have no words.” Liliah blinked, her expression one of marvel.
“I should hope not,” Lucas answered, studying the beautiful blush of lovemaking on her face. She was stunning, and his body grew hard with the idea of knowing her once more. Yet rather than follow his instincts, he rose from bed.
Falling from His Grace Page 10