A Christmas in Cornwall: A Regency Christmas Novella

by Gill, Tamara

  Chapter 4

  The following morning May sat at the table, her body relaxed and still sated after her brush with William the day before. Just the thought of what they’d done together threatened to make her blush.

  Again…

  In the quiet comfort of her room after leaving William and unable to rein in her desires, she had touched herself just as he had. It was no stretch to her imagination to imagine the hands stroking her flesh were William’s. And although she’d not experienced the same powerful release she’d enjoyed in his arms, it was a pleasurable experience.

  And one she hoped would happen again, for it certainly would not after she’d taken her vows to God. May sighed, not sure what she was feeling about her impending future. As much as the nuns were lovely and very welcoming to her at the convent, William had shown her a side of life that she’d never thought to see, to experience. And to walk away from such a future, was no longer as easy as she thought.

  Her attention snapped to the clock. Would William be joining her this morning? Just as if the thought had conjured him, the breakfast room door opened and he entered. His greeting smile brought forth hers, and she watched transfixed as he selected his meal from the sideboard, giving her a lovely view of his backside in freshly pressed breeches.

  The memory of what his firm, perfectly shaped bottom felt like the day before left a delicious twist in her stomach. May reached for her tea, needing to something, anything than ogle the man.

  William settled beside her, reached for his linen napkin and placed it in his lap. A single finger glided over the top of her thigh and she stilled, not expecting the touch. “Did you sleep well?” he asked, eating as if his hand was not currently playing with her person.

  The blood in her veins boiled and warmth burst upon her cheeks. May met his gaze, the fieriness from his eyes all the poof she needed as to what he was thinking, wanting to do with her. She swallowed. “I slept very well. Thank you.” She cleared her throat, hating the fact he knew very well by her breathless tone he’d affected her.

  Cursing her inability not to be affected by him, she asked, “Why is your hand upon my leg?”

  He shifted closer, and the fresh scent of soap told teased her senses, not to mention the thought of William being naked… May revelled in his presence. William had a lovely complexion for a man, a healthy tan colour she could only dream of having. Her colouring was a pasty white shade. Some thought it a lovely English Rose hue. May had always thought it made her looked washed out like a ghost.

  “I like it there. I like how when I touch you here,” he stroked her through her gown at her most private of places, “you tremble, your eyes widening as your breath hitches. I love that you react to me in this way.”

  May bit her lip but kept her gaze locked on him. His movements remained unseen by the staff due to the large linen table cloth covering their lower bodies, but still, it was scandalous, and marvellous too. “I like that I react this way to you too.”

  He sat back. The sudden emptiness within her at the loss of his touch frightened her. She shouldn’t be so reliant on him. He would be gone in a month and so would she. But she couldn’t get enough of him. In truth, couldn’t stop thinking about him and what could be.

  William’s hands clenched on top of the table. “It is taking all my will not to lift you up, place you in front of me and take you here and now in front of everyone. I want you.” He growled the last and she shut her eyes to stop herself acting on his desire.

  The breakfast room door opened with a bang and May was startled back into reality. She needed to remember who and where they were. Her father with his concerns over the estate’s lack of finances did not need his daughter creating a scandal that would bring shame on him in their small community.

  “I didn’t expect to see you up so early, Papa. What has brought you down this morning?”

  He smiled and waved a newspaper at her. “I received the weekly news, my dear. I wanted William’s opinion on an investment I read about.”

  May listened as the gentleman proceeded to discuss said investment along with the latest on-dits in the society pages. She was thankful for the distraction and opportunity to escape since she’d finished breakfast before William had arrived.

  May stood and excused herself. She knew what she had to do. She had a little over three weeks left at her ancestral home. It was time she enjoyed herself as a woman before entering the church. She doubted William was looking for a wife, but a lover she had no doubt he would be agreeable to.

  And maybe she would as well if their time together yesterday was any indication.

  She strode toward the billiard room and paused to look at the small closet that sat nestled beneath the staircase. A wicked idea entered her mind and she made a snap decision to act upon her thoughts instead of mulling them over as she was wont to do and thus thinking herself out of exciting situations altogether.

  She entered the small space but left the door ajar. William always played billiards after breakfast, so hopefully today wouldn’t be any different.

  Heavy steps sounded before the stairs and May peeked into the hallway. A grin formed on her lips seeing William headed her way. Noting no one else about, she let herself be seen and then stepped back inside. The pause in step and the widening of William’s eyes she’d caught before going out of sight made her smile.

  He joined her a moment later and closed the door. Only a modest amount of light penetrated the space, just enough to see body forms, but no features. Excitement, trepidation and need thrummed through her and made her squirm. “What are you doing, May?”

  She stepped forward, no longer willing to miss the one opportunity she had with a man. In a convent, it was assured nothing like this would ever happen to her and during her Season in town, it most certainly had not. May skimmed her hands up his arms, his body taut as if ready to pounce. Was it too much to hope he would pounce and devour her?. “I want you too,” she said, finally answering the statement he had made at breakfast.

  * * *

  William forced himself to control his breathing. The four words he’d ached to hear finally left lips he hungered to taste. Had it only been yesterday since he’d pleasured her? It seemed like an eternity. He dragged May the rest of the short distance that separated them and kissed her. Hard. There was no slow seduction. No stopping how he felt for her or showing through touch what she did to him.

  Makes me burn and as grow hard as hell.

  He ran his hand into her hair, spilling the tightly woven coiffure to cascade down her back. She gasped for air, and he nipped her chin enjoying the moan of encouragement his action brought forth. He scooped her into his arms and placed her on the small wooden table he could only just see in the darkened space. Without letting her think better of what they were about to do he spread her thighs wide, stepped between them and slid her gown slowly up to her waist.

  A shiver rocked her body, but she didn’t halt his progress. Desire tainted the air, along with a scent that encompassed May entirely—roses, sweet and beautiful.

  William stood. “Lean back on your hands for me and just enjoy. Do you trust me enough to do that?”

  He felt her nod, before she said, “Of course.”

  She did as he asked and he pulled her morning gown down past one breast and took her puckered nipple between his lips. She moaned as he flicked the beaded flesh with his tongue. His cock hardened more and he wanted to thrust into her welcoming heat and make her his.

  Instead, he continued to kiss and tease her without touching any other part of her body. May writhed beneath him and he inwardly smiled. Her pants, soft moans and sighs drove him to distraction. He could listen to her decadent sounds for the rest of his life and never get bored. He released her nipple with a pop and pulled her pantalets over her slim hips and down her legs, exposing her to his hungry gaze. William lifted one foot and kissed along her leg. May shook in his arms, her hunger for him matching his. He reached her thigh and licked the softest skin he�
��d ever felt.

  “What are you doing to me?” She whispered, threading her fingers through his hair.

  “Everything I can,” he said, truthfully.

  May tensed in his arms, and it wasn’t hard to know why. Somehow she’d figured out what he wanted to do, and yet, she remained seated, her legs spread and open to him like a sweetmeat on a plate.

  William growled as he tasted her for the very first time. Unable to deny himself her essence a moment more, he flicked his tongue over her hooded button and stroked her mons, slow at first, his need to tease and bring her slowly to climax as important to him as the reason why he was here in Cornwall to begin with. “I want you to enjoy me, May. I never want you to forget our time together.” He stood and claimed her lips. She kissed him with matching fire, her tongue no longer hesitant but demanding, commanding as his. William’s body hardened to the point of pain and he slid his hand down her stomach, across her curls and into the sweet moist heat between her thighs.

  She moaned as he pushed a finger inside her tight passage. “Do you like that?” he asked, repeating the strokes over and over again.

  “Yes,” she panted, pulling him closer still. “What you do to me is truly…enthralling.”

  “I have plenty more enthralling to show you yet, beautiful.” William kneeled and added his mouth to where his fingers stroked. The flick of his tongue upon her flesh along with his touch, relentlessly teased her. And he couldn’t stop. The delightful gasps, the bite of her fingers splayed throughout his hair, holding him hostage against her flesh was the only place he wished to be.

  “William,” she moaned. “Don’t stop.” She lifted herself a little and undulated against his mouth.

  “Yes,” he said. “Take your pleasure. I want you to come.”

  Her movements became frenzied, her gasps louder, but he couldn’t tell her to stop or quieten. She was a hidden gem among the unforgiving landscape that was Cornwall and one he intended to enjoy for as long as she would allow him. Her body convulsed about his fingers and he made love to her with his mouth. May fell apart in his arms, her orgasm long and fulfilling if her heightened breathing, and soft continual moan was anything to go by.

  William stood and settled the hem of her gown. He took a deep breath, his cock throbbing with unsated desire. “Next time I will take my pleasure as well. Do you agree?”

  She clasped his sounders and pulled him close. “If you don’t take me soon, William, I may be forced to act in an even more unladylike manner.”

  He chuckled. “You promise?”

  She kissed him, long and deep. “Oh yes, that I promise.”

  Chapter 5

  May checked that the hallway was clear. Only a few candlelit sconces upon the wall burned at the late hour. She left her door ajar instead of closing it to save even the slightest sound that could result in her being discovered.

  The house was quiet, only the sounds of the distant ocean crashing over the shore thrummed from outside. Good. She didn’t need anyone awake to see her stealing away at this late hour.

  May padded down the stairs and left through the kitchen door. A well-worn path led down to a cove she hadn’t shown William on the day they went riding. She turned to look back at the house to be certain no one followed. Satisfied she was alone, she continued on. A flicking light of a ship off the coast told her what she needed to know—Stephen had arrived with the second-to-last shipment.

  She made her way to the cave partially hidden with sea greases and vines. Pulling them aside, she thanked the lord for the moonlight and found her lantern just inside the entrance. May lit it quickly, and shone it facing the vessel. She then sat and waited for Stephen to come ashore. She only had one more shipment to store for them after this one, and her time as a smuggler would be over. She would miss this life and the thrill she always received when the blunt they so desperately needed changed hands. Smuggling may be against the law, but when needs must…May had done what she must.

  A slight breeze blew in from the ocean and she shivered. Stephen had never told her what it was he was smuggling, but she assumed it to be sugar, lace or alcohol of some kind. Whatever it was, it didn’t matter to her. All that mattered was the money that would come in handy for her brother’s future and the care of an estate she loved just as much as her sibling.

  A small wooden craft slid onto the shore and Stephen jumped out, the usual group of men following him toward the cave. “Good evening, Stephen,” she said, shaking his hand, their usual response whenever they met.

  “May.” He bowed and gestured for his men to enter the cave. “I trust all is well here.”

  “Yes, very well.” She stepped away from where the men were stacking the crates and met Stephen’s gaze. “One more shipment and we’re done. Correct?”

  “Right ye are. One more.” He handed over an envelope and May placed it into the pocket of her cloak.

  “I can’t say I won’t miss our interludes, but I shall miss the money.”

  Stephen laughed. “Always forward. I like that in a woman.”

  She blushed but smiled. “Thank you. I’ll take that as a compliment.”

  He shifted his feet, no longer able to meet her eyes and she hoped she’d not embarrassed one of her oldest childhood friends. The thought made her laugh. “Hurry lads. We’ve not got all night.”

  “Well,” she said, “I’ll leave you to your endeavours. At the next full moon, our business arrangement is complete.”

  “As agreed. And it’s been a pleasure doing business with ye.”

  “I’m not sure if it’s been a pleasure, but it’s certainly been financially gaining.” May smiled. “When I’m in the village next I’ll check in on your mama.”

  “Thank you. You’ll send word if she’s unwell?”

  “Of course.” She turned for home, and walked the steep climb to the top. The breeze pushed at her back and an odd sense shivered down her spine that she was no longer alone. May looked about but couldn’t see anyone. With the moon so bright they would have to be hiding very well.

  Shaking off the chill, she went back inside then to her father’s den and left the envelope in his top drawer like she always had, every month for the last two years. And with one more payment her brothers future would be secure. Of course, he’ll never be rich and will have to work hard to keep the estate running, but at least he will be starting his life debt free and with a little blunt put aside for safe keeping.

  * * *

  May slept late the following morning, but the smell of hot chocolate brought her out of her delightful dream of William and his deliciously naughty mouth. Tired from the night before, she had allowed herself to sleep in longer than normal. Stifling a yawn, May rolled over and gazed out over the ocean that was visible from her bed. From here, she could make out the distant emerald sea that sparked in the sunlight. A pang of sadness clutched at her heart. She would miss her home and everyone in it. She would miss this view.

  Not to mention after being with William, she would miss him as well. In a month they would no longer be together, but away and living their respective lives. Not that she really knew what he did other than captain a ship and look after his estates from his office on the high seas.

  May sighed. She shouldn’t have allowed herself to experience anything with the gentleman. The moment his lips touched hers, she knew it would only make her time in the convent all the more painful to bear.

  And that time she would have to endure until she died. It was a sobering thought and one she ought to think more on, before rushing off to procure a religious habit.

  She slipped from the bed and dressed quickly. The need to see him again made her fingers fumble with her gown. Without waiting for her maid, May threw her hair up with an assortment of pins and left the room.

  She found him hitting the billiard balls around the game table, the deep frown line between his eyes making him look fiercer than she’d ever seen him before. Her step faltered. Should she interrupt his game? Deciding she should,
May said, “Good morning, William.” She smiled as he looked up at her. Nerves skittered through her stomach when his frown did not dissipate. If anything, it intensified. “Are you well?”

  “Well enough.” He paused, using the billiard stick to lean against. “How was your night?”

  May inwardly frowned, not liking his curt tone. “Adequate I suppose. How was yours?”

  William’s eyes narrowed, and May had a sinking feeling as to why she thought she wasn’t alone the night before.

  “The same. I took a little walk.”

  May smiled to hide her unease. “I should imagine it was quite cold out.” She gestured outside and to the storm clouds that were starting to build up. It would be raining by tonight.

  He shrugged, leaning back over the billiard table to take another shot. “Chilling, more like.”

  “Well, I shall leave you to your game.” Taking a fortifying breath, she concluded William wasn’t in the mood for company. “Have a good day,” she said, heading to her father’s study, not comfortable with how dejected she felt over his indifference to her. She found her father bent over his ledger, his lips moving as he silently tallied up the figures before him. “Papa, did you find the envelope I left for you last night?”

  He looked up and gestured for her to shut the door. “I did. Thank you my dear. But I’ve also had William in here like a bear, growling about your nightly walks. I think he may believe you have a beau waiting for you. He was acting most strangely. Almost like a jealous husband.”

  Warmth spread up her neck and threatened to consume her cheeks. “I’m sure he was only concerned for my welfare. Don’t read into his actions any further than that, Papa.” May sighed in relief knowing why William was angry with her. An odd sense of pleasure formed in her chest that the gentleman was jealous over whomever he thought she was meeting. Thankfully, her smuggling secret was still that. A secret. “I just left Lord Grandison in the billiards room. He was quite curt and I thought he may have found out about our arrangement with Stephen.”