Chapter 16
Robert lay on his side, watching Lucy dip her fingers into a jar of peaches preserved in honey. As she sucked the succulent fruit between her lips then licked the sweet nectar from them, his cock twitched. She was still in her shift that had got wet from the waterfall, though it was nearly dry now. She licked her lips again and giggled.
“What are you staring at?”
“Your lips. The ones that were around my cock just an hour ago.”
She flushed a deep crimson and swallowed what was left of the slice of peach.
“Robbie, I…”
He pressed a finger to her lips, finding them still sticky from the honey. He stuck his finger into his mouth to taste the sweetness and she waited patiently.
“You knew what you were doing.” He did not mean to sound as if he was accusing. He was more curious that anything.
She coughed and sat up looking away from him. “I was affianced once upon a time.”
Robert sat up and placed an arm around her. She tried to shrug from his embrace, but he used the other hand to pull her towards him.
“You loved him?”
“I… I did. At the time.
“And now?”
She sighed against his chest. He wished he had not redonned his shirt.
“No. I should but I do not.”
“He is not married to someone else?”
“No. He is in an asylum. He was injured in the war. A bullet to the head. Bad enough to injure him but not enough to kill him.”
“Edward Dick?” He felt her nod against his chest. “Damn, poor old Dickie. I did not know you were affianced to him.”
“No one did. It was a secret. It was six years ago.”
Robert did not like the sound of that. Mrs Dick had high hopes for her sons. She had hoped that Eddie would make a name for himself in the war and be appropriately rewarded, probably with at least a viscountcy. Robert thought this was rather insane. Few people were rewarded with peerages for bravery and the few that did had to go through sheer hell just to manage it. But Mrs Dick would have hoped for more than a Baron’s sister for Edward. And Edward would have known that.
“Why was it a secret?”
“Mr Dick thought it best until he returned from war.”
“I see. So, you had strong feelings for him and you and he…”
“I did not want him to stray or to get ill.”
Robert pressed a kiss into her hair, giving him a moment to try to understand her train of thought. He could understand the straying bit but the illness…
“You thought he may be unfaithful if you did not use your mouth on him?”
“He said men have needs. Well, I know that. You do. You poor thing. I have just made it worse for you.” She pressed her hand to the fall of his buckskin breeches that he had changed into before their picnic. He lifted her hand and pressed a light kiss to the palm before settling it on his shoulder.
Poor him, indeed. Devil take it. What nonsense had Dick told the poor chit?
“He said there was a thing called blue balls that men could get.” Robert made a non-committal sound. He did have to give Dick points for ingenuity. “He said it could cause him to become barren. Then he suggested if I could not accommodate him, he may have to seek help elsewhere. Oh Robert, he was terribly handsome and quite a few of the women in the village had set their caps at him.”
“So, he asked you to suck his cock?”
“Robert!”
“Well, I hate to put it so baldly, my love but it is essentially what you did.”
“I suppose it was.”
“Did you wish to do it?”
“I…” he felt her shake her head.
“Oh, my love. I am so sorry. I should never have allowed you to…”
“No. With you it was different. I did want to.”
“You did?”
“I did. Is that wrong?”
“Not at all. But my love…” He rolled her onto the blanket and positioned himself between her thighs. Damn it. She felt so good. So right. So perfectly where she should be. “I shall never go looking for another woman because you refuse me.” He looked deep into her eyes. “No harm shall befall me because you refuse to help me release my seed. Even if I do not use my hand to do it, I shall survive. No man ever died of blue balls. At times it may be deuced uncomfortable, but it is far from dangerous. Edward Dick was wrong to suggest that he would become ill or barren if you did not help him. He would have been fine. I should not speak ill of someone who has no right of reply due to an infirmity, but he is a rogue for what he coerced you to do.”
“Yesterday, in your dressing room…”
“Entirely my choice. Yes, I was painfully aroused. But had the house gone on fire and I had to escape, I could have left it well alone and dealt with the fire. You watching me, however, made me that bit more aroused. Do you know what you do to me?”
“I can feel it.” She rocked her hips and rubbed his hard shaft with her cleft. The buckskin of his breeches was an unwanted barrier. Robert eased himself away from her and unbuttoned the falls then settled against her damp flesh, moaning with need as she bucked again. He would simply give her another release by rubbing against her. Much though he desired to be inside her, he would not allow himself the pleasure. She was still an innocent, even if she has sucked his prick like a courtesan.
This time however he cared naught for her modesty. When the ribbon tie of her chemise would not undo, he pulled it down her arms.
“Robbie, it needs to be untied.” He grunted when he heard a rip of fabric. “Or perhaps not.”
“The steward is bringing five hundred pounds next week. Will that pay for a chemise?”
“What?”
“You needed a loan.” We can call it a fair trade. One chemise for five hundred pounds.” And then his lips were around that beautiful dark pink nipple and any protest she may have considered were silenced as she moaned his name. Robbie. Only his family called him that. He had never asked any other lover to call him the intimate name. But he wanted her to call him the name that made him feel wanted and loved and secure.
He thrust against her—her juices coating his cock, making it difficult not to just slip inside her heat. He wanted to. He was desperate to. But he would not. He moved to her neck, sprinkling delicate kisses there. An awareness of her nails digging into his scalp and back made him smile. Damn, it was erotic. She was such a sensual woman and she had absolutely no artifice. It was entirely natural. Her legs were wrapped around his hips and she bucked against him seeking her own pleasure. He caught her lips with his and he knew it was all over bar the shouting. Damn, he should have pleasured her first. He was going to come off before her.
“Robbie!” She had pulled out of the kiss and her lips were at his ear.
“I am sorry my love,” he managed. His apology was too late. It was going to happen.
“I am not innocent.”
“I am coming off, my love, I am sorry.”
He lost his rhythm as he ground himself harder against her. Damn she was perfect.
“Robbie, I am not a virgin.”
It was the last thing he heard as he reared up onto his arms and spilled his seed over her belly and chemise, his stomach clenching, his muscles like iron as pleasure pulsed from his core.
Not a virgin. Not innocent. Wet and wanting. He had to give her pleasure.
Robert settled on one side of Lucy and pulled her to him. He caught her mouth in a desperate kiss and he nudged her legs apart with his knee. Finding her folds with his fingers he rubbed her pearl with his thumb. When at last she began to relax and moaned, he slid one finger into her slick heat. She gasped.
He captured her gaze with his.
“I apologise that I took my pleasure first. It has been some time and I have somewhat lost my ability to restrain myself. Once you are comfortable with one finger I shall add another. If you wish me to continue.” She nodded mutely. He grinned. “You are so wet and tight. Absolutely perfect.”
And soon Lucy Butterworth was writhing in his arms and begging to be taken over the edge. Robert was in seventh heaven. After she had cried out his name as she had gripped his shirt and bucked against the heel of his hand, they had spent a long time just kissing and caressing one another.
“Is that why you refused to marry me?” he asked eventually. “Because you’re not a virgin?”
Her face coloured but she held his gaze.
“No, My Lord. This changes nothing. Today has been rather pleasant but I still cannot marry you.”
“Rather pleasant. Lucy!” He was trying to keep his voice under control. He did not want to sound angry. “Today was magnificent. I cannot imagine wanting another woman in my bed. I need you. Lie with me tonight. I promise I shall be careful.”
He ran the back of his hand over her taught nipple and he saw the moment she capitulated.
She nodded.
Perhaps if they made love he could break her defences. He could squirrel out the rest of her secrets and convince her in a post-coital haze that she could trust him and could marry him.
Perhaps…