“Come now, I’m not that bad of a dancer, Juliet,” Ian teased.
“I’ve always enjoyed dancing with you.”
He whirled her away from Tony and Sophia. “I imagine you weren’t expecting Tony to propose.”
“As he will probably tell you, he did it to protect my reputation. He didn’t need to.”
“Perhaps there is more to it than that. He truly cares for you. Or can’t you imagine someone feeling like that for you?”
She grimaced. He had hit the mark closer to home than she liked. “You do know how to get to the point, don’t you?”
“I’m a Scot. We’re used to dealing with reality.”
She was quiet, allowing Ian to lead her around the room. She was terrified to trust her instincts and place herself into Tony’s power. She could so easily lose herself in him if she wasn’t careful.
“He won’t hurt you. Not intentionally,” McDonald said.
“Perhaps it’s the unintentional hurt that I’m worried about. He’s hiding something and I don’t know what it is.”
She glanced up and spotted the surprise in McDonald’s eyes. “You mean I’m right?”
“This is a discussion you should be having with your fiancé,” he said sharply. “Judging from your expression, I would say that you’ve already tried. Got distracted, did you?”
Juliet grimaced. She didn’t want to admit that the minute Tony touched her, she was a puddle of longing, but there it was. This was what came of reading those types of books. She had fantasized about what it would be like to have a man do those things with her. Now she had a man who wanted to, a man she wanted as much as any man she’d ever met. “You don’t know what you’re talking about, Mr. McDonald.”
Ian laughed. “I know more than you think, my dear.”
Juliet watched as his eyes followed Sophia as she danced with Tony. “How well do you like my sister, Mr. McDonald?”
He looked down at her in shock.
“Don’t worry. She knows you fancy her but nothing more.”
“It’s a hopeless case.”
She watched him for a long moment. He would be good for Sophia. He would ground her and make her realize that the world didn’t revolve around London Society. “Do not give up just yet.”
“And set myself up for more pain? I don’t think so. Miss Townsend is not destined to marry a cantankerous Scot. Time will allow me to get past these feelings.”
“Things change.”
“However, I doubt very seriously that her affections for me will change. I have no illusions on that front.” He whirled them to a stop and bowed. “Thank you for the dance, Miss Juliet.”
She dropped a curtsy just as Tony came up to claim her.
“Come, darling, let us dance,” Tony said, pulling her into his arms.
“There’s no music.” Juliet laughed as he spun her around the room.
“Who needs music?”
Juliet soaked up the boyish joy on Tony’s face. He was so handsome he took her breath away. His sparkling blue eyes, his smile, the warmth of his hand through her gown. She wanted this man who made her smile, who teased her out of black moods. This man who wasn’t afraid to dance without music.
What more could a girl desire?
Chapter Eleven
T
ony looked in the mirror, then wiped his hands nervously on his trousers. The hour was late. The clock in the entryway had just gone through its never-ending midnight chimes.
He’d left his dinner trousers on, along with his linen shirt, uncertain of what to wear for a midnight tryst with a lady. He should have paid more attention to this aspect of life, but he couldn’t bring himself to risk getting the pox and doing to another woman what his father had done to his mother.
His father had brought the illness home. It had cost his mother too many stillborn children to count, and her eventual demise, when she couldn’t handle the pain of carrying and losing another child.
There was no way he would expose the woman he took to be his wife to such horror.
Except now he was engaged and had no experience with this side of love. He’d seen enough debauchery to know what the basics were. He knew where to put what. But he didn’t know much more than that.
Deuces, so much was hanging on this!
If he ruined this, it would color his and Juliet’s whole life together. Tony took some deep breaths and cracked his neck. He felt as if he was going into the ring with Gentleman Jackson, not about to spend precious moments with the woman who would be his wife. He looked at the naughty book on his bedside. He picked it up and tucked it into the pocket of his dressing gown.
Perhaps he’d just get her to pick something from the book. He didn’t want to guess what Juliet wanted; Tony wanted her actively involved.
He’d never been more nervous in his entire life. He blew out the candle in his room and then opened the door silently, checking to make sure the halls were clear. The last thing he wanted was to be caught sneaking into Juliet’s room.
Tony quashed the nagging voice in his head that cautioned him to wait. He was tired of waiting. He was tired of being in pain from wanting her so badly. He was sick of having to stand behind chairs to disguise his want.
He needed Juliet.
He made his way to the other side of the house and scratched on her door, then opened it and stepped inside. The room was lit only by firelight. Juliet was in her bed. She sat up and clutched the quilt to her chest, then pushed her spectacles back onto her nose. An open book lay on the bed beside her. She must have fallen asleep reading.
Tony locked the door behind him and moved into the room. He removed his dressing gown and threw it onto the chair by the fireplace. He could hear the book drop to the floor with a
thunk
.
Books were everywhere—on shelves, in stacks on the floor by the chair. She wasn’t jesting about her love of reading. Tony would need to establish a proper library for Juliet in their new home.
“Tony?” she whispered. “What are you doing here?”
“I told you I would come.” He sat on the side of the bed. “You fell asleep reading?”
Juliet laughed softly. “I usually do.”
She looked so young, her braided hair hanging over her shoulder, a dark rope against her white gown. Her thin nightgown had slipped off of one shoulder, revealing creamy skin. Tony didn’t know where to start. “Is it all right that I am here?”
Juliet nodded, though her eyes were wide.
He felt foolish. It had seemed a good idea at the time, but now that he was here, Tony didn’t know where to start. He couldn’t just pounce on her. That would scare Juliet to death.
Tony hated feeling like this. “I brought the book—the one with the pictures.” He handed it to her. “Which ones did you like?”
“You’re serious about this?”
He bent and kissed her. “Yes. I am. I want you, Juliet. I’ve never wanted anyone like this.”
Juliet let the quilt drop as she accepted the book from him. Tony gulped. He could see her nipples through the fabric of her nightgown. “You are so lovely.”
“You’ve been drinking.”
Tony stood and walked over to the other side of the bed. He tossed the quilts aside and tugged on her hands. “I want you to see what I see.”
“Tony,” she protested as he pulled her up from the bed.
The gown hung down to just past her knees. He pulled her in front of the mirror with him behind her. Her head just came to his shoulder. Tony took her braid and released her hair, spreading the dark waves around her shoulders.
“I love your hair.” He brought a few strands up to his nose. “It smells so good. Like flowers and candy. As good as your skin.” His hands touched her shoulders.
“Tony, no.”
“See what I see, Jules. Look at this hair. So soft, so silky. Look at how it clings to my fingers.” He threaded his hand through her hair, brushing it from her shoulders. “Your skin is the same, incredibly soft. My skin isn’t like that.”
Tony pushed the nightgown further off her shoulder and kissed the skin he revealed. She shivered beneath his mouth. “So pretty.”
He could feel her breathing grow shallow. Her eyes met his in the mirror. “Shall I keep going?”
She nodded and bit her lip. Her eyes were wide but not frightened.
His hands moved down her chest slowly, until he could cup her small breasts. Her nipples were hard. He smoothed his hand down her body, molding over her slim hips. “Lovely.”
She leaned closer against him.
“May I remove your gown?” Tony whispered, his hands on the tiny buttons on the front of her gown.
“Remove your shirt first,” Juliet murmured. “I want to see you.”
Tony stepped back from her and pulled his shirt over his head, tossing it on the floor. He faced Juliet and waited for her reaction.
She licked her lips and he hardened. If she touched him for too long he’d explode. She ran her hands over his chest, curling her fingers in the hair on his chest. She pressed her lips to his skin, her tongue tasting him. She made a noise of pleasure as her fingers found his nipple.
Tony groaned. “If you keep that up, I’ll lose control. We have a ways to go before that can happen.”
He turned her back to the mirror and unbuttoned her nightgown. He brushed the edges off her shoulders and let it fall to the floor.
Now she was naked. Juliet moved to cover herself.
“No. Don’t. I’ve never seen anything so beautiful.” He fondled her breasts and thumbed her nipples, drawing them tight.
She was slightly built. Small breasts and slim hips with skin like satin. Dark curls shielded her femininity from his eyes.
Juliet turned in his arms and faced him. A blush covered her skin. She pressed herself against him and Tony couldn’t stop another groan. Her breasts against his chest was the most pleasure he’d ever felt. He wrapped himself around her, pulling her closer as his mouth found hers.
His tongue tangled with hers as she stood on tiptoe to better reach his mouth. Her fingers threaded through the hair on his chest. He moved his hands down her back and grasped her bottom. She wiggled closer to him, pressing herself against his cock.
He ravaged her mouth as he carried her back to the bed. He pulled the covers back and lay Juliet down. He wanted to savor every inch of her.
His mouth grazed the soft skin of her neck before dipping into the indention at the base of her neck. Her pulse beat fast and strong. Tony continued his quest down her body until he found her breasts. He pulled her breast into his mouth, sucking hard.
Juliet clutched his hair. “Tony!”
“Too much?”
She shook her head. “More.”
Tony pulled the other breast into his mouth. She tasted so good. He trailed his hand down the curve of her stomach to the curls at the juncture of her thighs. He parted her folds, teasing her nub. Juliet pushed herself against him.
“Oh, Tony. What are you doing to me?”
Tony looked up and blew on her nipple as he pushed one finger into her. She was so tight, so wet. He knew he wasn’t going to last long once he was inside her.
Juliet was out of her mind. She’d never known feelings like this. The pleasure of Tony pulling at her breast, his fingers playing with areas of her body she’d been afraid to explore. Oh, dear God, she should have explored herself before this.
“Am I doing it right?” he whispered in her ear as his fingers circled between her legs.
She squirmed under his playing fingers. “How should I know? Just don’t stop.”
Tony chuckled and kissed her belly. He moved down her body, pressing his mouth to her skin. She couldn’t stop quivering each time he nuzzled her skin with his mouth, with his hands.
“Does this feel good?” He nipped the flesh of her hip.
“Yes.”
He nipped her inner thigh, spreading her legs wider. “This?”
“It all feels good.”
He was kneeling between her thighs now, looking at her. “I saw this picture in your book and wanted to try it.”
His breath on the intimate place between her legs gave Juliet pause.
“Tony, I don’t think—”
His mouth found her center, brushing against the knot of nerves. Juliet couldn’t stop herself from trying to move away from him as his tongue laved her folds. It was too intimate, too much, even as desire flushed every thought from her head.
Tony held her hips, his thumbs caressing her skin, as his mouth continued to do wicked things to her. Juliet gripped the sheets with her hands, feeling so out of control that she needed to hold on to something. The heat built inside her. She needed more, needed something. “Tony?”
“I’ve got you.”
Juliet couldn’t hold back any longer. She pushed against him, shaking like a leaf in the breeze, and then collapsed on the bed as waves of pleasure rolled over her.
Tony kissed her between her legs one more time. He made his way up her body, leaving smacking kisses along her skin. “I hope you liked that as much as I did.”
He kissed her mouth softly, pressing his erection between her legs.
“You’re still—” she whispered. She reached down and palmed his cock through his pants with her hand. How was this going to fit inside her? It seemed impossible, but she still wanted it. She was empty and needed him to fill her.
“Not tonight, love.”
“But it’s your turn.” He had given her so much pleasure; he deserved the same. She remembered one particular picture in the book that showed a woman gripping the man as he relaxed on the bed. Perhaps this was something she could try.
“Lay back,” she whispered as she pushed him over on the bed.
“What are you doing?” He looked a little panicked.
She kissed him softly on the mouth before turning her attention to the buttons on the front of his trousers. She released his cock and wrapped her hand around it. The skin was silky soft against the hardness beneath. A drop of fluid appeared at the tip. She spread it with a finger, then took him in her hand and squeezed.
Tony groaned. “Easy, love. Like this.” He placed his hand over hers and showed her how to move her hand and how tightly to grip him.
Juliet watched Tony’s face as he squeezed his eyes shut and gripped his hands over hers, moving with her.
It didn’t take long, a few tight strokes, and Tony climaxed. He fell back against the bed with a sigh while Juliet continued to stroke him, curious.
“Better?” she whispered as she stretched out beside him.
Tony brushed her hair back from her face with his hand. “Yes.” He kissed her softly. “I need to clean up.”
Juliet watched Tony go to the basin in her room and wet a cloth. He cleaned himself and then refastened his trousers. Tony approached the bed and picked up her gown. “As tempting as you are lying there, you must be getting chilled.”
She smiled, loving the way he was looking at her, like a starving man. “Not really.”
“Then put it on for me, before I lose my head with you.” He tossed the gown to her.
Juliet pulled the gown over her head. “Why didn’t we . . .”
Tony settled in the bed beside her and pulled her into his arms. “I want to take my time.”
Juliet brushed his hair from his forehead. “I’m not sure I’m going to be able to wait.”
“Nor me. I want you too much.”
“Will you stay the night?”
“I shouldn’t. We’ve already played fast and loose with your reputation.”
“Will you at least stay until I fall asleep?”
“Sleep. I’ll be here.”
Juliet nestled into his side, her hand playing with the hair on his chest. She closed her eyes.
“Don’t forget we have a riding lesson tomorrow,” he reminded her.
Juliet groaned. “I was hoping you
would
forget about that.” She truly hated horses.
“Wear your breeches. I think it will be easier to teach you to ride astride rather than sidesaddle. I won’t risk anything happening to you.”
Juliet cuddled next to him, listening to the steady beat of his heart. He stroked her hair softly, tenderly, coaxing her to sleep. Her eyes grew heavy as his warmth wrapped around her. “Thank you, Tony.”
He pressed his lips to her forehead. “Sleep, my love.”
Juliet relaxed in Tony’s arms, finally succumbing to sleep. He continued to stroke her hair, letting the curls catch in his fingers. He couldn’t allow himself to fall asleep in her bed. He didn’t want any more damage to Juliet’s reputation. And while it would better serve his purposes to tie Juliet to him by any means necessary, he couldn’t do that to her.
Just as he couldn’t make love to her tonight. He’d wanted to. He’d needed to sink his cock into her wet tightness. Her scent, her taste was still tart-sweet on his tongue.
But he couldn’t do it. He had to give her a choice when the truth finally came out. At least he had held her naked in his arms. It had been heaven.
Juliet was sound asleep now, softly snoring as she drooled on his chest. He kissed her forehead and eased her back onto her own pillow. She stirred before turning away from him.