Surrender Your Grace (12 page)

She felt a gentle tap on her tender bottom and the heat of his breath along her skin as he crouched down behind her. “None of that now, what happens between us in private isn't anything for you to be embarrassed about. I love the way you respond to my touch. Let’s get these drawers off you.” She felt the material slide down her legs as he helped her out of the garment. “Now, spread your legs wider and I’ll see what I can do about this other burning, my love.”

Despite the indignity of the position, she obeyed and when the coolness of the air reached her inflamed intimate flesh, she felt the warm lap of her husband’s tongue. She groaned as he soothed the ache, licking the throbbing hard bud then moving further up and inside her tight channel. “Oh Andrew, what you do to me?”

The vibration of his chuckle against her sensitized flesh made her gasp in delight and she wantonly pressed back against him, searching for more. He played for another few minutes then she felt him rise and stand behind her. “I must have you this instant,” he declared in a husky voice and his length speared deep inside her. Clasping his large hands to her silken hips, he began to glide smoothly into her. He noticed that her arched back opened her up and she accepted every inch of him. The pleasure was almost too much to bear as he increased his pace.

“Merciful heavens, Cici, you fit me like a glove.”

“It's happening again, Andrew. The pressure is too much to bear.”

“Let go then and come for me. Grip my cock with those tight little muscles as you take your pleasure.” Faster and deeper he plunged until he felt her intimate grip. As she climaxed she reached back and clasped her small hands around his wrists. Her nails dug into his flesh as she emitted a guttural groan and began to quiver and convulse beneath him. He quickly followed and his husky groan was the last sound before he collapsed on her back.

“Thunder an’ turf wife, I am like a virgin with his first woman around you.” He ground his hips against her bottom savoring the feel of her before he softened and had to pull out. “We are going to have to practice until we can build up our endurance.” Standing, he looked down as he withdrew from her body. The sight of his shaft glistening from their combined juices was very erotic.

He helped her to stand and turned her into his arms. She was a sight. Her long hair mussed and clinging to her tear-stained flushed cheeks. Her chemise had slipped off her shoulders further exposing her breasts and her nipples were still peaked in arousal. “You my beauty, look like a well chastened and well-loved wife. Do you think you learned a lesson?”

“Oh yes, I learned that I am woefully uneducated in the marital act.” She then gave a dramatic sigh and leaned into him. “The sad thing is that you appear to be all used up and out of practice. So I should have married a younger man who can keep up with me.”

She squealed as his hands dropped to cup her hot bottom and she was pulled up against her husband in a full body embrace. “I’ll show you what this old man can do my sassy little tease.” She didn’t mind the discomfort of his hands or the firm pressure of his desk against her aching derriere. All she cared about was his lips on her breasts and his hard length deep inside her as he tupped her on his desk until she was limp with exhaustion.

“Not bad for an old man, eh?” he asked later. He said this smugly as he stared down at her body looking lovely and done in.

“I’m not sure, Andrew,” she draped her arm across her eyes to block the mischievous expression she knew was on his face. “I may have dozed off there at the end, so I’ll have to ask for a repeat performance when you get your stamina up.”

He stared at her incredulously. She had wrung every ounce of energy from his 28-year-old form and he had made her come no less than four times, yet she dared to tease him for more? He then burst out in laughter when he saw her bountiful breasts begin to shimmy and a giggle escaped beneath her arm.

Unable to resist he glided his fingers up her rib cage and tickled her mercilessly.

“No Andrew, stop. I am too ticklish.” Writhing and squirming she tried to avoid his torturous hands as she laughed until she cried. “Please, I yield. You are young and virile, the Casanova of London, the Don Juan of our time.” He scooped her up in his arms and sat with her in his lap. Tickling her ear with his tongue, his fingers danced along her sensitive sides. Wriggling and curling against him she was unable to get him to stop and begged some more. “Please Andrew, I’m sorry. I’ll wet myself if you don’t stop.”

“Say it, my love; give me the words, an abracadabra, or hey presto. Give me the enchanted incantation that gives you power over your Lord.

“I don’t know…” She laughed as he tickled. Then it dawned on her and she wailed the words he desired. “I surrender, Your Grace.”

Finally, he stopped and cuddled her close. “Ah yes, there they are… the magic words.”

Chapter Ten

T
he footman assisted Cici and her maid down from the coach.

“I’m not liking the looks of this neighborhood, Yer Grace.” Mary said this nervously as she looked up and down the street.

Cici also scanned the street where Fortier’s Bookshop stood. Determined to get the special book on the Arrandale estate, she ignored the shady characters that loitered about. “We’ll be in and out in a moment. The proprietor at Hatchard’s alerted the owner to hold the book for me.”

“I agree with Miss Mary, Your Grace. His lordship will have my head when he finds out I let you out here.”

“His lordship never needs to know. This is a surprise for his birthday next week, so we must keep this to ourselves. Now, let’s hurry so we can get back to the safety of Grosvenor Square.”

The old door creaked as they entered and bells jingled overhead. Someone called from the back. “Be with you momentarily.”

Cici looked around and wrinkled her nose at the dust collecting everywhere. This was a far cry from Hatchard’s with its neatly lined shelves and tables. This shop had books piled haphazardly on tables and the tall shelves were extremely disorganized.”

“Your Grace, let me get the book while you go back to the safety of the coach.” Henry, her footman, was getting quite agitated.

“Nonsense, this will only take a moment. Besides, while we’re here, I’d like to take a look around.”

Cici eyed the two other men in the shop. They stared at her, certainly shocked to see a lady of her standing in this establishment. Another man popped in off the street. He paused for a moment shifting nervously from side to side, then disappeared quickly between some shelves when she looked toward him.

“Henry, maybe you can hurry Mr. Fortier along? Mary and I will just take a quick look around.”

Henry looked skeptical, but nodded and did as he was bid.

“But My Lady, this place is a mess. Your gown…”

“I won’t touch anything, Mary. Look at how old some of these books are.” Cici wandered between two of the bookshelves browsing the faded titles on the spines. Many were first editions and quite old. She wished she had time to search through the old tomes, but that would have to be at a later date. Her servants would not be happy if she lingered.

An hour later, the footman and her maid were helping Cici hobble up the walkway. She hissed in pain as she set her right foot down to test its strength.

“I won’t be able to manage the stairs. Mary, please run in and see if my husband is at home. I think I am going to need his help.” The maid hurried inside to summon assistance.

“I can carry you, My Lady. I don’t think His Grace will be pleased if I let you further injure yourself.”

“Do you think you can manage, Henry?”

“I am stronger than I appear.” With that said the footman who looked no older than herself, scooped her up into his arms. He proceeded to carry her up the walk and the six stone steps and through the front door that Mary had left ajar.

“Don’t forget the package, Henry. I left it in the coach. After all we went through to get that book; I’d hate to lose it.”

“I’ll fetch it as soon as we get you inside, Your Grace.”

Cici groaned in pain despite the young man’s gentle hold. Her shoulder ached as well as her bottom and her ankle throbbed terribly.

“What in the hell is going on here?” The roar from behind them startled Henry so much he almost dropped her. He managed at the last minute to maintain the hold on her shoulders so only her legs flopped inelegantly to the floor.

The jarring thud to her injured ankle sent pain racing through Cici and she cried out her discomfort. This got Andrew’s attention and he rushed to her side, pulling her to his chest and away from the fumbling footman. Turning with her in his arms, he carried her to the salon and set her gently on the settee. Unaware of her injuries, he was shocked when she howled in pain.

“Someone better tell me what is going on, immediately.” His scorching gaze flew from his wife’s pain riddled form to her maid.

“We were… in the book… shop… when a shelf… toppled over and near… killed Her Grace,” Mary said this in a stuttering tearful voice that was barely intelligible.

“Andrew, you’re frightening the poor girl. I am fine, but I think I have sprained my ankle and have a bruised spot on my shoulder. Henry, please send for the physician as soon as you complete that errand.”

“A book shelf fell on you? How could that be?” Andrew was instantly attentive, examining her bruised and swollen ankle.

“I’m not sure. I felt books and shelving falling from above and I tried to run but tripped. It was quite and ordeal.”

“This happened at Hatchard’s?”

“Well, no it was at another shop.”

“West Haven’s?”

“No, another.”

“Which one, Cecilia?” His tone brooked no further hedging as he demanded an answer.

“Uh… It was that older one on Saffron Hill.” She looked up sheepishly at her husband, knowing that it was not the neighborhood a duchess would usually visit.

He stood looking down at her, fit to be tied. His face was flushed and there was a muscle twitching in his jaw and his hands were fisted as he tried to get hold of his anger. She could tell he wanted to rail at her, but held back with the servants present. Finally, after several minutes had passed he asked quietly. “Any other injuries aside from your shoulder and ankle?”

Embarrassed to mention the location of her other injury in front of the footman, she looked askance at Henry who waited by the door. She frowned that he had not done her bidding yet. What was he waiting for? If that book were misplaced her inevitable punishment for this mischief would be for naught. Cici knew that Andrew was waiting for her answer so she lowered her voice so only he could hear. “My behind hurts as well. When I tripped I fell atop a pile of books and several gouged me in, uh… tender areas I should say.”

“Thompson has already summoned the physician. Let’s get you upstairs and into bed before he arrives.” He scooped her up again and carried her effortlessly in his strong arms. Cici felt none of the uneasiness she had when Henry had carried her. She felt snug and secure, and despite the anger he was displaying at her actions, she felt cherished by his concern.

“Henry, Mary… I’ll speak with you both later.”

Cici looked over her husband’s shoulder and saw Henry blanch, but nod his head with a murmured, “Yes, Your Grace.” Mary a nervous girl by nature wrung her hands in agitation.

“Andrew, they were just doing as I bid.”

“Since you cannot be trusted to act reasonably, I will have to take matters into my own hands. Your disregard for your own personal safety is amazing. After the physician is through tending to you, I will give this matter my undivided attention.”

Uh-oh! That sounded ominous and Cici worried for her already tender and bruised bottom.

The physician diagnosed a sprained ankle and deep bruises on her shoulder, hip and buttocks. Andrew had stayed for the entire examination. He heard the orders for strict bed rest for three days and elevation of the ankle for at least one week, after which he would return for a re-examination. The doctor also recommended warm baths for the bruising and discomfort and to soak her ankle in a bitter salts bath twice a day.

After the physician left, Andrew dismissed her maid to see to her bath stating he would bring her to the bathroom momentarily. Sitting on the side of her bed, he picked up her hand and stroked it thoughtfully with his thumb. “I suppose we will have to have some more rules for Town then, won’t we?”

“Must we, Andrew? It was an accident and could have happened to any unsuspecting shopper.”

Stunned by her cavalier attitude, he tried to maintain his composure as he lectured. “A duchess does not frequent shops that are housed in buildings that are crumbling about her shoulders. My duchess does not travel to neighborhoods such as Saffron Hill, where there are all manner of criminals afoot. My wife, the Duchess of Sommerville does not put herself in a position that necessitates her being carried up the front steps of her home by a footman.” His voice had steadily risen in volume as he spoke, until he ended in a near shout. Cici was stunned; she had never heard Andrew raise his voice before.

“You need a keeper, wife and I am quite convinced that I am just the man for the job.”

“Andrew!”

“Why on earth did you feel the need to go to a book shop on Saffron Hill?”

“I’d rather not say. It’s a secret.”

“I don’t care what you’d rather not say!” Andrew’s voice shook with outrage. “I also don’t care if this is a secret from the queen herself. I am your husband and you will answer me.”

“It was to be a surprise for your birthday next week.”

Andrew sighed heavily and raked his hands through his hair in agitation. “I appreciate the sentiment Cici, but you are never to do something this foolish again. Much worse could have happened to you in that neighborhood instead of a few bumps and bruises. You could have been robbed, kidnapped, assaulted. It is unthinkable.”

He looked at her closely, his eyes scanning her lovely face. They had been wed only a short time, but she was dear to him. He knew he would be devastated if anything happened to her.