Page 100 of A Much Maligned Miss

“Caroline,” he said, “I’ve never felt like this before. You are all I think about, all I care about. I don’t give a damn about anything else these days. I want to—to do things I’ve never wanted to do before. To make plans. Plans for us.” He paused and drew back when she said nothing.

She looked quite dazed in the feeble candlelight, and he could not say as he blamed her. Where the hell had all that come from? Her breathing was coming fast now. “This is our first m-meeting!” she reminded him faintly. “Your feelings cannot possibly be engaged to such an extent—”

“Well, they are,” Gervaise said bluntly. “So, what are you going to do about it?”

“Um. Run away with you?” she suggested uncertainly.

He relaxed. “A bold but excellent suggestion, Miss Halperston. We will elope.”

She drew in a breath, no doubt to clarify it was not an elopement, but Gervaise prevented her from speaking with yet more kisses. “I will meet you at the bottom of your drive and we will run away together, yes?”

“Er, yes,” she agreed faintly and Gervaise felt a strange satisfaction seep through his bones. They kissed and it was not remotely chaste, but open-mouthed and wet. He groaned into her mouth, revealing the full extent of his need for her. Pulling her up against him, he let her feel his arousal, his hand roaming proprietorially over her backside, urging her into closer and yet closer proximity with it.

Fortunately for him, Caroline showed no reluctance after his heated words. If she had it would have felt like being doused in a bucket of cold water. Instead, her hand drifted down his chest and stomach. He broke their kiss, breathing hard. He glanced down at her hand which had stopped just above his belly button.

“May I…?”

“You may.” He took a couple of calming breaths and released her, sitting up and shifting up the bed to sit against the headboard, gesturing for her to join him. He reached up to grip the top of the headboard with one hand and held the other out to her, guiding her to encircle his shaft. “Stroke me like this,” he instructed, biting his lip.

“Like this?”

“Yes,” he answered, forcing himself to look away from the enticing sight of her fingers wrapped about his cock and back at her lovely face. Removing his own hand, he reached across to rest it on the back of her neck. Caroline leaned forward, lowering her face, mistaking his meaning.

Gervaise sucked in his breath. “What are you—?”

She looked up at the sound of panic in his voice. “What’s wrong? Do not want—?”

He exhaled noisily. “I do, but— If you do, I won’t be able—”

She tipped her head to one side. “I won’t mind if it happens again,” she assured him. “I didn’t mind it at all.”

If he concentrated very hard on her perfect face, he could hold himself together, he thought, swearing under his breath. “This time—” he began but could not bring himself to continue.

“What is it?”

“I’ll want something more from you. I’ll want—” He broke off frustratedly.

“What aren’t you telling me?” she asked suspiciously. When he would only shake his head, a stubborn look crossed her face. “I’ll just have to ask Gracie tomorrow, then.”

“You’ll do no such thing!”

“She told me about ventre a terre,” she told him.

“I know,” he admitted. “I overheard you that time.”

“She’s sure to know whatever it is. Or Vi will.”

“Very well, I’ll tell you,” he answered. “If we do this again, I’ll want to come in your mouth.” He squeezed his eyes shut against her inevitable horror.

“Oh!” She sounded surprised. He opened one eye. “Is that…?”

“A reasonable request for a man to ask?” he guessed. She nodded and he pulled a face. “Of his mistress, yes.”

She considered this a moment. “Well, I am your mistress,” she pointed out.

He gave another frustrated huff. But I don’t want you to be, Gervaise thought desperately. I want you to be my wife! He still had just enough self-control though to keep this thought to himself.

“You let me sit on your face earlier,” she stated calmly. “How can my mouth on your…” She could not quite bring herself to say it, he noticed. “Well, how can it be any more shockingly intimate than that?”