Page 109 of A Much Maligned Miss

He blinked at her and she smiled dreamily, lowering her face to lick the head of his cock with unhurried swipes of her tongue. “Is this good?” she asked in a muffled voice. Was she fucking teasing him?

“Yes,” he gritted out, reaching to cup the back of her neck. “Now take me in your mouth.”

She pouted at him. Actually pouted! “Not yet. Don’t be so impatient. I know what you like.” She squeezed him, making him catch his breath. “Lie back on the pillows and let me do it right,” she insisted. “I want to take my time with you.”

Gervaise’s mind went blank as he lowered himself onto the pillows and let her toy with him, fondling his balls with her clever fingertips. Fuck. His mind reeled, his heart beating out of his chest. He was not the one in control here. And he fucking liked it. Liked it a lot.

The temptation to let her take the lead was utterly foreign to him but in this moment…hell, he just wanted to give in to it. When he felt her mouth on him this time, he had to squeeze his eyes shut against the sensation. She mouthed him, tracing his length wetly with her tongue, then she made a contented humming sound in her throat and Gervaise had to sit up with a soft curse.

“Stop!” he ordered curtly. There was something he was supposed to do. It wasn’t meant to go this way. What in hell was he supposed to be doing here? He couldn’t concentrate worth a damn.

“But I haven’t taken you in my mouth yet!” Caroline objected, a strong note of complaint in her voice. Fuck. Gervaise struggled to maintain the upper hand. “Let me,” she wheedled, stroking his stomach. “I want to. Please, Gervaise? Then afterward…”

“Afterward?” he asked hoarsely.

She lowered her voice. “Afterward I want to ride your face ventre a terre.”

Fuck. With a groan, he lay back down. It was no good. He simply couldn’t resist her.

“Yes?” she asked hopefully.

“Yes,” he rasped and she fell on him with an enthusiasm that completely undid him.

He was fucking helpless against her, he thought in the aftermath, his chest heaving. A hopeless cause. Caroline was lying on top of him, breathing noisily after her recent exertions. He had meant to shock her with the reality of her situation and somehow, somehow she had overwhelmed him. Yet again.

He had not made even a single lewd demand of her, he thought dazedly. She had had it all her own way. His hand circling her back moved down to squeeze and fondle her buttocks, but even that was more intended to comfort than otherwise. Caroline gave a happy sigh and sought out his mouth with her own.

He appeased his conscience by kissing her with filthy abandon and plenty of tongue. Considering where his mouth had just been she ought to be more disquieted by it than she was. Naturally, she gave as good as she got and Gervaise felt some faint stirrings below that he was currently too tired to pursue.

“Am I too heavy?” she asked sleepily.

“No.”

Still, she considerately shuffled off him and he curled around her, cupping her breasts with shocking familiarity. She squirmed back against him, snuggling closer, and Gervaise gave up. He would horrify her in the morning.

44

Caroline woke suddenly the next morning and gazed about blearily to find Gervaise fully dressed already and standing at the foot of the bed.

“Oh,” she said in surprise. “You’re up early.” Romulus was stretched out beside her and Remus a heavy weight against her legs.

“Yes,” he agreed. “I’ve a busy day ahead of me. What with today’s opening.”

“Oh yes, of course,” Caroline mumbled, feeling disorientated. What time was it anyway?

“You should go back to sleep,” he recommended.

She nodded sleepily and rolled over, closing her eyes. When next she woke it was to the sound of a door opening. Was that Gervaise with her morning cup of tea?

“You in here, Miss Caroline?” a voice called out. Thank God it wasn’t Reg, for she was entirely naked under the sheets.

“I’m in here, Gracie!” she responded. “In the bedroom.”

The older woman shuffled through the door, cup and saucer in one hand and a large jug of steaming water in the other. “His lordship told me to bring you this up at ten,” she said, “If you wasn’t up before then.”

“Heavens, is it really that late?” Caroline sat up, dragging the sheet with her for modesty’s sake.

Gracie directed a knowing look at her. “Worn you out, has he?” Caroline cleared her throat and took the proffered teacup with thanks. “I’ll just set this over here,” Gracie said, heading for the washstand and plunking down the jug. “Did you want the fires lit up here today or will you be joining everyone downstairs?”