Josie Dennis (6 page)

Would that she was still that girl who never thought to give her heart to any man. Now her heart was torn cleanly in half, one piece reserved for each of them.

* * * *

“So you’ve bedded her?”

Frederick stiffened at his father’s words. They were in the general’s study, away from the abbey’s guests. It was almost a relief to separate tonight.

Dinner had been a trial to be sure. Henry and Isabella’s brother shot daggers at the general as Catherine sat quietly between them. His father appeared oblivious of course, holding court as was his custom. As for Isabella? She’d refused to meet his gaze, though he felt a shade better about that when she treated James with the same pointed indifference. He shouldn’t want her attentions, not really. He should never care to give her a moment’s notice, but she still drew him. He’d had her twice—twice!—and yet he wanted more.

“Of whom are you speaking, Father?”

The general grinned. “The Thorne chit, of course. God, I wager she has a tight little pussy. Tell me she screams when she comes. I’ve seen the fire in her.”

Frederick would not discuss Isabella’s sensuality with his father. “She is not one of the maids,” he snapped.

His father arched his brows. “You favor her, then?”

This Frederick would allow. “She is unlike any other woman I’ve known, actually.”

“Then marry her.”

“Again you push for this? Did you not learn a thing from your meddling last year?”

The general waved a hand. “Oh, I was wrong about the Morris chit. She favored Thorne, and with good reason. Only son with a strong fortune. I was just relieved she didn’t set her sights on either of my sons.”

Frederick wouldn’t disabuse him of the notion. He knew Henry was as tied up with Catherine as her husband was. “Yes.”

“Now, I couldn’t find a better match for you than Thorne’s sister. You’ve bedded her. Now finish the offensive and claim her.”

“She is not a plot of land on the Iberian Peninsula, Father.”

“She is a comely girl with a large fortune. Tell me you can find a better wife than she.”

Truth was, he couldn’t. There was the matter of his prospective bride’s affections for another man, however. She might be willing to indulge in the physical, but would she give a piece of her heart to Frederick?

“I do not know if she’ll have me,” he admitted.

“Bed her again. Get a child on her and she’ll have no choice.”

Something niggled at the back of his mind, an argument between his parents he’d overheard long ago. Was that how he’d secured his mother in marriage? The fortune and the abbey had belonged to her before she wed the general. If what he was thinking were true, it was little wonder his mother had been miserable for as long as Frederick had known her. That was certainly something he’d never given much thought before, to his regret. But it was something he would never wish for Isabella.

“I have never forced a woman and I never shall,” he said. “Not to my bed and not to the altar.”

“Then let James Morris take her from you. He is handsome and charming and the girl favors him. I’ve seen it. She gifts him with the same hot looks she gives you when she thinks no one aware.”

“You’ve been watching her?”

“I admit I thought to sample her favors myself when last she was here.”

Frederick’s stomach lurched at the very thought. “What?”

“You seemed interested then, but when you didn’t claim her I thought to have a go at it myself.”

Frederick shook, his hands in fists at his sides. “You will not touch her.”

“Not of a mind to share her, then?”

Not with you.
“Isabella isn’t meant for such use, Father.”

“Then marry the girl and your worries will be over. Take your orders from my stratagem. Populate your home with comely maids and you won’t have to resign yourself to only one cunt for all of your days.”

“And have a blissful union as you and Mother had?”

He hadn’t meant to say it, but it felt as liberating as when he’d sold out his commission and seized the chance to become his own man at long last.

“Who are you to question our marriage? You were well provided for, you and your brother.”

“I can see this conversation is going nowhere.” Frederick turned to leave. “Stay out of my affairs and away from Isabella Thorne.”

“Do not naysay me, Frederick. If you won’t propose to the chit I shall have to tell her brother that you’ve bedded her. See how long your bachelorhood continues.”

That stilled him. John Thorne would indeed demand satisfaction, either at the altar or on the grounds at dawn. Either way, Isabella would never allow such interference. He wouldn’t give his father any satisfaction tonight, either. “I am no longer required to take orders from you on the battlefield. Do not treat me so at home or you will find yourself without both of your sons.”

With that, he stalked from the study. He would not be forced into marriage, even if Isabella Thorne was the one woman he could actually envision spending the rest of his life with. There was at least one great impediment to any marriage between him and Isabella, however.

Her obvious regard for James Morris. Did she wish to marry James? The girl had her own money, that was clear. She could marry anywhere she wished to. Certainly her brother would approve the match. John Thorne was wed to James’s sister, for God’s sake.

There was no love lost between himself and John Thorne. He could scarcely recall all he said to John during their last visit to Norrington without feeling ashamed. He’d told him and his own brother to fuck Catherine and leave her. He’d said she was a nobody. It was a marvel any of them could withstand his company now.

He had much to atone for, but now was not the time for that particular campaign. Isabella was the only concern for him at present.

“What is this place?” Isabella asked in a tremulous voice.

James watched her, seeing the excitement in her every breath. She wasn’t frightened, not their girl. She was indeed a marvel.

They were all three still dressed as they’d been at dinner, lest anyone happen upon them on their way to this secluded part of the great house. They stood in the dark, secluded corridor Frederick had shown him this afternoon, just outside the thick wooden door. Large bed, supple leather straps and shackles, the chamber was more than he’d ever imagined. Just the thought of Isabella’s delectable body spread for them to taste and take had his cock so hard it ached.

James glanced at Frederick, who nodded. “A chamber of pleasure, Isabella.”

He’d been stunned by the passion they’d shared last night and was eager to indulge again if their girl was willing. And she evidently was, praise the Lord.

She nibbled her lip, speculation in her hazel eyes. In the next moment, her expression grew shuttered. “Frederick showed this to you.”

“Well, yes,” Frederick said.

Now her eyes showed uncertainty and, if he didn’t miss his guess, a touch of pain. “You’ve indulged here, Frederick.”

To James’s astonishment, Frederick blushed. “I have, love. But never with a woman who mattered to me.”

He knew there was a lot Frederick wasn’t saying.
Well, let him leave his feelings unspoken
. James might not be certain of his own, but he wouldn’t keep silent on what he was beginning to feel for her.

“I have never been with a woman I wanted as much as I want you, Isabella,” he said. “I have never engaged my heart, truth be told.”

“Your heart?” she asked.

It was on the tip of his tongue to tell her he loved her, but he was still unsure. “Come, love. Let Frederick and me show you what pleasures await behind this door.”

He was grateful for Frederick’s steady hand as he unlocked and opened that door. As for himself, he was fairly shaking with anticipation. Frederick’s gaze was hot on Isabella and he could tell the other man wanted her with a hunger that rivaled James’s. They both fucked her last night. What delights would tonight hold?

True, he felt he should bow to Frederick’s expertise. He’d had more women than James was even acquainted with, no doubt. He wouldn’t worry over that fact, however. Isabella’s sweet cries of release as he’d been buried deep inside of her were all the proof he needed that he’d pleased her as much as Frederick had.

“Come,” Frederick said, urging them both through the door. He closed it, locking it tight. “Let us begin to teach our girl a few things about control.”

“Control?” Isabella blinked as she began to remove her dress. “What are you speaking of, Frederick?”

James hid his smile.

“You are always the one in control, Isabella.” Frederick turned her, unfastening her dress until it gaped in front of her glorious breasts. “Flirting and teasing and then leaving a man wanting.”

“I do not!” she cried. She must have seen the twinkle in Frederick’s eyes for she lifted her chin and shrugged. “I was not ready to give myself to any of those men.”

“What men?” James asked as he disrobed.

“Ah, you haven’t seen her in London, have you?” Frederick asked. “She is quite the social butterfly, never landing in one spot long enough to let a man believe he has more than a moment of her attention.”

“You’ve seen me in London?” she asked.

Frederick nodded. “Long before I saw you in Bath last year.” He removed the rest of her clothes until she stood in only her chemise and stays. He waved a hand to James, now clad in only his smalls, who readily took over the task of unlacing her as Frederick disrobed.

“How was she at Thorne Manor, James?” he asked. “Tell me she didn’t seek to wrap you around one of her delicate fingers.”

Her eyes stared into James’s and he smiled. “She was everything gracious and cordial, Frederick.” He stepped closer. “She was strong-willed, however.”

She sniffed. “You did not pursue me, James.”

“You surely mean to say that I did not dance to your tune.” He finished with the stays at last and dropped the bloody things to the floor. Stepping close behind her, he cupped her breasts and teased her rigid nipples until she let out a gasp. “That is not to say that I didn’t want you. God, I wanted to kiss you that first night we met.”

“Hell,” Frederick said, now as close to naked as James and Isabella. “I wanted to fuck her the first time I saw her in the parlor of the abbey.”

Her pretty mouth dropped open. “If you both wanted me, why didn’t you give any indication?”

“A constantly hard cock wasn’t enough proof?” Frederick said as he stretched her out on the bed. “That night I made you come, your pussy weeping on my fingers…I knew I couldn’t take you then.”

She shivered visibly at his words. “Whyever not?”

Frederick pulled back. “I didn’t know at the time but it didn’t feel right.” He grinned and winked at James. “Trust me on this. It was the first time I’ve ever denied myself a willing woman.”

She turned to James, who joined them on the bed. “What of you? You wouldn’t even kiss me when I dared you to.”

James flushed. “Ah, but I did kiss you at last. Mmm, I kissed you right on your delectable cunt.”

“You are both incorrigible,” she said with a wicked smile. “If a girl cannot flirt and tease, what control does she wield?”

Frederick brought his face to hers. “Do you wish to relinquish a bit of control this evening, love?”

Her eyes widened as he drew a soft leather strap from one of the bedposts at the head of the bed. “What are you about?”

He nodded to James, who retrieved the cuffs he’d been shown this afternoon from the large wardrobe set against one wall. “We want to show you how advantageous it can be to give control over to those who have your best interests at heart.”

She watched him now as he attached a cuff to one of her shapely ankles. “James.”

He stroked her silken skin, teasing her shapely calf and stopping just at mid-thigh. “Yes?”

She pulled slightly at the restraint, finding it just taut enough to softly hold her. “Will you do my other leg as well?”

He and Frederick shared a laugh and he braced her other leg to the bed. She was spread wide, and he could already see her pussy was swollen. Her lemony scent filled the chamber, sweet and hot.

Desire pounded through him. “Her arms, Frederick.”

Frederick made quick work of fastening her wrists with the cuffs. Her breasts rose and fell with each excited breath she took. Frederick dipped his head and licked one nipple. She let out a soft mewl of pleasure.

He stood and ripped off his smalls. James did likewise and her eyes went from one cock to the other. She licked her lips. “You are both so beautiful.”

“We’ve both eaten you, Isabella,” Frederick said. “What say you to taking one of us in that beautiful mouth of yours?”

“Oh, I cannot!” Despite her words, she licked her lips again and James’s balls pulled tight. “I wouldn’t know quite how to…”

James stroked himself. “Ah, I daresay you would pick up the skill quite readily.”

He nearly bit his tongue, but she didn’t seem to take offense at his words. He hadn’t meant them as anything but complimentary, attesting to her quick mind and eager body.

He suckled one nipple for a heart-stopping moment then delved toward her pussy. She pulled at the restraints, wriggling delightfully against his tongue. He silently vowed he would make her come before he spilled his seed on the coverlet.

“Do you feel what James is doing?” he heard Frederick ask. He straddled her waist, plumping both her breasts in his hands. “God, your breasts are so full! I could fuck them all night.”

He moved back and forth. James watched Isabella’s face for a moment then returned to his feast.

“Suck me, Isabella,” Frederick said.

She made another sound of pleasure, and then it was muffled. His own cock twitched as he imagined the treat Frederick was experiencing. She began to buck beneath him, her arms and legs spread wide as Frederick and he both teased her. He heard the sucking and licking sounds as their girl picked up the skill as readily as James had presumed. He drove his tongue deep within her pussy, moving quickly in and out as he sent her over the edge. Frederick shouted his pleasure as he shuddered above her prone form. When he withdrew from her mouth she let out a scream of pleasure as she climaxed again.