NFH 04 Truce (Historic) (16 page)

“Who do you think?”

“Just tell me.”

“Lady Elizabeth, you dolt. Who else have I been courting for the past month?”

Elizabeth shifted and moved closer to the opening to listen. The desk was so thick that it muffled some of the sounds. She pushed between Robert’s legs and waited. He spread his legs for her automatically so that she could sit comfortably.

“Did you ask Elizabeth yet?” Robert asked. She could feel the tension in his body.

James chuckled. “No, I’ve asked her father and he approved. All that’s left is to ask the lady herself.”

“Do you love her?” Robert asked. He had to know.

James laughed harder at that. “No! Can you imagine? I don’t even love my mistress!”

Robert had to stop himself from wincing. She was digging her nails into his legs. He reached down and gently pushed her hands off his legs quickly, hoping that James hadn’t noticed the movement.

“If she says yes, are you going quit your mistress?” he asked, more for her sake than his.

James chuckled. “Very funny. Give up Andrea? You’re crazy. I had to wait out three other men to get her. No, I’ll keep her on the side.”

“What about Elizabeth?” Robert asked. Elizabeth was wondering that as well. Not that she was going through with it. She wasn’t. James was like a brother to her now. It would simply be too disturbing to marry him.

He shrugged. “I’ll get her with an heir and spare, of course. I don’t mind having her warm my bed when the mood strikes. You have to admit that she is quite beautiful.”

“Not really,” Robert muttered. “Ow!”

“Are you okay?” James asked.

Robert put his finger in his mouth. “Paper cut,” he muttered. His knee was throbbing. Damn, she was a strong little thing.

“I hate those,” James said with distaste.

“So do I,” he said acidly.

“I still don’t understand why you would settle on her,” he said in a disgusted tone. He needed James to bury himself in front of Elizabeth. It would save him a lot of legwork later. He was not going to simply sit around and allow James to marry
his
minx.

-
-
-

Oh, she was going to maim the man. He actually had the audacity to talk about her like this? James she didn’t care about, but for Robert to act like she was nothing irritated her. She looked around the small space. Damn it, there was nothing she could do to him here. Well, not true, she did have the knife, but that was a bit much. She looked back at him and smiled. There was something that she could do to make him lose that pompous attitude that he was using at her expense.

-
-
-

Every muscle in his body froze. “What are you doing?” he demanded tightly, admittedly terrified of the minx hiding beneath the desk.

James looked back from the small sideboard. “Getting a drink. Do you want one?”

“Please!” he said more to Elizabeth than to James. She had his pants undone and his manhood pulled out. He closed his eyes for a few seconds and sent a silent prayer to God, vowing to turn his life around for good if she didn’t use his knife to unman him. His eyes flew open when she stroked him.

“Are you okay?” James asked as he placed a glass of whiskey in front of him.

“Very good, thank you.” He picked the glass up and gulped it. Nothing in life could have prepared him for this turn of events. He had to keep James in here talking, otherwise his minx might stop and he definitely did not want that.

“I-I don’t understand, if you find Elizabeth beautiful, why do you need Andrea?” Was it always this hard to talk? He couldn’t remember.

James laughed knowingly. “I guess you wouldn’t know since you live like a monk up at that estate of yours. I’ll explain with four little words, she uses her mouth.” He winked and sat back.

“Really? I’ve never had that done.” Until now. His hands gripped the desk as Elizabeth decided the idea had merit enough to test it out. Her hot, wet mouth enclosed over the tip of his erection. If he died at this moment, he could honestly say that he’d lived a happy and fulfilling life.

-
-
-

This was different and very exciting. She would never have thought to do this if James hadn’t mentioned it. It was easier than using her hand, which she still used since it was helpful. She decided to make this into a game and see how far she could take it into her mouth to drive him crazy. This should teach him. She hoped he was embarrassing himself at the moment. Unfortunately it was also stirring up that same need that had left her desperate for him that night in the orangery. Robert’s hand came down and gently cupped her cheek, urging her to continue.

-
-
-

James needed to keep talking or he would kill him. “Your wife would probably do that as well,” he said, hoping James would go off on a long explanation while he enjoyed Elizabeth’s ministrations.

He snorted. “Good luck with that. Women like Elizabeth are frigid in bed. No man wants to remain faithful to that. Can you imagine spending the rest of your life bedding a woman that refuses to remove her nightgown or even move? God it’s boring. She just lies there waiting for you to finish and go to your room. No thanks. I’ll keep my mistresses, whores and lovers.”

With great effort he spoke. “So again, why marry Elizabeth? I know she has a small estate, but there are other heiresses out there with more money and land.”

James shook his head. “No, I like her. She’s a good girl. She’s beautiful, but I don’t think I have to worry about her cuckolding me. She’s too nice. Plus, I think that story about the small estate is nonsense.”

“You don’t think she has any money?” he asked while he caressed her cheek. He lowered himself in the chair to make it easier for her.

She was wonderful.

“No, I think quite the opposite in fact. Are you okay?” James asked suddenly.

His head was resting on one hand while the other was touching her. He looked slumped. “A little headache, why?”

“You’re sweating and panting a bit,” James said, gesturing to him offhandedly.

He was getting so close, so unbelievably close. There was no way he would be able to hold back the sounds of his pleasure with James in the room.

“Have you talked to father? You should go do that. He’d have more information.” The words rushed out of his mouth. James needed to leave. Now.

James jumped to his feet. “That’s a good idea.” He walked to the door. “Get some sleep, man. You look like hell.” With that he left.

Robert pushed back from the desk, bringing his minx with him. He had to see, needed to see it. His eyes widened as he took in the sight of Elizabeth in a beautiful pearl dress, taking him into her mouth. He dropped his head back, never taking his eyes off her and groaned loudly.

She needed him so badly. She started whimpering and shifting in front of him. The place between her legs was aching for him.

“Enough!” He pulled out from her mouth.

“Did I do something wrong?” she asked as he pulled her up. With one arm, he swept his paperwork and ledgers to the floor. In seconds he had her sitting on the edge of the desk with her legs spread. She leaned back until she was resting on her elbows. Robert pushed her skirts up to her waist.

His gaze moved to the apex of her legs and he groaned, long and loud. Her dark curls were already slick with her arousal. He sat down in the chair and pulled it towards the desk, preparing for his meal.

“Robert?” Her voice shook with need and embarrassment.

He placed his hands on her thighs and gently pushed her legs further apart. “Shh,” he said as he stared at the lovely, plump, pink folds. “I’ve always wanted to do this,” he said in a hoarse whisper.

Elizabeth leaned up further, nervous now from his tone. Her eyes widened in shock as she watched Robert’s head drop between her legs. “What are you…..oh my….” Her eyes rolled back in her head in pleasure as she felt the tip of Robert’s hot, wet tongue trace the seam of her slit. She dropped back on her elbows.

“Mmmm,” Robert growled as he flicked his tongue over the little firm nub down to her center where he got a better taste. This was better than any fantasy he’d ever had. He traced his tongue around her core and then dipped it inside. Within seconds he was rewarded with more liquid as Elizabeth ground her wet slit against his mouth, frantic for release.

Fingers threaded through his hair, holding him prisoner between her legs. He slid his tongue further inside of her while his thumb rubbed the little swollen nub between her folds. Her moans became frantic as she thrashed beneath him.

He had to close his eyes and force himself not to come then and there. In a minute, he promised himself. His movements became more urgent as he pushed her over the edge, desperate for her now. Her moans and pants were driving him out of his goddamn mind.

Even knowing that the door wasn’t locked and they could be caught at any moment wasn’t going to stop him. For over a month, his body had been in agonizing turmoil, desperate to be with her again. Day and night he had to fight the urge to hunt her down, pin her against the wall and take her. He fought it every single day. The nights were the worst as he held her in his arms, but somehow he managed to allow himself the gift of simply holding her.

Now he didn’t care. He had to have her. There was nothing on this earth that was going to stop him from taking her again. It would take every footman in this house to tear him off her and even then he would fight to get back to her. Right now he was back with his minx from the orangery and nothing else mattered.

She clasped a hand to her mouth and screamed his name. A loud moan tore from Robert’s throat at the sound of his name ripped from her beautiful lips. While her orgasm was still tearing through her body, he stood and pushed himself in past her throbbing walls and began thrusting, knowing that he was not going to last very long.

Their eyes locked, hungrily. Robert licked the last drop of her arousal from his lips in a sensual move. Elizabeth found herself responding by pushing herself up until she was sitting up with her legs and arms wrapped around him.

Robert wasted no time in wrapping his arms around her and dropping his mouth to hers in a hungry kiss. Her hands slid up, gripping his hair in her fists as she returned his kiss.

The memory of that night did not do her justice. She was so wet and hot for him, not to mention incredibly tight. This was heaven. He could feel her starting to throb around him. He quickened his pace while his mouth moved to her throat, kissing and licking her skin, loving the way she whimpered.

She turned her head, burying her face in his shoulder as she called out his name. That and the feeling of her hot, wet and unbearably tight sheath milking his cock was enough to drive him insane, but it was his name on her lips that was his undoing “Minx! Oh god,
Elizabeth
!” he groaned loudly.

Exhausted and not sure that his legs would hold him any longer, he fell back in the chair, taking her with him. He held her with one arm. With the other he reached back and opened a window to erase the scent of their lovemaking.

He leaned his head back while Elizabeth buried her face against his neck, clutching his shirt tightly in her small fists, both of them panting hard. It was several minutes before either one of them could move or talk.

Robert squeezed his eyes shut and pressed a kiss to the top of her head. He’d messed up again. Never before had he ever been tempted to finish in a woman. Hell, he’d never been in a woman without using a sheath and pulling out to guarantee no children. This was the third time he’d been inside of Elizabeth without taking any precautions.

It had been five weeks since that night in the orangery. Was she carrying his child? Would she have told him? He squeezed his eyes tighter as he pressed a kiss to her forehead. As much as he’d like to avoid this topic, he had to know. Elizabeth was a smart woman. If she were carrying their child, she would have told him. Surely she would have. Even if she hated him, she would tell him, wouldn’t she? Before anger could surface he shoved it down.

He had to at least ask even if he already knew the answer. She wasn’t carrying his child. This time probably wouldn’t be enough to get her with child either. This had been a mistake, a pleasurable one, but a mistake nonetheless. It would not, could not, happen again. He was leaving the country soon and she was heading for an estate somewhere up north. After this they would probably never see each other again. His arms tightened around her at the thought.

-
-
-

Elizabeth inhaled deeply, closing her eyes. She wanted to remember him this way, the way he held her, the way he touched her, the way he looked at her like she was the most precious thing on earth. All those childhood memories didn’t matter any longer. She needed to remember the man that had held her tightly and kissed her tenderly in the orangery.

When their child asked about his father, she wanted to be able to tell him kind things. Their child? She sobbed softly in the crook of his neck before she could stop herself. When had she finally accepted that she was pregnant?

She needed to tell him, she realized, but how? They’d made love, but she knew that men were able to have sex without their hearts being involved. She also knew without question that Robert hated her. She’d always known that and these foolish mistakes didn’t change anything. She also knew that he’d hate her more when she told him, because he would do the right thing.

No matter what kind of mean little boy he’d been, he was without question an honorable man now. He would marry her and, for the rest of their lives, he would resent her for trapping him in a loveless marriage. She’d be forced to live with a man that she cared deeply about and know that she’d stolen his freedom, his choice. She would hate herself. She just needed some time to figure this out.

If only she could determine how he felt about her and, if she discovered that he did truly hate her, then she would do what she had to in order to protect their child. She would tell him and live with the consequences of a loveless marriage. She just needed a little time to figure out how to tell him. She should tell him now, she realized that, but she was just…..