Her sounds of pleasure filled the empty carriage; her needy mewls and heavy pants were music to his ears. It was better than any quartet he could have attended, and Richard was glad that he had dragged her away from the charity event.
Richard had been infuriated when he found Winnie in the ladies’ retiring room with Esther of all people. Winnie had been gone an excessive amount of time, causing Richard to seek her out. Anger and protectiveness for Winnie and the child were the only reasons that compelled him to step into the retiring room and confront Esther.
“Oh God, Richard!” she cried out, her head falling back in pleasure as he worshipped her like the goddess she was.
He chuckled as his hands traveled under her skirts, finding that this time, she was wearing drawers. She wasn’t his wicked courtesan like he had originally thought all those weeks ago.
Her body quivered as he entered her with two fingers, wetness engulfing him.Dammit.He wanted to feel her on his cock. “Ride my fingers, you naughty little minx,” he growled against her chest, losing himself to wanting to be inside of her.
She moved wildly on top of him, coating his fingers with her essence. It was exactly how he had taught her at Pleasure House.
A nagging memory sat at the back of his mind, but Richard ignored it. Not understanding what was so important that he was forgetting.
The carriage stopped, and he cursed his lack of attention as a footmen knocked on the door. “One moment,” Richard said, removing his fingers from her wet depths.
Her pupils dilated as he licked her sweet juices from his long fingers. She tasted just as divine as he had remembered. He could not wait to have her in his bed. She would never leave it; of that, he was sure.
“I want you naked in my rooms as soon as we are in the house, do you understand me, Winnie?” he asked her, waiting as she tried to catch her breath.
“Yes,” she replied shakily, pushing back strands of long blonde hair that had come loose from her bun.
Lifting her and sitting her down on the carriage seat, he watched as she righted herself. Once they both were decent, he exited the carriage first and then reached out for her. Taking care of her had become as easy as breathing.
Richard led Winnie into his home, ignoring Barrington, who for once did not say a single word as he saw the state of them.
Once they were up the stairs away from the prying eyes of servants, Richard lifted her up in his arms, carrying her down the hall. He passed the guest room she was staying in, knowing that after that night she would move into his bedroom or the duchess’s chambers if she so wished…
They had done things poorly, and she was carrying someone else’s child, but that did nothing to deter him. He wanted her to be his forever, society’s rules be damned. He would whisk her away to be married, and they would return happy and free next year. The rules of mourning were rigid in society. Although as a duke, he didn’t really care for them, could ignore them even, but he did not want Winnie to be attacked if they were to marry before the mourning period had ended.
Reaching his rooms, Richard carried her to his bed, a sense of pride swelling in his chest. She was finally his. Not bothering with words, only kisses and caresses, each layer of their offending garments fell by the wayside.
There would be time later, to discover why shew as at Pleasure House, but tonight she was his again.
He placed her on the bed, his greedy eyes taking in every dip and curve of her. Pausing at her abdomen, Richard was surprised by the small swell of her belly.
How odd. Surely after months, there would be more evidence that a babe was present. Richard could admit that he knew nothing about pregnancies, confinements, or babies except what Aberdeen had told him. But he knew enough to know that something wasn’t quite adding up.
A kiss to his lips, a hand trailing down his hard stomach, tickling the thin hair that traveled down to his hard cock, Winnie’s hands wrapped around him, and he nearly came undone.
“If you don’t stop that, my goddess, this will end much sooner than expected.” He took her hand away, kissing those beautiful lips hers.
She stared at him, wide eyed and in fear. “You know?”
“Yes,” he said simply, nuzzling her back with his weight.
He hovered over her, watching her closely. “And you’re not upset with me?”
Shaking his head Richard bent down, taking a pert nipple in his mouth and sucking. Her body arched up to his, and he could not help but twirl his tongue around the little nub.
Releasing her, he met her heated gaze. “No, I am happy that you are mine at last, and I’m never letting you go, Winnie.”
“Oh, Richard!” She flung herself at him, wrapping her arms around his neck and kissing him madly.
This was happiness; having her in his arms again was all that he wanted in this life. Hope and love soared through him. Love, it had always been a foreign thought. Never had he expected to fall in love, but he had, and it only took one night with this perfect, beautiful woman.
He entered her slowly until his hips were flushed against hers. She took every inch of him this time, and he kissed her, rewarding her for being his good girl. “I want you to take all of me this time.”
“I want all of you always,” she said against his lips, her hands pulling at his hair.
