She gasped again, and she jerked once, but otherwise remained still. As he had not forbidden talking, he waited for her to protest. When she did not, his curiosity was piqued. He wondered if she’d ever been penetrated there. His cock jerked in his trousers as he envisioned oiling himself, spreading the seam of her gorgeous arse, and easing past that tight ring of muscle. He would not restrain her, at least the first time. His cock throbbed again, and he pressed it with the heel of his free hand.
The leather harness with a cock-shaped attachment that a male couple requested might be useful as training for her in a smaller size.The couple had said they wanted it for use under clothes as titillation and foreplay, and he’d since sold several others. Tilting his head, he considered adding a second phallus to it for Peaches.
He thrust his finger in and out twice more. Her eyes shuttered, and she moaned, her muscles clenching around him.
He smiled in anticipation both at her reaction and his thoughts and withdrew, cleaning his finger on his handkerchief before touching her ankles. “We are entering Peterborough, Peaches. You prevailed. Well done.”
She grinned back as she straightened, then winced as the remnants of the oil made themselves known with every change in position.
“You’ll get your reward in our room,” he added before she could ask.
“Soon?” she begged.
He nodded as he handed her down in front of the inn and laughed under his breath as she gasped with each step.
Once in their room, he twirled her to face away and started undoing her gown. “I fancy a taste of ginger.”
“Oh!” She hastened to help him and was quickly naked.
“On the bed. Lie still.” He knew the effects of the ginger were waning, and her body was likely flushing it out of her. Nonetheless, he wiped her front and back with a damp cloth he warmed by the fire, and then settled on his knees at the end of the bed.
Tugging her closer to have her legs hang off by his shoulders, he set out to soothe the burn. By the time he rose, unbuttoned his trousers, and sheathed himself to plunge into her, he was relatively sure she’d forgotten the sting of the ginger.
They rested, drifting side by side, for a quarter hour before he rose and tugged her to stand.
“Ugh, where are we off to now?”
“I thought we’d walk part of the main road to see the town Penelope’s talked about so much and then have supper. An early night will make us fresh for tomorrow to talk to Hunter.”
At supper, he was distracted, jittery with nerves. Beth may have thought their afternoon interlude was her reward, but he needed to make good on his promise. Her reward was to see and touch him to her heart’s content after the meal.
Is it better or worse that ’twill be in a city far from home and she cannot leave if she is disappointed?
He reminded himself for the thousandth time that she admired his form. If their relationship was to continue, he had to trust her. Certainly, he trusted her with all aspects of his business. This was the next step.
By the time they arrived back to their room, he was silent, his jaw muscles aching from clenching his teeth. He wanted nothing so much as a large glass—no, a bottle—of whisky.
“Robert? Are you feeling all right?” Beth’s concern melted over him.
“Quite all right, thank you. Shall I call for sherry?” And whisky.
“No, thank you. Strange, isn’t it, how we can be this tired from sitting in a carriage most of the day?”
“Well, I’d venture to say that particular carriage ride might have been more taxing than average, Peaches.” He managed a weak grin.
“It was worth it. My reward was magnificent, thank you.”
It was now or never. “That was not your reward.”
“Oh?” She perked up. “What is it, then?”
He swept his hand along himself.
She cocked her head in question.
Ugh, I’m still clothed, no wonder she did not understand. He removed his jacket.
She watched.
