Keith marveled at her lack of timidity. She wasn’t like he assumed other virgins were. He’d avoided them like the plague, preferring to seek company only with experienced women. He needed no mothers matching making or fathers chasing him with a gun pointed at his head. It was refreshing to be with Lydia, seeing things as she did. It was an act he’d performed on himself and received countless other times, but it felt wholly different with Lydia. He knew it was because his feelings for her were unprecedented. He’d never had an emotional connection with his past partners, not even women who’d been his mistresses.
Lydia took her time acquainting herself with the girthy rod in her hand. If the images in the books had been drawn to scale, she knew she was far luckier than the women in the books she’d studied while Keith was away. She’d slipped into his library not only for novels to take home with her but to revisit the books she and Kelsey used to giggle over. She found them informative in a way she hadn’t before.
She conjured images and remembered the text written next them. She varied the speed as she pumped his shaft, her thumb sometimes sweeping over the bulbous head. She felt him pulse against her palm a few times, and from the way the muscles strained in Keith’s neck, she suspected he fought valiantly to keep from lettingun petite mortecarry him away. Her free hand wandered across his chest and belly absentmindedly until another thought barged into her mind and refused to leave. She pressed on his chest, pushing him away. Keith’s brow furrowed as he stepped back. Lydia didn’t release him, instead continuing to stroke him as she came to her feet.
He was unprepared for her to drop to her knees in one graceful motion and lower her chin, so she could lick the tip. After the initial swipe, she swirled her tongue over it, flicking at the slit on top. Keith groaned as he tried to pull her onto her feet.
“You don’t have to do this, Lyddie.”
“I know I don’t. But whether I had to or not, I want to. I know the pleasure I felt when you put your mouth on me. I know this is something natural a couple can share. Or is this something only whores do?”
“It is not. But this a lot for you.”
“Yes, it is.” She licked her lips before licking his length. She’d refused to stand despite how he urged her to. “Keith, unless you don’t wish me to do this, then I’d like to try. More than one book stated this could be pleasurable for both partners. I want to do this for you.”
As Keith peered into her deep, soulful brown eyes, he doubted he could refuse her anything. He’d thought they might work up to her taking him in her mouth. Apparently, Lydia was an apt student with a thirst for knowledge. He gathered her hair in his right hand while his left gripped the table as her mouth descended his length. He watched in fascination as she concentrated, her brow furrowed in thought. He hoped she didn’t regret her choice. When she worked him farther into her mouth until he reached her throat, he feared he would spill that moment.
Lydia took her time, breathing though her nose and relaxing her throat. She didn’t wish to gag, so she moved slowly, taking him farther into her mouth an inch at a time. When it was too much for her to stay that way, she pulled back and wrapped her hand around his exposed length. Her mouth and hand worked in tandem to create the singularly most erotic experience of either of their lives, surpassing either of their imaginations.
“Lyddie, I cannot last much longer. Let go.” Keith gently pressed against her shoulder, but she shook her head. “Lyddie.”
Her eyes opened and peered up at him. She’d heard the command in his tone, and it tempted her to test him. It made her curious to discover what he would do if she disobeyed. In no way did she fear his reaction. Just the opposite. She suspected she would enjoy whatever punishment he doled out. Intriguing as the possibilities were, she wished to know something else. She leaned back on her heels and stroked him until his cock erupted. It fascinated her to see and feel a man’s climax. When she was certain no more of the creamy liquid would come out, she licked some off where it splattered against his lower belly. She hadn’t known what to expect. While it wasn’t a favorite taste, it wasn’t one she minded. She intended to finish the way she started the next time she had the opportunity to offer him something so personal.
Keith adjusted his trousers before lifting her to sit on the table. He was about to have his own feast when someone knocked on the door. They’d spoken softly enough for no one outside the dining room to hear. However, it would be disastrous if they were found together. Lydia scrambled to put her clothes to rights.
“There’s a tunnel from here. I’ll go that way.”
“I hate?—”
“I know. But this isn’t the time.”
Keith sighed and nodded. He grabbed his shirt from where he’d left it on the table beside where Lydia had sat. He grabbed his fencing sword too before heading to the door. A moment after Lydia disappeared into the abyss, he opened the door.
“Where is she?”
“Why are you in my home uninvited, Oliver?”
“Where is my soon-to-be betrothed? I know she’s here.”
“You can see I’m alone.”
“She has some warren of tunnels she uses. I’m certain of it. Where is she?”
Keith jabbed his finger into Oliver’s chest as he prowled forward, forcing Oliver to retreat. He steered his ferret faced cousin toward his front door. The doorman scrabbled to get it open in time. Oliver kept walking backward until they stood upon the stoop.
“We were equals as children. Both boys waiting to inherit their titles. How easily you forget how far above your station you reach when you antagonize me. Do you know why I ignored you when we were children? To react to you would have ensured a beating from my father. By not reacting to you, you earned a thrashing from your father. I enjoyed your screams each and every time. It’s been a long time since I’ve heard you. What say you? Shall I make you scream for the sake of nostalgia.”
Keith drew back his fist, but Oliver raised his hands in surrender.
“Lady Lydia’s whereabouts are not your concern. They are Sir and Lady Abbingtons’. Do not presume to enter my home without invitation, or you shall find your accommodations most lacking. If I should misplace the key to your cell, it would be most unfortunate. Since I so rarely go to the dungeon, I would miss most of those screams. Small price to pay for you no longer annoying me.”
He was still ready to thrust his fist into Oliver’s eye, but the man spun on his heels and raced down the steps to his waiting horse. From his glower, Keith was certain his threats were only a temporary fix. He needed to either marry Lydia or kill his cousin. Either would solve his problem permanently. As he watched his interloping cousin ride off his property and back to the one only a short distance away, he knew whatever action he took, it needed to be soon.
“Your days of being a blight on this earth, a boil on mankind’s arse, are limited. One way or another, it’s time for you to be gone.” Keith murmured his thoughts, but it was more a pledge than idle musing.
CHAPTER6
“What the devil are you wearing? Go change.” Oliver glowered at Lydia as she descended the stairs in a traditional Indian ensemble. She knew it would scandalize the attendees at the assembly, but she intended to draw plenty of attention to herself that night. It would make it easier for more people to catch sight of her with Keith, and it would only make the gossip untenable for Oliver. He would have no choice but to recant his insistence that he marry her. He’d droned on about their future ad nauseam that day to where even Will grew irritated and suggested Oliver take his horse for a ride.
