But Jane was nervous. And nervous ladies didn’t enjoy themselves. Her pleasure, he’d said.
“Don’t worry,” Eli whispered, “I’ll be quiet. I’ll be very,veryquiet.”
He leaned his head on the seatback and closed his eyes, drawing a long breath. It was impossible to cool down while Jane was still pressed against him, but he couldn’t summon the will to send her back to her seat. When would he have a chance like this again?
So he tried to hold very still, savoring the weight of her body atop of his without pressing things any further, only winding his hands gently up and down her back, from the nape of her neck to the delicious curve above her rump. She shivered under his touch, which he took to be a good sign.
That’s it. Slow. Don’t rush her.
This was torture, but of an exquisite variety.
“To answer your question earlier,” he murmured, “it isn’t always hard, but you produce a very distinct effect.”
“Oh.”
Maybe he’d gone too far. He couldn’t judge from just one syllable. Eli opened his eyes to find Jane watching him intently.
“Does it bother you?” he asked. “That you arouse me this way?”
“No,” she said hesitantly. “I just… Well, I suppose I’m not really sure what todowith it, that’s all. It’s very…different.”
Eli momentarily lost the power of speech.
He had several suggestions as to what she might do with his cock that would remain within the terms she’d set, but he was still struggling to form a coherent sentence with them when Jane bolted off his lap and back over to her side of the carriage.
No.He hadn’t been ready. He’d barely had ten minutes to enjoy the feel of her perched atop him.
“What—”
“Shhh!”
She was slipping her gloves back on. It was only then Eli realized the carriage had stopped.
They were at the Lindens’ house.
He quickly adjusted himself into the waist of his trousers to hide the evidence of his arousal. He’d barely pulled his hands free when the door opened to reveal the coachman waiting on the ground below. Eli couldn’t seem to slow his breath to an even meter, but hopefully it would escape notice.
He and Jane filed into the entrance, where the butler awaited them. Once inside the house and surrounded by lamps, it was evident how flushed Jane was, from her cheeks straight down to the top of her breasts. That was fine. It fit with the story that she wasn’t feeling well. The problem was how plump and full her lips looked. As if he’d been kissing them for most of the ride back.
The other problem was that he couldn’t tear his eyes away.
The butler broke the spell. “Back for the evening?”
“Yes,” Eli managed. “Miss Bishop was feeling unwell. Please send her maid up to help her. And I’ll take some tea in the library, whenever you have a moment.” Turning to Jane, he said formally, “Good night, Miss Bishop. I hope you feel better soon.”
“I’m sure I shall.” Her eyes lingered on him for a bare moment, and then she turned and climbed the staircase to the upper floor.
It was an effort for Eli to drag his feet to the library, feign interest in a book, and await his tea. But it had to be done. Servants talked, and he’d promised not to risk Jane’s reputation. She’d trusted him.
Besides, he could use some time to reflect. He’d promised Jane that this night would be about her pleasure. And if the coach ride here had proven anything, it was that he found it exceedingly difficult to hold himself in check once he got within two feet of her.
He needed to be back in control of himself before he went upstairs. The evening needed to be perfect.
It was a housemaid who brought Eli’s tea in. “Will you be wanting your valet soon, sir?”
“No, thank you,” he replied. “Tell him not to wait up for me. I’ll manage for myself once I’m ready to go up.”
Would Jane be undressed yet? Would her maid be safely away? Eli sipped his steaming tea and counted the minutes before he could slip upstairs.
