“No, no, Adeline. You are magnificent. But I want to be inside that sweet pussy. Come here, straddle my lap.”
He helped her maneuver on top of him. Pushing up her skirts, he slid his hands up her thighs slowly until he reached the apex. Adeline clung to his shoulders as the carriage hit a bump. She giggled. He kissed her, needing to capture her joy. He brushed his thumbs into the curls of her mons to tease her clit and found her already soaking wet. Working two fingers inside her, he rubbed his thumb in tight circles on her clit. Her resulting moan had his cock jumping.
He had to be inside her, now. He slid his hands under her buttocks and pulled her closer. “Take my cock in your hand and guide it inside you. You are in charge, Adeline. Take your time.”
But apparently, she disagreed with his suggestion because she guided his cock to her entrance and slid down in one smooth motion until he was seated deep inside her, and they were both moaning.
“I love having you inside me,” she whispered against his lips. “What’s next?”
“Move your hips, roll them up and down.” He gripped her hips and showed her what he meant. “Yes, that’s it.”
Adeline’s brow furrowed as she concentrated on his directions, and he almost came right there. Good Lord, this lady was going to kill him with her straightforward dirty talk, her earnest expressions, and her luscious body. He wanted to wipe the concentration from her face. He wanted her to be unable to think. So, he leaned forward and, ripping aside her chemise, pulled a sweet tit into his mouth, pulling hard at the nipple the way she liked.
Her head fell back and knocked against the curtained window. But he didn’t stop sucking on her as he worked her up and down on his cock with his fingers gripping her ample bottom. She began to whimper, her breath hitching, and he knew she was close to her crisis. She would come first; he gritted his teeth as her pussy strangled his cock. Then she pitched forward, her mouth taking possession of his. Her fingers gripped his hair so hard his scalp tingled. She moaned his name into his mouth as she came. Malcolm followed her over the edge with a low groan of his own.
They both panted as they came down from their orgasms. He cupped her cheek and peppered her lips with small kisses. “Adeline Amberley, you are a goddess.”
“There are so many new things to learn about the act of intercourse.” She smiled down at him. “And you know I have an appetite for learning.”
He laughed. Good Lord, he loved her so much. His heart clenched, knowing all too well that loving someone often meant losing them. Life was too short for so many. He buried his face in her neck, breathing in her unique scent, and worked to tamp down the fear that clawed at him. He would enjoy every moment, every day that he could have with this woman. Long ago, after his family died, that was how he decided to live his life. The trouble was that he wanted this to last forever.
Chapter Twenty-Six
Adeline lifted offhim and began to straighten her clothes. He reluctantly also buttoned his trousers. He could not wait to get her to Bridestone Manor and into a big bed with only days and days of lovemaking to look forward to. Damn the ghosts. They could enjoy the show. The rest of the day was blissfully uneventful. They stopped to change horses and eat, but other than those necessities, they traveled quickly toward their destination. Adeline read aloud some of the novel she was reading, and he listened and dozed. But the closer they got to their destination, the more unsettled he felt.
As they approached West Bay, he looked out the window at the long coastline lined with tall rugged cliffs. The sea air was a welcome familiar scent. It and the lush green landscape filled his soul. It had been so long since he’d been home.
Adeline slipped her hand on top of his and squeezed his fingers. “You seem unusually quiet this last hour. Are we near?”
“Yes. We should be in the village in another mile or so. Tonight, we will stay at the inn. I am not sure about the status of the house. I have been told I pay for a caretaker, but that doesn’t mean it’s ready for guests.”
She nodded but didn’t ask any more questions, and he was glad. He wasn’t ready to talk about the house or the tragedy that had befallen his family. Not tonight, anyway. They arrived in the village around eight o’clock. Malcolm stepped out of the vehicle and reached to help Adeline down. The Black Sheep Inn was just the same as he remembered. A long two-story building, stucco with black shutters and a thatched roof that was common in the area. The stable across the lane was new, though. He could smell the fresh pine planks. The black barn doors painted to match the inn’s façade.
They walked inside the Black Sheep and the front hall was empty. Malcolm gripped Adeline’s hand and turned down a hall, following the sounds of conversation and a fiddle playing a lively tune. Down the short hallway, they found a large parlor with several tables and a long bar. A fire roared in a stone fireplace at one end. At their appearance in the doorway, a portly gentleman rounded the bar and hurried over to them.
“Welcome. What can I help you with?”
“I will need a room for the night for me and my wife and space in the stables for my post chaise and coachman.”
“Yes, sir. Please come in.” The man pulled his register from behind the bar. “Name?”
“Marquess of Kingsbury.”
The music screeched to a halt as the fiddler’s bow dropped to the ground with a clatter. Malcolm looked up to find every head in the place had swiveled to stare at him. He tipped his hat at the crowd. Adeline arched an eyebrow as she glanced up at him.
“The Marquess of Kingsbury?” The innkeeper cleared his throat. “Pardon the stares. But there hasn’t been a Marquess of Kingsbury to step foot in Kites Croft in fifteen years.”
“Yes, well, I have been at sea with the Royal Navy. But now I am back. Our visit here was unexpected, and I was not able to send a man out first to make sure the manor was ready.”
The innkeeper nodded and busied himself writing in the register. But Malcolm did not miss the loaded glance he threw toward a table by the fireplace. The three men who sat there finished off their ales, rose and, shrugging into coats, walked out of the parlor.
“Welcome home, my lord. I have a fine room for you and your wife on the second floor.”
“Excellent. I am told the manor is taken care of by a caretaker. Might you know the name of the man? We would like to go in the morning to see the state of the house. I am hoping it is livable.”
“That’ll be Mr. Ford. I am not sure myself the condition of the house but I can send for Mr. Ford in the morning if you like.”
“Yes, thank you. We have a trunk and one satchel to bring up.”
