“About liking it.” Her voice was barely more than a whisper.
Only, she wasn’t supposed to like it. She wasn’t even supposed to think about liking it.
She’d had a little success making excuses for herself after the night in the orangery. Because she’d been jilted, she’d rationalized that she’d not been in her right mind.
But yesterday… in the park.
She couldn’t make excuses for that. And she’d enjoyed it—too much!
She tensed all the muscles in her legs trying to ignore the liquid heat low in her belly.
“There’s nothing wrong with liking it, Felicity.” Even the warmth of his hand, low on her back, pricked her awareness.
Improper, utterly wanton awareness.
“Yesterday,” she began.
He sat silently beside her and she wondered if his memory was as vivid, as all-encompassing as hers.
“You are a large man,” she attempted to begin her explanation again.
The horses shifted but all of Axel’s attention focused on her.
This was mortifying. Why would she tell him this?
“I pretended that I didn’t have a choice… in my mind. And if I didn’t have a choice, then… I could…”
“Experience your pleasure free from having to suffer any guilt?” There was no judgment in his question, in his accurate assumption.
“Yes.” She squeezed her eyes tighter together.
She had imagined he’d carried her into the woods, tied her to that wooden bench, forced her knees apart, and ravished her despite several heartfelt protests. She’d had no choice but to lift her hips and writhe beneath his invading mouth. And when she’d grasped his hair between her fingers, it had been her last attempt to stop him.
All of it in vain, because he’d captured her, and could have his lecherous way with her.
Mantis’ hand rested on her lower back. “So,” his voice was gravelly. “If I were to drive you into the woods, bend you over a fallen tree, and lift your skirts to take you from behind…”
Felicity could hardly breathe for all the fiery sensations elicited by his words. Her mouth went dry, and her heartbeats thundered in her ears.
A loud cracking sound pierced the air around them, and an insect whistled behind her.
“What the devil?” Axel glanced around as though searching for the origin of the noise. But the horses, which had been perfectly mannered until that moment, demanded all of his attention. Startled, one of them threw herself onto her hind legs and the other tucked her head and pawed at the ground.
“Get down, Felicity. And hold on.” Mantis was on his feet gripping the reins.
“To what?” She dropped to her knees on the floorboard, her hands searched for anything other than the bench, which was thick and provided little friction to keep from slipping.
“To me.”
She’d barely managed to reach an arm around one of his legs before the vehicle lurched into motion, carrying them wildly across the lawns.
Trusting that he could keep both of them safe, Felicity nonetheless squeezed her eyes closed, ducked her head, and sent up a silent prayer.
Because there was more to worry about than hers and Axel’s safety. They had a baby to protect as well.
Quite conscious of the muscles straining in his legs, Felicity clung to him, quivering but also a little in awe as he issued stern commands to the horses from above. She ought to fear for their lives but a part of her marveled that he could sound so masterly and forgiving at the same time. She ought to be terrified, but Axel was in control. He would save them. He would protect them.
This man, the most underestimated Viscount Manningham-Tissinton, was anything but simple.
