His kiss affected every cell in her body, turning that effervescent tingling into a throbbing vibration.
He dragged his tongue along her lips and then slid it behind them. When he searched her taste, the vibration turned into an aching pulse between her legs. Nia whimpered, utterly lost. Utterly overwhelmed.
Jasper grazed his fingertips along her jaw and tightened his other arm low on her back. She pressed up on her toes, and he held her even closer.
This man was chiseled into perfection. Stars exploded behind her closed eyes. And this time, the roaring in her ears was her own heartbeat, her blood surging as though awakened for the first time.
Nia moaned into his mouth. Not in protest, but because she’d had yearnings before, she simply had not understood them.
And she had no idea how much time had passed before Jasper relaxed, sliding his hand up to the back of her neck, tucking her head beneath his chin.
“I’m sorry,” he whispered. “It was our best option.”
Nia required a moment to catch up with his meaning. The farmer’s cart. Her father’s men.
“Oh, yes.” She instinctively moved to pull away, but Jasper’s arms tightened.
“Wait,” he ordered.
Behind him, the men conversed loudly, apparently convinced that Nia and Jasper were insignificant travelers with no regard for polite sensibilities.
“Dewberry threatened to call him out if he doesn’t fulfill the bargain. He wants the full return on his investment.”
“But the tea didn’t make it.” The second man had lowered his voice, making his words barely detectable. “He got Crossings’ chit. What else does Dewberry expect?”
Nia stiffened when she realized they must be speaking about her.
“Your guess is as good as mine. It was in the papers. It’s done. Likely had a better night than you or I.” He laughed and then added, “I’d like to pump my cock between those pretty white thighs.”
“Too thin for me. But I wouldn’t mind claiming the dowry.”
“She’s one of those proper ladies. I’d wager she was little better than a dead fish.” Their lewd laughter bounced off the buildings around them.
“Yeah, I’ll stick with my Mary. Plenty to grab hold of and willing to do what I please, if you get my meaning...”
Their voices faded but Nia stood frozen.
Mortified.
Her mother had told her enough that she knew what they’d been talking about. Those men had worked for her father for years. When she’d thanked them for carrying water for a bath, or for bringing her supplies to the garden, they had treated her with respect and kindness.
Equally mortifying, if not more so, Jasper’s staff pressed against her belly.
And… she liked it. Who was she? What had she become?
“My apologies,” Jasper said above her head, loosening his hold and shifting his hips away from her. “I’m sorry you heard that.”
She snuck a glance around him. “They’re gone.” She didn’t want to talk about the things they’d said. They made her feel dirty. Especially in light of what she’d just learned about herself.
She was a lady. Or was she? Had the person she thought she was been nothing more than a façade?
Her insides shook even as Jasper assisted her to the carriage. And once inside, she slid to the corner of the bench and stared outside, unseeing.
Beside her, Jasper crossed his arms over his chest, propped his feet on the opposite bench, and appeared to nap. Any other time, she would have considered it rude, but for now, she was grateful to have time alone with her thoughts.
She was not sorry for refusing to marry Dewberry. As his wife, even as a duchess, she’d be little more than a puppet. A puppet he would use for his own purposes.
Just as she’d been to her father. An inanimate possession. Locked in a beautiful cage.
