Chapter Fifteen
“Stunning two gentlemen from White’s Club today who swear the veracity of this tidbit, Lord M__ was seen pawning family jewelry at Rundell, Bridge and Rundell’s fine establishment. Could this be the end of the M__ family fortune?”
-The Sun
Jasper’s glass wasraised to his lips, but he set it down with a clunk upon the table and wrapped his arms around her, drawing her close. Without hesitation, he claimed her upturned mouth, taking in her citrus and floral scent. A soft lick across her lips, and they parted for him to plunder.
With their tongues dancing, he reached down, lifting the heavy fabric of her riding skirt with its train for modesty upon the saddle. This he bunched upon her lap before going down for another handful. It would take more work than with a light, gauzy ballgown to expose her soft skin, but he was up for the task.
Yes, his body was quite up for this woman.
She let him continue until his fingers trailed across her silken stockings, and then she drew away from him.
“No,” she whispered.
“No? Not here, you mean. Shall we go up to my bedroom?”
“No,” Miss Sudbury repeated and ended with a little sigh. “I simply wanted a kiss. They are so delightful, but that is all. We can finish our wine, but then I must be heading home.”
Thunderstruck, Jasper stared at her, his heart still racing and his shaft throbbing with need.
“Can you mean what you say? We are finally alone. We have a bed, more than one,” he jabbed his hand upward to indicate the many rooms on the next floor, “any of which we can press into service. Come now, you haven’t been coy up until now. Are you hoping for flowery talk first — about the beauty of your eyes or your superb breasts — or mayhap vague promises you know I won’t keep?”
She shook her head. “No, it’s not that. I do desire you, as you can tell. And I was previously willing to allow the most decadent of liberties because I am fair weary of waiting to experience the grand mystery of love-making. However,” she paused.
“Yes?” he asked, realizing his tone was a little harsh.
“It’s my sister and Lady Daphne,” she finished with a shake of her head.
Jasper couldn’t help frowning. Then he grabbed his glass of wine, sat back, and drank the whole thing down. Finally, while knowing the invocation of Daphne’s name didn’t bode well for an afternoon’s assignation, he still had to ask.
“Please explain what you mean by your sister and Lady Daphne. They have not formed an attachment, have they?”
That made Julia smile for the first time since they’d entered the drawing room, changing the mood.
“No, but Lady Daphne explained the ramifications of my becoming involved with you, and particularly of my being caught in precisely this type of situation.” She gestured around her with a wave of her dainty hand. He wanted to grab it and press it against his aching arousal.
“For me, I think the consequences would not be so grave,” she continued. “No one knows who I am nor cares what I do, but for my sister, a countess, still scrabbling to gain a foothold in the world to which her husband thrust her, it would be ruinous. She would be tarred by the same bucket of shame as myself.”
Jasper knew Lady Daphne was correct in this advice, but it galled him how easily she’d turned Julia from him.
“That is all true, I suppose, but only if we’re caught,” he reminded her. “If I take you home nowwithoutour having enjoyed ourselves, there is no difference than if we had rolled around on the floor, rutting like beasts.”
