“Exactly.”
He took her hand and led her toward the writing desk. “May I?”
She glanced at the clock. “Whatever you do, it will have to be quick. We’ve been here for quite a while already.”
He put his hands around her waist and sat her on the side of the desk. “Pull up your skirts and petticoats.”
“What are you going to do?” she asked as she pulled up her skirt to expose her naked thighs and tied stockings.
“This.” He went down on his knees, spread her thighs wide, and used his mouth on her most sensitive parts. To his satisfaction, she was already wet, her clit begging for his attention as he tongued it, making her quiver and roll her hips toward him.
Aware of the need for haste, he thrust two fingers inside her and scissored them wide as he continued to flick his tongue hard over her now-throbbing clit. She was wet enough for him to add another finger, and he circled his thumb roughly over the aroused flesh he’d already kissed.
With a throaty moan, she climaxed, her fingers gripping his scalp as waves of clenching need ran through her. Julian gently disengaged her hand from his hair and stood up. He found his handkerchief and wiped his mouth, staring at Carenza. She was breathing hard, her cheeks flushed, and her eyes wild.
He raised an eyebrow. “I’d offer you my handkerchief, but I want you to go back to your guests just as you are.” He stepped closer and kissed her with all the wild savagery he’d repressed while he’d pleasured her. “Will your friends notice that you’ve been pleasured, Carenza?” he murmured into her mouth. “Will they see it in your eyes, on your flushed cheeks? I wish I had time to attend to you properly and send you back in there well satisfied.”
She placed both hands on his chest and gently pushed him away. “We have to stop.”
“As you wish.” He bowed. “Let me set you to rights.” He helped her down and rearranged her skirts and bodice to his satisfaction. “There. You look your usual calm self.”
“I heartily doubt it.” She looked up at him. “Thank you.”
He bowed. “You’re very welcome. Shall we return to the drawing room?”
“Was there anything you wished to talk to me about? I can hardly tell Olivia and Allegra that we spent ten minutes alone and spoke of nothing.”
“Then tell them that I came to warn you that my older brother is intent on courting you.”
“Don’t be ridiculous.”
“It’s the truth. He wants to take you riding in the park. He thinks you look splendid on a horse.”
“He did send me a note about that. I was going to ask you whether I should go.”
“I’d accept his kind invitation,” Julian advised. “He wants me to come with him, which gives us the opportunity to be together without comment.”
He opened the door for her, and they walked back toward the drawing room. To his relief, most of the guests had departed and only Allegra and Mrs. Sheraton remained. Yet again, he was slightly chagrined at how quickly Carenza had regained her composure. He began making plans about how and when he would disrupt her again.
“I don’t want to give Aragon false hope,” Carenza said as he escorted her to her seat.
“Don’t worry, my mother will never let him get married until she picks him a bride.” Julian stepped back with a smile. “You’ll be quite safe, I assure you.”
Carenza resumed her seat, aware that her body was now fizzing with the sultry, slow pulse of release. Olivia was looking very closely at her, which didn’t bode well for Carenza’s chances of getting away with allowing a gentleman to pleasure her during calling hours. Allegra was chatting away to Julian without a care in the world and seemed oblivious to her sister’s appearance.
The butler came in. “Lord Tobias and Lady Harriet Smythe-Harding, my lady.”
Carenza stood up to greet the new heir to her late husband’s title. She was surprised, because after an initial formal visit, the earl and his wife had made little effort to socialize with her since coming to town. Tobias was Hector’s second cousin, the oldest son of Hector’s first cousin.
“How very kind of you to call,” Carenza said. “May I offer you some refreshments?”
“No, thank you.” Tobias seemed somewhat ill at ease. “There is a matter I wish to discuss with you.”
Carenza raised her eyebrows, inviting him to continue.
It was his wife who spoke up. “You need to give it back.”
“I beg your pardon?” Carenza asked.
