Julian knelt to kiss her exposed nipples and felt her shudder as he sucked on them and then groan when he grazed them with his teeth. He hadn’t expected her to be so … demanding. He’d always been the dominant party in bed, and he still wasn’t sure how he felt about being ordered around.
“You might think about me, Carenza, but if I came around and demanded to fuck you again, I suspect you’d tell me to wait for a few days.”
“Would I?” There was a faraway look in Carenza’s eyes that made everything male in Julian spring to attention. “Or would it be even sweeter?”
His cock had hardened again, and all thoughts of a leisurely session of lovemaking flew from his mind in a tide of possessiveness. He used his knee to spread her thighs wide and simply thrust himself home again. Carenza made a sound of deep appreciation as he began to move, her feet sliding up his thighs to rest on his arse as she took every onslaught and gave it back to him.
He curved his arm under her buttocks, lifting her higher into his shorter thrusts, his groin grinding against her sensitive flesh until she came again. This time he didn’t come with her and wrenched another climax out of her before he had nothing left to give. He rolled off her and stared up at the ceiling wondering what on earth had happened to his polished bedside manner.
A disturbing thought crept into his head. “Carenza …”
“Mmm?”
“We should have discussed this before we began, but if you are pregnant, I will marry you.”
She came up on one elbow. Her thick, fair hair had escaped almost all its pins and hung over her shoulder. “I can see why you and Mrs. Mountjoy are such good friends. She warned me not to engage in sexual congress withanyman, including you.”
“This isn’t a cause for levity. I was remiss. I should have taken better precautions.”
“I can’t have children,” Carenza said. “And even if I could, I don’t regret what we just did together.”
Julian looked at her composed face. It was a personal subject that he was loath to probe, but he should have discussed such matters with her earlier, and he was furious with himself for putting her in such a position.
He opened his mouth to speak, and she placed her fingers over his lips. “I do not wish to talk about this right now. Rest assured, I will not be presenting you with a child at any point.”
He held her gaze. “Are you quite certain?”
“Yes.” She smiled at him. “Now, will you help me get dressed? If I don’t return soon, Allegra will be sending for the Bow Street Runners.”
He did as she asked, again amazed at her ability to shut that demanding sexual part of herself away so easily and return to the even-tempered, calm creature everyone knew.
Downstairs, he sent one of the kitchen maids to call a hackney cab for her. A few minutes later, he watched Carenza leave from the back door, her head held high, and a becoming flush on her cheeks.
After waving her off, he turned to see Anna watching him.
“Would you like some tea?” she asked.
“Yes, please.” He followed her back into the deserted kitchen and sat at the table.
“I know who your mystery woman is,” Anna said as she brought the teapot over. “We did our curtsies to the Queen in the same year. It’s Lady Carenza Musgrove, isn’t it?”
“I’m sure I don’t have to ask you not to mention her name again, ma’am,” Julian said somewhat stiffly.
“Like that, is it?” She shot him an amused glance. “Is there a husband in the vicinity?”
“No, he’s dead.”
“Well, thank goodness for that. After Lady Brenton, you’d be wise to be careful.”
“Don’t worry. I am.” Julian sipped his tea, his thoughts still with Carenza and her unexpected effect on him. He liked the snap of her temper, her urgency, herneedfor him to satisfy her on her own terms.
“I found a place for Mary O’Leary,” Anna said.
“Excellent news.”
“Ask the Cartwrights to keep an eye out for another candidate for me.”
“I will.”
