Page 91 of Scandalous: Family Ties and Spies

“Wait here.”

He disappeared down the hall that led to the kitchen. The sound of Boswell’s deep voice floated out of the hall, as she heard him confirm something Valeran had asked. A moment later, he reappeared to stand at the foot of the stairs with his hand outstretched.

“What are ye up tae, Lord Sommerville?” Amalie said with a small laugh of bewilderment, stepping forward to slide her hand into his. His sinful smile made her heart skip a beat.

“I asked Mrs. Clancy to have dinner served in my chambers as soon as she heard you’d return. I have to meet a friend in a few hours, but I don’t want to leave before I have dessert.” Valeran’s voice was filled with mischief as he led her upstairs.

“Ye are a wicked man, Lord Summerville.”

“You’ve only just realized that, my lady?”

“Nae,” she laughed. Cocking her head slightly, she glanced at his profile with curiosity. “However, your wife is also quite observant. This will be the fifth time in two weeks you’ve gone out in the evenings and not returned until close tae dawn.”

“Ah, there it is, my wife is suddenly questioning her husband’s penchant for enjoying a game of cards.”

“I shall refrain from doing so, then.”

Laughter broke past her lips as Valeran kissed her cheek and opened the door to his rooms. Jenkins was already placing dinner on the table, and in a moment, they were alone. As she sank down into the chair Valeran pulled out for her, he bent over her, the heat of his breath warming her skin.

“Don’t you dare refuse to eat all your rumbledethumps tonight, Lady Sommerville, or I shall be forced to punish you.”

“That sounds intriguing enough tae make me disobey ye.”

“I do not suggest you try, sweet mouse. If you think I’ll ever allow your curves to diminish, you are mistaken.”

Amalie sighed happily as Valeran tipped her head back to kiss her, then moved to take his seat at the table. For the next half-hour, her husband teased her relentlessly. After the first few minutes, he’d moved his chair closer to hers. Valeran had indicated he wanted to see how warm her cheeks were to know when she was blushing. When it was time for dessert, he pointed to the Dundee cake.

“Do you want a slice, sweetheart?”

“Nae, I think I would like something else for dessert this evening,” she said softly as she rose from her chair.

With a grin of delight, Valeran turned to rise from his chair, but Amalie forestalled him and pushed him back down into his seat. One knee nudging his legs apart, she smiled as he chuckled softly.

“Am I to understand you’re taking charge this evening, Lady Sommerville ?”

Amusement and desire whispered its way through the quiet question as she nudged his legs wider apart until she was standing in between them. Her answer was a long, deep kiss, which tugged a soft rumble up out of his chest. Her mouth clung to his as her fingers worked quickly to unbutton his fly and expose his erection.

Harsh and guttural, the sound he made as her fingers wrapped around his hard length was a masculine sound that sent a chill down her spine. He’d been right. She was in control tonight. She wanted to worship his body, savor his beauty as she silently took her time exploring him in a way she never had before. As she sank to her knees in front of him, he drew in a rough breath.

“Amalie—”

“Hush, let me look at ye,” she whispered, then leaned forward to blow a warm breath over his length. As if it had a life of its own, his erection twitched against his stomach.

“I want tae please ye, Valeran. Ye have never asked me tae, but I want this. I want tae pleasure ye as ye have me,” she whispered, blowing her breath over his hard, thick length. “I want tae taste ye. I want to feel ye throb in my mouth. I want tae breathe in that wonderful scent of pine and spice I always smell on your skin. I want tae feel your heat against my lips. But do ye know what I want most of all?”

“What?” The hoarse reply reverberated in the air above her head, and a shudder rocked his body hard the moment her finger slid from the bottom of his thickness to the top and touched the wet bead that rested on the tip of him.

“I want tae hear ye groan with need as I swirl my tongue around ye.” Her tongue darted out to lick at the tip of his erection. He tasted salty, hot, and hard male. The touch dragged a dark groan out of him.

“For the love of God, mouse, you don’t—” he croaked, and she smiled as her tongue circled the mushroom cap at the top of his erection.

“I know I dinnae have tae, but I want tae. But I won’t until ye promise tae shout my name over and over again as I slide you in and out of my mouth.” Her lips nibbled at his skin.

“I’ll promise you anything, sweetheart, if you’ll just stop teasing me and wrap that wickedly hot mouth of yours around my cock.”

“Like this?” The moment Amalie slid the tip of him into her mouth, his reaction was loud and instantaneous. One hand hit the surface of the table with a violent crack, and his body bucked hard against her shoulders.

“Amalie.”