Page 61 of A Countess Never Tells

“Christ.” Ash downed his drink in a gulp and almost choked.

“Steady, Ashwood.” Her brother took a more cautious sip. “If we manage to find a way for you to marry today, you don’t want to be foxed, do you?”

“No, but I see no way forward.” Never had Kitty seen Ash look so defeated.

“Much as I hate to agree with Ashwood, I do believe he is right in this.” John looked on from the sideboard, his glass suspended in the air. “You are simply going to have to wait for the banns to be read next Sunday. Then immediately after the church service, you can be married in the chapel.”

“But I don’t want to wait another week.” Tears pricked Kitty’s eyes. “We have waited, we’ve done everything you’ve asked, I’ve been assaulted. I deserve to be married, John.”

“I know you do, my dear.” John drew closer to her and Ash. “I am sorry now I kept you from taking out a special license when we first heard of Baltimore’s wager. But I cannot go back and undo my actions. I can only give you as much support as I ever have until you can marry.”

“Come, my dear.” Judith rose and took John’s arm. “Let us leave them to console one another.” She led him to the family room doorway.

“Do you think that wise, Judith?” Her brother shot a glance at her and Ash on the chaise.

“No, but I do have certain sympathies with their plight.” She paused and gazed up at him, one delicate dark eyebrow arched. “You should as well.”

He frowned down at her. “What do you mean?”

“Think back on our first month of marriage.”

John’s brows shot up. “Oh. Well, yes, I see your point. But we were married.”

“And they will be as soon as humanly possible. Now, come with me.” She grabbed his hand and pulled him from the room. “Let me distract you from thinking about it.” She shut the door behind them.

“What just happened?” Kitty peered at the door, hearing faint laughter far down the hallway.

“I think we have been given carte blanche for a while as a consolation prize for not being able to marry today.” Ash removed his coat and tossed it onto the chair Judith had been sitting in. That gone, he slid closer to her, his mouth suddenly next to her ear. “Can I distract you from the disappointment, sweetheart?”

Kitty shivered, his closeness and the heat of his breath starting a frisson of excitement deep inside her. “Oh, yes, my love.”

After nuzzling the nape of her neck, Ash dropped a stream of kisses down toward her bosom, each one seeming to burn her flesh until she panted, wondering if there would be scorch marks on her skin. Marking her as his. Such an exquisite thought. She arched her neck, baring it further for him to kiss. As she’d hoped, he didn’t stop at her neck but continued down toward her breasts—which seemed oddly free. She glanced down to see the bodice of her gown gaping away from her skin, revealing most of her bosom swelling up over the top of her corset. “Ash, did you…?”

He raised his head long enough to grin at her. “My fingers are very nimble, you know.”

“A skill I am more than grateful for…ah!” He freed her breasts and sank his mouth onto her exposed nipple. A pleasure she’d come to delight in.

Kitty lay back on the chaise, thrusting her breasts toward him, needing him to continue. Oh, to be able to spend every day like this if they wished. If they did not marry soon, she would go mad with wanting him.

Panting, eyes closed, she imagined his tongue as it laved her nipples, first one then the other then circling the furled little points until she was dizzy with desire. “Ash…can’t we simply…go on and do…what we both want so badly?”

“If I were a weaker man, my love, I’d already be inside you.” He’d raised his head to glare at the closed door. “I wish that door was locked. Still, I doubt we’ll be interrupted.”

“Interrupted?” But he’d just said… Excitement surged inside her. “Are we going to make love?”

“We are doing that right now, love.” He sat up, his ebony gaze on her instilling a hunger deep inside. “There are many, many ways to make love, and we will discover all of them together eventually. For right now, there’s one I think you’ll enjoy very, very much.”

Of that she was certain. Nothing he’d ever shown her had given her anything but the utmost pleasure.

He grasped her ankle then stroked upward, taking her gown with him, so her legs and knees were exposed to cooler air. Then her thighs and…then all her most private parts were laid bare to him. He gazed at her, the intensity of his stare making her gasp, waiting for what he would do next.

“Are you going to touch me like last time?” The very memory of that extraordinary pleasure made her body ache with desire.

“Not…exactly like last time.” A slow smile spread across his face as he bent down until his face hovered over her thighs. “Open for me, love.”

Trembling, Kitty moved her legs apart.

His lips brushed the little nub there, sending a jolt like a bolt of lightning all through her body. Kitty gasped and raised up, unsure whether to be delighted or outraged. “Ash! What…what are you doing?”