Page 62 of A Countess Never Tells

In response, he slid his hands under her bottom, raised her to him, then licked the sensitive folds on either side of her opening.

The shock of his undreamed-of actions made her gasp out loud, before waves of pleasure made her throw her head back, writhing in the throes of sensations she’d never experienced before. Unable to draw a deep breath, she panted, moaning in her throat at each touch of his tongue. Suddenly his mouth moved back to the little nub, drawing it inward and stroking it until she gasped and moaned deep in her throat. Her whole body shook as she shattered, her heart pounding harder than a drum going into battle.

Ash gave a prolonged groan and stopped his ministrations. He panted along with her then slowly raised his head, his eyes wide. “That’s never happened before.”

Scarcely cognizant of anything, Kitty tried to focus. Obviously, this was not the first time he’d done such a thing. “What do you mean?”

He paused, gazing at her as though unsure he wanted to answer. Finally, he said, “Whenever I’ve…pleasured a woman before, I’ve always been able to control myself. Been able to keep from spilling my essence. I’ve never even paid much attention to it, because it’s never been a concern. But just now…” A faint tinge of pink appeared on his cheeks. “When you cried out my name just now…I couldn’t control myself at all.”

Kitty frowned, her head still muddled from her own release. “What do you mean?”

Ash sighed. “Let it suffice to say I must hurry home and change my clothes before your brother sees me like this.” He stood, and Kitty gaze strayed from his face down to his breeches, where an unmistakable stain had appeared.

She recalled their interlude in his bed, and what had happened when he’d erupted. “I made you do that?”

He nodded as he pulled his suit coat on. “You affect me as no other woman ever has, my love.” Leaning over, he whispered in her ear, “I cannot wait to find out what you will do to me when we finally join together fully.” As Ash straightened, his grin widened. “Not much longer now.”

With that, he bowed jauntily and sauntered from the room, leaving Kitty breathless and suddenly hopeful that the wait was almost over.

Chapter 27

The week wore slowly on with Ash continuing to call on Kitty each day for lunch or tea or dinner. In the evenings, they and Haxby and Judith played cards, or the ladies performed on the piano and sang, all to pass the time until the next Monday would arrive and deliver them. As the week progressed, word came of the baron actually boarding a ship in Dover, Ash heaved a sigh of relief, and Kitty found herself free to go out in public again.

To Ash’s surprise, he and Kitty continued to be allowed time alone each day, during which he dutifully locked the drawing room door and instructed Kitty in the many ways a man could please a woman without anticipating the wedding night. Thursday afternoon’s “lesson” had exhausted them so thoroughly, Kitty had begged a nap before dinner, and Ash headed home to change.

Slouched in the corner of the carriage, utterly fatigued from their passionate pastime, Ash couldn’t help marveling at the effect Kitty had on him, and not only during their delightful afternoon interludes. Every glance she gave him, every word, every time he came into her presence, the pull toward her was undeniable. There had literally never been a woman like her in his life, one he simply could not get enough of. There’d been mistresses he’d been fond of, there’d been dalliances where he’d burned for the lady with a maddening ache—until he’d had her once or twice—and then the ache vanished, as did the lady soon afterward.

The ache Kitty inspired in him, however, he couldn’t imagine ever disappearing. Not even when he was old and gray. He had to chuckle. Instead of siring an heir in his dotage, most likely now he’d be dandling a grandchild on his knee. As the old song said, the world turned upside down.

As soon as he entered the foyer, Ash instructed Fanshaw to order a bath in his room and tell Thompson he was wanted immediately. Fortunately, the long cream waistcoat had concealed most of today’s indiscretion. His shirttail had ridden up, else it might have caught his essence instead of his breeches. He did hope Thompson could salvage the suit as it was one of his favorites.

Entering his bed chamber, Ash proceeded to shed coat and waistcoat and was working on the breeches when Thompson arrived, carrying freshly laundered linen. “Thank God, Thompson. I need you to take charge here.”

“Of course, my lord.” The valet expertly stripped Ash in half the time it would’ve taken him. “The water for your bath is heating and should be on its way up shortly, my lord.” The man took the soiled clothing into the dressing room and returned immediately with Ash’s gray silk banyan. “I’ll go lay the linen in the tub now.”

Ash nodded absently, padding over to the desk that held a decanter of brandy and glasses. Something to get him through this interminable waiting, especially now he hungered for Kitty almost constantly. If only they could be married, he’d make certain Baltimore could never get to her again. The man could scarcely steal her out of Ash’s bed, and that was where he intended to keep his wife for at least a week. Or until they were so exhausted they could do nothing else save sleep in the bed.

The footmen entered with steaming buckets of water, heading into the dressing room. Ash sauntered in there, taking his brandy with him to watch as the tub filled, creating a warm, steamy cocoon of the dressing room. Thompson added fragrant oils to the hot water, and Ash quickly set the brandy on a chair, dropped his robe, and climbed in, reveling in the aroma of sandalwood. Groaning, he submerged himself fully, embracing the heat that burned intensely as his body adjusted then he sat up and leaned against the back of the tub, quite content to lie quietly and let the water soak his cares away.

Between the silence and the warm water, Ash found himself drifting off into a dream of Kitty looking so tempting in a blue and white gown that showed all her bosom—save the nipples which were barely hidden—and arms as she capered before him in a grassy meadow, showing off her dancing skills as she laughed and beckoned to him.

“I’m coming,” he muttered as he ran toward her. “I’m coming.” He could almost grab her hand.

A hand shook his shoulder. “Beg pardon, my lord.”

Jolted out of the dream, Ash sat up with a gasp to find Thompson bending over him, drying linen in hand. “I’m sorry, my lord, but the water’s getting quite cold. And a parcel’s arrived for you. Mr. Fanshaw asked me to tell you. Shall I have it fetched here?”

Ash took a deep breath, blew it out, and felt much more himself. “Yes, Thompson, have it brought up, please.”

“Are you dining out tonight, my lord?”

The question gave him pause. He’d a standing invitation to dine at Haxby’s, but seeing Kitty again might be too much for his self-restraint after this afternoon. The thought of not seeing her again until tomorrow, however, was equally painful. “I haven’t decided yet. What’s the time?”

“Just gone six, my lord.”

“Give me my robe after I dry off. I will let you know shortly.”

“Very good, my lord.” Thompson helped him out of the tub, dried him efficiently, then handed over the discarded banyan.