Bold Seduction (8 page)

He yelled out her name as he climaxed, his body wracked with wave after wave of desire. His hips lifted off the bed with each shudder. It went on for many minutes. He closed his hand over hers. By God, he never felt more alive. Finally, the tremors subsided and his breathing returned to normal.

“Well. That was bloody intense,” Phil murmured.

“There’s…there’s a handkerchief in my trousers pocket.”

Phil found it and cleaned them up. Tossing it on the end table, she curled in next to him. He didn’t even bother to pull his trousers back up. “See? The longer you can hold out, the more forceful the release. Rest a moment.”

He laid her head on his shoulder. Intense did not begin to describe what he’d experienced. Calm settled over him. A peace he never had before but longed to possess. Every nerve ending tingled with awareness, every sense heightened. A mixture of their scents lingered in the room, along with a muskier, earthy odor not at all unpleasant. Colors were more vivid, and the nearness of Phil’s body ignited his skin. Savoring the sensations for several minutes, he wound stray locks of her silken hair around his fingers. “Do you wish me to stroke you?” he asked.

* * * *

Phil moved in closer. How comforting she found his scent, sandalwood soap mixed with sex, and she inhaled it deep. The odor as consoling as it was sensual.

Imagine her acting as if she had all the answers to everything carnal. She did not, not even close. For years she had gone through the motions, allowing only two positions, missionary and her on top. She became adept at faking her release and used creams and unguents to aid her lack of desire. Most men didn’t notice, or perhaps they did not care. She remained cool and aloof in her sexual dealings, which in many cases seemed to increase the man’s passion. At times, and they were rare, she rewarded a select few with her finely honed and rehearsed response. Deceiving Spence was off the table. She wanted to experience desire, but also deeply frightened she would not respond to him as she should or as she wished to.

Phil tunneled her fingers through his chest hair. “Spence, there is a chance I may not become aroused enough to… Oh, damn it all to bloody hell,” she muttered. How to explain her apprehension about being able to reach an orgasm? Sitting upright, she pulled her nightgown to her waist, then bent her legs and spread them wide. They might as well put her doubts to the test. “Here, Professor. Make a study of me.”

Spence pulled his trousers over his hips and kneeled between her thighs. He leaned in and examined her. She couldn’t help but laugh at his serious expression. “You are wet. That is a good thing, correct?” he questioned.

“Yes, a very good thing. And for me, rare. In the past, I used lubricants to ease a man inside me. All I have to do is touch you, hear that splendid voice, and I grow wet with need. Only you, Spence, and I am amazed as much as I am terrified.” She clutched his arm briefly, giving it a reassuring squeeze.

He sat upright, his brows knotting together. “For God’s sake, why?”

“I don’t want to bloody well feel anything,” she whispered.

He trailed his fingers upward, leaving a path of heat in its wake. “We are alone here, Philomena. Two people giving each other pleasure. No boundaries and no promises. An unknown journey. An exploration. I will leave doubt behind if you will leave your fright.”

God, his voice.
Smooth as silk and deep as sin, each syllable playing havoc with her restraint. She nodded. “All right. You have a deal, Professor Hornsby.”

Spreading her quim wide, he teased her curls and stroked her folds. “My oldest brother, Harry, told me there is a special button hidden under a hood of skin that can give a woman extreme pleasure.” He explored, causing her to shudder with each caress. “Ah, there. For once he did not exaggerate.”

He rubbed vigorously, which caused her to shake and shudder. “How inexperienced are you?” she gasped.

“No experience at all, but I have two older brothers who love to boast of their erotic tales in excruciating detail. They mentioned a few things I would like to try.” He gave her a playful, sexually charged grin.

Dare she ask? Spence was not what she imagined he would be. Tentative and shy at first, he seemed to take to this as a duck to water. If he could brush aside his suspicions and doubts, then she could, too. “Like what, Professor?”

“Against the wall, on a table, me behind, sitting in a chair…” He rattled off a few more positions and with each one, he increased the rhythm. “Tremain is fond of oral sex. Perhaps that would be something to try.” Leaning in, he pushed one finger inside her, causing her to cry out in surprise. As he rubbed his thumb against the hardened, sensitive nub, he thrust in and out. The wet sound of his ministrations filled the air. “Your mouth on my cock, my tongue plunged into your quim…”

She screamed, loud and lustily. Colors swirled in her vision. Bloody hell, an orgasm. And all from his mere touch. And Spence, ever the intelligent man, used his voice to bring her pleasure. Oh, God.
Such
pleasure. Her insides melted, and her heart banged against her ribcage, threatening to burst out of her chest. Heaving, she dared to meet his gaze. The look on his face was not of an arrogant man, smug in the knowledge he did what no man had done before. Rather, she read tenderness in his reflective expression, and that made her insides tumble in yearning.

With a slow gentleness, he lowered her nightgown, brushed her sweat matted hair off her forehead, and gave her a tender kiss on it. He lay down and brought her with him, covering them both with his bedspread. “Sleep here in my arms. All night. Please, Phil. Say yes.”

The depth of intimacy between them astounded her. A rush of potent emotions flooded her body. Oh, bloody hell. She was falling for him. Good God, she had taken leave of her senses. The voice inside her whispered urgently, “Go back to your own room, keep your distance from this man. Guard your heart.”

It was too late. All of it. Instead of running to her room, she snuggled in close and nodded, powerless to resist him. She would save all her resolve until it was time to go. It would require every ounce to leave him. Until then, Phil knew she was lost.

After awaking to find herself quite alone in the large, comfortable bed, Phil dressed in the green striped travel gown once again and made her way downstairs. The door to the study was open, and without thinking, she stepped across the threshold. Both dogs lay in front of the hearth. Justinian gave her a welcoming woof as she scanned the interior of the room. No professor. The clock in the corner bonged nine times. She had slept deep and long, one of her more restful slumbers--ever. And why not? Glancing out the window, she sighed. It snowed overnight. Oh, damn it all. She could be stuck here longer than a week. Somehow, the prospect did not seem as disconcerting as before.

She headed to the ground level. All these years she never actually slept with a man, she rather liked it. Bloody hell, she loved it. There was something to be said for cuddling together under the blankets sharing warmth and comfort. Outside the kitchen door, she reached for the apron hanging on the peg and tied it in place. The sound of splashing water halted her movements.

Spence, taking a bath. Of course, the tub had been left in the kitchen. He hummed, the deep tones of his voice resonating very much like the bass string section of an orchestra. She stepped into the room, and he stopped in mid-scrub. Last night she downplayed how much his body affected her. Though lean, Spence possessed a musculature she found very attractive. Everything about him spoke of elegance. Yes, his nose was a bit long as were his arms and legs, and his ears stuck out. Regardless of all that, he moved with a poetic fluidity. He possessed an expressive face with eyes and lips, which were perfection. She drank in the vision of his broad shoulders and fine chest. So early in the morning and yet arousal clutched her tight.

She pulled over the chair, sat next to the tub, and snatched the cloth from his hand. “I’ll wash your back. Lean forward.”

He did, muscle moved under the skin stretched across his shoulder blades. She should not be touching him, but could not help herself. It became an automatic response, like breathing in and out.

“And what are your plans today?” he asked as she trailed the cloth down the valley of his spine.

“Breakfast first, of course. I thought I would roast a chicken for supper. I may read later this afternoon while enjoying a cup of tea. I brought a Gothic novel with me.” Phil rolled the cloth lower, across the top of his fine arse. A slight moan left his lips. “Then I suppose after we eat, I’ll come to your bed. Lay you flat and straddle your hips. Plunge down on your erect cock and ride you until we both come.” Remaining in control of her emotions became impossible as her blood boiled hot with lust and the mere touch of his skin tore down the barriers she kept around her heart.

With the quickness of a predatory animal, Spence clasped the back of her neck, pulled her down until her face was level with his own, and kissed her savagely. How fiercely he possessed her mouth, not giving her quarter. Deeper he plunged until they both panted. She pulled away and dared a glance. His stiff cock could not be missed. He still gripped her neck. “Why wait?”

“Oh, Professor. I believe I have created a monster,” she teased.

Spence was taken aback, the spell broken. Blinking rapidly, he let go of her and reached for the nearby towel. “I am sorry.” He stood and wrapped it around his waist, the soapy water sluicing across the taut muscles.

“I wasn’t complaining, Spence. Far from it. I wanted to give you a taste of what your words did to me last night. I shouldn’t tease early in the morning, at least not before we’ve had our tea.” Phil gave him a playful wink, hoping to lessen his obvious discomfort.

He gathered his clothes in an awkward bundle and held them in front of his chest. “Regardless, I will leave you to your tasks.”

He slipped from the room. How adorable his embarrassment was. He charmed her, aroused her, and she could not wait until the sun set tonight.

* * * *

Thirty minutes later, Spence dressed and waited in his room until his erection dissipated. Good God, perhaps she
did
create a monster. What possessed him to act in such a way in the clear light of day? Like a randy beast? His brothers, braggarts to a fault, claimed their sex drive drove their passions. Perhaps such a thing could be hereditary. What nonsense. Not having a handle on his emotions upset his equilibrium and disturbed his inner balance. Phil had been here three days and already his world had been turned on its axis. Shouldn’t he be more distressed over the prospect? Seeking solitude is how he dealt with such disturbances in the past, but he did not want to be alone while she stayed here.

Infatuated. No other word to describe his actions. He had fallen completely and utterly under her spell. Shaking the revelation from his mind, he headed toward the dining room. Upon entering, the odor of ham and eggs inundated his senses. He could become very used to this.
Don’t. She is leaving first chance she gets. Do not become attached.
Spence sat at the table as she poured his tea, giving him a sunny smile that told him it was already too late. The attachment was firmly in place on his end at least.

Phil sat opposite. “Did you see the snow? Obviously, since you cleared a path to the outside water closet. Thank you for that, by the by.” She cut into her egg. He found her chatter adorable. It warmed his heart. The revelation astounding as he could never stand mindless prattle from people. “Do you think this snowfall will hamper the old man’s travels? Boyle, you said his name was? No matter, we do have enough food.” She ate part of the fried egg and bit into her toast. “Spence, tonight will be New Year’s Eve, can you imagine? Eighteen eighty-two. We must celebrate and ring in the new. I believe there is another bottle of wine in the root cellar. I’m glad I’m making the chicken, a nice meal on New Year’s Eve will be just the ticket.”

He ate, keeping his gaze firm on her. How animated and bright she appeared this morning. He envied her joy in simple matters like planning meals and talking of the new year.

“I’ve been wondering, Spence, about a few things. When I first came upon you in your study, you walked in a stooped position to reach for papers from the bookcase. I must say you had me worried you suffered from a curvature of the spine until you walked into the dining room the first night straight as a broom handle. I have to ask--why?”

He shrugged. “It is a simple question of economy of movement. I have found my workday efficiency improved by several minutes by not straightening upright every time I leave my desk.”

She gave him an amused smile. “And I suppose that extends to shaving as well?”

He returned her smile. “Quite so.”

Phil nibbled at her toast. “I wonder how can you live out in this barren, lonely place with no transport? What if something happened?”

“You mean what if I sliced my finger on a piece of paper?”

“It can bloody well hurt, and what if it became infected? What if you fell off the edge of the cliff? Or became very ill? Who would look after you and how would you seek assistance? You should have a horse at the very least,” Phil said.

“I did, up until two months past.”

She laid her utensils across her plate and gave him a look of shock. “You did? What happened to the beast?”

“He died of a digestive ailment. Luckily, it happened the day before Boyle arrived. I had to pay him a pretty penny to take the carcass away on his wagon.” Spence frowned. Though he stayed up all night with Narses, he didn’t know what to do except keep the horse as comfortable as he could. He watched helplessly while the unfortunate animal writhed with pain in his stall, his stomach distended. It had been a horrible night. If he’d had a revolver, he would have put the poor creature out of its misery.

The worry of sudden illness extended to his dear companions. Theodora was no longer young; arthritis hampered her every move. Old age caught up to her. If something happened to his hounds… He shook the horrid thoughts from his mind.