Page 23 of Vying for a Viscount
Just then, she noticed the carriage had stopped, and she wondered how long they had sat in front of her home.
“Will you permit me to see you inside?”
She shouldn’t, but because of the hopeful way he asked, she replied, “Yes,” a little breathlessly.
Mr. Henry greeted them at the door and took their coat and cloak. “You may retire for the night, Mr. Henry.”
“Thank you, my lady.” Mr. Henry bowed and headed toward the kitchens.
“Come with me,” Letitia said, leading the way up the stairs and into the drawing room, where she’d had afternoon tea with him just that afternoon. It seemed like days ago to her now.
Sitting on the settee, she invited him to join her. They faced each other, their knees touching. She took a deep breath and said, “I’ll understand if you don’t want to see me again.”
He reached out immediately, taking her hands in his, and looked at her with one eyebrow raised. “Why on earth would you say that?” He moved one hand to cup her cheek and looked at her questioningly.
She stayed frozen in place, fighting the urge to lean into the warmth of his hand. “Because you must think me a wanton.”
“My darling Letitia, you are no such thing. As far as I know, you have been with only one man, your deceased husband. And even ifyou have been with others, it wouldn’t matter to me. You intrigue me. You make my heart pound and my breath seize in my chest. I desire you as I’ve never desired another. I was flattered that you had the courage to speak your mind and consider taking me into your bed... into your body.”
“I... I...” Words escaped her, and the knot in her chest eased at his words.
“I must be totally honest with you about forming a courtship.” He looked at her, his eyes intense and touched with sadness, and she knew she wouldn’t like whatever he had to say next. “I feel it would be unfair to you at this time if we formed a courtship. That is not to say we can’t see each other and attend society functions. But my life is not my own, and I have many responsibilities, more than you know. When I do court you seriously, and I do plan on it, I want to give you all my attention. Can you find it in your heart to be patient with me and not give up on us?”
Tears pooled in her eyes, and she blinked them away, mad at herself for almost crying. She would be truthful with herself because seeing each other and going to functions together sounded an awful lot like courting. If he couldn’t commit to her now, she would take what he could give. There was no other gentleman she’d met who intrigued her or made her heart flutter like he did.
She smiled, even though it was tinged with sadness, cupped his cheek, and said, “I trust you.” She leaned forward and kissed him.
It was a kiss that turned sensual quickly, and before she understood what was happening, she was swept into Grayson’s strong arms and gently lowered across his lap. She wrapped her arms around his neck and sighed into his mouth. It took only seconds for him to devour her. His tongue swirled inside her mouth, tasting her. When she joined her tongue with his, she felt the rumble of his groan from deep in his chest vibrate against hers. That wasn’t all she felt. His manhood, hard and straining against his breeches, pressed against her bottom, and sheswiveled her hips, intensifying the friction and making him groan again. He eased his lips from hers and placed light, barely there kisses down her neck, across her collarbone, and back up her neck, beneath the sensitive spot below her ear. Her entire body quivered with desire for this man.
“Greyson...” she purred as his hand reached beneath her skirts.
“Easy, my dear. Stop me if this isn’t what you want.”
His hand continued caressing up her calf, over her knee, and along the inside of her thigh. A stampede of wild horses couldn’t make her say stop. Oh dear, what did that say about her? She wanted this man and what he was making her feel. She sometimes wore pantaloons, but not tonight. There was nothing between his hand and her womanhood. His fingers finally brushed her curls, and she sighed deeply.
“Letitia,” Greyson exhaled as his fingers parted her folds and his thumb circled her nub. “So wet.” He kept circling. “So warm.” More circling. “Come for me.” He inserted one long finger, then removed it and pushed it back inside repeatedly.
She clutched the lapels of his jacket and buried her face there as her stomach fluttered low, her legs began to tremble, and her body shattered into a million tiny pieces of intense pleasure. Greyson didn’t speak as her body exploded. One hand stayed beneath her skirts, drawing out her pleasure, while the other splayed against her back, holding her tightly. Her body felt languid and weak, and she was thankful he held her; otherwise, she would likely slither to the floor in a lifeless heap.
After perhaps a moment, Greyson righted her skirts and said, “Letitia, look at me.”
Did she have to? She inhaled, then raised her head, seeing desire in his eyes and a soft smile. “That was beautiful. Thank you for giving yourself to me. For trusting me.”
Oh dear, she blinked back tears at his words. With no words of herown, she brought her mouth to his and kissed him gently, not to arouse their desires but to let him know how much she appreciated and cared for him. She did care for him. In fact, she’d fallen in love with him during their time in Newmarket. However, she would keep those words to herself until the time was right.
When she broke the kiss, he eased her off his lap, and she stood on wobbling legs. Greyson rose, straightened his jacket and cuffs, then raised her hand to his mouth, and brushed his lips across her fingers. Their eyes met, and his smoldered. “Goodnight, my dear. Weather permitting, would you join me for a ride in the park tomorrow?”
“I would like that very much,” she answered, and then he was gone. Poor Greyson must be uncomfortable in his breeches. Her thoughts darkened. Would he visit a brothel to ease himself? Go back to Club Knight and visit the third floor? If only she’d never known about Graham’s mistress. It made her question Greyson, and it wasn’t fair to him. He wasn’t Graham, with his secrets. Not to mention that he’d told her he didn’t have a mistress.
Jane met her as she entered her chambers. She helped her undress, then slipped a clean night rail over her head. She removed all the pins from her hair, combed it, and braided it. “That will be all for tonight, Jane.”
“Yes, my lady.”
After her maid left, she performed her nightly toilette and slid beneath the counterpane. Her body was still warm from the lingering effects of what Greyson had done to her, she didn’t want to feel embarrassed, but she was. Sleep eluded her for quite some time.
Chapter Eight
When Letitia suggestedgoing up to the third floor at Club Knight, Greyson almost relented. But he believed she would regret it afterward and that it would put an unnecessary strain on their friendship. He would never have regretted it, but he feared she would have. The tension on the carriage ride to her townhouse tightened his chest. Perhaps he should never have introduced her to the club. It wasn’t for everyone. Even though she appeared agreeable, he wasn’t convinced.
