Chapter 8

Chapter Eight

Oscar

S omehow, I must master my feelings for Ann. She would no sooner want me than my old uncle Jeremiah. Kissing her was foolish. Buying the gown, well, that was pure selfishness. I can't regret it.

I lie on the settee in my study, grateful to be back in my home. My valet went to bed. I decided I would not lay another night staring at the heavy curtains, praying for sleep while wishing for Ann. Not that lying here is much better. The memory of holding her in my arms while we danced is so fresh that it's unlikely I'll sleep tonight.

The creaking of the door opening rouses me.

Ann pads in and goes to the bookshelf behind the library ladder. She runs her fingers along the spines while holding a candle high enough to read the titles. In a white gown and wrap, with her dark hair lying over her shoulders, she looks more angel than woman.

"Can you not sleep?" I speak softly .

She jumps, barely holding on to the candlestick. "My lord, what are you doing in here so late?"

My shirt is pulled from my trousers, and I've removed my boots. I'm hardly presentable, but I round the settee anyway. She's my true north, and I can't stay away. "Sleep eluded me as well."

Her hand still lies across the rise of her breasts. "I thought a book might help."

My body continues toward her despite my resolve to keep my distance. "Would you like to know what keeps me awake?"

The way her nose scrunches as she thinks is adorable. "If you would like to tell me, my lord."

"My name is Oscar." Foolishly, I touch her soft cheek.

Leaning into my touch, she whispers, "Oscar, why can you not sleep?"

There are only inches between us. The heat of her body seeps through my clothes and I cup her jaw. "Because my thoughts always turn to you. I long to know what you think and what you're doing. I ache to touch you and learn of your past."

Her breath catches. "I am not at all interesting."

I take the candlestick from her hand and place it on the table. Threading my fingers through her hair, I relish the silky feel. "I find you very much so. I have no right to the desires rushing through me. I'm a man who hides away in Scotland to avoid society. Yet, one look at you and I've become someone I barely recognize."

"Perhaps you are ill. It might pass by morning." She leans her cheek into my touch.

"It has been many mornings now and it has not passed. In fact, my attraction to you has only grown stronger." I wait and hope for some sign from her that she wants my touch.

Breasts rising and falling fast, she bites her bottom lip. "You want me? "

"I do." My cock is painfully in agreement and if she draws much closer, she'll have no doubt as to the nature of my physical attraction.

"I'm not ignorant of what happens between a man and a woman, though I've never experienced such a thing." Her cheeks are bright red, but her gaze is as direct as ever.

"You haven't run from the room even though you could have, should I take that as some indication that you are at least curious about lovemaking with me?" It's too much to hope for and not enough to offer. "I hope you know that my intentions will always be honorable."

She cocks her head and her expression is perplexed. When the realization dawns, she backs up a step. "I wouldn't expect such a gesture, Oscar." As if missing my touch, she closes the gap and brushes her fingers along the open vee in my shirt. "I thought men rushed in when a woman left herself vulnerable as I have done here tonight."

My body is on fire. "I promise that as soon as I have your permission, I will do exactly that, but not before, Ann."

Biting that full beautiful lip again, she lets her wrap fall to the floor. She pulls the bow at the ruffled neckline of her nightgown and lets it pool at her feet. "You have my permission, though you'll have to instruct me on how to proceed."

Full and lush, her body is everything a man could want. Rounded and luscious in all the right places, she's perfection.

Any remnants of my resolve to remain a gentleman fall away. I take her hand and lead her to the settee. "You are the most beautiful woman, Ann." I strip out of my clothes and let her look at me.

Her eyes widen, but I see no fear in their depths. "I'm not at all certain what I've been told will be possible. You are quite a bit larger than I imagined."

Easing her back onto the cushion, I kneel on the floor and kiss her. Her mouth is warm and her tongue explores mine. I kiss her neck. "I promise it is possible. You're going to have to trust me. Can you do that?"

"I do trust you." She runs tentative fingers along my shoulder and down my arm.

Those four words are everything. Nothing has ever made me feel more humbled or happier in my entire life. I kiss a path down her chest and suck one perfect nipple into my mouth.

She grips my hair and squeaks, stifling whatever noise tries to get out.

I long to hear her scream my name, but she's right. The house may be asleep, but if we are indiscreet, servants will come to investigate.

Her full breast overflows my hand as I massage and suck, then lick and give the other the same adoration. "I could drown in your body, Ann."

Arching her back, she pants and tightens her fists.

The pain of pulled hair only adds to my desire, but I want her pleasure first. Sliding my hand between her legs, I find her wet folds and tease her bud.

Her body jerks, and she pants. "Oscar. Oh, that's…"

Needing more, I move to pull her legs over my shoulders and slip my tongue between her folds. She tastes like nectar from the gods, and I lick and suck until she's writhing beneath me.

Her heels dig into my back and her sheath pulses around the tip of my tongue as her pleasure crashes.

"What. Oh." She shudders.

I rise from the floor and hold her as the orgasm rolls through her. "You are the most beautiful creature ever made."

Running her hands up and down my back, she says, "That was wonderful, Oscar. Will you show me the rest?"

My cock jerks between us. Meeting her gaze, I notch myself at her center. "It may hurt this one time, Ann, but never again."

She nods and lifts her hips to bring me in.

Pressing forward, I fill her.

She cries out and digs her nails into my shoulders. "I'm alright." Her voice sounds near tears.

Taking her lips with mine, I kiss her slowly but keep my body still. It's the sweetest torture, but I wait for her pain to pass. I pull her bottom lip between mine, and then the top one.

She lifts her hips, taking more of me and moans low against my mouth.

"You are perfect." I ease back and fill her again and again.

It takes all my will to keep silent as my pleasure builds. When her body pulses around my cock, I can't hold back anymore. I pound harder and faster, bringing my pleasure to a crescendo. At the last moment, I reluctantly pull free and spill my seed between us.

Her intake of breath is shaky. "That was more than I expected. So much more."

I maneuver us so that I can sit and pull her into my lap. Brushing her hair away from her eyes, I kiss her cheek. "I hope that's a good thing."

Nodding she blushes. "It was wonderful, Oscar." ‘

"I wish I could spend the night holding you in my arms." I hug her, reveling in the way her body fits against mine.

She sighs. "I should go to my bed. If we are discovered, it would be disastrous."

Part of me wishes we would be found and the things she worries about would no longer be in our hands. I know Everton ladies are not meant to have relations with their clients. The organization would be sullied. Even though her reasoning is clear to me, I don't like the idea of being considered a mistake. " Stay a moment longer, please." I hold her tighter and snuggle against her luscious breasts.

Hugging my neck, she says, "Just another moment." There's a dreamy quality to her voice.

This woman will be my ruination. Still, I would risk everything to stay as we are right now. "I would like to show you my home in Scotland. I think you would like it there."

"I think we must go to Devonshire." She lets out a long breath and pushes off of my lap. She crosses to her nightgown and pulls it over her head.

As she ties the bow at her throat, I long to sweep her into my arms and carry her to my bed. I have to close my eyes to keep the urge at bay. "Of course. Kensfield Manor is a fine holding. It is only that the nature of Scotland is magnificent."

Putting on her wrap, she again is angelic, though I much prefer her wanton and pressed against me. Her voice has lost its softness. She is back to being an Everton Lady. "I will have the books for this house and the one in Scotland sorted within the week. There was little damage to the finances in the north. You are fortunate to be very wealthy. You will survive this situation."

I pull on my trousers and shirt. "I will walk you to your room."

"No. Someone might see us. You should stay here until I'm gone for a few minutes. I can make my own way." Looking at the door and the desk, she avoids my gaze. "I will see you tomorrow, my lord."

Before she can make her escape, I cut her off and touch her chin so that she will look at me. "I am Oscar, Ann. We have shared something quite beautiful, don't become formal to protect yourself. You need no protection from me."

A warm smile lightens her face. She cups my cheek. "Good night, Oscar. "

I kiss her forehead and breathe in her scent before stepping aside and watching her leave the study.

Returning to my bed, I can think of nothing but Ann. However, now all my thoughts are warm and wanting. Somehow, I will find a way to make this right. Though for the life of me, I can't see how. She deserves a man who will give her back the life she gave up.

She already turned down a life full of all the things she was raised to believe were important. She did so in the name of love. Then that love was proved false. If I could find that blaggard, I would call him out.

I suppose the question that must be answered is how do I prove that my feelings are sincere?

Determined to do everything in the right way, I consider a plan. It would be wise to refrain from any more intimacies. Though I'm only human and she is a goddess. It's foolish to make promises which I know I cannot keep, and turning down Ann's luscious body is impossible.

Perhaps it would be smart to let things cool off. I can busy myself outside the house. At least until it's time to go to the country estate.

Sure that my short-term plan is right, I close my eyes and consider a longer campaign.