Chapter 18

Violet shivered with pleasure as his hot breath tickled the valley between her breasts. The feelings coursing through her body were nothing less than invigorating. She wanted more, to feel his touch in places that ached for attention. Nothing else mattered as she threw her head back and parted her lips in ecstasy.

Greyson hooked his fingers beneath the ribbons on the back of her dress and unfastened them, gently sliding the fabric over her shoulders until her corset was exposed.

Her first reaction was to bring her arms up and cover her chest, but Greyson caught her wrists and gently pulled them away.

"No, don't hide yourself from me." His voice was gruff and urgent as he held her gaze.

The passion in his eyes was almost searing as he kissed her wrist, dragging his lips over the sensitive flesh down her arm.

The moans of pleasure that escaped her throat caught her off guard. She hadn't imagined that being with a man would feel as good as it did. His tongue flicked over her shoulder as he made his way back to her chest and paused.

"This is my way," he growled hungrily as he tugged on her corset. It slipped down her waist with a tiny ripping sound.

She didn't care if her corset was ruined, as long as he kept touching her body. Shivers of pleasure elicited a deep moan when his lips closed over her nipple. The rosy bud responded to his touch as if a gentle breeze had caressed her skin.

His lips curled into a devilish smile when she squirmed beneath his lips. Cupping her breasts, he gave them both a firm squeeze. Then he slid his tongue over her nipple while his thumb played with the other.

Violet shuddered when he positioned himself between her legs. Her skirts created a barrier between them, but Greyson soon found a solution to his problem, pushing the layers up her hips until nothing was left beside the thin fabric of her chemise.

Her heart pounded in her chest as she watched his eyes roam over her body. The candles burned low, casting flickering shadows over her bare breasts. The cool evening air in the room kissed her nipples as he ran his palms over her breasts, rolling them beneath his palms.

"How has no one ever told you how beautiful you are?" He gazed down at her as if she were the most sought-after prize in all of London.

Her stomach fluttered with a delicious sensation when he trailed his hand up the inside of her thigh and caressed the flesh leading to her core.

"Greyson…" She breathed his name as if his touches were sustaining her life.

His thumb slid over her core, pressing the fabric of her chemise against it in circular motions until she began to respond. His heated gaze never left her face as her breathing deepened with every motion. Her desire was growing, the pleasure coursing through her body.

Leaning down, Greyson kept his thumb working the fabric of her chemise against her core while he pressed his lips to her breasts.

Her hands began to move of their own accord, tangling in his thick hair as lust-filled moans escaped her lips. She could feel his lips curling into a smile against her breasts before he lifted his head and gave a wolfish grin.

"I think you might enjoy this a great deal more." His voice was low and husky, sending shivers of pleasure down her spine.

A wave of disappointment washed over her when Greyson withdrew his thumb.

"Trust me." He sucked on her nipple before making his way down her body.

Her heart fluttered at the sight of desire in his eyes.

I want him to make love to me.

Confusing emotions churned in her chest as he slid his fingers beneath her chemise and drew it over her hips. The cool air kissed her core as Greyson began to kiss the side of her knee, working his way up her inner thigh and pausing over her delicate folds.

Her hips bucked when he blew against her delicate folds, before pressing a kiss to the center. The feel of his hot tongue caressing the most intimate parts of her being made her shudder as her eyes rolled to the back of her head.

Her breathing slowed to a rhythmic pace that matched the speed of his tongue and lips. Time stood still as Greyson gripped her thighs, moving his body onto the floor, with his head still buried between her thighs.

"Greyson…" she gasped, running her fingers through his messy hair.

She wanted—needed—his caresses as her senses were overrun by a feeling of deep, intense pleasure that was far beyond the sensual realms of any kiss.

His movements caressed her soul and moved her body. Violet moaned when his hands squeezed her breasts. He caressed her nipples, gently pinching the rosy buds between his forefingers and thumbs. Her senses were so overwhelmed with pleasure that she began to cry out his name as her back arched off the chaise.

Her hips bucked against his face, forcing him to double his efforts as his hands gripped her hips, holding them down.

"Greyson… Greyson!" she panted repeatedly as the pleasure in her core swelled, commanding her to yield to his touch.

The deep guttural growl that escaped his throat when she tightened her fists in his hair caused a visceral sensation throughout her body. Her legs trembled with every stroke of his tongue until she felt as if she were about to explode.

"Show me how good it feels," he commanded her in a deep voice that made her shiver.

Her legs trembled violently and her back arched as wave after wave of white-hot spasms pulsated in her core. Her cries of ecstasy filled the air. She tried to gently push his head away as the pleasurable sensations became too much to bear.

Greyson slowly eased his pace, using his tongue to gently bring her down from the high she'd experienced.

Violet felt as if she were floating on air when her trembling began to subside. She loosened her grip on his hair as she fell back on the chaise lounge.

Greyson took his time, pressing gentle kisses to her thighs before pulling her chemise back down and slipping her dress back over her shoulders.

She felt a sensation of deep contentment when he sat back on the chaise and drew her against his chest.

"You're still trembling," he whispered in her ear and held her tighter, brushing back the strands of her hair that had come loose.

Violet slowly began to sober up, leaning against his chest as she caught her breath. The flickering candlelight almost lulled her into a peaceful sleep when her eyes suddenly shot open.

"What time is it?" She sat up straight and glanced at the candles burning low in their holders.

Enough time had passed to allow the wax to pool on the white linen, creating greasy blobs. The hour was late enough to get her into trouble if anyone came looking for her. The perilousness of her decisions began to creep up on her like a beast stalking her in the shadows.

"I'm not sure." Greyson sat up languidly, blinking in the ever-fading light of the flickering candles.

She began to panic, jumping to her feet and smoothing her dress and her hair. She'd be ruined if her mother sent anyone looking for her. They would discover the fact that she and Greyson had been alone all evening and that he had…

Her heart pounded with fear as she thought of the repercussions they'd both face. Her reputation would be ruined even if she wanted to become a spinster. No one would welcome her into their home ever again if she was labeled a floozy like the many women that Greyson entertained.

Oh God.

She could feel the blood draining from her face as she struggled to fasten the ribbons at the back of her dress.

"Violet," Greyson said gently, before he stood up and walked over to her.

"Greyson, I can't stay any longer. I'll be ruined." Her eyes filled with tears when he placed his hands on her upper arms and held her steady.

"You don't have to be, everything that happened here tonight will remain between us. You can't just go running into the night like this, let me help you. My man will take you home discreetly," he reasoned in a soothing voice while turning her around and fastening her dress.

She took a deep breath and closed her eyes, taking in his words as her panic began to subside.

No one ever has to know what happened here.

Greyson pulled her back against his chest and held her tight before whispering in her ear, "I don't regret what happened here. It was my pleasure to see you flowering as a woman."

His words made her shiver with pleasure, forgetting the panic that had consumed her mind and body mere seconds ago.

"Did you like how it felt?" His lips caressed the shell of her ear.

"Yes…" she breathed, leaning her head against his shoulder. She melted into him as he swayed her in his arms.

"Good, this is our little secret. I will never regret touching you like that. This won't change anything in our arrangement if you don't want it to, but if you do, I will touch you like that again." He pressed a kiss to her temple.

"I…" Her voice was barely above a whisper as she fought against the raging emotions in her chest.

She wanted him to touch her again, to pleasure her.

Greyson took a deep breath, burying his nose in her hair. "You don't have to say anything now. Just know that I will touch you again if you want me to."

Violet brought her hands up to his arms and returned his embrace. The warmth of his chest against her back soothed her fears and set her mind at ease.

"Go now, Henderson will take you home without anyone knowing." He dropped his arms and took a step back.

Her back suddenly felt cold, but she knew that she couldn't stay any longer. She needed to get back home before anyone noticed.

"Thank you for a wonderful evening," she said breathlessly and fixed her sleeves over her shoulders.

"Go now," Greyson repeated with a lustful gaze and nodded toward the door.

* * *

The carriage trundled down the quiet street as the horses trotted in a steady rhythm. Violet thought of Greyson's arms around her and the gentle way he soothed her fears. She wondered again why he was so against marriage when he had handled her with such care and grace.

He would make a fine husband for any woman who managed to steal his heart.

It can't just be because of his father's death.

Her heart fluttered a little at the thought of Greyson being her husband. Marriage didn't seem so bad if her husband treated her the way that Greyson did. Her skin still tingled from his caresses.

His butler cleared his throat just as the carriage ran over a bump. She'd been so consumed by her own thoughts that she'd completely forgotten about his presence. The man had donned a large black cloak and top hat that would have passed him off as a gentleman to anyone who caught a glimpse of them in the carriage.

She wondered how many times the man had helped his master out of trouble, and how many secrets he kept.

"How long have you been with the Stone family?" she mustered the courage to ask.

She hoped that her question wasn't breaking any rules of propriety, given their stations.

The butler smiled pleasantly from beneath his hat. "Too many years to count, My Lady. I started as a footman in the country manor when Lord Montclair was just a boy."

"You must be rather fond of the family to serve them so faithfully for such a long period of time."

She felt at ease in his presence, as if she were talking to a fatherly figure. His mannerisms were warm and respectful as he took his time to respond.

"I am grateful for my position, My Lady—as any man in my position would be. His Lordship is good to me, so I in turn serve him as best I can." His voice was soft, almost ethereal in the silvery moonlight.

After a moment's hesitation, Violet decided to ask the question that had been niggling at her for a while. "Why hasn"t Lord Montclair married yet, and never wants to?"

The carriage came to a stop in front of her home before he could answer. Violet held her breath, hoping he would answer before she stepped out.

The butler looked up at her with a sad expression on his face. "His Lordship simply does not want to be abandoned again."

Again?

His words struck her as strange. Did Greyson feel abandoned when his father died? Did both he and his mother feel as if the late Earl had abandoned them? And why did he still not want to tell her how his father had died?