Chapter 10

CHAPTER TEN

I t was the third night of their meeting, and Samuel had not realized how happy he would be to see Nora until she walked into his home. He had taken her fear of being caught into consideration and had chosen instead to have her in his home, much like during their first meeting.

It was the next night after his run-in with his mother, and so far, he hadn't been able to get it out of his mind. He hadn't realized how much her efforts to see him married annoyed and affected him so much. However, he had been looking forward to seeing Nora again. There was something about her that made him forget about everything that didn't exist in the space before them.

"My Lady, I'm glad you could make it," he said, just as she walked in behind the butler.

He watched her expression, frowning, as she settled into the room, taking off her cloak silently. It was the first time she had responded to him without enthusiasm or sassiness.

Something is wrong.

Samuel grimaced. He had hoped that having her over would be the solution to his sour mood. However, she seemed to be in an even worse mood than he was. He walked up to her and took the cloak from her hands, hanging it on the rack.

"Apologies, Your Grace. Thank you for having me," she said plainly, feigning a small smile for his benefit.

Samuel led her to a seat, pulling it out for her before he took the seat opposite her. He had planned their whole date out, with no time in between for him to think about what had happened with his mother. However, now, he was cautious, more tentative.

He tried to indulge her in some little conversations, saying things to draw her out of her mood, but nothing had worked so far. He sighed, giving up. He had tried to give her privacy, choosing to ignore whatever had put her in a mood, but he couldn't ignore it anymore.

"Have you been well since we last saw each other, Lady Nora?" he asked her, leaning in closer to her as he waited for her answer.

She looked away from him. "I suppose it depends on what you consider to be well. Have you?"

Samuel laughed, thinking about the family drama. So much for not wanting to think about anything like that tonight.

"It depends on what you consider to be well."

"Come along, Lady Nora," he said, beckoning her to follow him as he led her into a room she hadn't been in before.

The room was bare, only containing curtains, some chairs, and a lone pianoforte nestled in a corner.

Her eyes lit up as she stared at it, and he bit back his grin. "Do you play, Lady Nora?"

She walked further into the room before turning to stare at him where he remained by the entrance. "What sort of noble lady would I be if I did not?"

He chuckled at her response, sitting at the pianoforte. He tapped the seat beside him, beckoning her forward. "Will you play with me, Lady Nora?"

"Perhaps I shall," she said, sitting beside him.

Samuel was curious about the reason for her dampened mood, although he wasn't one to pry, content in giving people the same privacy he often required. It did not change the fact that he was curious about why she was annoyed, even though it might be a bit much to ask.

"So, do you want to discuss how bad our time together has been?" he asked her, noting how she withdrew into herself the moment he mentioned it.

"I will go first," he added, not giving her the chance to argue or refuse his offer. "My mother has been hounding me to marry."

She looked at him curiously. "Why don't you?"

Samuel chuckled, regarding her with humor. "Do I seem like the type to marry?"

She cocked her head. "I cannot say for certain that you are the marrying kind, Your Grace. It isn't exactly written on your face."

Samuel laughed. She was beginning to sound like herself. "That much is true."

Samuel closed his eyes as he played a song on the pianoforte. The melody filled the room, easing his worries. It was a song he had never heard before.

He glanced at her through narrowed eyes. This wasn't how he had thought their day would go, and yet the peaceful look on her face was enough to make it all worth it.

Why do you care?

He discarded the thought before he had a chance to think about it. She was his mistress, of course he cared whether she was in a mood or not. After all, her ability to be lively affected his as well, otherwise there would be no point in spending the night if it would merely continue on a sour note.

"So, now that I have told you what ails me, perhaps you would like to share what ails you?" he asked.

She shook her head, letting out a small, humorless laugh. "It is nothing for you to worry about, Your Grace. Merely some family drama."

She continued playing the pianoforte, her eyes closed as her hands ran over the keys.

"I would love to know still if you do not mind sharing," he said.

Nora sighed and took her hands off the pianoforte, bringing the music to an abrupt end. "It appears that I will be leaving sooner than expected."

Samuel's eyes cut to her in surprise. They had talked about her leaving before, but he hadn't realized that it would be so soon. In truth, he hadn't thought about it since she told him, carried away by the fun he had when he was with her.

Now, it suddenly seemed more real.

"When are you set to leave?"

Her hands returned to the pianoforte as she shook her head at him, not giving him an answer. There was so much more he wanted to ask her, but he held back. He was not one to pry, especially when it wasn't welcomed.wanted.

Her eyes were glazed over. She was clearly upset. Samuel hated that there didn't seem to be anything he could do about it.

"Does that mean you need to pull forward your escape plans?" he asked her.

She shrugged. He massaged his temple. A strange feeling settled in his chest, one he didn't know how to explain. Samuel ignored it. Now was not the time for him to dwell on his feelings.

"You need not worry too much about it. Everything will be all right," he said.

Samuel wracked his brain for a solution, but there was none to be found. He did not know how to make things right, but he certainly hoped that would be the case for her sake.

He turned to her, taking her face in his hands. "I hope you can believe that."

Samuel swallowed the lump in his throat as she stared at him like she believed every single word he said. His eyes darted from her beautiful green eyes to the freckles that were scattered like stars across her nose, and then to her soft, plump lips.

He wanted to kiss every part of her face, devoting time to each freckle, one after the other until he had given each one special attention. He wanted to slide his lips between hers and suck on her tongue until he could taste her essence in his mouth and until she relaxed into him, giving herself over to him.

She bit her lip, her face heating up, as if she could read his thoughts. His gaze turned heated as she bit her lower lip, sucking it into her mouth nervously. Samuel ran his hand over her bottom lip, gently pulling it out of her mouth. He leaned into her and closed his lips around it, sucking on it just like he'd thought.

He kissed her deeply as he pulled her closer to him. She went to him without hesitation and wrapped her hands around his neck. Samuel angled her head to the side and kissed her once again. Kissing her like this was different. Something had changed. He wanted her now.

He tore his lips from hers and kissed her face like he'd wanted to, every single freckle receiving his attention. He kissed down to her nape, his tongue trailing down to her shoulder.

She moaned, throwing her head back. Samuel kissed her exposed neck, sucking on her milky skin. His hands moved to her back as he unlaced her bodice, freeing her of its restraints.

She sucked in a breath as he caressed her bare skin, his hands running up and down the length of her body. He picked her up and sat her on his lap, with her back pressed against the keys.

She pressed herself against him in response, and he kissed her exposed mounds, her nipples covered only by an inch, the fabric threatening to slip off if she moved.

There was a desperation to their actions. One that Samuel couldn't necessarily explain. It wasn't just on his part but also on hers. He groaned against her skin, encouraged by her keenness to be with him.

Samuel picked her up, setting her on the chair as she stared at him in confusion. He lowered himself to his knees beside her as his hands slipped inside her large skirt.

Nora gasped, pressing her hands down on her skirts to keep herself covered. "What are you doing?"

Samuel chuckled, the sound strained from his desire. "You do not have to worry yourself about that. Just relax and enjoy it."

Nora heaved a shaky breath and did as he asked. His eyes remained fixed on hers as he lifted her skirt, pulling it up until she lay exposed to his eyes.

He laughed when her face turned red.

My

So innocent little rabbit.

He parted her legs until her center lay exposed, slowly lowering his head as he teased her. He licked up the length of her center, ending at her clit, which he sucked into his mouth.

He looked up at her. Her eyes were wide with shock, and her face was red, this time not from embarrassment.

He licked her once again, increasing his pace as she turned into a moaning mess. Her bottom arched off the chair as she tried to push into his mouth.

Samuel laughed and pulled her hips down. "Do relax yourself, and I'll make sure to take care of you."

Her face was one of confusion, but she allowed him to ease her back into the seat. His lips were on her before her bottom touched the seat. Samuel grinned against her clit, sending vibrations up her clit as he increased his pace.

"Samuel," she moaned, her hips moving in time with his tongue as they settled into a rhythm.

His eyebrows rose. It was the first time she had called him by his given name. His length hardened painfully from the feelings that shot through him as she moaned his name over and over again.

Samuel looked up at her. Her face was one of a vixen given in to her passion. Her lips parted every few moments, letting out a gasp as she occasionally moaned his name.

She grabbed fistfuls of his hair, abandoning all reservations as she pressed him closer to her heat. Samuel grimaced as his length turned rock hard. She was more seductive than she could ever believe. Her boldness in the throes of her passion was a sight he forever wanted in his mind.

He flicked his tongue against her clit, slowly bringing her towards her release. She had earned it and perhaps even more.