Chapter 30

The house was quiet as Olivia walked toward the room where she would spend her first night as Lady Lowell. Unexpected nerves fluttered in her stomach. They’d had sex several times, but there had always been the edge of worry that someone would discover what they’d been doing. Would it be the same now that they were married?

Thel pressed a door open with his palm, and the sight that awaited her made her gasp. There were lit candles scattered across the room, and a copper tub near the hearth, filled with gently steaming water.

She was so shocked that she didn’t realize Thel was moving forward until he tugged her hand. She followed, skipping to catch up. “Did you plan all of this?” she asked.

“Of course,” he said. He tugged his cravat free, unwound it into a strip, then looped it around her neck and reeled her in. Their kiss was gentle at first, but soon they were both panting. She reached between their bodies and pressed her palm over the hard length of him, making him groan.

“Not tonight,” he said. “Tonight, I want to cherish every second.”

She unbuttoned his jacket, tugged his shirt free, then slid her hands beneath it. “As you wish. Show your mentor what you’ve learned.”

He pushed her back until her knees knocked against the bedframe. They tumbled down, laughing and kissing until she remembered the bath.

“Our water will grow cold,” she said.

He rose above her on his elbows, his eyes dark and unreadable. “Disrobe.”

A thrill passed through her at the command in his tone. This was a side of Thel she had never seen before.

She liked it.

At the same time, her contrary nature compelled her to disobey, even in a small way. She wanted to see what he would do if she was not the perfect, obedient wife.

She sauntered over to the bath and leaned over, thrusting her rear into the air. Then she reached down and slipped off her right slipper. She propped her foot on the edge of the tub and drew her hands up her thigh to the ties of her stockings.

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How was she driving him so wild when she was still fully dressed? He was hard as a rock, and her every movement was slow and seductive. She glanced up at him through her lashes, then flicked her tongue across her bottom lip. She hooked her thumbs beneath a stocking and slid it down until it gathered around her ankle.

“The water will be cold before you are done,” he said. He wanted to step forward and tear the gown from her body, then shove his face into her breasts and scrape his teeth along her skin until that soft mewl came from her lips.

She took the tip of her gloved finger in her teeth and drew it off with half-lidded eyes, then did the same with the other. Her bare arms were a remarkable sight, such a simple thing, but enough to bring his cock to full attention.

She reached behind her back, did a little hop, then pouted. “I can’t remove my gown.”

He crossed the room and turned her so her back was to him, then untied the strings holding the gown on her body. When the bodice gaped, he smoothed his hand over her skin, then grasped the back of her neck and squeezed.

She grasped the sides of the tub. The water was quickly cooling, but he didn’t care. He would summon another footman to bring buckets of boiling water once Olivia had the infernal gown and other garments off. He would shuffle her behind the curtains if he had to.

He finished untying the gown and separated the edges until she could step out. An enormous number of petticoats came next, followed by a crinoline. His hands moved with increasing speed and lack of grace as he peeled each layer away from her, revealing more of her delectable skin.

At last, he untied her corset strings and shimmied the garment over her head, leaving her wearing only her underthings and jewelry.

She bent down, craftily pressing her rear into his crotch as she removed her drawers and chemise, until she stood before him without an inch of fabric, one hip cocked, her hair still piled on top of her head.

His eyes flew to the apex of her thighs, where the triangular thatch of hair hid a bounty of pleasures.

“My earrings,” she said, raising one hand to her neck, and the golden baubles hanging from her delicate lobes. He could not resist the taunt. He reached around and cupped her breasts in his hands, making her arch against him with a gasp. He kissed behind her ear, then took the earring and earlobe in his mouth. The slight metallic taste and the prong poking against the inside of his cheek should have been awkward, but it sent another throb of heat through him. He sucked gently, enough to make her gasp, then released his lips. He was tempted to tell her to keep them on—there was a particular flavor to having her still coiffed for the wedding from the neck up, but he did not want her to injure herself while they rolled around on the bed.

He removed her earrings one at a time, then tucked them into his pocket. Her necklace came next. As he unlatched it, he pressed wet kisses to her spine. Small tendrils of hair tickled his nose as the string of pearls went into his pocket with the earrings.

She writhed against him like a siren, shuddering as if he were already seated inside her. She reached up and touched the side of his head. He captured her hand and pressed a kiss to her palm.

She grasped her nape with her other hand. He captured it and raised her arms above her head.

He saw the lust in her reflection in the water, the flush of her chest, the rosy pink of her nipples. Her knees were pressed together, feet a foot or so far apart. He gathered both of her hands into one of his, then lowered his other hand to her stomach, splaying his fingers and pressing her against him.

“More,” she whispered.

He inched his fingers down until he touched the crinkly hair outside her sex. She squirmed against him, but he held her hands tighter. He traced her outer lips with his thumb, up and down until she closed her eyes and breathed out shakily. Then he gently separated the folds and rubbed her clitoris in the manner she had shown him. Her hips rocked with his movement, bumping his crotch and sending jolts of pleasure through his cock. He pressed the tip of one finger inside her. She was so wet that there was no resistance. Her essence leaked onto his palm and dripped down his wrist. He added a second finger. She moaned and thrashed her head.

He could stand it no more. He released her hands to free his throbbing cock from his trousers, then pushed her forward with one hand until she was bent over the tub, her breasts dangling over the now-chilly water. He nudged her legs apart with his knee and took his cock in one hand, stroking himself from head to shaft twice. The tension in him grew that much sharper when she arched her back, lifting her rear for him. He grasped her hip with one hand and guided himself into her with the other. Once the head of his cock was inside, he savored the tightness of her before sliding deep.

The sound she made as he entered her frayed the already thin threads of his control, but he was determined not to spend himself too quickly. He began a slow, methodical motion, drawing himself almost completely out of her and then thrusting back inside in a powerful motion. The wet slap of their bodies drove him that much closer to release.

But he knew from their previous couplings that she would not find her pleasure this way. He wanted her to shudder around him before he filled her, have her contractions milk the seed from his cock.

As he was considering the logistics of providing her with additional stimulation, she reached around and pressed her middle finger to her other entrance. “Here.”

He stilled and ran his thumb over the spot. “Are you certain? It is not as… lubricated.”

“Watch.” She coated her fingers in saliva before returning it to her arse.

He pulled out to give her room, but also because the sight of her inserting her fingers made him so hard that he had to squeeze his muscles to keep from spending himself.

A familiar fluttering around his cock alerted him she was close, and then she cried out and shuddered. It did not take long before he joined her, spilling himself into her as pleasure rocked through him and made his knees weak.

When her spasms ebbed, he slipped out of her and then gathered her into his arms and carried her to the bed. They were both sweaty and boneless with exertion, but he could not work up the energy to summon hot water.

They curled beneath the blankets, and he gathered her against him. She did not resist, but instead sighed as she rested her head on his chest and threw her leg over his. His cock twitched, but her gentle breaths and stillness suggested she was already asleep.

He settled back into the bed, certain that there was nowhere else he wanted to be.