Chapter 17

17

T homas led Tricia back through the servants' quarters. A few servants passed them, but she had been a member of the peerage long enough to know that while servants would gossip, they would never betray their employer.

She had nothing to fear from them.

When she walked into Thomas's chamber, her mouth fell agape.

They entered a large and opulent sitting room, its high ceilings adorned with intricate plasterwork and golden frescoes that caught the soft light filtering in through draped, floor-to-ceiling windows. The furniture was of the finest mahogany, upholstered in rich dark-brown velvet.

A massive fireplace, its mantle carved with scenes of hunting and harvest, dominated one wall. Though the fire was unlit, the room still felt warm, the thick walls insulating against the cooler March air outside. Above the mantle hung a portrait of Thomas's late father, an exceedingly handsome though stern-looking man clad in the regalia of his rank.

Tricia moved through the sitting room toward a library, her footsteps muffled by the thick Persian rug underfoot. The walls were lined with bookshelves that reached to the ceiling, filled with leather-bound tomes on subjects ranging from classical literature to modern agricultural techniques. Didn't the estate have another library? This personal library of Thomas's held more than anyone could possibly read in a lifetime.

Patricia's heartbeat began to accelerate as her eyes fell on the bedchamber, which was adjacent to the sitting room. Her gaze stayed fixed on Thomas's four-poster bed, where he would likely be relieving her of her maidenhead in a moment. On the small table near his bed sat a gorgeous vase adorned with intricate light-blue floral patterns.

"Oh," she said, reaching out lightly but not touching it. "That is simply breathtaking."

"It's from the Ming dynasty," Thomas said. "It's priceless."

She quickly drew her hand away and then peeked into the dressing room to see an array of Thomas's clothing, from formal tailcoats to riding outfits, all impeccably maintained and arranged by type and color.

This was so much larger than Cameron's suite of rooms on the Thornton estate. Of course, she hadn't seen her grandfather's suite of rooms on the neighboring Denbigh estate.

Tricia hardly had time to take it all in before Thomas claimed her mouth once more.

He twirled his tongue with hers, and her nipples protruded against her corset, straining to be free.

What might it feel like to have his mouth on them? Would his lips close around one, much like she lightly pinched them when she lay alone in bed at night?

Almost as quickly, Thomas broke the kiss. "Are you sure about this?"

"Good God, Thomas, how many times must I repeat myself? Yes, I am sure. I want this experience. And I want it with you."

Thomas groaned.

Then he turned her around and began with her skirt. He meticulously undid the fastenings, carefully ensuring that each was opened without causing damage to the fabric.

Clearly he had done this before. But Tricia only wished he could go faster.

"I want you," he said, his voice low and raspy. "I'd rip these off of you if I could."

"Please, don't. That would leave me a lot of explaining to do not only to my maid, Trudy, but also to my mother."

"I shan't put you in that position."

Once the skirt was loosened, he removed it, and then he removed her petticoats, untying them and pinning them.

She stood in her bloomers and corset then. Thomas started at the top of the corset, loosening the laces and ensuring the tension was evenly released. Then he helped her out of the bodice of her dress.

He turned her around, and she was wearing only her chemise.

A sheer chemise, and he could see her bare breasts. The triangle of black hair between her legs.

Thomas could see it all.

And Tricia's body burst into flames.

Thomas groaned. "My God, you are even more lovely than I imagined."

He was still fully dressed, of course, in his morning attire. She longed to know what he looked like out of his clothes as well.

"I'll ask you once more, Tricia. Are you sure?"

Her nipples poked at the flimsy fabric of her chemise. "Do I look unsure to you?"

He groaned again as he loosened his cravat.

Then he laid her down on his massive bed. He made no move to remove her chemise yet, and she wondered when he would take his own clothes off.

But before he did anything else, he sat next to her, looking down at her again with appreciation in his eyes.

"I want to kiss every part of your body, Tricia. I want to show you pleasure you've never known… Unfortunately a bit of pain too. But I promise you the pain will be brief. I will make sure you enjoy yourself."

Tricia didn't respond. She already knew she would enjoy herself. This is what she'd dreamed of for so many years. She'd known for a while of the sacred act that took place between a man and a woman. Her mother had told her once her cycles began so she would be prepared, for when you're not highborn, sometimes you get married off even younger. She doubted Cameron would have allowed such a thing, but her mother wanted her to be informed.

"Then make it so, Thomas. I wish to feel every sensation life has to offer," she finally whispered, her voice barely audible even in the silence of the room.

He leaned in and pressed his lips against her neck. His touch was feather-light, and Tricia gasped with pleasure. As he moved lower on her body, leaving a trail of kisses along his path, she trembled not from fear but anticipation.

Never breaking eye contact with her, he slowly raised the hem of her chemise, revealing more of her flesh to his heated gaze. For a moment, he simply admired the sight before him, as if committing every curve and hollow of her body to memory.

"Your beauty renders me speechless," he said on a rasp before he lowered his lips to her breast.

The warmth of his mouth sent waves of pleasure through her. She arched in response. With a gentleness that surprised her, he took one nipple into his mouth, flicking it with his tongue and coaxing a moan from her. She absently played with his silky hair, weaving her fingers through the soft strands as she urged him closer. The subtle scrape of his teeth made her gasp—a peculiar mix of pleasure and pain that left her craving more.

Slowly, almost painfully so, Thomas moved his attention to the other breast, tracing the curve with his thumb before treating it with the same tantalizing exploration. Tricia's breath hitched when he gently bit down, sending jolts coursing through her.

She lifted her hips slightly off the bed as sensations she had only ever read about danced across her skin.

Her heartbeat quickened as Thomas moved his fingers lower still, skimming over her belly toward the edge of her pantaloons. Thomas paused there, fingers closing on the thin fabric, and he looked at Tricia through heavy-lidded eyes.

"Do you trust me, Tricia?" he asked, not an ounce of lightness in his tone.

Tricia nodded, lost within the waves of anticipation that washed over her. She trusted him more than she had ever trusted anyone, and she wanted him to know it. His gaze held hers for a moment longer before he slowly began to pull down her pantaloons.

She shivered as the cool air met her bare skin, but it was nothing compared to the heat in Thomas's eyes. He traced a single finger over the curve of her hip, making her inhale sharply.

"I will be gentle," he promised in a murmur against her belly before his lips followed his hand down lower and lower.

As he kissed her inner thigh, she moaned. The roughness of his stubble against the soft skin of her legs caused her body to quake. He chuckled softly and continued his exploration, trailing his hands along her curves.

"Thomas," she whimpered as he moved higher, his hot breath teasing the delicate flesh of her private area through the fabric of her undergarments. Every nerve in her body was on fire, aching for his touch.

With a fluid motion, Thomas reached up to pull down the silken barrier that stood between them. "So beautiful," he breathed.

Her cheeks flushed with heat as he traced intricate patterns on her inner thigh. Tricia spread her legs wider, inviting him in further.

An uncontrollable moan left Tricia's lips when Thomas finally brushed his fingers against her most vulnerable area. The gentle pressure against her sensitive flesh made her gasp, a soft "Thomas…" escaping her lips.

He paid attention to every twitch of her body, every soft gasp that escaped from her lips. He followed a slow but determined rhythm, tracing circles around her flesh. Each touch of his rough fingers against her sent pleasure through her body and made her writhe in anticipation of more.

A riot of sensations coursed through her as he gradually increased the pressure, a low growl resonating from him when she arched off the bed in response. Her heart pounded as he teased her into a frenzy. All the while, Thomas watched her with a predatory gaze that held equal parts admiration and desire.

When he finally dipped his finger lower into the folds of her skin, Tricia let out a shuddering gasp. This was something entirely new—a feeling so intense it made her squirm with pleasure and anticipation. His touch was as soft as a feather yet as insistent as a storm, coaxing her senses higher and higher.

As he explored her further, a strange tension built within her. It was an overwhelming sensation, one she had never experienced before, spreading from her core to the rest of her body in strong waves.

"Thomas…" she breathed out, her voice barely above a whisper.

The slow caress of his fingers against her sent her senses spiraling out of control, each touch heightening her need for him.

Without breaking his rhythm, he leaned over to whisper in her ear, "Let yourself go, Tricia. Experience the pleasure."

She was unsure about what he meant until he lowered his head and slid his soft tongue against the small nub of sensitive flesh above where his finger had slipped inside her. That's when she understood. The magic button Sarah had mentioned…

The wave hit her unexpectedly—a torrent of sensations that left her gasping for breath and clutching onto Thomas as though he was her only lifeline. She shuddered violently as she rode out the climax, her mind a whirl of emotions too intense for words.

As the tremors began to subside, Tricia felt completely spent, each muscle in her body weary yet utterly satisfied. She lay panting beneath Thomas, limp and flushed from the exertions, struggling to regain her senses.

His lips were at her ear then, and he murmured soothing words in hushed tones, his fingers gently stroking her sweat-dampened hair. "You're perfectly delicious," he said softly, pressing gentle kisses down her neck.

She closed her eyes and basked in his praise, the steady thump of his heartbeat beneath her cheek a lullaby that eased her into a blissful haze. It was a while before she caught her breath enough to speak.

"That… That was…" She struggled to find the right words, her mind still foggy with the pleasure he had given her. She eventually settled on, "Incredible."

Thomas chuckled softly, his breath warm against her skin. "I'm glad you thought so," he said, his voice a deep, soothing timbre that sent a fresh wave of warmth through her weary body.

Tricia watched him through half-lidded eyes as he moved away from her to discard his own clothes. His body was a work of art—every muscle toned and perfect under the dim light of the room. She stared at him, taking in the sight of his bare skin, and she couldn't help a slight gasp at the sight of the most private part of him—the part that would give her pain…and then pleasure.

He smiled. "Do not worry. It will all work fine. I promise you."

His low voice eased her concern, and once he was completely naked, he returned to the bed, pulling her toward him until they were tangled together once more. His hard cock pressed against her thigh, and she gasped at the realization of what would come next.

Thomas looked at her, a question in the depths of his gaze. She answered him with a small nod, trusting him to keep his promise of gentleness. He gave her a reassuring smile as he traced soothing circles on her hip.

Her heart pounded as he positioned himself between her legs, the heat radiating from him making her heart flutter. His gaze never left hers as he slowly pushed into her, giving her body time to adjust to his size. A sharp pain made her wince, but Thomas paused immediately and stroked soft strands of hair away from her face.

"Are you all right?" he asked in a whisper, concern evident in his expression.

She gave him a shaky nod, pushing against him slightly as a sign that he should continue.

He obeyed, moving forward slowly until he was fully inside her. The initial discomfort gave way to an indescribable sensation that made her arch against him. The rhythm they established was slow and deliberate, punctuated by their shared gasps and soft moans. Every thrust of his sent a wave of pleasure coursing through her veins, each one more intoxicating than the last.

With every motion, she surrendered more fully as the edges of her world blurred. The lines between where her body ended and his began were distorted. It was an exhilarating dance of passion, one she knew would change her forever.

"Thomas," she whispered as she clung to him, her nails digging into his back.

His name was a prayer on her lips, the only word that seemed to matter in that moment. His movements became more urgent, his control slipping away as he neared the edge of bliss.

"Tricia," he responded with a growl.

The tension coiling through his body flowed off him in waves and curled into her. Their bodies moved in sync, a rhythm as old as time and yet so thrillingly new to her.

His thrusts became more erratic, the rhythm breaking as his movements grew desperate. Tricia clung to him, her body matching his stride for stride as they careened towards the precipice together.

The aching emptiness inside her had never been filled so completely, and she spiraled once more as an overwhelming sensation built within her and threatened to break her apart. She traced the sculpted muscles of Thomas's back, memorizing each curve and line under her touch. As he drove into her with wild abandon, she let out a cry of pleasure, her body convulsing as the wave crested.

Thomas followed with his own release and a harsh grunt. He was a storm within her, a whirlwind of sensations that left her breathless and sated.

As he collapsed on top of her, their breathing ragged and heavy in the otherwise silent room, she wrapped her arms around him. He felt solid against her, a comforting weight that kept her anchored amidst the aftershocks of pleasure. His heart drummed a steady rhythm against her chest, matching the pulsing in her own veins.

"Tricia," he murmured again into the crook of her neck. There was no urgency in his tone now, only a languid satisfaction that mirrored her own. She responded with a hum, too spent to form words.

They lay like that for several moments—entwined and basking in bliss. The tension of anticipation was long gone, replaced by a lethargic satisfaction that lulled them both toward sleep.

Eventually, Thomas rolled off her. He kept one arm around her and fingered her strands of hair splayed on the pillow. With his other hand, he traced idle patterns down her bare arm, each touch sending a shudder of contentment through her.

"Sleep, love," he murmured, his voice husky with fatigue.

Tricia smiled at him and nestled closer into his side. Her eyes fluttered shut, the soft lull of his heartbeat beneath her ear more soothing than any lullaby. As she drifted off to sleep, Thomas pressed a tender kiss to the top of her head.