Reggie kept up a steady assault on her senses, so much so that she didn’t notice he’d inched her gown up her legs until her knees were bared. His palm covered her skin and slid over her thigh. Clara gasped at the sensation and Reggie, after giving her a wicked grin, shifted down the bed.
He touched her stockings and drew her knees apart. Deprived of pressure where she needed it most, Clara pressed her arm across her eyes to regain her faithless control. She had never ever imagined that Reggie had this kind of interest in her. Oh, she’d allowed his protection and allowed him to bully her out of London. But this? She gasped as he touched her curls and drew her knees wider apart.
Clara raised her head, but her distended belly made seeing more of him than his broad shoulders impossible. Probably just as well. She wouldn’t like him to see the blush that heated her cheeks.
He kissed her thighs, moving slowly until Clara growled with impatience. Reggie chuckled and lightly nipped her inner thigh. She wriggled and attempted to catch hold of his head, yet she couldn’t gain a satisfying grip on his dark hair. She gave up and slipped her hands beneath her hips, angling her lower body towards him.
He groaned. “Is all this lovely wetness for me, Clara? You have no idea how long I’ve wanted to taste you.”
Clara quivered at his words. Thank heavens he meant to ease her suffering with his mouth.
Yet when he kissed her lower lips, Clara was in no way prepared. She gasped and rocked her hips upward against his face. He kissed her harder and then slid his hands under her bottom, over hers, to hold her still.
His deep rumbled groan vibrated over her nub and then he dug between her legs with his tongue—firm enough to make her shake and moan out loud. He lapped and probed with swift intoxicating pleasure and before she was ready, before she expected to reach the point of no return, she climaxed and shuddered against his face.
Clara turned her head and closed her eyes, embarrassed by her loud shrieks of enjoyment reverberating around the room.
Reggie emerged from beneath her gown and settled at her side. When he didn’t immediately move to enter her body, Clara opened her eyes. What held him back from receiving his own pleasure?
He slid a lose curl from her forehead. “You sounded like you needed that more than I do.”
Clara frowned. “But you have yet to be satisfied yourself?”
Reggie settled his head to her shoulder and curled against her side. His hand settled on the highest point of her baby’s bump then slid down to where her hip once had been. “I’d like to visit you tonight in your room, or invite you to spend the night here with me. As much as I long to touch every part of you in every way possible, I fear your mother-in-law will come looking for you at any moment.”
Clara blinked in shock. She’d forgotten her annoying, self-appointed chaperone. Although she still trembled from Reggie’s pleasure, Clara struggled off the bed.
Reggie followed and slipped his arms around her. “May I come to you tonight?”
Clara stared into his earnest face. In good conscience, she could not deny him his pleasure after his efforts on her behalf. She nodded. “Of course. I’ll leave my door unlocked.”
He pressed his head against hers and sighed. “I’ll be counting the hours. Let me set us both to order and then get you safely on your way.”
Reggie swiftly pulled his boots on, and then turned to the mirror to restore his cravat to its proper appearance. He struggled into his coat and then returned to tuck Clara’s fallen curl back into place. He led her to the second bedchamber door, hooked her arm about his and they set off through the house, wandering at an easy pace.
Clara was grateful for the quiet interlude. She had a lot to think about after finding pleasure in Reggie’s arms. She’d had no idea the man was remotely interested in seducing her. And he’d done it so well and so deliciously eagerly too, despite the bulk between them.
She rested her hand upon her belly, still wondering what Reggie could want with a ripening widow when he had many a young and pretty girl eagerly trying to snare him. She glanced sideways and caught his impish smile.
Before she could blink, Reggie had turned them into another room and held her against the door.
“I don’t know if I can wait until this evening. The way you look, the way you smell is already driving me insane.” He stared into her eyes. “Gods you’re aroused again. Oh, Clara, my love. Your eager passion has destroyed all my plans to be patient and good.”
Reggie growled as he kissed her and wanton, needy creature that she was, Clara pulled him closer. Her body already hummed with the knowledge that satisfaction could be found in his arms. She wanted more of that ecstasy, more of Reggie, so she slid her fingers over his thigh until she touched the hard ridge of his arousal.
He groaned as her fingers bumped along his length.
Footsteps hurried toward their door. Clara froze, straining to hear as they stopped behind her back. The door handle jiggled beside her thigh, and she gripped Reggie tighter. When Clara glanced down, she found Reggie’s hand holding the knob tight.
He met her gaze with a plea in his eyes and she slowly moved her hand up and down. He bit his lip. Eventually, the footsteps continued on their way.
Reggie kissed her brow. “I have the worst timing imaginable. Perhaps we should continue this later when we have no fear of being interrupted. Come on. We have an eagle-eyed chaperone to fool.”
Clara pouted as he tugged her hand from his erection. After a quick check to be certain their reappearance would be unnoticed, they stepped out into the hall.
Chapter Three
They came upon Clara’s mother-in-law peering out the terrace doors. Amelia Blackstone’s scowl turned Reggie’s pleasant afternoon to ashes.