CHAPTER13
“How far is it from here to your house?” Sophia asked. Jeremy laughed as he followed her into the carriage, aware there was impatience in her tone, but he didn’t mind. She had sent Lady Rumpton’s carriage back home, sending a message that Lady Rumpton could leave with it. Jeremy was glad of it. Once Sophia was in his home, he wasn’t sure he would be eager for her to leave again so quickly.
He closed the carriage door behind him and drew the curtain across the window, blocking out the lantern lights from the theater that bled into the street.
“I wish it were closer,” Jeremy said as he sat beside Sophia and reached for her hand. She didn’t hold back. She took that hand and pressed it to her waist, before shifting closer toward him on the coach bench. A thrill passed through him at her vivacity in wanting pleasure.
“I rather like it when you are this bold,” he said under his breath, before her lips founds his.
It was far from a chaste kiss. It seemed Sophia didn’t wish to waste time with such things. The passion he had felt before was intense, and now he wished to know all of it. As she kissed him, she dominated the kiss, parting his lips and taking his tongue with her own, encouraging him to pleasure her with it. He practically growled into the kiss, loving it, and wanting nothing more than to have her in his bedchamber.
My bedchamber?
The thought struck him hard as he kissed her. Usually, he kept women out of his bedchamber. He either visited their chambers, or they stayed in other rooms of his house. For some reason, the idea of Sophia in his bedchamber thrilled him.
The carriage began rocking, showing they were moving off from the theater. Their bodies jolted together before Jeremy wrapped his arms completely around Sophia’s waist and pulled her into his lap. With her legs dangling down past one side of his hips, she pressed her body to him.
What could it be like to have this excitement all the time?
Jeremy clamped down on that thought, knowing he could not indulge in it. He just kept kissing Sophia instead, loving it when she threaded her hands into his hair so that she knocked off his top hat and pulled on those dark brown locks. Once more, he moaned into that kiss, showing he adored her touch.
He parted from her kiss suddenly, but he didn’t stop his attentions. His lips trailed a path down her neck and to the neckline of her gown, tarrying on the top curves of her breasts. It must have brought her pleasure, for with her eyes half lidded, she looked to the ceiling of the carriage, giving him more access to her.
Jeremy was unsure how long he kissed her, adoring every part of her skin that he could get access to, but by the end of it, her gown was rumpled and pulled to the side, exposing more of her skin to him. His hair was tousled too, and his coat had long since slipped from his shoulders. The mere press of Sophia’s hands against his chest, pulling at his waistcoat as she wanted more access to him sent him mad.
More… That’s all I need, to be closer to her.
When the carriage jolted to a stop, it startled them both, so much that Sophia nearly fell off his lap. Jeremy held tightly onto her, keeping her in place with his hands resting on her back. She giggled, her lips close to his.
“Well, that could have been embarrassing if your staff opened this carriage door to find me in a bundle on the floor.” Her words made him chuckle too as he slowly helped her to her feet.
“I wouldn’t let you fall, Sophia,” he whispered. Out of the corner of his eye as they both reset their clothes, he could see she blushed at his words and turned away.
Why blush now? After all we have already shared?
That look made him follow her eagerly out of the carriage. In the thick darkness, it was easy to follow her, for her gown and pelisse were bright, making him step forward to take her hand. He had just threaded her hand through his arm when the footman behind them cleared his throat.
“What is it?” Jeremy asked, turning back to look at the footman.
“Your Grace…” The footman paused and pointed at the house ahead of them. “It seems you have a visitor.” His warning made Sophia stop sharply at Jeremy’s side, already hiding half behind him.
Jeremy could see why at once. Their eyes flicked to the house where the front door was open and two figures were standing close together, apparently arguing. One was clearly Jeremy’s butler, the other, not so recognizable in the dim candlelight.
“I know that carriage,” Sophia murmured after a few seconds. Her words urged Jeremy’s eyes to dance over a second carriage that had stopped much closer to the front door. “It is Nick’s.”
“Lord Elkins? He is the one causing a ruckus with my butler?” Jeremy would have laughed at the idea had he not been so infuriated.
No. He will not come to take Sophia back tonight.
“You still wish to stay, do you not?” Jeremy whispered in her ear as the footman nodded in parting and led the carriage away to the stables.
“Of course, I do.”
“Then I have an idea.” Jeremy nodded his head around the side of the house. “Go to the side entrance. There is a door that leads to the drawing room. I will meet you there once I have sent your brother-in-law on his way.”
“Thank you.” Sophia smiled with the words before her hand slipped from his arm and she hurried off.
Jeremy waited until the glimmer of her gown was hidden by the darkness and the foliage of the yew trees that bordered the garden path before he stepped forward. He didn’t want Lord Elkins’ attention this way when he could discover Sophia. As soon as she was gone, Jeremy cleared his throat and strode toward the house, affecting a nonchalant manner.