Josie
While she had always described Elijah as bossy, this was different. He was commanding. Masterful. Driving her wild in a completely disparate manner from when he was bossy.
Feeling his hands moving over her body, his thrusts pounding into her from behind, she did not think she had ever felt so humbled and vulnerable. She had definitely never liked it. His filthy words mixing with the pain as his body slapped against sensitized skin and the pleasure as he stimulated her with his cock and hands was an erotic mix that sent her reeling.
Unable to hold herself up, she half-collapsed against the daybed, sobbing from the intense sensations assailing her. Sweet agony, rough ecstasy, blending so seamlessly until she could no longer tell one from the other. Heat built upon heat, rolling through her body in waves.
“Elijah!” Not able to contain the sensations cascading through her, she cried out against the sheets of the day bed, quivering and completely collapsing against it. Elijah’s hands and cock held up her lower body as he drove into her from behind, turning her utterly insensible with sensual rapture as her climax overtook her.
With a low growl and the tight grip of his hands, he pushed deep inside her, joining her in glorious completion. Hot pulses of liquid filled her throbbing channel as her heated cheeks pressed against his body, her nipples still aching from his pinching abuse.
It was the most glorious moment of her life.
Chapter 19
Elijah
Sitting at the breakfast table, Elijah’s head jerked up every time he heard movement outside the door. After carrying a satiated but completely insensible Josie home, it had been sheer torture to leave her alone in her bed. Every instinct told him she belonged in his, naked body curled up against him, so he could watch over her through the night.
While her appearance at the Society’s event last night should not put her in danger, gossip they were sharing a bed—both rare and unfashionable among their social set, except in love matches—might put her in danger. Elijah could not allow the traitor to know that his feelings for her were anything other than neighborly and perhaps possessive as a husband would be with a wife. If only he could ensure there was no gossip… but as a spy, he knew exactly how much servants saw and heard. Even within their own household, the spymaster of England’s, there was no stemming such a tide.
Their servants were all trusted and sworn to secrecy, but someone out there knew his father was more than a marquess—someone intent on doing damage with that knowledge. Elijah did not intend to allow his wife to be used against him or harmed because of him. Josie had already been frightened when the villain lured her into the gardens, and he still had not found that culprit, which grated on him.
“Good morning.” Adam sauntered into the room with his usual air of arrogance, grinning widely as he took in Elijah’s reaction. “Bit jumpy, are we?”
Elijah scowled at his brother, though there was no real heat behind his glare. He cast his eyes over Adam’s rumpled form. Stubble darkened his jawline, his cravat was missing, and he appeared to have rolled around until his clothes were hopelessly wrinkled.
“You look as if you have been up all night.”
“I have.” Adam sat down and gestured to the footman for some coffee. “I was in the Warrens. While I did not see the elusive Frenchman, the barman at the Tramp’s Den said there had been a Frenchman about recently.”
“Really?” The Tramp’s Den was one of the most popular gaming hells in the Warren, run by a man known to most as the Tramp. Wealthy, ruthless, and recently married to a fallen debutante from theton,the man was not to be crossed, but he had his own code of honor. Elijah scrubbed his hand over his chin. He would have to go down there at some point to speak to the man.
“I do not know if it was our man, but…” Adam shrugged. He looked decidedly weary, though his first sip of coffee brought some light back to his eyes. “Where is the lady of the house this morning?”
“Still abed.” Elijah’s head jerked up as he heard a noise out in the hall, his pulse quickening in anticipation. He ignored his brother’s snort of laughter. What Adam thought did not matter. Should he not be anticipating seeing his own wife?
When she walked through the door, looking beautiful and relaxed with her hair pulled into a low knot on the back of her head and wearing a loose, blue day gown that matched her eyes, Elijah felt something inside him relax. He and Adam got to their feet as she entered. Being able to see for himself, she suffered no ill effects from the previous evening undid the knot of tension he had not even realized had formed in his chest.
Josie met his gaze, and her face turned pink with a hot blush, causing him to grin as she came to a halt as she reached the table, eyeing the chair with trepidation. The smile on his face widened.
Josie
Blast the man. Her husband was clearly enjoying her discomfiture, and from the amusement in Adam’s eyes, he had an idea of Josie’s dilemma.
Though the color had completely faded from her bottom this morning, leaving nothing but creamy skin behind, it was still tender, which as she’d discovered when she sat to do her toilette. Pressing her lips together, Josie summoned her fortitude as she sat, only a little more gingerly than she may normally have.
Sitting down stung, but only for a moment, then she was able to settle down, mostly comfortably in her seat, pretending nothing was out of sorts. At least, she would be happy to, if not for the wicked gleam in Elijah’s eyes, which meant the blush on her cheeks was not going anywhere any time soon.
“Good morning.” She was determined to pretend her bottom was not throbbing beneath her. How did one handle this part? Another question for Mary the next time she saw her. Though Josie felt it would be far easier if she woke up with Elijah next to her instead of having to face him across the table when breaking her fast.
“Good morning,” the two brothers both chorused. Elijah smiled at her, then looked down at his plate.
She tried not to let it get under her skin that last night had not substantially changed anything between them. It had felt revolutionary to her, but… well, Elijah was much more experienced. Her stomach twisted, but she could not deny the truth. Probably, it had not meant the same thing to him it had to her.
Well, she was used to that with the Stuart brothers.
As if the thought had summoned him, the door behind her opened again, and Josie twisted slightly in her seat to see Joseph walking through. She was about to turn back when she caught a glimpse of his expression.