“I think we should slip away,” he murmured, nibbling her ear.
“But Emma has gone to so much trouble,” she began, not sure why she was being so coy. Every intimate part of her body was urging her to remove her clothes, then Griff’s. And Clifton Heights was two hours away. Part of her wished they’d accepted Gabriel’s invitation to spend their wedding night at Thicketford Manor, but Griff had politely and understandably insisted on Clifton Heights. “I intend to deflower my wife in my own bed in my own home,” he’d told her privately, igniting the increasingly wanton cravings in unmentionable places.
Griff’s arousal swelled when he curled his hand over hers. “You know very well Emma would be the first person to encourage our departure,” he retorted. “In fact, the hunger in Gabriel’s eyes when he looks at his wife leads me to believe Lord and Lady Farnworth might also spend the afternoon in bed.”
“I suppose I’m simply playing the part of the shy virgin bride,” she said, fluttering her eyelashes while moving her fingers on him.
He sucked in a breath. “That was the wrong thing to say to a man who’s thirsting to do away with said maidenhead.”
Her heart raced when he stood and bowed to the guests. “Pardon the interruption,” he announced, taking her hand. “Lady Pendlebury and I have a long journey ahead of us.”
Susan, who prided herself on never blushing, felt the heat rise in her face when everyone cheered and clapped as they hurried out of the dining room.
Fifteen minutes later, their luggage had been loaded and they were boarding the Farnworth carriage Gabriel had generously loaned. Potts was none too pleased when her new husband told him to ride up top with Conrad, although, as Griff had pointed out, it was difficult to discern the butler’s true feelings on any matter.
Griff kept her mouth busy during the two-hour journey, so it was unlikely the prudish butler heard any of her muffled euphoric screams.
She tried in vain to give her husband pleasure in return, but he insisted gruffly on waiting until Clifton Heights.
*
Griff regretted rebuffingSusan’s attempts to relieve the pressure building in his loins during the carriage ride but, if she’d so much as touched a fingertip to his cock, he’d have gone up in flames.
He’d always had a healthy, some might say prodigious, sexual appetite, but the raw hunger to claim Susan was eating him alive.
In the past few weeks, they’d eased some of the tension of waiting by bringing each other pleasure in very intimate ways. In those stolen moments, he’d learned how little suckling it took to start her moaning. She exploded when he applied just the right amount of pressure to the little nubbin that tasted sweeter every time he feasted on her juices.
To his delight, he’d discovered a passionate woman beneath the prickly armor. He could scarcely wait to enrich their love life with some of the more erotic positions he’d read of. After all, Susan loved learning new things.
He shook his head as the carriage rolled to a halt outside Clifton Heights. He was getting ahead of himself. The first order of business was to bring her to the edge of rapture, then plunge his already hard cock into the warm sheath he knew awaited. The excruciating wait was almost over.
*
Susan expected Pottsto be out of sorts, but the butler scooted down from the driver’s bench with amazing agility and proceeded to organize the staff. Servants poured out of the house and Potts soon had them lined up for inspection.
Susan was pleased to note the Fazakerlys were still among them, but wished she didn’t look quite so disheveled for her first meeting as the new countess.
Potts gestured to a young maid who curtseyed to Susan. “Olivia here is assigned as your personal maid, my lady.”
“Ma’am,” Olivia murmured, her eyes studying the steps.
The butler clearly intended to move on, but Susan wanted to speak to the shy girl who’d done an adequate job of lady’s maid to Susan and Rebecca during their visit. “I’m sure we’ll get along fine,” she said with a smile.
Olivia curtseyed again. “I hope so, Ma’am.”
“Your ladyship,” Potts corrected.
“My ladywill do, Olivia,” Susan said, hoping to remove the nervousness from the girl’s eyes.
“As ye wish, my lady.”
Frederick stepped forward.
“I’ve taken the liberty of appointing Frederick to the position of valet, my lord,” Potts told Griff.
Her husband nodded his approval, but Susan knew he didn’t want to linger on the front steps inspecting the troops, which was what Potts seemed to have in mind.
Surprisingly, it was Mrs. Fazakerly who came to the rescue, obviously having taken note of Griff’s untied cravat and overall rumpled appearance. “I expect Lord and Lady Pendlebury are anxious to freshen up in their chambers. Everything’s ready, my lady,” she assured Susan with a wink.