Rory (15 page)

“What of you?” he asked.

Slowly, she went to her knees before him, then took him into her mouth.

Satin over steel, velvet over stone. Such a delightful contrast, she thought, running her tongue along the thick, heavily veined cock. The plum-sized head was purple, and a tiny bead of fluid formed at the tip. She took him into her mouth and gripped the base as she pumped and sucked.

“Sweet Jesus,” he said under his breath, and she hid a smile, knowing she must be doing something right.

He grew harder by the second, and she gloried in the power she felt, in seeing and feeling his reactions. Loving the way his chest expanded as he pushed her slightly away.

She went back on her heels and looked up at him. He was ready to climax. She could see the need in his eyes, feel his desire.

He lifted her right off her feet and tossed her onto the bed. She looked over her shoulder in time to see him standing behind her, cock standing at full attention, straining against his navel.

He reached up, grabbed hold of her waist, and pulled her toward him. Legs spread wide, he slid into her and she gasped at how stuffed she was by his cock, and the feeling of his balls as they settled against her as he cupped his hips.

Moving his hand beneath her, he stroked her clit and she groaned at the wonderful sensations rippling throughout her entire being.

She gripped the blankets as he slowly withdrew and then slid back in again.

Shannon’s innocent touch had set his blood on fire, giving him a glimpse of the lover she was fast becoming.

Her snug quim hugged him tight, squeezing his thick length, pulling him in deeper with each stroke.

Flicking her clit with his fingers, she cupped her hips against his hand and heard the gasp at the same time her muscles throbbed around him and coated his length with her dew.

For his mother’s benefit, Rory did his best to pretend interest in Lady Kinkade, but it was difficult with Shannon nearby. He was bewitched. Already he was hard just thinking about the next time they could be alone together.

“Sinjin and Kate will be meeting us at Claymoore Hall,” his mother said to no one in particular as they walked beside the River Thames.

“How wonderful,” Lillith replied, resting her head against her husband’s arm. “How I miss my niece.”

“And I miss my sister,” Marilyn remarked.

Rory knew that he’d be going along to the family’s country estate in the north soon, but only because Shannon would be traveling there with Lillith to attend to her.

If not for that reason, he would happily stay in London. He hoped the size of Claymoore Hall would allow ample opportunity for getting Shannon alone. A welcome change since he felt like his every move was being noted.

Perhaps time away would make her less skittish when it came to questions of a more personal nature. Whenever he asked her anything about her past, she conveniently changed the subject. And the image of the strange man following her in London still bothered him, but he had not questioned her about it.

A bird flew from a tree to perch on the nearby fence.

His gaze strayed to Shannon, who walked beside Marilyn. The two seemed exceedingly close, and he was glad to see her
befriending the other woman. If only Shannon were of the gentry. Then perhaps he could make an offer for her hand.

The thought made him miss a step, and Victor frowned. “Are you all right?”

“Yes.”

Victor looked skeptical. Until he was recovered, his brother would be hovering like a mother hen. Hell, even Betsy didn’t show as much concern as his sibling about his injury. No, she was too busy worrying about potential brides.

Georgiana came up from behind him, slipping her hand around his elbow. “I shall keep you steady,” she said with a wink. She wore a gown more suited for a ball, the green silk hugging her curves, and showing far more cleavage than was considered proper. He made sure to keep his gaze focused above her chin at all times as not to encourage her.

“Fetch my wrap,” Georgiana said abruptly, looking toward Shannon.

It took Shannon a moment to realize Georgiana was speaking to her.

“Her name is Shannon,” Rory said, keeping his voice even, but with great effort.

“Please,
Shannon
,” Georgiana said, and Shannon nodded.

With chin lifted high, Shannon walked toward the manor, and it took everything he possessed not to follow her.

Ahead, Zachary and the growing irritant that was Johnny stood on the bank, setting up the chairs and table they had brought down from the house.

He’d like the opportunity to speak to the boy, but he needed to extract himself from Georgiana long enough to do so.

“I so wish this day was over. How I long for tonight,” she whispered under her breath, looking up at him with seductive
eyes.

Oh God. How in the world was he going to get out of this one?

“Ah, yes, I look forward to the dinner party. Lillith has a wonderful group of friends.”

“That is not what I mean, and well you know it, my lord.” She pressed her breast against his arm. “I dreamt of you last night.”

Rory glanced at Victor, hoping his brother would help divert her advances, but he was laughing at something Lillith said.

Damnation.

“I’ve embarrassed you.” She sounded surprised.

“I don’t embarrass easily, Lady Kinkade.”

“I thought I told you to call me Georgiana.”

“Very well, Georgiana.”

“Well, then, I shall be blunt.” She glanced around, and making sure they were outside of hearing distance, said, “I was hoping that we could spend some time together this evening … after dinner. My room or yours?”

Last night telling her yes in order to get rid of her had seemed like the perfect solution. Now he was regretting it.

He slowly bent down and picked up a stone, and rolled it between his fingers. “This is my brother’s house, where I am a guest, and it would not be right for me to entertain a lady in my chamber.”

She laughed under her breath. “Come, Rory, you forget whom you speak to. You were just injured because you were making love to a woman within earshot of the entire dinner party. The women attending said they could hear Lady Cord-land’s heated moans through the thin walls. You had them all squirming in their chairs.”

How utterly uncomfortable he was becoming. “Let’s just say I have learned my lesson.”

From the corner of his eye he saw Shannon, walking toward them with Georgiana’s shawl in hand.

Her cheeks were tinged a flattering shade of pink from being in the sun. As she approached, she kept her gaze averted, until she helped Georgiana with the shawl. For an instant their gazes met, and his heart actually skipped a beat.

He remembered those lovely full lips of hers wrapped around his cock, her hot tongue licking him, and then the exquisite heat of her inner walls clamping tightly around him. Snug as a glove …

“Will there be anything else, Lady Kinkade?” Shannon asked dutifully, and the other woman forced a smile and shook her head.

“I think not. Thank you.”

Shannon gave a curt nod and walked away, in the direction of her brother and Johnny.

S
hannon grit her teeth and counted to ten twice. She could not stand that woman! Lady Kinkade was going out of her way to make Shannon feel uneasy and separate her from Rory.

It was agonizing to have to watch him court another woman right under her nose.

Zachary looked up from where he placed a tablecloth on the table he and Johnny had brought down to the river. The Scot grinned at her and brushed a hand through his unruly curls. “Good afternoon, Shannon.”

“Good afternoon, Johnny.”

“Might I say, you’re looking beautiful today.”

Zachary made a disgusted sound, but Johnny just laughed. “She is the loveliest lady I have ever seen.”

“You are too kind, Johnny,” she said with a smile.

“Will you go get the bottle of wine I left on the kitchen counter?” Zachary asked Johnny, and he nodded.

“Aye, but you owe me.”

“Of course.”

Zach waited until the other man was out of hearing range to turn to her. “Some of the servants are talking about ye.”

Her stomach tightened. “What are they saying?”

“That you are having an affair with Lord Ambrose. Do not deny it, Shannon. Do not forget I saw ye with him.”

“It is no one else’s business what I do.”

“What if you become pregnant with his child?”

A blush rushed up her neck to stain her cheeks. “It will not happen.”

“Do not be stupid, sister. What would you do with a child? A bastard child? He or she would be one more mouth to feed. We barely have any money now.”

He was right. She knew he was, and yet she knew it would be impossible to stay away from Rory.

“He will marry Lady Kinkade. She was sent here for that very reason. To continue is to put your heart in danger, and your own well-being.”

Her heart was already in danger. She was falling in love with the notorious rakehell, and the longer she stayed here, the more under his spell she would become.

“I have feelings for him.”

He brushed a hand down his face. “This is madness, Shannon. You know that it is. You are playing a dangerous game. One that you will not win. He is an aristocrat and you a servant. You know what the outcome will be. His brothers have both married within the space of weeks, and Lord Ambrose is next. We have all heard the ultimatum Lord and Lady Rochester gave all three of their sons.”

She ignored this last and said, “But we really aren’t servants, Zach. Our father built a dynasty, one that we should be heirs to.”

“Should be
is right, but we are not, Shannon.” His voice was
clipped and curt. “Do not think for a second that I don’t wish the outcome were different. I hate that I must work my fingers to the bone for people that look down their noses at me.”

“Lord and Lady Graston are good to us.”

“Aye, they are, but I do not speak of them. These past months have been increasingly sobering, and I hate that I yearn for a future that will never be mine.” Tears welled in his eyes and he blinked them away. “I am begging you to use your head, Shannon. Do not fall victim to his charm. He cannot give you what you need.”

“Here ye are,” Johnny said, and Shannon jumped, surprised he had returned so quickly.

The young man flashed a toothy smile and handed Zachary the bottle of wine.

“Thank you,” Zachary managed, taking the bottle from him.

“Shannon, would ye mind helping me set the other table?” Johnny asked, picking up the linen tablecloth that he’d laid on a chair.

“Not at all,” she said, only too glad to get away from the uncomfortable conversation she’d been having with her brother.

Johnny handed her a corner of the linen, his dark eyes dancing as he stared. He was so close, and she had to admit, she liked his easy charm. His shirt opened at the neck, showing a good expanse of chest hair and a silver necklace. “Will you be at the gathering tonight?”

“The gathering?”

“Aye, in the servants’ hall after dinner is served. We are having a celebration for Candice and Frank’s wedding. Lady Graston has given us all the evening off.”

“How considerate of her.”

“Indeed. I hope you will come.”

“Of course I shall.”

They placed the tablecloth and she smoothed it out, noting the way Johnny’s gaze slid down her body. “I wish I would have known ahead of time. I would have bought something for them while I was in town.”

“Do not concern yourself. It’s enough that you are there.”

“What of you?”

“I carved a little something for them,” he said, pulling a smooth piece of wood from his pocket and handing it to her. Engraved into the side was a Celtic knot.

“It’s a sign of eternal love.”

“It’s beautiful,” Shannon said, running a finger over the intricate engraving.

“Ye see the loops are interwoven. There is no beginning and no end … just as love should be. That is what I hope for Frank and Candice. That their love lasts forever.”

Would their love last forever? she wondered, remembering all too well how Candice had given herself to Rory. Already their relationship had faltered. Would it be the same with Shannon and Rory, especially now that Georgiana was here? Would the other woman win him over?

“They will love it, Johnny,” Shannon said, handing the engraving back, and he beamed. His fingers lingered and she recognized the light in his eyes when she caught his gaze.

Rory cleared his throat and Shannon jumped.

He was still walking arm in arm with Georgiana, and as they approached the table, Johnny pulled out a chair for the lady.

Lady Kinkade sat beside Rory and even scooted her chair closer.

Shannon’s nails dug into her palms, and Johnny followed her gaze. She did not miss his frown.

Rory would expect her to visit his room tonight, but if all the servants believed she was having an affair with the lord, she would be smart to stay away, at least for a night or so.

She knew Georgiana would be visiting him, and she wondered if, in her absence, he would sleep with the other woman.

Johnny took a step toward her and reached up to brush a wayward curl off her shoulder. The reaction was innocent, but she felt Rory’s gaze on them. Was he as jealous of Johnny as she was of Georgiana?