Summers, Jordan (2 page)

She stared unfocused, remembering that day many years
ago when a broken engagement resulted in a taint of scandal, leading to her
subsequent fall from good society. Her fiancé, Lord William Longfellow, had
taken her virtue and then cast her aside, leaving her reputation in ruin.
Shamed, Rose’s family immediately disowned her. She’d landed here at Josephine’s,
a naïve young woman desperate to get off the streets. The madam had offered her
a deal she’d been unable to refuse, housing, food, and clothes in exchange for
ten years of her life.

Richard swallowed the bitterness welling inside him. If
only he’d reached Rose before Josephine, things would have been different. She’d
have been settled by now with a nice man, living a quiet life. He’d done what
he could for her; including making sure her fiancé met a similar financial
fate. The man was ruined, turned away from good society just as Rose had been
cast aside. He was lucky Richard had allowed him to continue breathing. Killing
him had been tempting, oh so tempting, but the thought of him scraping by was
far more satisfying. Richard smiled.

Rose’s contract with Josephine was coming to an end, he
didn’t want his inability to find a bride to be the sole reason Rose remained
in this establishment. If she’d only allow him to tear up the agreement, but
she wouldn’t… her fiancé’s betrayal all those years ago solidified her resolve.
He looked up in time to see her eyes focus on him.

“I created the agreement and I’ll stay here as long as
you need me. I will not go back on my word.” Her voice quivered with each
uttered word, then as if realizing her true emotions were showing, Rose backed
down. “Besides, you promised me a house in the country and that alone is worth
keeping my end of the bargain.”

Richard groaned. “You know very well I’d still purchase
you a house.”

Rose reached up and squeezed the bridge of her nose. “I
will keep my end of the bargain. So let’s focus on the positive.” She released
the worried skin and once again met his gaze. “I believe this will be the year
your luck changes.”

He shook his head, but said no more. Every year that
Richard had attended the Season, Rose made sure to tell him this would be his
year to find a bride. He’d been coming to experience the
ton
’s hospitality for the last ten years off and on, but had yet to
find anyone suitable. Richard held out little hope this year would be any
different, but he wasn’t about to contradict Rose. This was their normal
repartee.

“Mark my words, you will find her this year, my lord.”
Her voice held genuine concern and a trace of hope. “You’ve waited so long. It’s
time you were settled.”

Richard waved her comment away. “Perhaps.” He mused. “For
your sake, I hope you’re right. Until then I can spoil you, to assuage my
guilt, so indulge me.”

“Very well.” She grinned.

He reached out and captured her hand. “I have an idea.”

“Really?”

“I know a way to solve both our problems.”

“Do tell.” She arched a brow, mischief replacing any
lingering sorrow.

“I could always wed you, my dear Rose.” He winked.

Rose giggled. “I’m afraid I’m a bit past my prime, not
to mention socially unacceptable.” She pulled her hand free. “Besides you don’t
love me and I don’t love you.” She walked over to a small stand in the corner
of the room and reached up to her neckline, pulling a chain from around her
neck, a tiny key hanging from it. Carefully she unlocked the curio and slipped
the treasure inside, then locked it again. She retrieved a packet of French
letters from her vanity, before turning to face him.

A seductive glint lit her eyes, telling Richard without
words that the serious portion of their conversation had concluded. “Same as
always…” She purred. It wasn’t a question.

He smiled, flashing his fangs. “You are a woman after
my own heart. Perhaps it’s time you found someone who could capture yours.”

She grinned and shook her head as if to dismiss his
words. “Love is for fools and the young. Fortunately I’m neither.” She licked
her lips. “As for your heart, that’s not the part of you I’m interested in
right now, love.”

Rose reached up and tugged at her chemise. With a
swoosh
, the material floated to the
floor. She stood before Richard lushly naked, her pink nipples pebbling beneath
his heated gaze. The soft lighting gave a gentle glow to her fair skin. She
took a step closer adding extra swing to her ample hips. The russet thatch of
curls between her thighs called to him. Richard couldn’t decide what he desired
more, to drink from her or to fuck.

He reached for his breeches and freed the buttons. Rose
closed the distance, helping him out of his waistcoat and shirt. She dropped to
her knees before him, taking his breeches and drawers with her. He stood calmly
as she bared him. Richard lifted one foot and then the other allowing Rose to
remove his Hessian boots. Once they were pulled free, she tossed all of the
items into a nearby chair, without leaving her position. Rose sat back, resting
on her ankles while her eyes locked onto Richard’s erect cock. She growled
appreciatively.

“For me?” She reached out tentatively and tried to
encircle his shaft with her hand, but was unable to, due to his impressive
girth. Instead her fingers traced the length of a bulging vein and then around
the flushed plum-sized crown.

Richard’s hips bucked.

Rose sat up and blew a warm breath over his shaft,
firing his skin.

He groaned.

She smiled wide and then dropped her mouth onto his
cock and began to suck. Richard closed his eyes for a moment, enjoying the
moist heat and gentle pressure on his staff. It had been too long since he’d
indulged in sexual play. He reached out, his fingers sinking into the red curls
on Rose’s head. She swirled her tongue around his cock, ratcheting his pleasure
up a notch. Richard’s grip tightened as Rose increased her speed. Both her
hands wrapped around his thick base and matched rhythm with her magical mouth.

Richard thought his knees would buckle from sheer
pleasure. Without thought, his hands began to guide her, changing the motion oh
so subtly until he could thrust with each downward stroke. If he could sweat,
Richard’s brow would have been drenched.

He pumped again and again into her greedy mouth,
striving for that elusive orgasm.

Rose scraped him, whether by accident or on purpose, he
did not know. The second her teeth made contact with his cock, Richard came.
Fluid spilled from his body as Rose continued to suck. The column of her throat
worked up and down as she swallowed every last drop. His breath came out ragged
and sharp as his blood pounded in his ears.

Richard sank to the floor beside her, his mouth
immediately seeking hers. He licked and nipped until she opened for him, then
plunged his tongue into her mouth as ravenous turned insatiable. He dipped and
swiped, tasting his own essence. His hands moved of their own volition, pushing
Rose back until she lay upon the carpeted floor.

Then he was on top of her, groping, seeking, and
stoking the fire he knew lay within her. He found Rose’s clit amongst the mass
of copper curls and began to circle it with the pad of his thumb. Her hips
tilted beneath him, encouraging without words and she moaned, inflaming Richard
further. He reached out with his free hand and slipped on a French letter, his
cock hardening as if she’d never administered to him.

He sought her cunt and found it drenched to the touch.
Richard closed his eyes, humbled by the fact she offered him everything, while
he offered her little in return. Guilt slammed him once more, yet he knew he
wouldn’t stop, couldn’t stop now. He continued to work her clit until Rose
screamed out her first release, then Richard positioned the head of his cock at
her entrance and plunged inside.

Rose cried out again as a second orgasm rocked her. Her channel
gripped him as Richard drove in and out, spearing her. He felt the spasms from
inside her body. Velvet heat, moist and scorching, he continued to pump inside
her willing channel. Richard teetered on the brink of the abyss, another
release drawing near.

As Rose’s body reached for rapture, Richard sank his
fangs into her neck and began to drink. Rose convulsed beneath him as they both
came again. The coppery tang of her blood washed down his throat, filling his
starving body with the nourishment it needed. Richard’s hips pistoned, matching
the draw against Rose’s neck. He followed the tide as wave after wave of
pleasure washed through him, sending him spiraling into oblivion. He continued
to feed until he drank his fill, and then with a swipe of his tongue, sealed
the pinpoints, momentarily sated for the first time in days.

Rose’s eyes were closed, her face a mask of ecstasy.
Little tremors shot through her as the last of her body’s releases fired
simultaneously. A smile played at the corners of her mouth. Richard kissed her
then lazily lapped at her nipples. The turgid peaks sprang to life beneath the
rasp of his tongue.

He heard her heartbeat below the mounds of flesh. It
was steady and strong. Richard sucked one areola into his mouth, exploring
every bump and ridge. The rosy peak stabbed out in response. He released the
delightful flesh and kissed his way to the underside of her breast.

There he felt her heart pump fresh blood out to the
rest of her body, the sound near deafening to Richard. His hand shook as he
gently lifted the flesh, acting on primitive instinct he once again bit deep. A
slight cry escaped Rose’s mouth and then she stilled. She stroked his head
while he fed, letting him know without words everything was all right. Richard
closed his eyes and fell asleep, content.

He awoke before dawn as he always did, only to realize
his fangs and cock were still embedded in Rose’s warm flesh. Extricating
himself, Richard dressed quickly. He picked Rose up from the floor, threw the
covers back and laid her on the bed. He pulled the linens up to her chin and
left enough blunt on the bedside table to pay for a fortnight of her services,
even though his accounts had been settled last night.

Rose would probably sleep for the rest of the day and
into tomorrow, considering his greedy hunger. Richard had fed well, almost too
well. He couldn’t afford to wait so long next time between feedings. It was too
dangerous.

Hurley waited out back, like he’d said he would.
Richard jumped in before his valet could swing down and open the carriage door
for him.

“Take us home, Hurley,” Richard called out from his
seat.

A whip snapped in the air and the team of chestnuts
stepped out at a spanking pace. The wheels creaked as they rolled down the
stones, feather edging around corners, past the manor houses, and into a
quieter upscale neighborhood. Richard’s home lay at the end of
Jermyn
Street
, an unpretentious medieval revival with
fluted Greek columns and molded cornices. The house had been constructed in
brick and then covered in stucco, the effect a refined elegance that Richard
could call home.

He bounded up the stairs as the first rays of light
kissed the sky. For a moment he paused, his hand resting on the door handle,
watching the great expanse go from a pale gray-blue to a delicate shade of pink
that reminded him of Rose’s nipples. He sighed and opened the door, stepping
over the threshold as the bright rays turned a golden yellow. It was going to
be a long season.

Chapter One

Lady Lily Devlin sat before her dressing mirror while
her maid, Tildy, put the finishing touches to her hair. “You look beautiful, my
lady.”

“I don’t know why I bother Tildy, every year it’s the
same thing, boring gentlemen standing at attention while I’m being paraded
around like a prize to be won. Yet Father dangles me just out of reach.”

“It’s not as bad as that, my lady, is it?”

Lily caught Tildy’s gaze in the mirror. “There have
been many attempts in the past couple of years by gentlemen to catch my eye,
but none were of interest to me. I want someone who wants me for me, not my
dowry or title.” Lily trembled with anger. “Father must realize after all this
dreadful folly that it’s probably too late for me to make a suitable match. I’m
practically on the shelf.” Her voice cracked, despite her resolve to remain
strong.

“Shelf.” Tildy snorted, pushing at an unruly lock,
twisting it back into place on Lily’s head. “‘Tisn’t as bad as all that Lady
Lily, surely there must be someone who has captured your fancy.” Hope rang
steady in Tildy’s voice.

Lily frowned. “The type of gentleman that is acceptable
to Father is in no way acceptable to me. I will not live my life like mother,
wondering if my husband is going to return from visiting his mistress, and
crying when he doesn’t.”

Tildy’s face dropped. “God rest her soul. Your dear
Mother was a saint, I tell you.” She slid the gold hair wrap in place. “Not all
men are cut from the same cloth, ‘tis best you remember that when you’re at
those fancy balls. You never know who is just around the pillar.” Tildy smiled
at Lily, her reflection encouraging.

Lily squeezed Tildy’s hand. “I don’t know what I would
have done if I didn’t have you dear friend.”

A rap sounded at the door. “Come in,” Lily called out.

Archibald Sterling, Viscount of Devlin entered the
room. His eyes immediately took in the gown Lily wore. “That’ll do,” he said,
giving a curt nod.

Lily’s lifted her chin and straightened her shoulders.
Her gaze leveled. “I’m so glad you approve, Father.” She didn’t bother to hide
her displeasure.

The years of drink had finally taken their toll on the
once strapping Viscount. His hair, mostly silver, stood out in stark contrast
to his sallow complexion and watery blue eyes. His height, although average,
had faded from the weight of gluttony resting on his shoulders. Every once in a
while, Lily caught a glimpse of the sly fox that lurked just below the surface,
the one who’d so thoroughly captured her mother’s heart. At one point Lily and
her father had been close, but like time, that day had long since passed. He
valued his pleasurable pursuits more than anything… including his own daughter.