Only a Lady Will Do by Tamara Gill
Chapter 19
After telling the duchess of her headache, Iris made her way to the foyer of the London home, a feat that took far longer than she would like. Her body thrummed with expectation. Soon, she would be alone with Josh. Would he return her to his home? Or would they go someplace else?
They could not go to his bachelor lodgings, someone would definitely see them there, and then the scandal would be too great to bear.
Josh ordered the carriage to be brought around, and it wasn't long before he'd helped her up into the equipage and they were off.
He turned and opened the little portal under the driver's box, giving orders before closing it again and facing her.
The carriage was dark and made all the more so when the duke untied the curtains above the windows and sealed them off from the world.
Iris took a calming breath, her stomach fluttering at the thought of what they were about to do. He would kiss her, that she understood. But would he do more than that? Would he kiss her breast again?
She bit her lip, heat pooling between her legs at the thought of him doing so.
Josh moved over beside her, cupping her face in his hands. "I do not think I will ever have enough of you," he admitted. He moved to kiss her, the action painfully slow. Too slow for Iris.
Iris met him halfway. She needed to feel him, kiss him as she had longed to do from the moment he left her the day before.
The instant their lips touched, an explosion of emotions tore through her, and she wanted to take all she could from him. Lose herself in his touch, his intoxicating kiss that urged and teased her.
Her breathing hitched, her breasts swelled, the bodice of her gown feeling restrictive. The night she would lay with him for the first time would be a magical dream, and how she counted down the time until they could be alone.
The carriage rolled around a corner, pushing her against him. The duke lay back against the squabs, urging her upon him. Iris sat back, untying the ribbon at the front of her domino and stripping herself of her cloak. It was only then that she realized she still wore her mask. Pulling it from her face, she watched as his dark, hungry gaze devoured her.
She shivered, coming over him, taking his lips in a searing kiss. Her emotions rioted within her. How could she be so enamored with a man she had only known a few weeks?
The admission made little sense, but as true as she was kissing him, falling for the duke more and more each day, so too were her feelings. They grew each time he walked into a room. A little wedge of her heart burst to life at every kind word, sweet gesture, or wicked kiss.
If Iris were not careful, she would soon be in love with her husband. But would he love her in return?
His hands slid down her back, hauling her against his hard manhood. Iris wanted to see him, feel and play, but a carriage was not the place, no matter how much she longed to be so with Josh.
"I want to touch you. Let me please you, Iris."
His whispered plea pulled at a part of her she had not known existed. She nodded, trusting him and needing him beyond reason. Her body burned aflame, ached to be loved, and it was time it was.
Josh fought with his conscience. He should not be here. Should not have his betrothed writhing in his lap in unsated lust before they were married. But nor could he deny them both what they wanted.
And he wanted her.
He wanted every part of her, body and soul. She was such a beautiful woman, inside and out, with a heart of gold and a face as sweet as an angel's. Who would not lust after such a woman? That this woman was his made him the luckiest bastard in London.
And he was a bastard. He had caused her so much pain and grief in her short life. He would make amends, and he would start by loving her as a woman ought to be loved.
He would make her life happy, easy just as she deserved and in time, pay for the sins he billed against her.
Josh rucked up her gown, needing to feel her. His hands skimmed her shift, moving it out of the way. She stilled in his hold when his fingers sliced over her mons, the hairs at the apex of her thighs tickling his hand.
She was wet, hot, and ready. He could take her now, fuck her, and he doubted she would feel any discomfort, would deny him.
"You're ready for me, my darling," he said, slipping two fingers to run across her aching seam. She ground against him, her body seeking release.
"How do you know?" she whispered against his ear, making him shiver. He steeled himself to behave. To not rip open his front falls and sheathe himself into her willing heat.
Fuck her in the carriage like a trollop from Pall Mall. Like a man unable to control the lust, the need that coursed through his blood.
He teased her flesh, circling her core before dipping his finger into her cunny. Her eyes widened, and the pit of his gut clenched. "You like that?" he stated, knowing that she did. "You're weeping for me between your legs. That's how I know."
She nodded, pushing down a little on his hand, taking him farther.
Josh groaned, helping her ride him. He flicked his thumb over her beaded nubbin, wishing that it was his cock that sank into her depths. That took her to the peak of pleasure she was climbing to.
She moaned his name, and his cock begged for release, but not tonight. Tonight, right at this exquisite moment, it was all for Iris. He wanted to bring her to a climax. Watch as she came apart in his arms.
Iris became a woman in his arms, riding him, taking what she wanted. Josh held her, simply laid back, and enjoyed the view she made. He would never tire of seeing her like this. Tonight was just the beginning of many enjoyable carriage rides in their future they could take.
Her hands clutched his shoulders, her eyes closed, a little frown of concentration between her brows as she worked her way to release.
"Have you ever climaxed before?" he asked.
She shook her head, her eyes glazed with want.
"Sit back," he commanded, helping her to move to the space at Josh's side. "I want to make you shatter. I want to lick you until you grind against my tongue and take what you want."
Her mouth popped open, and she gaped at him. "What do you mean?" she asked, but continued to shift off his lap to do as he ordered.
"You will see. Now lay back," he commanded, his mouth salivating at the thought of tasting her.
She did as he bade without question. Josh slid her gown up her legs, taking his time in kissing her sweet, long legs as he went. The musky scent teased his senses. Her skin tasted of jasmine soap. She was everything delicious and right.
He pooled her gown at her waist, exposing her to him. She wore no pantalets, her sex exposed to him, weeping for his touch.
Fuck, she was wet.
Josh pushed her legs apart and grinned at the soft, rosy hue that kissed her cheeks. "Do not be embarrassed, my darling. I'm going to do this a lot when we're married. You will soon grow used to it."
She nodded again, biting her lip, driving him to distraction. He bent over her, pulling her to the edge of the seat, exposing her further. "So tempting, so delicious. I'm going to eat you until you scream."
"Do it then," she taunted. "Do it now."
Josh needed no further prodding. He kissed her cunny, lathing her engorged nubbin with a ferocity that he had never experienced before. Her scent was an elixir on his tongue. She tasted like sweet wine and everything unspoiled.
Her gasp of pleasure almost made him spend in his breeches. He suckled on her nubbin, teasing her opening with his tongue, fucking her with his mouth with unrelenting need.
"You taste so good," he moaned, already planning when they could be alone together like this. Three weeks before their wedding was too long away.
"You feel wonderful," she replied, taunting him more.
What a wicked woman his wife would be; he could not wait to make her so. Josh lifted her legs to rest atop his shoulders, sensing the movement did not pain her. She undulated against his face, working herself against his tongue as much as he served her weeping cunny.
She made mewling sounds, his name on her lips driving him to distraction. He knew she was close. He kissed her harder, fucking her with his hand as well as his tongue, and she screamed, her fingers scoring through his hair as she rode his face in pleasure.
Josh lathed her flesh until the last of her tremors ran their course through her body. She went limp in his hold, and he sat back, settling her skirts about her body once again.
"Did you enjoy your first taste of pleasure, my darling wife-to-be?" he asked, coming to sit beside her and helping her set to rights the bodice of her gown. He reached down to the floor, picking up her cloak and folding it in his lap.
"Can such pleasure happen every time we're together? On our wedding night, or when we… When we—"
"Make love for the first time." He smiled, taking pity on her. "I should hope that will happen to both of us every time. I would not be doing my duty if I did not please my wife." He tipped up her chin, staring into the bluest eyes he'd ever beheld. Eyes he knew one could lose oneself in if they allowed it. "And I intend to please you. In all ways."
She smiled at him, clearly pleased at his words. "I think I shall like being married to you. How long until we are wed?" she asked him.
He pulled her against him, wanting her close as the carriage meandered its way through London, taking the long way back to the Penworth townhouse. "Not soon enough," he stated.
