A Season for Scandal by Golden Angel
Chapter 27
Elijah
The new accord between himself and Josie made attending Joseph and Miss Bliss’ engagement ball much easier on Elijah’s nerves than he might have felt otherwise. There was now more than passion between them. There was a partnership, and they were no longer working at odds. She had told him what Evie knew, which had not been much more than Elijah had already known.
The only point they had hit a difficulty with was Lily’s correspondence pointing to the Talbot estates. Though Elijah could believe it of the old earl, he was certain Nathan and his brother would have nothing to do with smuggling spies or other personages. Smuggling was basically an honored pastime along the coast and had been particular lucrative during wartime, supplementing incomes, and often the sons of the local nobility would be hip deep in the proceedings. Nathan had told more than one story about his time with the smuggling gang that operated out of the village next to his father’s manor.
Smugglers had their own sense of honor—usually—which did not involve betraying their country. However, there were always exceptions. Worse than the smugglers were the wreckers—those who used lighthouses and other means to draw merchant ships in too close to the rocks, marooning them, slaughtering the crews, taking the wares, then sinking the ships. There would be wreckers and some smugglers who could be bought for the right price.
Josie still seemed skeptical, but she did not know Nathan the way he did. The one thing he kept from her was Nathan’s suspicions about Lily. He could not see what it would help and had a feeling it would only make Josie take up even more against Nathan. If Elijah’s reaction to Nathan’s questions had been immediate denial, Josie’s would be even more so. She was not entirely soothed about Nathan.
“They do make a lovely couple,” Lily said approvingly, from the other side of Josie, as they watched Joseph lead Miss Bliss onto the dance floor. Miss Bliss, always beautifully turned out, was resplendent tonight in a rose-and-gold gown and her blonde hair pinned in a torrent of curls, with a beaming smile as she stared up at his brother. Joseph was grinning like a fool at her as they began their celebratory waltz while everyone looked on.
As beautiful as Miss Bliss looked, Elijah thought his wife far outdid her. Josie was dressed in a turquoise blue that made her eyes shine like jewels, her hair lifted off her delicate neck, making him want to stroke his fingers along the nape, and a low neckline that hinted more than displayed and was driving him wild.
“They do.” Josie smiled serenely, her arm brushing against Elijah’s as she unconsciously swayed toward him in time to the music. If they were alone, he would wrap his arms around her, but to do so here would cause a stir among the guests, and he did not want to take attention away from his brother. Joseph deserved this moment, especially since, for a while, they were not sure it would happen. She leaned forward, peering around Elijah sat Adam. “What do you think, Adam, shall you end this Season with a bride as well?”
“Do not wish such things upon me, sister.” Adam shuddered, shaking his head. “I am far too young for your plots.”
Giggling, Josie settled back into position, Lily and Mary laughing beside her. A little pang struck Elijah. Evie was the only one missing from their little coterie, and he felt her absence as much as they must. He scanned the assemblage, looking for her. Knowing she had appeared at both Mary’s and Josie’s weddings, he thought she must be nearby tonight. Unless she was waiting for the actual wedding rather than the engagement ball, but his gut told him she was here, only in hiding.
He and Father had left her out of the family business, and now she was not part of the family for all the important events happening this Season because she did not feel she could show herself to them. Elijah vowed when she made her presence known to him again, he would welcome her back without recriminations or scolding and maybe even talk to Father about including her more. Not the way she wanted to be, but they could find a compromise, the way he had with Josie. She did not need to go on missions to be useful. She could help in the home office.
In the meantime… His eyes dropped down to his wife’s decolletage, stirring his arousal again. Seeing the proof in her eyes that she was no longer pining for Joseph, realizing she was perfectly happy at Elijah’s side was having an effect on him, emotionally and physically. He always wanted her, but now, the drive was stronger than ever. Waiting for the ball to be over would be an eternity. Not that everyone would wait. Across the room, he was amused to see the Marquess of Dunbury and his wife slipping into the shadows to the hall, seeking a place to find private delights.
Which gave him an idea…
Josie
Considering all the revelations since her wedding, Josie was no longer surprised when she felt nothing but happiness for Joseph as she watched him waltzing in celebration of his engagement to Miss Bliss. She did not feel horror about the man she loved marrying another woman because the man she loved was at her side, smiling with pride at his younger brother.
She truly was happy for Miss Bliss. The debutante’s name had been paired with multiple eligible gentlemen, yet none of them had offered for her. She deserved happiness. If she was a bit boring, well, that was for Joseph to live with.
“My lady, may I have this dance?” Elijah asked, turning and giving her a slight bow as the music for Joseph and Miss Bliss’ waltz came to an end. Josie’s smile was brilliant.
“Yes, my lord.” Her tone was light and flirtatious, and Elijah grinned in response. She wondered if he realized how much he was lightening up in recent days, no longer always so serious. A smile looked good on him. His dark hair waved away from his face, the points of his collar were stiffly starched, the white fabric contrasting sharply with his hair and eyes, and his blue waistcoat complemented her dress beautifully. They were an attractive pairing, and she heard several murmurs of appreciation from the audience as they took to the floor.
The country dance was faster-paced than the waltz but allowed Elijah to hold her in his arms, and Josie felt her heart fluttering madly as he whirled her around the dance floor along with the other couples. She could see Rex and Mary doing the same, and to her amusement, Lily was dancing stiffly with Captain Jones, both of them eying the other warily. She wondered what Lily had said to him to garner that response, but knowing Lily, it was something blunt, acerbic, or both.
Well, maybe having the opportunity to talk to him herself would keep Lily from pestering Josie with more questions about him because Josie truly did not know. Elijah was mostly forthcoming with answers, but since he was not willing to entertain suspicions of his friend, he could only be pushed so far, and Josie did not blame him.
“Josie…” Elijah started to say something, then cut off, drawing her attention up to him. He looked oddly pensive, almost hesitant, not his normal self.
“Yes?” she prompted.
“I was wondering…” His voice trailed off again, and Josie seriously considered trodding on his foot to spur him to actually finish a sentence.
“Yes, Elijah?”
Instead of answering, he lifted his head, looking about, then pulled her off of the dance floor. What on earth? She did not protest, gamely following him, wondering where he was leading her. They only received a few glances as they moved along, most of the guests assuming they had some duties to attend to behind the scenes. Josie knew everything was well in hand, though. Mrs. Brandon would have come and found her otherwise.
Bemused, she followed Elijah into the hall to the drawing room. No sooner had he locked the door behind him than he was pulling her into his arms, his lips descending on hers. She gasped in delighted shock, and his tongue slid between her lips when they parted. This was not at all what she had been expecting. The kiss deepened, lengthened, and he moved her backward, trapping her between his body and the wall next to the door.
“Elijah!” Her whisper was scandalized as he pulled his lips away from hers, moving them down her neck. “Here?!” It was not a protest, more a shocked question. She was so surprised Elijah, of all people, would sneak away, especially during his brother’s engagement ball, for a private interlude. The surprise and excitement stirred her arousal, especially knowing their guests were only a few doors away. It was scandalous, was what it was, and exhilarating.
“Yes.” His hands cupped her breasts and squeezed as his hardness pressed against her, parting her legs. “Here.” She gasped as he tweaked her nipples through the fabric of her dress, then dropped his hands away, pulling at her skirts. “Now.”
“You’ll wrinkle my skirts!” The thought was nonsensical, yet she could not fathom returning to the ball with wrinkled skirts, where everyone would be able to see… everyone would know… Her cheeks turned bright red at the mere thought.
With a low curse, he spun her around. Josie pressed her forearms against the wall, bracing herself, slightly bent forward in this position.
“Like this then?” It was a rhetorical question as he flipped her skirts above her hips and parted the slit in her drawers. His hand caressed her buttocks before giving her a little swat that made her gasp again, then his fingers curved around her hips, pulling them back and bending her forward a little more.
She did not know when he had time to undo the front of his breeches, but his cock thrust into her from behind, hard enough she bit her lip as the sweet sensation of being filled so hard and fast rippled through her. The noise from the ballroom was muted, hardly enough to drown out her cries if anyone was in the hall.
Elijah’s body slapped against her buttocks each time he filled her, driving her need higher but not quite enough sensation in the right spots to give her satisfaction.
“Please… Elijah…” she whispered, squirming back against him. “I need more.”
“Then beg me, minx,” he whispered, the brush of his lips against the shell of her ear sending a shiver through her.
“Please, Elijah, please, touch me…” It was harder to keep her voice low, but she managed it, too wound up to care she was begging. It aroused her even more, though she did not think she would ever admit it aloud.
“Like this?” His hands caressed her hips, her bottom, and she ground her teeth in frustration, bucking against him.
“No, Elijah…”
“Then tell me where, sweetheart.” The wicked note in his voice made it clear he knew exactly what she wanted—needed—but he was going to make her declare it. If he thought she had any shame left, he was about to discover he was wrong.
“My pussy, Elijah, please, touch my pussy.”
Her pleas were rewarded. Reaching around her, his fingers pressed into her cleft, finding the little pearl of pleasure between her slick folds and stroking it. Josie moaned, then clapped her hand over her mouth. The frantic need to keep quiet, the notion someone might try to enter the room while Elijah was riding her so furiously from behind, was wildly exciting her.
Her pleasure circled higher and higher with each stroke of his fingers until she cried out, shuddering around him, and felt him surge. He pinched her clit, adding a jolt of pain to her pleasure and making her legs shake even more, leaving them both panting for breath. Inside her, she felt him throb with every wave of his own climax, his hips only making the smallest of movements.
Despite the quickness of the encounter, it had been utterly satisfying. Josie wondered at her excitement from it all evening. The night at the Society, she had felt similarly when anyone might have walked in and seen them. Why had it had aroused her? Was it possible she actually wanted to be watched?
No… the very idea made her shudder, but the thought someone might catch them was different somehow. Possibly the secrecy added to the intimacy.
Whatever the reason, the rest of the evening, she felt even more connected to Elijah, and when they tumbled into bed that evening, their lovemaking was passionate.
