A Woman Made for Pleasure (33 page)
Millie felt her whole body respond to the heavy, sensual weight of him. She arched herself against his mouth as his hand moved across her stomach to the curve of her buttocks. Instinctively he pressed his hips closer, letting her feel the long, hard length of his erection. Millie gasped, and he heard himself utter a thick, husky groan.
He retook her mouth hungrily as he lowered himself alongside her. She was so soft, he thought. So incredibly soft and sweet—and his. He edged his knee upward, spreading her thighs.
Millie felt her blood surge through her veins. Last week at Lady Sefton’s, she never imagined she could experience anything as wonderful as what they had shared, but somehow tonight, with all misunderstandings aside, knowing he loved only her, it meant even more. Millie moved restlessly beneath the caress. She wanted more, needed more. Her skin was on fire with need for Chase’s touch. Between her thighs, she felt hot and moist and hungry.
Chase felt her writhing and knew Millie’s need was building. Her growing desire only heightened his own. His fingers glided over the soft skin of her hip. Slowly he moved his hand down to find the tightly curled hair concealing her damp, secret place. But instead of entering he moved past and slowly stroked her upper thigh, losing himself in the incredible softness of her skin. Up and down his fingers moved, reveling in her heated response.
Millie writhed beneath him, remembering the magic his fingers had evoked before. “Charlie, please,” she moaned, begging him to touch her.
Chase smiled against her ear and brought his hand up her leg until he was inches from the hot, damp core of her. He moaned and buried his head in her hair as he slid one finger into her liquid heat. Millie sucked in her breath and closed her teeth carefully around his earlobe.
He felt her body gradually begin to tighten demandingly around his finger. Gently, he eased it slowly out of her tight passage and back in again, lovingly stretching her, preparing her for what was to come. Then he inserted another finger and prayed God would give him the ability to maintain control for just a little bit longer.
Millie gasped. “Oh, Charlie, I . . .” and cried out as he slipped his fingers into her again, then added another. Her hips lifted, and he retook her mouth, his tongue hot and rough and insistent. “Stay with me, Millie. Remember you are a very daring woman, and I promised you many adventures.”
The delicious torment seemed to go on forever. Millie arched herself against him again and again, her moans steadily growing louder, more incessant. Suddenly she gasped, arched her neck back, her hands curling into fists. Her muscles clenched and unclenched in small spasms, her entire body trembling.
Chase knew he could hold back his need no longer. He framed her face between his hands. “Millie, trust me. I promise you there is nothing to be afraid of.” He bent his head to capture her lips in a searing kiss of love and need.
Chase was on fire, overcome with need. He managed to wrench his mouth from hers long enough to kiss her throat. “Millie, I will do everything I can to be gentle. If you tell me to stop, I will. I don’t want to hurt you, but if I wait any longer to be inside you I swear I shall go mad.” Millie’s lavender eyes caught his golden ones, and he had all the answer he needed.
Millie felt Chase’s hard shaft brush against her, probing gently. She gasped as he spread her thighs wider and moved between them. She froze as she realized he was way too big for what he planned to do.
Slowly Chase eased himself into her snug passage. Never, he thought, never would he get enough of her. Chase buried his hands in her hair, twisting his fingers in the silken tresses, hugging her to him and then thrust into her, deep and hard, breaking the barrier that proved he was her first and only.
The pain awakened Millie out of her passion-induced state. She tried not to, but she felt her whole body freeze in reaction to his length buried deep inside her. Tears welled in her eyes and fell down her cheeks.
“Are you all right?” Chase asked, his voice low and raspy, thick with passion and need.
Millie couldn’t answer. The initial pain was disappearing and in its place was an irresistible cry for something more. Instinctively she tightened her legs around him and plunged him even deeper inside her.
Chase cried out and his control snapped. Easing himself out of her snug passage, he pushed slowly back into her. “God, Millie, you feel so perfect. You were made for me.” Then he drove himself even more deeply, claiming Millie for his own.
With each unhurried thrust, Millie wondered if the slow, intense sensations Chase was creating would cause her to go mad. But she only wanted more, and lifted herself against him, silently demanding he move more quickly. She grabbed his hips and urged him into a faster, passionate rhythm.
Together they strained, instinct driving them to meet each other’s rhythmic need. Then suddenly a force—even more powerful than before—exploded within her. Chase plunged one last time and clung to Millie as the heavens enveloped him. He held her for a long time as they both slowly floated back to earth.
As his arms stole protectively around her, Millie curled into Chase’s side and gently stroked his arm. He gave her a gentle squeeze. This adventurous, full-of-life woman had just promised, body and soul, to be forever his. He would never be alone again.
Chapter 15
Millie forced herself to walk slowly and calmly into Hembree Grove. In truth, a frenzied panic filled her. A little over two hours ago, she had been so furious with Chase she never expected to talk to him again. An hour ago, she was in his arms promising to be his wife, and thirty minutes later, she realized that she might never get the chance.
She took another step, planning all that she needed to do. Chase was watching her. She smiled, trying to appear like the happy bride-to-be. Anything else and he would realize her intentions and stop her. Another step. The house was dark. The night was still young for most of Society, and she doubted any of the
ton
would release Aimee or Jennelle before the sun rose, several hours from now. As Millie’s best friends, the patronesses would drill them both for information.
ton
would release Aimee or Jennelle before the sun rose, several hours from now. As Millie’s best friends, the patronesses would drill them both for information.
Millie approached the large covered entry.
This will work
, she told herself and entered the quiet manor. The butler closed the doors, bowed, and silently disappeared, probably to tell Elda Mae she was home. Millie didn’t care. She was listening. The second she heard the clopping of horses’ hooves and wheels rolling, she glanced out the front window to confirm Chase had left. She sprinted to the servants’ quarters and woke Tomas, the young footman sleeping in the hall on a cot.
This will work
, she told herself and entered the quiet manor. The butler closed the doors, bowed, and silently disappeared, probably to tell Elda Mae she was home. Millie didn’t care. She was listening. The second she heard the clopping of horses’ hooves and wheels rolling, she glanced out the front window to confirm Chase had left. She sprinted to the servants’ quarters and woke Tomas, the young footman sleeping in the hall on a cot.
“Tomas,” she said, shaking his shoulder. The young man swung his legs around. Realizing it was not the housekeeper, he jumped up and then momentarily fought for balance as he mumbled a greeting.
Ignoring his sleepy stance, Millie motioned for him to follow her. “Thank the Lord, you are dressed. Come with me, quickly,” she said in hushed tones, rushing toward the servants’ side entrance.
“Yes, mum,” Tomas murmured as he hurried down the narrow corridor in an effort to keep up.
When they reached the side door, Millie stopped and abruptly turned around. She ripped open her reticule and grabbed several coins. “Here are half a dozen sovereigns. It is imperative you find and follow the Wentworth carriage. It just left not more than a minute ago, and I believe it is headed east toward the docks. Be quick and return within the half hour without anyone knowing, and I will double your quarter pay if you can tell me its final destination.”
Tomas looked at her as if gauging her sincerity before he snatched the coins and disappeared into the night. Millie watched for several seconds, praying Tomas would quickly find the carriage in the crowded streets.
He will
, she whispered to herself.
He must
.
He will
, she whispered to herself.
He must
.
All the way up the stairs to her room, Millie kept her steps steady and even. Deep down, she knew that tonight, before the sun rose, her future happiness was in jeopardy. With each step, she replayed the conversation with Chase that led her to realize it.
“Millie, I’m taking you back to Hembree Grove.”
Millie watched as Chase slipped on his Hessians. Less than an hour ago, she had been in heaven. She had never felt more loved and safe. Now, she had never been more terrified. Chase had never said a word, but she knew what he was about to do. He was preparing to meet the men who threatened to end his life that night Chase had caught her eavesdropping.
“Are you going to meet Lord Marston?”
Hearing Marston’s name, Chase hesitated and looked at Millie. It took everything he had not to stop and bed her again. With the firelight behind her, she looked like an angel, tousled hair falling around her shoulders concealing the perfect buds made for his caresses.
“I know you hate him, Charles. Is he the one—the one that you have been after?”
“Millie, do you remember Melinda Brinson?”
Millie looked at Chase and then turned her back to him. He hauled her to his chest. “Listen to me, my jealous little sprite. She was the wife of a good friend of mine. I promised him that if he should die, I would look in on her. When I returned to England a couple of months ago, I found her and her child starving and living off the streets.”
Millie gasped and turned around. “What happened? You said she was married!”
“I did, and she was. But her brother-in-law turned her out of her home with a one-time stipend. Most likely she would have been fine, as the sum was not a paltry one. But she was unfortunate to cross paths with Marston.” Chase hesitated, wondering how much he should disclose. But there were already too many secrets and he knew Millie would not judge the woman like others of Society would. “He wooed her, lied to her, and left her when she discovered she was carrying his child.”
Anger glinted in Millie’s eyes. “Marston denied his own son?”
“Only after cleverly draining all Mrs. Brinson’s funds. The day you saw us, she was thanking me. Through the clients my mother and you have sent her way, word has spread of her skill, and she is now able to support herself and her child, who will be raised as Brinson’s son. I know Geoffrey would have wished it so. They had longed for a child for some time.”
“Oh, Charlie. How can life be so cruel?”
“I don’t know, love. But I also know it can bestow the greatest gifts of all. Because tonight it gave me you.” He bent his head and claimed her lips in a final, possessive kiss. Then he was gone.
She had sat for several minutes numb with fear before she saw it—her pendant—on the floor. Leaning over, she picked it up and fingered the unusual crest. He had been keeping it with him. It must have fallen out of one of his pockets when he had dressed. As the thought entered her mind, so did a dozen others. The two foremost were that Chase still believed he had it and that if he had been carrying it with him, there had been a reason.
Millie closed her eyes to the memory. Opening the door to her room, she leaned against the frame. “Life gave me a gift, too, Charlie, and I refuse to let you go.”
She went to her bombé chest and moved the clothes to reveal the items hiding beneath. She quickly shucked her dress and slippers and pulled on the breeches, linen shirt, and coat. The boots were a little large, but they were better than her black half boots. She was buttoning the roomy waistcoat when Elda Mae stepped in.
“My lady, do you need assistance with . . .” As soon as Elda Mae saw Millie dressed in men’s clothes she was at a loss for words.
“Elda Mae. Good, I am glad you are here. I need an overcoat. I would prefer it to be black, but it must at least be dark,” Millie said, grabbing both the pistol and the brooch from her torn reticule. She looked up and realized Elda Mae was still stunned and unmoving. “Please hurry. I have very little time, and I must be ready when Tomas returns.”
“But, my lady . . .”
Exasperated, Millie realized she was about to lose her temper. “I promise to explain later, but I need that coat, Elda Mae, and I need it now. Please hurry and meet me in the salon.”
Whether it was Millie’s tone of voice or the promise to be fully informed later, Elda Mae turned and hurried down the hall.
It had been almost an hour since Tomas had left in search of the carriage, and Millie was becoming anxious. She was about to go out and look for it herself when from her window she saw a dark figure approach the servants’ entrance.
Millie rushed to the back of the manor, arriving just as Tomas entered.
“Tomas, what did you find out?”
“Eh, sir? Do I know you?”
“Tomas, it’s me, Lady Aldon. Did you find the Wentworth carriage?”
Astonished by her attire, Tomas stammered, “Uh, yeah . . . I found it. Near the docks, just as my lady said. Practically fell into the Thames, I did, when I saw where we were. My lady, is that really you? You look different.”
“Where exactly, Tomas? Can you tell me precisely how to get there?”
“Aye, sir . . . I mean, my lady. He went to Maude’s, a real shady place, too, mum. Blokes usually have dipped rather deep before they are tempted by the trollops that work there. And tonight things were too smoky by half. Never thought the lord would be tempted by a place like that.”
“If I told a driver to take me to Maude’s on the Thames, would he know where to go?”
“Aye, mum, and I don’t mean to throw a rub in the way of your . . . plans, but you might want to drop your voice a bit. Throws one, hearin’ a lady’s voice comin’ from a man.”
“Thank you, Tomas. I must be going. And Tomas, I must ask that you not say a word.”
“My lady, I ain’t one to raise a breeze about things I know nothing about. But you didn’t forget what you said about my quarter pay?”
“No, Tomas, I didn’t forget. Tell Elda Mae not to worry. I will be home soon.”
Millie stepped out of the hack and instantly her pulse started pounding. A thin fog was beginning to set in. Getting a hackney carriage had been easy compared to the difficulty she would have finding Chase. Her eyes searched the buildings. He was somewhere hidden in the mist settling around the docks.
“Best take care, lad, and watch yer back,” warned the driver. “There’s a good deal of gamesters in these parts, willing to part a wee lad from his blunt.”
Millie barely nodded a response before the hack disappeared into the haze. She took a deep breath and looked at the rundown building situated on the corner lot across the street. Maude’s Place of Pleasure was scrawled in faded red script on a lopsided sign swinging from a corner of the building. The structure was in desperate need of repair; various sized holes in the roof were apparent even in the fog. In the back of the building were several large crates piled in crooked stacks and a narrow staircase providing outside access from a second-story room. Nowhere in sight was the Wentworth carriage.
Millie decided to approach the building from its north side and hide behind the crates as she peered through a window. She was about halfway to her intended destination when she was hauled into the shadows. A sharp, cold blade pressed against her skin.
“Explain your intentions before my knife finds its home in your neck.” The voice was low and menacing.
Millie licked her dry lips and tried to respond. “I’m here looking for someone.”
Suddenly she was yanked back into the shadows and pushed against the side of the building. Chase swore and then muttered hoarsely, “Mildred, I am going to throttle you!”
Millie sighed in relief. “Shh. I knew coming here would make you mad, but I had to find you. Whether you know it or not, you need me.”
“I don’t give a tinker’s damn what your reasons are. You are going home, and right now.”
“But . . .” Before Millie could even begin to argue, Chase’s gloved hand reached out and roughly covered her mouth, pulling her deeper within the shadows underneath a wooden staircase built on the side of the building next to the road. Seconds later, she saw the reason why he silenced her. Two men turning off Bridge Street were approaching from the west, heading toward the rear of the building. She recognized them. They were the same men she had followed into the gardens at Lady Sefton’s ball.
Concealing Millie behind his greatcoat and the barrels, Chase stepped slightly out of the shadows.
“Interesting place you chose, Chaselton. A frequent haunt of yours?” the taller, younger man sneered as he moved out of the street and entered the area behind the brothel.
The second, older man gave his companion a signal and stepped in front of the light so that his features were masked in the darkness. “We have waited long for this night. Have you brought the items?”
Chase eyed the men carefully, taking his time to reply. “I am afraid I will be unable to have this conversation until your
entire
party arrives.”
entire
party arrives.”
The younger man scowled and advanced a few steps. “We never agreed to that.”
Chase stared at the young fool and then leveled his gaze at the man behind him. “I would advise your friend that if he wishes to live, he should retrace his last steps and quickly.” After the impetuous man stepped back, Chase continued. “I want assurance that I will be accepted into your group, and I am wagering neither of you has the ability to grant my request.”
Millie could not see, but she heard the approaching footsteps of another man. She felt Chase’s body stiffen with recognition and loathing. “I wondered how deep your involvement was. I must admit I did not think you were one to get your hands dirty. Not a
dandy’s
line of work we are engaged in,” Chase said contemptuously.
dandy’s
line of work we are engaged in,” Chase said contemptuously.
“Seeing you grovel makes it all worth it, Chaselton. Where are the items?”
Millie listened to the voice hiss with violence and hatred. She knew instantly who it was: Lord Marston. She swallowed heavily. It now made sense why Marston was so interested first in Aimee, then herself. He was going to use her to get whatever they wanted from Chase.
“Regardless of what your supposed intellect tells you, you are not an important player in this transaction,” Chase said, unmoved by Marston’s taunts. “I am still waiting, and will continue to wait, for your leader.”
Marston eyed Chaselton. “Do you want to know what I think? I think you do not have all the markers, nor do you have a clue as to where they are.”
Chase smiled faintly in the moonlight, but the curve of his mouth held no warmth and his shadowed gaze revealed nothing. In truth, Marston was correct. Chase had no idea what the other two items were, let alone their location. Instinctively, his hand slid down to the cloak pocket to find the marker he did have. Alarm went through him. It was gone.
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