Just Perfect (5 page)

Constance’s mouth dropped open. She’d felt that cock of his, hard and long against her belly. But to think even this seasoned woman thought him large? “Oh, my.”

“Indeed,” Sarah put in.

“There’s more to Chester,” Lizzie went on, seeming to warm to her topic. “He’s gentle, but rough when he has to be.”

Constance could only nod. She sipped at her ale as she processed all Lizzie had said. Sarah whistled softly.

“I never suspected Lord Chester of such passion,” Sarah said.

“No, I wager you haven’t,” Lizzie said. “But you have, haven’t you, Lady Constance?”

Constance flushed hotter. “Y-yes.”

“Constance!” Sarah gasped.

Lizzie grinned and sat straighter. “It’s fitting. Lord Chester needs a good girl who isn’t afraid to be a bad girl in the bed chamber.”

Constance dropped her eyes to the table and drank more of her ale. “Can you tell me what men like, Lizzie?” She lifted her gaze. “Men in general, and him in particular?”

Lizzie shrugged. “That’s easy. A man likes to take charge sometimes and to have the woman take charge at others. And he likes to have his shaft polished, of course.”

Constance stared at Lizzie for a beat. “He likes what?”

“To have his bits licked.” Undoubtedly, her confusion was still stamped on her face, for Lizzie snorted. “He likes to have his cock sucked, my lady.”

“I think I’m going to faint now,” Sarah said.

Constance waved her words away. “Truly?”

“God’s honest,” Lizzie said. “Listen, you’ve got passion. If Lord Chester’s after you, he sees it. Just do what comes natural and you’ll please him like he pleases you.”

“He pleases you, Constance?” Sarah asked.

“He has, yes,” Constance answered.

Lizzie nodded and came to her feet. “If that’s all, my lady?”

“You’ve been very helpful, Lizzie.” She reached into her reticule and withdrew several pound notes. “For the ale and the information.”

“My pleasure,” Lizzie said, taking the money in her hand. “And yours, I wager!”

She laughed and left their table.

Constance took another sip of her ale. “This isn’t bad,” she said with a giggle.

“My God, Constance,” Sarah said. “What have you done with Lord Chester?”

“Nothing really.” She took a deep breath. “Not yet, at any rate.”

“But he’s pleased you. You said so.”

Constance smiled at her cousin. “Yes, he has. And I want to please him.”

“Why?” Sarah’s hands fluttered. “I don’t mean why, but why now?”

“I want to marry him, Sarah. And I think he wants to marry me, but he’s always so difficult to read. I thought if I showed him I can learn to please him as much as he pleases me, he’ll realize we belong together.”

“Forever?” Sarah asked.

“Forever.”

Sarah lifted her tankard, saluting Constance. “Then have at him, cousin. Perhaps I’ll give some of Lizzie’s lessons a try someday myself.”

Constance laughed, if there was anyone who would do it, it was Sarah. She smiled to herself with excitement and a renewed sense of purpose. She would make William hers. She did have the nerve. Coming to the pub tonight certainly proved that. And now she had the knowledge to go through with her plan.

William sat in his townhouse, more put out than he could ever remember being. He’d come back from the bashes, out of sorts and itching for something. He’d changed into his dressing gown, but he couldn’t seem to relax.

Constance had stayed away from the parties tonight, something he’d learned inadvertently from Diane Plymouth. That girl seemed hot for conversation and perhaps something more, but he wasn’t the man to give it to her. Woe be to that gentleman, whomever he turned out to be.

Where the devil was she? He didn’t like leaving matters so unsettled between them, especially after what they’d shared in that secret study at Lady Joan’s house. Didn’t she realize how much he wanted her? Didn’t she know precisely what he was going through, keeping himself from taking her? No, she couldn’t. He had to remind himself that she was pure despite her passion.

He rang for a servant and ordered a bottle of brandy. It seemed like this was becoming a bad habit, going to the parties alone, leaving alone, sleeping alone. Not that he’d ever truly spent the night with a woman, and never in his own bed. In a flash of insight, he envisioned Constance in his bed, tousled and warm from sleep. Flushed and disheveled from his lovemaking. Of course! He suddenly realized why he was feeling out of sorts, and what he needed to do to change that. He would marry her! After all, he had to marry some day and why not Constance? She was everything he wanted, beautiful, kind, lovely in every way. Not to mention they shared a passion that he’d never felt with anyone before. She would make the perfect bride. He had lost ground to make up, however. He’d really stuck his foot in it that night.

He drained his glass and settled before the banked fire behind the grate. When the devil was Roberts returning to town? At least they could get up to mischief together. If William knew him well, and he did, Roberts wouldn’t tie himself down to one woman anytime soon. Perhaps he’d even talk him out of marrying. No. He wanted Constance. As rare as it was to desire your bride, his friends had managed to do just that. Why the hell couldn’t he?

He rubbed his face, wondering if he should send her a card or write her a letter. Maybe flowers. Let her mother think there’s more to his calls, and get the wheels turning. Something had to happen, and soon.

Someone knocked at the open parlor door and William looked up to find his butler standing there, a look of befuddlement on his face.

“Yes?”

“You have a visitor, my lord,” he said.

“At this hour?”

The butler had no answer for that and he hadn’t expected one.

“Send them in,” William said. “And go find your bed. It’s late.”

The butler glanced behind him toward the entry and looked at William again. “As you wish, my lord.”

He left, and William picked up his glass. He stood and crossed to the side table holding his spirits, thinking to pour himself another drink.

“Good evening, William.”

He turned, dropping the empty glass to the carpeted floor. “Constance?”

She stood poised in the doorway, a cloak wrapped around her. Her face was an oval, as smooth and still as a cameo, and he couldn’t help but be drawn to her.

“Constance,” he said, taking her chilled hands in his. She didn’t wear any gloves, and he rubbed her fingers with his. He realized their position in the next instant. “What the hell are you doing here?”

She flinched, then glared up at him. “I’m here to set matters straight.”

He gaped, then quickly pulled her into the room. “What matters?” he asked as he closed the door. As if he didn’t know.

“Matters between you and me, William.”

She opened her cloak to reveal that she wore only her chemise and stays. His throat went dry.

“You …” He could barely find his voice.

Her body was outlined in the thin linen, hiding little from him.

“What were you thinking, riding over here like that! Please tell me you didn’t hire a hack.”

She laughed. “No. I had Sarah drop me off.”

“Well, that’s something.” He waved a hand over his dressing gown. “And I was going to apologize for receiving you dressed the way I am.”

Constance ran her gaze over him and he hardened immediately. How could she do that? Make him want her without even touching him? Of course, she
was
standing there practically naked.

“Why are you here?” he asked.

She dropped her cloak and came closer, bringing her heat and lily scent. “I want you to know my intentions, William.”

He stared at her. “Intentions?” Damn, but he could barely think with her so close.

“Yes.” She placed one hand on his shoulder, the other one on his chest. “And may I say I find you very appealing dressed this way.”

Her touch scalded him as she worked her fingers through the material to stroke his bare skin. “Constance,” he said in a warning voice.

“Sit,” she said, pushing him toward the settee. “We have to talk.”

He let himself fall back on the couch, still trying to make sense of what was happening. She sat too, curling her long legs beneath her to kneel beside him. She reached up to stroke his cheek, then ran her fingers through his hair. “You look so good like this,” she said. “Almost relaxed, though I hear you can be quite single-minded and steady.” She brought her mouth to his ear and gave his earlobe a nibble. “Quite determined.”

“Determined?” he asked, fisting his hands in his lap. His cock was so hard, he was surprised he wasn’t parting his robe. “You heard I can be … from whom?”

She smiled and shook her head. “Later.”

She straddled his lap, moving her hips tantalizingly over his cock, and began to kiss him. He took over in the next moment, grabbing her and kissing her as he’d wanted to do all night.

“Ah, Constance,” he said, dragging his tongue over her throat as she leaned her head back. “You taste so good.”

“How do you taste?” she asked, breathless.

He brought his mouth back to hers and gave her his tongue to show her. She moaned, rubbing her breasts against him as he cupped her delicious bottom through her thin chemise. He worked at the laces on her stays, trying to get the blasted thing off her.

“Wait,” she said, reaching back to still his hands. “Later.”

“Again, later?” he asked.

She smiled and dropped to her knees in front of him. If she’d sprouted wings and flown around the room, he couldn’t have been more surprised.

“How do you taste, William?” she asked again.

He opened his mouth to make some sort of answer, but his words were lost as she reached beneath his robe to grasp him. “Constance!”

She wore a look of concentration as she spread the fabric to reveal him. Her fingers danced over his flesh, making him even harder.

“Lizzie was right,” she murmured.

“What?” he asked, closing his eyes as she stroked him long and slow. “Lizzie?” He opened his eyes. “You spoke to Lizzie?”

She nodded, her tongue coming out to lick her lips. “She was right. Your cock is as long as my arm.”

He nearly swallowed his tongue at that. She teased a finger over the top of his cock and he began to moan. “Constance, you’re killing me.”

She waved a hand, then took him in her mouth. He should stop her, demand she come off her knees and … damn, but it felt so good!

She licked him, suckled the head, and he began to buck beneath her. She was unschooled but obviously determined to drive him out of his mind, so he held on for as long as he could. He felt his climax start and just managed to pull out of her sweet mouth to come onto his belly.

When he caught his breath, he gazed down at her. She sat back on her heels, wearing a look of triumph on her face.

“I suppose I did that all right?” she asked with an impish grin.

He withdrew a handkerchief from his pocket and wiped his belly. “More than all right.” He tucked the hanky away and drew her to her feet. She stood between his thighs and he held her closer. “Why, Constance? Why would you go to Lizzie and ask her about me?”

“I want to please you,” she said with a shrug. “I want you to know I can give you pleasure for the rest of our lives.”

He felt that shift in his chest again as his heart began to beat only for her. “The rest of our lives?”

She nodded and he turned, pinning her to the couch beneath him. “First let’s get these off you,” he growled, tearing the stays from her and throwing them to the floor. “God, I could look at you all night.”

*    *    *

Constance stared up at William as his eyes devoured her. He held her wrists in his hands now, her breasts bared. He bent his head and licked first one nipple then the other. He teethed one and she gasped. She could still taste him on her tongue, and had known true pleasure as she brought him to climax. He was impressive, in size and stamina, but she’d pleased him. And now, it seemed, turnabout was fair play.

“Do you know what you do to me?” he asked, kissing his way from her breasts to her belly. “Do you know how much you please me?”

His words, his actions, drove her mad. He gathered her chemise in his hands, bunching the fabric until it was up around her waist. He removed her drawers and nudged her legs apart with one of his. When he placed his mouth on her flesh, she cried out.

“Hush,” he said, kissing the inside of one thigh. “Let me love you the way you loved me.”

She nodded, letting her legs fall open to his questing tongue. He stroked her, licked her, and found that spot again. In a flash she was there, that magical place he’d sent her before with his fingers.

“Oh, William!” she cried, out of breath.

He didn’t cease until she climaxed.

“There’s my countess,” he said.

His words confused her, then he spread her legs wider and settled his shaft between them. It was hard again, long and thick, and she felt a moment of panic. He began to enter her and she braced for the pain her mother had always warned her about. It was sharp and quick though, and then he was there. All of him inside her somehow despite the difference in their size.

“My God,” he said, holding himself up on his arms. “You fit me perfectly.”

“Perfectly,” she whispered.

He began to move and the pain was a memory as pleasure began to build again. “You’re more than perfect, Constance.”

“What?” she asked, arching toward him.

“You’re perfect for me,” he finished, dipping his head to drop a kiss on her lips.

He kept up the pressure, thrusting as she came around him with a startled cry. He didn’t stop, just kept driving into her again and again.

“Lizzie was right,” she managed to say. “You can ride a woman for a good long time.”

He let out a strangled laugh and renewed his thrusts. “Only this woman,” he said. “From now on.”

She nodded as their bodies slid together.

“There’s one thing you have to do,” he said, never breaking his stride.

She shifted, raising one thigh up around his waist. “Lift my leg like this?”