Legendary Lover (25 page)

219

she
took her cue from his evasion. For the remainder of their journey she took care to talk in the most casual terms of society and their mutual acquaintances, and within a short time Jack's
d^gage
' manner returned.

Venus didn't realize she'd been the topic of conversation between Austin and Jack, nor did she know that conversation had stirred up a great many issues the Marquis of
Redvers
had never before considered. And much as Jack wished to disregard the ambiguity of his feelings for Venus, even the fact that he was ambiguous was alarming to his peace of mind.

<2/N
  
HASTE
  
TO
  
SPEAK
 
TO
  
BERTY
  
WELLS,
  
TREVOR

Mitchell had reached London the morning before Jack and Venus came into town. Fortunately,
Berty
was in immediate need of funds for his bookmakers and open to most anything Trevor had in mind. With each passing day of Jack's liaison with Venus, Trevor felt his expectations slipping further away, and he was becoming increasingly frantic. He couldn't afford for Jack to marry and sire children.

Trevor's financial affairs had worsened, and his creditors were exerting more pressure on him. There was a very real possibility he might be thrown into debtor's prison
,,
and it rankled that his cousin should live in such luxury while he suffered.

Trevor never took responsibility for his ineptitude and lack of industry. Had he been less unwise, he could have lived at ease with the money Jack gave him, but such sober assessment never entered his thoughts. Jealousy and rage drove him, and he'd nurtured a warped

220

resentment
of his cousin to a savage hatred over the years.

So
Berty
Wells was sent out to be the instrument of Trevor's vengeance, while he anxiously waited in his rooms in Chelsea for favorable news.

Chapter 16
------
csso

«
:

JACK
  
AND
  
VENUS
  
ARRIVED
  
IN
  
DOVER

late
that night, they were rowed out to the
Morea
where it lay offshore. With a guard no longer required and the risks aboard ship minimal, Jack's men found accommodations at one of the seaside inns. And after introductions and the necessary courtesies to the captain, Venus showed Jack to their quarters.

Lamps had been lit, the luxury of the large stateroom immediately visible even in the muted light. The waxed teak deck was covered with Turkish carpets in vivid shades of crimson and blue, the Chinese furniture bolted to the floor with polished brass brackets, the trellised bed in one corner suitably elaborate for an Oriental potentate.

"You travel in comfort," Jack murmured, a touch of censure in his voice.

"P
^e
ggy mentioned your yacht has some of the finer amenities as well," Venus replied, moving into the room. "I think she spoke of a sunken tub and a cooled wine cellar. I make do with a copper bath and a few bottles of rum."

"
Touche
\" Jack agreed, following her. "Still, this cabin looks like one designed for entertainments."

"And I'm sure it's seen its share." Venus dropped into

222

a
large cushioned chair. "My brother prefers the
Morea
when he travels. I travel for business, not pleasure."

"Do you now." Leaning against a large ebony desk, Jack scrutinized her as though the truth of her words would be apparent with close inspection.

"Feel better now?"

He shrugged, his emotional equivocation not noticeably improved. "How do people deal with jealousy? It's appalling."

"Something new for you, dear?"

"I dislike it intensely."

"Soon you can go back to your normal life of dissipation and forget the word exists."

"Somehow I'm not comforted at the thought."

"I'm sure you'll acclimatize. Old habits don't die."

"And what will you do?"

"Work and then work and work some more." She smiled. "Don't look so astonished. I like what 1 do. There's genuine pleasure in helping people who wouldn't otherwise survive."

"I'll come to see you soon." Surprised to hear himself make the offer, he debated some added caveat should he require an escape clause, but he decided against it. He said instead, "I'll take you to the races at
Longchamps
."

"Or I'll take you," she suggested. "And you needn't meet my family if you prefer. We can rent a box."

"Do I look as if I'm afraid to meet your family?"

"Yes."

He grinned. "Is it so obvious?"

"I don't expect you to alter your customary habits."

"Although I have the last month and willingly."

"So I needn't get all teary-eyed at the thought of never seeing you again."

2*3

"Nor I of you."

"
Which means we can thoroughly enjoy our last two days together.
"

"Are you tired?"

"It depends."

"On?"

"What you have in mind."

"Nothing too strenuous.
I'll do all the work."

"So I just have to lie there and enjoy myself."

"That's all."

Her smile was inviting. "How can a girl refuse?"

He began by undressing her, taking off each item of clothing without haste, her gown and petticoats, her chemise, her pale blue silk stockings that matched the pearl blue leather of her shoes. And sliding pillows behind her, he made her comfortable before bringing her a glass of cognac.

"If you ever need a recommendation as a footman," she playfully murmured, lifting her glass to him in salute.

"Thank you, mademoiselle," he said with feigned deference, his eyes beneath his dark lashes roguish. "I look forward to serving you."

"In what capacity?"
A sportive quality had entered her voice. "Tell me your name. I haven't seen you before."

His mouth lifted in a wicked grin. "John
Thomas,
and I'm here to serve you in whatever capacity you wish."

"I see." She looked down her fine nose. "That's plain enough."

"I've found ladies prefer coming directly to the point."

224

Her brows rose in delicate rebuff. "They like that kind of frankness?"

"So I've been told. Some have called me unbridled as well, mademoiselle. I believe it was meant as a compliment."

"How interesting.
What can I expect, should I decide to use you?" She took a sip of her drink.

"I have recommendations if you wish."

Her eyes
narrowed,
disapproval in the set of her mouth. "I do not."

"Pardon me, mademoiselle. Some ladies prefer a man with letters of recommendation."

"Letters?"

"French
kttres
,
ma'am.
I could supply them."

"In that case, John Thomas, I accept."

"Very good, my lady."
Putting his hand into his coat pocket, he drew out four packets of condoms and, walking to the bed, placed them on the bedside table.

"I'm not sure I like such brazenness, Thomas. Did I ask you to put them there?"

"Should I remove them?"

An infinitesimal moment of contention transpired. "I'll overlook your impertinence this once," Venus said, a fine condescension in her tone.

"Thank you, my lady. I won't presume again."

"In my household, I expect obedience."

It took enormous effort not to smile. "Yes, mademoiselle, I understand."

"You may disrobe for me and we'll select a livery for you."

"Do you want everything off, mademoiselle? Some ladies want me to take off only enough to—"

"I don't wish to hear about other ladies. And yes,

225

everything
. How do I know what size you wear if I don't see you unclothed?"

He discarded his clothing slowly, enjoying the game, taking pleasure in the play after the past days of concern and caution.
Wanting her, as he always did, with unrestrained lust.

"
Ummm
, very nice," Venus murmured, looking him over from head to toe, focusing for a lengthy time on his blatant erection. He stood casually before her as if he'd done this before, as though women had often been rapt at the sight of him, and she could feel herself open as though his virility were an instant trigger to her body's desires. "Your credentials are superb, Thomas," she noted, trying to maintain some control over her impatience. Restless, her desire quickening, she drank the remaining cognac in a single large swallow.

"Thank you, my lady." Her nipples were jewel hard; he could almost smell her arousal. "I'm glad you approve."

"I need another drink," she imperiously said, feeling a need to equalize the dynamic.

There was the familiar moment of hesitation she'd come to know with Jack. And then he said, "Yes, ma'am," with a small nod and went to get the cognac bottle.

She held out her glass when he arrived at the bedside, and after pulling out the cork, he poured a small amount of cognac into her glass.

"
More,
please." The throbbing between her legs intensified at his closeness, at the pungent spice of his cologne and the palpable heat of his body.

"It might spill."

"Of course it won't spill."

226

"It could, and you don't have any clothes on."

"I assure you, Thomas, I have no intention of spilling."

"You might not want a full glass—" he held up the bottle cork "—when I put this in." Leaning over, he quickly slipped the cork up her vagina.

Her eyes went shut against the sudden feverish
rush,
the cork pressed exquisitely high, Jack's fingers filling her.

He plucked the glass from her fingers just in time.

Setting it on the table, he bent to kiss the taut crest of one nipple, his mouth closing, gently suckling, and he felt a reciprocal reaction in the rippling flesh of her vagina. His fingers were drenched, the cork pressed to the farthest depth. And when he lightly bit the turgid, sensitive tip of her nipple, she writhed against his hand.

"You need more, don't you," he whispered.

She slid her fingers into the ruffled silk of his hair, pulled his head up, and looked into his eyes with a smoldering gaze. "I don't want to wait."

"Mademoiselle is overzealous. Most of my employers prefer a more leisurely encounter."

"Do as you're told."

The smallest tick appeared over his cheekbone. He didn't respond well, play or not, to direct commands. "Mademoiselle is too hasty." He eased his fingers out.

"Jack! Don't—"

His mouth covered hers, his hands hard on her shoulders, pressing her back on the pillows, his kiss intrusive, forceful, impassioned, and when his mouth lifted, she was reminded of the merits in pleasing him.

"If mademoiselle would refrain from giving orders, we'd get along better."

227

The violence, the burning urgency of her desires generated a more tractable sensibility. "Forgive me," she breathlessly intoned.

"Certainly, my lady."

Her gaze drifted downward to his erection, rising splendidly from the dark, luxuriant hair at his crotch. "May I touch you?"

The hesitation in her tone brought a surge of blood to his erection.
"Of course.
And later, when I feel you're fully aroused, you may have this."

"Don't make me wait long," she whispered, reaching out to run her fingers down the distended veins.

"Just long enough." His hand closed over hers and then deliberately lifted it away. "We have to see that you're ready ..."

"But I am." The pulsing between her legs was intense, the slightest motion stirring the lodged cork with riveting consequences, its presence like a captivating prelude to the full glory of Jack's monstrous erection.

"Just a few minutes longer ... It always feels better—if you wait." He reached for the cognac bottle, emptied the remaining liquor into her glass on the bedside table, and spreading her thighs wider,
stroked
her throbbing labia with the mouth of the bottle.

The sudden realization of what he was about to do sent a racy thrill through her senses.

"Don't move.
It's
glass," he softly warned, easing the neck of the bottle inside her sleek flesh.

As her labia gave way, she felt a delectable shudder deep inside her, the hard coolness slowly forced upward, a glowing heat in stark contrast flowing outward in its wake! An intoxicating delirium grew like fever in her blood as she was stretched, filled, engorged, and when at