Miss Foxworth's Fate (7 page)

Abby allowed him to hand her down from the curricle, reaching for her bonnet. His hand stopped her. “You won’t be needing that, Abby. Not here. We scientists are an informal bunch, you know. Protocol and etiquette are not things we care much about at all.”

She let her hand fall away from her bonnet and simply nodded.

He tethered his team to a convenient hitching post and tugged a bale of hay close. The water trough was full and clean, and the sun warm. Philip left them without a qualm. Together the couple mounted the steps, and Philip raised his hand to the huge wrought iron doorknocker which he let fall with an impressive thud.

Several minutes later a rather harried servant appeared, dressed in shirtsleeves and a large apron. “Good heavens, Sir Philip. What a shock you gave me. Thought it was the toll of doom, for sure.” the man sputtered as he attempted to wipe his hands on his apron.

“Sir Augustus didn’t get my message, then?” Philip asked the question quite casually.

“He’s not here, Sir. ‘Tis just me, today. Sir Augustus took it in his mind to see some planetary alignment from an observatory built by a friend of his. He’s gone ‘til the weekend.” The man looked apologetic.

“I’m sorry we missed him, Mumford. D’you think it would be all right if we visited for a while? I’d like to show Miss Foxworth around.”

“Why of course, Sir. You’re a welcome guest any time, you know that. And you too, Miss.” He bowed politely. “I’m afraid there’s little to offer you in the way of refreshments, though. Mrs. Harper’s gone off to see her new grandson, so ‘tis just me...I could make some tea or something...” Mumford fluttered his hands rather helplessly, as if the thought of making tea was one of the mysteries of life.

Philip chuckled. “Mumford. This is me, remember? I don’t need tea. And I’ve brought a luncheon for Miss Foxworth and myself. You just go off and do whatever you were doing, and don’t worry about us. We’ll take a peep at Augustus’s telescopes and then probably wander off into those orchards of yours and enjoy our lunch. I’ll let you know when we’re ready to leave. Does that fit in to your schedule?”

Mumford allowed a grin to cross his features. “Indeed it does, Sir. Always the thoughtful visitor, you are. My schedule consists of cleaning the silverware, but I don’t mind telling you, I’d rather picnic in the orchard with a lovely lady any day.” He colored slightly and bowed to Abby.

She smiled back. “What a lovely compliment. Thank you, Mumford. I can assure you I won’t touch anything or get in your way.”

“Not at all, Miss. Touch whatever you want. Sir Philip here is about as good as Sir Augustus at this stuff. He can show you everything.”

Indeed, thought Philip. That pretty much summed up his plan for the day. He was, without a doubt, going to show Abigail
everything
.

And very little of it had to do with astronomy.

Chapter 7

Abigail felt a shiver of expectancy run through her as Philip slid his hand beneath her arm and brushed her breast as he did so.

It was a genteel gesture, intended to guide her up the stairs to Sir Augustus’s observatory, but instead of sending thoughts of science her way, it sent other more wicked thoughts screaming through her brain.

She reprimanded herself. She was here to pursue one of her interests. Astronomy. Not Philip Ashton. And she was lying to herself once more.

The rooms Philip showed her were fascinating, and he allowed her a peek through Augustus’s telescopes, focusing them for her on the nearby apple orchards. “That’s where we’ll have our lunch, I think, Abby. It’s quiet and shady, and lovely at this time of year.”

His voice was deep, and he was close behind her, under the pretense of adjusting the telescope. She felt his lips touch her neck. “Although, of course, lunch with you would be lovely
any
time of year.”

She shivered, quite noticeably this time. “A nice turn of phrase, Sir Philip.” It came out more as a breathy plea than the polite response she’d intended.

She cleared her throat, and turned, finding Philip close. Too close. His body heat reached her skin through the light muslin of her gown, and her awareness of him grew by leaps and bounds.

She licked her lips.

His eyes lowered to watch her tongue, and she found herself fascinated as the colors within them changed from light blue to a rich, deep hue, shot through with those amazing golden flecks.

“I find I’m getting hungry, my dear. Luncheon calls, don’t you think?” Philip’s words were quietly seductive, and Abby’s thighs trembled.

She nodded. There was a large obstruction in her throat making speech difficult, and she confessed to herself that she didn’t want to
talk
, anyway.

She wanted other things. She blushed.

He dropped a light kiss on her lips and turned away. “I’ll grab our basket from the curricle, and meet you on that path there...” He pointed from the window to a lane, which led from the house into the forest beyond which lay the orchards.

With rather shaky steps, Abby descended the staircase and walked out into the sunshine, finding the path he’d shown her with ease. Her mind, however, was far from easy.

Mere minutes in Philip’s company had turned her knees to mush, and her body to a needy ache. She knew if he touched her there’d be no going back, and in truth, she wanted none.

She was almost twenty-three and had found a man who could light her inner fires with just a glance from his eyes or the brush of his hand.

She was a virgin, yet was awakening to all that a man could offer her in the way of passion and desire. The feelings brought a rush of moisture to her thighs, and she knew her nipples were hardening at the notion of sharing “lunch” with him in the quiet privacy of an orchard glade.

Her grandmother had been right. She wanted to toss up her skirts and beg Philip to fill her, to make her whole, to touch that needy place that he’d already roused, and teach her what passion really was.

She was ready.

And judging from the rather nice bulge in Philip’s snug breeches that showed clearly as he walked towards her, so was he.

She couldn’t help it. She grinned.

*~~*~~*

Abigail was smiling. Damn. Philip was in trouble now, and he knew it.

He spared a thought for the contents of the basket he’d had the forethought to demand from Rachel’s cook, and the blanket he’d tossed over his shoulders.

There was no question in his mind which would get used first.

He moved to her side, letting her pull the blanket from him and place it over her arm. He took her hand, rejoicing as her fingers curled around his, and together they walked silently along the quiet path, listening to the birds as they sang all around them.

A sensual awareness was building between them, and Philip could feel it just as surely as the warm sunshine that beat down on his shoulders.

By the time they reached a leafy glade and she’d spread the blanket tidily on a soft patch of grass, his cock felt ready to explode. He wanted her more than he wanted air to breathe, and he forced himself to remember that she was, as yet, untried.

A tremor of excitement rumbled through his balls. She would be his. He would be her first. No other man would claim this woman.
His
woman.

He stripped off his jacket and tossed his cravat after it, tugging his shirt loose and making himself as comfortable as a man could be with two tons of eager cock strangling between his thighs.

Abby settled herself in the shade and sighed.

“Such a big sigh, love. Are you tired?”

She shook her head. “No, not at all. It’s just so lovely here.”

“It is indeed.” Philip’s eyes never left her face, and she colored slightly as his words and their meaning became clear.

He seated himself close beside her, allowing his thigh to brush hers.

She didn’t pull back. She was aware of him too. His balls sent up a little cheer and he grew even harder as her heat warmed his leg.

The birds continued their songs and a small stream rippled nearby, but the sounds of the day were lost to Philip. He could only hear Abby’s breaths, coming a little faster now, and the sound of her gown as it slid over her body.

The gown
had
to go.

He leaned close and ran his hand up her spine to her neck. “Abigail, I want to kiss you. I want to touch you. Will you let me?” The world seemed to stop for long moments before she turned her head and stared at him from green and mysterious eyes.

“Yes.”

His heart pounded and his cock jumped as he eased Abby down onto the blanket and slowly covered her mouth with his. He kept his touch gentle at first, but it was mere moments before her lips parted and she welcomed his tongue inside.

Philip threw up mental hands and surrendered.

Who was seducing whom had become immaterial. He had Abby beneath him, his tongue in her mouth, and her breasts digging their already-hardened nipples into his chest. He moved his head, tasting her thoroughly now, relishing the sweetness of her lips and the way her tongue dueled frantically with his.

She moaned, and he slid his hand to her bodice, rapidly pulling the ribbons free and releasing her gown so that he could plunge his hand within.

His mind whirled as he found what he was seeking. She filled his hand to perfection. Her soft breast with its rigid nipple seemed to have been made just for his touch. Her back arched as she thrust herself into his grasp, her body asking for more and his own gladly responding.

Within moments he had her gown stripped from her, and his own shirt and breeches soon followed. His boots had been flung somewhere—he couldn’t remember where—all that mattered was getting his naked skin on top of Abby’s.

The moment that happened, they both stilled, and blue eyes met green ones.

“Ahhh, Abby,” murmured Philip, sliding his body along hers. “So good,” he groaned.

“Philip,” she sighed, letting her hands dance down his spine. “Oh Philip...”

“I know, love. It’s a wonderful feeling, isn’t it?” He rubbed himself against her again, sliding his chest firmly over her breasts and loving the brush of her nipples as they tightened beneath the abrasion of his flesh.

He kissed her again then moved his head down to where her luscious breasts were gleaming in the dappled shade. He suckled her deeply, loving her soft cry of pleasure as he tugged on the peak, rubbing it against the roof of his mouth and letting it go with a damp pop.

“More, more,” she whispered, pushing herself closer and twining her hands through his hair.

“Yes...” he murmured. “There’s more, Abby. So much more.”

He continued loving her breasts until they shone wet from his mouth, the tips dark red now as her heart beat rapidly beneath him. He licked and sucked her again, but this time slid his hand down over the soft swell of her belly, stroking and smoothing the warmth of her as he moved.

Her legs parted for him, telling him exactly where she wanted to be touched.

But he refused to answer her body’s call, simply brushing her woman’s hair lightly with his fingers and then moving further still, scraping his nails gently along her inner thighs.

She sighed and moaned and gasped at the sensations his light strokes were creating.

He let his mouth follow the trail his fingers had taken, pausing to explore her navel with his tongue, and avoiding her mound completely. When he reached her knees, he began to lick, long sweeping strokes upwards, towards the softness that was pink and swollen and shining with her juices.

“Philip,” she gasped, hips thrusting towards him.

“All in good time, Abby. The best pleasures are enjoyed slowly.”

She groaned, and his lips curved in delight. The scent of her body lured him onwards, and her heated folds dripped with sweet honey.

He bent his head to taste her.

Abby’s mind spun off into uncharted galaxies.

Once again, his mouth touched her, kissing her, licking her, but this time she had the added sensations of his hands over her nakedness and his heat mere inches away. She felt wanton, and hungry for him, her whole body aching and trembling inside, as if ready and able to take everything he could give.

And he was giving her so much.

She gasped again as his tongue sought out her swollen folds, learning her, teasing her, and finding that special spot that sent shudders of pleasure up and down her entire body. Even her earlobes tingled from it.

Her toes curled and her fists clenched the blanket as his tongue slipped inside her. “I can’t...I can’t...”

“You can’t what, Abby?”

His voice was liquid seduction, deep and hoarse, as if he too, was moved by what was happening between them.

“I can’t hold back...It’s...you’re making me...”

“Then don’t, love. Let your body go. I’ll be here to catch you. Fall, Abby. Fall into me...”

He replaced his mouth over her clit and suckled it, gently and then forcefully as if he could pull her out of herself through that tiny spot of flesh. And it seemed that he could.

Abby’s body thrashed, her buttocks locked, and a shiver spread through her as her legs locked against him.

She screamed and let go.

Wild lights swirled through her mind as her body pulsed and shook and fell apart in Philip’s hands and against his mouth. The sensation of his tongue inside her as she orgasmed was the most incredible thing she’d ever experienced, and as he moved it slightly, she felt herself come all over again.

The spasms seemed to last for an eternity, shocking her with their intensity. She knew her belly was shivering as her womb clenched and released itself in paroxysms of pleasure. She forgot that she was lying naked on a blanket in a quiet orchard. She forgot that she had an equally naked man tucked between her legs. She forgot everything.

Everything but his tongue.

She let herself go completely, surrendering to the joy of physical pleasure with a man who was able to show her the heights of ecstasy. It was incredible, magnificent, and she found herself for the first time in her life unable to think at all.