Rory (13 page)

“Husband, stop blaming yourself,” Lillith said, leaning over the bed and brushing a dark lock of hair over Rory’s ear. “Your brother is a grown man and he would not want you fretting. I am sure he will be fine. He is young and strong, and far too stubborn to let a nasty thing like a bullet wound or fever get him down.”

Victor’s lips curved slightly and he nodded.

Edward arrived with clean linens.

“I shall help you pick him up, my lord,” Edward said, handing Shannon the sheets.

It took them only a matter of minutes to have the sheets changed and Rory back on the bed. He had moaned a few times but made little movement.

“I think we should let him rest,” Lillith said, standing.

“I will stay with him,” Shannon said, but Victor shook his head.

“No, you go get your sleep, Shannon. I shall take tonight’s shift. He will need you tomorrow.”

She didn’t want to leave Rory’s side, but she couldn’t very well tell her employer “no.” “If you are certain, my lord.”

“I am,” he said, and all she could do was give Rory a last lingering look before walking out the door.

Thankfully, as the days went by, Rory improved. In fact, just seventy-two hours after that terrifying night his fever had come on, he sat up in bed and watched her as she stoked the fire.

“Come here,” he said, his voice silky soft.

She knew that tone, knew what it meant. “You are too weak, my lord.”

“No, I’m not.”

“I have strict instructions from the physician that you are not to move. That is what got you into trouble in the first place, and I shall not have your brother coming down on me for endangering your life.”

“I shall not tell. I promise.”

Glancing over her shoulder, she smiled. She wanted to slip into bed with him. She burned to be taken by him, to feel his hands on her body, to feel his long shaft slipping inside her, stroking her until she cried out in ecstasy.

But they would both have to wait.

“I’ll go crazy if I can’t have you. Look at what you do to me.”

His cock was rigid, swelling up toward his belly.

Her body responded in kind. The flesh between her thighs tingled.

“I want you.”

He would not give up, she knew that, but she was also not going to risk doing anything that would endanger him.

Aware that the rest of the family was eating dinner, she felt safe knowing they would not be interrupted. She took his cock in hand and started stroking him, her fingers gripping him tight.

A pleased groan escaped his lips, and she lowered her head and licked the plum-sized crown. Her tongue slid over the velvety soft skin, swirling around, along the ridge, then over and down the length. He was too long to take completely into her mouth, but she did her best to relax her throat.

Rory’s heart rate increased, and he cupped his hips as she took him deeper into her throat. His balls were so heavy, and he ached to pull her beneath him and bring her to climax over and over again.

His fingers slid into her hair, and his breathing grew more ragged the closer he came to orgasm. He was close. She could tell by the way he put his hand on her shoulder, stilling her movements. She would stop for a moment, her mouth hovering above his cock, and then relax, and she would slowly, tentatively lick him.

He touched her breast, his fingers toying with a nipple through her uniform. The peak stabbed against the fabric, and she felt a wave of desire ripple through her straight to her molten core.

She quickened her pace, sucking, laving until he was pumping against her, his breathing harsh.

“Shannon,” he said on a moan, and a second later hot semen shot into the back of her throat.

Rory released a long groan and slid his arm around her waist, pulling her close.

“Your shoulder,” she said, concern marring her brow.

“Will be fine. For now I just want to hold you.”

Rory was stunned by her actions. He had not expected her to pleasure him the way she had. She was a quick study, that was for certain, and he wondered what other surprises were in store for him.

“You need to rest, my lord.”

She kissed his forehead, and his hand cupped her face. “You please me in every way, do you know that?”

And his words pleased her.

“Do I?”

“More than you will ever know.”

She hoped he was not just saying as much to pacify her, as
men were known to do. Giving him the benefit of the doubt, she smiled softly and pulled away. “I must get going. I promised Lady Graston I would help her with her hair this evening.”

“Does Lily not have a lady’s maid?”

“She does, but tonight is the servant’s night off.”

He gave an exaggerated sigh. “Ah, I see.”

“I shall check on you later this evening.”

“What time?” he asked, looking anxiously at the clock.

“Before I retire. Ten o’clock, perhaps?” she said, opening the door.

“I’ll be waiting.”

Exhausted from a long day, Shannon walked into Rory’s chamber and smiled seeing Victor reading to him.

“I have come to check the dressing,” she said, approaching Rory. As always when she was around him, her heart began to pound hard in her chest, and she noted the way he watched her so intently. Was their attraction obvious to Victor, who had stopped reading?

“You need not stop reading on my account, Lord Graston,” Shannon said. “I will not be long.”

“He was just leaving,” Rory said, flashing his brother a smile.

Victor snapped the book closed. “I know when I am not wanted,” he said, doing his best to sound sad but failing. “The physician will be pleased by your efforts, Shannon. You have once again restored my brother to good health.”

“She has the perfect touch,” Rory said, a silky tone to his voice that made her glance twice at him.

Victor said nothing as he walked toward the door. “I shall see you in the morning. Sleep well, brother.”

“And you.”

When the door shut behind Victor, Shannon frowned at him. “You made it obvious you didn’t want him here.”

Rory shrugged. “Certainly you cannot blame me. He is worse than Mother ever thought of being. Plus, I want to be alone with my pretty caregiver.”

His muscled abdomen clenched beneath her fingers as he moved, and she marveled at the power in his long, lean frame. He made her feel so impossibly female, and when his gaze settled on her, her pulse skittered.

“Let me see you,” he said, his voice husky and sensual.

Heat rushed up her neck, staining her cheeks pink. With trembling hands, she unbuttoned her gown, slipped out of it and followed with the chemise.

Rory stared at her breasts and she could hear her heart roaring in her ears as she slid her drawers past her hips and stepped out of them.

“Lovely,” he said, his eyes bright with a desire she recognized.

He slid off the bed, and lifted her in his arms. Her back was against the wall a second later. He lifted one of her legs over his hip and slid inside her with a low groan.

Would it always be like this between them, she wondered as he slowed his thrusts and kissed her passionately.

Her body tightened with each stroke, her tiny pearl brushing against him, sending a shiver down her spine.

He cupped her breasts, his breath hot on a nipple before he laved it with his tongue, drawing it deep into his mouth.

She was close to climax.

Rory grit his teeth and, lifted her up off the ground, using the wall as leverage.

As her hands tightened on his shoulders, he arched his hips and ground against her. She cried out in pleasure, and together they shot to the stars.

E
ach night for the rest of the week, Shannon slipped into Rory’s room and they made love; then she would sneak back into her chamber before dawn. Although she was tired from lack of sleep, she was excited about her lover and could think of little else.

Except that she had not told Zachary about seeing Clinton or the gray-mustached gentleman in London.

Truth be told, she didn’t want to leave. She was terrified of walking out those doors and never again seeing Rory.

Edward cleared his throat, folding his hands together. “A guest has joined Lord and Lady Graston for dinner, so please be especially vigilant and see to her every need.”

A sense of forboding washed over Shannon as she entered the dining room. A beautiful redhead with exotic light brown eyes sat directly across from Rory.

This must be Lady Kinkade, the widow Lady Rochester had spoke of.

The woman intended for Rory.

The lady looked up when Shannon approached, and her brows
furrowed, no doubt because Shannon had made eye contact. Having lived in a household that employed servants, she was well aware of the rule to remain invisible. And never, unless directly spoken to, look your betters in the eye.

Shannon managed to pour the lady tea without getting any on the lace tablecloth. When she finished, she poured for Victor, who sat to the lady’s right, aware that Rory stared at her all the while.

Did he not realize how obvious he was being?

The widow looked at Shannon, her lips curving slightly before turning her full attention back to Rory.

Victor cleared his throat. “Lady Kinkade, I understand you have twin sons.”

“Yes, they are five now.”

“Did they come to London with you?”

Lady Kinkade smiled, obviously pleased by the interest in her children. “No, they stayed in Liverpool with my mother.”

“Children are such a blessing,” Lady Rochester said. “And nothing is better when those children grow up and find a loving spouse.” She poured three heaping spoonfuls of sugar into her tea. “Sinjin and Victor have outdone themselves in their choice of brides, and I hope that Rory will follow suit.”

Rory choked on the brandy he had just swallowed.

Lady Kinkade grinned. “You are most fortunate, Lady Rochester.”

Lady Rochester nodded. “Indeed.”

“I do hope you will be attending our little soiree at the end of the week,” Lillith said to Lady Kinkade.

“Of course. Lady Rochester has invited me to stay on for the festivities.”

Lillith’s brows lifted in surprise. “How lovely.”

Rory’s jaw clenched tight and he glanced at his mother, who refused to make eye contact.

Shannon was only too happy to leave the dining room, even if it was to enter the kitchen where the other servants were talking about how beautiful Lady Kinkade was.

Worse still, everyone knew the woman was meant for Rory.

“Her husband was obscenely rich. Owned publishing houses throughout Europe,” a maid said, lifting her brows high.

“Rich and beautiful–he should marry her before someone else does,” a footman replied.

“Any man would pale in comparison to Lord Ambrose.” This came from Candice, who had blurted the words and now blushed to the roots of her hair.

Two maids shared a smile that made Shannon wonder if perhaps they too hadn’t slept with Rory. She was so foolish … hoping for something that could never be.

“Quit chatting and get the soup out,” Edward said, irritation lacing his words. A no-nonsense personality, he had little tolerance for gossip.

Shannon picked up the silver tray and steadied herself for walking into the room again. Her hands trembled, the fine china clattering on the platter.

“Are you all right, Shannon?” Candice asked with a sympathetic smile.

“Yes, of course.”

“I can trade with you, if you’d like.” Candice motioned toward the heavier tray.

“No, I’m fine, thank you.” Candice’s duty was to refill each of the wineglasses, where Shannon only had to stand next to the server, who would be the one to serve the soup. The less interaction she had with Rory or Lady Kinkade, the better off she’d be.

“Thank you for your kind invitation to visit Claymoore Hall, Lady Rochester,” Lady Kinkade was saying when she re-entered the room.

“Our family is happy to have you.”

Shannon gripped the platter tight. Claymoore Hall? She was already being invited to the family’s country home? At this rate, she would not be surprised if the banns were posted in the newspaper in the coming weeks.

Lady Kinkade had every quality a man of Rory’s station could ask for. She was beautiful, wealthy, and had a sterling reputation, but unfortunately, he didn’t want her. A shame since his mother was already smiling like the deed was done. Could she just not savor the fact she had already married off two sons and leave him in peace?

Beneath the table, his mother lightly stepped on his shoe. Apparently he was not conversing as much as she would like him to.

He reached for his glass and took another long drink.

“What do you like to do in your free time, Lady Kinkade?” Lillith asked, saving him from coming up with any questions.

Now, had she been Shannon, he would have asked her a hundred questions and still be interested in every answer.

“I do so enjoy archery and riding.”

Rory glanced up from his soup. Lady Kinkade was looking right at him. “Lovely,” he replied, and winced when his mother kicked him in the shin.

He forced himself not to look at Shannon, but it was difficult. That damn footman Johnny had been staring at her from the moment he walked into the room. The younger man made no effort at hiding his interest, and even now his gaze strayed to Shannon’s chest.