To Tame A Countess (Properly Spanked Book 2) (32 page)

She smiled and tugged at his hand. “After you scolded me at Lansing’s, you said you would go back inside and make up some story to excuse my behavior. What was it? In case someone brings up the topic?”

“Why, I didn’t have the chance to make up anything at all. The wives had already decided you were in an ‘interesting condition,’ since this apparently causes ladies to behave in all sorts of erratic ways. And the tale must have made perfect sense to their husbands, because they all asked when the joyful event was to occur.”

“Joyful event?” Josephine was lost. “What is an ‘interesting condition’?”

“A pregnancy, my dear. A child. I’m afraid I let them go on believing the story because I couldn’t think of a better one in the moment.”

Josephine looked away from him, deep in thought. “A child?” She tried to remember the last time she’d had her monthly. It was past due now, surely. “Perhaps it’s not such a made-up story after all.”

He went very still. “What do you mean?”

“I mean… I wonder if perhaps…”

His eyes went very wide. “Never tell me you’re breeding, Josephine. Not after the things I did to you last night, and this morning. My God!”

She put her hands on his chest to calm him. “I don’t know for sure. And if I am, I’m certain everything is all right. Although we might reconsider the idea of spankings every few days.”

Warren remained white-faced. “I suppose I’ll have to consult a physician on the matter. ‘Tell me, is it all right to spank my wife when she’s breeding? How often would you recommend?’” He sputtered out a laugh, and then his mouth relaxed into a grin. “A baby, Josie. Imagine. A little girl or a little boy. We’ll have to air out the nursery wing, and finish the renovations at Maitland Glen. We’ll need clothes and toys and bright places for the baby to play.”

“We have some time.” She smothered a smile at his excited planning. “I believe babies take many months to appear. And you mustn’t tell anyone yet, until we confirm it.”

“But everyone already believes it’s true. The gossips will expect a baby in the spring. Not that we care about gossips anymore,” he said quickly when she frowned at him. He lowered his voice to a lighter, more sensual tone. “If you’re not with child, I suppose we had better start trying for one right away.”

“I think you more than did your duty in that regard last night. And this morning,” she added, raising her eyebrows. “But we can keep trying if you like.”

They both turned to look outside. Minette, August, and Arlington had already gone into the house. “We have only a quarter hour now,” he said, turning back to her. His eyes glinted. “It will be a rush.”

“We’ll manage.” Josephine squeaked as he swept her up into his arms and carried her to the bed. He laid her back and crawled atop her, spreading her thighs. Had this frightened her once? Now she couldn’t wait for him to ease inside her, inch by delicious inch. She clung to him as he filled her.

“Oh, it feels so good.”

“You feel so good,” he said, kissing her and nibbling at her lips. “Yes, arch for me. Show me how much you want me.” She writhed against him and smothered her helpless cries of pleasure in his shoulder when the servants came tapping at the door.

“We’ll be down presently,” he called out in a rough voice. “Give us ten… Well, perhaps twenty minutes.” He sucked in a breath as she squeezed on his thick length. “We’ve some very important and sensitive matters to attend.”

“Yes, my lord,” came the servant’s reply.

Josephine licked the scratchy underside of her husband’s jaw. “How dutiful you are,” she teased. “And how I love you for it.”

He answered this praise with an especially forceful thrust. In the end, nearly an hour passed before they made it down to greet Warren’s sister and his gentlemen friends, but none of them seemed put out, except perhaps Lord August, who by now had endured nearly two whole days of Minette’s adoring company.

“Josephine,” Minette cried, flying across the room to embrace her. “I heard the news. It’s all over town! I heard it from Lady Bexford who heard it from Lady Geoffrey who had it from Lady Mary Elaine that you’re in the family way. I’m to be an auntie soon, am I? Is it really true?”

Josephine smiled shyly at her husband and then back at Minette. Lord August and the Duke of Arlington stood a bit away, looking embarrassed. Josephine placed a hand over her middle, where Warren had only recently kissed her and whispered achingly tender things. “I certainly hope you’ll be an auntie soon,” she said. “You’ll do very well at the job.”

Minette practically levitated with excitement, clapping her hands. And in her heart, Josephine didn’t think she was raising false hopes. Somehow she knew Warren’s child was growing within her, just as she knew Warren’s love lived within her now and always.
Half tame, but fully loved
, he had whispered as he caressed her.
Oh, Josie, I love you so.

The five of them proceeded to the garden to talk and take tea in the light of the breezy day. How far Josephine had come from that evening in Lord Baxter’s ballroom, when she’d hidden among the house plants, hoping not to be found. How far Warren had come too, from his dissolute days. He had found her and changed her whole life, and she had changed his too. They were going to have a child together, perhaps many children, all of them cherished, happy, and safe.

The gentlemen laughed, the cakes were delicious, and Minette glowed under Lord August’s occasional regard. Warren sat by her side, touching her hand now and again and sharing secret smiles. This was so much better than a lonely cottage somewhere.

It was so much better to belong, and to be close to him.

It was so much better to be loved.

The End

I hope you enjoyed this second story in the Properly Spanked series. If you missed Townsend and Aurelia’s story, be sure to read
Training Lady Townsend
to hear their emotional tale. There are two more books still to come in the series:
My Naughty Minette
, and
Under a Duke’s Hand
. You won’t want to miss any of this spankalicious saga, so be sure to subscribe to my newsletter at annabeljoseph.com for news about upcoming releases, or follow me on Twitter (@annabeljoseph) or Facebook (www.facebook.com/annabeljosephnovels) to hear updates on my works in progress.

Many thanks to my beta readers, Linzy Antoinette, Tasha L. Harrison, J. Luna Scuro, GC, and Doris. Thanks also to my editors Lina and Audrey for their generosity and guidance in making my books the best they can be. And as always, thanks to you, my readers and supporters, for your reviews, your emails, your art, and your recommendations to others. Thanks for being part of the Annabel Joseph world.

My Naughty Minette
, the third story in the Properly Spanked series

The Earl of Augustine has always thought of Lady Minette as a sister, but when a nocturnal adventure goes horribly awry, he’s forced to make her his bride.

Now his friend Warren is furious with him, the jilted Lady Priscilla is spreading ugly gossip, his father’s illness is worsening, and Minette is…well…being Minette. Flighty, exuberant, and utterly irascible, she wants a true marriage, when all August can see is the impish girl he rescued from scrapes as a child.

But Minette has idolized Lord August for years, as long as she can remember, and she’s determined to make their union a passionate and fulfilling one. She launches caper after caper in an effort to capture his attention and awaken his masculine hungers. Unfortunately, all she seems to accomplish are repeated disciplinary sessions over his lap.

Can she make August realize she’s the love of his life in time to save their crumbling marriage—and her smarting backside? Or will he hold her at arm’s length forever, refusing to acknowledge the powerful emotions she stirs in his heart?

The Properly Spanked Series

#1 Training Lady Townsend

#2 To Tame A Countess

#3 My Naughty Minette

#4 Under A Duke’s Hand

If you liked
To Tame a Countess
, you’ll definitely enjoy

Lily Mine
by Annabel Joseph

When Lily wends her way down the country lane to Lilyvale Manor, she hopes the coincidence of names bodes well, for she is in dire straits. She’s been disowned by her London family and finds herself desperately in need of a job.

Lord Ashbourne is equally at ends, his fiancée having jilted him for a commoner and run off to the Continent. Her powerful society family is determined to delay the breaking scandal in order to save the younger sister’s prospects. When a servant leads Lily to his parlor, James is astonished to discover how closely she resembles the missing lady of the manor.

He hatches a plan, convincing Lily to play his absent “wife” to keep the gossips at bay. He reassures her it will be in name only, but soon enough, playacting turns to real attraction, and friendship to aching, mounting desire. The strictures of society and unforeseen tragedy combine to test the pair's forbidden love, even as they are driven ever closer into one another’s arms…

This novel contains spanking, light bondage, and light BDSM elements.

Also Available: The BDSM Ballet series by Annabel Joseph

Waking Kiss
… A stranger in the wings, a traitorous pair of toe shoes, and a traumatic turn dancing with The Great Rubio… For ballerina Ashleigh Keaton, it’s been one hell of a night.

But it’s not over yet. When Rubio drags her to a private party at his friend’s house in the ritzy part of London, she meets Liam Wilder, a lifestyle dominant and frighteningly seductive man. Liam pursues Ashleigh, attracted by her strength and talent, but she has secrets—an abusive past and a crippling fear of intimacy that prevents her from connecting to anyone, especially a playboy reputed to be legendary in bed.

Eventually he wins her trust and sets out to heal the troubled dancer, awakening her to a world of sensual abandon in a series of BDSM “sessions” at his home. But how pure are his motives? Is he helping her or endangering her fragile soul?

Fever Dream
… Petra Hewitt’s the top ballerina in the world, and The Great Rubio her obvious counterpart, so why does she want to strangle him whenever he’s around? He’s haughty, abrupt, demanding—and alarmingly sexy. Petra knows Rubio is dangerous to her heart, to her peace of mind, and worst of all, to her career, but his rough flirtation compels her. When she gets a chance to play with him at a BDSM party, their professional partnership takes a feverish left turn.

But as they enjoy their sensual games of dominance and submission, career pressures mount, and an overzealous fan brings dangerous tension to their relationship. Soon, the dream gives way to the stark reality of her vulnerability. Maybe, just maybe, some risks are too terrifying to take.

BDSM Ballet series is:

#1
Waking Kiss
(Liam and Ashleigh’s story)

#2
Fever Dream
(Rubio and Petra’s story)

The Comfort series by Annabel Joseph

Have you ever wondered what goes on in the bedrooms of Hollywood’s biggest heartthrobs? In the case of Jeremy Gray, the reality is far more depraved than anyone realizes. Brutal desires, shocking secrets, and a D/s relationship (with a hired submissive “girlfriend”) that’s based on a contract rather than love. It’s just the beginning of a four-book saga following Jeremy and his Hollywood friends as they seek comfort in fake, manufactured relationships. Born of necessity—and public relations—these attachments come to feel more and more real. What does it take to live day-to-day with an A-list celebrity? Patience, fortitude, and a whole lot of heart. Oh, and a
very
good pain tolerance for kinky mayhem.

The Comfort series is:

#1
Comfort Object
(Jeremy’s story)

#2
Caressa’s Knees
(Kyle’s story)

#3
Odalisque
(Kai’s story)

#4
Command Performance
(Mason’s story)

Annabel Joseph is a multi-published BDSM romance author. She writes mainly contemporary romance, although she has been known to dabble in the medieval and Regency eras. She is known for writing emotionally intense BDSM storylines, and strives to create characters that seem real—even flawed—so readers are better able to relate to them. Annabel also writes vanilla (non-BDSM) erotic romance under the pen name Molly Joseph.

Annabel loves to hear from her readers at [email protected].

Other erotic romance by Annabel Joseph

Mercy

Cait and the Devil

Firebird

Deep in the Woods

Fortune

Owning Wednesday

Lily Mine

Comfort Object

Caressa’s Knees

Odalisque

Command Performance

Cirque de Minuit

Bound in Blue

Master’s Flame

Burn For You

The Edge of the Earth (as Molly Joseph)

Disciplining the Duchess

Waking Kiss

Fever Dream

Training Lady Townsend

Erotica by Annabel Joseph

Club Mephisto

Molly’s Lips: Club Mephisto Retold