Conquering a Viscount (4 page)

             
He slammed his fist into the tree next to the horses.  The rain was steady but not as violent as it had been earlier.  He tried to formulate a plan in his head for their next step. 
Clinton
would worry if they did not return soon.  He would have to explain to him why they have the dead body of the criminal in tow and not Olivia. Damn it all to hell, why did this have to happen?  He could not bear to think of the hurt that he saw in Juliet’s eyes when he shook off her touch.  He knew what happened meant everything to her.

             
He should be enjoying the ton.  Taking carriage rides in Hyde Park with all the available debutantes.  Not standing in the middle of a forest, next to a run down house, getting drenched after making love to someone he should consider a sister.  He felt his body tighten at the thought of their lovemaking.  Juliet’s body was perfection.  He could not place being as aroused by any other woman.  When she touched him, he was lost.  Although she was untried, her unbridled passion nearly put him over the edge.

             
With a deep sigh, he made his way back into the house.  He must face her.  It was not like he had a choice in the matter.  They must return home and tell the others the disappointing news of not having found Olivia.  He squared his shoulders and prepared himself to be in complete control of his emotions.  They must never make love again.  Juliet deserved to be loved and cherished by a husband.  He was in no way ready for such a commitment.

             
He slowly pushed open the door and peered in, unsure of what to expect.  He doubted Juliet would be one to take to tears.  She always proved herself to be made of much sterner stuff than most other silly girls.  He was surprised to see she was still in the bed.  Her back was to him and she made no move to indicate she heard his return.

             
Unsure of whether he should say anything, he pushed the chest of drawer back in front of the door and sat down in the kitchen.  The minutes slowly ticked by until finally, she rolled around to face him. 

             
She stood from the bed and allowed the covers to drop to the floor.  She was completely unclothed.  He turned his face from her and tried to remain calm.  He did not know how he would resist any attempted seduction by her, for she was so lovely.  He kept his head turned even as she came to a stop in front of him.  She forced him to look at her by turning his head.  He sucked in a deep breath at the sight of her luscious breasts.  Her skin was creamy and flawless.  He allowed his eyes to drop to her perfectly smooth s
tom
ach embraced by the slight swell of her hips.  He looked up quickly when he came to rest on the triangle of hair at her center.

             
God! Did she not know she played with fire?  He was so overrun by emotions that he could almost feel her soft compliant body beneath him again.  He felt his arousal straining against his pants.  She straddled his hips and wrapped her arms around his neck.  She cut off his protest by kissing him.  Her skin was like satin.  He ran his hands up and down her back in a slow motion taking in every inch of her softness.  Her breasts molded to his chest and she fit perfectly in his arms as if she were made for him.

             
He cupped her buttocks and pressed her harder into his erection and she gasped with pleasure.  Before he was aware of it, his shirt was gone and they were skin to skin.  He was lost yet again.  He knew not what power she beheld, but he was bewitched.  He lifted her, carried her to the bed, and laid her upon it.  He soaked up the beautiful sight before him.  Her perfectly round breasts and rosy nipples hardened to a peak begging for his caresses.  He took one in his mouth and rolled his tongue over the strained tip. Juliet arched her back pressing herself deeper into him.

He made his way down kissing a path to
her thighs
.  He looked up to see her eyes closed and her fists clenched at her side.  “Open your eyes.” He commanded.  She opened them and he was elated at the desire he saw in the depths of her eyes.  “Watch me.” He told her as he spread her legs and put his mouth to her center.

             
She tasted wonderful.  He licked and kissed deep inside of her until she was bucking beneath his mouth.  He flicked her nub with his thumb all the while working his magic.  Just as she was about to come, he drew away and removed his pants.  She was panting with need.

“Please,
Jonathan
do not leave me.” She whispered.  His answer was to thrust himself deep inside of her.

             
A tiny voice in the back of his mind considered the fact he could get her with child, but with every stroke, he pushed it further into the recesses of his mind. He felt her muscles clenching around him, a sign she was about to climax, he lifted her hips, and thrust into her so deep he was almost undone.  Everything seemed to fall away.  Nothing mattered to him at this moment but the woman beneath him.  He rocked harder and harder into her body until at last she cried out in ecstasy. 

             
“Oh,
Jonathan
.” She moaned.  Her body felt completely relaxed.  He would not let her stay that way long.  He slipped his hand between their bodies and massaged her tight bud as he slowed his strokes to a sensual pace.  He felt the exact moment that she began to come again.  This time he did not hold back.  He pounded into her with a fierceness that startled even him.  At last, he reached his peak and once again filled her.

             
He rolled away from her trying to catch his breath.  This was madness.  He would have to leave London and return home as soon as they found Olivia.  He could not trust himself around Juliet.  He knew he would never be able to look at her again without picturing her sprawled beneath him, bringing him the greatest pleasure he had ever known.

~~~*****~~~

Juliet cast a sidelong glance at
Jonathan
trying to discern his thoughts.  Surely, passion such as this could lead to love.  He dominated her whole body with a possessiveness she knew he must feel.  How would he expect her to be with any other man after experiencing his lovemaking? 

             
She knew how stubborn he could be.  That was why he had stormed out earlier; she dried her tears and decided seducing
Jonathan
would be the only way to get him to commit to her.  He might be able to resist her for a while with his heart, but not with his body.

             
She took in the wonderful sight of his body.  His shoulders were broad, and his chest was rigid with muscles.  He was very fit and quite attractive.  Her eyes wondered lower to his nether regions and she focused on the source of her pleasure. Gads, it was no wonder widowed women took lovers. 

             
She had always heard horror stories about the marriage bed.  Enduring her wifely duties would be no trial with
Jonathan
.  She now understood why her brother was so happy recently.  Surely,
Clinton
and Emily shared such a passion.

             
She knew the instant that regret set on him.  He closed his eyes and groaned in frustration. “Juliet, do you not realize what we have done?” he asked quietly.  She rolled to her side and slowly trailed her fingers up his chest to his cheek. 

“I understand perfectly what we have done, and I have enjoyed every moment.”

He groaned louder.  “Did it not occur to you, we could make a child?”  Her heart raced at the thought of having his child. 

She could only hope they had done so.  “And if we have?” she asked.  She must know his thoughts on this.

             
He rose from the bed and started to pace back in forth.  She leaned back and absorbed the glorious sight of his naked body, oblivious to his agitation.  “I will have to marry you of course!”

             
“Have to marry me?” Juliet eyed him uncertainly. “You sir, will not
have
to marry me!”  He sounded so begrudged to the fact that Juliet found herself becoming angry.  She was not such a horrible person that marriage to her should be a punishment.

             
“The bloody hell I won’t!”
Jonathan
said icily. “No child of mine will be born a bastard.”  She glared at him.  How dare he think to order her about?  Her thoughts stuttered to a halt.  Olivia should be her first concern at this moment, not
Jonathan
.  What a terrible sister she was being, seducing a man when she should be looking for her missing sibling! Silently calling herself every kind of fool, she began gathering her clothes to dress herself.  They must return home at once. 

             
Jonathan
frowned as he watched her get dressed.  What was going through her pretty little head at the moment? The notion she would think he would sire a child out of wedlock and not give a damn rubbed him wrong.  “We must go; Olivia is still at the mercy of kidnappers.” She told him once they were both fully dressed.

             
Putting any thoughts of their previous activities behind him for the moment, he retrieved the body of the man he had killed. Once he had the dead man securely strapped to his horse, he helped her in mounting her mare.  He quickly mounted Steele.  They made their way back to the estate in complete silence.  Juliet looked as if her thoughts were a million miles away.  He was unsure if they were of him, or of her sister.  One thing was for sure however, once Olivia was safe and sound, he and Juliet must face the consequences of their actions.

By the time they finally approached her home; Juliet was bone weary. She dreaded telling her family Olivia was not with her.  She struggled to think of something to say to explain their long absence, but the truth was that she had no clue. 

             
The butler opened the door before she even made it to the top step and his brow deepened in concern as he realized little Olivia was not with them.  “My lady, your grace anxiously awaits you in his study.”  He started to remove her jacket and
Jonathan
reached out to stop him. 

“Thank you Beasley, but we must not waste another moment, we will see to our dress once we have talked to the Duke.”  Juliet arched an eyebrow at him in question and then realized he had saved her modesty by keeping her covered.  Her clothes were in shambles beneath her coat.  At least one of them was thinking clearly.  She followed him quickly down the hall, both mindless to the trail of water and mud left behind them.

             
Clinton
rose to meet them as they entered; a strained expression on his face.  He knew before they told him, they had failed to rescue Olivia.  Juliet swallowed hard, preparing to tell her brother of their rescue attempt.  Before she could begin talking,
Jonathan
spoke up and told
Clinton
what happened.  He showed great remorse for killing the only connection available to the kidnappers before questioning him, but no remorse for the actual killing itself.

“Bastard deserved it and a thousand times more.” He stated through clinched teeth. 
Clinton
agreed heartily and looked upon his sister with concern.  She tried not to slouch under his gaze.  It was not as if he could tell by looking at her what had transpired.  Or could he?

             
After a momentary silence,
Clinton
asked her if Joe had said or done anything to give indication to who the kidnappers might be.  Juliet thought hard.  Although she had tried to forget the man’s abusive touch upon her body, she forced herself to remember his words.  “He did mention a name.” She snapped her fingers and sat up in her chair.  “Alan or maybe it was Albert?” She was unsure. 

Clinton
jerked in surprise. “Albert? Are you sure Juliet?”  He asked her in a rush.

“Yes, I am almost positive it was Albert.” She answered. 
Clinton
jumped up and raced to the door.  He barked orders for fresh horses to be prepared while Juliet and
Jonathan
followed him dumbfounded.

             
When he finally paused to take a breath, he told Juliet and
Jonathan
, “I know who has Olivia, we must return to London at once.”

Juliet had to jog to keep her brother’s hurried pace.  “
Clinton
!” She yelled out to him in question. 

“Albert is Emily’s uncle.  He has every reason to hate me and use my family to extract revenge.” 
Clinton
told her hurriedly.   Juliet was confused.  Why would Emily’s family dislike
Clinton
and why would her uncle use a ten-year-old innocent child to punish him?  She raced up to her room for a change of clothes.  There was no way he was leaving her behind.  She would see Olivia home safely.

             
She made it back downstairs, raced towards the horses out front, and ran into
Jonathan
.  “What do you think you are doing?” he asked her harshly.