Her Reluctant Viscount (Rakes and Rogues) (39 page)

“Watch me, Jo,” he ordered.

She did and he pressed their lips together as he gently nudged the broad head of his rod into her. Her legs widened and he flexed his hips, sinking home completely. The feel of where he was almost did him in.

“Tryst.”

“Getting tired on me, hellcat?”

She glared and suddenly he was swearing under his breath. Jo flexed her muscles around his length, tightening and rippling. He almost came right there. The catlike grin on her face told him she knew exactly what she was doing.

Reaching down with one hand, he drew her leg up, higher on his hip. Holding it there, he continued powering into her, his other hand by her head. Jo undulated beneath him, taking all he gave, and asking for more. Her touch roamed all over him, touching scars, including the one on his face, down to where he moved within her.

Having her fingers grip him once he began to withdraw from her heat had his need push harder for release. In and out he moved. Harder and deeper.

She babbled and he almost joined her. Jo arched her back and came hard. Her release triggered his and he came with a low growl as he thrust completely in her before covering her womb with his seed.

He lowered her leg and rolled them to the side so he would not crush her. Still they remained connected and legs intertwined, breathing hard. He stared down at her in the fading candlelight. She appeared…sated. He brushed a kiss over her temple and she barely moved.

Tryst thought she was exhausted. Right until she stirred and reached out her hand to touch the scar on his face.

“More.”

A simple word. However, in this instance he did not think anything could have been more impactful. A rumble escaped from his throat and he carefully repositioned them to where she was on top of him. He brushed some of her hair from her face, traced her lower lip with his finger, and gave her a smile.

“You want it, take it.”

He thought it was a great idea, right up until the time she lowered her head and took his nipple in her mouth.

Shite!

Chapter Fifteen

There are days I find myself actually liking England. Perhaps after being here for a few years has changed my outlook. Regardless, it does not stop my dreams of traveling the world and having adventures. Why would I want to be a wife for a man who wants mistresses, treats me poorly, or is old enough to be my grandfather? No, thank you. I know it is how things are, but it was not how I grew up. If I were to marry, I would want it to be for love. Like my parents have. Love, trust, and respect. To me, there is no other reason to do so.

~From the private journal of Josephine Adrys

Jo stared at the invitation in her hand. Really? A party? Did she want to go? No. With a sigh, she gazed to Clara, who sat there waiting with anticipation.

“If you want to go I will attend this with you.”

Her friend’s face beamed making it all the easier to have agreed. This was the one thing a year Clara actually looked forward to. The party was held at a museum and she loved how it looked all decked out.

“You are the best friend I could ever have.”

“Tell me something, Clara. When are you and the good captain getting married?”

“He went to get a special license since my family is against it. There really is no reason to post banns.”

She knew it hurt her to say such things. Clara had always wished for a large wedding in the church. Squeezing her friend’s hand, she gave her a grin. “I want to be there. And we will have a gathering of sorts after somewhere in celebration.”

“Thank you.”

“You two deserve happiness.”

The door to the library opened and Trystan stepped in. Lord, he was handsome this morning. He wore all black and looked entirely all too dashing for her sense of wellbeing.

He had been gone from her bed this morning when she woke. The pillow still held a faint scent from him and she had curled up to it, wishing he were still there. They had made love all night, each time she grew bolder and bolder. She wanted to explore and learn his body. What he liked and did not. So she had.

Trystan pinned her with his sharp gaze. “Ladies.”

“Lord Wilkes,” Clara said getting up for a brief curtsey.

“Trystan.” Jo was proud of how calm she kept her voice. Not to mention her seat for she wanted to run to him and wrap her arms around him. She knew that was not an option, so she opted to stay right where she was.

He watched her as if waiting for something else from her. Dismissing him, she turned her attention back to Clara. If he wanted anything else, he could speak up.

“Any plans for the day to go out?” he asked.

“Not other than our usual walk in Hyde Park. And we received an invitation to attend the soirée at the museum so we will be attending that in four days.”

She tipped her head and watched him. He did not look pleased by it but all he did was nod then leave. Her heart never seemed safe around that man.

“You slept with him again.” Clara’s voice startled her from her thoughts.

“What are you talking about?”

Her friend leaned closer and poked her in the arm with her finger. “Do not lie to me. Are you sure this is the right thing to do? You said he would not marry you. Or did that change as well?”

There existed such hope in Clara’s tone, Jo hated to dash it. “No. None of it has changed. I know where I stand with Trystan but I am a woman who is allowed to make some of her own decisions. I am choosing to be with him. Men do it all the time, why am I not allowed to take a lover?”

“Because it is widows who usually do that. Or the women who are perfidious. Not young unmarried women.”

She blew out an exasperated breath. “Why not, Clara? I am firmly on the shelf. People are calling me long in the tooth.” A shrug. “When they are not calling me difficult, savage, and other words. No matter what I do I will not fit in here. And I do not care. I want to travel and see the world. So why not experience something else with someone we both know how I feel about.”

“You will fall deeper in love.”

Doubtful. She was pretty much at the bottom of that lake now. “Something I have to deal with on my own. Think about it. Men have mistresses, some for years. Why? Because that woman gives them something no one else is, will, or whatever their reason. Tryst is an amazing lover.”

“You are serious about this.” Clara frowned at her.

“Yes. As I said, men do it all the time. I have a right to know what coition should be like.”

“So this is not something you will continue.”

“Not once I leave England, no. I have no wish to sleep with every man.” She shuddered. “That is sickening.”

“What about children?”

She had not thought about that aspect. “I can ask him to wear one of those sheath things, what are they? French letters?”

Clara’s face burned bright red but she did not back down. “What about last night?”

“If that happens I will deal with it then. Do not think less of me, Clara, please. I just want my own freedom.”

“I want you happy.”

“I will be. And maybe he will tire of me and go back to his more experienced women. Either way, I will have learned what I like and what I want. It is nothing like people tell. All those stories of lying like a board beneath the man as he rutted on top of you where there was no pleasure.”

“So it was not all about him?”

“No. I want more, Clara. Even thinking about him makes me want more. I do not know how to describe it otherwise.”

“I hope Royce will be like that.”

“I am sure he will. Think about the ones who said it was a certain way, think about their husbands. Not nice men. Royce is a wonderful man.”

Clara smiled and took a deep breath. “Promise me something, Jo. That wherever you go, you will be careful. I have no wish to lose my friend.”

“I will. I hope I will find a man who would travel with me and love me as my parents love one another but I do not hold out much for it to happen. I feel special in his arms, Clara. When it is over it is over, I know that, no matter how much the knowledge hurts. I accept it. Nevertheless, I want this for me. To have something for a memory when there is no one but myself.”

“Maybe he will come around.”

Jo shook her head. “Perhaps but it would not be for me.”

“Hold onto your hope.”

Shaking off thoughts of a future with Tryst, she got to her feet. “Come. We have things to do before our walk.”

Before long, she and Clara were walking through Hyde Park. Two maids trailed them and she knew Trystan was around somewhere although he was not beside them. The leaves had begun their changes and to her the place was becoming more beautiful. Autumn was her favorite season.

She and Clara chatted as they nodded to others and avoided horses. At one point, they stopped to speak to someone when Jo had this odd sensation someone was watching her. Glancing around she spied a group of people talking. There was a woman in there that had her blinking to make sure she was not imagining it.

She had not been. The Alchemist stood not too far from her watching with cold eyes. Without taking her gaze from her, she nudged Clara.

“Do you see that woman over there, Clara?”

“What woman?”

She looked at her friend. “The one in the red dress. Over by the group there.”

Clara shook her head. “There is no woman in a red dress there, Jo.”

She jerked back to check. Nothing, just the four other women. “She was right there.”

“Are you okay, Jo?”

Her breathing spiraled out of control and she shook her head. Clara took her arm and guided her off the path.

“We should take a break for a bit. Do you want to sit down?”

Yes she did, but out here was not safe. “We need to get home.” She waved her maids up, not wanting them to get hurt either.

“Help Miss Adrys, she is not feeling the best.” Clara hastened along the side of them.

Jo constantly gazed around her, searching almost desperately for the one in red. Then she worried someone was following them and her breathing suffered again.

“Here we are, miss.”

They got her inside and Clara sent for a drink. Jo went to her father’s study which Trystan had taken over and waited, knowing he would not be too far behind. Sure enough, he came in after the drinks had been delivered.

Clara rose at his entrance. Jo sipped some tea and tried to calm her nerves.

“What happened?”

His words were full of concern. She set her cup down and got to her feet.

“The Alchemist is here.”

Her words were like a punch to his gut, she could see that. His gaze flicked to Clara and she sighed.

“She has every right to know so do not even think of making her leave.”

“This is a Crown matter, Jo.”

“Not right now, this is about our safety.” She scowled at him.

“How do you know you saw him?”

“Because, damn you, he is a she. I saw her face when I was in that cell. And I saw that woman today. She was watching me. And Clara.”

“The woman in red?” Clara questioned.

“Yes.”

“Did you see this person as well?” Tryst spoke to Clara.

She shook her head. “No, I did not. If Jo said she saw her then she was there.”

“I am not saying I do not believe she saw a woman in red or something to make her feel the need to come back to the house—”

“You just think I am still delusional about who The Alchemist truly is.”