Lady Revealed (24 page)

“Those very people in Society that may gossip behind their fans would also be the first to purchase a ticket for the performance. My mother said any production would be a fool not to cast you simply because it would fill the house.”

Disappointment settled about her. “I don’t want people to come to the ballet because I am a lady and view the entire production as an oddity.”

“No, you misunderstand.” Acker took her face in his hands. “That would be the original reason they attended.” He placed a chaste kiss on her lips. “But, once they see you dance they will fall in love with you the same way I did when I first saw you on stage.”

“If we marry, you will let me dance?” Tears swam in her eyes and Acker became a blur.

“I will be in the audience every night. That I can assure you.”

Joy burst inside. “Oh, Drake, I love you.” Juliette threw her arms about his neck and kissed him fully on the mouth.

After a moment he pulled away and smiled down at her. “As you finally called me Drake again, can I assume you will agree to marry me?”

“Oh, yes,” she cried and pulled him back to her.

*

Acker couldn’t believe that Juliette had finally agreed to be his wife. She would be his and he could watch her dance as often as she performed. Her enthusiastic kisses were also heating his blood. Was it really necessary to wait until they wed? It wasn’t as if he was going to walk away from her after she was his. He wasn’t a cad. And, the bed was right there.

He slipped his hands up her back and began loosening the fastenings on her gown as he maneuvered her backwards. When the back of Juliette’s legs touched the bed she was unbalanced and fell backwards, taking Acker with her. He landed on top of her perfect body, exactly where he wished to be, except too many clothes were between them. He shifted so that they lay on their sides, facing each other, and he continued to kiss her neck and shoulders as the gown loosened. Juliette’s breaths were coming in short pants. He loved that sound. Soon, very soon he would have her unclothed, bringing her pleasure before burying himself deep within her warmth, making Juliette his completely.

In their current position Acker could not draw the dress down as he wished and he broke the kiss, rolling Juliette onto her back. Slowly he pushed the sleeves of her gown down her arms, taking the chemise with it until her breasts were exposed to his view. She moved her hands to cover each perfect mound. Acker chuckled and moved them away before his head dipped and took one pert coral nipple into his mouth, suckling it while his hand caressed the other. It was just as he imagined. Perfect for his hand. Not so large it overflowed, but not small either. Perfect for a ballerina and for him.

Juliette moaned and arched her back. Acker shifted and gave more attention to the other breast while he brought a leg between her thighs, pressing against her womanly mound. She pushed against him which heightened his desire further. His cock throbbed painfully and if he was not inside Juliette soon he could very well embarrass himself.

Acker slid the dress from her body and let it drop to the floor. Juliette lay naked before him and he had never seen a more beautiful sight. Her waist tapered to a size he could practically span with his hands before her hips flared, though delicate. She had a dancer’s body, long, lean and smooth. He caressed his hand down the flat planes of her stomach and her muscles contracted beneath the tips of his fingers. Was Juliette ticklish or as sensitive as he? He slid his fingers through the light russet curls guarding her womanhood and parted the folds. He tightened his jaw and bit back a moan when he found her already damp for him.

The throbbing of his cock was beyond painful.

Juliette gasped as his thumb brushed across her nubbin. He had to bring her pleasure first, Acker kept repeating to himself. No matter how much he wished to plunge into her warmth, he would bring her pleasure to the likes she had never experienced.

He brushed across it again as before and received the same reaction. She was more sensitive than he dared hope.

Acker took her lips with his and caressed her to the point that it was impossible to kiss any longer because her head was thrashing from side to side, her moans grew louder and her lips lifted off the bed as she reached for her release. With one flick Acker sent her spinning and Juliette arched her back, crying out his name. A moment later she collapsed, her breathing heavy and looked into his eyes. Her pupils were dilated and the emerald eyes had darkened to a deep green.

“Goodness,” she said after a moment and Acker couldn’t help but grin. His heart soared at being able to give her such pleasure.

Juliette drew his face down to hers and kissed him with a passion he had not experienced from her before and she went about tearing at his neck cloth and opening his shirt. It was impossible to undress while laying here kissing her and Acker pulled away, quickly shedding his boots and clothing before turning to face her, naked as she.

She studied his body from his face, down his chest and further. Her eyes grew rounder when she saw his manhood standing hard and proud before him and Juliette lost a bit of the flush from her release. Oh, please don’t let her be scared or turn him away now.

Instead, she held out her arms and parted her thighs. Juliette may be a virgin, but she had an idea of what was to come next. Acker settled upon her, supported by his arms so as not to crush her, and brought his tip to her warm entrance.

“You do promise to marry me,” He asked.

Juliette frowned and nudged toward him.

“I am serious, Juliette. I will not do this unless you promise that you will not change your mind and you will still marry me.”

She smiled up at him. “Isn’t it the woman who usually makes such demands before losing her virginity?”

“You are not the average woman or lady,” Acker grunted. Sweat broke out on his brow. He needed to be in her and he was so close but he would not take her without that assurance.

Juliette pulled him toward her and kissed his lips. “Yes, Drake, I promise to marry you and I will not change my mind.”

It was all he needed to hear and he nudged forward. She was so tight. He slowly eased inside though it was painful, he was afraid to go too far too fast. Juliette apparently was having none of it and she arched toward him and Acker tore through the barrier and was finally where he had wanted to be for so long.

Juliette stilled and blew out a breath. Acker didn’t move a muscle and waited for her to relax and for the pain she just experienced to subside. He wasn’t used to a woman taking such control, especially the first time. If anything, Juliette would always be a welcoming lover.

As she relaxed Acker was able to bury himself fully and Juliette’s long legs wrapped around his waist. He drew back and filled her again, trying to control his climax, but it wasn’t easy with Juliette’s body clenching around him and when she ran her fingertips over his nipples, Acker lost all control and on only the third thrust his body shook with the most exquisite orgasm he had ever experienced in his life.

Unable to catch his breath Acker fell to the side, taking Juliette with him. He had wanted to bring her pleasure again but he had about as much stamina as a green lad with his first woman.

“I am sorry,” he said after a moment.

Juliette curled around him and laid her head on his chest. “For what. That was the most glorious experience of my life.”

He chuckled. She had no idea how much he had failed her.

“It will be better next time, I promise.”

She tiled her head and looked up at him. “I am not sure that is possible.”

Thank goodness his lack of control had not ruined this moment for her.

“Where did they go,” a female voice came from below.

Blast and damn. If he heard correctly that was Audrey’s voice. Why had they returned so soon?

“Acker had better not have my sister in a bedchamber.” The sound of booted feet coming up the stairs had Acker scrambling for their clothing.

“I am sure the chambers are as empty as all of the other rooms,” Audrey assured Jordan.

“Does that really matter?” Jordan asked.

“I suppose not,” Audrey giggled. “You’ve shown me many times a bed was not necessary to make love.”

“Exactly,” he grumbled. “Which is why I need to find my sister.”

*

Juliette jumped from the bed and grabbed her chemise and gown from the floor. Thank goodness her stockings and shoes were still on. Acker yanked on his trousers and was trying to shove his feet into his boots. At least the door was closed. Hopefully Jordan would knock and not simply barge in.

“They are not up here,” Audrey’s voice could be heard. “All the rooms are empty.”

“That one is closed,” Jordan said as their footsteps drew closer.

Juliette rushed to the mirror and tried to straighten her hair. There was not much she could do, but she could always blame the mess at the back on the blindfold she had been forced to wear. However her lips were swollen and rosy which could only be from the passionate kisses she and Drake had shared. Anyone looking at her would assume she had been thoroughly kissed. This was fine as long as they didn’t know what else had occurred.

She glanced in the mirror back at Drake. He was pulling on his jacket. “Straighten the bed,” Juliette hissed.

He looked down and the covering was indeed askew. He tugged on the edge of the counterpane to give a smooth surface to the bed and turned to face the door.

“I have no doubt Acker has one bedchamber fully furnished,” Jordan ground out. They were getting closer.

“Why would you assume such a thing?” Audrey demanded. At least someone was coming to his defense, not that he deserved it. “He is a gentleman.”

Jordan barked out laughter. “He is a man, first,” he pointed out. “If he didn’t have a chamber set aside for seduction then there is something wrong with him.”

“And what if he is seducing her?” Audrey asked.

Their voices had not come closer and Juliette assumed they were stopped in the hall, yet still too close to their room for her to be comfortable. They could enter at any time and Acker still hadn’t managed to tie his cravat. She would help but she didn’t know how.

“They aren’t married, for one,” Jordan answered.

“Neither was I,” Audrey pointed out.

Juliette and Acker looked at each other in surprise.

“That was different,” Jordan argued. “We were to be married.”

“As are they,”

Acker came forward and stood beside Juliette and attempted to tie his cravat. She watched those hands move around the intricacy of folds and her face heated remembering the other talent those fingers held. Goodness, would it be like that every time they made love? If so, she hoped they were repeating the vows as soon as possible.

“You don’t know that,” Jordan ground out. “I’ve learned that I have three stubborn sisters. Just because she may allow Acker to seduce her, for which I may have to kill him, doesn’t mean she will still agree to marriage.”

“Then you know very little.” Audrey laughed. “And, we are going back downstairs.”

“We haven’t even seen if they were in there yet.”

“I suspect they are and I am not going to be the one to interrupt them. What if he is proposing right now? You would ruin everything.”

Acker patted the cravat into place and turned toward Juliette. She smiled up at him before giving him a quick kiss. With a nod they walked to the door and opened it to find Audrey and Jordan standing a room away.

The two turned toward them. Audrey smiled brightly and Jordan frowned at Acker, eyeing him with suspicion.

“I don’t wish to be shot by your brother,” Acker hissed quietly in her ear.

“Oh, Jordan would never really hurt you,” she said loud enough for her brother and sister-in-law to hear.

“Like hell I wouldn’t,” Jordan said as he stomped past them and into the chamber.

“I am insulted you think so little of my honor,” Acker said with an air of annoyance.

Jordan wandered into the room and glanced around. Acker was certain there was nothing out of place but then Jordan’s eyes lit on the bed and he marched forward. “And I suppose theses hairpins were left in the middle of the bed by accident by a previous owner perhaps?” He picked them up and held them high enough for everyone to see.

“Really, Jordan, of all people…” Audrey said but stopped when Jordan glared at his wife. She simple rolled her eyes and plopped into a chair by the window.

“Did you ask Juliette to marry you before you attempted to seduce her?”

“Jordan,” Juliette chastised.

He ignored her and focused on Acker. “Did you?”

“Of course,” he defended himself.

“And her answer?”

Juliette came to Acker’s side and slipped her arm through his. “I agreed so you can stop being so mule headed.”

“I am not mule headed,” Jordan argued.

“Yes, you can be, dear.” Audrey stood. “Now come along. We need to check on the house and return to Mayfair so we can leave at first light.”

“We are leaving, so soon?” Juliette questioned, almost in a panic.