“Ah well, they will have to wait. In fact, can we delay that conversation until we arrive at Aberforth Place? I want to spend our journey there focusing on just us. More specifically, I want to direct all my attention to your spectacular body and the wondrous responses I can arouse.”
He teased her breast while he licked and bit at her neck. She tipped her head, giving him free access to a silken expanse of her delectable flesh. He wanted nothing more than to sink into her and let all their stress and worry fade away.
“I think you’re trying to put me off. I might even wonder if you’re hiding something.”
Bennet froze a moment. He was, but he didn’t want to talk about this now. He knew he was delaying what he had to reveal, but they were in this together now—for better or worse as the vows said. He just hoped she wouldn’t think it was for worse.
He snagged her earlobe with his teeth. “The only thing I’m hiding is my unadulterated lust for you. But I think I’m doing a very poor job of it.” He pulled on her nipple.
“Very,” she said between raspy sounds of desire.
Bending his knees, he swung her into his arms and carried her to the bed, where he set her on the edge. He knelt, quickly removing her boots, but leaving her stockings in place.
“You’re not taking those off?” she asked.
“As you said, we only have an hour. Also, there is something undeniably erotic about a woman who is just partially clothed.” He pushed her corset down and tugged the neckline of her chemise over to bare one breast. “Like that,” he growled before dropping his head to draw her nipple into his mouth.
She clutched him, her fingers digging into his scalp.
If he’d doubted that she was with child, he wouldn’t now. Her breasts were so different—heavier and…firmer. There was no turning back.
Bennet tore his mouth from her and shoved her skirts up to her waist. Putting his hands on her thighs, he spread her legs and bent to taste her sex.
She cried out the moment his tongue touched her folds. “Bennet!”
“Lie back.” He slipped his finger into her wet heat and sucked on her clitoris. Her legs shuddered around him, and the muscles of her sex gripped him tight as he thrust in and out of her.
She still clasped his head, pulling on his hair as her hips rose to meet his mouth and hand. He gripped her hip and positioned her leg over his shoulder. She slid her other thigh onto his other shoulder. Now, he was definitely trapped. But there was nowhere he would rather be. Surrendering to her completely, he devoured her flesh, burying his tongue deep inside her.
Tensing around him, she was close to her release. He filled her with two fingers and brought her to the very edge, reveling in her senseless cries of passion. Then she arched up, her body stiffening as she came in a torrent. He held her, kissing and licking her as she rode the wave of ecstasy.
“Bennet,” she groaned. “Come with me now.” She pulled on his head.
He straightened, his hands shaking as he fumbled with the buttons of his fall. He swore, and her fingers joined his. Then her hand was around his cock, guiding him to her sex.
Turning her onto the bed, he crawled over her as she slid him inside her. He drove deep, moaning her name over and over as lust swept him to a place he’d never been. This was a soul-touching desire, a desperate craving that he wasn’t sure could be sated.
Her legs curled around him, her heels digging into his backside as she met him thrust for thrust. They moved together in perfect rhythm, the sound of their bodies and their cries of urgency filling the air around them.
He kissed her, his tongue tangling with hers in crazed abandon. His orgasm built, and habit told him to pull away, to finish outside her.
But why? Not only was she his wife, she carried his child. There was no reason to maintain his sanity. Shouting her name, he let himself go as never before, flooding her with his seed.
There was indeed no turning back now.
They arrived late at Aberforth Place, so it wasn’t until the following morning that Prudence met anyone except for the butler, Eakes, the housekeeper, Mrs. Marian, and Laura, the housemaid who would be acting as Prudence’s maid.
Prudence had protested having a maid, but Bennet had persuaded her to try the situation and see what she thought. As a woman carrying a child, perhaps she would appreciate the help. Prudence had been too exhausted to continue arguing, so perhaps that was her answer.
Entering the breakfast room, Prudence was greeted with a scene of chaos. Newspapers covered half the table, and nuts were scattered about the other half. A loud squeaking filled the air, and it took Prudence a moment to realize it was coming from one of the women—the one in the chair on the newspaper side of the table.
“Just sit still, Flora!” A tall, slender woman of what seemed to be advanced age dashed about the room, bent at the waist. Her rapid movements contradicted how old she appeared to be. “You’re scaring him!”
“I’m scaring him? He’s a menace!” This came from the woman who’d been squeaking. Petite with bright white hair, her legs drawn up to her chest, she waved a knife and fork around madly. Presumably, she was Flora. “He tried to take my ham!”
“I’m still training him.” The taller woman disappeared behind the drapery, and the air in the room seemed to still as Prudence held her breath. Reappearing on the other side of the curtain, the tall woman held up a small bundle of fur. “Got him!”
“Thank goodness.” Flora lowered her feet to the floor, then turned her head, her gaze landing on Prudence. “It’s Glastonbury’s bride. Come in, my dear. Sit and eat with us. Oh, the food is over there.” She waved her hand toward a long table against the wall with covered dishes lined atop it.
Ignoring the food for now, despite the terrible hunger clawing at her stomach, Prudence moved toward the table. “Good morning, I’m Prudence.”
“You’re Lady Glastonbury,” the tall woman said.
“Yes, but my name is Prudence, so I hope you’ll call me that. You must be Bennet’s great-aunts.”
From the chair, Flora pointed at her chest. “I’m Flora, and this is Minerva.” She gestured toward the taller woman, who stood on the other side of the table. “And that is her latest creature.” Flora wrinkled her nose.
“Some call us Flora and Fauna,” Minerva said with a grin that revealed a missing tooth on the upper left side of her mouth. Some of her gray hair had escaped her mobcap. “Because Flora presses a ridiculous number of flowers all over the damn house, and I use my skills for a more helpful avocation. I rescue those in need.” She held up the animal in her hand and kissed its head.
“Is that a squirrel?” Prudence asked.
“A menace,” Flora muttered.
“This is George.” Minerva came around the table, which caused Flora to pull her legs back up onto the chair. Prudence wanted to soothe her and say it was all right, that the squirrel wasn’t on the floor any longer, but held her tongue.
“It’s nice to meet you, George,” Prudence said, unsure if she should try to pet the animal.
“He’s quite friendly, but I’m afraid Flora has frightened him with her irrational fear.”
“It’s not irrational! I was bitten by a squirrel when I was nine.”