Dark Deceptions: A Regency and Medieval Collection of Dark Romances(61)

The groom opened the door to hand her down. Holding on to her leather treasure, she took Tony’s arm with her free one and climbed the stairs just as the butler threw the door wide.

“You’re wrong, you know,” she said. “Adam wouldn’t mind.”

“I won’t mind what?”

She gasped and tripped to an awkward stop. Tony righted her and nodded at his brother.

Adam ignored him. He stood silent, at the bottom of the winding staircase, arms folded across his chest. Georgina’s heart sped up at the sight of him, all tall, lean, muscular elegance.

Then his question registered.

Tony responded. “The Duke of Aubrey’s interest in your wife.” A sparkle glittered in his teasing eyes.

Adam’s body stiffened and he looked at her through hooded lashes.

Georgina pointed her eyes to the ceiling. “There is no interest.”

Tension dripped off her husband’s frame; his palpable jealousy, a life force that breathed hope into her that Adam did in fact care for her—even if just a little.

Tony laughed, saying something to Adam, then bent low over her hand. He made his farewell to Georgina and was gone, leaving her alone with Adam.

The six feet between them seemed a chasm as great as the English Channel. It represented an impenetrable breach their marriage could never close. She shifted back and forth on her feet.

“What did Aubrey say to you?” he asked, a ferocious gleam in his eye.

“No.” She gave a brusque shake of her head, dislodging a curl. Georgina brushed it back. “Tony has been perfectly gentleman—”

“I referred to the duke.”

Oh. Yes. Well that made far more sense. She clamped her lips closed. The duke had said a great deal and, at the same time, nothing at all.

“Georgina?”

“No. He didn’t say anything.” Which was not an untruth. “Do you know him well?”

Adam looked over her shoulder. “No.” He tightened his jaw.

Something about that “no”; the slightest hesitancy in the one word utterance, gave her pause.

Then before she could ask questions on it, her husband turned the conversation. “Are you prepared for your introduction to Society tomorrow evening?”

She recalled her dismal failure amidst the merchants in Bristol. Confronting a room of nobles would be the equivalent of facing a pit of poisonous snakes. “Uh…yes.” Though in truth, she’d rather confront a sea of those slithering serpents than the two-legged sort.

Adam’s lips turned down at the corners. “You needn’t be fearful. You’ll—”

Uncomfortable with his confidence in her efforts amidst his world, she thrust her recent purchase into his hands. “I got this for you,” she blurted.

Adam studied the title and then met her gaze. “What is…?” He fell silent.

Georgina shifted awkwardly on her feet. His inscrutable expression gave little indication as to his thoughts. She’d expected he would be pleased with her gift. “Did I have the wrong title?” She bit her lower lip. “Do you not like it? I thought it was this one but—What…?” A little squeak escaped her when he swept her into his arms and proceeded to carry her up the stairs. “Adam,” she protested. Her gaze darted around for nosy servants.

“I love it.” His response was gruff with emotion. With an effortless grace, he carried her down the hall and into his chambers, kicking the door shut with the heel of his boot.

When he set her on the floor, her body slid down his. The flame of desire raged like a fire within. In moments, he’d divested her of her gown and undergarments. She stood shivering beneath his gaze, not from cold but with heated anticipation.

Adam shrugged his jacket off and tossed it to the floor. His shirt followed suit, and then his hands went to his breeches.

Her mouth went dry. She brushed his fingers away with bold insistence. “Let me.” Dropping to her knees, she urged his black breeches down around his ankles and then he was naked before her.

Adam stood there, stiff and unbending as a marble statue. His proudly erect manhood earned her notice. How could it not? The magnificent member was at eye level and so incredibly close to her mouth. An urge to taste him overcame her. She leaned forward to kiss his shaft.

He groaned. “What are you doing?”

She hesitated, a wave of uncertainty hitting her. Mayhap her wanton thoughts and actions were better suited to a harlot than the wife of a peer. Still…she said nothing. Instead, she took the plum tip of him between her lips, drawing the length deeper and deeper until he was buried in her mouth.

He cried out. Any and all doubts died a swift death when he wound his fingers in her hair, urging her to continue.

Georgina’s reservations were replaced by hedonistic yearning. She became bolder, flicking her tongue up and down his length. His guttural groan of approval filled her with desire. She’d never imagined that giving her husband pleasure could so consume her with longing.

Adam flexed his hips.

Georgina continued to draw him in and out until he was groaning.

Adam jerked his hips away.

Georgina’s eyes fluttered open.

He picked her up and carried her over to the bed. Adam set her down like she was a treasure more precious than gold.

“What are you doing?” she asked when he pulled her atop him.