Wicked Temptation (Regency Sinners 6)(38)

“You—” Pru did not even have the breath to squeak as the soft pad of Titus’s toe tapped against her nubbin and heat coursed through the whole of her body.

“But what of the wedding breakfast?” Her mother frowned.

Romney’s brows rose. “I had thought, in the circumstances, you would prefer the wedding be a quiet affair.”

“I— What circumstances might they be?” Pru managed to splutter, her cheeks burning now.

“The recent death of your sister and butler, of course,” the viscount answered evenly, his toe now gliding up and down the moist and sensitive length of her nether lips.

Pru closed her eyes briefly at the pleasurable sensations coursing through her body. “Of course.”

“I will naturally go along with any plans you care to make,” Romney told her mother before glancing at Pru. “You are looking a little…feverish, my dear. Are you feeling quite well?”

She felt more than a little feverish, damn him. She felt as if she were on the brink of climaxing. “I believe I might benefit from stepping outside for some air and leaving you and my parents to enjoy their dessert—”

“No,” the viscount stated emphatically. He gave Pru a warning glance before continuing mildly. “I believe it is raining outside.” He glanced at the butler and received a nod of confirmation. “Perhaps a stroll about the entrance hall might suffice instead? With your permission, sir?” He looked to the earl without so much as consulting Pru as to his arbitrarily changing her plans.

“Of course, of course,” the earl returned jovially.

That left Pru with no option but to go along with the suggestion. Besides, the entrance hall would do as well as anywhere to tell Titus what she thought of him and his reprehensible behavior this evening.

Mayberry pulled back Pru’s chair for her, effectively allowing her to escape those intimate caresses beneath the table.

Romney had obviously replaced his evening shoe as he also stood to move about the table to take a light grasp of her arm.

Pru narrowed her gaze on him as they stepped outside into the cavernous and candlelit entrance hall. “I take it you decided we would walk inside because there is still a murderous assassin outside?”

His jaw clenched. “Yes.”

She gave a shake of her head. “How many more people have to die before you and your friends succeed in apprehending him?”

“That is slightly unfair, Pru.”

“Is it?”

He frowned his irritation. “We are doing all that we can to put an end to this treachery.”

Pru knew she was being a bit unfair. After all, it could not be easy for any of The Sinners, most especially the Duke of Stonewell, to know their investigations might lead to his own wife being arrested for treason and murder.

She eyed Romney curiously. “Have you really been to the Prince Regent and acquired a Special Marriage License since you left here earlier?”

“Yes.”

Pru gave a pained wince. “Did he ask the reason why?”

“No.”

“No?”

Romney shrugged. “Presumably, he realized there are very few reasons why we might wish to marry so quickly.”

“We do not wish to do anything of the sort.”

His lips thinned. “Nevertheless, we are going to do so.”

Pru gave a shiver at the implacability of his tone, tears welling in her eyes at what seemed to be the futility of continuing to argue against marrying him. It seemed even the Prince Regent was against her.

“You are cold.” Romney quickly drew off his evening jacket to place it about her shoulders, instantly surrounding Pru with the warmth and the distinctive aroma that was Titus: spicy cologne and male musk. As usual, her senses reacted to that seduction, her breasts tingling, the nipples engorging, the slickness increasing between her already sensitive thighs.

Titus frowned as he saw Pru’s discomfort in walking. “Are you sore from our lovemaking earlier?”

A blush colored her cheeks. “A little.”

“Would you like me to kiss it better?” he offered gruffly.

She gave a rueful laugh. “This is hardly the place for that. Besides,” she added before he could make a reply, “I believe it was your previous kisses which led to my present dilemma.”

Titus was more inclined to think it was because they could not keep their hands, or anything else, off each other. But he doubted that Pru would appreciate him making that observation. “Perhaps a little salt in your bath might help?”

Pru shook her head, the color still high in her cheeks. “I have already tried that. It eased it a little but not completely.”

“Then perhaps a distraction?”

Her gaze sharpened. “I believe I have had quite enough distraction for one day.”

Titus chuckled. “One can never have enough distraction.” At least where Pru was concerned, he did not seem able to do so.

It had been sheer torture sitting opposite her at the dinner table, able to look at her but unable to touch. Until he came up with the idea of removing his shoes and caressing her with his stockinged foot. That he had very much enjoyed. “Would you parents notice, do you think, if we went upstairs to your bedchamber?”

“The question is entirely rhetorical because we are not going upstairs to my bedchamber,” Pru stated firmly. Although she had reason to believe her radical-thinking mother would no doubt applaud Pru’s daring if they did.