Tessa laid her head against Jack’s chest and closed her eyes. This was all too much. He was all too much. How could she have told him about Engleton? Cornwall? Never had she told a soul about her background. Not even Louisa knew the truth about everything. No one could ever learn that much about her family.
So why did she feel the need to tell him? Was it just the wine that had loosened her tongue? She should never have touched the wine last night. And why did what he thought of her matter? Neither had expectations of marriage.
Dear heaven above, there was only one answer to those questions. She could not be in love with a man she’d only known for a week. It was madness to even imagine such a thing. Yet, it did explain her need to tell him about Engleton when surely she could have produced a believable lie. It could not be love.
“No,” she mumbled.
“No what?”
She had uttered that aloud! “I was starting to fall asleep, and I don’t want to do that yet.”
His breathing altered slightly. “So you told yourself no?”
“Exactly.” It sounded inane even to her ears. She opened her eyes and looked up at him. She had to get him off this topic before she told him even more of her confidences. “Now that I have told you a secret, you must give me the same confidence. What is one of your secrets?”
He glanced away briefly before returning her stare. “My father had quite a gambling problem and left the estate in near ruins.”
She shook her head. “I said a confidence. Something intimate that no one else knows. Everyone knows about your financial position. It’s talked about in all the salons.”
He leaned up on his elbow, effectively ruining their intimate their moment. “They talk about my financial prospects?”
“Of course. Although, not just yours. Any man of society who sparks the interest of a woman is fair game.”
“And which lady was so enthralled with me that she needed to know my yearly income. You, perhaps?”
She laughed softly. “I didn’t even know you...only of you as Bideford’s brother. Besides, I was married at the time your name was mentioned. I believe it was Eliza Sutton.”
He scrunched his face in thought. “Eliza Sutton? I don’t even know who she is, and yet those gossipy twits were talking about my income.”
Tessa cupped his check and caressed it with her thumb. “There is no need to get upset. Every man is discussed as such. I hardly doubt it is much different than men talking about a woman’s fortune or if her hips are wide enough for breeding.”
He tilted his head back and laughed. “I honestly cannot remember one conversation regarding a woman’s hips for breeding. Fucking maybe, not breeding.”
She slapped him lightly across the cheek. “Don’t be crude, Jack.”
“You don’t like fucking?” He leaned over her and kissed her soundly. “I seem to remember you quite enjoyed it a few minutes ago.”
“You know what I meant.” Her cheeks heated as she remembered just how much she had enjoyed this evening. “And yes,” she whispered. “I did rather like it.”
He pulled her hand down to his cock. “And would you like it again?”
Feeling his cock grow beneath her fingers, she smiled. “I believe I might.”
“And do you want to try another position?”
“There are more?”
He rested his body on top of her and nuzzled the nape of her neck. “There are so many more, Tessa. And I want to show them all to you.”
“Yes, Jack,” she whimpered as he moved to her breast and suckled her. “Show them all to me.”
“I will, darling. Everyone I can think of and maybe some from a book.”
She shivered as his tongue circled her nipple. “There’s a book?”
“I’ll show you some day.”
God, she hoped that day would be soon. But as his finger reached between their bodies to caress her folds, her thoughts disappeared as lust swept her away. A thick finger dipped deep inside her, thrusting in and out until she moaned with desire. “Jack.”