“I understand,” she said slowly, “that unrelieved arousal is extremely painful for a man, but I don’t want to worsen your injury or increase the pain of your wound.”
Surprise lit his eyes. “I could manage if I lie on my back and if we are slow and careful. If you were to straddle me, I could show you how to move.”
“That was not quite what I had in mind.” Her heart thudding in her chest, she reached down to cradle his shaft in her fingers. “I imagined something more like this….”
She had an instant to savor his shock as he drew a ragged breath. “So you mean to service me with your hand?” he asked rather hoarsely.
“That is my general plan. You said you were in pain. I am willing to provide a cure for your lust.”
She had caught him off guard, but his body obviously welcomed her fondling. While she stared, his stiff erection stirred eagerly between his thighs and thrust against her palm.
When brazenly she began to stroke his swollen flesh, Traherne clenched his jaw, yet amusement tinged his tone. “I should have expected you to act in so novel a fashion. Let me guess. Cleo told you how to proceed.”
“Well, yes. She wanted me to be prepared for the marriage bed and warned me how painful it could be. Therefore, she advised me how to expend your sexual urges so I would not have to submit to you.”
Some of his humor faded. “Your friend does not think much of men, does she?”
“No, not much. Her marriage was sheer misery. It was how she dealt with her husband so that he would leave her alone.”
“And you mean to follow her strategy.”
“It seems sage to. If I assuage your carnal needs, you won’t want me.”
There was more than a touch of irony in his muttered reply. “It would take too long to disabuse you of that daft notion.” In a louder voice, Traherne made an observation. “Cleo’s wretched experience is regrettable, but she has given you a warped perspective. You would find great pleasure in my lovemaking. I would make certain of it.”
Venetia hesitated. “Thank you, but I am not inclined to test your claim.”
“So that leaves us at an impasse.”
Grasping her wrist, he drew her hand away from his loins. “I cannot believe I am saying this, but tempting as it is, I must decline your sacrificial offer.”
Venetia blinked in disbelief. “But why?”
“First of all, there is a great deal more to lovemaking than climaxing. But more important, I am not interested in pleasure if it is one-sided. If there’s to be any lovemaking, we both need to enjoy it. Until then I will suffer in silence.”
Rolling gingerly onto his back in deference to his injured side, Traherne threw off the covers, then rose from the bed. “We need to be on our way if we are to make our destination by midday.”
Surprise flooded her, followed swiftly by disappointment. She was also strangely disgruntled that he had not allowed her to regain some small measure of power.
Before she could respond, though, he delivered another declaration. “Rest assured, Venetia, when we make love, the pleasure will be wholly mutual and reciprocal.”
When, not if, he had said, Venetia realized.
Frowning, she followed suit and rose from the bed in order to wash and dress. Traherne was far, far too confident for her peace of mind.
As they traveled the final few hours, Venetia took great care to stay on the opposite side of the carriage and avoid Traherne’s touch, but the taste of passion he’d given her was impossible to forget. She could still feel the heat of him pressed against her back, his hand caressing her breast, his mouth moving on her sex.
When we make love…
She shook herself roughly. They would be thrown together for heaven knew how long, so she had best control her traitorous urges.
Fortunately, Traherne took it upon himself to tell her about this area of Somerset south of Bath, which had been famous since Roman times for its warm mineral springs and where the ton flocked to bathe and drink the waters.
“The cottage where we will be staying has a hot springs welling up from the ground. Biddy approved my coming here because of its healing properties.”
Venetia viewed the attractive landscape with interest. The charming villages they passed boasted thatched cottages and stone houses interspersed with woodlands and orchards and rolling meadows full of grazing sheep and cattle.
Around midday¸ they drove through a wide gate. Eventually the wooded grounds gave way to more manicured lawns. On a rise overlooking an ornamental lake stood an enormous Tudor manor with gabled roof and mullioned windows.