The Undoing of a Libertine (Somerset Historicals 2)

He arranged himself in the chair, leaned back, spread his thighs, cupped himself, and slapped a very naughty, very randy look on his face. “Come!” he sang at the knock.

The sight of the burly Mr. Mills, his steward, coming through the door, killed the throb in his prick, that and the pain of slamming his knee into the desk as he jerked upright. A ripe curse greeted the steward who entered hesitantly after that salute, peering around the door to see if there was someone else already in the room with his master.

“No, just me, Mills. What can I do for you?” Recovering his poise, Jeremy gave in with resignation and just in time to be snagged into a discussion about some troubles with the tenants.

When Gina did step in some three quarters of an hour later, he was still tangled in pressing estate business. Both men stood to acknowledge her. She greeted Mr. Mills and tilted her head.

He felt like moaning, she looked so delectable. He smiled longingly and flashed a wink instead. “I’ll find you as soon as I’m done here. Where will you be?”

“The library…I shall be in the library.” She showed what he interpreted as a smoky glance in his direction and let herself out.

The snail’s pace of the business with Mills was near to making him scream. He needed to get the hell out of here and into bed with his wife! Still, it was another half hour before he could get rid of the tenacious man. At the moment, Mills might be as unwelcome as a stiff prick in church, but he was a damn fine steward and Jeremy was not stupid enough to offend him.

Jeremy flew to the library. She wasn’t there. He called her name. No answer. Frustration took hold. He spun out and into the hall. He hadn’t taken more than a few steps, and there she was. She had just turned the corner and faced in his direction.

As soon as Gina saw him, she stopped. They both did. Standing there in the hallway, gazes locked upon each other, something very sensual passed between them, so strong he imagined he could smell the scent of arousal in the air. The moment ruled them, taking over, making this encounter into something all about naked skin and bodies coming together.

Jeremy knew what she was going to do the split second before she did it. He wanted her to—so badly.

She did it.

Yes, oh yes…this is going to be fantastic!

* * * *

Georgina felt wicked desire fill her soul and knew what she had to do. Didn’t know why, but just knew she had to. It would drive him wild. So she turned and ran from him. She ran as fast as her legs could go.

Down the hall, up a staircase, another hallway, more stairs, she kept going. Jeremy chased after her, his boots pounding under the size of him. Each thud of his boot drove up her excitement to the point where she was without conscious intent as she fled. This was pure animal reaction, and thoughts of what her lovely beast would do once he got his hands on her made her shudder.

Georgina didn’t even know what these rooms were. She was in a narrow hallway of the east wing’s third floor. This was a part of the house she’d never been before. Flinging open three doors in a row, she picked the one on the right and dashed inside. It was some kind of storage room, with trunks and crates and odd furniture stacked about.

Ducking behind a wardrobe, she wedged herself between it and the wall. Her heart beat so heavy beneath her breast, she figured the sound couldn’t possibly be silent. It was probably rather like a beacon, calling him straight to her location.

She waited. No more loud boots thumping on the floor. He was taking quiet steps now.

“Gina,” he called, his voice dripping with sarcasm. “I’m going to catch you…soon. And you know what I’m going to do when I find you? I’m thinking about it right now, what I’m going to do to you.”

She heard a few more soft steps. “You are so clever to open those doors, trying to throw me off like that. But I know you’re in this room, Gina.”

How do you know I’m in this room?

“I can scent you. I love your scent—fragrant eglantine with a hint of

orange. So delicate, yet powerful enough to make me hard for you just from smelling it.” More soft steps sounded just to her right. “I’m hard right now, Gina, so damn hard my cock aches. It wants in you.”

Oh dear Lord.

He walked past the wardrobe and toward the left corner of the room. “Where are you hiding my dear, naughty, sweetheart?” he crooned. “It won’t be long now, Gina, before I catch you, and you know what’s going to happen then…”

If she crept out from her place, she thought she could just slip out the door by running behind him with his back turned. Georgina heard the rustling of boxes being slid about and took her window of opportunity. She bolted for the door.

Georgina didn’t make it far. Powerful hands latched on to her shoulders and dragged her against him. She screamed and a hand clamped over her mouth, cutting the sound off. His lips came to her ear. “No screaming, sweetheart. The servants…”

She nodded against his hand.

“Good girl,” he whispered, removing his hand from her mouth and dragging it down over her neck and throat to cup her breast. His mouth stayed at her neck, and his tongue flicked out to swirl just below her ear. His other hand moved to her hip and pulled her back as he ground his erection into the cleft of her bottom.

She panted against him, grateful he could hold her up. It was wonderful to be captured. She pressed herself into him, arching her back and her neck, giving in to the coiled anticipation.