Almost a Virgin (Virgins No More) Page 3

  Urgently he powered up inside her, his thigh muscles easily moving her light weight, his mouth still on her breast.

  The hand buried under her skirts found her nubbin and worked it in tandem with his cock’s strokes inside her. Dammit he wasn’t going to last more than a few minutes and he wanted her to come too.

  He slammed up into her, going as deep as he could, and pinched her little button between two fingers.

  She uttered a small moan and her walls gripped his cock so damn hard he thought it’d break. In a manner of speaking it did, as he shot jet after jet of hot seed into her channel, continuing to suck her breast and stroke her nubbin as he thrust into her over and over again.

  Then he was finished and he rested his head against her bosom, panting hard. She was panting too, her body hot under his despite the cool air.

  The chilly breeze cleared his head of the deep fog of lust. And that’s when reality hit him. He’d just fucked a virgin. A vicar’s sister. In the garden of a society matron’s house. With a hundred people within shouting distance.

  If she told her brother, Barnabas would be within his rights to shoot him. Mayhap that’s what he deserved. Hopefully she wouldn’t tell him though. They’d be married inside a month so no one need know. But why did he let his cock rule his head instead of behaving like the gentleman he was reared to be?

  Silently he tucked her breast back inside her gown then stood her up and adjusted her clothes, shaking out the folds of silk and hoping they weren’t too creased.

  He pushed his much-diminished cock back inside his breeches, buttoning the fabric.

  He held her hands and looked into her eyes. She seemed a little stunned but not shocked or about to go off in hysterics, thank God.

  He bowed and said, “I will call upon your brother tomorrow. Or the very first day he returns to Town.”

  Then he laid her hand lightly on his arm and walked them back through the garden, up the stairs, onto the balcony, and inside the supper room.

  Dazedly he noticed the couple on the balcony still talking to each other. Had it really happened so fast? Had his life changed in the twinkling of an eye?

  Then he thought, How will I manage not to touch her until we’re married? I want her again already.

  ****

  Theodora lay in her bed wide awake. Her woman’s place was a little sore, but not too bad. The memory of his manhood deep inside her was thrilling. His kisses had been wonderful, and when he’d sucked her breast, she’d known touching herself would never satisfy her again.

  Now she knew every warning her mama had ever given her about never being alone with a man was true. Who knew that a few brief minutes in a garden at a party with her brother’s best friend could lead to—that.

  Well it was worth it. The feeling of warmth and happiness was much better than self fulfillment. And his eyes as he’d done it had been filled with love. Or mayhap lust. But it was just for her. She had what she’d always wanted, his undivided attention and adoration. And he had considered her. He’d touched her and pleased her. Even though he could have sought only his own pleasure, he’d ensured hers as well.

  And now he would marry her. The bans would be called for three Sundays then they’d have a service in the church and she’d be married to the only man she’d ever wanted.

  It would have been much better if he’d loved her. She’d always hoped he could come to love her as she loved him. But marriage was a business arrangement after all, and marriage to him was good for her family as well as giving her, her heart’s desire.

  As for love, well, she could live without it. As long as he came to her bed regularly and she saw him to talk to from time to time, she could be happy.

  Meanwhile, she’d learn everything she could about a woman’s skills in the bedroom. If I keep him happy in bed, he’ll spend more time with me. And after we have a couple of children, I’ll learn how to prevent any more coming so we can continue to do that. But naked. I want to feel his skin against mine.

  Chapter Three

  Deborah was very pleased with herself. It had taken a lot of thought, but she’d remembered the name of Joel and Micah’s house. Waynfleet! This was really important, and it proved just how clever she was, because the scholars referred to their houses by initials, but to actually find it she needed the name. And she’d remembered it from a casual conversation she’d overhead between Simeon and Amos.

  Locating the actual building wasn’t too hard, although sneaking inside was tricky. But she managed that too. Mayhap she could become a spy for England against France? They’d never suspect a young lady, and she’d just demonstrated how acute she was. How good at finding out things without asking questions.

  Then she had to wait a very long time before her brothers came back to their rooms. And she was so hungry. Several times she considered leaving and going to buy some food, but she’d have to find a cook shop and then come back and sneak inside again, so all in all, she decided it was better to stay hidden for now. Besides, a search of Micah’s closet had revealed a couple of somewhat wrinkled apples. She was so hungry she ate every bit of them, even the core. Her old nanny would have told her she’d soon have an apple tree growing out her ears for doing that, but Deborah knew that was just a silly story. Even though she’d still like to eat a proper luncheon, at least her stomach wasn’t grumbling at her anymore.

  Joel’s mathematics book was sitting on the table, and Deborah had almost completed his homework, for lack of anything else to do, when her brothers finally arrived.

  She jumped up, pulled her cap forward to hide most of her face, and stuck her hands in her pockets looking as boy-like as she could manage. It didn’t deceive her brothers for a second.

  “Deborah! How did you get here?”

  “Where’s Simeon? Did he bring you?”

  “Has something happened at home?”

  “Why are you dressed like that?”

  “My school is boring and stupid. I’ve decided to go to Eton with you instead.”

  “What!”

  “Are you dicked in the nob?”

  “You’re a girl!”

  “If you’d both stop talking to me at once, I’ll tell you my plan. I’ve thought out everything really carefully and I can be here for a month before anyone notices anything.”

  “A month? Where are you going to stay for a month? You can’t share our rooms,” said Micah.

  “I have enough money to rent a room for a month and buy food. But I’ll need to borrow one of your uniforms so I look like I belong here.”

  “You don’t belong here at all, Deborah. Girls don’t go to this school!” Joel was almost shouting.

  Deborah started to worry that someone might come to find out what all the noise was about. She sat back down on the bed and patted it. “Sit down and I’ll explain everything.”

  Micah looked at her as though she’d turned into a snake or something, but Joel sat at the table, glancing at his mathematics book as he turned the chair around to face her and sat down.

  Taking a big breath, Deborah explained how boring her school was, how deadly dull it was learning table arrangements, orders of precedence, water color painting, and French when she’d much rather be studying mathematics, Greek, and military strategy. She told them about her friend, the day scholar, Julia, and how she’d borrowed Julia’s brother’s clothing, forged an invitation to stay at Julia’s house for a month, gotten money from Simeon, Georgina, and Grandmama, and now was ready to start school with them.

  Even as she told the story she couldn’t help admiring how clever she’d been, how she’d thought of everything, how neatly all her arrangements had fallen into place.

  “So all you have to do is take me to your classes with you. Say I’m your cousin or something just visiting for a month. I particularly want to learn Greek, Latin, military strategy, and geography,” she finished.

  Micah’s mouth was hanging open. She wanted to chant their nanny’s comment and tell him he’d catch flies doing
that, but she kept her mind on her main objective just like a good soldier would. “So where can I get some dinner? I’m really hungry. While we eat you can tell me all about the classes I’m going to be doing with you.”

  “You can’t. You can’t go to school here.” That was Micah.

  “Of course I can. I’m here.”

  “You know, she’s smart enough. She’s done my mathematics and her answers are correct.” Joel picked up his book and waved it at Micah.

  “That’s not the point. The point is that she’s a girl!”

  “No one need know that. I’ll cut off my hair, or one of you can do it for me, and wear boy’s clothing and—”

  “No you most definitely won’t!” The door crashed open and Amos marched in looking crosser than Deborah had ever seen him before. Even when he’d rescued them from the boxing match he hadn’t been angry at them. Although he’d twisted the boys’ ears somewhat painfully. Right now he looked quite frightening, and very like Simeon.

  Nevertheless she faced him with all her courage. “I want to go to a real school, not that stupid place. I want to learn real things not stupid, useless rubbish. I want—”

  “Well I want to put you over my knee and tan your hide. If you aren’t silent I will. This is the second time in a few months you’ve disrupted the entire family, frightening Grandmama, causing us all to leave everything and run around rescuing you. Right now I’d recommend locking you in your bedroom and throwing away the key.”

  “Grandmama wasn’t supposed to be worried. No one was supposed to know.”

  “Well you may consider your school stupid, but they’re not so stupid as to not notice you’d gone missing. Now will you be silent or will I gag you?”

  He actually looked as though he’d do it. Deborah really wanted to ask why they didn’t have the forged invitation from Julia’s family, but she shut up. She looked across at the twins. They were staring at Amos as if they’d never seen him before.

  “Do you two need anything? Has she taken any of your things?”

  The twins shook their heads.

  Deborah thought she’d better confess. “I ate Micah’s apples and answered Joel’s mathematics.”

  Amos just looked at her then pulled two golden guineas out of his pocket and gave one to each of her brothers. “We’re leaving now. I’ll write to you after we get home.”

  Amos pushed Deborah in front of him and guided her down the hallway and out of the house. His hand on her shoulder was so firm she thought she’d have a bruise later. But what really worried her was how angry he was. How could it be wrong to go to school? All right, she hadn’t actually obtained permission, but still, no one should have been inconvenienced. What had gone wrong? She’d planned everything so very carefully.

  “With some luck, Barnabas and Georgina will be waiting for us at The Red Rose, out on the main road. Grandmama has packed you some clothes. You can get changed there.”

  “Can we eat too, please? I’m so hungry.”

  “If it was up to me, you’d be dining on bread and water for a month, but I expect Georgina has a softer heart. The decision will be hers. You will also tell us all what maggot got into your brain to cause this start. But for now you’d better remain silent, as my horse is tired and he’ll be even more tired taking both of us on his back with you jabbering all the way.”

  Deborah’s eyes filled with tears. She was hungry. Amos was so very cross. Her wonderful plan was in tatters around her and she had no idea what had gone wrong. Why had she been born a girl? Why couldn’t she have been a boy and gone to Eton?

  ****

  John was up early. His sleep had been disturbed with thoughts and dreams of Theodora. Now that he realized she was the woman for him, had always been his true love, he wanted to claim her hand publically as soon as possible. He still found it hard to believe he’d cast off a lifetime’s training as a gentleman and had bedded her already. She’d been so warm and willing in his arms, although quite definitely a virgin as the inside of his drawers could testify. Even feeling that slight barrier as he’d taken her had not been enough to stop him. She was everything he could ever want and he’d had her in his arms for far too short a time.

  Well, soon she’d be his legally and he would set about wooing her properly.

  Unless she’d told Barnabas what he’d done and her brother decided to meet him on Hampstead Heath and shoot him or run him through with a sword, instead of countenancing a wedding.

  Dammit. How had he gotten so out of control? Where had his wits fled to? Ah his wits had been inside his dick at the time. All he’d been able to think about was her heat, her softness, her willingness.

  I’ll arrive before breakfast, before she has a chance to speak to him. I’ll ensure he’s agreed to the marriage and she’ll accept it instead of destroying her brother’s friendship with me. I hope.

  It wasn’t until he was standing outside the vicarage, his hand on the doorknocker, that John remembered the reason why he’d been able to take Theodora into the garden and fuck her. It was because she was being rather haphazardly chaperoned by the Dowager. Who’d trusted him to care for Theodora. Because her brother and sister by law were out of town looking for Deborah.

  I hope nothing has happened to Deborah. I hope she was found quickly and safely. I hope— I hope to God that Barnabas is at home and agrees to this wedding. It’s not that I’ve ruined her. It’s that I can’t bear to live without her! Oh Lord. What if he insists on a duel because I’ve ruined her? I’ll have to delope. He’s my best friend and I’ve wronged him. But I want to make it right. I want her more than I’ve ever wanted anything in my entire life before.

  The smiling butler showed him into Barnabas’ study, promising to bring the vicar to him immediately.

  Well that sounds as though everything is under control.

  “Good morning, John. Did you come to breakfast to hear all about Deborah’s adventure?”

  “I’d like to hear what the little minx has been doing, but I actually came this morning to— I want to—Do I have your permission to pay my addresses to Miss Theodora? I want to marry her.”

  “You do? I must confess I’d thought for a long time you and she would make an ideal couple, but of course you can look much higher than a vicar’s sister for a bride. I wondered…perhaps…Sapphira…”

  “No one is more beautiful than Miss Sapphira Arnott, but it’s Miss Theodora who holds my heart.”

  “In that case you have my blessing. But she must say yay or nay herself. It’s her future happiness at stake here, and I won’t make the decision for her. I shall send her in to you.”

  John paced the room for a very long time until Theodora appeared. At least, it seemed like several hours had passed although the clock on the mantelpiece only showed fifteen minutes had elapsed.

  When she walked into the room it was as if the sunshine had come out after a rainstorm. The room seemed suddenly much brighter. She was wearing green again this morning, a deep green gown that was simple enough for morning wear yet still made her brown curls glow with warmth and her hazel eyes sparkle with green and gold highlights. Oh Lord, she’s so beautiful. I want her so much.

  She stood a pace away from him and lifted her eyes to his. Instantly the breath left his body and his cock grew hard, pressing against his breeches. Gathering his scattered wits, he dropped to one knee in front of her. “My darling, Theodora. Would you do me the greatest of honors, by consenting to marry me,” he asked, his heart pounding so loudly he was sure she could hear it.

  “I was taught that a lady never accepts the first offer she receives,” Theodora replied, her gaze on his.

  Damn society’s conventions!

  Quickly he stood up and then kneeled again, using the other knee this time. “Dear Miss Theodora, will you please accept this, my second offer for your hand in marriage,” he asked, hoping that what he saw in her face was acceptance.

  “Why thank you, Mr. Smith. I’m honored by your persistence and accept with ple
asure.”

  She extended a hand out to him and he gripped it tightly then pressed kisses to her knuckles, her palm, her wrist. Springing to his feet again, he pulled her into his arms and kissed her lips. Just as she had the previous evening, she opened her mouth to his, not just accepting his kiss, but paying it back tenfold, passion for passion, until they broke apart, both of them needing to fill their lungs with air.

  There was the stamp of boots in the hallway outside the partly open door, then Barnabas coughed and entered the room.

  Theodora had stepped out of John’s arms, but he held onto her hand.

  “Your sister has done me the great honor of accepting my offer for her hand in marriage,” he told Barnabas. He wanted to sing and dance with joy but managed to keep his voice even with the greatest of difficulty.

  “Good, good. Come on in to breakfast and we’ll toast the happy event.”

  ****

  Georgina and the older Mrs. Ridley were already seated at the breakfast table, but the food was still sitting on heated trays on the sideboard. They were obviously waiting for him and Theodora to come into the room.

  Barnabas stopped in the doorway and announced, “Theodora has accepted John’s proposal.”

  Georgina jumped up and rushed across to hug Theodora. “Wonderful. I’m so happy for you.” Then she added to John, “Welcome to the family.”

  John nodded. Well, yes I guess that makes me a connection of the Arnotts’, doesn’t it? But what he said was, “Barnabas and I have been friends for so many years, in many ways we are like brothers already.”

  “That’s true. But welcome anyway,” said Barnabas’ mama.

  For a while the room was filled with hustle and bustle as they joined the others at the table, the servants poured cups of tea and served platters of eggs, sausage, ham, and brought in toasted bread and preserves.