Then he twirled Vivian’s nipples between his fingers, and flames shot through her. She couldn’t get close enough to him. Her breasts swelled, and she was lost in a bliss so intense she could never have imagined it. Rupert kissed her again, deeply, as if he would possess all of her. Her hips lifted, and he made a low, groaning chuckle.
The next thing she knew, cooler air moved up her legs, and she stiffened. Every time her husband had touched her there it had hurt. “No.”
Rupert ceased, then placed one of his legs between hers. He moved his firm lips down over her jaw. “Let’s try it this way.”
Fear threatened to overwhelm her. “You’ll stop if I want you to?”
“Always.” His mouth closed over her breast as his knee moved bit by bit to the apex of her thighs.
Her hips lifted, rubbing against him as he rubbed her. Lovely frissons flooded her, and her body tensed. She needed more, there must be something more. She pressed her hip against his leg and his knee rubbed her. Suddenly the tension broke, and her body pulsed, and she’d never known such completion. “Don’t stop. Don’t let me go.”
Rupert’s lips curved against her breast. “I won’t.” He kissed her again, this time lightly on her lips. “Sweetheart. My beautiful darling, I’ll be here for you as long as you want me.”
If only what he said was the truth. Still, now she knew she’d go through with the affair. “Will you come back?”
Rising onto one elbow, he gazed into her eyes. “Yes.” He arranged her so that she was tucked against him. “For now, rest a while.”
Vivian had never felt safer than she did cuddled next to Rupert. She closed her eyes, sure she would be unable to sleep, but when she opened them again, the candles had burned down so low she jerked up.
He stroked her hair and pressed his lips to hers. “It is time I left. We wouldn’t want the neighbors to see me.”
She almost forgot he had no idea she didn’t live here. “You’re right.” She couldn’t see the clock over his shoulder. “What time is it?”
“Almost three.” Rupert rolled to a sitting position. “I’ll call your maid to you as I leave.”
“Thank you.” Vivian watched as he tied his shoes. His jacket and cravat were crushed. If anyone saw him they’d know he’d been doing something. Lifting her hand, she cupped his cheek. “Until to-morrow.”
He leaned down, grinned, and possessed her mouth as if he couldn’t get enough. “Until later this evening.”
A few moments after Rupert left, her maid entered the bedchamber. “You must change and go home. I sent for the coach.”
In much less time than it had taken to don her disguise, it was off, the kohl cleaned from her eyes, and everything put away. Hugging her cloak around her, Vivian strode through the garden to the gate in the back. Punt opened the door, making a come-quickly motion with her hand, and they climbed up the steps to the carriage.
“I told him to drop you off in the front, my lady. I’ll go around to the side gate.”
“I have decided to go forward with this.”
Punt nodded. “I thought you might.”
A sleepy footman answered the door at Clara’s house, which meant her cousin and friend had already returned. He bowed Vivian in. “You may go to bed now,” she informed him.
Later, as she lay in the much smaller bed than she had shared with Rupert, Vivian smiled. Except for the fact that he didn’t know he was making love with Vivian rather than Cleo, this evening had been perfect. She punched the pillow. She could not have everything, so she would have to be content with what she’d been given. At least he was much nicer than her husband had ever been.
Nick strolled into the Pigeon Hole, an exclusive gaming hell in Mayfair, accompanied by Hawksworth. There was no point in attending any more of theton’s entertainments until he’d spoken with Silvia, yet this was not his preferred form of entertainment. “I don’t know why you brought me here. You know I don’t like to gamble.”
“That is because you are so very good at it, and you hate fleecing fools,” Hawksworth drawled as he raised his quizzer and surveyed the room. “Speaking of fools, Lord Oliver appears to be in his cups and with little to show for it.”
The number of counters and coins on the table in front of his lordship was pitifully small. Nick snorted. “Idiot. This is what comes of giving a man too much money and no responsibility.”
Hawksworth handed Nick a glass of wine. “Apparently, the good duke has threatened to cut him off unless he marries. Upon which time, he will increase Lord Oliver’s allowance.”
“He should be making his own way.” Nick couldn’t stand the excess he’d seen in London. More than one family had been left destitute because of gambling and other vices.
“But, my dear friend, that is what he intends to do.” Hawksworth raised a black brow. “He plans to marry his way into solvency.”
Nick grabbed his friend’s arm. “Miss Corbet?”
“Mind the jacket.” Hawksworth scowled. “My valet is notoriously fussy, and I don’t wish to lose him.”
