“That was certainly impressive,” Charlotte mused.
Dotty lifted her eyes to the ceiling for a moment, then glanced at Dom who was staring at the door in horror. “My lord, I believe you are blushing.”
“Flushed,” he croaked. “It’s warm in here.”
“Is it?” She stroked his cheek. “I am rather chilly.”
Dom lowered his head to hers and claimed her lips once more. “I shall see what I can do about that.”
He kissed her so deeply, her toes curled and seemed to leave the floor. The next thing she knew, her back was against the wall.
His deep voice washed over her like a warm wave. “Thea, I want you.”
Lord, yes. “I want you as well.”
She reached up, pressing her lips to his. His fingers stroked her breasts and deep frissons of pleasure pierced her. The place between her thighs throbbed, and she moaned. Cool air wafted around her legs as Dom’s hand caressed her calf, moving up to her garters, then to the bare skin of her thigh.
He broke their kiss. “Thea?”
“Yes.” Her breath came so fast, she could scarcely breathe.
Dom’s fingers stroked her mons, making it hot and wet. Her hips tilted toward him, urging him to deepen his caresses. Then his finger entered her. Oh God! Nothing, not even his previous caresses, had prepared her for this. This exquisite need and desire. The finger dipped in and out, then a second one was added. An excruciating tension grew and the throbbing increased. She tried to thrash her head, but he held her to the kiss. Finally, finally, it crested, making her tremble in relief, and she flew apart in his hands.
He picked her up as if she weighed no more than one of the kittens, cradling her to him as he sank down on the sofa. Holding her on his lap, he pressed soft kisses on her jaw and neck. When he reached the neckline of her bodice, his tongue traced the edge until he reached the crevice between her breasts. There his tongue licked lightly, just enough to give her a hint of the pleasure he’d give her later. Though not that much later if she had her way.
When he stopped, she stifled an unladylike urge to scream.
“I should tell you, I have found a place to move the ladies until the house in Richmond is ready.”
She peered at him closely, only to ensure herself that he hadn’t gone from kissing her to discussing their project without any ill effects. Fortunately for him, a shine of sweat covered his forehead and his breathing was labored.
“Dom.”
He stared straight forward as if he was unable to look at her. “I should not have done what I did. I don’t know what came over me.”
She remembered what her grandmother had told her about Bradford and Vivers men. Was he fighting his natural tendencies? If so, was it because of his uncle? “Grandmamma told me about your father—”
“I am not my father,” he growled, moving her from his lap to the sofa. “Please make my apologies about dinner. I must leave.”
What in the name of Heaven had come over him? “I’ll see you at the Smyth ball?”
“Yes, most likely.”
He strode to the door and stopped. “I’m sorry.”
Dom opened the door and closed it behind him.
“So am I.” Searching for some clue as to his behavior, she leaned back against the cushions and tried to piece together everything she knew about both branches of the Bradford-Vivers family. Grandmamma had said they were passionate with the women they loved—so much so that the Bradford ancestor who had fallen in love with the Vivers lady who was a countess in her own right, had changed his last name—but there was always only one woman. Dotty’s mother had once said that old Lord Worthington was never the same after his first wife’s death because he had loved her so much. Matt and Grace were also very much in love and were not at all reticent about showing it. Had Dom’s parents been the same? Dotty touched her lips. If he felt that way about her, why did he stop himself?
What did he have against his father, and who could tell her? Dom was clearly not going to. And why did he have to be so infuriating?
* * *
Dom dashed down the back stairs as quickly as he’d come up them. Something had to be wrong with him. Every time he was with Thea he lost all control of himself. The minute he had entered the parlor, he’d seen only her. What a spectacle he’d made of both of them. Yet, even that hadn’t stopped him from ravishing her.
He was at the garden gate, before he slowed down. He would not be like his father. That kind of love brought too much sorrow. It was bad for his family and his estate. He prayed his mother had some other entertainment planned for this evening. He didn’t want to see Thea. Or rather, he did wish to see her. Too much. For the first time he was glad her parents hadn’t arrived. To have her in his house, so close, would be more temptation than he could bear.
When he reached the stables, he found his horses had been groomed and unhitched from the curricle.
