Page 13 of Reforming the Rakish Marquess

Jude sat in Juliana’s drawing room in disbelief at all she shared, and in even more disbelief that he agreed to her request. He still wasn’t certain why he had. Of course, he was a man who found a beautiful woman attractive and desirable. And his notice of her was more attraction than he’d had in quite some time.

Hopefully, she hadn’t noticed the reaction his cock had to the notion of being with her, although that was the point of the arrangement. But the whole affair would complicate his life. It was enticing to think about bedding a woman for the pleasure of it and not only to evade his torment, but he couldn’t have her developing feelings for him. He could never be a true suitor to her, and he wasn’t certain she might not grow to see him as such.

He knew he should have said no and walked away, but somehow he couldn’t. When she spoke of Lygon or any other man she may entertain, something else took over within him. He wouldn’t stand for any of the widow chasers of the ton to get their hands on her. Someone had to protect her, so why not him?

Sighing, he spoke again. “There must be rules.”

“Of course. I understand,” she replied. “This should be an agreeable arrangement for both of us. What did you have in mind?”

“There will be no feelings between us. I have no intention of marrying. Ever. This is purely for physical enjoyment for as long as it pleases us both.” It was imperative she understood that rule most of all.

She nodded. “I quite agree.”

He continued, “We shall begin slowly. I am still not convinced it is the right thing for me to take your virginity, but I can show you other things to give you a chance to decide if that should be enough.”

“I appreciate your concern,” she started, “but I ask that you let me decide what is best for me in that regard. But starting with other things gives me the chance to be certain of that decision, so I am in agreement. Is there anything else?”

She was going to be the death of him. He still couldn’t believe he agreed to such madness. His cock fought against his breeches. He could not remember the last time he had such attraction and desire for a woman, and he didn’t want to contemplate anything about why that could be. His experiences as of late were reduced to a mere matter of need to calm his broken soul. Something primal within him caused his lust to surge, and he attempted to push aside the guilt that he was lusting after one of his dearest friends.

“We must keep this secret,” he said. “If anyone suspected anything had occurred between us, it would appear on every scandal sheet. That means I can’t be seen visiting your home. I must sneak in at night under the cover of darkness.”

She nodded. “I agree with all of your conditions.”

His cock refused to relent, which was unfortunate, since it would receive no release there in the lady’s drawing room in the middle of the afternoon. The hard line in his breeches was quite noticeable if she were to take notice.

“Very well,” he said.

“Might we begin now?” she asked suddenly. “I mean, you are already here, and surely there is something you might show me which could ease my need.”

Jude almost choked at her words. He recovered and shifted in his seat to adjust himself. The bulge had become increasingly more uncomfortable. “Um…Yes, there is. Are you certain?”

The wicked smile that formed on her face could have undone him. “I am certain.”

He swallowed hard. “You must lock the door.” What was he doing? He ought to call the whole thing off and then go home to masturbate before he made any other questionable decisions.

She rose to do as he said, and his gaze remained fixed on the sway of her hips when she moved and what treasures would lie beneath the fabric of her gown. After she locked the door, she returned to stand before him. “What should I do?” Any resolve he might have had to walk away from their agreement evaporated into thin air and he lost control of his remaining good sense.

“Have you ever touched yourself?” The mental images of her doing so did nothing to ease the ache between his thighs.

“Touched myself how? What do you mean?” she asked.

Jude didn’t feel confident in his ability to stand at that moment. He wasn’t sure he ever had the privilege of giving a woman their first climax, and it thrilled him far more than it should.

He patted his thighs. “Turn around and sit on my lap. I’m going to teach you how to pleasure yourself. You may find this knowledge suits your needs. If you don’t wish to continue after this, I will understand.” His cock, on the other hand, might not be so agreeable.

She did as he said and looked over her shoulder at him. She was beautiful. If he were honest with himself, she was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen, and he wasn’t sure how he had never noticed it before. He had never noticed how bright her blue eyes were looking at him through her long lashes, or how her light brown hair would fall to the middle of her back in waves if he were to release it, or how full her pink lips were.

He certainly had never thought to kiss her before, and he pushed such thoughts aside. Their arrangement wasn’t one that included kissing. At least not on the lips. Kissing her was out of the question.

“What do I do now, Jude?” she asked, biting her bottom lip.

There was no way she didn’t feel his cock throbbing beneath her. Her question snapped him back to focus on what he was about to do, and he loved the way his name sounded coming from her lips. She had to have said his name hundreds of times, but that time, he heard it differently.

“Lift your skirts up all the way up around your waist and lean back against me.”

She smelled like lilacs, and he closed his eyes, sniffing her hair when she laid her head back on his shoulder. They were almost cheek to cheek. She bunched her skirts up and he regretted his decision to pick a position that would prevent him from seeing what was beneath them. He would have to rely only on his sense of touch, and the way she reacted to him.

“If I do anything you don’t like. You must tell me to stop, and I will.”