Lady Laugherty's Loves Page 4

  “I want it,” she cried out, as he tugged a little harder.

  “Then you shall have it,” he promised.

  Avery’s hands traveled across her body, up her arms, over her belly, down her back and up again, stroking her the whole time Ellis worshiped her breasts. Goosebumps lifted on her skin. Ellis took her hips in his hands and tugged her lower in the bed. Then spread her knees so he could lie between them. She slowly gave him the space. “Say no, and I’ll leave,” he reminded her as he gently nuzzled the inside of her thigh.

  She very quickly shook her head. He held back his chuckle. She was allowing her senses to overwhelm her proprieties. Thank God.

  She turned her head to look back at Avery as Ellis kissed his way down her stomach.

  “I’m right here, love,” he heard Avery confirm as his hands came back to cup his wife’s breasts again, his long fingers rolling her nipples slowly. “I’m just going to occupy myself with these perfect nipples,” he assured her. “And I’m watching you.”

  She squirmed as Ellis settled between her thighs. He was still fully dressed. Tonight was for her. Not for him. Or them. He rocked his cock once against the mattress. He’d been hard ever since he’d arrived at his cousin’s estate.

  Her fingernails scraped in his hair again as he spread her folds and gazed down at her. She lifted her hips toward his eager mouth, her pretty little curls shining with the dew of her desire. He licked once across the length of her folds. She laid her head back against Avery’s leg, her mouth open as she watched his head dip and rise with each lick. She squirmed her little bottom until he held her still.

  “Do you need something, Olivia?” Ellis asked, barely able to get the words out.

  She nodded frantically. “Yes,” she cried as he slid one finger inside her. Her walls were slick with moisture, her tunnel hot as fire against his finger. He inserted a second finger and she pressed herself down on his hand.

  “Tell me what you need?” he asked.

  “I need to come,” she said softly, almost as though her voice would break from the strain.

  If she needed to come, he would see to it post-haste. He found her clit hidden in the folds at the top of her heat and licked across it hard with the tip of his tongue. Tiny little pants left her mouth as her channel squeezed around his fingers. What he wouldn’t give to have his cock inside her. He rocked against the bed-clothes again. He drew the little nub between his lips and sucked it lightly, allowing his tongue to slide over it in time with each draw against her flesh. Her legs began to quiver beside him as she closed her eyes and lifted to meet the thrusts of his tongue. He gave no quarter, tugging at her flesh with a single-minded purpose.

  Then she broke. Wave after wave of sensation crashed over her as her hips thrust against his hand. He held tightly to her clit, continuing to stroke it with his tongue as she quivered and fluttered around his fingers. She cried out, the sound breathy and strong as she pushed against him, riding out the feeling as long as she could. When her body began to quiet, he slowed his motions, allowing her return to earth in one languid fall. She groaned loudly and laid her arm over her eyes as he pulled his fingers from inside her.

  Ellis crawled up her body until he could look at her face. If he saw regret in her eyes, he’d never forgive himself. But when she uncovered her face and looked at him, she simply smiled a sinful smile and said, “Thank you for the raspberry cream, Ellis.” He laughed and kissed her. He kissed her hard. And she kissed him back. He was raging inside his trousers, his cock painful. He knew he’d never be able to stand up straight and walk from the room, he needed to come so bad.

  This wasn’t the time for her to take him inside her. He was still earning her trust. So, he simply moved to the side and sat beside her, lifted a hand to stroke her hair as Avery shifted from beneath her and rolled to lie between her legs. He entered her in one solid stroke that pushed her higher in the bed. She cried out, raising her legs to wrap around his waist. Ellis made a move to scoot away, to give them this time, but she reached for the fall of his trousers, instead.

  She couldn’t even speak as Avery stroked her higher and higher, and she had to raise her arms to hold on to him, his strokes were so strong. So, Ellis took himself in hand and stroked in time to their movements, each second wishing it was he who was inside her.

  He was close. So close. His balls tightened with the need to spill. That’s when she finally cried out as Avery told her low and quiet in her ear that he was coming inside her, coming so hard for her. Then he grunted and spent himself inside her. And Ellis came in his hand. She cried out again and again as Avery wrung every last bit of orgasm from her. Then she lay motionless beneath him. Avery pulled out of her and flopped heavily onto his side next to her, his arms snaking around her waist. Ellis crossed to the wash stand and washed his hands. Then moved to go through the door that connected the two suites. He wasn’t certain what to do with himself at that point.

  “Ellis,” she called out, her voice sated and raspy with desire. “Don’t go.”

  He turned back to them and crossed to look down at her, wiping her sweaty brow with the tips of his fingers. “Did you need something?” he asked softly. A piece of him was physically hurting at the thought of having to leave her.

  But then she mumbled in a sleepy little voice, “Stay.” She reached for his hand and locked her fingers in his, then gently tugged him toward her. Ellis looked at Avery who inclined his head and smiled slowly. Ellis lay down beside her and dropped his arm around her waist, just below Avery’s. “You two do good work,” she said, a grin splitting her lips. Then she settled and, within seconds, she was asleep, her mouth hanging open slightly, beautiful in after-intercourse splendor.

  Five

  Olivia blinked hard at the light that filtered through the drapes and groaned loudly, reaching for Avery beside her. Instead, she found an empty space. She sat up on her elbows to look around, and was startled to find Ellis on the opposite side of where Avery usually slept. He lay on his side, fully clothed, but rumpled in a way that can only be achieved by sleeping in one’s evening attire. His head rested in his palm, his elbow extended to allow him to lie flat.

  “Good morning,” he said, his voice rough from sleep as he gazed down at her, his eyes sweeping down her body, which was only covered by a thin counterpane. Oh, dear.

  Memories of the night before crashed over her like waves lash at the shore. She closed her eyes tightly and squeaked out, “Good morning.”

  He chuckled lightly.

  “Where’s Avery?” she asked, more discomfited by Ellis’ slow perusal than she’d ever been by anything.

  “He said he needed to attend to your houseguests. He mumbled something about needing to be present at breakfast as he got dressed, since you were still in bed.”

  “He’s not his best in the mornings,” Olivia admitted.

  “Never has been,” Ellis agreed.

  Olivia fidgeted with the covers a bit, very unsure of what should happen next.

  “Do you regret last night, Olivia?” Ellis asked, his voice as dark as his eyes as he watched her face closely, his eyes darting from her nose to her mouth and back up to her eyes.

  “Umm,” she hedged. Did she? She didn’t think so, but she was quite uncertain of what happened now.

  “Do you remember last night, Olivia?” he asked, his voice a little stronger.

  “Of course, I remember it,” she protested. She remembered everything. She remembered the way he drew her nipple between his lips. The way he’d spread her thighs and slipped between them. The way he’d made her come harder than she’d ever come in her life using nothing more than his mouth and hands. He and Avery together, of course. But, most of all, she remembered the way she’d felt when he had his arms around her. How he’d looked into her eyes and seen only her. How she felt at home with him. Yes, she most certainly remembered it.

  “You’d had a little wine,” he continued, as he wrapped a lock of her hair around his finger and tugged it gently.
“Or a lot of wine. I’m not certain which.”

  She gritted her teeth and bore his scrutiny. But then she said it. She admitted it. She didn’t decline knowledge of it, although she could have blamed it on the wine. Or the moment. Or any number of other things. “I remember it,” she said, turning her head to look directly at him. The depth of his gaze startled her. He was tremendously serious, more so than she’d ever seen him. She reached up to brush a lock of hair from his forehead, which she’d wanted to do since his arrival at their estate. He smiled and captured her hand in his, then brought it to his lips. “No regrets,” she whispered to him.

  “Oh, thank God,” he groaned aloud, relaxing beside her, finally. “I was worried you’d wake and wonder why you were naked in bed with me and not remember a damn thing.”

  She nibbled on the end of her finger and grinned at him. “I could do that. And then we could recreate last night all over again.”

  He chuckled. “There’s a brave lass.” It was a half-handed compliment, but a compliment none-the-less.

  She turned on her side to face him. “What happens now?” she asked. “How long will you be staying?”

  ***

  Ellis couldn’t breathe there for a moment. How long would he be staying? She thought this was an experience. A way to pass the time at her house party. Which was in direct opposition to what he wanted. He wanted a lifetime.

  “How long do you want me to stay?” he asked quickly, holding his breath as he waited for her answer.

  “The house-party will be over on Friday,” she reminded him. He winced inwardly.

  “I guess I’ll leave on Friday, then,” he said as he sat up and swung his legs out of bed.

  “Ellis,” she called out, then waited for him to turn around. “I need to tell you something.”

  “Yes, Olivia,” he replied.

  Her eyebrows drew together at his tone.

  “I’m not certain I can do the…” She hesitated, as though looking for a word. “I mean, last night was wonderful and I’m glad we got a chance to talk yesterday so I could tell you how I feel, but marriage is between a husband and a wife.” She tilted her head at him, looking confused at her own words. “Isn’t it?”

  He nodded absently. Each word she said was like a knife to his heart. “It’s between a husband and a wife.” He leaned over and kissed her forehead.

  Her shoulders slumped. “So,” she continued, still looking uncomfortable. “Because of that, I think last night is about as far as I can go. I can’t finish it.”

  “Finish it?” Let her squirm. She deserved it.

  “Do… it… with you.”

  “I understand, Olivia,” he said crisply as he stood up and moved to the door that joined the two chambers and stepped through, closing it solidly behind him.

  ***

  Avery hummed a little tune as he took the stairs two at a time. He’d suffered through breakfast with eighteen people he cared very little for while Ellis and Olivia snuggled, and did God knows what else, in their bed upstairs. When he’d left them, Ellis had her tucked close to him, his arms wrapped around her. And Olivia looked like she belonged there. Nothing could have made him happier.

  He blasted through the bedroom door and stopped short. Ellis was gone. And Olivia sat there in the center of the bed, with tears rolling down her face. “What is it?” he asked as he climbed onto the bed and pulled her into his arms. “Where is Ellis?”

  She pointed to the adjoining door and sniffled. “In there.”

  “Oh.” Why in the world would Ellis have left her alone in this state? Unless they’d had a row. “What happened?”

  “I woke up,” she cried out.

  “Olivia, calm down,” he urged. He hated to see her cry.

  “I’m just a big old watering pot,” she cried. “We just had to talk about last night.”

  “You talked about what happened last night?” He hadn’t expected that to happen. Not with him out of the room. “What did you discuss?”

  “He’s leaving on Friday. Friday when everyone else leaves, he’ll be packing his things and leaving.”

  He was? Avery had no idea. Why would he do something so idiotic? Right when Olivia was beginning to trust him? “I thought he would be staying on for a bit.” In fact, Avery was going out of town the next week, and had hoped Ellis could entertain Olivia while he was gone. It would give them some time to kindle their relationship as well.

  “He’s not.” She sniffed.

  “I’ll talk to him, love,” he said, stroking her hair. “Maybe you misunderstood.” He sighed heavily. “I’d expected to come into the room and find him making love to you, honestly. Not to find you here crying your eyes out.”

  She sniffed again. “I wouldn’t do that to you, Avery.”

  Now he was confused. “Do what?”

  “Have relations with Ellis. I would never do that to you. You can trust me to be faithful.”

  He caught her face in his hands and tipped it up so he could look into the hazel depths. “You can be faithful and still sleep with Ellis, love,” he said slowly, watching her face as he spoke.

  She sat back a little to look at him firmly. “No. We’re married. I would never do that. Last night was different because you were there, and I didn’t let him… you know.”

  “No, I don’t know. Please explain it.” He realized how clipped his tone was and pressed himself to lighten it.

  “We didn’t complete the act.” She blushed furiously.

  “And you and Ellis, you discussed this?” he asked. The details were all sliding into place, like tumblers in a lock.

  She nodded as she wiped her nose on a corner of the counterpane. He should have offered her a handkerchief. But he was simply too stunned.

  “Olivia, do you think I would be jealous if Ellis made love to you? Or if you made love to him?” He watched her closely.

  “You would be furious, wouldn’t you?” She looked perplexed.

  “Love, I would be delighted,” he said with a chuckle.

  “How could that be?” she questioned. “I would have to forsake our vows.”

  He laughed low, because he couldn’t prevent it. She didn’t understand at all. “And you’d make new vows with me and Ellis, together.”

  “There’s no ceremony for that,” she reasoned.

  “Tell that to the houseguests we have in residence right now.”

  “Beg your pardon?”

  “Liv, the people who are here this weekend are all people who share the same lifestyle as we do. Or that I’d hoped we would.”

  “Lifestyle?”

  “They’re in committed relationships, the three of them. They have been, for most of them, for years and years. And they make it work.”

  “I am so confused, Avery,” she said as she gave up and flopped against the pillows.

  “They are people we know, from before I met you. Ellis knows them all.”

  “Intimately?” she asked, her pert little nose scrunching up.

  “No, you silly widgeon. They’re intimate within their own circle. And they’re committed to one another. Take the Duke and Duchess of Belgarden for example. They’re traveling with Lady Charlotte. And they all have relations together.” Avery didn’t even want to visualize that, but if it helped prove his point... “And Lord and Lady Southerby. They have Mr. Derwise with them. They have children together.”

  “She doesn’t know who the father is. She told me yesterday.”

  “They both are,” he informed her then sat back to wait for her face to scrunch up.

  “And that’s all right with them?” She patted his leg as though the idea excited her. Her voice grew husky. “You’d like for Ellis to possibly get me with child?”

  He shrugged. “It wouldn’t bother me. The children would be mine in name. But all of ours in heart.”

  “I see…” she said slowly. “So, all along, you and Ellis set out to,” she stopped to lift her hand so she could begin ticking items off on her fingers, “One – ove
rwhelm me with your seduction techniques. Two – invite other couples who share similar lifestyles so I can see how it works for them, and Three – you tricked me!” She cried out the last and smacked his arm.

  “You needn’t do me bodily harm, Olivia,” he laughed. Then he forced himself to sober. “If I didn’t think you could love Ellis, and I felt like a part of you already did, I never would have invited him here, or any of the rest of them, for that matter.”

  “Why don’t you become proprietary as most husbands would when it comes to sharing me?”

  He mulled it over. “I don’t know.”

  “If it wasn’t Ellis, would it be someone else?” she asked directly.

  “God, no,” he assured her. “Ellis is the only one I’d ever trust with your health and happiness. I expect you to love him. And for him to love you.” He glanced at the closed door. “Did he say where he was going, by the way?”

  “No. Not a word.” But now she felt ridiculous for the things she’d said to him. She’d thought she was being faithful, but, in truth, she was hurting Ellis.

  “I’ll go and find him. You get dressed. There are some wounds that need to be tended.”

  Six

  Olivia nervously nibbled on her fingernail as she glanced toward the door of the ballroom. Her gaze had been riveted there most of the night, as she waited for Ellis to appear. Avery caught her gaze from across the room and shrugged his shoulders. She’d been certain he’d attend their small, slightly informal ball since it was the last official night of the house party.

  Olivia surveyed the room with new eyes. She could now see the level of care each of the threesomes paid to one another. Lord and Lady Southerby danced together, love shining in their eyes. Then the set ended, and Mr. Derwise approached to take her hand. Lord Southerby kissed her hand and passed her off to the gentleman, who drew her into his arms. She went there as though she belonged to him, because she did.

  A voice at her elbow drew her attention. “Lady Laugherty,” Viscount Sherwood said as he inclined his head. “A dance?” He held out his hand.