Page 80 of The Lord Next Door
“Breathe, David.”
He frowned down at Victoria as she drew him to the balustrade, then slipped behind a tall column, shielding them from any curious people near the door.
She tried to fan him with her hand, her laughter swelling her breasts rather dangerously in that gown. Under the moonlight, her skin glowed, her eyes flashed.
“I think I’m breathing well enough,” he said.
“Good.”
And then she pulled his head down and kissed him. The shock of her softly parted lips against his inflamed a desire for her that had become so much a part of him that he didn’t question it any longer. He drew her against him, groaning at the pressure of her full breasts against his chest.
Victoria’s senses floundered. She was pressed up against her husband, who held her as if he might never let her go. His mouth was so gentle at first, as always, light kisses against her lips. She felt the prickly brush of his chin, heard his groan that echoed her own. She didn’t care where she was, or who might be watching her.
All she cared about was that David was kissing her back—an unplanned, spontaneous burst of passion practically in public. It satisfied her right down to her toenails.
And then he nipped at her lips, and when she parted them in surprise, his tongue swept into her mouth, and she could taste him in a way that made every intimate act they’d shared before seem incomplete. The way he licked deep inside her made her shudder with an urgent need for more. His mouth clashed with hers, opening, parting, almost drinking from her. After sweeping his hands down her body, he pulled her hips against his. There were too many garments between them to feel much, but she reveled in this rare sensation of being wanted.
“Thurlow!” a voice called from far away. “I saw you come out here.”
David ended the kiss, lifting his head but not releasing her. She swayed into him, and he smiled with a look of satisfaction and promise.
“This isn’t over,” he said in a low, rumbling tone that set off an answering vibration deep inside her.
How she loved what his voice could do to her.
She clutched his sleeves before he could release her. “David, can I face somebody like this?”
He cupped her face in his gloved hands, and she wished for the feeling of his skin against hers.
“You look like a wife, my wife. And besides, it’s only Simon.” He guided her away from the balustrade.
Lord Wade was walking toward them, his stride as jaunty as his manner. She couldn’t read his eyes in the moonlight, but his grin was wicked.
“Lady Thurlow,” he said, “your husband dragged you from the room before I could say hello.”
She smiled. “Hello, Lord Wade. And I wasn’t dragged. I came quite willingly.”
“Yes, married ladies have all the fun,” Lord Wade answered.
“You know that as well,” David said dryly.
Victoria stared in shock at Lord Wade, who only laughed.
“Ah, David, any married ladies sneaking off with me do so quite willingly.”
“Just remember the ‘willing’ part.”
Lord Wade put a hand dramatically on his chest. “Why Lord Thurlow, is that a threat? You’ve somewhere acquired a married man’s jealousy.” He glanced at Victoria. “Not that I blame you.”
“Lord Thurlow has no need for jealousy,” Victoria said. “And this conversation is silly. Shall we go inside?”
She took David’s arm and was satisfied when Lord Wade fell into place at her side.
As they entered the ballroom, no one seemed to be watching them. The orchestra was playing, and couples were jostling for position on the dance floor.
“Do you have a dance card?” Lord Wade asked.
David answered, “No” before she could even open her mouth. And then her husband swept her into a waltz that had almost the same intimacy as their kiss. She was floating through the air, as if her feet didn’t need to touch the floor. David looked at her with smoldering eyes, full of promise that the night was nowhere near over.
