Page 58 of Irresistible
After a while, when he was on his second glass of brandy, she finally looked up, the lines between her brows in place once more. “This can’t be right.”
Before he could get up to look at it, she moved from the desk to the table. She slid the paper with her deciphered message across the top, then picked up the brandy for a long drink. He started to read.
My darling, I can’t wait for your touch. I burn for the pleasure only you can give me. My breasts are heavy and tingling, desperate for your mouth. Deliver me into rapture as only you can.
Dougal looked up at her weary face. “It’s a…love letter?”
“That one is. So I tried one written in the other hand—Gil’s. Turn the paper over.”
He slowly flipped it, apprehensive as to what he might find.
My beloved minx, I can hardly wait to plunge deep into your wet sex, to feel you tighten around me, strangling my flesh until we both reach our climax. Then I will spill my seed upon your thighs
Dougal stopped reading because that was all there was and looked over at her. “Does the letter just stop?”
Her cheeks were an alluring shade of pale pink. “No, but I’m familiar enough with the key now that I can see what these letters are, and they arenotsecrets or intelligence for the French.”
“I realize these are…private.” What he really meant was titillating, but saying that word seemed as though it might be throwing fuel on the fire. “You need to fully decipher them.”
“But I know what they say!” she argued.
“Still, we need to be certain. Give me the key, and I’ll help.”
Grunting in frustration, she fetched the key and a second quill along with fresh parchment. They worked together at the table for some time until all four letters were completely written out.
“These are nothing more than love letters,” he said, staring in disbelief at their work. Jess’s work—she deserved all the credit. “Sex letters, really.”
“Rather graphic ones at that.” She sat back in the chair and sipped her brandy. “I don’t even know what some of these things mean.” Her face turned an even brighter shade of pink, and Dougal wondered if that had happened on the beach when she’d asked him to explain about the climax.
“They are the most sexually obsessed couple,” she said, not meeting his eyes.
“It seems to work well for them,” he quipped. “They appear quite happy.”
“Indeed. I’m just surprised they don’t have a dozen children by now.”
Dougal picked up his brandy. “There are things that can be done in order to prevent having children.”
Now her gaze shot to his. “There are?”
“Er, yes.” Dougal realized he could give her an entire education, and he had to admit he was sorely tempted to do so.
She scooted forward in the chair and set her glass back on the table. “What does this mean now that we know the letters aren’t about anything nefarious? Unless there is some code based entirely upon sexual acts.”
Dougal laughed. “I doubt that. It means we have no real evidence to prove the Chesmores are French spies. We can confirm the letters aren’t secrets, and we can explain Gil’s obsession with French and his penchant for exaggeration and embellishment. I am now, shockingly, inclined to believe they are not spies. Do you disagree?”
She shook her head. “They aren’t remotely secretive. They’d be terrible spies.”
He chuckled again. “Yes.”
She sagged back against the chair. “The entire mission was pointless. It feels like such a waste of time.”
“Not at all. I’ve conducted many of these types of investigations, and I’ve concluded several suspected people were not, in fact, spies. This is not terribly unusual.”
“Have you ever been wrong?” she asked. “Did any of the people you found not to be spies turn out to be spies after all?”
“No.” He sincerely hoped that wouldn’t be the case here either. But he doubted that very much. “We were charged with investigating the Chesmores, and we have completed our duty. It wasn’t time wasted at all. If nothing else, I got to know you and show you what it means to work for the Foreign Office. Do you really think it was without benefit?”
“Not entirely. I have enjoyed working with and learning from you. I do have one regret, however.”
