Page 100 of Irresistible
Not too soon, Dougal hoped.
Why wasn’t he here yet?
Jess paced her bedchamber and checked the clock. It was precisely five minutes since the last time she’d looked. Surely, he should be here by now. It was nearly two, and they’d been home for hours.
Thankfully, her father had gone directly to his study without a word. Jess felt bad, as if she’d let him down. Because she had. What young lady secretly left town to see if she and her potential husband might suit?
Not Jessamine. But she couldn’t tell them the truth, not without revealing that which she’d pledged to never disclose.
Her mother, on the other hand, had talked nearly nonstop since they’d left the Ringshalls’. First, she’d asked why Jess had let her advocate a courtship with Lord Gregory instead of telling her about Dougal. Jess had—lamely—said she was just trying to avoid an argument, particularly when she knew her betrothal to Dougal would happen imminently.
That had been the one time her father had spoken on the way home. He’d said that was just one of many errors. Mother had rushed to settle him, saying they must focus on the future when Jess would be a viscountess! And someday, a countess! Wasn’t that wonderful!
If the wedding didn’t happen—and Jess wasn’t certain it would—her mother was going to be inconsolable.
Perhaps he wasn’t coming. At least then she could put the candle in the window for Torrance. She hadn’t done it the night before. Not only had she been too exhausted when Dougal had left, she’d reasoned it was too late. She hadn’t done it tonight either, not when she expected Dougal. She had no idea what would happen after she set up the signal. Would Torrance arrive at her door as Dougal had? Or would he contact her in the light of day? It irritated her that she didn’t know. This was yet another reason she wasn’t certain she was a good candidate for working for the Foreign Office. She didn’t like not knowing what to expect.
At last, she heard a creak outside her door. She knew precisely where Dougal had stepped to make that noise.
Hurrying, she opened the door before he could. “I was afraid you weren’t coming.”
He moved past her, and she pressed the door closed. Turning, she saw that he was no longer dressed in his ballroom finery. Pity, for he’d looked incredibly handsome in his impressively starched cravat and embroidered emerald waistcoat.
“You changed your clothing.” She hadn’t meant to say that out loud. It was absolutely inconsequential.
“So did you.” His gaze swept over her with a heat that penetrated every part of her. She was suddenly not remotely interested in discussing anything, least of all their clothing.
Their eyes locked, and she saw her arousal reflected in his. They came together quickly, clasping each other as their mouths connected in a desperate, rapturous kiss. This was everything she wanted—this irresistible attraction that neither of them could deny.
He shrugged out of his coat as she steered him back to the cushioned bench at the foot of her bed. Stumbling on the garment, he fell back onto the bench, breaking their kiss. Jess lifted her dressing gown and straddled him, putting her knees on either side of his hips. He clasped her waist as she lowered her mouth to claim his in another searing kiss.
Grinding down, she felt his rigid cock against her sex, separated only by his clothing. Before she could remedy the situation, he moved one of his hands to unbutton his fall. Lust arced through her like lightning across a dark night sky.
She palmed the back of his head, kissing him deeply as he guided his shaft into her. He drove hard and fast, making her gasp into his mouth. Then he was pulling at her dressing gown, unfastening the front before shoving it from her in reckless abandon. One hand returned to her waist, squeezing her through the linen of her night rail while the other cupped her breast.
Sensation overwhelmed her as she fought to retain control. She didn’t want to spin into oblivion yet, but she was so very close. Breaking their kiss, he put his mouth on her breast, suckling her through her night rail. She cried out, then slapped her hand over her mouth before she woke the entire household.
Desperate for release and knowing it was so near, she gripped his shoulders and rode him with a furious precision. He thrust his hands beneath her night rail and grasped her hips, guiding her as he rose to fill her with long, fast strokes. His fingertips dug into her backside, massaging her and manipulating her so that she felt more open to him than ever before.
The pleasure pounding through her reached a swift and shattering crescendo as she came in a torrent. “Don’t leave me,” she managed to say, rasping against his ear.
To punctuate her demand, she held him more tightly and pressed down harder, taking him deep inside her. He made a low, guttural sound just before he captured her mouth with his. He held her fast as his orgasm swept through him. She reveled in the feel of him shuddering beneath and around her.
He pulled back, gasping as he drew deep breaths. She did the same, moving her slick thighs against his as their bodies began to calm.
“You’re still wearing your cravat,” she observed, finding that somewhat humorous.
“You are fascinatingly distracted by my wardrobe this evening,” he mused.
“It’s easier than addressing the necessary.” She looked away, feeling sheepish. Then she climbed off him, moving quickly before he could hold her.
She went to her dressing area, where there was a basin behind a screen. After tidying up, she emerged to see him buttoned up and standing with one hand on the chair that sat at her desk.
“We must address the necessary,” he said. “Whatever that means. What happened at the ball tonight?”
Jess went to perch on the side of her bed. She wished she’d grabbed her dressing gown. She felt dreadfully exposed, and perhaps a bit embarrassed after the way they’d fallen on each other. “You were there.”
“I mean, why did you announce our betrothal? You refused me.”
