Page 23 of An Innocent Little Scandal (Sensual Scandals)

* * *

Miles hatedhimself for teasing poor Lady Olivia like this, but her face had lit up the moment she’d walked into this room, and he found himself quite spellbound by her passion. Instantly, sordid images of them intertwined in his guest bedchamber had drifted into his consciousness and he’d been unable to push them aside. His focus had been on the lady in the library, rather than the extravagant grandeur around him. He had always enjoyed reading, but when it came to seducing this blond temptress before him or opening a book, he found her infinitely more appealing.

He had eschewed much female companionship since he had returned home from the war, and until he could understand what made this woman so different, he wasn’t sure he could keep his distance. That had been his plan, of course, but looking into her lovely, green eyes, those lips parted slightly and waiting for his kiss, he found it impossible to deny either of them something they both wanted so desperately.

A quick taste. That’s all Miles would allow, and then he would end the embrace just like he had at the inn.

But when sparks shot through his body the moment their lips met, he groaned in the back of his throat. He feared that this ‘taste’ of her wouldn’t be enough to satisfy him, but he refused to let it go any further than this, as much as he might want it to. She wasn’t one of the temporary doxies he dallied with when his body’s urges forced him to seek willing female companionship. Lady Olivia was an innocent, a woman who deserved more from him than a quick tup and a coin on her nightstand. She deserved to be cherished, adored—and loved, something he didn’t have in his power to offer her. He was too broken, too bruised from his past to dare to gentle his heart again.

But that didn’t mean he couldn’t enjoy these few, stolen moments now.

He wound his arms around Olivia and pulled her closer to his chest. She gasped and he slipped his tongue into her mouth. He could feel her body start to respond, as she melted into him.

Miles couldn’t resist her. He slid one of his hands around until he brushed the underside of her breast. When she didn’t immediately push him away, he dared to move higher until he covered her with his palm. He could feel a shiver pass through her as she moved her mouth away from his. He thought she was going to berate him, but she surprised him by saying breathlessly, “Touch me, please. I want to feel your hands on me.”

His body imploded. His cock hardened to the point of pain at her plea and while he told himself this wasn’t going to get out of control, he couldn’t tell her no. Her sweet words undid him, so he gently tugged down a section of her gown. Her stays were easily manipulated so that he could free one of her aching peaks. He rubbed his palm over the tip and her head fell back on a moan. Miles’s cock twitched anxiously in his trousers as he bent down and took her nipple into his mouth. He massaged the quivering flesh as he laved it with his tongue, giving it a little nip as he did so. Her body jerked in response and her legs moved restlessly beneath her skirts.

He closed his eyes momentarily, for his honor was being sorely tested. He wanted to remove every stitch of her clothing and sink himself into her wet heat, but he wasn’t so deprived that he would devour her in the library like some sort of hungry beast. But that didn’t mean he couldn’t give her a taste of the pleasure he yearned to give her.

His breathing grew heavy as he slid his hand beneath the hem of her gown. He rubbed his palm along the exposed skin of her thigh and saw her bite her lip in reply. “More,” she begged.

Miles could feel a trickle of perspiration trail down his spine as he moved his palm closer to the heart of her desire. The moment he touched her he was nearly unmanned, for she was slick and eager for him. He closed his eyes and set his forehead against hers as he began to slide his fingers along the seam between her curls. When he inserted a finger into her tight passage, she reached up and gripped his shoulders with a roll of her hips. Miles nearly fell to his knees, but he forced himself to remain upright as she started to ride his hand, her natural instincts bringing her closer to the precipice of her pleasure.

“Something’s… happening…” she panted.

Every nerve ending and muscle in his body tensed in anticipation as his movements quickened. “Enjoy the sensation and let yourself go. Give in to it. Give in tome.”

The moment his command was spoken, he sucked greedily on her breast. Almost instantly, her entire body flexed and tightened, and then she shuddered as she found her release. Miles waited until she was completely lax, ensuring that he had wrung every last bit of enjoyment from her body, before he reluctantly removed his hand and covered her breast from his greedy gaze. His cock throbbed painfully, but he ignored his own discomfort as he looked at her flushed face. She was leaning heavily against the bookshelves with a dazed expression. Her green eyes were glazed when they opened to look at him.

“Mr. Stone… I…”

It was the sound of his family name, andnothis title or given name, that shoved Miles back into reality and out of the haze of this sensual fantasy world he’d temporarily lost himself in. He held up a hand. “Don’t say anything. I regret that I got caught up in the moment. It won’t happen again.” His voice was more raspy than usual as he took a step back and glanced away. “I think it would be best if we finished our tour another time.”

He turned on his heel and quit the room.

* * *

Olivia wasn’tsure what to do next. Mr. Stone left so abruptly after he’d brought her to such an earth-shattering apex, that now she was quite uncertain what to do with herself. Her thoughts were a jumbled mess, for while she knew nothing permanent could ever occur between her and Mr. Stone, the feelings she had just experienced were unlike anything she’d ever known before. Her body had responded in ways she hadn’t thought possible, and she was reluctant to relinquish that power. Even now, her body still hummed in the aftermath.

She absently reached up and touched the pendant around her neck. She knew that she was compromised at this point—and most certainly would have been if they had been caught—but she wasn’t fully marred. She wasn’t quite so naïve as to believe that she had lost her virginity. Perhaps there were other ways she could engage with Mr. Stone without fear of a reprisal. So long as she remained intact…

Olivia huffed a frustrated breath and put a hand to her forehead. Was she actually pondering whether or not she should be this man’sparamour? Surely she was mad to be considering such a dangerous path. She barely even knew the man! Even if she were to consider an arrangement that wouldn’t lead to complete ruination, should anyone learn that she was dallying with a commoner, of all people, she would be shunned from polite society. No matter how intrigued she was to explore this new, carnal side of herself, she would not injure her sisters like that. Araminta might be spared the scandal that would arise from such an affair, but since Isadora and Calliope were still intent on making their own way as independent women, it would surely extinguish any hope that they might have.

While Olivia had never considered herself to be selfish, she was certainly falling into that category now. All it had taken was a handsome smile and she was willing to throw everything away. Should the new heir learn of her behavior, there would be no hope when it came to remaining at Marlington Hall.

She stiffened her shoulders. If there was anything that put her attraction to Mr. Stone into perspective, it was the threat of being thrown out of her home.

Thus, Olivia thrust the encounter from her mind and headed for the kitchens. There was work to be done that she should not be neglecting as the current mistress of the house. Perhaps if the new Duke of Marlington were to see how effortless she had taken care of the manor until his arrival, then he would be more inclined to allow her to remain without complaint.

* * *

Miles considered not joiningOlivia in the dining hall that evening. He had taken a tray in the study for luncheon, as well as afternoon tea, so it certainly wouldn’t be amiss if he were to bow out now.

Except thathewould know, as well as the reason that he was too much of a coward to face her.

He snorted in contempt.Ridiculous. He had been a part of His Majesty’s forlorn hope during the Siege of San Sebastián, had volunteered for the suicidal mission to make it past enemy lines and reach the French trenches. He saw his countrymen fall all around him as he pushed his way forward and nearly reached victory before he was cut down by an enemy sword. It was a blow meant to kill, not maim, but Miles had survived somehow. He had come back to England a hero but put himself in a self-imposed exile because of his guilt for living when so many had been just as honorable. They were men who had hoped to gain favor in the eye of the Crown from some misdeed or another when Miles was only there to tempt fate, to see if he was truly worthy of everything he’d been granted in this life. While he had cheated death once, those doubts he’d harbored for so long still swirled in his mind.

He set aside his quill and rose to his feet. He wasn’t going to let his attraction to Lady Olivia direct him any longer.

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