“No,” he conceded.

  Her smile widened. “Then we are in agreement.”

  “That you are going to do all in your power seduce me this evening?”

  Georgiana’s eyes sparkled with happiness. “Does that not sound like a delicious adventure?”

  It did.

  Magnificently so.

  Nor could Julian claim to be in any way averse to the idea of having a woman openly show how much she wanted him.

  Annabel’s coldness toward him during their marriage had stripped his emotions until they felt raw and exposed, with the result that he had begun to doubt his ability to still be attractive to any woman.

  Those feelings of uncertainty had included questioning his ability to make love to any woman and be able to give her pleasure.

  Georgiana’s honesty about her desire for him had given that all back to him.

  But he also knew it would be pure madness to allow her to seduce him.

  Because he knew he could never settle for kissing Georgiana only once. That he would want to do so again and again. That he did not want to stop at merely kissing her. That he wanted all of her. To kiss. To caress. To taste.

  He had lain awake every night since her arrival, unable to sleep despite the physical release of his self-pleasure. He ached to kiss and suckle Georgiana’s nipples, to lick between her thighs, to drown in the taste of that nectar.

  Indeed, any previous doubts he might have had concerning his ability to make love to a woman had been well and truly dispelled during these past few days of working closely with one who showed no hesitation to reveal her desire for him.

  The same woman Julian desired more than any other.

  More than he ever had his own wife?

  Oh yes.

  There wasn’t a single doubt in Julian’s mind that the love he had once imagined he felt for Annabel had been purely that. A fiction, encouraged and fanned by a display of false emotions toward him on Annabel’s part.

  The reason he knew this, beyond a shadow of a doubt, was because he now knew himself to have fallen deeply in love with Georgiana. A woman so different from Annabel, in both looks and nature, that the deep love he felt for her made a nonsense of anything he might once have thought he felt for Annabel.

  He now believed, as did Georgiana, that he had been deliberately duped as to Annabel’s true nature.

  He was still gathering information as to why she would have done such a thing. Indeed, so far, he had only had his inner conviction and Georgiana’s that this was the case.

  A great part of that belief was fueled by the fact Annabel had taken nothing with her when she disappeared apart from the three pieces of jewelry Julian had presented to her as a wedding gift. Admittedly, the necklace, bracelet, and earbobs were worth many thousands of pounds, but the Moreland emeralds, locked away in a safe at the offices of his lawyer, were worth far more.

  But perhaps that was the point. They were locked away, and only Julian could access them.

  Whatever the reason, the only things Annabel had taken with her were those three pieces of jewelry.

  She certainly had not taken Julian’s heart.

  By the time Annabel left, she no longer held a place in his heart or his thoughts. Indeed, Julian’s initial emotion when she disappeared was relief at no longer having to even try to love a woman who no longer made any pretense of loving him.

  Georgiana had not expressed feeling love for him either, but the warmth of her actions, every sincere word she spoke, revealed that she cared deeply about him.

  It was enough.

  For now.

  “It does indeed sound like a grand adventure,” he finally answered Georgiana. “Except—” He stopped speaking when she placed two fingers gently against his lips.

  “There will be no exceptions,” she told him firmly. “We are going to enjoy each other’s company and let the evening take us where it will.”

  Julian knew, as he gazed into those beautiful blue and determined eyes, that he would happily allow Georgiana to lead him and his heart exactly where she wished them to be.

  Georgiana had never enjoyed an evening as much as the one she spent in Julian’s company.

  Not only because she took advantage of every opportunity she could to touch or smile at him as they ate their meal and chatted. But also because Julian treated her as an equal during those conversations. As if, unlike her own father, Julian considered her opinions to be as valid as his own, if not more so in some cases.

  The latter, she knew, was partly because of the scars Annabel Sotherby had inflicted upon Julian’s heart and his ability to believe anyone could love him.

  Georgiana loved him.

  Deeply.

  She loved the care and attention Julian showed toward his servants, tenants, and their families, all of whom he knew well enough to inquire about by name. An affection which was obviously returned by all of them.

  She already knew his friends in London, primarily the Dukes of St. Albans and Hellsmere, held him in high regard. Just as she knew how difficult it was to attain the respect of those two toplofty gentlemen.

  She loved the attentive way Julian always listened to anything she had to say. Not always to agree with her, but he at least heard her opinion before concurring or explaining why he held a different view.

  Previously, Georgiana’s only real example of conversation between a man and a woman had been what she had seen take place between her mother and father. Occasions when her father would announce his opinions to her mother, and that dear lady would only listen and never dare voice an opinion of her own. The earl’s three daughters, Georgiana amongst them, had not been allowed to join in the conversation at all unless expressly invited to do so by their father. Something the earl never did.

  In stark contrast, Julian encouraged her input and opinions on every subject. From the mutual acquaintances they had in London, to her curiosity about the people living within Moreland Park and his tenants living on the surrounding land and in the nearby small village. All part of the Moreland estate.

  His single-minded attention caused Georgiana’s words and actions to grow bolder as the evening progressed. The two glasses of wine she had consumed with her meal also helped her to dismiss any doubts she might otherwise have felt about touching Julian at every opportunity.

  Besides, she only had to see the way in which the pupils of Julian’s eyes expanded to consume the iris—a sure sign of his arousal—every time she laid her hand on his arm to emphasize a point, to know that he was as affected by their growing intimacy as she was.

  “That will be all, Dalton,” Julian dismissed the butler gruffly once the last of their used plates had been taken away and a decanter of brandy and two glasses, at Julian’s request, had been placed in the center of the table. “You may all retire for the evening. And thank Cook for such a delicious meal.”

  “Very good, Your Grace. Lady Stapleton.” The butler bowed before exiting the dining room.

  Georgiana chuckled the moment she and Julian were left alone together. “What do you think he and the other servants make of our…living arrangement? My impression this evening is that Dalton, at least, is pleased to see you behaving more like old yourself again. Or am I presuming too much with that comment?” she ventured.

  Julian placed one of his hands on top of hers as it rested on the table. “You are not presuming too much. I have never before felt this comfortable in a woman’s company and conversation. Yet at the same time, I feel as if all my emotions are so heightened, they are balanced on a razor’s edge.”

  Georgiana studied his flushed features. “Is that a bad thing?”

  “Indeed, it is not.” He chuckled. “I have never before felt as alive as I do this evening.”

  “I am glad.”

  He held up the decanter in invitation. “Would you care to join me in a glass of brandy?”

  “Yes, please.” She had never drunk brandy before, but she believed she might need a little Dutch courage to proceed with her seduction.

  Making a statement as to that being her intention was one thing; having the courage to carry out that plan was something else entirely. But she believed she had made a good start. Tasting brandy for the first time would certainly not be amiss.

  Except it was…

  “Oh. My. God!” Georgiana managed to choke out after swallowing her first sip.

  Her mouth and throat felt as if they were on fire. That fire exploded in her abdomen when it reached her stomach, tears stinging her eyes as she continued to gasp for breath.

  “Is there anything I can do?” Julian prompted as she continued to wheeze.

  She glared at him as she placed the glass carefully on the table. “Why on earth does anyone drink such an abomination?” She eyed the glass as if it had personally affronted her. Which, in her opinion, it had. “It is disgusting!” she added with a grimace of distaste, her throat continuing to burn.

  Julian poured her a glass of water and held it out. “Drink this instead?”

  She eyed him accusingly as she took the glass and sipped the cool water. It made her throat burn even more for a couple of seconds before soothing the rawness left by the brandy. “I repeat,” she stated as she placed the empty water glass on the table, “why on earth would anyone voluntarily drink something so disgusting?” She glared at the rest of the alcohol still left in her brandy glass.

  Julian grimaced. “Having witnessed your reaction, I believe it must be an acquired taste.” He swallowed his own brandy with obvious enjoyment.

  Acquired or otherwise, Georgiana could now feel the warmth of the alcohol spreading from her abdomen to the rest of her body. One of the positive effects being that she now felt less nervous about kissing Julian.

  Georgiana stood to move around the table. “Sit back, please.” The moment Julian did so, she sat on his muscular thighs, placing one of her arms about his shoulders as she lifted her face to his. “I have been longing to do this all evening,” she confided before pressing her lips against Julian’s.

  He remained tense and unresponsive at first, but then it was as if a dam had burst inside him as his arms moved about her waist and held her tightly against him while his lips tasted and plundered hers.

  Georgiana’s lips parted, inviting deeper intimacy, an invitation Julian accepted.

  They were both breathing hard by the time Julian ended the kiss to press his forehead against hers. “Do you trust me?”

  “Implicitly,” she answered without hesitation.

  “Will you allow me… There is a way we can make love together, to pleasure each other, without…without…”

  “Penetration?” Georgiana supplied.

  He gasped. “Dear God…!”

  She smiled at his obvious shock. “I am not some silly nincompoop who has the vapors when anything in the least intimate or sexual is mentioned,” she assured.

  “I never thought you were,” he assured.

  “I am not experienced in such things myself,” she admitted. “But I do have two friends who are married. And one of them is not in the least discreet when it comes to marital relations.” Chloe Lord, now the Duchess of Hellsmere, had regaled her several times with how glorious physical relations were with her husband. Lily, Duchess of St. Albans, had assured her of the same, but with less detail. “But I should very much like to experience some of those intimacies with you,” she added huskily.

  “Are you absolutely sure?”

  “Absolutely,” she echoed firmly.

  “This cannot be allowed to happen again,” he warned.

  “Then we must enjoy it to the fullest this evening.”

  Julian gave a triumphant groan as he swept her up into his arms before rising easily to his feet. He carried her across the room to place her gently prone on the chaise, situated close to the warmth of the lit fire, before moving to lie on top of her and continuing their interrupted kissing.

  Georgiana moved to better facilitate the movement as Julian unfastened the buttons on the back of her gown. He pulled that material and her chemise down far enough at the front that her breasts were completely bared to his avid gaze, the engorged nipples a deep rose color.

  “So beautiful,” Julian admired before lowering his head to suck one of those nubbins into the heat of his mouth.

  Georgiana’s hands rose so that her fingers could become entangled in his hair as the moist rasp of his tongue caused hot shards of pleasure to course through the whole of her body.

  His lips released that nipple before moving to capture its twin, Georgiana now able to see her wet and swollen nipple. Julian’s hair looked very dark against the paleness of her skin, adding to the eroticism.

  Her back arched the moment she felt the tips of Julian’s fingers breach the entrance to her drawers.

  “You are so deliciously wet,” Julian released her nipple to groan against her throat as those fingers stroked along that length before the soft pad of his thumb settled on the pulsing nubbin above. Stroking her as the tip of one finger penetrated her entrance but did not press any deeper.

  It was enough to send Georgiana over the edge, strong waves of pleasure holding her in their grip for long, ecstatic minutes.

  “Can I see and touch you too?” she pleaded when that release had subsided to mere ripples of pleasure.

  Julian’s eyes were as dark as the darkest emeralds when he looked at her. “Are you sure?”

  “Very.”

  He gave a jerky nod before reaching down to unfasten his pantaloons and drawers. He pushed them down far enough to release his cock.

  Georgiana’s breath caught in her throat, her gaze heated, as she stared down at that long and thick flesh. Veins throbbed along its length, the bulbous head the color of ripe plums and wet with the release bubbling from the slit at the top. The thought of that length and thickness ever fitting inside her was⁠—

  “It will fit,” Julian assured her indulgently. “Not tonight,” he sobered. “But hopefully one day, when my life is less…complicated.”

  She nodded. “In the meantime… My friends have told me how much a gentleman enjoys having his cock licked and sucked.”

  “Fuck…!” Julian’s fingers curled tightly about the base of his burgeoning flesh. “I almost came then just from thinking of having your mouth on my cock.”

  She moved up to sit on the side of the chaise before pushing him gently down onto his back. She knelt between his parted thighs, then curled her fingers about the velvety soft skin stretched over the throbbing steel beneath, moistening her lips before lowering her head and taking that bulbous top into her mouth.

  Julian’s hips arched up, thrusting his cock deeper still.

  It took a few seconds, but Georgiana eventually found the rhythm of licking and sucking that mushroomed head at the same time as she stroked the length of his cock. The steady pulse of his juices into her mouth tasted delicious.

  “I cannot hold back any longer!” Julian warned minutes later.

  He grasped her shoulders as if to lift her away from him and that impending release.

  Georgiana’s hand tightened determinedly about his thickness as she licked and sucked harder on the head of his cock.

  Seconds later, Julian cried out as his release began to pump hotly into her mouth.

  Georgiana swallowed it down, pleased to have his release inside her, even if it wasn’t in her moist and throbbing channel.

  CHAPTER TEN

  “I wish to accompany you today.”

  Julian looked across the desk at Georgiana, confusion furrowing his brow.

  “You and Mr. Eames are going to visit your tenants this morning, on the estate and in the village, are you not?” she prompted briskly.

  He nodded. “We are.” Eames had already made the arrangements for them to make those visits.

  Something Julian used to do on a monthly basis, so that he could listen to and rectify any problems his tenants and workers had. The habit had fallen by the wayside during his brief marriage to Annabel. Julian had not resumed the practice since, but continued to rely on Eames to pass along anything of relevance.

  The reason he had not resumed those visits was obvious: he simply had not been able to bear the thought of any of those tenants, some of whom he had known his entire life, looking at him accusingly following the speculation that had abounded after Annabel’s disappearance.

  It had been, Julian now accepted, a cowardly thing to do.

  Just as he knew Georgiana’s unshakeable belief in his innocence was the reason he now felt able to hold his head up high and face those people again.

  Truth was, he needed to escape, if only for a few hours, the damnable tension that had existed between himself and Georgiana these past four days and nights since their lovemaking that evening in the dining room. Hours and hours that had somehow passed with excruciating slowness.

  Mainly because, despite the two of them spending a lot of time alone, either in Julian’s study or dining together, he had kept to his word and not instigated a repeat of their lovemaking. Even if every fiber of him ached to do so.

  Having now made love to Georgiana, touched her, tasted her, he knew he had never wanted any woman as much as he now desired her.

  And he was terrified of where that desire might take him.

  That she was furious with him for his iron self-control, he had no doubt.

  On the surface, Georgiana might appear as much the amenable secretary as she had been from the beginning. But beneath that façade, Julian could sense her impatience with him.

  Both of which, he acknowledged, he fully deserved.

  He had made love to Georgiana, they had made love to each other, and now he was refusing to repeat that euphoric experience. That his only intention by being so resolute was to protect Georgiana made no difference to how she felt in regard to his stubbornness.

  A Georgiana who was obviously becoming increasingly frustrated with his resolve.