Just Another Lady (Xcite Romance) Read Online Free PDF Page A

Lucius pressed.
    ‘Nothing.’ Elinor forced a smile. Perhaps he would join her enough that the solitary room would not seem so solitary, after all. ‘I will sort my clothes out later. For the moment, go back to your paper.’

    He didn’t join her that night. Nor the next, nor the next. Elinor tried not to wonder whether Lucius, even in their home village, was getting his satisfaction elsewhere, with more experienced ladies. After all, despite the words in the wedding vows, Lucius had never truthfully promised fidelity. He had made that clear when he had offered for her; and Elinor could not clam that Lucius was not fulfilling his side of the agreement. Her mother could still not be considered well, but compared to her previous state of health Mrs Everton was a different woman. Rid of the constant anxiety about money, as well as being under the care of the best doctor in the county, she was gaining fitness with every day which passed.
    No, Lucius had certainly kept his promise. And Elinor must keep hers: be the complaisant wife Lucius required. If she was fool enough to hope that he might ... might what? Be kept satisfied by Elinor alone, an ignorant young woman whose only sexual experience had been her wedding night? Might not care to stray, at least so soon? Even, fall in love with her? Well, if Elinor had ever hoped for any of those, let alone the last, she was a fool indeed and she deserved her disappointment.
    ‘Idiot,’ she whispered into her pillow, and determined to think no more on the subject.

    It was the following week when something occurred to Elinor. If Lucius was not prepared to pleasure her ... she could at least satisfy herself to a certain degree. Some of the things he had done – the places he had touched – were surely possible for her to copy. The night could become, once more, a time of learning and sexual exploration.
    The first night, she began slowly, removing her nightgown and revelling in the sensation of the soft sheets against her skin. He had touched her lips with his … Her finger drifted across her lips; she sucked it into her mouth, sliding it in and out. He ran his fingers over her breasts … Elinor’s free hand moved up to cup her left breast, and she moved her palm all around it, conscious of the change to hardness of her nipple as her hand brushed over it again and again. She took the damp finger from her mouth and pressed it to her right nipple, her back arching a little at the sensation. It was not Lucius, it was not as good as if he were there – but there was still something stirring inside her; a tiny flicker of pleasure which Elinor intended to fan. His hands grew firmer. She rubbed her hand harder across her breast, squeezing it gently. The same tingles she had noticed when Lucius held her like this swept across her. Not as big, nothing like as incredible, but still … Making her heart beat that little bit faster. Making her breathing catch, just for half a second.
    ‘Lucius,’ she whispered, remembering how he’d smelt: musky and manly. She took in a deep breath, imagining she could smell his scent on the air. ‘Lucius,’ she sighed again, sliding her hand down over the pale skin of her belly until it rested on the nest of auburn curls between her legs.
    There was a dampness between her thighs, and she ran a finger through it, then brought it to her mouth to taste herself. Then, daringly, she pushed her fingers inside her, just a little distance, and felt how her flesh gave way to her touch. It felt ... nice. For a moment, Elinor was disappointed by “nice” – an insipid word for an insipid feeling. When Lucius had done it, it had been so much more than merely nice. Never mind. She was learning her way; Lucius knew exactly what he was doing. She wiggled her fingers experimentally, fascinated by feeling a part of her own body that she’d never touched before. There was a tingly place just above her fingers, and she pressed the palm of her hand against it.