"Quiet," he warned, then, "Keep your hold tight on me. That will bring you even greater pleasure."
She jammed the fingers of one hand into his hair, while the other hand gripped his erection. She yanked on his hair and he grunted, then began sucking again.
"My lord," she pleaded.
"Soon, love," he said against her flesh, all the while making her wild. The knowledge that his mouth was pressed intimately against her flesh warred with the notion that this was not supposed to happen.
Need coursed through her and Phoebe bucked in surprise. The friction of her movement against his mouth sent a compelling wave of longing through her and she shoved his face deeper between her legs. He laughed. She recalled somewhere in the distant part of her brain that she was supposed to be driving him insane with need, and she managed to squeeze him.
"Don't stop," he urged, and again began sucking.
Phoebe feared she would lose her mind. Somehow, the thick, hot male part of him she held incited her lust. Then his finger slipped inside her. Strange sensations radiated within her channel. He thrust quickly and her body seized in a spasm of blinding pleasure. His hand encircled hers with an iron grip that squeezed his rod. He groaned and sucked her harder. Another spasm rocked her and she bucked.
"Damnation," he cursed.
The room blurred around her.
"Phoebe," he rasped, and she realized he had shoved her hand aside. Kiernan gripped his shaft and pumped his seed onto the blanket beside her. He unexpectedly grabbed the edge of the blanket and made a quick swipe of his penis. "I should have hired the damn chaperone," he muttered.
"What?" she said.
"I imagine he wanted to get back to Phoebe." Her uncle's voice came from the hallway.
Phoebe bolted upright.
"If you're looking for His Lordship," Brenda said, "I saw him go into his chambers earlier, Your Grace."
Phoebe drew a sharp breath.
"If you wanted my father and your uncle to call a minister to marry us this instant, you've done it," Kiernan whispered. "We may need that special license after all—if your uncle and my father don't murder me."
He yanked her skirt down.
"I believe I'll return to the party," Lord Albery said.
"I'll be down directly," Kiernan's father replied.
"Get down on the other side of the bed," Kiernan ordered Phoebe.
"He's bound to notice your…" She glanced meaningfully at his groin.
"No." he yanked his trousers up over his nearly flaccid cock. "You saw to that."
Her cheeks reddened, and he was torn between laughter and wanting to paddle her bottom. She had sneaked into his room and let him do to her what even some mistresses wouldn't allow, then blushed at the fact that she had gotten him off with a bang that nearly brought him to his knees.
He wasn't certain what his future wife was doing snooping in his bedchambers, but he was reasonably certain seduction hadn't been on the agenda. His plan had been just as foolhardy. He intended to give her a good scare. But the devil had gotten into her and she'd managed to make him forget good sense, as well as his promise to his father. Well, not quite, but his father was sure to see no distinction between bedding a lady true and proper and fucking her with his tongue.
"The other side of the bed," Kiernan ordered, and hurried to the door.
With a careful turn, he unlocked the door and hoped like hell his father hadn't heard the tiny click. He whirled. Phoebe was out of view and, in four long strides, Kiernan reached the secretary on the left wall.
He landed in the desk chair and yanked papers from the drawer in the instant before the door opened. He waited an instant as if breaking from deep concentration, then looked at his father.
"What are you doing?" he asked.
"This letter from Harris has weighed on my mind."
"Harris informed me that the cottages will be rebuilt by month's end. He can manage the project. You have other matters to deal with."
Kiernan wondered how Phoebe liked being referred to as 'other matters.' How much of his conversation with his father and her uncle had she overheard before ducking into his room? He was relatively certain that's where she'd been, then got trapped when the maids arrived on this floor. His father stepped into the room and closed the door behind him. Kiernan silently cursed. His father would pick now to discuss something private. Kiernan rose, hoping to forestall him saying something neither of them wanted overheard. He was going to have to tell Phoebe the truth about his involvement with Clachair, but he hoped to hear from the man first.
"Send the maids to the kitchen on some errand," his father said.
Kiernan stilled. This was a strange order. "As you wish, Father."
"And, Kiernan."
"Yes?"
"Please inform Miss Wallington that I see no reason for a year's engagement. I am certain her uncle will agree."
Kiernan canted his head in acknowledgement and his father left—leaving the door wide open. Kiernan started forward, then his gaze caught on Phoebe's comb on the bed.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN