Carnal Knowledge Ch. 05-06

"Touch yourself here," he commanded in a low voice.

Eliza shuddered but found the hard bud with her fingers and began to caress herself.

"Rockdale," she whispered as he pushed a finger inside her slick passage, thrusting it in and out.

She vaguely heard the throaty moans and gasps and knew they were hers, but she didn't care. The dual sensation of his finger pushing inside while she stroked herself was so good, so good. Her back arched as she bowed back, bottom lip caught between her teeth. So close...

"Stop," he said abruptly, pulling her hand away and removing his finger.

"Nooo," she whispered, stricken.

"Come here," he commanded, pulling her off the desk. "Kneel."

Dazed, she went to her knees in front of him and found herself facing his engorged cock. Flushed and almost fevered, she pressed her thighs together, trying vainly to assuage the throbbing between her legs.

Rockdale grabbed her hand and pressed it against his hard length. "Touch me," he growled. "I will tell you how to please me."

Eliza wet her lips uncertainly and wrapped her fingers around the large base of his phallus. Picturing what she had seen Sally do to the butler, she stroked Rockdale's shaft up and down.

"That's it," he hissed. "More."

Some strange wanton side of her seemed to take over as she leaned close and slowly licked over the head of his penis. The taste was...unusual. Not bad, but salty and tart.

She glanced up to see his surprised expression as she licked again, eager to get another taste. He began to pant as she lapped over his hardness with flicks of her tongue then widened her lips to take the broad head into her mouth.

"Oh, shit," he groaned with feeling. "What did...? How did you know— Bloody hell! Just don't stop."

Eliza took more of the earl's thick staff into her mouth, swirling with her tongue as she remembered seeing Sally do. She began to move her lips up and down, continuing to stroke the base of his cock with her hand.

The earl curled a hand around the back of her head as if to prevent her from moving away. Her sex pulsed in response, and she realized with some shock that she found his show of dominance arousing. She felt her core becoming wetter, and she was conscious of an empty ache between her legs that needed to be filled.

"Holy Christ!" Rockdale shoved a hand into her hair, sending hairpins askew and flying. "Touch yourself with your other hand."

She instantly obeyed and moaned around his cock as her fingers once again delved into her cleft.

A few flicks of her middle finger were all it took to send her flying over the edge. She might have reared back to gasp for breath and scream her pleasure, but Rockdale kept a firm grip on her head.

"Do. Not. Stop," he ordered tersely.

She sucked on the big staff experimentally. He groaned and began to thrust upward into her mouth. Considering this to be approval, she continued to suckle the earl's penis in unison with gliding her mouth and hand up and down.

Rockdale seemed completely undone by her ministrations, shuddering and gasping. He stiffened. "Keep sucking me. Going to come in your mouth," he rasped, hand tightening almost painfully in her hair. "Swallow it."

She flinched in surprise as the first spurt gushed hot in her mouth, and instinctively she tried to pull back. Rockdale was having none of it, his fingers kept her head firmly in place, his cock pulsing between her lips.

He groaned. "Yesss... drink it all down."

Her throat worked as she was compelled to swallow repeatedly or choke, the viscous fluid slightly sour as it crossed her tongue.

"Good girl," he muttered, finally releasing his grip upon her hair.

Eliza laid her head on his trouser-clad leg, panting slightly. She squeaked as the earl abruptly reached down and grasped her under the arm, hauling her up.

She blinked, staring into the face of a furious male.

"How the bloody hell did you become so familiar with sucking a man?" One of his hands slid roughly back into her hair, causing the mass to start tumbling down. "What man's cock have you had in your mouth, damn you?" He shook her slightly, jerking her close until they were practically nose to nose.

"Ouch! Stop it, you great looby!" Eliza pushed at his chest. "Let me go!"

"Tell me at once!" he ground out, not loosening his grip.

"I haven't done that before, but I've seen it!"

"Apparently you were observing extremely closely," he growled.

"You weren't complaining a few moments ago, you hypocrite! How dare you!"

His face flushed with anger, and Eliza felt a frisson of fear slither down her spine.

"Miss Lockhart, you have about one minute to explain yourself before I turn you over my knee and express the extent of my displeasure repeatedly and forcefully on the cheeks of your fat arse."

"William! Please, just stop," she pleaded, not realized she had spoken his name for the first time until he froze.

There was a brief moment of silence, and Eliza held her breath as his nostrils flared. His grip finally loosened a bit, and Rockdale hauled her up the remainder of the way into his lap.

"Speak. Now," he ordered.

She took a steadying breath. "I was looking for Simpson to see if any post had come for me. I happened to come across...well, I saw the butler with Sally." Eliza felt her face flush in embarrassment.

"Sally?" the earl said blankly.

"The upstairs maid."

He frowned. "Curly hair, little tits? Runs away if she so much as catches a glimpse of me?"

"Yes, that's her."

"So, let me understand this. You saw the upstairs maid with Simpson's cock in her mouth? That damn rascal."

"Well, she didn't seem to be upset about it." Eliza shrugged uncomfortably.

"How long did you watch?" The earl eyed her speculatively.

Eliza felt her color rise further. "Not long."

"Not long, eh?" Rockdale asked, palming her naked breast. "I think you watched a while, didn't you? You naughty girl."

"No," she said primly, vainly attempting to avoid eye contact.

He leaned down to murmur in her ear. "You're a terrible liar. Did the maid swallow his seed like a good little girl? As you did?"

Eliza glowered at him. "No. He made it go all over..." She made a brief furious gesture toward her chest.

He chuckled, squeezing and fondling the breast he held. "Simpson came on her tits? I heartily approve. I should like to paint your big mounds with my own come. Would you like that?" He bit down on her ear, causing her to nearly jolt off his lap.

"Let me up. I've been away too long from the nursery." She pushed at his chest.

"Give me a nice kiss, and I will consider it."

"Oh, for..." She sighed and leaned over to press her lips against his. "There."

"That was abysmal, Miss Lockhart. Surely you can do better. I will warn you that if you sit on my lap too much longer, you're going to find yourself back on my desk but this time bent over it as I fuck you from behind."

"You, sir, are very vulgar!"

"Yes," he agreed. "I expect you will accustom yourself." He slid his hand behind her neck and leaned down.

"Wait!" she protested. "Are you sure you want to do that after I've had your..." She felt her cheeks pinken once more.

He snorted with amusement. "My cock in that pretty mouth of yours?"

She stiffened. "Well, it hardly seems—"

Rockdale cut her off effectively with an open-mouth kiss and slid his tongue in her mouth.

Eliza was panting again when he finally released her and urged her to standing. He slapped her smartly on the arse, and she yelped in surprise, her head whipping around to glare at him.

"Get your clothes back on," he said with a smirk.

She redressed hurriedly and was attempting to repin her hair into some semblance of order when there was a knock at the study door.

The earl looked her over and nodded as she jabbed the last hairpin in the unruly mass. Hoping her cheeks weren't as flushed as she feared they were, Eliza turned the key quietly to unlock the door and opened it wide.

The man on the other side quickly masked his surprise at the sight of her. "I beg your pardon. Am I interrupting?" he asked, looking past Eliza to the earl, who was reseated back at his desk.

"Not at all," Rockdale said smoothly. "Miss Lockhart and I were just discussing the children's progress in the classroom. Miss Lockhart, have you met my secretary, Mr. Willoughby?"

"No, my lord," she said and frowned slightly. "Willoughby?"

The earl's secretary laughed slightly. "Yes, his lordship's gardener is my father. I'm Willoughby the younger. John Willoughby, to be exact, at your service, miss."

He smiled easily at her, but she sensed a tension about him, perhaps he was embarrassed for her, the poor man.

"A pleasure, sir," she returned with a slight smile of her own.

The secretary was neatly dressed with short, light brown hair. And rather handsome, she couldn't help but notice. Not devastatingly so as Lord Rockdale, but he certainly looked more approachable. His hazel eyes seemed kind as they regarded her warmly.

"I had better make my way back upstairs," Eliza said, glancing back at the earl, who was regarding her with narrowed eyes.

"Yes, you'd better," Rockdale said grimly.

A clatter of noise and voices from the front area of the house caught her attention. The commotion seemed to be coming closer, and Eliza took a couple steps toward the wall. Perhaps she would blend in with the woodwork.

"Good heavens. What now?" Rockdale muttered as he rose and came to stand beside Mr. Willoughby.

The butler appeared in the doorway, looking as harried as Eliza had ever seen him.

"My lord," Simpson said, frowning, "we have unexpected guests. I asked them to wait in the salon, but they insisted on seeing you."

The butler was followed inside the study by a trio of females, an older woman trailed by two young ladies. All three, Eliza noted, were dressed in very smart traveling costumes. Eliza took another step backward, feeling suddenly dowdy in her old brown frock.

"Rockdale!" the older lady exclaimed as she caught sight of the earl. "My dear, dear nephew. I haven't laid eyes on you in an age!"

The earl dutifully kissed the cheek she presented to him. "Lady Pelham. What an...unexpected pleasure," he said, sounding resigned.

Lady Pelham eyed Rockdale with a distinct gleam in her eye. She was a handsome lady, if somewhat stout, Eliza thought, a fact not helped by the many flounces of her dark green carriage dress and pelisse.

"You will remember my daughter, Miss Stanley, I am sure," she said firmly, urging forward a slight girl with a froth of blond ringlets.

Miss Stanley stepped forward and offered her hand. "Cousin William, tis such a pleasure to see you again," she said, smiling up at Rockdale like he had hung the stars and moon just for her.

Eliza rolled her eyes as the earl bowed over Miss Stanley's gloved hand. The young woman did cut a dashing figure in her pale pink gown; though it appeared to be trimmed in enough tulle to have wrapped clear around London, she thought rather unkindly.

Lady Pelham then gestured to the other girl, a lovely brunette in yellow and lace. "And this young lady is her dear friend, Miss Pratt, the daughter of Baron Wessex, if you recall."

"Of course," he murmured, bowing slightly. "It is my pleasure."

Miss Pratt blushed prettily and curtsied.

"We've been to a house party at Lady Allenby's," Lady Pelham continued. "Tis not a great distance from Verity Hall, and I said to my daughter that we absolutely must do our Christian duty and pay a visit to my dear nephew, Rockdale. Besides, I want to see those sweet children of yours! I'm sure you won't mind accommodating us for a visit."

The older lady patted the earl on the sleeve. "We have so much to catch up on, dear boy. But we're quite exhausted from our travels and must rest before dinner. See to our luggage as well, won't you? I'm assuming we shall dine at eight? Lovely!"

Rockdale blinked. "Ah," he said.

Lady Pelham turned away, herding her charges like baby chicks. "Butler! Get someone to escort us to our rooms. Send up tea and refreshments at once! We are simply famished from our journey."

Eliza had to bite back a smile at the flummoxed expression on Rockdale's face as the ladies followed a glum Simpson out of the room. Lady Pelham's voice carried back as she instructed Simpson on which rooms might accommodate their needs.

"Ye gods," the earl said. "I've been invaded."

Mr. Willoughby winced in sympathy. "So it would seem, my lord."

Eliza turned to make her getaway, thankful at least she would not need to interact with these new guests.

"Miss Lockhart."

The earl's voice froze her in place. She sighed a bit and turned back. "Yes, my lord?"

"Bring the children down with Nanny Goodson a half-hour before dinner so that they may be presented to Lady Pelham. Afterwards Nanny Goodson will return with them to the nursery, and you will join us for dinner."

Dismayed, Eliza stared back at him, wanting to demand why he would ask this of her.

Rockdale nodded. "And you will join us as well, Mr. Willoughby, I trust."

"Of course, my lord."

Eliza turned once again to leave, her teeth clenched in ire.

"Oh, and Miss Lockhart," Rockdale drawled, "Please do endeavor to change that horrid dress before dinner."