"What happened then?" Cat asked, her eyes wide, her hand against her mouth as she sat forward on the bed she and Alyssa were sharing.
Alyssa grimaced, hating to think about this part of the night that had happened almost a week past. "I told her what happened. That I had been robbed and almost raped and a gentleman came along and rescued me. We were caught in the rain and he kindly lent me his shirt to return home in." She hadn't really lied. Her nanny, who still waited up for her when she was out at a function, had been there to help her get ready for bed.
The woman had been scandalized by the sight of Alyssa, her hair disheveled and tiny pieces of hay still caught in its depths. The shirt she wore belonged to a man and covered her to the tops of her thighs but left her legs bare...
But when she heard of the events of the evening, her scolding turned to concern and then horror, though Alyssa had changed certain critical events that she didn't want to make known. Her nanny had called her father, waking him after sending to the kitchen for a bath for Alyssa. It had to be the most pleasurable bath of her young life. The hot water soaked away the aches and pains from being thrown around and helped with the soreness between her thighs.
It also washed away all signs of Jamie, as his seed had dried on her thighs. And his scent on her skin was replaced when nanny had added a few precious drops of the perfumed oil her father had gotten her on one of his many trips abroad. But she still could feel him there between her thighs and when she closed her eyes, she could see him, his eyes glittering behind the dark mask, his lips and tongue driving her ever higher up the glorious heights of passion.
Even now, days later, she could still imagine his tongue down there. She blushed even thinking of the things he had done, the whimpers and moans he'd driven out of her with his expert lovemaking. And she wondered when she would see him again.
Her father, on the other hand, was more than scandalized when he realized what had happened to his only child. He'd gone into a fit of temper, demanding an audience at the House of the Lords about capturing the ruffians who'd so terrorized his daughter. Patrols were outfitted and sent out nightly now. They were tasked with trying to capture the group of highwaymen who'd killed her outriders and coachman and robbed her, as well as preventing further danger to noble daughters.
And a reward was being offered to Jamie, if he would come to claim it, for saving her from the fate the highwayman had planned.
"Have you seen him again?" Cat asked her, her green eyes gleaming with curiosity.
"No," Alyssa sighed, feeling the depression sink in deeper. "I search for him at every ball and supper I'm invited to."
"But how would you recognize him?"
"I'd know his mouth," Alyssa said, "and the tone of his voice. I'd know his hands and his scent." She threw herself backwards on the bed, crossing her hands over her middle. "I miss him," she admitted.
"What did it feel like?" Cat asked her, lying down next to her, but braced on her side to look down upon her friend.
"What did what feel like?" Alyssa asked in confusion.
"To kiss him, silly. What did it feel like?"
"It was magical," Alyssa said, a very long sigh escaping her lips. "His mouth on mine, his tongue doing those amazing things in my mouth. I could barely breathe but I didn't care. You know how it feels, you must know."
Cat shook her head, throwing herself back on the bed. "No, I don't," she sighed in disgust. "I thought maybe Teddy was going to kiss me at the Edgecombe's Ball. You know, when we went for that stroll outside in the moonlight? But he was the perfect gentleman, drat him."
"You and Teddy? You're interested in Teddy Paxton, the Earl of Penwick's son?" Alyssa rose on her elbow to stare in fascination at her friend.
"Yes, I know, he isn't what you would expect me to fall for. You'd probably be more inclined to believe my interest was in Teddy's friend, the Duke. He's a handsome brute. But no, I can't help who my heart wants, can I?" Cat batted her eyes, placing her hand over her nightgown-covered breast.
Alyssa laughed. "Teddy does look at you with those cow eyes all the time, Cat. So why don't you kiss him if you want him?"
"I'm afraid of making a mess of it all. I'm not experienced like some people I know."
"Hey," she said, laughing. She laid on the bed, raising her hands and stretching like a small cat, her body arching under the bedclothes. "Do you remember when we were back at school?"
"Which part? We were there for two years."
"Hush. Remember when we used to hear about the girls who would practice on each other? You know, to learn to kiss and whatever else they did?" Alyssa rolled to her side, her eyes seeking Cat's in the dark.
"Yes, I remember. Why...wait, you want to teach me to kiss?" Cat stared at her friend, seeing the slow smile that came across her face.
"Well, that way, if we did...then the next time you convince Teddy to take you for a walk in the gardens, you can kiss him without worrying that he'll think you are too innocent."
"But won't he then think I'm a woman of loose morals?"
"I think you're scared, Cat. What happened to my Catherine, the girl who would do anything and come up with some of the best scrapes, and yet still managed to graduate finishing school on top of her class?"
"You are truly wicked, Lys." Cat stared at her best friend, her mind racing. What would it feel like? Would it be strange? "All right," she finally said, agreeing to Alyssa's plan. "How do we do this?" She asked, excited and scared at the same time.
"Close your eyes," Alyssa said, leaning over her friend. She watched as Cat closed her leaf-green eyes, her dark lashes brushing against her cheeks. "Relax, Cat. I won't bite you," she said, giggling a little, amazed at her own daring.
She scooted a little closer, feeling the warmth of Cat's body coming to rest against her stomach and breasts, watching as Cat's face came closer before closing her own eyes. Her lips brushed against Cat's as light as a butterfly's wing, coming back to press closer against the softness of her mouth.