Tessa's Redemption (2 page)

Chapter 2

Angel LeClare walked down High Street in the village of Oake, finding nothing particularly remarkable. After the debacle of his aborted wedding to Tessa, he’d sold out the living here, given to him when he left Cambridge. He’d taken the ten thousand pounds and decided to practice law nearby. Why he’d come back to Somerset now, he could guess. Despite what Tessa had done, in his heart she was his wife.

Oake was where he’d expected to set up their household, though. The pretty little vicarage here would have suited him quite well with his beautiful, chaste wife at his side. That was not to be, however. Her confession on the eve of their wedding put an end to his idyllic dream.

He’d had six long months to stew over what she’d told him. Of course, he’d made his own confession that night as well. Several months earlier he’d spent four sinful days in London with a woman of questionable morals, indulging in every sexual act he’d ever heard of and some he hadn’t. Another woman had joined them one night, each taking their turns licking and sucking him, finally riding his mouth and his cock until all three of them had climaxed together. He’d left those details out of his recitation to his prospective bride, of course, in deference to her virginity and innocence. However, Tessa had been neither virginal nor innocent. No, she’d had relations with her blasted cousin and had borne his child.

She was here in Somerset with him now. Living without benefit of marriage. Guilt stabbed at him. Sometimes he believed he was as selfish and sanctimonious a man as his older brothers often declared.

“LeClare!” he heard a man call.

He turned to see D’Bushey himself, strolling down the street toward him with ease as if he hadn’t spoiled the only good thing in Angel’s life.

“D’Bushey,” he growled.

D’Bushey stopped before him, running a gaze up and down with a curl of derision on his lips. “Angel LeClare, back in Somerset.”

Angel held in his own ire. “As you see,” he said with a nod.

“I heard you sold out your living.”

“What concern is this to you?” he asked.

D’Bushey shrugged, but Angel spied the lines of tension around his mouth. “No concern to me personally, I assure you. However, a lady of our mutual acquaintance might be distressed to know that her confessor lives so close by.”

“I am not Tessa’s confessor!” Angel said. He glanced about then looked D’Bushey in the eye. “At least I am not her despoiler.”

D’Bushey shot out his fist and hit Angel in the face, bloodying his nose and mouth. Pain crashed through him, but he returned a blow to the man’s midsection.

“You sanctimonious piece of offal,” D’Bushey sputtered, wrapping his arms around his middle as he gasped for breath.

Angel swiped at his nose with his sleeve. “You took her.” He balled up his fist to strike him again. “You seduced her.” It was what he’d wished to believe, in any event.

D’Bushey straightened. “True,” he said softly.

That stilled him. “What?”

“She wanted none of it, LeClare,” he said. “Not really.”

Angel blinked at him, then spit out some blood. “Explain.”

D’Bushey shook his head. “Not here.”

Angel looked about and saw that several villagers had gathered for the bit of excitement on High Street this afternoon. He spied the inn across the street and tilted his chin in that direction. “The Rooster’s Comb.”

D’Bushey nodded and straightened his clothes. Fine clothes they were, much finer than his own. No doubt he kept Tessa in similar comfort. She was
his
, damn it!

They settled in the dark pub of the inn, each drinking deeply of their ale before proceeding. Angel found he could wait no longer. “Explain yourself.”

“I owe you no explanation, as it is clear now that you gave Tessa no leave to make one herself. I will admit that I seduced the girl. That is all.”

Angel’s stomach clenched. “Your cousin. Gone to you to live on your family’s generosity.”

He nodded. “Yes, well it turns out that we aren’t related in the least. One unfortunate untruth brought her to me.”

“And to ruin.”

D’Bushey scowled. “Save your damnation, please.”

Angel pursed his lips and gave a nod.

“I need to know what your intentions are,” D’Bushey went on.

“My intentions? You have been living with my wife, well she almost was my wife, and you dare ask my intentions?”

“Vent your spleen all you like, LeClare. You are the one who threw her away when she didn’t live up to your sainted standards.”

“I…” Angel sighed. “I know.”

“Well, you cannot have her now.”

He blinked. “What?”

“Tessa is mine, and I will fight any man who thinks to take her from me.”

“Tessa is your mistress, you mean.”

D’Bushey breathed in sharply. “Do not make me bloody your nose again.”

Angel spread his hands. “What do you wish me to do?”

“What are you feelings for her?” D’Bushey asked as if the words were bile in his mouth.

“I have not forgotten her,” he admitted.

D’Bushey frowned, then gave a nod. “It all but kills me to admit this, but I believe Tessa still fancies herself in love with you.”

Something burst to life in Angel’s heart at his words. “How do you know?”

“She called out your name while I was fucking her,” he spat.

Angel gripped the edge of the table to keep from launching himself at him. “Watch yourself.”

“Look, I want Tessa with me. But I suspect she won’t ever be happy until she resolves her feelings for you.”

“For me?” Angel repeated.

“The man she nearly wed,” D’Bushey grumbled.

Angel thought for a long moment. Tessa loved him? Still? After what he’d done to her?

“I don’t want her to resolve her feelings for me,” he said. “I want her to explore them.”

“What?”

“I love her, too.”

Pain was clear on the other man’s face. Tessa was obviously more than a body warming his bed, then.

“I won’t give her up,” D’Bushey said. “No way in hell will I give her up.”

“What are we discussing, then? She loves me, yet you won’t release her? Nothing holds her to you, you know.”

“I am fully aware of that.” He seemed to steel himself, then he nodded curtly. “We can share her.”

Angel’s mouth fell open in shock. Amazingly something flashed in his mind, the image of the two of them taking Tessa as those women in London had done to him. The other man fucking her from behind as her lovely mouth devoured his own cock. Her delectable breasts, which he’d only glimpsed on the eve of their wedding, bared to his greedy mouth as D’Bushey ate her pussy. Tessa’s sweet cries of release as she sobbed Angel’s name. D’Bushey said she’d done so already. Was she imagining Angel as her lover even now? The temptation was almost unbearable.

“I do not know if I can be a party to such an arrangement,” Angel said.

“Well, I will do anything to keep Tessa, even if it means sharing her with another man.”

Angel blinked. “You…you care for her!”

“Never mind. She is mine, despite your broken betrothal. What do you say?”

Angel knew he shouldn’t do this. He should send the man back to his harlot and go on with his life. But Tessa was not a harlot. She was the woman he loved once and still did.

“I treated her terribly after learning of what transpired between the two of you, D’Bushey. I want to be with Tessa now. I admit it. But she will never forgive me.”

“Then take what I am offering you. It is all you’ll have of her, I promise you that.”

Angel searched the other man’s face, seeing both concern and sincerity. Tessa had been safe in his care these past six months. The good Lord knew Angel had done nothing to ensure that condition. Yes, this arrangement was scandalous. If it were any other woman, it would hold absolutely no appeal. But this was Tessa.

“Well?” D’Bushey prodded. “What is your decision?”

“I’ll do it.”

“This isn’t a lark,” D’Bushey warned. “The girl is innocent in heart if not in body. If you throw in with the two of us, I won’t have you hurting her again.”

“I couldn’t imagine a man more devoted to a woman.” Angel felt a smile curve his lips. “Except me, that is. She is the woman I nearly married, after all.”

“Nearly, LeClare.” A clearly reluctant smile tugged at D’Bushey’s mouth. “We shall have to procure our lady’s agreement.”

“How, pray, will we do that?”

D’Bushey leaned closer. “Leave it to me. I know how to make the lady see matters my way.”

Angel bristled. “There is one little matter, D’Bushey. If we embark on this course, that is.”

“What matter?”

“Neither of us can take her without the other present.”

D’Bushey scoffed. “She lives with me, you know.”

“Then you shall have a houseguest.”

The other man glowered. “Fine.” He lost his scowl and winked. “Of course, undoubtedly a few days will pass before we commence.”

Angel stood. “Why, I would love to stay with you,” he declared to all within hearing distance. “Tonight? That is most generous and accommodating of you.”

“Son of a bitch,” D’Bushey grumbled. “Tomorrow, LeClare. Do sit down.” He held up a hand when Angel tried to object. “I shall have to let Tessa know that we are to have a houseguest.”

It was Angel’s turn to give a reluctant nod. D’Bushey let out a laugh and leaned close. “Feel free to indulge your imagination tonight, however,” he whispered. “Picture whatever delights and debaucheries you can, for no doubt Tessa and I shall be indulging in all of them and more.”

Struck speechless, Angel watched as D’Bushey sauntered out of the pub. “Bastard,” he growled.

He could not summon true anger, however. Tomorrow he would move into their house of sin. Then tomorrow night, if D’Bushey had the sway he professed over their lady, Angel would finally have the woman he’d meant to wed. He smiled to himself. Several times, if he had his way. His cock swelled at the possibilities.

No doubt D’Bushey had schooled Tessa in the sensual arts. How delightful would it be to have his pretty love perform such duties on him with the other man present?

He couldn’t wait to find out.

* * * *

“He will be staying here, Alex?” Tessa asked, her throat tight. “Angel LeClare? My—that is, the man I almost married?”

Alex arched a brow. “Do you know of another?”

They’d shared a lovely meal and were now retired to their chambers. She’d changed into another fine nightgown, and Alex wore his dressing gown. The big bed they would soon share beckoned beyond the sitting area. Yet Alex seemed to exercise unaccustomed patience this evening.

He poured himself a brandy and leaned back in his chair, relaxation in his stance. The flicker of unease in his brown eyes told her there was more to this tale, however.

“He is back in Somerset and in need of a place to stay,” he added.

“What of the vicarage?”

He was silent for a moment. “So you and he had discussed your future together.”

“Yes.” On the night before their wedding. “We did.”

Alex pursed his lips then nodded. “It seems your saint is a tad tarnished, my sweet. He sold the living and is practicing law. Or so I’ve heard.”

Tessa stilled. “Angel sold his living?” That must have happened after he’d abandoned her. “I do not know what to make of that.”

“Perhaps the man is not as pious as you presumed.”

“Perhaps.” She shed her slippers and sat beside Alex, tucking her feet beneath her. “I wonder if he still views me as a sinner.”

Alex laughed softly. “Oh, I daresay he has altered his feelings on sin and sinning. You shall learn more about that tomorrow night, however.”

She studied Alex for a moment. “He will arrive tomorrow?”

“Yes.” He sipped his drink and set the glass down once more. “Tonight, however, you still belong to only me.”

She blinked. “I do not understand. Does Angel think…What does he believe our arrangement is here?” She gasped. “He doesn’t know about our?”

“Fucking?”

She winced at the word then nodded. “No more lies, then? He knows all of it?”

Darkness showed in his eyes, a flicker of anger as well as carnal intent. “Angel LeClare is quite clear on our arrangements, believe me.”

She closed her eyes as Alex began to stroke her back. “I don’t know how I shall face him.”

“You have nothing to fear.” Alex held her close. “LeClare will stay with us. That is settled.”

She flinched, opening her eyes to look at him in alarm. “What he said, Alex. On the eve of our wedding. I cannot blot out the words.”

“He will not accuse you of anything untoward, Tessa,” he said, shaking his head. “If he makes you feel less than the remarkable woman you are, I will send him away. You have my word.”

She thought for a moment. Alex’s word. What was that worth, really? First the lies about being her cousin, then his honeyed words as he seduced her virtue away from her. Why, even his last name was a lie!

“Say you believe me?” Alex asked, looking deep into her eyes. “That you trust me?”

She simply nodded, unable to put her concerns into words. Alex smiled, a bright expression she seldom saw, and grabbed her to him. Immediately her body craved the pleasure he could give her.

Angel would live here with them, and Alex said he knew about their sinful arrangement. Alex did not seem troubled about the possibility, and she did believe that he would come to her defense should Angel make his horrid accusations again.

As Alex led her to their bed she turned her focus toward passion rather than perdition. His kisses were hard, insistent. His hands made quick work of her nightgown, and as the two of them fell into bed, she sought to put aside any misgivings about this startling new turn of events. Angel, here with them. Under the same roof where she gave herself to Alex, night after night. Sucking in a breath, she felt herself swell with anticipation. Like tonight.

Alex turned her over, lifting her hips to align her precisely right. His rigid cock teased her from beneath, inching ever closer to her pussy. Arching, she took in all of him. Every hard inch of his shaft until he was deep inside her. Their groans echoed in the room as climax after climax crashed through her.

Passion or perdition? Tonight, she chose passion.