A Penny's Worth of Affection novel Chapter 43

He broke the kiss but only to trail soft, tantalizing kisses down her neck and shoulders, and Penny willingly gave herself over to him, arching her neck to give him access to her skin, moaning each time he sucked at her soft flesh.

"I want to make love to you," she heard him whisper through a haze of want. "I want to give you pleasure."

"Yes!" she breathed, feeling her knees weaken, clutching onto him to stay upright. "Yes!"

He growled and moved, suddenly sweeping her into his arms and striding towards the connecting door leading from the parlour to his room, laying her down upon the bed. He looked at her as she lay there and felt his lust increase.

Just as he lowered his head to take her mouth once again, there was a frantic knocking coming from the main room. For a moment, he was tempted to ignore it, but Penny gasped and rolled away from him.

"There's someone..." she began, but he cut her off.

"Yes." Furious at whoever had intruded upon their private moment, Phillip swore under his breath and strode to the door. He yanked it open, prepared to scour the fool with the force of his words.

"Newbridge!" Lord Westbrooke strode into the room, an older white-haired man in his wake. "Thank heavens we got the right room."

*********

Confrontation

"Westbrooke!" Phillip looked startled for a moment as Henry walked into the parlour, looking immensely pleased with himself. "What the devil are you doing here?"

"Looking for you, old chap," Henry replied, shooting Phillip a wide grin which only served to deepen Phillip's scowl. "I couldn't very well allow you to go after the couple on your own. God only knows what you plan to do to them, and I brought..." He caught sight of Penny standing frozen in the doorway to the room. "Miss Inglewood!"

Phillip swore under his breath and moved quickly, placing himself between Henry and Penny. But it was too late. Henry's eyes narrowed as he took in her face still flush with desire and the tell-tale swell of her mouth.

"Stay where you are, Miss Inglewood," Phillip ground out. Penny had turned to do her father's bidding, but his voice stopped her cold, and a dreadful shiver ran down her spine.

"Phillip! What do you think you are doing?" Lord Henry exclaimed in astonishment. "Have you gone mad?"

"Penelope, do as I say at once!" Sir Inglewood repeated harshly. Phillip stared coldly at the man. "May I remind you, sir,that you are in the presence of a duke? Barging in here and suggesting that I have dishonoured your daughter is an insult I will not take lightly."

Penny gaped at Phillip in shock. What was trying to do? Her father had made no such accusation; all he was simply trying to do was salvage what was left of her already ruined reputation. Unless...Phillip was actually insulted because of the assumption that he would ever have anything to do with a woman such as she. The thought burned her heart, and she gasped as the real truth sank in. He was not doing it for her. How could she have been so stupid to assume he had any true feelings for her?

She choked back a sob. The passion they had presumably shared just a few minutes ago was nothing but a lie; his words had been false, simply a means to get her to consent to his lovemaking. What a fool she'd been to believe him. If they had not been interrupted...She cringed to think about what might have happened.

She could feel three pairs of eyes trained upon her person, but at that moment, she did not care, feeling the sting of hot tears, but she blinked them back and turned hastily, going into her room to retrieve the box which had thankfully not been unpacked.