Lips That Lied || hs

Forty-One

Derbyshire, United Kingdom
February 1852

Jane brought both of her hands out from behind her back and stepped nearer to James, her breathing shallow and eyes filled with a false sense of confidence. A few more words, that was all she needed to say to him to know she had succeeded in her plan. But could she possibly go through with it? The alcohol had taken her this far, but the final steps would be up to her. She would have to physically engage him, and she would have to do so with as much passion and genuine attraction as she could muster. James needed to be convinced that her actions were innocent and free of any ulterior motives; he needed to think she really wanted him, only then would she be safe.

"Would you take it off for me?" Jane fixed her eyes on James's face and observed the how the shadows softened his usually harsh expression. His lips were parted slightly, and his icy blue eyes flickered between looking into Jane's eyes and staring at her lips. She knew he wanted to kiss her.

All too aware of James's intense stare, Jane reluctantly brought her hand up to his face, feeling the roughness of the stubble on his cheek as she slid her palm beneath his jaw. Gently brushing her thumb across his skin, Jane raised herself to his height, her eyes never leaving his. Silently, she encouraged herself to kiss him first; after all, the kiss at the wedding hadn't been all that bad. Maybe this wouldn't be either.

Panic and confusion flooded James's expression as Jane touched him. The last thing he had ever expected was for her to make the move herself. Nonetheless, he was exceedingly pleased by what Jane was doing; she really had changed her mind about him.

Jane took a deep breath and forced herself to press her lips to his, keeping her movements as slow and as teasing as she could. She shut her eyes as her lips met James's mouth, thinking of Harry and the betrayal she was committing against him.

Harry would understand, she told herself as James pushed his tongue into her mouth. Jane recoiled, though she did not fully pull herself away. She forced herself to kiss James back, all the while thinking, Harry would want me to do whatever it takes to ensure my safety.

Thus, with the thought of Harry on her mind, Jane kissed James as his arms wrapped around her and brought her into his chest. His embrace felt unfamiliar and did nothing to comfort her nerves; if anything, it only made them worse. This wasn't what it was supposed to feel like. She was supposed to feel safe and loved as she did with Harry, but James didn't offer her either of those things. Instead, he gave her the harshness of his touch alongside the undeniable misfortune that he would be staying in her room that night.

James's rationality had deserted him, and now, the only thing he could think of was satisfying himself in the woman who was offering herself to him. It made no difference to him that she was his wife; a woman was a woman, and Jane was willing to serve him in a way that spoke to him far louder than any logical thought could.

Ignited by his desire, James skillfully worked the laces of Jane's corset, all the while delighting in how firmly she clung to him. It made him feel triumphant to have her so obviously dependent on him. However independent she thought herself to be, she was surrendering to him now, and he would hold onto that truth for as long as possible.

As she felt her corset loosening, Jane's heart raced with anxiety. She kissed James with more fervor to keep her thoughts from dwelling too long on the way he was touching her, but as his hand cupped her breast, she found that couldn't help herself from gasping in surprise. Jane pulled away slightly, just before remembering that she had intended to do more than just kiss him. There was something else that she had learned would quicken the process. Lowering her hand to just below the waistband of James's trousers, Jane began to palm her husband's erection as Lorraine had advised her to do. Instantly, James stilled beneath her tongue, moaning in pleasure. Jane was disgusted as she felt his hardness in her hand, but still, she continued to massage him, knowing that it would be quicker this way.