Mr. Worthington

"Now this is a surprise, I leave you to pray modestly, and I return to find you cavorting with a peasant." Mr. Worthington looked more like a pirate than a gentleman, his jacket and waistcoat nowhere to be seen and his cravat was draped loosely around his neck. His hair, normally groomed with immaculate care was now half pulled from the ribbon that had held it perfectly during their ride from Marlton Manner. Charlotte could not remember ever seeing Jason Worthington look so disheveled, but it was more than the state of his clothing and the sword that hung loosely from his hip, it was the cocky grin the and lustful look in his eyes that made her think 'Pirate'.

"Jason," Charlotte tried to sound confident but her voice came out in a squeak of surprise. "Where is Miss Dunning?" If she correctly understood Mr. Fuller's quip about Jason being busy with Priscilla, it took a lot of nerve for him to question her activities.

"Priscilla will be along in a while," Worthington strode forward like a stag in rut facing off against a rival male. "She and I have come to an understanding of sorts, perhaps not what she had hoped. Tell me Miss Marlton who is this gentleman?" The way Jason sneered at the last word, indicated that unlike her, he was not fooled by Mr. Fuller's quality clothing and polite speech. Charlotte felt a tremor of fear, Jason's cool eyes flicked between her and his rival. Had he deduced that she that she had shared more with Mr. Fuller than was appropriate for an unmarried maid? His hand was on the hilt of his sword and he looked more than willing to draw the blade at the slightest provocation.

"Mr. Worthington." She tried again to get through to her suitor, "Stop this!" There was no weakness in her voice this time, but Jason just grinned wickedly and motioned for Mr. Fuller to approach.

"Is this why you've been so stingy with your loving, my sweet." Jason's eyes never left Mr. Fuller, even while he continued his mocking. "Because you have a crude woodsman to fuck your gawky oversized frame?" Charlotte stepped between the two men, hoping that she could diffuse the obvious animosity between the two. It was only when she saw Mr. Worthington smile wickedly that she realized that her attempt to protect Mr. Fuller had placed herself within Jason's reach. Before she had a chance to react his left hand shot out and grabbed her wrist pulling her into his grasp. "Now that I know what excites you in a man, I assure you I can please you better than this country clod ever could." Randy's arm circled her waist groping her breast with strong fingers and a total disregard for any sense of propriety.

Charlotte twisted in his arms but Jason was surprisingly strong and he was able to keep her under control, squeezing her tit even harder to warn her not to continue her futile struggling. The smell of wine was strong on Jason's breath and Charlotte wondered how much of his aggressive style was due to the **** in his system.

"Miss Dunning told me you fantasized about a man to overpower you." Jason's harsh whisper was meant for her alone so she doubted Mr. Fuller heard it, but he must have suspected something, because his face hardened into an unreadable mask. "I'd be happy to fulfill your darkest fantasies." He pulled her even closer pressing her ass tightly against his groin; the hard bulge in his trousers left little doubt as to his intentions. There was an eagerness in Jason's voice that made Charlotte know with absolute clarity that she did not want to have her first time be with this man!

"Let Miss Marlton go!" Both of them stopped their struggle as Mr. Fuller spoke for the first time. He had pulled his flintlock from his belt and pointed it with practiced ease. "I don't want to use this, but I will if you don't release her this instant." Instead of doing as he was told Mr. Worthington pulled her tighter against his chest and shifted his head behind hers until she nearly completely shielded him. Even as he maneuvered her as a living shield, Mr. Worthington put two and two together.

"Of course!" Jason laughed like an exited schoolboy. "You must be the cowardly brigand who calls himself Black Brand." His attention shifted to Charlotte squeezing her again as he chuckled wickedly into her ear. "I guess Miss Dunning was correct about the type of lover that would appeal to you, darling, but you play a dangerous game. You'll have to be very, very pleasing if you still expect me to want this sullied body in my wedding bed."

"I'm not marrying you Mr. Worthington." One of her hands climbed to his throat and she dug her fingers into the soft flesh under his chin. "I'd never marry a drunken womanizer like you!" The discomfort of her strong grip and the brutal sharpness of her words sobered her assailant, but the result was not what she had hoped for at all. With a sharp pull, Jason tore the bodice of her green dress down, exposing her pale breasts for both men to admire. Worthington might dress like a dandy, but he was a strong man and was no longer trying to be gentle with her. This time when his fingers returned to her soft flesh he twisted her exposed nipple cruelly, making her yelp in surprise and pain.

"We seem to be at an impasse." Jason challenged Mr. Fuller still pinching her teat between his strong fingers. "Instead of this nonsense why don't you and I settle this matter with steel." Charlotte wanted to warn Mr. Fuller, but feared that anything she said might goad him into rash action. Left unsaid was her sincere belief that if Jason defeated Mr. Fuller, that he would throw her to the ground and celebrate his victory by mercilessly ravaging her virgin body as Mr. Fuller bled out.