The Taming of a Vixen

by Wendy Stone

  “Who are you?” she hissed, a shiver of both fear and anticipation slipping down her spine.

  “You know who I am, Alyssa. I’ve missed you.” His deep voice was unmistakable, despite that damnable mask hiding his face.

  “No, Jamie, you can’t be here. You have to leave.” She slipped from the bed, going to him in her bare feet, the light summer gown floating around her. Tiny straps at her shoulders were the only thing holding it on. “You have to leave, Jamie.” Her hands went to his chest as if to push him from the room.

  Before she could, his hands took her arms, pulling her roughly against him, his mouth coming down upon hers. There was nothing gentle or cajoling about the kiss. It was rough and randy, desperate for the taste of her, for the soft feel of her body against his. His groan was loud and heartfelt, sending shivers of longing through her.

  “You’ve missed me,” he stated. “You still want me.” Neither was a question, but he didn’t wait for an answer anyway, covering her lips with his own and ravishing her mouth with the fury of his need.

  Her hands remained at his chest; whether to push him away or to pull him closer, she didn’t know. They stayed there while their lips battled, both trying to take more from the other. He grabbed the top of her gown, yanking roughly against the soft material, watching her in the moonlight as it fell, a pale white ghost of fabric, leaving her bare to his avid and lustful gaze.

  He pushed her backwards until the bed was behind her and then lifted her roughly, tossing her onto it. Alyssa scrambled, trying to get up before he could reach for her again, her pale body shining in the moonlight.

  She almost made it, scurrying across the rumpled blankets, feeling his hand wrap around the slender curve of her ankle. He yanked her back, laughing as she twisted, her hands coming up to fight him. “You can fight it if you wish, Alyssa, but you know that sooner or later, you’ll give in. You want me. You’ve missed me as much as I missed you. Give in to it, Alyssa.”

  “No,” she hissed. “Now get out, or I…I’ll scream!”

  Jamie pulled her closer, grabbing her other ankle and dragging her further across the bed. He parted her legs, placing them on either side of him, forcing her naked form against his, staring down at the pale pink flesh exposed by her blatantly open position. “If you were going to scream, love, you’d have done so already.” He reached down, grabbing her shoulders and holding her close.

  Alyssa stared up at him, her eyes hard though he could see a bit of fear in the smoky gray. He watched as she took a deep breath, opening her mouth, and then his mouth was on hers. He kissed her until she couldn’t breathe, until thinking was the last thing she could do. She kissed him back, lost in the wonder of his lips, the tendrils of hot pleasure that flooded her system.

  Her hands were on his shirt, pulling at the buttons, yanking until the front parted and her hands found warm skin, hard and rugged. She pushed it from his shoulders, tugging it down his arms until they were trapped in the sleeves. She heard fabric rip as he tore it off. The buttons on the front of his pants were next, opening under her searching hands.

  He groaned as her hand pushed inside his breeches, finding his cock, hard and aching for her. She slipped her soft palm around his flesh, tugging gently, pulling him free of the material until he lay throbbing across her palm.

  “Do you want me, Jamie?” she asked him, her eyes glittering in the light from the moon.

  “Yes, you know I do, love. I think I’ve wanted you forever.” His voice was husky, a low moan building as she stroked him.

  “But that’s all it is, isn’t it? Just want. No need, or desire, or love. You just want me,” she said bitterly.

  “Why can’t that be enough for you?” he asked, his hips jerking as she continued to play with him. There were tiny drops of clear fluid coming from the tip of his cock and lubricating her slender hand, making it slip over him even faster until he was gritting his teeth to keep from erupting in her palm.

  Alyssa put her hand on his stomach, feeling the hard muscles clench. She pushed him back, forcing him to take a step away from her and then another, giving her the chance to drop to her knees in front of him. He stared down at her, seeing her mouth open, her tongue licking over her lips before she slid them over the head of his cock, sliding her tongue on the spot just under it that sent shivers of pleasure through him. His head fell back, his buttocks clenching as he felt her take more of him inside of her hot mouth, until he could feel the back of her throat.

  “Alyssa,” he growled. “Love, you are going to make me come, stop.” His hand went to her head, uncertain whether to push her off of him or to hold her closer, but it didn’t matter. Alyssa felt him fight her touch and let her teeth lay against his skin, pushing just enough that he got the message.

  Then she started moving, bobbing her head on him, sucking and suckling, licking over his cock and taking his balls into her mouth, one at a time, to suck upon gently. And then back on his cock, the hot moisture of her mouth drawing his seed up with such sweet friction, until he couldn’t hold back anymore.

  He tried to warn her but he couldn’t get the words out. And then it was too late. He was filling her mouth with his hot, bitter seed.

  Alyssa swallowed, the first long hot pulse almost choking her before she got used to it. When he was done, she pulled away from him, going to her bureau where a small pitcher of water stood. Pouring a small glass, she drank it thirstily before turning to him.

  “Are you satisfied?” she asked.

  “What?”

  “You’ve gotten your pleasure,” she said. “Now, get out. And please, if you care anything for me, don’t come back.”

  “Why shouldn’t I come back, love? Give me one good reason why we should deny each other the pleasure we both crave?” He buttoned his pants as he spoke, walking toward her.

  “Because Jason Ashington has asked for my hand and I plan on saying yes.”

  Chapter Nine

  “You plan on doing what!?”

  “I plan on accepting his proposal,” Alyssa said defiantly, staring up at him, her naked body seeming so fragile in the dark of the room.

  “The man is a bounder and a cad. He’s a womanizer,” Jamie paced the room, visibly agitated.

  “Yes and just what does that make you?”

  “Ouch, love, that hurt.” He rubbed his chest as if it was a physical thrust she’d made, instead of just words.

  “But true, though, isn’t it, Jamie? At least he has offered marriage and not crept illicitly into my room at night and taken me the way you have. Now, you have had your fun. Please, Jamie, for me, just go.” She walked over to the balcony, unaware of the view she was presenting him.

  He watched as her heart-shaped bottom moved enticingly towards the doorway, pausing as she fumbled with the knob and finally opened the door. She turned, giving him a wonderful cameo view of her profile, her long silky hair hanging in ringlet curls down her back. “Go,” she said quietly.

  “I’ll go, love. But I’ll be back.”

  “No,” she said quietly, but he could hear the conviction in her voice. “You won’t. If you do, I promise, I will scream next time.”

  He walked toward her, watching her, seeing her eyes drop as he got closer, as if she couldn’t stand to see him anymore. He stopped in front of her, his knuckles brushing her cheek, lifting her chin. He kissed her then, slowly, softly, sweetly, seducing her mouth the way he seduced her body the first time.

  Then he lifted his head, hearing her sob, seeing the tears that shone like tiny diamonds upon her cheeks. Jamie wiped them away with the tips of his fingers, dropping one more kiss upon her lips and then he was gone, pulling the door closed behind him.

  * * * *

  “This was left for you, Lady Alyssa,” the navy and gold attired footman said, holding a wide silver tray out to her. Upon it, nestled against a tiny square of paper, was a spray of beautiful orchids, their petals creamy white deepening to a dark pink inside.

  Alyssa lifted the beautiful
flowers, bringing them to her nose before picking up the small square of paper that held her name on the front. “Thank you,” she said simply to the footman before continuing her way into the breakfast room.

  It was late, but Alyssa had slept poorly, tossing and turning as her heart had broken and tears she was helpless to stop had flooded her pillow. And it infuriated her that she was crying over someone of Jamie’s ilk, someone who cared little for who he hurt as he sought his own pleasures.

  She toyed with the stem of the flower while she contemplated what she’d do if he came back, only then realizing she was still carrying the note. Unfolding it carefully, she stared at the two words it contained, feeling her fury rising. The two words, “I’m sorry,” were followed by a capital J done in a flourishing scrolling script.

  Slowly crumpling the paper in her hand, she turned to head back up the stairs. She’d change and get her horse from the stables. She had to get away from the house and from him. Jamie, he was here somewhere, one of the guests. How else had he been able to get her the note?

  With her mind on that tangent, she wasn’t paying attention to where she was heading. It was as if a wall was suddenly in her way, and as she ran into it, it sprouted arms, reaching out to grab her as she stumbled back.

  “Oh!” she exclaimed, dropping the note and the flowers to grab onto a dark blue coat.

  “Whoa, slow down,” the wall said in a deep voice.

  Alyssa looked up in shock, meeting Jason’s blue eyes, which sparkled with just a hint of mischief. He really was too good looking, she thought. His black brows slashed across a wide forehead, his eyes with their vivid blue irises, full but masculine lips, and the high cheekbones wrapped him up into a package that devastated ladies, young and old alike.

  “Are you all right, Alyssa? I hope I didn’t hurt you with my clumsiness.”

  “No, no that was my fault,” she quickly asserted, feeling strangely out of breath with him staring down at her so. “I wasn’t watching where I was going.”

  “You looked deep in thought,” he said, smiling when her head tipped up at the words.

  “So you stepped in front of me on purpose?”

  “Well, it was one way to find out if you’d received my note and the flowers, Alyssa,” he said, bending to pick up both from where she’d dropped them. He held the crumpled note in his hand, staring at it with a puzzled frown. “Does this mean my apology wasn’t accepted?”

  “They were from you?”

  Jason stared into her surprised face and almost chuckled. He hadn’t thought when he’d left the note that she might think they were from Jamie and not him. “Yes, were you expecting an apology from someone else? I certainly hope I shan’t be called to rescue your honor again so soon. I’m hardly healed from the last gentleman who needed to be taught a lesson.” He chucked her lightly on the chin as she paled. “That was a joke, vixen. No need to be upset about this.” His hand waved at the bandage on his forehead. “I’m made from hardy stock.”

  “B…but what have you to apologize for, Jason?” she asked, confusion apparent on her pale face.

  “I upset you last night, Alyssa. It was the last thing in the world I wanted to do. I was rather heavy handed, announcing my intentions the way that I did.” He ducked his head, only missing the shuffling foot from appearing to be an overgrown school boy called to the carpet. “I hope you’ll accept my apology and my wish to call upon you?” He held out the orchids.

  Alyssa couldn’t help but laugh. “I’m thinking you were a hellion as a little boy. How many scrapes did you get into, than brought your mother flowers to get out of?”

  “It’s that apparent?” he asked, chuckling. He bent his head closer to whisper in her ear. “I had my mother wrapped around my little finger, but don’t tell her I said that. She thinks I didn’t know.”

  Alyssa was lost in his scent, the spicy aroma of man, mixed with outdoors and leather and a faint hint of cigar tobacco. She laughed at his words, accepting the flower from his hand. “I can imagine she loves you dearly.”

  “Probably more than I deserve,” he chuckled, taking her arm and turning her back toward the breakfast room. “You haven’t eaten today?”

  “No, and actually, I’m famished,” she said, feeling lighter now than she had when she’d left her rooms.

  “Good, I like a woman with a hearty appetite,” he said, chuckling when her face flushed. “And I’d love the chance to get to know you better without hordes of your admirers wanting to come and shoot me in the skull.”

  “Perhaps, when I come to know you better, I’ll be the one to wish to shoot you in the skull.”

  “You shoot and ride? Remind me to make a note to myself to lock up the guns in my house after we are married.”

  “You seem pretty sure of yourself, Your Grace. You are so certain of my answer to your unasked question?” She raised a finely curved eyebrow up at him, sitting in the chair he pulled out for her.

  “Oh, I have it on good authority that I am hard to resist when I want to be.” He sat down himself, choosing the chair next to hers and turning slightly in his seat even as plates of food were sat in front of them. “You could say a little birdie told me.”

  Alyssa dug into her food, enjoying the taste with a relish that was unusual for her. She enjoyed the duke’s company as much if not more than the food, finding him open to any topic. He listened to her, as her father had always done; not treating her as if she were only a female and as such, not equipped with a brain.

  “All right, I’ll concede, the Americans have done a fine job of self government since they won that bloody war. But you must allow that it wasn’t very sportsmanlike of them to fight the way they did. Jumping from the bushes and such to waylay our poor unsuspecting troops. Deuced ungentlemanly of them.”

  “It’s a new type of world, Jason,” she laughed, waving her fork at him. “We must acclimate ourselves or become extinct to the new order.”

  “Next you’ll say that women deserve the same rights as a man,” he said, laughing when she opened her mouth. He quickly stuck a forkful of his eggs in it to keep her from speaking, laughing even harder at the glare she gave him. “Only kidding, love. I’d never, ever joke about the rights of women.” He placed his hand on his chest and gave her his most honest expression, laughing when she scoffed at him.

  “And you say the Americans were unsportsmanlike,” she grumbled after swallowing the food he’d shoved in her mouth.

  “Well, I could have kissed you, but I thought you’d prefer privacy for that.”

  “And who says that I want you to kiss me?” she asked him, her eyebrows raised.

  “You do, love. It’s apparent in your eyes and in the manner you keep glancing at my lips as we talk. You want to know if my kiss will be the same as it was last night in your garden, or if that were perhaps a fluke. A bit of faerie magic mixed with the moonlight and champagne to befuddle your wits.” He leaned closer, watching as her face tilted up, her smoky eyes staring into his. “I think kisses should be such, enchanted, magical and with a bit of mystique. They should capture the imagination and not just the lips, don’t you think?”

  Alyssa jerked slightly, as if suddenly waking from a spell. She reached for her glass of juice to take a sip and settle the heavy beating of her heart. He was seducing her, not with touches and kisses but with sweet words and gestures. And it was working. She could feel her pulse beat between her thighs, a throbbing caused by the sound of his voice. Clearing her throat, she sipped her juice again before turning to answer him.

  “Your Grace has a glib tongue that dances just like those faeries you speak of.”

  “Ha, I do believe the point goes to me on that one love, for that wasn’t an answer. But why do you persist in calling me Your Grace? I thought we’d become a little more…personable than that.” He lifted his own glass, clinking it lightly to hers.

  “Oh, all right, Jason then. But that doesn’t change the fact that your tongue can twist a word to fit the way you wish i
t to.” She could feel the blush in her cheeks and silently cursed her fair skin.

  “If I promise to make my tongue behave and not allow it to do anymore twisting of words, would you ride with me during the hunt?” he asked, moving a little closer and enjoying the flush upon her cheeks.

  “I promised to ride with Cat. She isn’t as familiar with the hunt as some of the others and didn’t want to look the fool.”

  “I think, from what I’ve seen of your friend Cat and my friend Teddy, that they shall be well occupied during the hunt and you shan’t have to worry about her. So what do you say? Ride with me? Dance with me later? Marry me tomorrow?”

  Alyssa burst out laughing. “Anything else? Perhaps I should produce an heir by next week?”

  “No,” he said, leaning even closer and whispering in her ear. “That is definitely something we want to take our time about, and practice often and well.”

  He stood before she could respond, loving the way her cheeks turned so pink, her lips parted as if she were shocked by his words. “I shall see you later, my love. In time for the hunt.” He leaned over her hand, kissing her fingers before turning her hand over, laying his lips against her palm before closing her fingers over it. And then he was gone.

  Alyssa stared at her closed fist, her heart thundering in her ears. She sank back against her chair, a small smile forming upon her lips.

  * * * *

  Alyssa was seated upon Vixen’s Boy, waiting as the others prepared for the hunt. She felt a measure of the excitement in them that she also felt at the beginning of the hunt. But she hated the chaos as the others, not taking the matter as seriously, were not yet mounted and ready to go at the chosen time.

  She refused to look for the duke, even as she felt disappointment that he wasn’t waiting for her when she had arrived upon the field. Instead, she concentrated upon Vixen’s Boy, keeping the high-strung stud calm amidst the other horses and the air of excitement that she knew he could feel. His muscles were jumping under her hand as she leaned down to pat his neck affectionately and she spoke calming words into his ear, laughing as he whinnied in response.