“Alice, I don’t want you to think I’m going to beat you,” he said.
“I don’t,” she responded,
“This is a paddling, which, really, I will use at times to build tension.” He sounded so matter of fact that she wanted to laugh. “If I were to spank you that would be different. Now, we’re going to do this in intervals.”
He had stood and she heard him walking toward her. She watched as he picked up the paddle and twirled it in front of her face.
“You count each swat, and when I get to five you let me know.”
“Five?” That didn’t seem too bad to her. But then she wondered how many fives she would end up counting. She was about to ask when Julian rubbed the wood against her behind, which was covered in the robe.
“Be silent for me, Alice, except for saying the number five. Do you understand?”
“Yes, Julian.”
The first swat wasn’t really a swat at all. It was soft, and if she hadn’t been expecting it she might not have felt it. But by the time he got to the fifth one, Alice let out a soft, “Oh.”
“Hush, Alice or I will start over.”
Alice nodded and then clenched and unclenched her fists. There was silence before Julian said, “Are you forgetting something?”
“Oh, five.” The word came out as a giggle. Julian rubbed the paddle against her bottom and gave her a swat that was harder than all the others.
“It is your duty to count, Alice.” He tapped her four times, and then added another.
“That’s six,” she said. “The other one should count toward the next set.”
“The extra swats are just that—extra. They don’t count toward the next set. It is your responsibility, Alice, remember that.”
They continued for six more sets, the swats building in intensity as they were delivered. Alice wasn’t sure she wanted to continue the paddling, but she knew this was part of it. And if the swats he gave in the future were this soft she could handle it.
At the end of the last set, Julian rubbed the paddle against her bottom. “Will you leave my bed again without permission, Alice?”
“No, Julian, I won’t. I promise.”
“Very good, my pet. Now count the next ten so you truly understand what I am saying. And if I were you I would pay more attention to the numbers. That’s your job, remember?”
He didn’t wait for an answer. When the paddle came down it was definitely harder than the other ones had been. Alice worked hard to keep track and stay silent. The burning in her behind was increasing but so was the sweet feeling in the pit of her stomach and center. Wetness was forming between her thighs and she sighed deeply when she called out, “Ten, ten!”
Her behind was on fire. Julian rubbed the paddle over her ass and she sighed. Maybe now that it was finished he would allow her to turn over and she’d spread her thighs and take him inside her. The idea of being fucked while wearing the leather was very enticing.
“Now, I’m going to deliver ten more to make sure you have learned your lesson,” Julian said softly.
That was not what she wanted to hear. Before she could voice her disapproval the paddle came down; it happened so fast she couldn’t count. She started to squirm and her eyes filled with tears. She kicked her feet up and down to show her distress and clinched her fists.
“Please, Julian, please, I’m sorry. It won’t happen again.”
“Are you counting?” He continued to spank her as her sobs filled the room. The paddle came down many more times and then suddenly the spanking stopped.
“Alice, we have to work on your discipline. You have to learn to count.” He righted her quickly and pulled her into his arms. He cradled her head against his shoulder and ran his fingers through her hair.
“I believe the first lesson has been learned. Am I right?”
Alice hiccupped out the words, “Yes, Julian.”
“Shall we do something to satisfy us both, my pet?”
“I would like that,” she said.
“Good.” He took her hand and led her to the center of the room.
“Hands behind your back,” he said.
When they were in place he went behind her and she felt him tying her hands together. She imagined him using the steel rings.
When he was standing in front of her she pouted, and he laughed. “So perfect for me,” he said.
His words warmed her insides. He kissed her gently and then deepened the kiss, thrusting his tongue in and out of her mouth until soft mews of pleasure filled the room.
“Please, Julian, please,” she said when the kiss broke.
“Time for another lesson. Did you enjoy what I just did with my tongue?”
“Very much so, Julian.” The throbbing pressure on her behind was temporarily forgotten as Alice gave Julian a saucy grin.
“On your knees, my pet,” he said. He helped her down and she was eyelevel with his crotch. She watched as he undid his breeches.
“Lick my prick, Alice.”
She did as he asked, the salty taste of him was like ambrosia. She licked him gently and marveled at the way that small movement made him shudder. Tentatively she sucked the tip into her mouth. The feel of him was wonderful and she sighed in pleasure.
She licked and sucked, and when he backed away and picked her up it wasn’t hard to figure out what was next. He tossed her on the bed, her ass in the air, and entered her from behind, grasping her hips and fucking her so hard that Alice thought she would lose her ability to breathe.
They rocked together, and when Julian shuddered above her she felt him pull out and liquid soaked into the robe she still wore. He had the forethought to be responsible and she’d forgotten all about it. He pulled the robe from her body and used it to wipe her down, then he turned her over and his fingers found her nub. It didn’t take long for the world to spin around her.
When it was over she sighed in pleasure. “If this is the first of many lessons, I hope I have to be schooled every day.”
“That can be arranged, Alice, but first we need sleep. Being inside you tires me out.”
“Are you complaining?”
He slapped her quim and Alice gasped.
“Does that answer your question?” He untied her bonds and they crawled into bed.
Alice reminded herself this was just a trial, but it was something she could definitely get used to.
Chapter 9
Alice fingered the material at the tiny dressmaker’s shop that had been their first stop. It wasn’t what she would consider to be one of the tonier places in town, but from what she’d been told, Carin had worked here before her marriage to Lord Ellington.
Alice had to admit the clothing was beautiful, but when Margaret Thompson, the seamstress, quoted her the prices Alice’s breath caught in her throat. Before she could say anything, such as telling the woman that at that cost she only wanted one dress, and would wear the corset she had on, Charlotte had stepped in between them.
“Lord Buxton told me to make sure that at least one of the dresses was purple, the one for the party,” Charlotte said. “For the wedding he wanted something lighter in color.”
And so, it had gone on. Alice felt as if she were being led around the shop, buying things she didn’t really need, but the ladies objected every time she tried to say she didn’t need anything.
The teahouse was crowded by the time the shopping expedition was done. But the proprietor quickly found a spot for the party once he saw it contained Lady Essex and Lady Ellington.
Several ladies whispered behind their hands when Alice walked by their tables. She was used to the reaction by now. Shoppers and shopkeepers alike had whispered about her all afternoon.
But the shopkeepers were more than happy with the money she spent. As the day wore on she’d continued to balk at the prices, and the number of dresses that Charlotte, Carin and Amelia helped her choose.
But Charlotte was the more persuasive of them all and she’d talked Alice into dresses, matching cors
ets, hats, gloves, purses and stockings. When Alice asked that the items and the bills to be delivered to her home, Charlotte had laughed.
“Julian will kill me, and you, if we allow that to happen.”
So, Alice had changed the delivery point to Buxton’s house and her three companions had tittered with laughter.
Now, she drank her tea and watched the women interact. She wanted desperately to ask them about The Rakes of Mayfair, but she knew now, was not the time or place.
They were finishing their tea when Celia Howell breezed through the doorway. With a theatrical wave of her hair she glanced around the room with a big smile on her face. When she saw Alice, the smile froze in place.
The actress made her way across the room, stopping to talk with various women as she walked. When she reached their table, Alice nodded in acknowledgement.
“Mrs. Howell, won’t you join us?”
Without answering the question, she greeted the other ladies. Then she turned an acid smile on Alice.
“Mrs. Hamilton, I am surprised to see you out, considering what I read about you the other day.” Her voice was loud, and several people turned to stare.
“On the contrary, Mrs. Howell I don’t allow vicious gossip to stop me from enjoying life. I was just telling Lord Buxton today that you can’t believe everything you read. For instance, didn’t one interview say you were an actress in her thirties? Clearly, the writer was low by about ten years or so. Perhaps it was a typographical error.”
Fire flashed from Celia’s eyes. “Take care, Mrs. Hamilton. You’ve spent so much time abed lately I fear that you are unaccustomed to the afternoon air and it might be dangerous to your health.”
Charlotte started to stand but Alice put her hand on her arm and gently shook her head.
“The afternoon air is perfect for me, Mrs. Howell,” Alice said, sugar dripping from her voice. “I am well rested and in perfect health. And I do so enjoy shopping. Julian is a very generous man. Say what you will about our relationship, but I assure you that I have never experienced such joy as I have when I am in his arms.”
Her blunt words stopped the actress cold and Alice smiled, not at the look of anger on the older woman’s face but at the truth of her words. She loved being with Julian. She didn’t like the idea that she was using those feelings to try and get back at the woman standing before her, but if it angered her that made things all the better.
“Yes, I do believe you should spend Lord Buxton’s money while he still has it,” Celia said in a voice only the women could hear. “Before long it will all be gone, or his reputation, the reputation of all of you, will be gone. No one will invite you to parties or speak to you on the streets.” She glared at them and left the store without ordering tea.
“The poor woman actually believes she has the upper hand,” Charlotte said after she’d left. “But we won’t let her spoil our day. Let’s go to a few more shops. We still need to find Alice a dress for the wedding.”
Alice sipped her tea, the significance of what just happened seeping into her bones. Everyone in the shop now knew that she and Buxton were lovers. Of course, anyone who read a newspaper already knew. She felt as if her stomach was on the floor. She should have thought about things more before she opened her mouth. Hopefully, Julian would not be angry about this little incident.
A quick shake of her head brought her back to where she was, and who she was sitting with. Her companions were all smiling.
“I’m sorry, what were you saying about a dress for the wedding?” Alice asked. “I plan on wearing the pale green dress that we just ordered to Amelia’s wedding. It’s supposed to be ready tomorrow.”
All three women laughed.
“Not my wedding,” Amelia said. “We’re looking for a dress for you to wear to your wedding to Lord Buxton.”
When Alice didn’t answer the three women broke into fits of giggles. Charlotte was the first to recover.
“Don’t worry, Alice. The men in our lives swept all of us off our feet. We know it is no different for you. Mark my words, you will be Lady Buxton before the end of the summer. I’ve seen the look in Julian’s eyes when he watches you. He loves you.”
Love? Had she really just said love?”
“You’re mistaken, Charlotte,” Alice said. “We have become—close—but there is no mention of marriage.”
They all three stared at her, their mouths opened, and then they all laughed again.
“Now do you want white, or cream?” Charlotte smiled.
“Perhaps peach,” Carin added.
“No, I would say lavender,” Amelia said softly.
Alice leaned back in her chair in an effort to disassociate herself from the conversation. They were making plans for a wedding that would never take place. But Alice knew she would never be able to convince them of that. They were under the impression that she and Julian were in love.
Even though they enjoyed each other’s company he’d only mentioned marriage once, and she had convinced herself he hadn’t been speaking about her. When he found a woman to marry she would go back to her old life. Which meant she needed to make sure she still had a life to go back to. That meant taking care of her house.
She needed to convince Julian they should have their sessions in the afternoon, so she could sleep at home, and maybe put an end to rumors. But something told her it wouldn’t be that easy.
Still, she needed to try. This was so complicated. Why couldn’t they just forget about society and be together if that was what they wanted?
Her new friends continued to trade ideas about dresses, and Alice took the time to look around the room. Ladies were staring at her, most of them frowning and shaking their heads. It was obvious they all disapproved of her; it was obvious they all believed what they’d read about her in the gossip sheets; and why shouldn’t they, because it was the truth.
Alice wanted to crawl across the floor and slink out the door.
No, she definitely couldn’t marry Buxton. Surely, he would understand. Or would he?
“Is this all?” Buxton’s eyebrows furrowed in disbelief. They were standing in his bedroom. The items she’d purchased were spread across the bed. To Alice it looked like enough clothing to last for the rest of her life. “Four dresses and their accessories? Surely you bought more than this.”
Alice shrugged her shoulders. “I have two more dresses on order. One will be ready for Amelia’s wedding. The second should be ready before the party.” She failed to mention that the second dress would be a perfect cream-colored wedding dress.
“Four dresses will not last very long,” Buxton said. “You need to go back out tomorrow. Take Charlotte. She is a great shopper, or so Essex says. I want a whole new wardrobe for you. My wife deserves nothing less.”
Alice’s eyes widened at the words. Her insides warmed at the idea of being his bride, but then she remembered the scene from the teashop this afternoon, and the way the ladies had talked about her, and about Celia Howell. She’d stood up for herself but there was no doubt in her mind that was not the first time something like that would happen. She couldn’t marry Buxton.
“I don’t want to marry before Cannonberry,” Julian continued. “There is no doubt I could get a special license, but Cannonberry and Amelia deserve their special day. Shall we say a month from now?”
Julian gathered Alice in his arms and kissed her gently. “Does that time frame meet with your approval?”
Alice bit her lip. “Julian, I can’t marry you. I shouldn’t even be here.”
“Who changed your mind? Did someone say something today? Was it Charlotte? Or Carin?” He shook his head, his anger evident. “No, they wouldn’t have. They approve of you. Tell me what happened.”
“Actually, I had a run in with Celia Howell.” Alice laid her head on Julian’s chest. She could hear his heart beating against her ear and the sound caused her own heart to flutter. He pulled her back and gave her a confused look. She described her afternoon encounter with the a
ctress and Julian threw back his head and laughed.
“Damn! I bet she enjoyed hearing her age battered about in public. But I don’t understand how upstaging the woman would make you think we shouldn’t be together.”
“When I was talking to her I realized that I wanted to defend you, defend your reputation. If I cared that much about your reputation, then I knew that I cared for you more than I was letting myself realize.”
“Perhaps I should send Mrs. Howell a thank you note.” The teasing note in Julian’s voice belied his feelings. “We will move your things in tomorrow. All the members of your staff will find work here.”
“Julian, wait,” she said. “I also realized if we married it would cause great harm to your reputation.”
“Do you think I give a damn? I told you that already.”
“But you weren’t talking about marriage,” she said, her voice rising. “Besides which, we couldn’t live together even if there was to be a wedding. It’s unheard of!”
“We can, and we will, sweet Alice,” Julian said. “I want you near me at all times. That is the end of the conversation.”
“I won’t do it. What will people think?” Alice’s voice was rising. Julian was walking away from her toward the bed.
“I am tired of you saying that!” She hadn’t heard him yell before, and she wasn’t happy to hear it now. “There will be no discussion on the matter.” He sat down on the edge of the bed and began unlacing his boots.
“So, you’re going to force me to marry you?” Alice worked hard to control her rising temper. “Is this how it’s going to be? Will my thoughts always be rejected in favor of yours?”
“Nonsense,” Julian replied, his fingers beginning to work on his shirt buttons. “You have to trust me to know what’s best for you, Alice. For us.”
“You mean I have to trust you to take over,” she retorted. “I have enjoyed our sexual escapades, but I will not be bullied into marriage.”
Now half-naked, Julian placed his hands on his hips and frowned deeply. “Bullied? Is that what you think I am, a bully?”
His Little Problem (Rakes of Mayfair Book 3) Page 11
