by Alexia Praks
“You’re as stiff as a rock,” his voice echoed in her head.
Still not looking at him, she moved her arms to wrap around his thick neck. As she did so, her bare breasts were squeezed up against his brick wall of hard chest.
Max felt her soften and knew he would succumb to the desire building up inside him eventually. He knew that if he did not control himself and let this little nymph do her seducing, he would turn the table around and seduce her instead.
He supposed she didn’t know that every little action she did thrilled him uncontrollably; like the way she bit her lower lip, the way she was frowning, and the way her cheeks turned scarlet.
“What do I do now?” she asked, her gaze on his chin.
“Look at me!” he commanded.
Slowly and reluctantly, she turned to look at him.
“That’s better. Now kiss me.”
She looked into his eyes with horror.
He stared back at her with a challenge.
Frowning and then lowering her eyes, she stared at his lips. They were firm and quite beautiful, she thought.
She summoned her inner strength and moved her face toward him. Slowly, she kissed him by simply putting her lips upon his. She stayed there for a few seconds and then moved her head back. She glanced at him and saw that he was still looking at her. Casting her eyes downward, she moved her lips to his cheekbone. She gave him a little kiss there and then moved to his chin. She did the same there and then moved to kiss the side of his mouth.
“I’m sure you could do better than that.”
Her heart shattered.
What more did he expect from her? She didn’t know what to do. She so desperately wanted to run away and hide within the safety of her bedroom. She wanted to cry her heart out. But she couldn’t, could she? What to do?
Suddenly, a picture of her mother flashed into her mind. That day when she saw them in the parlour, her mother was doing things to him. At the time she had felt sick to the stomach at the very sight but now she realized that her mother had actually been seducing the duke. Was that how it was done? Throwing your body at the man, rubbing yourself against him? Would it work?
She turned her gaze to look up at him worriedly. She knew she was getting nowhere, kissing him like a little girl kissing her father.
“This is very hard for you, isn’t it?” he said, soothing her cheek with the back of his fingers.
She nodded without looking at him.
“You heart is not in it, Ivy. I have business to attend in the morrow morning,” he said, shifting his body in the seat.
She knew he was giving up on her. Nay, she couldn’t possibly let the people she cared about lose their jobs just because her heart wasn’t into seducing him.
He shifted and prepared to get up.
She tightened her arms around his neck and thrust her body even closer to him. He turned his gaze to her and relaxed back against the chair.
She moved and kissed him on his lips. Then she moved her trembling fingers to his robe and undid that. Once she got the front of his Banyan undone, she spread her palms out and touched his bare chest. She moved her legs in such a way that she sat saddling him. She moved her lips down to kiss his chest while she rubbed her naked body against him.
Max tried so hard to contain himself from throwing her on her back. But damn, she was doing such a fine job seducing him even though he knew she didn’t even know what she was doing. He was hot everywhere and his member was throbbing for actions.
Ivy stopped her kissing and wondered why she was feeling so warm everywhere. Not to mention that there was a very tight feeling in between her thighs. The tingling sensations she felt confused her as well as the wonderful hollowed feeling in her stomach. Though confused, and she wish she could stop this seducing and take time to consider the possibilities, she keep on going, kissing him from his hard, muscular chest to his stomach.
She moved her lips back up to his throat. She stayed there, breathing deeply, inhaling his manly scent.
She was at a lost as to what to do next. What more could she do to seduce him apart from kissing him? Feeling lost for a moment, she whimpered.
He touched the back of her head like a father would to his crying child. She hugged him, sobbing with her face buried against his neck. “I...I don’t know what to do next. My heart is truly in this, it truly is but...I...just don’t know how, your grace, please...” Her body shook as she cried.
“Just say the word, sweet Ivy,” he said roughly.
“Word?” She turned her face to look at him.
“Say it and I’ll do the rest.”
As she stared at him, her stomach went hollow. She blinked as this new thrilling excitement presented itself within her being.
“Just say the word.”
“Your grace?” she whispered.
“Nay.”
She frowned with worry, trying to think what word he wanted to hear from her. “I...I don’t know...” She shook her head.
“Sweet words, Ivy. What a man would want to hear.”
“Sweet words...” she repeated to herself.
She had not heard sweet words from her loved one for many years. Her papa, she thought, had many sweet words for her, and she had many sweet words for him. If she was to use those same words to this devil, would it work? She knew in her heart what words she would use to her beloved one but would it work to this devil?
“Sweet words...” she whispered and blinked, causing tears to flow down her cheeks.
Max wiped them away with his thumb.
“Take...take me,” she whispered near his ear, her warm breath fanning his skin. “Take me to bed, my...my love.”
Hot thrills bolted through his veins as those words gently caressed his face. At that moment, he felt as though he was in heaven for the very first time in his life.
Still staring into her eyes, he stood up and carried her in his arms to bed. He laid her down and covered her body with his. He moved his head down and kissed her on her forehead.
“Say it again,” he urged.
“My love, take me,” she said, wrapping her arms tighter around his neck. Without even knowing it, she also wrapped her legs around his, bringing him closer to her.
He moved and kissed her passionately on her lips while his hands were everywhere, touching her. When he stopped kissing her, he turned his eyes to stare at her magnificent breasts. Slowly, he turned to look up at her.
She gazed down at him. In her eyes, he knew she was wondering what was in his mind. There was a hint of fear he noted there too.
He gave her his devilish grin which caused her heart to skip a beat and her breath to catch at the back of her throat. He turned his attention back to her breasts and started to hotly kiss around one.
Ivy clutched her hands onto his shoulders as this alienated thrill rushed crazily within her being. She tried to catch her breath but couldn’t seem to as one exploding sensation after another rushed around in her nerves. As she bit her lip to prevent herself from crying out into the night, he plucked one nipple into his hot mouth and continued to suck it with his expert tongue.
Ivy groaned. She shook her head from side to side as she stared up at the ceiling, wondering how such pleasure could exist between a man and a woman.
She was lost from reality into this new feelings of pleasure as more thrilling sensations rushed about her body, making her feel as though she was in heaven.
The next time she knew anything of reality was when she looked down and saw him staring up at her. His eyes, she saw, were so stormy and dark that she was in fact afraid of him, but at the same time the look he gave her excited her beyond reasons. The way he was looking at her made her stomach go hollow, and the tight feeling at her womanhood became more intense. His face was becoming harder every second as he stared at her.
Ivy did not know that the groaning sound she cried out as he kissed and tasted her lovely body heightened his desire. Every time she groaned out with pleasure, his needs inten
sified. The ecstasy was indescribable as he wondered how tight and hot she would be once he was inside her.
He moved his face toward hers and roughly took her mouth. His kiss was passionate and demanding. As he kissed her, he rubbed his harden member against her private part.
She whimpered at the wonderful, hot feelings as he rubbed his hardness against her softness. She wrapped her legs around his flank to heighten the pleasure. Suddenly, a hot, tight excitement rushed through her as he thrust his staff into her opening. Once he entered her, he moved out a bit and then pushed in further.
Ivy wanted to scream as he pushed himself into her. Still wanting more and never wanting it to end, she moved herself with his thrusting rhythm. They both moved their body as one, each taking their pleasure to their new height, each panting and puffing and pushing even further until they both climax.
Their ecstasy was high, and Max gritted his teeth to contain himself from dieing of pleasure. Then finally, he released his seed into her womb.
It took him a few seconds to regain his strength. Once he did, he removed himself from her, looking down at her. Her cheeks were red and her eyes were bright, though she avoided his gaze. He touched her chin and turned her face to him. Still, she avoided his eyes. He squeezed her chin to get her attention. Instantly, her gaze flew to him.
He smiled arrogantly.
She gasped. She realized then that he was a very handsome man when he smiled. His hard face turned almost boyish and was very pleasant to look at. Instantly, she hated herself for that thought. Why did he have to look so handsome now? Hadn’t he just reduced her to becoming a whore? Begging him to take her?
Oh, but the pleasure was indescribable. Why did it have to be him who was the one to show her how much pleasure a woman could receive from a man?
“You are a very passionate woman, Ivy,” he said, touching his fingers to her flushed cheek.
She gave him no reply and turned her back to him. Then she sat up and put her foot down on the floor.
“Where do you think you are going?”
“To my bed, your grace,” she said.
He seized her arm and pulled her back below him. He was angry that she was back to calling him ‘your grace.’ Damn, but he wanted her to call him ‘my love’ even though she bloody well didn’t mean it. He gritted his teeth and wondered why he would want her to call him ‘my love.’ Was he mad?
“Your grace,” she gasped, panicked at the way he was looking at her with anger. He was furious, she knew, for his eyes were intensely blue.
“I did not give you my permission to leave. You will sleep here,” he said. After glaring down at her for a moment, he rolled over to his side, bringing her with him. He made her sleep on his right arm as his body covered hers, and his left hand cupping her breast.
“Your grace, I am not use to this,” she told him, pushing him away.
“Well get use to it,” he said, closing his eyes, dismissing her complaint of discomfort.
Biting her lower lip, she closed her eyes. After a few minutes, she was fast a sleep.
Max looked down at her for a long time. Had he weakened his dislike toward this woman, he wondered. He shouldn’t be for she was the daughter of his enemy. He hadn’t yet fulfilled vengeance. Although, he thought, he found that she was not at all like her mother. But he could be wrong there, for he hadn’t known her for very long.
Again, he turned to look at her person.
Look at her, he thought, sleeping so peacefully. Her face was so innocent and so damn beautiful that he simply wanted to kiss her again and again. Damnation, had he gotten soft toward her all of sudden?
Determined not to think about her, he shut his eyes from her beauty and commanded himself to go to sleep. He slept all right, fitfully though. The next morning when he woke up, she was gone. He felt empty. The warmth was no longer there. Frowning at why he was feeling such a deep lost, he got up and dressed himself.
Half an hour later he was in his study, looking at Donald, Mrs. Price, and Lisa who stood before him with their heads bow. He shifted his gaze from one to the others. He knew they were afraid of him, probably shaking in their boots too. He wondered if Ivy was scared of him in that intensity. Of course she was scared of him just like everyone else in this castle.
He turned his attention to his audience awaiting his final judgment.
“You are all my employees and are living under my roof. As such you are not to disobey my rules as you all know that,” he started. “It was by mere coincidence that I found out what has happened that day. You all have disobeyed my orders and had kept your mouth shut about that incident. It displease me very much, Donald,” he looked at the butler, “that you of all my servants have lie to me to simply save this chit, a mere mistress of mine. And you, Mrs. Price,” he glanced at the housekeeper, “have also lied to me of what has happed that day.”
He paused to look at all three people. “Have you any thing to defend yourself?” he said at length.
Donald turned to look at Mrs. Price and then he looked at the duke. “Your grace, I am sorry that I have lied to you...” He bowed his head again. “I have nothing to defend myself, sir.”
“Nor I, your grace,” Mrs. Price said, shaking her head.
“And you?” Max looked at Lisa.
The maid lifted her head up to look at him for the first time. She took a deep breath and said, “Nay, your grace, I have nothing to defend myself.” She was quiet for a moment and then added, “My only guilt, your grace, is to let myself see my lady live unhappy day after day.”
“Are you implying that Ivy is unhappy here?” he shouted at her, glaring at the servant who dared to speak about Ivy’s unhappiness.
Lisa shrank back a little and turned her gaze fearfully to the stare at the carpet.
Max glared at them. Why the hell did they have to care about that chit’s happiness so much? Ivy, she kept haunting him. Her face was still in his mind. The damn chit, he darn well better do something to stop this.
He turned his gaze to the servants again and said, “It is my decision that you all will not be sacked this day.”
All three servants looked up at him, their eyes wide in surprise.
“But hear me well, you all will not lie to me again nor will you disobey my orders,” he said, looking at them pointedly, each one at length. “You may return to your duties.”
The three servants looked at one another and then left the room.
CHAPTER 15
Ivy waited until after ten o’clock before she left her bedroom. Once she was on her way, it was straight to the kitchen. Her heart was pumping so loudly in her chest she feared it might pop out of her being.
She was waiting to see if her endeavor had actually been successful. She had not slept since she woke up to find herself in the duke’s arms. She had rushed off, with her cheeks blushing, back to her bedroom.
Sitting in her bed, she had been thinking about how much of a wanton she had been when the duke was making love to her. He must think her nothing more than one of his past mistresses. Perhaps he even thought of her as a whore.
She had buried her face in her pillow with the embarrassment and wondered if she would be able to look at him straight in the eyes again. She wished that he would simply disappeared back to London and leave her be to heal her embarrassment.
The thought of him making love to her was not the only thing on her mind during those waking hours, however. She had also thought about whether he was carrying out their bargain. And that was what she wanted to find out now as she rushed down the grand stairs and into the kitchen.
She came to a stop when she saw Mrs. Price sitting on the table, going over the menu. She rushed toward the woman and only stopped where the table was acting as a barrier between them.
“Mrs. Price!” she said breathlessly.
The housekeeper looked up and smiled. Her eyes brewed with tears as she got up and walked toward Ivy.
“I’m so happy,” Ivy cried and hugged the plump w
oman.
“Me too, m’ lady,” the housekeeper said.
“Ah-ham!”
Ivy turned to look at the door. There stood Donald and Lisa.
“Oh, Lisa, I’m so glad you’re still here,” she cried.
“Aye, me too,” Lisa replied.
Ivy wiped her tears and turned to Donald who smiled at her.
“Oh, Donald, I’m sorry for what happened.” She touched the man’s arm.
“My lady, I’m only happy that I am able to serve you,” the butler said.
“Nay, Donald, don’t say such things.”
“Come, m’ lady, you must not cry. ‘Tis a joyous time,” the housekeeper said.
“Aye,” Ivy said, nodding. “We shall have breakfast together outside, as a picnic near the lake.” She smiled.
“But the duke,” Lisa said.
“Aye, the duke,” Ivy muttered. “Very well, we shall have our breakfast here then. Come along,” she said, pulling both Lisa’s and Donald’s hand into the kitchen.
***
He heard their laughter. One in particular affected him the most. It was sweet and musical like a humming bird. He stood there, listening to their happiness echoing from the kitchen into the hallway. For a moment, he was lost in thought wondering when he would be able to laugh so freely and happily like them.
He turned and walked back to the study. He had planned to read his business letters and finish his account, but he found himself doing neither of those things. He sate there staring into space, and in his mind’s eyes, he imagined her laughing and smiling at him.
He shook his head with disgust. My God, had he gone mad imagining that chit smiling at him? He should be torturing her, both mentally and physically, he thought. He should be raping her, bruising her skin, and making her cry every minutes of the day. Be damn but he was going to do just that tonight. He had to satisfy his thirst for revenge, hurt them back like they had hurt him.
Aye, tonight he would ravish that chit and make her beg him for mercy. Then she would run back to her mother, crying her heart out, and that would surely hurt Lady Grace Westwood dearly. He smiled as his plan for that night took shape in his head.
