She grinned like a fool, and he laughed softly under his breath.
She felt his hand on her stomach, and ever so slowly his fingers moved over her belly then beneath the sensitive flesh of her breasts. Her hard nipples tightened as his mouth descended. Immediately, the wicked sensations began all over again. His fingers played with the other nipple then slowly worked their way down to the dampness of her cleft, where all her nerve endings seemed to stem from. “I feel like I’m on fire,” she whispered.
“That’s right, Arlie. Let yourself go.” He kissed her, first soft, tenderly, then harder with a desperation that excited her.
She met his kiss feverishly and opened her legs wider, giving into the pleasure.
* * * * *
Dominic could not take much more. His cock felt near to bursting. If she touched it, he would spend himself before he entered her.
He fought an inner battle. Every part of him demanded he take her here and now. Yet he pulled out a thread of sanity—long enough to take in their surroundings. They were out in the open, and anyone could come upon them.
And he would be ruined. A disgrace—just like his father.
His fingers moved in and out of Arlie’s tight sheath, and in response her hips bucked against him. He applied pressure to her clitoris with his thumb, and a moment later she let out a low moan as she climaxed.
Chapter Eight
Dear Lord, what had he done?
Dominic woke the following morning, wondering what in the world had possessed him to take advantage of the woman he had sworn to protect. Last night he had dinner with Arlie, then they had played a game of chess. He had walked her to her room, and left her there with a light kiss on the lips—and he had seen the disappointment in her eyes.
With the dawning of a new day came a large dose of reality. He had seduced his ward. He had touched her, kissed her, and had come very close to making love to her out in the open. Though he still had those same urges, he realized that he could not take the relationship any further. Arlie deserved more—a husband. A man who would marry her, spoil her, and get her pregnant with child.
The very thought of Arlie sharing another man’s bed made his blood boil.
“My lord?”
Dominic turned to find Joseph standing at the study door. “Lord Malfrey is here—”
”Lord Malfrey?” Dominic repeated.
“Yes, and though he has asked to visit with you, I’ve a notion that he is interested in Miss Whitman.”
“What gives you that idea?” Dominic asked, certain that his butler would tell all, especially when he looked full to bursting.
“Well, first off, he is dressed quite elegantly for this time of day. And he is carrying a rather large bouquet of roses, which I assume are not for you.”
Dominic walked to the window. There on the gravel drive sat the most ostentatious carriage Dominic had ever seen.
Instantly he recalled Lord Malfrey. The man had acquired the title of viscount from a distant uncle whose only heir had died under mysterious circumstances. Malfrey, if memory served, was newly married. His bride, a most unattractive woman, spent the majority of the year in the highlands of Scotland—at her parent’s country estate.
“Send him in,” Dominic said, taking a seat behind his desk. Malfrey entered, wearing a heinous suit of dark purple velvet, and in his hand he held an enormous bouquet of red roses. Joseph had not lied—Malfrey had dressed as though to attend a wedding, particularly his own.
“Rochford,” the Viscount said with a curt nod.
“Malfrey,” Dominic replied, hoping to keep the venom out of his voice. He knew why the man was here. Like an animal in heat, he’d come calling for Arlie. “To what do I owe the pleasure, or need I ask, since I assume those roses are not for me?”
The man laughed easily. “You are correct, my lord. Actually, they are for your lovely ward. I have just discovered I made a huge error by not attending the Banfield Ball. And since others are speaking so highly of her, I wished to come and make her acquaintance, so I would know of whom they speak.”
“Malfrey, I mean no disrespect, but you are a married man.”
Malfrey appeared stricken by Rochford’s direct statement. “Indeed, I am newly married. You misinterpret my intentions. My visit is a friendly one. I have no immoral intentions toward Miss Whitman.”
He lied. Malfrey wanted Arlie, as did most every single, married, or widowed man who had ever set eyes on her. Dominic could not stand it. He could not endure another day under the same roof as Arlie—wanting her, turning men away, knowing that one day she would belong to another.
“Today is not a good day,” Dominic said, the pleasure of doing so surprising even himself. “Miss Whitman is busy with her studies, not to mention exhausted from the week’s festivities.”
Malfrey’s disappointment was so obvious, it was all Dominic could do to keep a straight face.
To Dominic’s great dismay, he heard Arlie’s voice and soft footsteps in the foyer.
He pushed aside his disappointment and stood. “It appears that you have a stroke of luck, Malfrey, for I hear Arlie now.”
“Miss Whitman,” Dominic called, and a moment later Arlie walked into his study, dressed in a flattering peach-colored dress. Malfrey’s mouth opened for a scant second before he snapped it shut. He moved so quickly, Dominic could do nothing but watch in silence as the Viscount extended his leg and nearly bowed to the floor before her.
“Miss Whitman, it is a pleasure to make your acquaintance. I apologize that I did not have the opportunity to meet you at the Banfield estate. I fear business kept me away. I am Reginald Leopold Franklin Stanford, Viscount of Malfrey,” he said, his voice full of self-imposed pride.
Arlie curtsied. “It is a pleasure to meet you as well,” she said, her cheeks turning a flattering shade of pink.
“Lord Malfrey is a newlywed, Arlie. And if I’m not mistaken, Malfrey, your wife is expecting your first heir,” Dominic quickly injected.
The man’s shoulders stiffened and he gave a curt nod. “Indeed, I am to be a father soon. How very astute you are, Rochford.”
“I would love to meet your wife one day. Does she live in London?” Arlie asked, her smile genuine.
“No, she is in Scotland.”
Arlie’s smile quickly turned into a frown. “How difficult it must be for her to have you so far away. I hope my husband and I will be inseparable, for I could not bear to be alone during such a difficult time.”
Two bright spots of color appeared on Malfrey’s cheeks. “Yes, well, my beloved enjoys the country, and the pregnancy has been without difficulty,” he said, as though righting a wrong.
“Perhaps one day I shall meet her. When next she is in town, would you be kind enough to bring her by for tea?”
Completely flustered, the man could do little but nod.
“Excellent,” Arlie replied, then turned her full attention to Dominic.
“My lord,” she said, a soft smile coming to her lips. “I wondered if I could request a special menu for supper tonight.”
Feeling the viscount’s ardent gaze on him, Dominic frowned. “Is the menu not to your liking?”
Arlie shook her head. “No, my lord…I simply wanted tonight to be special.”
Dear lord, he knew what that meant. She expected their relationship to continue on the course it had been heading. Damn, why did she have to look so desirable? Why did he want to touch her soft skin and pull her into his arms every time she walked into a room? She was ripe, ready and willing for the taking.
“Joseph,” he called louder than intended, making the other two occupants of the room jump. He glanced at Arlie. “I am afraid tonight you will eat alone. I have business to attend to in London.”
“My lord,” Joseph replied, appearing at the door.
“Will you please see Lord Malfrey out and then return to my study.”
“Yes, my lord.”
Dominic barely heard Malfrey’s goodbye. Instead he saw t
he devastated expression on Arlie’s face. She clutched her hands before her. “When will you be returning?” she asked, her disappointment obvious.
“I’m not certain,” he replied, standing. “I have taken enough time away from business and there are matters that need my immediate attention. I will try to return as soon as possible.”
Avoiding her gaze, he opened the desk drawer and pulled out a ledger. “I will tell Joseph he is to serve as chaperone when suitors come calling—as I know they will be storming the gates.” He forced a smile. “I shall see you upon my return.”
* * * * *
A week later Arlie sat down to dinner, her gaze straying to the head of the table where Dominic usually sat. He was still in London. The past days had been excruciatingly long. Not even her lessons had helped pass the time.
With every hour Arlie yearned for the sight of Dominic. When would he return? She tried to tell herself he really had business to handle, yet part of her wondered if he intentionally stayed away. After that afternoon in the meadow, when he had brought her to her first climax, he had become sullen, speaking only about trivial things such as her lessons, pretending the intimate moment had never occurred.
But he had touched her, and she relived that afternoon almost every waking hour.
Her body had betrayed her that day, but her mind had not. She knew she still possessed her virginity, but what she had experienced in his arms had made her feel like a wanton, out of control. Worse still, she had taken the greatest pleasure from it. Never in her wildest dreams could she have imagined a man’s touch could be so wonderful.
She realized with a pang that she wanted it to happen again. She wanted Dominic as a lover with a desperation that terrified her.
But she had no idea what he thought of her. Did he find her lacking as a lover? Did he regret what had happened between them?
She picked at her food, glanced at the clock, and with a sigh, pushed the plate away. It was nearly seven o’clock, and she wondered if her evening would be interrupted by yet another man. The suitors who visited were kind and courteous, but try as she might, Arlie could not picture herself married to any one of them. Men—they spouted poetry and gave her trinkets, yet there wasn’t one among them that made her feel the way Dominic did.
Arlie jumped as the door to the dining room flew open and Dominic strode in. He faltered when he saw her, then grinned boyishly. Arlie stood, and could not help but grin. She could tell he had been drinking by the way his glazed eyes brushed over her, his expression sinfully seductive.
She drank in everything about him. So handsome—it hurt just to look at him. She pushed back the chair and took a step toward him when a gorgeous brunette walked into the room, her red lips curving into a provocative smile as her heels clicked on the marble floor.
Dominic pulled out a chair and fell into it. The brunette followed, landing on his lap, her arms encircling Dominic’s broad shoulders. The blood roared in Arlie’s ears and she stood frozen to the spot.
The woman licked Dominic’s ear, as though Arlie did not stand ten feet away, watching them.
Just when she thought things couldn’t get worse, Langley and another harlot came in, their laughter filling the room. “Could I borrow a bedroom, old man?” he asked crudely, releasing a growl while kissing the woman’s neck. The redhead all but purred as her arms encircled Langley’s waist, her hands drifting down, grabbing his buttocks and squeezing. Langley’s gaze locked with Arlie’s and the shock she saw there would of been funny under different circumstances. But now it wasn’t funny in the least.
“Miss Whitman!” Langley said, releasing his hold on the woman.
Arlie’s gaze shifted from Langley to Dominic, so busy with the brunette, he didn’t notice her distress. All week Arlie had envisioned him working hard on his ledgers, putting his business in order. All along he’d been off cavorting with another woman.
Everything became clear in that moment. She meant nothing to him. The moment they’d shared had happened, and now it was over. He probably never gave it any thought. In fact, he must surely be disappointed in the whole experience if he could fondle this woman right in front of her. Did the man have no shame?
Arlie closed her eyes, took a deep breath, then opened them again. Without saying a word, she left the room. The moment she was on the other side of the door, she covered her face with her hands. The sound of laughter filled her ears. Were the women mocking her? Were they making fun of her? she wondered. They couldn’t possibly be ladies. Their clothing was cut far too provocatively and they wore too much makeup to be members of the ton.
Arlie raced up the stairs to her room and sat down at the vanity. She stared at her reflection for a long time to see what everyone saw when they looked at her. Her pale blonde hair was as shiny as silk but a bit too wavy. Her lips were too full, her nose small and tipped up slightly at the end. Her eyes were probably her best feature. Almond-shaped, they were green in color and framed by long, dark lashes. She stood and her gaze moved down her body, taking in the unflattering dress.
Since Dominic hadn’t been around, Arlie hadn’t given much thought to her appearance.
That was going to change.
With a little polish, she could be just as enticing as those women downstairs. After all, didn’t the blood of a true whore run through her veins? From her reaction to Dominic’s passion play, she would certainly enjoy making love to a man. Well, she would prove to him, and to herself, that she was the kind of woman any man would desire as his own.
* * * * *
Having survived a sleepless night, Arlie spent the entire morning and afternoon preparing for the night to come. Dressed in a new gown of the finest rose-colored silk, Arlie took a deep breath and glanced down at the dress’s incredibly low bodice. Her breasts were pushed up so high she was in danger of falling out.
The sides of her hair were pinned up by pearl encrusted combs, leaving the length to fall down her back in thick waves. With Mary’s help she had lightly powdered her face and added rouge to her cheeks and lips. The diamond earrings and necklace had been an afterthought. Dominic had bought them for her weeks ago, when she had scored perfectly on her French test, and this was the first time she had worn the jewels.
Joseph met her at the bottom of the stairs, his brows lifting in silent appreciation. “Let me do the honor,” he said, opening the door to the dining room with great aplomb.
For a moment Arlie felt the incredible urge to run back to her room and change. Steeling her nerves, she took a deep breath, lifted her chin a fraction, and entered the room.
Dominic had already arrived and sat at the head of the table, wine glass in hand. He set the glass down and stood. “Expecting company tonight?” he asked, a dark brow raised in question.
She forced a smile. “Yes. In fact, I’m surprised he’s not here yet.”
“He?” The word had scarcely left his lips when Langley entered the room via the servant’s entrance, a bottle of champagne in hand. He stopped in mid-stride, his gaze raking over her. He whistled between his teeth. “My dear Miss Whitman, your beauty astounds me.”
“Langley?” Dominic said in disbelief, glancing from his friend to Arlie.
Arlie avoided her guardian’s stare and instead went to meet her dinner guest. Taking the champagne from him, she handed it to Joseph who stood at the ready.
Langley took both her hands in his and brought them to his lips. His eyes sparkled with devilish intent. “How thoughtful of you to stop by today and extend me the invitation to dine with you. I must say, I was sorry to have missed your call.”
She shrugged. “No matter, I looked a mess.”
“Mmmm, I doubt it.”
Dominic cleared his throat. Arlie ignored him and kept her attention focused on Langley, who pulled out a chair for her. Taking the seat beside her, Langley sat down. Dominic cleared his throat again.
“Do you need me to pound on your back, old boy?”
Dominic sat down. “Would you prefer that
I leave?”
Langley shrugged. “No, that’s all right. The more the merrier, I always say.”
“Which reminds me. I thought Rose was in town?”
“No, not until tomorrow,” Langley replied, turning his attention back to Arlie.
Dominic frowned. “Is Mr. Butler coming as well?”
“Not unless you invited him,” Arlie replied, her tone innocent.
He looked ready to choke her.
Arlie turned her attention to Langley, yet she was ever aware of the dark presence watching her every move.
One course followed another and Arlie enjoyed herself, finding Langley to be an excellent dinner companion. He gave her his undivided attention, commented on every course, and even managed to get in a few jibes directed at Dominic. Dominic, on the other hand, remained silent and left his food untouched.
When they had finished dinner, Langley stood and extended his arm to her. “Old boy, I’m taking Miss Whitman for a walk around the gardens. I would invite you along, but the truth of the matter is—I don’t want you to come.”
“You’re my friend, Langley. I have nothing to fear, especially since your very rich, titled wife-to-be will be arriving tomorrow morning. That said, I can only assume your intentions toward my ward are honorable.”
“Of course,” Langley replied flippantly, his arm encircling Arlie’s waist in familiar fashion.
Without another word, Arlie left the dining room on Langley’s arm.
In the garden, away from Dominic, Arlie relaxed. She had succeeded in making Dominic angry, but oddly enough she didn’t feel victorious, but rather devious.
“I believe your little game worked,” Langley said, reminding her of the deceit.
“What do you mean?” Arlie asked, biting her lip nervously while glancing up at her companion.
Langley wrapped his arm around her shoulders. “I saw the look on your face last night when we came home with those women. You hurt far more than you would ever admit. I know the ways of women, Arlie. I’ve adored them for the last thirty years of my life. In that time I’ve learned their games and even some of their tricks. More often than not they work, but sometimes they don’t.”
Dangerous Desires Page 11
