“Daniel,” she said, hugging him close, waiting for the stirring she so desperately needed to feel.
“I am most anxious to spend some time with you.” His gaze scanned the immaculate grounds. “Is Rochford here?”
Always it was Rochford. But perhaps he had been wise in requesting her guardian’s presence. Now she knew where she stood with both of these men: this one before her cared for her enough to marry her. “No, but he should be returning shortly.”
The dowager walked out, her face devoid of emotion as she met Daniel. She followed them, not asking to be invited along, but playing the bit of chaperone to the extreme, and Arlie was thankful. Daniel was obviously miffed that the older woman stayed close by and even interrupted him from time to time. But the interruptions pleased Arlie, and she even encouraged the dowager to stroll with them in the gardens.
The dowager was just telling a story about Dominic hanging from one particular tree, when they were interrupted by a peal of loud feminine laughter. Arlie turned to find Dominic walking toward her, a beautiful brunette on his arm.
Arlie’s heart turned to ice. The gorgeous woman had alabaster skin, blue eyes, and hair as dark as Dominic’s. She had wrapped one of her arms around Dominic’s waist, while he had slung one of his casually over her shoulders. They quite apparently knew each other…intimately.
Arlie heard the dowager gasp, and could see the disapproval in the older woman’s eyes. How dare he bring a woman to Whitley, in front of them, and especially his grandmother, who openly opposed such behavior? What was he trying to prove—that he was still every bit the rake she knew him to be?
Hell, she needed no confirmation of that.
He’d betrayed her just weeks into their relationship, and now she was having to put the pieces of her heart back together.
He didn’t bother to look in their direction as he and the women headed up the front steps. The door slammed behind them a second later. Arlie’s heart felt like it had been ripped out and stepped on.
“It seems he has changed little,” the dowager said, her voice clearly disappointed. “I think I shall go rest.” Without another word, she left Arlie and Daniel alone in the garden.
“I’m sorry I told him to come. I thought he would be different, especially around you, my dear,” Daniel said, shaking his head.
“Don’t let him bother you,” Arlie replied, forcing a smile, when she actually felt like crying. “What matters is that you’re here with me now. I’ve missed you so much.”
She knew he wanted to kiss her and probably only waited for her to say he could do so. Lifting her chin, she parted her lips in open invitation, waiting for him to take what she willingly offered.
Though it seemed an eternity, a moment later Daniel touched his dry lips to hers. Closing her eyes, Arlie slid her arms around his neck, pressing herself against the length of him. She swallowed a gasp, feeling his arousal against her stomach. As the kiss deepened, it was all she could do not to pull away.
But she didn’t, instead she imagined it was Dominic she was kissing and clinging to. Opening up to him, her tongue grazed his, flicking against it, teasing him. All the memories of being held in Dominic’s arms came back to her tenfold, and as she pressed herself against Daniel, she tried to wipe out the image of her previous lover, but to no avail. Her body knew it wasn’t Dominic.
Daniel put her from him abruptly, his mouth open as he stared at her. “I did not mean for things to go so far,” he said, concern all over his face. He glanced over her shoulder, searching the grounds to see if anyone had borne witness to the encounter.
“I did,” she said, almost smiling at the shocked expression on his face. The worry left his brow, and a moment later, he smiled again.
* * * * *
From his room, Dominic could see the garden perfectly. As the woman with him began to strip off her gown, he caught sight of his ward and her fiancé kissing, their bodies pressed together, their tongues mating feverishly.
The blood roared in his ears.
“Do not undress,” he said, glancing at the woman, a previous lover of his, who had been more than happy to reinstate their ‘relationship’. “I was wrong to invite you here,” he said walking over to help her button her dress. “Please accept my apology. Perhaps another time.”
He could tell that she thought it a joke at first, but moments later she stormed out of the house and into the waiting coach. Dominic sank down on the bed, his hands covering his face. What a mockery he had made of his life. How sad he was.
The woman he longed for was in the arms of another man, and it was of his own doing. He could go down there, tell them both how he felt, but would it matter? From all appearances Arlie was lost to him. He knew that now. To see her in the young man’s arms only confirmed it. He would do well to leave her alone. His grandmother would be here to play chaperone for the young lovers. He shook his head, remembering himself as a young man, outwitting the most competent of chaperones, his grandmother included. But Daniel would not seduce Arlie. No, he would wait until their wedding night as any gentleman would.
He strode for the door, stopping just long enough to explain to Miss Mitchell that he had business in London. Her skeptical expression said she didn’t believe a word, but to her credit, she didn’t say a thing.
He whipped open the front door and came face to face with Arlie and Daniel. The younger man’s expression condemned him. What a hypocrite! Dominic had heard from Langley that Daniel had a favorite prostitute he visited every Monday night in London’s east side. No wonder he only planned to stay at Whitley until Sunday.
“My lord, are you going somewhere?” she asked, her gaze moving to the bag in his hand.
“I’m returning to London.”
She said nothing, refusing to meet his stare. It was apparent that he had hurt her yet again.
“I wish you godspeed,” Daniel cut in, obviously relieved to have him out from underfoot.
He knew a moment longer under the same roof with Daniel and Arlie together would drive him insane. But leaving the two by themselves would be even worse, especially after witnessing that kiss.
“On second thought, I think I’ll stay,” he said, turning on his heel, striding down the long hallway before slamming the parlor door behind him.
Arlie had been surprised to see the brunette leave as quickly as she arrived, but she had not been sorry to see her go.
“Daniel, would you mind giving me a few minutes with my guardian?” Arlie asked.
“No, please take as long as you need. It is obvious he is unwell. Take your time. I will go walk among your beautiful blossoms.” He kissed her cheek. “My mother will absolutely adore you. She loves gardening as well.”
Arlie walked slowly down the hall, wondering why she was so concerned about Dominic, when he had done nothing but hurt her. She knocked on the door, and when he didn’t answer, she entered. She shut the door behind her, and before she could draw a breath Dominic stood before her. He braced his hands on either side of her face, and stared down at her, his mouth tight and grim. “Tell me, does he make you feel the way I do?”
Nervously, she moistened her dry lips. “Don’t do this, Dominic. You know it’s not what you want.”
“Oh, but it is. For all that I’ve told myself differently, it’s exactly what I want. I’ve sat in this house for days, knowing that you slept nearby, wanting you so desperately I thought I would explode.”
“But you have acted—”
“Yes, I’ve acted, and apparently pretty well.” He kissed her softly, his lips barely grazing hers. Immediately she leaned into him.
“I want you, Arlie. I want you so much it hurts. I’ve been miserable without you. Though I’ve tried to block you from my thoughts, I find I cannot.” He pressed his thick erection against her. “See what you do to me?”
Her blood sang in her veins as his mouth claimed hers in a kiss that would have brought her to her knees had he not been holding onto her. His hands cupped her face, hi
s thumbs running up along her cheekbones. “Do you want me, Arlie?”
“Desperately,” she whispered, not caring about anything but being in his arms, the feel and smell of him overpowering all her senses.
His hand moved up her bare thigh to the slit in her drawers, his fingers stroking her soft folds that had immediately grown damp for him. “Dominic, I feel powerless against you,” she whispered against his chest.
He slipped a finger inside her. “It has been too long.”
His hot breath fanned her neck as he lifted her in his arms. Her back pressed against the hard door. Dominic smiled devilishly as he pulled her legs up around his hips and rubbed his long, thick shaft against her. The only barrier between them was the material of his breeches. She shifted against him, her breath coming in short pants as the first waves of pleasure began to grow within her.
Dominic’s cock throbbed with unspent need. He steeled himself as she pressed against him, her body tensing in release. He caught her cries with his mouth, kissing her. He wanted desperately to bury himself in her hot warmth, but he wouldn’t. No, when they made love again, they would take their time.
It took all his restraint, but he kissed her neck and whispered in her ear, “Tonight, my angel. Let’s wait until tonight. It will make the waiting that much sweeter.”
“I cannot wait,” she said in an agonized whisper. “My body aches for you.”
He kissed her nose, then put her back on her unsteady feet. “Do you want to tell Daniel?” he asked.
Her brow furrowed into a frown, but reality came crashing down when she heard the front door open and close. “Yes,” she whispered against his lips. “I’d actually forgotten about him.”
Dominic grinned triumphantly before kissing her again. He stepped away from her just as the door opened. Daniel stood in the doorway, his hands folded before him, looking from one to the other. His eyes narrowed suspiciously. “Are you finished talking?”
The question hung precariously between them. It was so quiet she could hear his breathing. Or perhaps it was her own.
“Yes, we’re done talking,” Dominic said, sidestepping him. “I will see you later.” He made it a point to look directly at Arlie.
“My, his mood has suddenly changed for the better. Whatever you said, it must have been convincing,” Daniel said, his gaze slipping once more to her lips.
She wondered if he guessed what had happened between them. Or perhaps her guilty conscience just made her feel that way. Running her hands down the skirt of her gown, she smiled shakily. “Daniel, I need to speak with you in all honesty.”
“Please do.”
Taking a deep breath, she blurted, “Daniel, I can not marry you.”
He frowned. “What?”
“I can’t marry you.”
Taking her hand in his, he pulled her to the nearest settee. “I don’t understand? The kiss that we shared. I didn’t mean to take such liberties. I thought you wanted—”
She put a finger to his lips. “I did want to kiss you. And please know this much, Daniel. I truly wanted to marry you, but I can’t. You see…” She closed her eyes and took a deep breath before she said, “There is no easy way to say this, so I will simply come out with it. I’m in love with someone else.”
His brows furrowed into a frown. His hands slipped from hers as though she burned him. “Who? Who are you in love with? I don’t understand. You have made me believe that I—”
“Dominic.”
He blanched. “I beg your pardon?”
“I’m in love with Dominic.”
His eyes widened in disbelief, then he closed them while expelling an unsteady breath. When he opened them again, they were cold, matching the sardonic smile that tugged at his mouth. “That son of a bitch. He’s been sleeping with you the whole time, hasn’t he?”
She couldn’t deny it and she wouldn’t. She would give him that much. “I’m sorry, Daniel.”
“All the rumors were true then. I should have known he wouldn’t be able to keep his hands off you. But when Rochford told me himself that there was nothing going on, I believed him. And you truly acted like an innocent. Yet I had a suspicion when you kissed me that you were not chaste. Why did you do it? To make him jealous?”
Shame and regret washed over her. “I didn’t mean to hurt you. I wanted to tell you before now, but I couldn’t.”
“That’s all well and good now, isn’t it? I’ve already placed a wedding announcement in the paper. I believed you were who you claimed to be! Tell me, are you the daughter of a baron as the dowager and Rochford claim, or are you really the daughter of a commoner and a whore as rumored?”
Her cheeks turned crimson under his accusing glare. When she said nothing, he swore under his breath. “You have made me look a fool.”
There was little she could say to make him feel better, she knew that. He had trusted her and she had set him up, knowing all along that things would come to this.
“Is he putting you up in a townhouse like he does his other women? Or will you continue to live like this, hiding away in the country while he beds everything in London?”
He may as well have slapped her—but she deserved it. He curled his lip in disgust; his usually kind eyes narrowed as though the sight of her repulsed him.
“I will be his wife one day,” she said, lifting her chin.
His harsh laughter vibrated throughout the room. “If you think he’ll marry you, you’re even more a fool than I thought. Do you realize how many women have thought they would be the next countess of Rochford, only to be discarded within a few months time? One came close…within the week of the wedding actually. The wedding was canceled and the intended bride was never heard from again.
“And think about this. Why would he marry a whore’s offspring when he could have any number of blue-blooded women at his disposal?”
Biting down hard on her lower lip, she avoided further confrontation and simply stated in a calm voice, “I think we’ve said enough. It would be best if you leave now.”
“I’ll put a retraction in the paper at once.”
She nodded, jumping when the door slammed behind him.
For long minutes she sat alone, feeling sick to her stomach. He would tell everyone who would listen about her relationship with Dominic.
She may never marry Dominic, but did it matter? She would never wear a wedding ring, and never could she be anything more than his lover, always kept away in a private home, never to share his name. Nor would their children bear his name.
The door opened and closed. A moment later Dominic stood behind her. “Well, he certainly didn’t waste any time leaving, now did he? I was cleaning my pistols, certain I would be called out. In fact, I was almost looking forward to it.”
Dominic’s dismissive manner irritated her. But at the same time she wished she could be so casual when it came to others’ feelings.
“It seems I wasn’t worth his trouble.”
“How can you say that?”
“Because that is the way I feel. I hurt him.”
Dominic sighed. “Do you think he is all that he pretended to be? I’m not going to go into it, but suffice it to say, he counted on your dowry to get out from under his father’s thumb…the boy detests work of any kind. You would have tired of him before you crossed the Atlantic.”
The words made her wince. Daniel didn’t want her for the person she was, but rather for what her dowry could bring him. The entire relationship had been based on lies. Daniel would waste no time in telling everyone about she and Dominic. She would be an outcast, banished from Society.
“Don’t get me wrong, love. You are the kind of woman that all men desire. But he wouldn’t have made you happy.”
He embraced her, kissing the top of her head. The masculine scent of him enveloped her and she closed her eyes, wanting to forget about everything but him.
His hands moved over her breasts, his fingers playing with her nipples through the fabric of her gown and for a mom
ent she savored the sensation. Yet she was reminded again of the lies that stood between them, and she pulled his hands out of her gown. Kissing each hand, she turned to meet his guarded stare.
“You asked me once if I would be your mistress.”
His eyes lit up instantly. “Yes.” His voice was low and sensual.
“Tell me again what it would be like.”
He smiled before he kissed her slowly, then passionately. “I’ll treat you like a princess. I’ll buy you a townhouse with a wonderful view of the Thames, or Hyde Park—anywhere you want, it doesn’t matter. I’ll come to you every evening and we’ll spend our nights, the entire night, together. We can go to the ballet, to the opera, anything and anywhere you want to go.”
“I want to marry you,” she blurted before she could stop herself.
His eyes searched hers, but he said nothing.
“You won’t, will you? Tell me, Dominic, is it because I’m the daughter of a whore?”
Her ice-cold hands trembled while she waited for his response. Long minutes passed with his face a mask that showed no emotion. Would he leave her?
“Arlie, don’t ask that of me. Not now. I can offer you no more than what I have. It is up to you to take it, or no.”
She sighed dejectedly. “Then the answer is yes.”
He watched her intently. “Yes…what?”
She brushed her fingers against his lips. “You will have me say it just to hear it from my lips, won’t you? Well, fine. Yes, Dominic, I will be your mistress…for as long as that is.” It didn’t matter that he wouldn’t marry her. She just knew life without him would be unbearable.
“You sound so certain things will end between us,” he said, kissing her shoulder.
She shook her head. “I’ll never leave you, Dominic. Not unless you ask me to.”
He smiled triumphantly, pulling her close to him, his lips soft against her own. “There’s not a chance in this world that I’ll ask you to leave,” he whispered, before claiming her mouth once again.
Chapter Fourteen
Dominic’s grandmother did not take the news of Arlie’s broken engagement very well, or Dominic’s declaration that he and Arlie had been and would remain lovers, no matter what she or anyone else said.
Dangerous Desires Page 18
