Candlelight glimmered over his handsome face, and for a second her own heart palpitated as she noticed his resemblance to Paul. But only for a second. Daniel could never be as stubborn or deceitful as his brother. She surmised her marriage had ended since Paul hadn’t come for her as she had expected. It was obvious that since he didn’t care, she could never hurt him by bearing her child away from the manor. She didn’t intend to tell him about the child or return to Fairfax Manor. She just couldn’t bear to face Paul or his parents.
Withdrawing her hand from Daniel’s, she stood up and, suddenly fatigued, prepared to retire for the night. “I really must rest. Today has undone me.”
His face showed disappointment, but he nodded in agreement. “Let me escort you safely upstairs.”
He took her arm and they walked up the flight of stairs to the bedroom. Allison remembered the night she and Paul first arrived at the house and he carried her up those same stairs to the haven of their bedroom. An involuntary sigh escaped her and without intending to do so, she swayed against Daniel.
His lips brushed against her hair and traveled to her mouth before she realized what was happening. She drank in the sweetness of his lips while mentally chastising herself for not pulling away and pretending to be totally outraged. But it had been so long since she had been kissed, and she did need to be loved … so desperately. Yet she couldn’t forget her heart belonged to another. She managed to extricate herself, knowing that if she didn’t control the situation, she’d allow him to share her bed.
Though suspecting her intention to refuse him, he pulled her tightly against him, his arms like steel. “Let me love you, Allison. Please! “
She wanted to lie next to him in the darkness, fiercely needing to feel loved. Looking at the desire in his eyes, she felt herself weakening, but she never gave an answer. At that moment, looking down the staircase to the bottom step, she saw Paul leaning lazily against the banister. She blinked in shock, not certain she really saw him, but there was no mistake. He was there.
“I’m sorry to break up this little tryst, but I think it’s time you return home, my faithful wife.”
His voice startled Daniel, but instead of releasing Allison, he tightened his arm around her waist. “You have bad manners, Paul. Don’t you believe in knocking first?”
Paul held up a key, “This is my house. I let myself in. Otherwise, I might have missed this tender moment.”
Allison colored violently as the blood pounded in her temples. How humiliating to be caught in Daniel’s embrace by her husband! However, Paul seemed amused, not in the least angry, and this caused rage to erupt within her. She was his wife! Didn’t he mind her kissing his brother and possibly bedding him? Refusing to allow him to see her distress and anger, she calmly left Daniel’s encircling arms and walked down the stairs, as if she were expecting Paul’s arrival, and walked into the parlor. “Would you care for a glass of port?” she asked.
“Thank you,” he answered calmly.
As she poured the wine, Daniel bounded down the stairs into the parlor. His dark anger rivaled the unusual brightness emanating from Paul’s eyes.
“What’s wrong with you, brother? I was just about to make love to your wife, and you have nothing to say about it. If she were my wife, I’d call you out right now and gladly run my sword through your black heart.”
Paul had no intention of dueling with his brother—he loved him too much. But there was no way on this earth he’d allow Allison to remain in Dublin with Daniel. He’d spent too many sleepless nights imagining them together in this house, in their bed. He had wanted to fetch her sooner, but had listened to his mother. Now, he was sorry he hadn’t followed them to Dublin immediately. Apparently Allison had already been unfaithful with Daniel, but still he wanted her back and was determined to have her. Once Paul had loved a woman to distraction, but death had claimed her. Now Allison was his last chance for happiness, and he’d allow no man to take her from him—-not even his brother. “Stay out of this, Dan. Allison belongs to me.”
Defiant fury crossed Daniel’s face. “She isn’t a piece of property like your precious Fairfax Manor!”
“Flannery Hall,” Paul corrected.
“No one gives a damn what you call it. You’re not taking her from here without a fight. I know you don’t love her, so Mother must have told you about the baby. All you care about is the child.”
Allison placed her hand to her mouth in horror. Why couldn’t Daniel have kept quiet?
Almost immediately Daniel realized his mistake, and his fury drained away. “I’m sorry, Allison,” he muttered brokenly.
Paul hid his own shock. He hadn’t known Allison was pregnant, but he wouldn’t allow them to see that. He studied her waist, realized that it had thickened. He wondered briefly if the child was his or Daniel’s but knew instinctively it was his own. He didn’t believe Allison had bedded Daniel while sleeping with himself.
Allison stiffened and faced Paul, “Is that why you’ve come? You want our child?”
He downed the port and placed the empty glass on the table. “There is no other reason, my love.”
Disappointment flickered across her face. “I refuse to return to Fairfax Manor and bear my child in a nest of vipers.” Her comment drew a gruff laugh from Paul.
“We can’t be any worse than the Fairfaxes, but nonetheless, you’ll return home with me tonight,”
“No! I’m staying here.”
“I suppose you wish Daniel to stay with you, but I can’t allow that. You’re my wife until I say differently. However, I’ll strike a bargain with both of you.” He looked from one to the other.
“After the child’s birth, I’ll grant you a divorce.”
“I don’t believe you,” Allison said.
“I shall. Then you may marry Daniel or whomever you choose. However, I keep the baby. Are you agreeable to these terms?”
“That’s monstrous!” Daniel was so angry that his complexion turned fiery red.
“Those are my conditions. I think they’re quite reasonable since a court of law would never allow Allison to keep the child when apprised of her infidelity. I’m being quite generous by giving you your freedom without any scandal.”
Allison started to declare her innocence, but decided to remain silent. She wanted her baby, but she knew that Paul would never allow her to deliver it in Dublin. She’d have to return home, but she vowed to make his life a living hell for the duration of her pregnancy. Once the baby was born, she’d flee the manor with the child and meet Daniel. Somehow, some way they’d start life anew.
“I won’t allow this to happen!” Daniel ranted, but Allison raised her hand for him to be quiet. She looked at Paul and tried to appear the demure, obedient wife.
“I’ll go with you,” she said.
“The wise choice, my dear.”
“Allison, don’t.” Daniel moved to her, pain in his eyes. “I can’t lose you—not this way.”
She kissed his cheek and whispered in his ear, “I’ll write you to come for me.” Then she walked toward the stairs without glancing at Paul. “I shall pack my things,” she said as she slowly ascended.
Daniel’s face blazed. “Paul, you’re so much like father I wish that I weren’t related to either of you.”
“I have to take her home. One day you’ll understand.”
“No, I won’t ever understand you. All you care about is that damned property and you treat her like so much chattel. She’s a woman—a beautiful woman with love to give and you’ll destroy her if you’re not careful.”
Paul answered in a cool, impersonal tone of voice. “Don’t concern yourself. She’ll be well taken care of. “
“After the baby is born, I’m taking her from you.”
Paul laughed, both derision and sympathy in his eyes. “No, Daniel, you won’t. She is my wife and she loves me. “
Allison came down the steps at that moment, carrying her bag. “I’m ready,” she said.
She refused Da
niel’s offers of aid and, with Paul beside her, stepped into the waiting carriage.
Despite her pain at leaving Daniel, she felt some perverse pleasure that Paul had finally come. He placed a blanket over her legs, and she felt a melting sensation at that slight contact. His glittering dark eyes impaled her and she felt unable to look away, but strangely she wasn’t frightened but felt at ease.
“Comfortable?” he inquired.
“Very,” she said.
~
After traveling for three hours, they stopped and alit at a country inn out of deference to Allison’s pregnancy. She tired easily, and Paul readily sensed her fatigue. Originally he had intended to travel without stopping, but now that he knew she carried his baby, he ordered the driver to halt at the first inn.
During the trip she hadn’t spoken to him, only eyed him with contempt, and once they were ensconced in their small room, she went about her business of unpacking as if he weren’t even there.
He found her silence rankling and detested her game playing, realizing that was what she was doing. But he shrugged. After all, he also could play the game. Under no conditions would he allow her to leave with the child after its birth.
Allison withdrew a soft, fleecy pink nightdress from her valise. She began to unbutton her gown but then stopped herself. “Please leave the room, Paul.”
He regarded her lazily, smoking a cheroot while sitting in a chair with his long legs stretched in front of him. The fire crackled and shadows flickered across his face. “Why?”
“I’m changing and would like some privacy.”
He gave a gruff-sounding laugh. “Love, I’ve seen your beautiful naked body suffused with the blush of passion when we’ve made love. Don’t pretend modesty now.”
She sputtered indignantly. “I’m leaving you in a few months. Our marriage is finished. Surely you can’t expect me to treat you as before.”
“Why not? I’m still your husband, and there’s only one bed in this room. I hope you don’t expect me to sleep in the tap room or on the floor next to the bed like an obedient puppy. “
“I expect you to act like a gentleman. How can you even think of sleeping in the same bed with me after what you witnessed tonight? You found me in your brother’s arms. Don’t you care? Aren’t you incensed that we ran away together?”
He was very much incensed by the persistent image of Daniel’s mouth upon hers, but he calmly extinguished the cheroot and masked his emotions. “Undress, Allison. I’m not leaving.”
She backed nearer to the bed. How dare he order her as if she were a servant! “I won’t.”
“Then I suppose I’ll have to rip the damned dress off you.”
He made a slight movement to get up, but her fingers quickly worked the buttons, fumbling as she reached the last one, She turned her back to him, hating him as she bad never hated anyone in her life. She knew he would have ripped the dress away, knew it by the suppressed anger she had seen in his eyes. She didn’t want to look at him again, but just as she thought this she heard him say, “Turn around and take the gown off. Face me as you do it.”
She whipped around. “Why are you doing this to me?”
“You’re my wife. I have the right. Besides, you seemed most willing to bare all to Daniel. I deserve the same. Anyway, I want to look at you.”
His voice sounded hard, his hair shining golden from the firelight and matching the bright hunger in his eyes. He had never treated her like this before, as if she was some doxie hired for his amusement. Was that how he thought of her now? “Don’t humiliate me, Paul.”
A vein throbbed in his temple. “My darling, I just want my due as your husband. Nothing more. I told you once, you belonged to me. There’s a gold band on your finger to proclaim it. Now, disrobe and look at me as you do so.”
She started to protest but thought better of it. She had little liking for Paul’s anger, and he certainly was angry now. His mouth was set in a harsh line, and he impatiently tapped the edge of the chair arm. She was the mother of his unborn child. Why should he treat her in such a callous fashion? Unless, he didn’t love her any longer. Allison eyed him coolly for a moment. Yes, that must be it! He didn’t love her, so it didn’t matter to him how he treated her—even like a whore. Well, if that’s what he thought her, she decided, then so be it—she’d act the part for him. She took a deep breath and dropped the dress to the floor. Standing before him in her thin chemise, the tiny bulge of her stomach barely noticeable, her breasts strained against their lace covering, spilling forth their globular beauty for his eyes alone. “I suppose you’d like me to take this off, too.” She fingered the silk which clung to her body.
He nodded, his eyes flared with desire.
“Happy to oblige, my lord and master.” She noticed him wince as she pulled the straps and the bodice down below her waist. Then, shrugging, she slid the chemise along with the pantalets from her body and threw them at him. If he felt surprise at her brazenness, it didn’t register on his face, and she grew more annoyed that her teasing hadn’t aggravated him. Instead she realized it had the opposite effect. His gaze devoured her nude body even more hungrily than before.
Pulling the pins from her hair, her golden locks cascaded down to her waist. Then moving from her position beside the bed, she walked to his chair and stood in front of him, She watched him and knew he wanted her from the obvious bulge beneath his breeches. “Am I pleasing you, master?” she asked softly.
His face remained impassive, and she knelt at his feet, Her thin fingers traced the hardness confined beneath the broadcloth material. He sucked in his breath at her touch. Yes, she thought to herself, I’ll punish him by responding like a whore and have him wondering if I did the same with Daniel. “I think you do want me,” she purred.
A growling sound came from his throat and he pulled her up onto his lap. Her softness dissolved against his firm body, and her rump rested on the hardness she had just traced with her fingers. His eyes glittered, and his lips came down viciously against hers, locking her to him. His large, warm hands wildly slid across her body, and despite her hatred of him, a hot flame ignited within her.
Writhing beneath his scorching lips and feverish hands, she held him to her and kissed his neck, her tongue tracing patterns along his flesh. Then she undid the buttons on his shirt so she could feel the hardness of his chest covered by the thick down of hair. She buried her fingers in its softness, then ran her palms along its expanse and massaged and kneaded his nipples.
“Allison!” He pulled her from him and his eyes glinted. “Who taught you these whore’s tricks?”
She traced his lips with her tongue, brushing her breasts against him. “You did, my master.”
Her answered astounded him. He knew he had taught her well, but now she used his tutoring to torment him. Was it him she loved or his brother? What had happened in Dublin with Daniel? Or had anything happened? Could it be that she was lustful for his brother and using him for satisfaction?
“Kiss me, Paul. Love me,” she whispered and began to encircle his neck again, but he held her off.
“So you want me now. After taking off with my brother, now you’re hot to be in my bed.” His hand grabbed a handful of hair and forced her to look at him. “Well, I can give as good as I get, madam, and since you’re so eager to play the whore, show me just exactly what you’ve learned.” He stood up, carried her to the bed and deposited her in the center of it. Allison knew she had gone too far, had riled him and his passion too much. She must put a stop to this silly game once and for all.
“Please stop, Paul. You hurt me so badly. I only wanted to punish you.”
“Darling, you don’t bait a man with your lovely body, then expect him not to touch you.” He threw off his clothes and boots and climbed in beside her. He drew her to him, his hands clasping her breasts.
“Don’t—don’t hurt me. Please,” she begged,
His eyes searched her face. “I would never hurt you.” Lowering his head, his mout
h sought the pink-tipped nipples and he suckled greedily. Flames rose higher in her, and little whimpers escaped through her lips, As his hand sought the softness between her legs, she writhed at his touch, aching for him more ready for him than she had ever been. “Do you want me, now?” he breathed into her ear.
She barely found the strength to nod, as an all-consuming desire swept through. She shouldn’t want him, shouldn’t welcome his touch, but like a wanton, she couldn’t help herself
He laughed in triumph and parted her legs, straddling her and entering her gently, ever so gently, making the breath catch in her throat. His thrusts were easy, almost as if he constrained himself from penetrating too deeply because of the baby. But passion overpowered her and she arched her hips against his, clasping him to her with her legs until he thrust one last time, deep within her. Her cry of pleasure was caught between his lips; his body stiffened, then grew limp.
They laid entwined for some minutes, their hearts slowed their frantic beating. Allison felt confusion. She had carried on like a harlot in his arms when she should have hated him and a part of her still did hate him. But another part of her also loved him. She also despised being powerless when he touched her, as if her body had no mind, no will of its own. She could no longer trust herself
He lifted his head on an elbow and watched her, An index finger traced the mound of her breast. “I know now that you can’t deny me, because you love what I do to you. Admit it. You love it.”
How true that was! But she’d never admit it—not after what he had done to her. And his arrogance undid her. If she had felt any warmth for him, it was now dissipated. She lifted her sapphire eyes to gaze into his dark ones. “I admit you’re a good lover, Paul, but did you wonder whom I might be imagining as you made love to me?”
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