“Why didn’t you stop him?”
“Because he wasn’t ready to hear it.” Joshua brushed her hair slowly. “You don’t believe that I won’t leave you even though I tell you I won’t. Perry doesn’t believe he can be helped even though Lord Everret has tried.”
His wife glanced away. “I wronged Lord Everret.”
Joshua gripped her chin. “Your willingness to show submission in his presence erases that wrong.”
“How can we help Perry?”
“By bringing out his dominant side. You can help me with that. He respects you, fights for you.”
Her eyes widened. “He does?”
One side of Joshua’s mouth rose. “One disrespectful word from Lord Everret and Perry had broken his bindings to fight him.”
“I wish I could be appalled by that, but…”
“It comforts you,” Joshua finished for her with a smile. “You should know that I would not allow Perry to fight for your honor.”
She swallowed and dropped her stare to the floor. “Oh.”
He sighed. How the hell was he going to convince her that he loved her, would die for her? “No. I fought for you.”
Her gaze jerked back to his face. “You did?”
God, she was so desirable, so beautiful without even trying as some women did. He tossed the brush on the writing desk and hauled her into his arms. “You belong to me, Elizabeth. You’re mine.” He yanked her head back by the hair and exposed her neck so he could scrape his teeth along the spot where her pulse pounded. “I would fight for you, die for you. Someday, you’ll believe me.”
Her breath quickened and he kissed his way up her slender neck to her straight jaw and her luscious lips. When his lips claimed hers, she moaned, her hands clenching in his hair as if she would fall. Thoroughly, he kissed her, devoured her, reminded her that she was his heart and soul.
When he finally took a breath, he lost it again when he looked at her. Her half-closed eyes shone with lust. Her nipples were hardened peaks through the thin material of the dress he’d chosen for her. An erotic flush had spread over her chest and neck up to her cheeks. Her lips were full and wet from his kiss.
How was he going to make it to Lord Everret’s without fucking her? “My God, Elizabeth. You would tempt the very devil,” he said, his Beast growling and clawing within him.
“Then let him loose,” she dared him.
“Elizabeth,” he warned.
Her arms circled around his neck and she stood on tiptoe. She nipped his ear and he almost knocked her to the floor to possess her. His Beast howled and roared for release, for satisfaction.
“Joshua,” she whispered.
But he was in control. He gripped her shoulders and pressed her away from him. “In due time, little flower. Not now.”
Her eyes narrowed. “Because you’re in control.”
“Yes.”
Then, her nostrils flared. “I’d like to break that control.”
God, she was close to breaking it at that moment. Anger suited his little wife. The Beast liked a fight and he hoped Elizabeth was going to give it to him. “Perhaps. But I’d like to preserve that pretty dress.”
She tipped her chin and straightened her hair. “Then perhaps we should go.”
He studied her from her long, flowing hair to the low neckline of her gown to the dainty slippers on her feet. “Yes. Much as I like this dress, I want you naked.”
She raised her eyebrows. “Oh? I just offered that and you turned it down. I don’t think you know what you want.”
He grinned. “I want you naked at Lord Everret’s. Some men take their wives to a ball to show their status. I want you there, naked, mine.” The smile dropped away and he cupped her face. “No one else will have you, no matter how much you beg. If you want release, you’ll have to beg me.”
She jerked her chin away and her lips were pursed, but she said nothing. He took her arm and walked with her to the door. “This way, my lady.”
When he opened the door, he found Sarah standing outside it. Joshua had clearly startled her and she dropped a clumsy curtsy. “Lord Everret has sent a message, sir.”
Her eyes widened at the sight of her employer’s dress.
“Thank you,” he said, and took the envelope from the small silver platter Sarah held. As expected, Marcus held Perry isolated. It was time to show Perry how to control his Beast.
There was something in Sarah’s demeanor that told Joshua she knew much more than she let on. “Why did you take this job, Sarah?”
The woman shot Elizabeth a glance and licked her lips. “Lady Arundale rescued me from an orphanage school—”
“That’s a lie,” Joshua snapped and Elizabeth gasped. “You manipulated Elizabeth. Why did you want to be employed at Arundale Hall?”
A sullen, stubborn expression twisted Sarah’s features. “I don’t know what you mean.”
“Don’t you?” he snapped. “All right, if you won’t explain that, perhaps you can explain what happened with my brother?”
Her lips trembled. “I don’t know what you mean, my lord.”
“You keep repeating that, but I don’t believe you,” he said in a hard tone. “What did he ask you to do? And don’t tell me he assaulted you, because that would be a lie.”
“Please, my lord,” she said, and tears gathered in her eyes.
“You see, Elizabeth? An agenda. Even Sarah has one. She wanted a position here. She’s very loyal to you, but she needed something from the Arundales.”
Suddenly, Sarah’s eyes blazed. “No. I don’t need anything from you,” she snapped.
“Then what happened?”
“He asked me to—” She stopped and bit her lip.
“He asked you to whip him?”
She nodded. “And…I did it, but…”
“But you didn’t want to. You wanted to receive the lashes, not give them.”
Her face flooded with color and her gaze lowered. “Yes,” she said in a whisper.
“Right. Get your cloak.”
Elizabeth protested. “Joshua, no.”
“Yes. She came here and she knew, Elizabeth,” he said, his stare never leaving the little maid’s face. “I don’t know how or why, but she knew.”
“I would never betray Lady Arundale,” Sarah said in a ringing voice.
“But me? Would you betray me? Or Perry?” He shook his head. “Get your cloak, Sarah. You’re coming with us.”
“Where?” the maid whispered.
“That, my dear, is not for you to know. Get your cloak or I will toss you in the carriage without it.”
Sarah fled.
Elizabeth glared at Joshua. “What do you have planned?”
He gripped her arm and hustled her down the stairs. “I hope to reveal more truths.” He gave a low snort of derision. “But we shall see, won’t we?”
Chapter Ten
The carriage ride was odd and Elizabeth kept her gaze on the cushion across from her. Joshua ignored her wishes and pressed his body against hers, his warmth seeping through her.
Sarah stared at Joshua, her face white and her lips colorless. The woman was terrified of Joshua. Which only proved her husband was correct. Sarah had known about the men of Arundale.
One more person who had lied to Elizabeth. She couldn’t even look at her maid without feeling betrayed by everyone around her.
“My lady,” Sarah began.
“You will not speak unless I give you leave,” Joshua snapped. “Is that understood?”
Sarah glared at him. “Or what?”
Joshua smiled. “Or you’ll receive punishment.”
Elizabeth shuddered. Punishment. From Joshua, she was sure punishment would be both pleasure and pain. She pursed her lips. She didn’t need words to communicate her displeasure, her frustration.
Her maid, however, was a different kettle of fish. “So you’ll beat me? So what?”
Her husband’s gaze rested on Sarah’s face and Elizabeth shivered. As his wife, she
’d seen that mild expression on his face a few times. It was dangerous. It was sexy. And it frightened her even as it aroused her.
Suddenly he moved and the next thing Elizabeth knew Sarah’s knees were on the floor of the carriage and her face was thrust into the cushion. Joshua had her arms extended behind her back and his boot in the middle of her spine. “I will tie you up so you can’t move a muscle and let Perry fuck you until you come again and again.”
The words rumbled through Elizabeth. It was a vision that aroused her rather than appalled her. What was wrong with her? She wasn’t the only one, though. Sarah froze, the stillness of her body portraying need rather than fear. Yes, Joshua had seen into the maid’s very soul.
Did Joshua prefer the plumper, feistier maid to his wife? The idea of Joshua fucking another woman brought out a vicious anger in her. She dug her nails into her palms and bit her lip. What say did she have?
“I can hear you thinking, Elizabeth. Stop it,” Joshua ordered.
She opened her mouth to say something sarcastic and ugly, something to distance herself from him. Instead she crossed her arms and turned away from him. She’d forgotten the dress’s neckline was so low and when she attempted to close him off, her crossed arms only served her breasts up on platter for him.
With one of his hands still restraining Sarah, he brushed his free fingers along Elizabeth’s hardened nipple through the material. “I have plans for those breasts. Don’t keep thrusting them at me.”
She twisted away from him, but he wrapped an arm like an iron band around her and yanked her closer to him, his boot still planted on Sarah’s back. Part of her wanted to sink into his heat and drown in his kiss. Part of her wanted to torment him, make him suffer.
The carriage stopped and Joshua stepped out. “Sit still, both of you,” he ordered.
Sarah was still on her knees and Elizabeth froze in the corner. A moment later, Lord Everret appeared at the carriage door with a collar and a long leash. His long, slender fingers worked quickly, snapping the collar onto Sarah before she knew what had happened.
Lord Everret yanked on the leash. “On your feet,” he snapped.
Sarah flinched but climbed to her feet. Her glare could have withered any normal human being, but Lord Everret just smiled coldly and yanked harder. Sarah stumbled out of the carriage, the leash keeping her from ending up facedown in the gravel.
Then Joshua was there, also with a collar, which he fastened around her neck. The leash wasn’t a thick leather one like Sarah’s but a thin chain that rattled when Joshua pulled on it. Elizabeth rose with as much dignity as she could, her head held high.
A few people glanced at them when they came through the front door, but most of the other patrons were busy with their own sexual escapades to notice hers. Elizabeth reached up and fingered the collar. It was butter-soft leather with stones embedded in it.
Joshua stopped briefly to talk to another man and Elizabeth was approached from behind. A male voice in her ear made her jump. Male fingers, blunt and firm, touched her collar. “A beautiful collar, handmade. You must be special.”
Fear coiled inside her belly. Did the collar give this man the right to touch her? She couldn’t seem to speak and Joshua was a leash-length away. The stranger didn’t allow her to see him but stayed behind her, out of her line of sight. His fingers trailed down her neck and lower. She stiffened. This couldn’t be what Joshua would want, could it?
“Sir? I believe the collar speaks of my ownership.” Joshua’s tone had a whip to it that made her head snap up.
The stranger’s hand withdrew immediately. “I apologize.”
Lord Everret appeared, his gray eyes ice cold where Joshua’s were a blazing inferno. “Applegate? You know the rules. Do I need to ask you to leave?”
“No, Everret. Of course not. I will behave myself.” The man withdrew and Elizabeth let go of the breath she hadn’t realized she was holding.
“Sorry about that, Arundale.” Everret’s lips were tightened and white.
“Elizabeth?” Joshua’s tone was soft and a furrow on his brow told her he was worried. “Do you wish to leave?”
Did she? Suddenly, she didn’t. She wanted to stay, to find out what Joshua wanted to show her. “No,” she murmured.
He slid a finger under her chin and tipped her face up to force her to meet his gaze. “Good.”
“This way, my lord,” Everret said, and led the way down a corridor and a staircase. Where was Sarah?
Lord Everret opened a door to a similar room to the one she’d been in earlier that day. On one of the benches, Sarah was naked and tied, just as Elizabeth had been. A strange ball was jammed in her mouth and her eyes darted back and forth. The earlier cockiness was gone and fear emanated from her.
Perry sat in a chair, his arms crossed and his jaw clenched in a stubborn set. What was Joshua going to do? It was clear that this was his show, in his control.
“I adore your new gown, my lady,” Joshua said. “But I would prefer you naked. Please remove it.”
Her fingers shook as she tried to remove the dress. When she stepped out of it, Joshua took it from her and laid it gently over a vacant chair. She took off her undergarments, heat warming her cheeks.
The approving shine of Joshua’s gaze gave her courage and she stood without a stitch on. The room was in shadow, candlelight throwing odd shapes on the walls. Sarah’s bare skin glowed and Perry’s gaze never left the maid’s form. Lord Everret stayed in the corner of the room, observing.
It was Joshua who dominated center stage and commanded attention. Elizabeth couldn’t help it. She glanced at the three men, one after the other, comparing their features, marveling at how she’d missed their similarities. The line of the jaw, the grayish color of the eyes and the straight, autocratic nose were all the same. Only hair color differed, with Joshua’s brown hair giving him a handsome demeanor while Lord Everret’s black hair added mystery.
Each of them had the same hungry expression, even though Perry’s was mixed with anger, Lord Everret’s with curiosity and Joshua’s with determination.
“Marcus, observe my wife,” Joshua said without removing his gaze from her. “She is trying to read us, work out what her next move should be. My sweet flower has done that all her life. She’s had to.” He stepped closer to her and ran his finger along her right shoulder. It took every ounce of her control not to pull away, knowing where he was going with this. “Her father was an unpleasant man.”
Her nostrils flared. He wouldn’t. This wasn’t something for open discussion in front of other people, her maid. She begged him with her eyes, saying nothing.
But Joshua had some end game in mind. He continued. “Once, he pushed his little girl down the cellar stairs, locked her in the room for two days while she cried, unable to move because she’d broken her shoulder.”
Tears clogged Elizabeth’s throat. How could he reveal that? The memory of those horrible days came back to her, the indifference from her mother, the way her father had lied to the doctor, saying she’d stumbled down the stairs.
Whatever he was doing, she wasn’t going to participate. This was some game for him and she didn’t want to play. Perry’s eyes widened and he stared at her. Lord Everret’s gaze had dropped to his shoes. Joshua’s hand lay heavy on her scarred shoulder. She lifted her hand and brushed his fingers away.
Without a word, she picked up her undergarments and began to dress.
“Running away, Elizabeth?” Joshua said mildly.
She met his gaze. “I will not be a tool for your amusement. My life is not a story to be told like a party favor.”
His eyes narrowed. “Is that why you think I told that story? To amuse our company?”
She tightened her lips. “Isn’t that all I’m good for, Lord Arundale?” She held up the dress. “A low neckline to show off my assets? A pitiful story to show off my weakness?” She waved a hand at the other three in the room. “All for show for the Arundale men. I am not a performer, Joshua.”<
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“You have always acted a part, fitting into society, bowing to those who aren’t worthy to lick your boots.”
She tipped her chin, ignoring the tension in her stomach. “So? It was why you married me, wasn’t it? To care for your family, your estates?”
Joshua moved like lightning and ripped her undergarments down the middle, tearing at them until they were shredded and fell to the floor. She lashed out at him, her fingers bent like claws, the anger she’d suppressed for so long exploding.
She managed to get a swipe across his face, marking his jawline with her nails. But he was strong and determined. He captured her hands and yanked them behind her back, mashing her breasts against his waistcoat.
But she was no “sweet flower”. She kicked him even though it probably hurt her bare toes more than his shin. Her struggles only created a need in her she didn’t even understand.
I will not give in. I will not surrender.
Joshua dragged her to the wall, where two leather straps were nailed securely into the wall. He shoved her back against the paneling and buckled the straps around her wrists. Her arms were raised above her head and the straps held them there even when she pulled and yanked on them. Her husband’s lips were soft on the shell of her ear and his voice was gentle and soothing. “Watch. I want you to watch.”
“No,” she snarled.
He nodded and strode to one of the wooden boxes. When he appeared with a riding crop, her heart accelerated, a mixture of fear and arousal stirring inside her. He swished the thing in the air. “If you close your eyes, I’ll whip you until you open them.”
She glared at him. “Fine.” Then, defiantly, she closed her eyes tightly and waited for the sting of Joshua’s strike.
What she didn’t expect was the painful sensation when the tip of the crop hit her breast. But even as her skin burned, her nipple tightened and her pussy throbbed. When he struck her again across the hips, she jumped, but not in pain.
She glanced down and noted the reddened marks, wishing she could take them all. The sound, the sensation, the sting, all added to her heat. It was humiliating. Better to keep her eyes open than let her husband see how the slashes of the crop turned her body against her.
Wolf of Arundale Hall Page 14
