Two Shades of Seduction

by Monica Burns

  It was a stab in the dark, but there was something elusive about Sophie that made him probe deeper than he had yesterday. Sophie flinched and lowered her gaze to her plate. She didn’t speak for a long moment, but Quentin didn’t push her. He’d learned patience in the past five years.

  “Yes. I paid a price,” she said in a stilted tone. Her face became a frozen mask as she stared out at the meadow in front of them.

  “Does he beat you, Sophie?” She immediately blanched as her gaze jerked back to meet his. “He has, but I’ve learned how to avoid incurring his wrath.”

  Quentin found his gut twisting into knots at the thought of Townsend raising his hand to her. A natural instinct to protect her surged through him. The bastard would never touch Sophie again once they were married.

  “But it’s his insults and criticism that are more difficult to ignore,” he said, and her hazel eyes widened in surprise. Quentin shook his head slightly as her expression confirmed his educated guess. “You forget I’ve been the target of your father’s ire as well. Although his insults were far less painful to bear than his theft of my inheritance.”

  “A theft for which I feel partly responsible.”

  “Christ Jesus, why should you feel blame,” he exclaimed as he stared at her in amazement.

  “I keep my father’s books.” Regret filled her voice as she shook her head. “If I’d not been in London, I might have discovered his intentions and warned you.”

  “You’re Townsend’s daughter. I doubt you would have gained access to the keep,” Quentin said in a tight voice as he remembered his anger and sense of betrayal five years ago. “I found it difficult enough yesterday not to simply throw you out.”

  “While your behavior was far from gentlemanly, I find it hard to believe you had to restrain yourself from ordering me out of your home.” Sophie laughed, her eyes sparkling with amusement as she tilted her head slightly. “You left me with the distinct impression you cared little as to whether I came or went.”

  “Then you’re mistaken,” he said softly. “After my initial irritation, I found myself not wanting you to leave at all.”

  “You’re trying to shock me again,” she said with a laugh. It was a lighthearted sound, but it held a breathless excitement underneath. “It won’t work.”

  “No?” He grinned. Sophie might not realize it, but she’d just offered him a challenge. Slowly pushing aside his plate, he moved closer to her. “Tell me, Sophie, what do you expect our life to be like once we’re married?”

  “I haven’t given it much thought,” she said as a frown furrowed her brow. “Our bargain calls for us to lead separate lives, so I would think you would live in London while I remain here.”

  “I see,” he murmured. “And what of the other part of our bargain? You said you wanted to experience what it’s like between a man and woman.”

  “You truly are a scoundrel, my lord,” she said as a pink flush darkened her cheeks.

  “Quentin.” The inflexible note in his voice deepened the color in her cheek as she nodded.

  “Quentin,” she said softly. Satisfied with her response, he reached for his cup to take another swallow of wine.

  “Now then, where were we, ah yes, I’m a scoundrel for reminding you of the carnal aspect of our bargain.” His words made her look away from him, and he reached out to graze the back of her hand with his finger.

  “Yes, you are.” She quickly snatched her hand away from his with an expression of exasperation, and he laughed.

  “But scoundrel or not, you’ve not changed your mind as to our exploring the art of pleasure.”

  “I…no, I’ve not changed my mind,” she said in a breathless voice before straightening her shoulders and directing a haughty look at him. “However, I am certain you shall tire of me quickly.”

  “Oh I find that quite difficult to believe, Sophie,” he said with a conviction that surprised him. “In fact, I think I shall spend a great deal of time instructing you in the delights of the martial bed.”

  “And yet you will lose interest, and we shall go our separate ways.”

  “Your logical, fatalistic viewpoint regarding our marriage surprises me.”

  “I don’t see why. Our marriage is a business arrangement. We’re no different from other couples who do the same. The only difference is that revenge is at the heart of our bargain, unlike money and social status.”

  “Yesterday a philosopher, today a cynic,” he said with a chuckle. “And what of love, Sophie? Do you not long for love?”

  The words were out of his mouth before he realized what was happening. Bloody hell. What the devil had possessed him to ask her such a ridiculous question? Of course, she longed for love. What woman didn’t?

  But love wasn’t something he was capable of giving her. He would never trust a woman again. Her eyes were wide as she looked at him. Frowning, he cursed himself again as she smiled with a touch of irony.

  “Love is for idealists. I am far too practical to indulge in wishful thinking.”

  Sophie’s response shot a bolt of relief through him. At least he wouldn’t have to worry about her falling in love with him. If she were to develop an affection for him, it would complicate matters when he eventually took a mistress. Her pragmatic view of their marriage was one he appreciated as he had no wish to hurt her.

  “So aside from our martial bed and eventually living apart, what else do you expect from our marriage.”

  “If you’re concerned I’ll make demands on your time, I will do so only if necessary. I’m quite self-sufficient.”

  “Of that I have no doubt.” He grinned. “It’s virtually unheard of for a beautiful woman to storm the Devil of Devlyn in his keep with the intention of proposing marriage.”

  “You are clearly delusional,” Sophie said with a look of amused exasperation. “Anyone of sound mind would never classify me as beautiful.”

  “Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, my sweet, and I find you quite lovely to look at.” Quentin caught Sophie’s hand and as his mouth brushed across her knuckles, she shuddered.

  “It seems I’ve underestimated you, my lord,” she said in a breathless voice. “You aren’t a scoundrel. You’re a wolf.”

  “A wolf who won’t hesitate to enjoy feasting on your lush curves.” Taking a drink of wine, Quentin wondered how no man had never seen Sophie for the lovely woman she was.

  “You shall have to work harder than that to appall me, my lord. As I’ve said before, I think you say wicked things simply to shock me.”

  “And if I were to say something very wicked to you?”

  “I’m certain the initial embarrassment will dissipate quickly leaving me better prepared for your next sinful remark.” Her words made Quentin clutch at his chest with his hand as though in great pain as he shook his head solemnly.

  “You wound me grievously, my sweet. To think my wicked ways won’t shock you is sad news indeed.”

  “I’m certain you shall recover quite nicely, my lord,” she said with a laugh.

  “Ah, but will you? After all, my sins are many, and I intend to teach you all of them.”

  “Given your reputation, I am reasonably certain you will be an excellent tutor,” Sophie said with a laugh. Her nonchalance pricked Quentin’s ego.

  “Then you’re prepared for all the pleasurable things I intend to do with your body?” Deliberately, he kept his voice soft and caressing. Her gaze met his, and he bit back a smile at the trepidation he saw glimmering in her eyes.

  “I doubt you could provide me with any information I’m not familiar with already.”

  “A challenge.” This time he didn’t hide his grin. “Then perhaps I should tell you that I am eager to discover whether your nipples are the color of soft pink roses or if they’re a pale shade of chocolate.”

  Her gasp was her only response, and he liked the way she quickly reached for her cup to take a deep drink of wine. He’d taken her by surprise. Sophie’s gaze met his over the rim of her cup. De
spite the shocked look on her face, something altogether different shimmered in her eyes. Encouraged by her expression, Quentin reached out to pick up an apple. He examined it for a long moment as he waited for Sophie to relax slightly. The moment he heard her breathe an almost inaudible sigh, he looked at her again.

  “I have a fascination with nipples, Sophie. They tend to remain as hard as my cock during lovemaking. Of course, to ensure they remain hard, I’ll have to stroke them with my tongue.”

  “Dear lord.” Her words were more like a choking noise as she stared at him in appalled fascination.

  “As I recall, I did warn you I am wicked to a fault.”

  He took a bite out of his apple as he watched her, silently daring her to admit he’d shocked her. Almost as if she could read his mind, she remained silent, clearly determined not to yield ground to his ungentlemanly behavior.

  “Not only do I intend to suck on your nipples, Sophie, I’m going to kiss every delightful inch of you. I’m going to work my way downward until my mouth reaches that delightful spot between your legs, which is certain to be hot and wet. I’m going to use my mouth to make you writhe in my arms until you beg me for a release you’ve not yet experienced.”

  “My lord, I—”

  “Then when I’m quite certain you’re ready for me, I’m going to plunge my cock deep inside you over and over again until I spill my seed in you. And all the while, I’m going to enjoy hearing you cry out from the pleasure of it all.”

  Silence fell between them, and he noted the rapid rise and fall of her breasts. The look of shock on her face made him clench his jaw tight. He’d gone too far. He quickly dismissed the thought. Better she know now, than later, the kind of man she was marrying. There was still time for her to change her mind. Reluctantly, he had to admit that he didn’t want her to change her mind.

  Sophie’s gaze was dark with something he couldn’t define, but her relatively calm composure pleased him. Most women of her background would be running from him in hysterics, but not Sophie Hamilton. She was either determined not to let him win their argument or she was completely enthralled with his vivid description of what he wanted to do with her. To his surprise, he found himself hoping it was the latter.

  The tip of her tongue darted out to dampen her lips, and Quentin’s chest tightened at the way his body reacted to the sight. He wanted to feel those luscious lips wrapped around his cock. He was going to teach this fascinating creature to do things no wife would ever expect to learn from her husband. The idea made him grin as he bit into a tart apple.

  “You seem well-pleased with yourself, my lord.”

  “I am,” he said as he swallowed and grinned at her.

  “I suppose you find me amusing.” Her cool tone startled him and he studied her more closely. Hazel eyes flashed with anger, pain, and something close to humiliation. Her expression triggered regret inside him.

  “You think I’m laughing at you,” he said quietly.

  “Aren’t you? Isn’t that what this is all about? A bit of sport with the old maid.”

  This time the bitterness was clearly evident. He closed the distance between them and grasped the hand that was twisting her napkin with extreme violence. With a gentleness that surprised him, he carried her hand to his lips.

  “Sophie, I was not having sport with you. I truly am a scoundrel of the worst kind, and you should think hard about marrying me. But if you become my wife, I can assure you it will be one of the most pleasurable experiences of your life.”

  He deliberately stroked her forefinger with his tongue, before pulling it into his mouth. As he sucked on her finger, he watched her shocked expression give way to reluctant pleasure. Releasing her finger, he turned her hand over to kiss her wrist. The tremor shooting through her reverberated against his fingers. Instinct told him it wasn’t fear, but excitement.

  “Tell me, Sophie, what do you think about when I touch you.”

  “I…I don’t…know. I suppose I like how nice it feels.”

  “Nice?” He’d not heard a woman use the word nice where he was concerned in years. It didn’t do much for his pride. “I believe I need to help you with your definitions regarding pleasurable sensations.

  Not waiting for her to answer, he tugged her down to him then rolled her onto her back. Her mouth pouted with surprise, and his cock stiffened at the sight. With a slow stroke, he ran his thumb along her bottom lip and it quivered beneath his touch. Already consumed with the need to touch her, he refused to wait any longer to taste her lips.

  Holding her chin with his hand, he kissed her hard. The scent of honey and lemongrass washed over him, teasing his senses. The women he’d made love to in the past had always worn exotic scents, but Sophie smelled of fresh wind and meadows. His tongue plunged into her mouth.

  Unlike yesterday, this time she tentatively swirled her tongue around his. It made him rock hard. He pulled away and gently nibbled on her lower lip before his mouth drifted down across her jaw to the side of her neck. The soft moan that escaped her filled him with elation. It had been a long time since he’d been so eager to bed a woman.

  His hand deftly undid the buttons of her riding jacket. The garment fell open to expose her white combination. When she murmured a protest, he kissed her until she sighed against his lips. Slowly, his fingers brushed over the tops of her breasts. She stiffened slightly, but didn’t protest as his hand deftly unlaced several of the top loops of her undergarment.

  Eager to look at her, he pushed himself upward to view her plump flesh and her dark pink nipple. His inability to fully expose her breast created a dark lust in him. He lowered his head and circled his tongue around her hardened nipple through the thin layer of material that covered the taut peak. The gasp that echoed above his head wasn’t one of protest, but one of pleasure. It encouraged him to continue suckling until the lace of her combination was damp and clinging to the rounded top of her breast. A second later, she arched her body upward, her breast pushing against his mouth. It was a gentle surrender that heightened the erotic sensation of tasting her. God help him, but he would have to take care where this woman was concerned or he might find himself tangled in a web he would find difficult to escape.

  § § §

  As Quentin’s long, hard body pressed into hers, a hot mist of sensation and pleasure engulfed Sophie. A deep moan passed her lips as his mouth tugged on her nipple until the caress ignited a painfully exquisite need inside her. The sensation was primal in nature, and it left her hungry for something she understood, but had never thought to experience. Fire skimmed its way along her senses until she was certain she would burst into flames.

  Sophie gasped as his teeth nipped at her tender flesh. Instinct made her arch her back with a silent demand for more. Her fingers spiked through thick, dark hair that caressed her skin like silk. It wasn’t fair that a man could have such beautiful hair. Even more unfair was the way he could manipulate her body so easily until she was little more than soft clay to be molded in his hands.

  A multitude of sensations engulfed her as Quentin took her mouth in a hot kiss. His tongue swirled around hers leaving the sharp tang of apple in its wake as an unfamiliar sensation slid over her. No one had ever kissed her like this. It left her longing for something more. Deep inside her brain, she recognized how wanton her behavior was, but his touch made her crave more. The rough scent of him was overwhelming raw male in its mixture of bergamot soap, leather, and a faint hint of earthy spice.

  The thunder of her racing heartbeat echoed in her ears as her arms encircled his neck, and she kissed him with an eagerness that alarmed her. How easily she’d surrendered to his caresses and the hard, firm lips teasing her into submission. The soft earth pressed into her back while the weight of his body pinned her beneath him. It was a confinement she had no wish to escape. His touch thrilled her and she didn’t want him to stop. The sudden touch of his hand gathering her skirt upward made her inhale a sharp breath. He stopped and raised his head to look down at her.r />
  “Tell me what you’re thinking,” he commanded in a rough voice. It was an unfamiliar sound, but instinctively she realized it was one of desire. She excited him. Sophie Hamilton, spinster, had aroused the Devil of Devlyn Keep. Exuberance swept over her as she stared up into green eyes blazing with a fire that threatened to consume her. It was the first time in her life that any man had looked at her with passion. The heady knowledge made her shudder beneath him.

  “I…I want more.”

  “More of what?”

  “I want you to keep…kissing me…touching me.”

  “Then you shall have it.”

  His lips slanted over hers again in a deep, hot kiss. The now familiar scent of bergamot swept over her senses as his hand slid further up her leg. A lethargy sped its way through her limbs as instinct made her arch upward. The soft linen of her combination brushed across her hard nipples as if it were made of harsh wool. Dear lord, how badly she wanted his mouth on her breast again. She was certain it was the only way to assuage the tension rising inside her. A moment later, his tongue slid between the valley of her breasts, and she uttered a soft cry of delight.

  She craved the touch of his hand on her, everywhere, even in that most intimate place between her legs. Heat streamed its way through her limbs until fire encased her entire body. She’d never felt so deliciously wicked in her entire life.

  Cool air suddenly stung her skin, instantly dousing the desire that had held her enthralled seconds before. In consternation, she stared up at Quentin as he retreated from her to stand several feet away from her. Disappointment and confusion spiraled through her. Slowly sitting up, she studied him in puzzled silence.

  Tension tugged the scar on his face so tight it was a harsh white streak cutting its way across his darker complexion. Shaken by her response to his touch and his rejection, Sophie sat up and avoided his gaze. Her fingers fumbled first with the lacing of her combination then the buttons of her riding habit. Embarrassed, she rearranged her hair into a more presentable state. She darted a glance in his direction to see him watching her. Quickly glancing away, she was about to rise to her feet when a strong masculine hand was presented to her. Hesitation made her slow to accept his assistance, and a dark growl echoed out of him.