Jess Michaels

by Sin Collection

  Landon jolted back at her unexpected confession. One she obviously hadn’t meant to give as her hand came up to cover her lips and her cheeks filled with color. For a moment, silence hung between them and their gazes stayed locked.

  Juliana broke away first, turning her back to him as she struggled with her buttons. “Is that all, then, Landon? Have I serviced you enough to fulfill my obligations for the night? Am I being dismissed?”

  Landon watched her shoulders shake as she struggled with her gown. He should let her go home. Forget her claims that the memory of him had been her only pleasure through the years. It was probably a lie. Yet her emotions seemed so real.

  And he wasn’t ready to let her go. Not yet. Touching her was too powerful a drug. He wanted more. More. More.

  “No.” He cleared his throat and forced himself to take on the usual guise of ‘Lord of the Manor’. The same tone that had reduced servants to quivering masses. “You are not excused.”

  She stopped buttoning her gown and slowly turned to face him. “What?”

  “I do not count our bargain fulfilled for the night, Juliana,” he said, motioning to the door. “You will go upstairs and wait for me.”

  For a moment, he thought she might refuse. She was nearly trembling with emotion. Rage, yes. But also hurt. And he couldn’t blame her. Certainly she had very few choices. And if he had been any kind of gentleman, he would have released her from the bargain then and there.

  But the more time he spent with his former wife, the more Landon realized… he was not a gentleman. He played the part, yes. He demanded and received respect. But it was all an act. One worthy of accolades. Because it was becoming more and more clear that beneath his smart attire and perfect reputation, he was an animal. A beast who didn’t care if Juliana came to him because she was backed into a corner. He just wanted to be inside her lush body. He wanted to feel her mouth on him. He wanted to taste every inch of her skin. He wanted to pour himself into her and claim her in every elemental way he could.

  “Go upstairs,” he croaked out. “I will join you in a few moments.”

  Her spine stiffened, her lip quivered, but she managed to bob out a curtsey that would have pleased the king himself. “As you wish. My. Lord.”

  With that, she spun away and left the room, slamming the door behind her with enough force to rattle the paintings on the wall. Landon turned away with a curse and finished his drink. Then he finished hers. Then he poured another. But nothing could dull the pain that flowered in his chest.

  And he wanted to make Juliana hurt just as much. Not physically. He would never hurt her physically. But he wanted to make her feel as empty as he had felt… still felt. He wanted her to regret leaving him. Regret betraying the life they once planned.

  What kind of man did that make him? What kind of man had Juliana molded him into with her smiles and kisses and lies? And how far was he willing to go to repay her for what had been done?

  *

  “Hateful man,” Juliana growled as she stomped into Landon’s chamber and shut the door behind her. She was of half a mind to lock it and let him sit in the hallway all night. Except, she didn’t doubt he’d simply kick the door down with the way he was behaving.

  She flopped into the nearest chair. “It’s not like you don’t like it,” she muttered to herself.

  It was true. Despite her affectations of offense, Landon’s utter control aroused her. She was at his mercy and since she knew he would never hurt her, it thrilled her to know that she would be taken. That she would give and take pleasure at his command. Because in a small way that made her his. In those moments, she belonged to him again.

  And she wanted that. Deep in her soul, she longed to be Landon’s. That was the rub. He would never allow her near his soul. He couldn’t even bring himself to kiss her. He might desire her body, but she would never be allowed into his heart again. Not after what she’d done.

  She shut her eyes as memories of their last night in Scotland assaulted her. Flashes of pain. The betrayal in Landon’s eyes. Her father had said such cruel things to him… and she had allowed him to do so even though it broke her heart, because she could not let Landon know how much she still loved him and wanted to be his wife. If he knew, he wouldn’t have let her go. He would have fought for her.

  And at the tender age of sixteen, her sister would have been condemned to the marriage Juliana herself had ultimately entered into. There had been no choice but to do her father’s bidding and lie about the state of her marriage to Landon. To allow the annulment to go through and let him hate her.

  At least she’d had her memories to keep her company in the intervening years. Memories of the way he once loved her.

  But he didn’t anymore.

  And now she was even beginning to doubt if he would take her, claim her as she so ached for. He had watched her please herself, pleasured her with his wicked tongue… but he hadn’t taken her yet. Was this her punishment, pleasure without claiming? Always bringing her to the brink, but never allowing her the one thing she wanted more than anything? His arms around her. His mouth on hers. His cock buried deep within her. She wanted to be joined with him as one body, yet he denied her at every turn.

  Folding her arms, she slunk down in the chair and pouted for a moment. It was rare she allowed herself the time to feel sorry for herself, but she did now.

  The door banged open behind her and she got to her feet in a rush. Turning, she saw Landon framed in the light from the hallway. He kicked the door shut behind him and stalked toward her.

  “Lan-”

  She didn’t get out another word. He had her in his arms before she could speak, crushing her against his chest, pinning her to his body.

  “I have denied myself too long,” he growled. He no longer sounded like himself. Now his voice was low, longing.

  “What are you doing?” she squealed, her heart leaping double time as he carried her to the bed and flopped her down. She pushed to stand, but he grasped her hips and turned her over.

  With one hand, he shoved at her skirts, lifting them above her backside even as his other hand jerked at the buttons on his waist. She heard his trousers hit the floor in a heap and her treacherous body went warm and wet.

  He leaned forward, his hard cock brushing the tops of her thighs with teasing softness.

  “This is what you want, isn’t it?” he asked, bending over her to lick the exposed skin on the back of her neck.

  She arched, helpless as he pinned her arms down.

  “Tell me, Juliana. I won’t take you if I don’t know you want this,” he repeated and there was an edge of desperation that belied the wicked intent of his tone.

  “Yes,” she sobbed against the pillow. “Yes, Landon, I want this. I want you more than anything. Now!”

  He groaned as he cupped her backside, spreading her sex with hot palms. Then he thrust.

  Juliana screamed as he entered her, stretching her long-empty channel, filling her to the brink and then further. Finally, after so many years, she felt whole again. He pulled back and thrust a second time, harder this time. He slipped easily back inside and she was sure his cock was now coated with her juices.

  “Juliana,” he whispered as he leaned forward, cradling her body with his larger one, reaching his hands around to cup her breasts through her wrinkled gown.

  Slow and short, he took her. The room was silent except for the occasional slap of skin against skin, the hushed moans as they reacquainted themselves with this taking, with the enjoyment of each other.

  Juliana tensed as pleasure coursed through her, tingling in her belly, lower in her burning loins. She was going to explode. It was not something she could control or hold back. And from the way her body quivered, she knew it would be the most fulfilling release she had ever experienced. She wanted to hold it off, almost feared the intensity of this joining, but she couldn’t.

  “Landon,” she cried as the tremors of release began. “Landon!”

  Her screams o
nly urged him further. Landon panted as he thrust harder. She milked him with her orgasm, squeezing so tightly against his cock that she feared she might injure him. His fingers dug into her breasts, pulled her back against his chest as he let out a cry.

  And then he was gone, pulling away to spend himself against her skin rather than within her. She peeked over her shoulder as he stroked his cock a few final times. His eyes were screwed shut, his face red and taut with his pleasure.

  Pleasure he hadn’t taken within her.

  Her heart sank. The message was clear. He had withdrawn to prevent creating a child. He had no intentions of being bound to her ever again.

  Landon released his cock with a moan. He felt dizzy, utterly spent and satisfied… well, except that he didn’t get to take his pleasure within her clenching body. He glanced over to her. Juliana was resting her forehead against the bed, her backside still raised in tempting offering, bare, her sex pink and slick from her pleasure.

  His cock twitched, but Landon knew it would be a little while before he was ready to have her again. But he knew he would be ready. He couldn’t get enough of Juliana. He had pretended otherwise over the years, but this encounter, with its animal claiming and the quickness of his release, told him he was a fool.

  Juliana was in his blood.

  This dangerous woman, one who had already made her choice… a choice that wasn’t him… had utter control over Landon. His body. And he feared his soul, as well.

  She reached back and slid her gown back over her skin before she started to stand. When she turned, her eyes were wide and filled with questions. He could see she wanted to know what he would do now.

  He wished to hell he knew.

  Prudence said to send her home. To regroup before he got in over his head. But looking at her, hair down around her shoulders, cheeks pink from pleasure and exertion, all he wanted to do was hold her. Keep her here.

  And that foolish desire lead him as he stepped forward and placed one hand on each shoulder. Her eyes widened as he gently pushed down, forcing her to sit on the mattress before he laid her back against his pillows. Without explanation, he crawled up next to her and took her in his arms.

  Tonight. He would only surrender tonight. Tomorrow, he would make himself recall that these moments with Juliana were only a fantasy. A trade she was making to find her sister.

  But for tonight, he let himself sink into the fantasy.

  *

  Juliana straightened her gown, though she knew there was little to do to repair the wrinkled fabric. Making love in her gown twice, then sleeping in it was not something she could hide. Even if she had awoken in the night to find Landon removing it with his teeth. It wasn’t as if he’d hung it up after he tossed it in a pile on the floor.

  And she’d been too busy being thoroughly ravished to suggest it.

  So she had a wrinkled gown and wrinkled it would stay. In a way it fit her mood. Out of sorts, messy. And utterly nervous as she stared at the dining room door. Landon’s butler had told her that his lordship was having his breakfast through that door. She had no choice but to enter. Yet her hands shook behind her back.

  What would happen now that they’d spent a night together?

  Granted, she’d woken alone.

  “This is ridiculous,” she muttered before she pushed the door open and entered with a false smile.

  It fell almost immediately. Landon sat at the end of a long, intimidating table, polished to a high shine. He held a copy of the paper in one hand, a biscuit in the other and a pile of correspondence was at his side. He did not look up. He did not greet her. He most definitely didn’t invite her to join him in breaking his fast.

  “Good morning,” she said, hating the little crack to her voice.

  He didn’t look up. “Good morning.”

  A silence hung between them for a moment before Landon’s eyes darted to her. He looked at her from head to toe and promptly returned his attention to the paper.

  She shifted uncomfortably. “None of those letters are about my sister, are they?”

  His eyes lifted a second time and were softer somehow. More gentle. At least that was something. “No.”

  “Oh.”

  “Will you be at the Cresterton ball tonight?” he asked, arching an eyebrow before he took a sip of tea.

  She wrinkled her brow. “Er, I-I hadn’t planned on attending. Not with Evelyn missing.”

  He turned a page in his paper. “You will attend.”

  Irritation sluiced through her. She may have made a bargain with the man, may have spent a passionate night in his bed, but he was hardly being civil with her now. And his demands grated.

  “I-” she began, but he cut her off with a sharp look.

  “You will attend,” he repeated. “And after the ball is over, you will return here with me. I’ll report any new information about your sister at that time.”

  Her mouth dropped open. “You are saying I am to leave the ball with you? Don’t you think people will notice that?”

  He shrugged one shoulder. “That is not my concern, Your Grace.”

  She stepped forward, her awkward shyness replaced by fresh frustration and anger. “Not your concern! You said you would keep this matter private.”

  He suddenly came off his chair. It screeched across the floor as he shoved it aside and moved in her direction. “I said I would keep your sister’s predicament private, not our affair. And you said anything I want, anywhere I want, any time I want it.”

  She drew breath to retort, but could find nothing satisfactory to say. He was right. She had made that vow to him the first night they came together. Little had she guessed that he would want her ruination along with her body.

  “I see,” she finally managed with a cold nod. “Is that all then?”

  He cocked his head. “All?”

  “Am I dismissed, my lord?”

  He flinched at her tone, but nodded just the same. “Yes. I believe that is all. I have arranged for a carriage for you if you are returning home. And I shall see you tonight.”

  “Good day,” she said, turning her back and stomping away. Her whole body shook she was so livid.

  As she got into the waiting carriage outside and felt it move away from Landon’s home, she folded her arms. Somehow she’d convinced herself she knew what she was getting into when she made her bargain with Landon, but clearly she’d been wrong.

  For so many years she had been at the mercy of the men in her life. A slave to her father’s failures, she had thrown aside love and happiness to protect her sister. She had survived a mockery of a marriage to a man who treated her like so much dirt beneath his heel.

  And it had been for nothing, for her sister had still been sold to God knew who. Juliana had turned to the one man she believed would help her only to find that he, too, demanded she come to heel under his orders.

  And somehow Landon’s disregard for her wants and needs hurt her most of all. She couldn’t do it. She wouldn’t.

  With a little smile, she settled back more comfortably. She might find ultimate pleasure at Landon’s hands. She might have agreed to do whatever he asked. But if she wanted to maintain her sanity, she would just have to bend him to her every whim, even as she surrendered to his.

  Chapter Five

  “Do you know very much about Rafael Sinclair?” Landon asked Hawk as he sipped a tumbler of sherry.

  “Sin?” his brother asked, his eyes widening in surprise. “Why?”

  Landon shrugged. He really didn’t want to get into this with Hawk right before they all departed for the Cresterton soiree.

  “You once ran in the same circles, didn’t you?” Landon asked, hoping his tone was cool and only vaguely interested.

  Hawk barked out a laugh. “Yes. The very same. We even shared a-” He shot a side glance toward Bianca, who was standing in the doorway, arms folded and one eyebrow arched. “Well, it was an interesting night a very long time ago.”

  Bianca stepped into the room wit
h a shake of her head. “It sounds very interesting. Perhaps you’ll tell me the whole wicked story later.”

  Hawk grinned and Landon turned his face. If he’d thought the unspoken bond between his brother and sister-in-law was difficult before, now it pained him even more. It only served as deeper contrast to the relationship he shared with Juliana.

  “So why do you want to know?” Hawk asked as he motioned to the foyer. “I somehow doubt Sin is active in your political circles. He has always been far more interested in women than anything else.”

  Landon shot a glance at Bianca. It wasn’t in his nature to have conversations about well-known debauchers with a lady present. But then again, Bianca wasn’t an ordinary lady. In the past, she had played as close to the fire as Hawk ever did.

  He cleared his throat. “What kind of man is he?” he asked, ignoring Hawk’s question.

  “Everything rumor says is true,” Hawk said as they climbed into his carriage.

  Landon’s driver had already been instructed to meet them at the ball so Landon could leave with Juliana later. His body tightened at the thought of her, a combination of erotic pleasure at what he wanted to do when they were alone… and regret at the news he would have to share with her.

  That Rafael Sinclair… a man called Sin, had her sister, but that he didn’t know where they were.

  Bianca settled into the carriage and smoothed her skirts. “I remember Sin well from my own days in the hells.” She shrugged. “A decent card player. An occasional drunk. He never left with the same woman twice and the ones who had been with him had tales to tell of his prowess.” She gave a little grin.

  Landon let out a breath. Somehow he had hoped the tales of Sinclair’s sexual appetites were exaggerated. But it didn’t seem those hopes would be realized.

  “Would he take an innocent?” he asked softly.