Still, she gave it. Gave him more than he ever hoped for. She was giving him everything.
And he wanted everything. So desperately.
“Go upstairs. Take your bath. Rest and relax,” he said, his tone soothing. “I’ll come to you in a few hours.”
She nodded, pressing a brief kiss against his cheek before she left the room. After she’d gone, Sin sank back down on the settee. What was happening to him?
Whatever it was, this woman was making him question everything he planned, everything he was. And yet he couldn’t tear himself away from her. Not for all the revenge in the world.
Chapter Seven
When Evelyn rose from the bath, her knees trembled. She caught the edge of the tub, gripping the porcelain before she managed to stand upright. As the maid wrapped a thick towel around her, she shook her head.
She needed to calm herself. Get her hands and nerves to stop shaking uncontrollably.
But she couldn’t. She followed the maid to the bed chamber and shivered as she looked at the bed. It had been made up with satin sheets while she soaked in the adjoining room. A hint of what would happen that night. What Sin had planned.
“Are you cold, my lady?” the young woman asked as she rubbed the towel over Evelyn’s goose marked flesh.
“Yes,” she lied. She wasn’t cold. It was nervousness that made her shake, but she wouldn’t admit that. “Will you fetch my robe?”
The girl looked at her with uncertainty. “My master said no clothing tonight, my lady. I can put a log on the fire to warm the room.”
Evelyn bit her lip. No clothes. Heat flooded her cheeks. “No. I’m sure it’s just the shock of leaving the warm bath. I’ll be fine, thank you.”
The girl bobbed out a curtsey as Evelyn took a seat beside the fire. The young woman slowly toweled her long hair until it was no longer wet, but did not pull the dark tresses away from her face.
“Sin asked for this, as well?” Evelyn asked as the maid pulled a few long strands over her shoulders to cover her breasts.
“Yes.”
The way she said the words made Evelyn flinch. It was so matter-of-fact, like preparing a woman for Sin’s possession was an every day occurrence for the staff here. But perhaps it was, considering the man’s reputation.
Evelyn stared at her hands, which were fisted in her lap. She would not be jealous. She wouldn’t. Sin had asked her to give him everything. Her body. And she was prepared to do it for the intoxicating way he made her feel.
Yet, he gave so little in return. But that was probably because he had bought her. She was part of a business transaction. He wanted her, that she knew, but when this was over, he wanted nothing more.
So when she surrendered ‘everything’ tonight, she had to make sure that ‘everything’ didn’t include her wavering heart. The heart that pounded every time she saw Sin. Every time he touched her. The heart that yearned for him if they weren’t together.
The door opened and Sin entered the room. She stood up to face him and watched as his gaze slipped down, slowly, over her naked body. She thrust her breasts out, pride swelling when she saw his cock do the same.
He motioned to the maid to depart. When they were alone, he moved toward her. “Are you ready?”
Evelyn nodded. It was true. She was ready to give herself over to him. There would be consequences. She couldn’t deny that. But they were worth the price.
“Yes.”
“Then come here.”
He motioned to the bed. She climbed up, the satin slipping around her, caressing her skin. Resting back on the pillows, she looked at him with a nervous smile.
He didn’t return the smile. In fact, his gaze pierced her fully, holding her in place as he stalked across the room and mounted the bed beside her.
“Lift your arms,” he murmured.
She cocked her head in confusion, but did as she had been asked. Full surrender.
He reached into his pocket and withdrew two long, silk cravats. As she watched, he looped one around her wrist and bound her to the bed before she could argue.
“Sin,” she cried, pulling.
He placed the flat of his palm against her belly, the gentle touch soothing her despite herself. “Shhh,” he whispered as he pressed a kiss against her sweat misted temple. “I know this is a leap, but take it. Allow me to do this. Surrender.”
She bit back any further protests. Surrender. This was full surrender. Once he bound her other wrist, she would have no control. No escape.
Ceasing her movements of evasion, she raised her unbound wrist back to the head of the bed. “Very well,” she croaked.
“I promise you, you will not regret it,” he said as he tied her opposite wrist.
She pulled against the bonds reflexively, but there was no give. He had well and truly trapped her and now she was at his mercy. He reached into the other pocket and withdrew another piece of silk. This was longer, black. He wrapped it a few times, then gently lifted her head.
“It’s a blindfold,” he explained, kissing her forehead before he wrapped it around her eyes and tied it, tight enough that there was no escaping the blackness before her vision, but no tight enough to cause her physical pain.
Then his weight was gone from the bed.
“Sin!” she cried out, hating the desperation in her voice and that she wanted the man who had put her in this vulnerable position.
“I’m here,” he soothed. She relaxed a little that he had not left the room.
“Surrender,” he said. “But not just to me. To your own senses. The ones you’ve neglected while you let your eyes be your guide into sensuality. Listen. Smell. Taste. Feel. Give yourself over to me.”
His voice and the words it spoke were so seductive. She had been coiled like this for a long time, but not in her body. In her heart. Waiting for a father’s betrayal. Waiting for an attack on her soul. Waiting for fate to snatch her away from her hopes and dreams. Sin was telling her to forget those things. To truly allow pleasure and desire to wash over her. And to trust that he would bring her those things with no pain. No fear.
Her breathing shook as she drew it in and exhaled out. With effort, she calmed the intake. Drawing in long, deep breaths, she ordered her body to unwind. Gradually it obeyed, her muscles relaxing.
Sin’s weight returned to the bed, this time at the foot. She tensed slightly as she waited for whatever he had in store for her.
“Be calm,” he reminded her and she heard his smile.
“I’m trying,” she said through gritted teeth as she began the process anew.
“Let me help,” he said softly.
She felt his breath against the inside of her calf, then his lips brushed the delicate skin there. He sucked very gently and fire shot up her legs and settled between her thighs.
A little gasp escaped her lips, but she bit it back. Sin’s head moved, like he was looking up at her. She squirmed at the knowledge that he was staring at her, but she couldn’t see him in return.
“Don’t hold back,” he said softly.
She nodded, the refrain of total surrender echoing in her desire addled mind. His mouth was back on her skin, this time teasing the skin behind her knee. She sucked in a breath at the tingles of feeling that moved through her.
“Pleasure isn’t just about here-” His fingers brushed, ever so gently against the apex of her thighs. She arched into them, but they were gone instantly. “Or here.” This time he let the same fingers trail over her taut nipples and she moaned again. “Pleasure can be born from any touch. Even the most benign…” He grazed his lips along her rib cage, then pulled away. “You must allow yourself to feel them all, though. Don’t anticipate. Let pleasure surprise you.”
“You surprise me,” she murmured.
His mouth brushed hers. “Good,” he said, close to her ear. Then he was gone again, his weight shifting once more to the foot of the bed.
Evelyn sighed as she waited for the next touch, but she did her best to follow his ord
er and not anticipate. Not arch her hips to show him where she wanted his mouth or fingers. Not spread her legs to offer him access. Just give her body over to him, trusting he would know what to do to bring her the highest pleasure.
Once she had done so, the experience was glorious. Every touch made her nerves sizzle, because each was so unexpected. Sin didn’t stay in one spot for long. First he would stroke her thigh, then his mouth would caress her stomach. The heat of his breath would burn at her hip, then his fingers would comb through her hair, massaging her scalp. Her entire body felt alive in a way she’d never experienced before. And her entire being was focused on Sin. On his presence, on his touch… on him, in a way she’d never allowed before.
Though she couldn’t see him, she knew he was as excited by this game as she was. She could hear it in the catch of his breath. Feel it when his hard erection nudged her. Taste it in his kiss when he occasionally brought his mouth down and tangled his tongue with hers.
“And now I want you to try an exercise in control,” he said.
She smiled. “Is this not enough an exercise in that?”
“Not quite.” He brushed his hand up and down her side. “You see, even though you aren’t speaking, aren’t able to see, your body is telling me what it wants. Silently. By the way you quiver. By the way you sigh and moan. Now I want you to silence that voice. I will pleasure you. But only if you can hold back your release. Only if you can keep silent.”
She hesitated, but her body was aching for more than fleeting, teasing touches. And she had held back reaction before when she watched the servants couple. She could do that now, especially if it meant Sin pleasuring her.
“I shall do my best.”
The bed moved and suddenly she felt hot breath at the apex of her thighs. Sin’s hands cupped her, spread her open, but for a long moment, he did not touch. She could feel his stare on her most private areas like she was watching him. But she didn’t blush. Let him look at the moisture that was dripping there. Let him see what his touch, his teasing had done to her. That was part of the pleasure, wasn’t it?
“So beautiful,” he whispered and she felt the words reverberate over her clit before his mouth came down.
Her first reaction was to buck her hips. But the moment she did, Sin pulled away, withdrawing his tongue.
“Wait, Evie. You may not react until I give you leave.”
She shivered. So he would control every part of her pleasure. She stilled her hips and bit back a moan. His mouth came down again. Teasing. Tasting. He nibbled at the swollen lips of her sex, just brushing his lips there in a gentle back and forth motion. More like he was kissing her mouth than her weeping pussy.
A moan build deep within her, but she swallowed it as she fought to stay still and hold back her reaction.
“Very good,” he said. “Just wait, wait for me.”
He darted out his tongue, tracing the pouting curves between her legs. He let the tip dance over her clit, but then it was gone and she ached. He lapped downward, stroking her entire slit and even further. Shockingly, briefly, he circled the rosebud of her bottom.
No one had ever touched her there and a starburst of light exploded behind her lids at the foreign, utterly naughty and erotic sensation.
She couldn’t hold back a grunt of pleasure. As before, that noise brought a swift withdrawal of Sin’s touch. For a moment there was an empty silence. She longed to call out for him, but held back.
Finally, he growled. “Next time, I will spank you.”
Those words, said so seriously, should have inspired her fear, but instead she thought of the portraits in his office. Of the woman being paddled. Immediately hot wetness flooded her and she couldn’t help the way her sheath clenched at the wetness.
Sin chuckled. “Interesting. But not tonight. Now be still.”
She bit her lip until she could taste blood and finally Sin returned his mouth to her. He caressed her with such a leisurely pace, stroking, invading, lapping at her until she felt there was no part of her he hadn’t explored. But he did not allow her pleasure and she didn’t make the mistake of moving to force the release she now craved.
“I know this is difficult,” he murmured between hard sucks at her clit that made her knees quake with impending release. “So when you come, you may scream and thrash and moan as much as you like. You’ve earned it.”
She tensed as his mouth tightened on her clit. He slipped his hands beneath her backside and lifted her, stroking her with even, broad strokes, sucking. She fought to keep the release at bay, fought to prolong the sensations, but she couldn’t. All the torment, the teasing, the waves of pleasure that had been building all night finally burst. She heard herself scream, felt her body arch, her pelvis rock against Sin’s mouth as she cried out for more. Begged for more.
He gave it. Bringing her up and down waves so powerful she sometimes feared she might actually die before they were over. But finally, the slamming bursts of pleasure calmed and she collapsed, panting.
But Sin wasn’t finished. She felt him shift to his knees, still cupping and lifting her backside and then his cock was sliding inside, filling, stretching. He thrust into her with mercilessly hard jerks of his hips. It was a taking, a claiming and she knew a part of her would always be with him after tonight.
She heard his breath coming shorter, his thrusts grew more erratic and she braced for the coming flood of his desire. But instead he grasped the edge of the blindfold and pulled it free. She blinked against the bright light and found herself just inches from Sin’s face. He cupped her cheeks and kissed her, his cry muffled by her lips as he poured deep inside her body.
He quickly pulled the ties on her wrists free, then collapsed on top of her. She wrapped her arms around him, holding him close and reveling in the warmth of his body pressed against her own.
A feeling she would lose in just a few short days.
*
Sin was asleep, his broad chest rising and falling with every deep breath. Evelyn rolled over on her side and propped herself up on her elbow, watching his face. It was more peaceful in its relaxed state, but his mouth still had the same sensual, knowing tilt.
She couldn’t sleep as he was. Thoughts of the night they’d shared had haunted her for more than an hour, making her toss and turn. There had been something in the way he looked at her, the way he kissed her at the last moment that troubled her.
No, not troubled. It was worse than that. It gave her hope. There had been emotion in his eyes. And she wanted that. More than just sex. More than just her fantasies come true.
Despite all her promises to herself to keep some kind of distance from this man, she wanted his heart. Because she had already surrendered her own to him.
She shut her eyes. Dear God, what had she done? Sin demanded surrender and she gave it. All of it. Heart and soul and everything else.
With a quiet sigh, she slipped out of his bed and put on her robe. She left his room, trying not to look back, but failing at the last moment.
She moved down the hallway, looking at family portraits, knickknacks, things that were important to him and things that said who the man was. But she found herself downstairs in front of his office door in no time.
She stepped inside. Here is where everything had begun. And this room, with its art, with his work, was obviously the place in his home that most represented Sin. She closed the door behind her and scanned the room. This was Sin’s life. This was Sin.
She moved around, looking beyond the portraits that inevitably distracted her. She looked at the little clock on the mantel. It was finely made and very pretty. Sin appreciated art, and not only the kind designed to shock and arouse.
The books on his shelf were interesting treatises on politics, as well as classic works of fiction. There were erotic books, as well, but the ones that were most worn and loved were more about the mind than the body.
Nothing about the man was expected. Whenever she thought she’d figured him out, he surprised her. And
not just with sensual delights. Since she met him, he had shown her kindness, consideration and demanded blatant honesty in return.
Things she hadn’t experienced… or given… very often in her life.
She moved to his desk. The leather chair screamed out the lush side of his personality. She sat down in the comfortable cushion and leaned back, thinking about him sitting here going over papers.
Looking down, she cast her gaze over the sloppy paperwork spread about the desk top and smiled. He was in such control, yet his desk was messy. Another dichotomy.
She was about to rise when she saw something on the top sheet of paper that caught her eye.
Her father’s name.
She reached out, hand trembling and pulled the paper out from beneath another where it had been half covered. Looking away, she gathered her composure. She shouldn’t look. Sin hadn’t authorized her to even be in this room alone, let alone go through his private papers.
But she couldn’t resist. She glanced over the sheet. Her heart sank with every word she read. Hands trembling, she sorted through the other papers and found more and more with references to her father, to a past she had never known anything about.
To her.
Nausea built in waves, rising up in her throat until she could taste the faint tinge of bile. Tears blurred her vision, yet she read on, ignoring the morning light as the sun began to rise outside. Ignoring her own fatigue.
Finally, a long time after, so long that she wasn’t even aware of how many hours had gone by, she set the paperwork back down on the desktop and staggered to her feet.
Tears threatened but she blinked them back. She wouldn’t cry. Not for this. Not for lies told that destroyed a future she never would have had anyway.
Everything she needed to know, but had never imagined, was clear to her. Sin wasn’t just using her to pay a debt…
Jess Michaels Page 32
