He rubbed both hands over his face before looking at her again. “Aye, ye did. A mistress lets her lover take charge when he’s ready. She doesna jump him when he’s unsuspecting.”
She raised herself to one elbow and looked pointedly at his lap. The tent had grown from pup-sized to a full cabin version. “You look pretty ready to me.”
“Yer missing the point here.” He was sounding desperate again. “I decide when I’m ready. Ye don’t force me into it. Now, if ye want tae make yerself useful, go—” He paused, then looked triumphant. “Go get my shaving gear ready.”
In disgust, Kate crawled off the bed, not even trying to be modest. Let him get a good look at what he was refusing. She ignored the sharply indrawn breath from behind her and headed for the bathroom. “Yes, Your Lordship. Right away.”
The man must have moved like greased lightning. It took her all of two seconds to get out his razor and shaving cream, but by the time she stepped back into the bedroom, he had his pants on. Although he did seem to be having a little difficulty zipping them up.
She stopped in front of him and batted her eyelashes. If he thought he was going to get off that easily, he’d better think again. He was going to suffer every bit as much as she was. And God, she was suffering. “Your shaving equipment awaits, Sir.” She drew her nails over the bulge in his jeans. “Are you sure there’s nothing you’d rather be doing?”
A tremor wracked him from head to toe at her touch, and a damp circle appeared on the denim fabric. It took two tries before he answered her. “I’m sure. There’s work I have tae be doing. Go find something tae occupy yerself.”
Incensed at his refusal, Kate strode to the door. “Good thing I brought my vibrator,” she mumbled.
“What?”
Shock rang in his voice and she glanced over her shoulder, smiling sweetly. “I said, it’s a good thing I brought my vibrator.”
“A vibrator?”
“Yes. You know, a mechanical device for personal pleasure. I never leave home without it.”
* * * * *
Angus was dying. Pure pain shot in a blue haze from his groin to his stomach, something that hadn’t happened to him since he was a teenager. He collapsed onto the bed before the echoes of the door closing died away, a moan deep in his throat.
He had to stop thinking about that vibrator, had to stop remembering what she’d felt like in his arms. Try to forget that he’d been a hair’s breath away from burying himself inside her and letting go.
If he gave in, he was doomed to keep her. Marc would have won. Hell, she would have won. His privacy and his money would be gone. But at this rate, he wouldn’t even make it through the day. When had the little rabbit grown fangs?
It was the kiss. He might have kept his bearings if not for that. Just thinking about it nearly killed him. Gingerly, he reached down and unzipped his pants, sighing when his erection sprang free like a heat seeking warhead, throbbing with the anticipation of finding a target. It didn’t solve his problem, but at least it eased the pain a bit.
“She’s gone, damn ye to hell. Settle yerself down so I can think.”
He supposed he could take care of the problem himself, but with his luck the blasted woman was listening at the door for signs that he was doing just that. And if he did, she still would have won. A man had to retain some pride.
Moving cautiously, he rolled to his feet. In his present condition, there was no way to refasten his pants, so he left things as they were. He had to get his mind off sex. Now.
In the bathroom, he locked the door to her side and turned toward the sink. His hands were shaking so badly he cut himself three times before he finished shaving, but at least the pain served to shrink the cause of his problems down to manageable size.
Back in the bedroom, he checked the coffee urn, his gaze avoiding the bowl of berries. It was still hot so he poured a cup, carrying it to the window to drink while he stared out at the waves crashing onto the rocks below.
He had to do something. His career depended on it. He’d discovered long ago that any little sound, any movement, distracted him to the point where he couldn’t concentrate on his writing, lost all focus on the story. That was one of the many reasons his marriage to Luna had failed so miserably. He hadn’t written a word the entire eight months they were married. Even when she was in another part of the house, he’d been aware of her. He’d been miserable. Writing was his life. Without it, he felt stifled, stunted, and frustrated. He’d taken those feelings out on Luna, every conversation between them turning into an argument.
And their relationship had started with his need for sex. He had known Luna didn’t love him, that she was only enthralled with his money and fame. At the time, it had seemed the perfect solution to his body’s demands. While sex with Luna hadn’t exactly been overwhelming, at least it provided a modicum of relief and he didn’t have to waste precious hours wooing some female to his bed.
It wasn’t a mistake he planned on making again. Especially not at the risk of his work. He didn’t dare let Kate stay, no matter how much his body protested. And it was protesting loudly. God, even at the height of his passion, he’d never wanted Luna the way he wanted Kate this morning. There was something vulnerable about her, something soft that made him want to stop playing games and simply accept her, get to know her. Find out why the hell she affected him this way.
A vibrator. He shook his head in bemusement. Was she so sure no man could satisfy her? It seemed a shame to waste all those hot desires on a machine.
Suddenly he went still as a thought occurred to him. She’d been bold enough this morning, but how would she react to an audience of one? It would be dangerous, could even backfire on him if she surprised him again and complied with his request.
It was a chance he would have to take, a last ditch effort to save himself. If she did it, well, he had to be realistic. He’d cave in sooner or later anyway if things kept going the way they had this morning. His body couldn’t take the strain.
* * * * *
Kate sat with her feet propped on the desk in front of her, watching the bank of monitors. She’d changed into shorts and her athletic top as soon as she left Angus this morning and gone for a brisk run. Not only to check out the area, but to relieve some stress.
It hadn’t helped.
Hours later, her body still sang with unfulfilled tension. Damn it, she wanted the man, and she was going to get him no matter what it took. She was tired of living through dreams. She wanted the real thing and this morning had only hardened her resolve.
Having a mistress was his idea, after all. It wasn’t like she was making a lifelong commitment. A few weeks, maybe a month, and she’d be right back to her regular job.
Why shouldn’t she let herself go? She’d spent her whole life being the good one, the responsible, the repressed, the “always do what’s right” one. This time she wanted to do something that was for her alone, even if Angus did reap the benefits. She wanted to go wild, be the wanton sex goddess she’d always dreamed of being. With him.
A flash of movement on one of the monitors caught her attention and she stared at it intently. She had solved the problem of the gun by hiding the .22 in a large pewter vase that was located on a table near the front entrance. It wasn’t ideal, but at least she could get to it fast if she needed to.
She relaxed slightly when the movement turned out to be a deer. It stepped into the clearing and paused, ears flicking as it raised its nose and scented the air.
A frown furrowed her brow as she watched the graceful animal, and she reached for the phone on the desk, punching in a number.
“Hello?”
“Marc, it’s Kate.”
“Hey! How’s it going? I take it you survived your first night in the lion’s den?”
“Barely,” she answered wryly. “But that’s not why I’m calling. Didn’t you tell me you’d had a six foot high fence put around the estate?”
“Sure did. With razor wire on the top. Well, at
least the fence is everywhere someone could gain entry. It was too hard to put it along the coast, and those cliffs are nearly impossible to scale anyway. Why?”
“How good were the guys who installed it?”
She could hear the frown in his voice when he answered her. “They were the best. What’s going on Kate?”
“I’m sitting here watching a very large deer on the monitors.”
There was dead silence from the other end of the line. “A deer?”
“Yes. I suppose it could have been on the property when the fence went up and simply got trapped inside.”
“But you don’t really believe that.” His voice was flat.
“Let’s just say I’d rather be safe than sorry. Can you send someone out to check the fence? And while you’re at it, you might want to consider installing motion detectors around the perimeter.”
“What is Angus going to say?”
“Don’t tell him about checking the fence. As for the motion detectors, tell him they were on the agenda from the beginning, and the workers are only now getting around to them.”
“You got it. I’ll have someone out there first thing in the morning.”
“Good. I’ll call you tomorrow afternoon to see if they found anything. Right now, I’m going to check on Angus. He’s been too quiet today.”
Kate paused outside the study door long enough to hear the desultory sound of keys being struck on the computer and then tiptoed down the hall to her gun. She wanted to check the outside of the house one more time before darkness fell.
CHAPTER FIVE
Angus held out until ten that night, then shut his computer off. He’d finished the outline for his newest book, but wasn’t happy with it. Something felt wrong and he couldn’t put his finger on what it was.
He was prepared to blame the problem on Kate. She kept distracting him even though she hadn’t entered his office a single time. He hadn’t heard one noise from her. But that didn’t keep him from thinking about her. And thinking about her meant he’d stayed hard and aching all day.
It was his plan for the night that kept him focused on her. If it succeeded, Kate would be gone by tomorrow.
He realized with a growing sense of dismay that he wasn’t sure he wanted her to leave. Would it really be so bad to give in to his urges for a while? If he found her presence stifled his work, he could always pay her off and send her on her way. At the very least, he would have a few nights to satisfy the increasing demands of his body.
He ran a hand through his hair, indecision holding him in his seat. He wanted her, he wanted his privacy. And he didn’t know which he wanted more.
The decision would be hers, he decided abruptly. If she complied with his request tonight, she could stay. And if his writing suffered—well, he hadn’t had a vacation in years. Maybe it was time.
He’d always tried to be a considerate lover, doing his best to make sure his partner enjoyed the act as much he did. But he was beginning to realize how staid that part of his life had been. There was no experimenting, no real excitement. Even with Luna the missionary position had been standard.
He could change all that with Kate.
He could have her any time he wanted her.
Any way he wanted her.
His reaction was immediate and painful as images raced through his mind. Images of things he’d never had done to him, but had always fantasized about. His breath stopped at the thought of hot wet lips closing around him, and then resumed until he sounded like a bellows.
Christ. A shudder wracked his body and he nearly came at the thought. He’d never known how to ask for that particular pleasure before. Part of him thought the act should be voluntary, done because the woman cared about pleasing him. Asking would make him vulnerable, expose feelings of need he’d rather keep hidden.
With a shake of his head, he went to find Kate. It was time to see if he would get to keep his funny little mistress.
He found her in his bed.
The outfit she had on tonight made the one from this morning look tame by comparison. It was black lace and the front plunged to below her navel. Through the material he caught exotic glimpses of the pink skin beneath and his fingers itched to explore.
He couldn’t take his eyes off her as he walked to the bed and sat on the edge. She was lying on her side, knees partially drawn up, one hand toying lazily with an erect nipple. The position gave him an excellent view of her bare bottom peeking from the lace. As if mesmerized, he closed his hand around her ankle and skimmed his fingers up her calf to her thigh, his gaze locked on her exposed breast.
She stretched languidly, smiling up at him. “I thought you were going to work all night. Are you ready for your bath?”
“Nay. Later maybe. I have other plans.”
“Oh?” She arched an eyebrow.
He moved his hand higher, sliding it over the smooth silk of her bare rounded cheek, then on to skim the curls hiding her sensitive flesh, pleased when the action caused an eruption of chill bumps on her soft skin. “Aye. Go get yer vibrator.”
Her eyes widened and she went still. “Why?”
His lips curved with satisfaction. “I’ve ne’er watched a woman give herself pleasure before. ‘Twould be most interesting.”
The tip of her tongue appeared as she licked her lips. “You want me to—while you watch?”
“Aye.”
Hesitation and indecision warred on her face, but there was something else there too. Excitement, he realized. Silently he prayed the excitement would win out, amazed at how much he wanted her to stay.
Suddenly she sat up and swung her legs over the side of the bed. “Don’t move. I’ll be right back.”
A bottle of wine and one glass sat on the table tonight, and he poured it full, his hand shaking so badly he spilled part of the deep red liquid. She was going to do it. He gulped the contents of the glass in one swallow.
Condoms. The thought sent him on a frantic search of the nightstand drawer. He breathed a sigh of relief when he found a box, then took one out and slid it under the pillow where he could reach it in a hurry.
He was refilling his glass when Kate came back, a white plastic vibrator clutched so tightly in her hand that the blood had fled her fingers.
“Problem?” He arched a brow.
She licked her lips again and his erection surged. “No, not really. I’m just a little nervous. I’ve never done this with an audience before.”
“If ye want to change yer mind…”
“No.” Her lips curved in a smile. “I think I’m going to enjoy it.”
Moving softly to his side, she dropped the vibrator onto the bed. “Stand up.”
He put his glass on the tray and did as she asked. It felt like he towered over her, made her seem even smaller than she really was. But she certainly didn’t act intimidated. She reached for the bottom of his shirt and stood on tiptoe to pull it over his head.
“What are ye doin’?”
“Undressing you. Surely you don’t expect me to do this cold. I need a little inspiration.”
Her hands slid from his shoulders down his chest and his muscles tightened, jolt after jolt of energy flowing from the contact. “What do ye use for inspiration when ye’re alone?”
She lifted her head, her gaze locking onto his. “My fantasy man.”
“Oh?” He quivered as her fingers undid the snaps on his jeans. “And what is this fantasy man like?”
“Tall, dark and handsome.”
His forehead furrow. “A pretty boy.”
“No.” She was easing his zipper down and he sucked in his breath. “Not pretty. He’s…” Her hands slowed briefly. “He’s gloriously wild and a little dangerous looking.”
The scowl he wore deepened and an unexpected tinge of jealousy stabbed him in the chest. “What does this wild man do to ye in yer fantasies?”
“Nothing,” she whispered as her hand closed around his erection, freed him, stroked until his hips jerked, thrusting him forw
ard. “I do it to him.”
Sweet heavens. He tried desperately not to conjure images to go with her words, but it was hard not to when she was caressing his cock and making pleased noises. It was obvious she found him satisfactory, in size if nothing else, and was driving him insane with her explorations.
“Stop.” He forced her hands away, gasping for air. “I’ll take my pants off myself.” Half afraid he’d explode if he moved too fast, he slid the jeans carefully down and kicked them across the room. “Now ‘tis yer turn.”
Without a trace of her previous nervousness, she crossed her arms, gripped the hem of the lacey nightgown, and pulled it over her head. She didn’t attempt to cover herself, simply let him look his fill.
And she was perfect. Her breasts were small but full, symmetrical nipples protruding from the darker area. Her stomach was flat and tight, and her hips curved gently down to long shapely legs. His gaze lingered on the triangle of dark curls, thick and lush, that covered the apex of her sleek thighs, and the intensity of the heat racing through him doubled, scorching everything in its path.
“Where do you want me?” Her face reflected only eagerness, now, the bones etched in bold relief under her desire flushed skin.
Angus let his gaze move slowly over her tight body, trying to gather his scattered thoughts. He wanted her skewered on his hard, aching shaft, her cries ringing in his ears. But he was willing to be patient when greater pleasure would be the reward.
“On the bed?”
She nodded, then crawled across the mattress and turned to face him, her knees parted as she rested on her heels. “You might want to stretch out in front of me.” That sexy smile curved her lips again. “You’ll be able to see better, and I’ll be able to see you.”
Eagerly, he joined her on the bed, his gaze drinking in the view she offered him. This felt wicked, he realized, a bit naughty and illicit. And he’d never been so hard and horny in his life. “Go ahead.”
She picked up the vibrator, her gaze moving over his body as the low buzz of the object filled the room. With her eyes locked on his face, she lifted the cylindrical plastic to her cheek and slowly drew it down her neck. “I think I like knowing you’re watching me, that you want me,” she whispered.
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