“You would go back on our deal? Do not forget, Lilly” —he stared her down— “that we have a contract.”
“I have not forgotten but I thought...” She frowned. “You wish for me to stay?”
“Yes, I wish for you to stay,” he barked. “What manner of riddle is this? Come and sit.”
Lilly scurried over and Evan stood to pull the chair out, ushering the servant who had stepped forward back. He waved the man from the room. If this conversation went the way he suspected it would, Lilly did not need nosey servants listening in.
Hands in her lap, Lilly stared at them. Evan took a moment to study the creamy skin of her neck. She had enjoyed him kissing the sensitive skin there. Her delicate body had shuddered every time he nipped or sucked there. She had tasted like berries. The scent of her sex on his fingers plagued him most of the night, mingling with bitter regret that she had found no pleasure in their coupling.
“Why do you wish to leave?” He knew the answer. He had been too rough, too impatient, too selfish. Once he had sunk into her warm heat he had been lost and forgotten himself.
“I do not, Lord Hawksley.”
Her admission sent his heart soaring but he kept his expression neutral. “Evan,” he reminded her. He loathed the formality and her snappish tone. “Then I don’t understand.”
Looking ahead, she twined her hands together. “I thought...” She drew in an audible breath. “I thought you would not wish for me to stay. Not after...” Lilly waved a hand.
“Last night?”
“Yes.” She peeked at him. “Was it very disappointing?”
Evan could not help but chuckle. His smile dropped when he saw the doubt in her pale eyes. He reached over and took her hand, twisting her fingers between his. Somehow he needed to reassure her. But how? With words? Words usually came easily enough to him but not tender ones. Or touches? He had tried his damndest to be gentle and soft with her but that hadn’t worked either. Few of his lovers expected much from him aside from a brief moment of pleasure and he had little experience with moments of affection.
“I make no habit in taking virgins,” he declared brusquely. “But I didn’t expect your first time to be easy.”
“I feel a fool,” she whispered.
Her admission softened him and he brought her hand up to his lips. For such a proud woman, the confession had to have cost her.
“You are no fool, Lilly,” he said against the back of her hand. “You were nervous and I was the fool for I should have reassured you.”
“You tried, I know you did, but I—”
“Was not experienced.”
“I don’t know what came over me. I’m never normally so nervous.”
“You are never normally in my bed,” he said with a wry smile. He turned her hand over and placed a kiss to the inside of her wrist. It gratified him to note the slight parting of her lips. Whatever had happened the previous night, this powerful pull still hung between them. “I have a suggestion,” he continued. “Let us forget last night. Today I must show you around Rushbourne. I’m to travel to London in a week so my time is scarce.”
He released her hand and she clutched it to her chest, rubbed her fingers on the spot he kissed. Of course, as much as she longed to forget their clumsy encounter, her tight heat and the glimpses of her creamy skin and sweet quim might not fade from his mind. Evan hoped to get the opportunity to see her in all her glory and appreciate her properly soon.
Lilly toyed with a fork on the table, lip tucked between her teeth. She nodded. “I should like that, thank you, my lord.”
He scowled. “Damnation, it’s Evan. I will not have you putting distance between us.”
“Forgive me, I didn’t mean to.” She cast her gaze to her lap causing his frown to deepen.
Where was the woman with the brash tongue? The one who tormented him with words and refused to let him forget her? He hoped to see her return soon enough or he might regret asking her to be his mistress. As much as she infuriated him, he didn’t want some meek woman to do his bidding in the bedroom. Before long, Evan hoped she would prove to be a fiery bed-partner.
“Lilly, stop apologising or I swear I shall go to London and leave you here.”
“You would not,” she declared, meeting his gaze with a scowl.
“I would too.”
“That would be a fine waste of money.”
“Ah, but I have money to waste,” he replied flippantly, unable to suppress a grin as she gasped.
It was not the first time she had alluded to how he had bought her. She did it to maintain distance, he suspected. Well that was perfectly fine with him. They both intended to use one another. He would use her until he tired of her and then turn his attention to the marriage mart.
“You are lucky to have money to waste, Evan.”
How did she make his name sound more distant than my lord? Devil take it, the woman had a vicious tongue.
“You must think very poorly of me,” he commented and picked up the slice of toast he had yet to finish eating.
“Maybe I do, but I believe you do not care what I think of you.”
“Ah, Miss Claremont. There you are wrong.” He took a bite of the toast. “Now, eat some breakfast so I can take you on a tour.”
She huffed and Evan chuckled.
***
They walked out to the perimeter of the forest that lined the edge of the field mostly in silence. Though the sky remained clear, a slight breeze ruffled the long grass and stirred dandelion seeds around them.
“The border of the land,” Evan informed her, casting a hand along the length of the oak trees.
Rushbourne was a small estate in comparison to Lady Stanley’s or likely the Hawksley estate in Hampshire but it reminded her of home. Here the fields were left fallow and merely used for leisure. There were no ornamental gardens or vast statues. Lilly smiled to herself. If it was not for the fact she was here as a mistress, she could well enjoy staying at Rushbourne.
Evan caught her smile and offered her a slight one of his own. They were few and far between but they made him incredibly handsome. She preferred them to that wry twitch of his lips he favoured. His dark eyes warmed and she longed to kiss those lips when they curled upward.
Tightness clutched her chest and she fought the urge to rub it. Would he kiss her again tonight? Make love to her? She didn’t know whether to be grateful or upset that he did not send her away. She should be grateful, for otherwise she would have sacrificed her innocence for nothing but would the next time be as uncomfortable?
“Be careful,” Evan warned as he led her down toward a stream that broke the field in two. He offered a hand, and she took it. Tingles pricked her arm at the touch of a large, warm hand enclosing hers. “You shall likely not meet anyone should you decide to journey out here, but do not walk out of sight of the house,” he told her.
“Why?”
“Because I told you not to.”
“I’m not used to being told what to do. I walk wherever I please at home.”
“Maybe, but you are in my home now and when I am not around, I don’t want you worrying the servants. The road to the village is not far ahead.” Evan pointed across the fields. In the distance, the small village was visible—a collection of tiny cottages clustered in amongst the gentle dips of the hills.
“It is one of the main roads to London,” he explained and helped her to the edge of the stream. “It is known to be frequented by highwaymen.”
“Oh.”
“I am serious, Lilly.” He paused and urged her to face him. “You would make a fine prize for them.” His gaze softened and Lilly curled her toes into her shoes. He leaned into her, forcing her to tilt her head back. For several moments, he studied her, made her breath hitch. He jerked slightly, as if she had struck him and the softness vanished as quickly as it had appeared. “Besides, I have no wish to pay out yet more money for you in ransom.”
Lilly resisted rolling her eyes, remembering how her mother
would scold her. Instead, she wriggled her hand from his, garnering another scowl and sank down to sit by the stream. Evan stood by her side, like an ominous shadow, for some time while she watched the water flow over the stones. She closed her eyes, tilted her head back and savoured the sound of chittering birds and trickling water.
“What are you doing?”
Snapping her head up, she huffed. “Enjoying the peace.” She arranged her skirts carefully around her ankles and patted the ground beside her. “Lord—Evan, please stop standing over me, you make me nervous. Come and sit.”
“I make you nervous?” He eased down beside her, posture stiff.
“You know full well you make people nervous and I believe you use it to your advantage.”
“You don’t think very highly of me do you, Lilly?”
“I do not know you.”
“That is true.”
She sighed and drew in a restoring breath. The constant tension surrounding her when in his presence became draining but out in the open, she could better bear the width of his shoulders or the scent of his soap. “I could stay here forever.”
“One year, Miss Claremont, no more, no less.”
Her enjoyment shattered, she glared at him. “You will insist on reminding me of my status, won’t you? You cannot help but ensure I remember that you own me.” Lilly stood, wavering briefly before finding her balance on the short slope. “But just because you have bought me doesn’t mean you can speak to me in such a manner.”
Without waiting for a response, she spun away. Skirts bunched in both hands, she raced away from him as fast as the confines of her corset would allow. Her breaths grew raw and ragged before she was even halfway to the house. Lilly did not need to turn to know Evan followed but she peeked over her shoulder to check. He made no attempt to stop her, merely followed after her at a casual pace.
Wretched man. Did he have to be so rude? They were finally making progress today and he had spoiled that. How was she to tolerate another moment in his company, let alone a year?
She slowed when she grew light headed. Apprehension increased the tightness in her chest when a shiver skipped down her spin, informing her Evan was close. Her clumsy steps couldn’t take her far enough away from him, even with the house tauntingly close now.
A strong hand curled around her upper arm and forced her to a stop. She whirled on him and her head spun. “What is the meaning of this?”
“Lilly, slow down, you shall break your ankle at such a pace.”
“Do you fear I may hurt myself and ruin your investment?” she panted.
His jaw worked. With the sun behind him, shadows haunted his expression, making the grooves in his brow deeper, the dip in his chin stronger. Even his eyes appeared dark and intimidating.
“If you insist on referring to yourself in such a manner,” he said coolly, “I shall have to treat you as no more than a piece of merchandise.”
She scowled and squeaked when he took a step forward. Then he had her in his arms and had scooped her up. She wriggled and shoved against his chest but she may well have been pushing against a mountain. He barely acknowledged her struggles as he settled her, and her heavy, encumbering skirts, into his hold. When he started walking, she was forced to loop her hands around his neck.
“Put me down,” she hissed.
“No. I shall carry you about as though you’re a product. A sack of grain perhaps.” He adjusted his hold. “You are heavy enough for one.”
Lilly gaped at him. How dare he? “The servants will see!”
“My dear Lilly, if you think the worst thing the servants will see will be me carrying you, you sorely misunderstand our agreement. I fully intend that they may even see me kiss you. And I shall not embarrass you by reminding you that servants have a knack of hearing and knowing everything. Before long, I shall have you crying out with pleasure in bed. How will you look them in the face after that?”
Heat scalded her cheeks. Of course, it was bad enough that the servants knew of her status but she had tolerated gossip and humiliation before. Whispers of her birth often followed her but usually from those of her own rank or higher. Her own servants had never failed to be anything but courteous. Would Evan’s staff laugh and talk of her? Of the fallen woman who had been coaxed into Lord Hawksley’s bed?
She clamped her mouth shut and tolerated him carrying her to the door of the house, at which point she increased her struggles and he released her.
“You are intolerable,” she spat, thrust her chin in the air and stormed into the house.
Lilly didn’t stop until she was safely in her bedroom. She slammed the door and pressed herself against it to gain her breath. Once her breaths had slowed and her aching lungs stopped protesting, she tore off her gloves and flung them on the dark wood writing desk by the window.
The door swung open abruptly and Lilly turned to face Evan, indignation making her spine stiff. Was she to tolerate such behaviour every day? Would there be no respite from him? It was funny how now simply lying with him no longer seemed the most challenging part of their deal.
“You are mine, Miss Claremont.” He stalked toward her, his words punctuating each step.
Lilly backed up against the writing desk and her pulse wavered. Even the stiffness in her body melted. The man knew well how to intimidate her.
“Just because you purchased me, Lord Hawksley,” she said archly, “doesn’t mean you can own me fully. No man can own a person’s thoughts or... or their heart.”
“Indeed.” Evan flattened himself against her, crushing her skirts and pressing her bustle into the desk. Fabric crunched and her breathing grew loud in her ears. “I have no doubt, my dear Lilly, that no man could hope of owning your thoughts, as for your heart...” He shrugged and pushed himself against her until it felt like there wasn’t an ounce of material between them, even though her bulky skirts should have protected her. “I have little interest in it. But there are many, many other things a man can own. The small sigh a woman makes when he enters her. Or the tiny tremor that wracks her body when he kisses her neck.”
Evan skimmed a finger down from her ear to the curve of her neck, forcing his fingers under the fabric of her gown. She tried. Oh, how she tried to resist shuddering, but her body had a mind of its own and she longed to tear off Evan’s smug smile when the tiny movement wracked her.
The tips of her ears burned at his words and touches. Each breath seemed impossible against her constrictive corset and his weight pressing in on her. Add to that his fierce look—a look she was unable to tear her gaze away from—and she feared she might do something as pathetic as swoon.
One arm came around her, then the other and she flailed to drag in some air. The man was intending to kill her with a simple touch. His hands clasped the back of her dress and a great ripping sound resounded through the room. Air rushed into her lungs and she let out a squeal of surprise.
He had torn her dress! And even ripped apart the laces of her corset by the feel of it. She sucked in another breath as he let his hands linger around her waist. “What are you doing?”
“Preventing you from swooning, I believe.”
“You have ruined my dress!” Though in truth, she cared little for the dress anymore. Not now the intense gleam to his eyes had gone from anger to desire. His hands fairly burned through the layers of her clothing.
“I shall buy you a new one,” he murmured and brought his lips down on hers.
Any words of protest were muffled and she instinctively bucked into him, wilted into his hold. Fingers tangled around his neck, Lilly opened her mouth to him, eager to feel his tongue against hers.
Evan obliged and met her kiss hungrily—with impatience. All delicacy had gone. Evan made no allowances for her inexperience, taking everything he could from her until her breaths were more ragged than when in the confines of the corset. How she had gone from burning fury to desperate need, she did not know, but his scrabbling hands and delving tongue drew any further debates from her
mind. Lilly relished his loss of control—and her own. No more thinking and worrying about her decision.
His fingers wound up in her hair, tugging at the pins and sending spiralling curls down her back. One hand slipping down to her neck and the other on her waist again, he urged her back over the desk so it took her weight. Evan shifted impatiently against her and her breasts ached against their confines. With a gruff curse, he shoved aside her skirts to position himself in the cradle of her legs. The layers of fabric hindered him from getting close enough and he pulled at the material until it rent apart enough for him to slot himself against her.
Lilly barely registered the sound of her tattered dress being further destroyed. Even the tiny thread of nervousness refused to unwind and envelop her. His kisses shut down her thoughts, his touches drowned her emotions. All she wanted was his touch. She had never known anything like it. Her body ached everywhere and only Evan could cure her of her ailment.
A hand slipped into her drawers, pressing aside the cotton to meet her heat. For a moment, Evan moved tentatively but when Lilly bucked to meet his hand, any hint of caution vanished and he plunged his fingers into her. She gasped and stiffened. Her sex was tender still from the previous night yet when he withdrew and plunged again, she found herself rocking into the touch as a different kind of ache took hold.
“You’re so wet and tight,” he told her against her lips. “I cannot help but lose myself in you. I shall lose myself again I think.”
Lilly nodded and groaned when he continued to work his fingers in and out while dragging his lips down her jaw line to her neck. Evan nipped and suckled there until she quivered all over. Hastily, he dropped his hands from her to fumble with his trousers while scattering erratic kisses on her lips and face. Lilly glanced between them to see his hardness and the urge to feel it made her fingers curl against his neck.
Fearing she would break the moment, she kept her hands on him and waited. Their gazes clashed as he positioned himself in the crook of her thighs and urged her stockinged legs around his waist. Those deep dark, chocolaty pools drew her in and made her forget their surroundings, forget who he was to her. For a moment, she even forgot he had paid for her. They were just two lovers caught up in a desire stronger than either of their will.
Tempting His Mistress Page 10