by Allison, Kim
What luck to have come across such a passionate young thing. He felt the quiver of her body, sensed she was barely suppressing a powerful climax to their brief encounter. He was barely able to restrain his own. He inhaled the scent of her expensive perfume, no doubt donned for her stable hand. The thought that she was on her way to meet another man for the sole purpose of fucking filled him with a heady desire to taste of her more fully.
He could imagine taking her away to a secluded place and doing sinfully delicious things to her sweet body for a week straight. His lips departed briefly from her neck as he pulled back to delve into her eyes. Into her very soul. And what he saw was a ravishing, willing young woman, her lips yet expectant, her chest heaving in unsated desire, her eyes beseeching him to put an end to this infernal aching.
He knew not what possessed him to stand there on the earl's estate in the middle of a thunderstorm taking extreme liberties with an employee on her way to meet a lover. He'd not even heard her voice, though he suspected it was sweet as honey and enticing as a siren.
Elyssa slowly reached her arms up about his neck, pulling him downward toward her waiting lips. He moaned low in his throat as her slender fingers tangled in his hair. Their lips now touching, he rasped, “Are you certain you want this?” Her breathless whisper of yes sounded of desperation and need, and he was more than willing to gratify her sexual demands.
Elyssa's mind was awhirl with beguiling sensations as she felt his bold touch upon her breasts. His insistent caresses brought forth not the revulsion that Percy's had that long ago night. Rather, she felt she would die from the exquisite stroke of his fingers. Her head fell back, her eyes closing at the sweet torture his touches evoked. His tongue followed suit after his fingers and Elyssa grasped his hair even tighter at the erotic feel of his mouth upon her breasts through the thin, wet material. If she never experienced it again, she would at least have this one moment in time, this brief solitary remembrance of what it felt like to be truly desired. What it felt like to be a woman.
His fingers were actually shaking, he thought in a flashing instant. He couldn't recall the last time a woman had ever affected him quite so thoroughly. True, he was a libertine at heart, was he not? The gossip mongers thrived on that exaggerated facet of his life. In truth he adored women, both their minds and their bodies, though for the most part they remained nameless, faceless, and quickly forgotten.
There was something about this one though, something that jolted him like a fiery bolt of lightning. Perhaps it was merely the mystery of the storm surrounding them, the darkness protecting them from otherwise watching eyes. Or maybe it was the enticing eyes of emerald that were his downfall. Whatever the case, he was helpless to stop this madness. Indeed, he caught sight of those emerald orbs gazing down as he continued his ministrations. She clung to him as if her very life depended on him, and the dark haired stranger felt her need as if it were a tangible thing.
His fingers tightening about her, he carelessly tossed his head to the side to force the loose strands of hair from his face. His breathing labored, Elyssa noticed the tightening of his jaw and she watched as his visage seemed to actually change before her very eyes.
What had been merely a carnal attraction only seconds before suddenly changed to a need so extreme, so profound, that it almost frightened her. His gray eyes turned a turbulent black, his nostrils flaring slightly as his chest heaved in determination. Percy's cruel words came briefly to mind about her being the devil's own and she could almost believe it was true, for the handsome stranger gave the sinister impression he was none other than Lucifer himself, coming to claim one of his own.
He quickly lowered her to the wet ground, Elyssa crying out a enchantmentg">CHAPTER s his mouth briefly covered hers with lustful impatience. She knew what was about to happen, indeed craved it to the point of obsession, but knew she must put an end to his wicked enchantment. No matter that she wanted this more than anything in her life, she couldn’t be so careless and horrible a wife as to commit adultery, much less out in the open on her husband’s property where anyone could happen upon them at any moment.
He straddled her waist, gazing down at her and cursing himself inwardly for his lack of self control. She stared up at him, eyes wide, her hair carelessly strewn as she lay on the wet ground. He was the worst sort of animal to use her so callously, though to his credit she hadn’t uttered any denials. Lowly servant she might be, but she enticed him as much as any practiced courtesan ever had, her sensuality demanding his attention. Her breasts were nearly spilling from her gown, her skin glistening from the rain.
His hands splayed over her cheeks in worshipful adoration of the beautiful face beneath, his fingers trembling with the fierce want and need of her. Her mouth opened as if to speak and for the first time the stranger took note of the tears now mingling with the rainy wetness on her face. He'd reached down to unbutton his pants but ceased at the realization she might be weeping, for her actions had seemed anything but that of an unwilling woman.
Elyssa was horrified at her wantonness, lying half naked on the cold wet ground while straddled by the perfect male specimen, on the verge of being granted what she so desperately wanted. The feel of his hard body sinfully astride her made Elyssa ache with the need to have him inside her. The taste of his mouth upon hers brought forth the urge to beg him to sate her needs. Exactly what all that entailed she wasn’t certain, but her body veritably cried out for release. She wanted to weep in despair for having ever run into him, for Elyssa would not become a traitorous wife, no matter that the stranger had stolen her heart in mere moments.
She took note of his hesitancy as his hands reached down toward his pants. Taking that fleeting opportunity, Elyssa breathlessly cried out, "I cannot," and she quickly shoved the stranger, escaping from her precarious position.
"Wait!" he cried hoarsely, his hand reaching out toward her, his fingers barely grazing her thigh as she fled. Reluctantly allowing her to leave, the man's hand came up to his bearded face, rubbing the short whiskers along his jaw as he thoughtfully watched the lady's abrupt departure. She fled not to the stables, but instead returned to the mansion. No doubt running to her quarters as quickly as possible, knowing that he would be in just after.
It was moments before his breathing returned to normal, indeed before he arose from hi for the time being.this kneeling position on the cold wet ground. Had he imbibed any liquor in the last few hours, the man would have sworn he’d dreamt the entire fantasy, but as it was he was travel weary and nothing more.
He would discover the identity of the young beauty before his visit was completed, and have her he would. Next time there would be no chance for escape, nor would she wish for one.
CHAPTER 2
Elyssa struggled to awaken as the intruding sunlight filtered through the window. Something was wrong, such a thing?"
Her unsuccessful approach with Percy. The raging storm. The dark stranger.
Elyssa sat up swiftly, gasping aloud at the remembrance of him. She grasped the silken sheet up to her neck as her skin verily tingled from the recollection of his fingers grazing her wet flesh, the feel of his insistent mouth covering her own. She could hardly believe it was true, could scarce accept the fact that she had allowed a complete stranger to touch her so intimately. Her eyes closed in mortification.
Whatever had possessed her to allow that first kiss? Elyssa moaned aloud in self misery. What would she do if the stranger told Percy about their chance meeting? She shuddered to imagine her fate should her staid husband ever find out she’d not only been kissed by another man, but had in fact welcomed it.
Unable to fight the memory, Elyssa's skin ached for his touch as she recalled the way it felt to be held so securely by the gorgeous man. The myriad of sensations he'd caused with his hands and mouth. A ribbon of desire stubbornly began weaving its path through Elyssa's entire body at the thought of his sinfully handsome face gazing at her with such intensity. The black hair and eyes of stormy gray He wa
s undoubtedly every maiden's fantasy brought to life. And every woman's nightmare.
For he was surely unattainable when it came to capturing his heart. That kind of man always was. Faithless and not to be trusted. Isn't that what her mother had told her every time she'd ever fancied a handsome young man desiring to court her? She was destined for greater things, they tried convincing her, was meant for a higher destiny than that of a lowly merchant's bride.
And hadn't they been quite the success, Elyssa reflected bitterly. They saw her wedded to a heartless aging man that had no use for her. Not now and not ever, by his own words. She would never fully know the sensual pleasures that she’d allowed the stranger to cruelly introduce her to.
Confound the man! Not only had he been the cause of her nearly breaking her cursed wedding vows, he had unwittingly forced her to face the reality of her bleak future with the earl. A loveless, tiresome marriage with a man incapable of passion or forgiveness.
You cannot fault Percy for your disloyal actions,CHAPTER ;line-height:150%;" aid="I6"> her conscience cried. You allowed yourself to fall prey to that scoundrel's touches. You wanted him to take you.
Elyssa cried out at her warring thoughts, tears of guilt springing to her eyes. She vowed to never think on the sinful stranger again. Surely he would leave later in the day after he'd completed his business with Percy. The following day at the latest, and surely Elyssa could avoid the visitor during the short length of his stay.
She had no appetite, indeed would have refused breakfast with Percy even if she were famished. It would be impossible to recover from last night's horrible ordeal with her husband. Elyssa still cringed inside at the cruel words he'd spoken to her. Glancing across the distance toward her mirror, Elyssa gazed at the saddened figure staring back.
Surely her hair was not so ugly, was it? Nor her lips so completely sinful? Her ego was crushed to think that a husband could hold his wife in so little regard as to point out each and every flaw he found with her appearance.
Flashes of the dark stranger intruded upon her melancholy thoughts. He hadn't seemed to find her so very repulsive, had he? In fact, he had seemed quite taken with her, and he was the most handsome man she’d ever laid eyes on.
"Rubbish," Elyssa muttered, tearing her gaze from the mirror, “he’s obviously a profligate and a rogue.” Determined to stay out of Percy's sight and that of his associate, she wondered what might make the time pass a bit quicker. Frowning at the silver tea set her mother had given her before the wedding, Elyssa decided to polish the tarnished set that had been passed down from mother to daughter for several generations.
Not wishing to soil her wedding ring during the messy chore, Elyssa carefully removed the heavy band of silver and placed it on the table next to her bed. She fingered the spot that felt suddenly naked without the ring, for it was the first time since the wedding that Elyssa had removed it. Indeed, its absent weightlessness was comforting. A traitorous thought sprung to head and Elyssa imagined how lovely it would be to never have to wear that ring again. To not be wed to the stuffy earl any longer. To be free to make her own choices, and eventually marry a man of her own choosing. Elyssa glanced one last time at the ring with disdain before changing into a simple gown of faded black before taking a vigorous hand to the silver.
Downstairs, Percy was nearly finished with his breakfast, not caring that his wife was noticeably absent that morning. He shook his head in recollection of Elyssa's tasteless exhibition the previous night. He had no">CHAPTER desire to ever allow being humiliated again as he had been on their wedding night.
Whatever had possessed Elyssa to do such a thing was beyond all comprehension, and not for the first time Percy cursed himself for choosing such a young bride. Elyssa’s lack of worldly experience was at the core of his hardness toward her. Of course, the point was now moot, for Percy harbored little if any feeling for Elyssa other than the comfort of having someone capable to run his household. He should have remained faithful to the memory of his dearly departed Mary.
Once Percy Fredrickson decided to close someone out of his heart it was a permanent thing. And although he did reluctantly like and admire Elyssa to a certain extent, she had not turned out to be the soul mate he had hoped for during his declining years of life.
Returning his attention to the newspaper, Percy didn't notice the quiet entrance of the unwelcome intruder until he was standing across the table from him.
"I see you still dine alone. Apparently even your new wife cannot abide to be in the same proximity with you." At the resentful utterance of the uncomplimentary notion, Percy's head slowly came up until their eyes met in mutual dislike. Ignoring the immediate dread that voice prompted, Percy clenched his jaw, determined to keep the upper hand.
"I distinctly recall you telling me our paths would never cross again. And as you can plainly see, I am still breathing."
Pouring himself a glass of juice, the younger man leisurely took a drink as he looked about the huge dining room for any changes since his last time there.
"I see nothing ever changes around here. Same stuffy decor. Same bitter attitude."
"What are you doing here, Daniel?" Percy demanded.
"I had to see for myself this new wife of yours. Where is this paragon of virtue I have heard so much about?"
"Why? What has she to do with you?" Percy parried, his eyes narrowing in suspicion.
"I want to see the female that is after my inheritance. I want to know what kind of woman would make you sell my birthright from beneath me."
"Do you see anyone here?" Percy evaded. "My wife is out of town as far as you are concerned and that is all you need to know."
"Then you do not deny that she will one day inherit my legacy?"
"I admit or deny nothing," Percy replied vaguely. "I also find it highly offensive that it was only the issue of money that brought you back here. I assume you spent all your money on frivolous living and intend to beg a place to stay."
Daniel slammed the glass down on the table as he jerked a chair back and took a seat directly across from his father. Their angry gazes clashing, Daniel finally replied, "I didn't realize I had need of begging to stay in my own home, whether it be for a day or a year."
"You were the one who issued the long ago threat, not I. You are the one that turned your back on this family. On the business."
"This family?" Daniel scoffed. "This so called family that consists only of a hardened man called father and a son he loathes the very sight of? Is that the family I betrayed?"
Although Percy had no close or amorous feelings towards Elyssa, he did feel a certain protectiveness over her. She was his responsibility for the remainder of his life, was she not? And to willingly subject her to his son's corruptness would not be in her best interests.
Indeed, Percy had no doubt that Daniel would subject his naive wife to a biting interrogation regarding Percy's fortune. It was clear he harbored an intense dislike for Elyssa, yet having never met her. Elyssa was too unsophisticated to be a worthy match against Daniel, hence Percy's decision to keep her protected at all costs. He would have to keep Daniel and Elyssa apart.
Daniel continued, "Do not act as if all your worldly goods were earned by your own hand. We both know I helped amass a huge fortune for you during years past. Greystone Manor is my home by right as you well know. And I will beating furiouslythibe damned if I let some money grubbing little chit snatch it away because she convinced you to change your will."
"It certainly makes a father proud to hear his son talk about the profit he stands to make over his death," Percy replied mockingly. "Nothing compares to a child's love for his father."
Eyes narrowing in hostility, Daniel stood up, bracing his hands on the table. He glared down at Percy as he struggled to contain his anger. "How dare you throw sarcasm my way. I loved you with my entire being and you never once showed me an ounce of compassion. Never a word of encouragement nor any sign of affection. I grew up thinking it was Mother's death that had
made you so unfeeling, or that I had done something terribly wrong to earn your bitterness. But the fact is, you are simply a man incapable of emotion. And no matter what you think of me now, who I am is because of what you helped mold me into."
Forcing a facade of boredom, Percy likewise rose from his seat and walked toward the window overlooking the gardens. Gazing out at its beauty though never really noticing it, Percy calmly asked, "Why are you here and how long do you plan to stay?"
"I have business in London which I will attend to in another day or two after I have seen some old acquaintances here in town. And as I mentioned before, I plan to meet my new stepmother."
"I told you she is out of town." Ignoring Daniel's raised eyebrow and look of doubt, Percy lied, "She is staying with her parents in London. There was a recent death in her family so she will not be returning anytime soon."
"How unfortunate," Daniel said without concern. "Well then, perhaps my next visit will see her back in our home. I shall simply have to practice patience and look forward to meeting her another time. I will be staying in my old quarters until I depart."
"I will have Cora ready the room for you," Percy replied, eager to get Daniel out of sight in case Elyssa came down for breakfast.
"There is no need. I saw her last night upon my arrival and had her do so. I suppose I shall see you at supper this evening." Before leaving, Daniel bowed in mockery and uttered, "Father."
Percy's fi too close for comfort, g">CHAPTER sts tightened in rage as he watched his son disappear and heard the front door slam with a vengeance. The scorn in Daniel's voice as he spoke the word father left it most apparent that his son still harbored a deep abhorrence for him.
Their unexpected encounter left Percy more shaken than he would have liked to admit. It had been years since he had last laid eyes on his son. Time had obviously hardened Daniel over the years. It shone in his eyes and in his stance. He was a bitter man, and Percy could envision his son turning out to be his very likeness in the future. A half smile formed about his lips and Percy scoffed inwardly at the fact that Daniel was becoming the thing he most hated, and couldn't even see it himself.