The Earl of London

by Louise Bay

  I wanted her and I wouldn’t say no despite knowing that if I was being practical, sensible, I should decline her invitation. I wasn’t about to make a habit of this evening—not the dinner, not even the sex. Sex was always a one-time deal. But the sensible part of me wasn’t the one in charge anymore.

  I followed her up the steps, her gold dress rustling as she walked and drew my attention to the sway of her hips and the smooth skin of her back.

  She opened the huge oak door and kicked off her heels as we stepped inside.

  “Thank God. My feet,” she groaned. “Let me grab some whiskey. Stay here.”

  She disappeared up the corridor, but returned carrying a decanter of alcohol and two glasses. I took the decanter and she transferred the glasses so she held one in each hand, then pulled up the front of her skirt and ascended the stairs.

  She opened the latch of her bedroom door and briefly glanced over her shoulder before she stepped inside. Did she think I might not follow her?

  As we stepped inside, she slid the glasses onto an old wooden chest and flicked on the bedside lights.

  “So, how do you want to—”

  I put my finger over her lips. “Know that I enjoy how independent you are. How you call me on my shit. That you don’t let me get away with anything when we talk. Outside of this room we are equals. But also know that when we’re fucking, I’m in charge. There’s no room for debate. Nothing’s up for discussion. You will do what I say, when I say it, how I say it.”

  Her breath grew short and a scatter of goosebumps rose across her arms. “Logan. That’s not me. It’s not who I am.”

  “Maybe it is, and you just don’t realize it.” I pushed back her silky brown hair from her face.

  Her eyes lowered to the floor. “What if it isn’t?”

  “Trust me. You’ll like it better this way.” Responsibility seeped through Darcy’s pores. She was strong because she’d had to be, practical because that was what was required of her. We’d be perfectly suited in bed because while we were fucking, she wouldn’t have to think about any of that. Everything would be my responsibility. “Do you understand?”

  Her eyelids flickered, but she nodded. “I’m not sure I’ll be very—”

  I circled my arm around her waist and jerked her toward me, pulling her against my throbbing erection. “That’s the point—you don’t need to worry about anything.”

  I released her. “Undress me.”

  She hesitated, then brought her trembling fingers to the buttons of my shirt. Glancing between my face and my shirt, she worked the buttons open and pulled my bowtie free.

  “You’re a beautiful woman, Darcy. Your tight, generous arse.”

  She circled me and pulled my jacket off.

  “Your tiny waist. Those sparkling eyes.”

  She undid my cufflinks, placing them carefully on the bedside table, then pulled my shirt from my trousers, her cool fingers trailing over my hot skin as she pushed the cotton over my shoulders. It was as if she was hypnotized by my body as she trailed a finger around the skin above my waistband. She settled in front of me, her fingers fiddling with the opening of my trousers.

  “I like every part of you that I’ve seen. Now I want to see if I like the parts you’ve been hiding just as much. Is your pussy as soft and hot as I think it will be?” She paused, her fingers frozen as she caught her breath. “Will you moan desperately when I suck and bite your nipples?”

  As if need and desperation coursed through her body, she softened and weakened, and she lost her balance. I slid my hands around her waist to keep her upright. She took a breath and released my trousers, looking me right in the eye as she slid down my boxer briefs, kneeling as she did.

  “Good girl,” I said as she made quick work of my shoes and socks. “Now stand.” If she was down there for a second longer, the temptation to fuck her mouth would overwhelm me.

  “I’m not sure I like being ordered about.”

  “Just do it. Don’t think about whether you like it.”

  She rose to her feet, her gaze fixed on my thick, hard dick, already full and throbbing against my stomach.

  “Keep doing as you’re told and you’ll get plenty of my cock. Turn around.”

  She looked up at me, her forehead furrowed. She ran her tongue over her top lip but she slowly turned.

  Jesus, did she realize that every move she made drove me to fuck her into the next universe?

  I unzipped her dress and let it pool at her feet, revealing nothing but her naked back and black lace knickers. She was beginning to belong to me.

  “No bra,” I said, the words almost catching in my throat. “Turn around.”

  She stepped out of her dress and turned to face me.

  “Off,” I said, nodding at her underwear.

  She hesitated, transferring her weight from one leg to the other.

  “I want to see your pussy. Take them off—don’t make me ask again.”

  She sank her teeth into her bottom lip, clearly reticent.

  We were at a turning point. Would she surrender? I kept silent as she tried to decide if she was willing to submit.

  Her breath grew heavier and pride circled in my belly as she snuck her thumbs into either side of her underwear and slipped them off.

  She’d willingly relinquished control. She was mine.

  And she’d never looked so beautiful.

  As she straightened, she folded her arms, covering her chest. I shook my head. “No.” I pulled her arms apart. “This is my body while we are together like this. You don’t get to cover it up. It’s mine to inspect, to worship, to use, to fuck. You’ve given it to me.”

  I trailed a finger up from her belly button to her perfectly ripe breasts, her dusty pink nipples already hard and desperate for my touch. Pinching each one between my thumb and forefinger, she frowned, then tipped her head back on a gasp.

  “I get to do whatever I want with you.”

  “Logan,” she whispered. “Don’t hurt me.”

  I wasn’t into BDSM in any real sense, though I’d tried it a couple of times, been to a few clubs. What I liked was control. To establish the balance of power. To have someone trust me to give them what we both needed. I released Darcy’s breasts and cupped her head in my hands. “All I’m going to do is make you feel good.”

  Pressing my lips against hers, we stood, our naked bodies brushing, her fingers trailing over my back. I pushed my tongue between her lips and began my exploration.

  I pulled back, desire shooting through me as I took in Darcy’s reddened lips and her mussed hair.

  I walked her over to the bed, my hands full of her arse, and tipped her back onto the mattress, her hair spreading out behind her as if she were underwater.

  Pulling her knees apart, I glanced between her thighs. The glistening sheen over the trimmed hair told me everything I needed to know. I was used to women with bare pussies, but I liked that Darcy was different. It suited her. Showed her to be the independent, real woman I was so fascinated by.

  Smoothing my hands up her thighs, I pressed my lips to the soft flesh just beneath her hip on one side, then trailed a straight line to the other. She dug her fingers into my hair and sighed as if she was used to having me between her legs, worshipping her body.

  It shouldn’t be true, but for some reason the chemistry was easy between us. Perhaps because I’d drawn the lines of responsibility clearly in the sand, or because that was what she wanted. I pressed the flat of my tongue against her stomach and licked up between her heavy, milky-white breasts. Almost every part of her was the exact opposite of the women I was used to fucking, yet I’d never been so turned on. I grazed my teeth over her nipples and she arched, squirming beneath me. I’d bet no one had ever dared fuck this woman properly.

  Until now.

  Bracing my arms on either side of her, I kissed her, resisting the fingers she curled deliciously around my neck. I rolled to my back. “Sit on me,” I said, as I gripped her hips and urged her on top o
f me “On my face. I want to taste you.”

  She gasped. “No, I can’t…”

  I slapped her playfully on her arse. “You remember the bit when I said I was in charge and that there was no room for debate?” I dug my fingertips into her skin, encouraging her forward. “Hold on to the headboard and tell me before you come.”

  Her pussy smelled of honey as I lowered her onto my tongue. I began to plow a trail through her folds and around her clit, then back down. Christ, I loved going down on a woman, but when she didn’t know how good it could be? That was the best. Giving Darcy something she’d never had before was like mainlining power and dominance. She tried to hold in her gasps and moans as I kept her in place, but eventually, she began to twist her hips, thrusting against my tongue as her pleasure built.

  I groaned as her wetness increased, coating my mouth and my chin and she began to shudder. “Logan, Logan. I’m…I’m going to—”

  I pushed her off my face, flipping her to her back and crawled over her. I wasn’t about to let her come on my face. I wanted to be fucking her when she came, so I could see what I did to her when she climaxed. Plus, it was a reminder that her orgasms were mine to give her, rather than hers to take.

  “What are you doing?” she asked.

  “Fucking you,” I said as I slid off the mattress and pulled her to the edge of the bed. “You’ll come when I let you.”

  I grabbed a condom by her pillow. “Expecting someone?” I asked, holding up the square. I spotted another one, just about to fall off the mattress.

  She sighed. “My best friend put them in my bag tonight.”

  “And you took them out?” I frowned. “It’s important to be safe, Darcy.”

  “Am I safe with you?” she asked in a whisper.

  “Always,” I replied.

  I couldn’t wait another second to get inside her. I tore open one of the condoms and rolled the latex over my straining cock. “Hold your knees. I want to get nice and deep.”

  She groaned and did as I asked, displaying herself perfectly for me.

  “Good girl,” I grunted as I thrust into her, hard and deep. I almost collapsed right then at the perfection of it all. She was so tight, so wet, her chest heaving, her walls squeezing.

  I leaned forward. “Breathe,” I reminded both of us. She’d have me coming in ten seconds if I didn’t calm down, if I didn’t block out how this beautiful, spirited, independent woman was spreading her legs for me, already on the brink of orgasm because of the things I’d done to her.

  After a couple of deep breaths, I pulled out and thrust back in, settling into a rhythm that was slow enough to stop me from coming, but good enough that I never wanted to stop.

  She gazed up at me and stroked her hand over my cheek. “This is so good,” she whispered as if she never thought it could be. “You’re so good.” She scratched her nails gently down my chest as if she was trying to encourage my orgasm back from where I’d banished it. I knew she’d never been fucked like this before.

  I sped up as she reached for me, but I knew her touch would have me coming and I wanted to keep fucking her. I grasped her wrists and held them over her head. Worry passed over her face. “Logan. I’m going to—Logan.”

  “You can come now, beautiful,” I said and watched as her orgasm tore through her, stealing strangled moans from her throat as she pulsed around my cock. I kept my rhythm the same, determined to make her come again before I did.

  “Logan,” she said, her voice, breathy and desperate. “What are you doing? You. Need. To. Stop.”

  Her next orgasm wouldn’t take long. “No, I want you to come again. You don’t get to choose.”

  She opened her mouth, half-whimper, half-groan as she squirmed underneath me. I released her hands, but kept my rhythm the same as she grabbed at my chest, my arms, bucking wildly underneath me, almost fighting her orgasm, trying to keep it at bay.

  Heat coursed through my body as I held back my release, my jaw tightening each time her breasts shifted beneath my thrusts. Sweat collected at my hairline with every swivel of her hips. Her sharp, desperate sounds were like oxygen to the orgasm building and building at the base of my spine. Just as I thought I couldn’t last another second, her eyes widened and she wrapped her legs around my waist—I fucked her once, twice, three times before coming like a train. Our eyes locked and all I heard were her breath, her moans, her sighs as she floated back down to earth.

  Perfection surrounded me.

  Panting, I couldn’t tear my gaze from hers; I wanted to sustain this moment of complete perfection and pleasure.

  Still fighting for breath, she trailed her fingers over my eyebrows. “Fuck, Logan. I’ve never…”

  “Shhhh.” I pulled out and dealt with the condom before gathering her into my arms as I laid back on the pillows to take in what had just happened. I knew she was going to tell me how she’d never come like that, let alone come twice. Or how I was the greatest fuck she’d ever had. She didn’t need to—I already knew.

  Worse, her confession might lead to one of my own. I could end up telling her she was the sexiest woman I’d ever laid eyes on. How her compliant transformation in the bedroom was the biggest turn-on I’d ever experienced.

  How I didn’t want to let her go.

  I wasn’t in the mood for confessions. Especially ones I didn’t understand and would come to regret with the sunrise. I knew who I was and what I was capable of. I understood that however amazing tonight had been, this was where it ended. Because it was all I had to give.

  Twenty

  Darcy

  Shopping had never been my favorite thing to do, especially not after a night like last night, but I’d promised Violet, Scarlett’s sister, I’d meet her. And so far, I was still awake and functioning.

  “Now mimosas,” Violet said as she accepted her card and the Elie Saab dress, all beautifully boxed up from the sales assistant.

  “I’m pleased we found something. The purple really suits you.” I glanced at my phone. No text messages. No missed calls. Of course there weren’t. That wasn’t Logan Steele’s style.

  “Thank you for coming.” Violet signaled a cab.

  “Where are we going?” I asked. “The Dorchester is just around the corner.”

  “I know, but I’m in heels and feeling lazy, and we’re late meeting Aurora.”

  It was probably just as well we weren’t walking. I wasn’t sure my legs could take it given all the shaking they’d done the night before.

  As we sprung out of the cab we almost knocked Aurora over as she headed into the hotel. “Hey, how are you?” I asked.

  “I’m not sure if I’m talking to you, since you’ve done nothing but dodge all my questions,” Aurora replied.

  I glanced at Violet who narrowed her eyes. “I’m not dodging—I’ve been shopping all morning with Violet.”

  “So are you saying you’re willing to give a full and frank confession, right now, over tea and champagne?”

  “I feel like I’m missing something,” Violet said as she pushed through the revolving door into the lobby.

  Full and frank wasn’t exactly what I was prepared to be—I was pretty sure some of the things that Logan had done to me last night weren’t legal, and they certainly weren’t the kind of thing you discussed over tea at the Dorchester. “I can tell you how my evening went, if that’s what you mean.” I headed over to the hostess at the Palm Lounge, gave my name and she showed us to our table. It was in a perfect spot, beyond the serious man in his fifties playing American standards on the grand piano and tucked away from people who might overhear.

  The Promenade at the Dorchester was one of my favorite places in London. Decorated as if Lady Bracknell might appear at any time, it felt as if time had stopped in 1892. Palm plants were set against orange marble columns and curtains along each side of the long room. Low, white cloth-covered tables were set amongst the green button-backed chairs, stuffed so full they looked like they might burst at any moment.

 
“Did you know this room is as long as Nelson’s Column?” Violet said as we sat down.

  “Are you studying to be a London tourist guide?” Aurora asked, setting her handbag on the low stool provided especially for that purpose.

  “No, I just take an interest in this beautiful city,” she replied. “You two take it for granted.”

  “Probably true,” I agreed, opening my napkin on my lap, and wondering how long the champagne would take to arrive.

  “Anyway, enough of the deflection,” Aurora said. “I want to hear about Darcy’s date last night.”

  “Wait.” Violet grabbed my wrist as if I were about to bolt. “You had a date? Last night? We’ve been together all morning and you haven’t said anything? I need new friends.” She released me and slumped back in her chair.

  “Oh good, so I’ve not missed out on anything,” Aurora said. “I thought you two would have picked out the bridesmaids’ outfits by now and swapped all the gossip.”

  I leaned back in my chair, resigning myself to the coming inevitable discussion. “Don’t be ridiculous. It was a date—no wedding bells are ringing.”

  “But you liked him?” Aurora asked.

  “Who? I’m the last to know everything around here,” Violet said.

  “Only an earl who moved in next door to Darcy,” Aurora said. “A tall, handsome, totally charming—”

  “Arsehole who tried to destroy the village,” I added.

  “Wait a second,” Violet said. “You went on a date with someone who tried to what?”

  I filled Violet in on the lead up to last night and tried my best not to smile as I told her I’d agreed to the date.

  “So tell me everything,” she said. “Was he charming?”

  I took a deep breath. “Yes. More than I expected.” He’d certainly lacked charm in the bedroom, but that had only made him more attractive. I’d been nervous by his demands at first, and I still wasn’t sure why I did as he asked. But he was right, I enjoyed it, even though I wasn’t quite sure I should have.

  “So, what did you do? Dinner?” Violet asked.