I think of my parishioners, already gathering in their pews. There is no time to send a message to my curate.
“Very well,” I respond, knowing I have no choice.
The footman nods and I follow him to the carriage. He opens the door.
Inside I smell her immediately. That vanilla scent.
And my body is taut with want once more.
I remember the scene that unfolded there four days before, and I am at full mast. I recall her regal beauty, its ethereal power.
I stifle a moan.
When I arrive at the Abbey, I am shown into the dining room.
Annabelle de Lacey sits at the end of a long table.
It is laden with an elaborate breakfast.
“Good morning, Mr. Saintsbury. Please, sit.”
She gestures towards the place that has clearly been laid for me.
My cock is hard. She must be able to see that.
Is she really going to make me eat? I doubt I will be able to manage a mouthful. Anger rises within me.
“I am supposed to be preaching.”
“You will not be sermonizing this morning, Mr. Saintsbury.”
“This neglect is not fair to my parishioners.”
“That is your affair. I woke with a strange desire to debauch a vicar.”
“I don’t believe it. You have called me now on purpose.”
She smiles. That beautiful, cutting smile. An ache blooms in my chest.
“Yes. You’re right. And there isn’t a thing you can do about it, is there? Sit.”
“I am not hungry.”
“You don’t want to eat?”
“No,” I say, deciding to be bold if I am to have no power anyway.
“Listen to me, Mr. Saintsbury,” she says, her tone steely. “You do not make demands here. You are here to pleaseme.I don’t care what you want.”
Rage claws inside me. But I have no choice.
I notice now that her dress is cut low, lower than any I have seen her in yet, and a deep green. Not a mourning garment. The skin above her bosom is cream—and her breasts themselves…My mouth goes painfully dry. They are large, almost too large. In other words, they are exactly what I like.
“Don’t you want to slide inside of me?” she taunts. “To feel my quim tighten around you?”
“Dear God,” I plead, as if God has any role in what is happening between us. My knees feel weak.
“Sit and eat your breakfast. My cook prepared it especially for this occasion. You offend me with your refusal.”
