Chapter Eighteen
Rayne withdrew, blinking. Slowly, the red haze cleared, and he became aware of the candles burning in their sconces and then the empty bowls on the sideboard. The toppled glasses of champagne, by some miracle, hadn’t broken, though they’d both rolled dangerously close to opposite edges of the table.
He combed the fingers of both his hands through his hair, staring down in shock as if the handprints on his wife’s rear had been made by someone else. Then, he uttered her favorite oath.
She rapped against the table.
Devil take him now.
“Speak”—good God—“say anything you like.” His hands remained on either side of his head.
“Um…maybe you could untie my legs?”
Fuck.“Yes! Yes of course.”
He went to his knee and worked at one far-too-intricate knot and gave up. Just how desperate had he been that she not escape? He hunted around the floor until he found a knife. Then, he cut her right leg free.
“Rayne! Those were my best stockings!”
He didn’t even bother to save the other. “I’ll buy you more. Any number.” He helped her up. “I’m sorry.”
“Whatever for? That was…perfect.” She turned, presenting her bound wrists. “I’m not sorry at all.”
He glanced up in disbelief and then went back to working the knot.
She hummed thoughtfully. “I’ve never been spanked before.”
Of course she hadn’t.The one child in all of England. He freed her hands.
“Interesting at the time.” She rubbed her rear. “Still stings, though. Will it sting for long?”
“Fuck,” he repeated.
She giggled. “I believe we just did. Inspired idea, darling. Rather changed the atmosphere in here, don’t you think?”
He was about to open his mouth to say God-knows-what when the outside door in the kitchen jerked loudly against the jamb.
“I know you are in there!”
“That’s Markham!” Julia exclaimed. “Hades, Zeus, and Poseidon! I didn’t hear a carriage. Did you?
He hadn’t heard anything at all but her moans.
“Lapin!”
“And Clarissa.” Rayne could just make out the voice. “She knows where I hide the key.”
Julia winced. “Then you had better get down there fast.”
“Right.” He headed toward the stairs.
“Rayne!”
He glanced over his shoulder, gripping the doorway.
She gazed pointedly at his cock. “Your falls?”
“Fuck.” He turned away, buttoning as he slipped down the stairs.
