Nicholas kissed both beautiful hands, and then her soft, full lips.“Cherie.You look more stunning than ever.”
She smiled the slow, seductive smile that was her greatest asset.It promised all the wonders of the sensual world.She traced one finger down the side of his face and across his lips.“And tonight is a special night,mon amour.Come, we must … talk.”
As she led the way toward her private boudoir, seen only by the most favored few, the marquess stepped forward and captured her hand, bringing it to his lips.Therese stopped, a slight, intrigued smile on her lips.“Lord Arden?”
“I am in despair,” he said, letting his eyes adore her.“What has Nicholas Delaney got that Lucien de Vaux cannot better?”
The lady made no attempt to free her hand from his; in fact, she allowed herself to be drawn closer.“An interesting question, Milord Marquess.Perhaps it should be explored.”Her eyes took their own leisurely exploration of his body, then she turned to consider them both.“It cannot be denied, I fear, that you have the edge in conventional beauty.Such golden hair, such sapphire eyes, such height and breadth of shoulders.And, of course, in rank and riches there is no comparison at all.Are you as generous as my Nicholas?”She looked at the large diamond pin in his cravat and smiled.
He moved immediately to remove it, but Nicholas stepped in.“I must protest,” he said lightly.“If you want diamonds, my heart, you must apply to me.”
Therese sighed and looked sadly at the marquess.” Helas!He is so possessive…”
Lord Arden continued to remove his pin and held it out.“And are you,” he asked, “possessed?”
She took the pin and held it in the light so the facets flashed rainbows.“Admirable,” she sighed and naked greed was obvious.She looked between the two men again.“There is one respect in which my dearest Nicky has never been surpassed.”She allowed her eyes to wander the marquess’s body again, to linger cloyingly on his genitals.He was astonished to feel himself blush.To feel soiled.
He flashed a look at Nicholas that was intended to convey understanding and commiseration.Perhaps it also contained appeal, for Nicholas moved forward and, with an arm around the woman’s waist, pressured her on her way.
She looked back with a rueful but concupiscent shrug.When he realized she had taken his diamond with her, the marquess could only think escape had been cheap at the price.
Once in her beautiful boudoir, where mirrored walls were swathed in ivory satin and scented candles weighted the air, Therese subsided on a chaise and raised her arms.
Nicholas came at once to kiss her long and fully.
“Ah, Nicholas,” she murmured as his lips played along her bare shoulder and across the naked fullness of her upper breasts.“Why do you mean so much to me?”
“How can a mere man know a woman’s mind?”he said huskily as his hands slid up to cover her breasts.“I can only be grateful.”
“And so you should be,” she said.There was a sudden sharp pain in his groin and he jerked back.She’d pricked him with the diamond pin.He stared at her.
“Look what I have given up for you,” she said, twirling it before his eyes.
He held out a hand.“You had better let me return it.”
“Why?”
“You will give no service for it.”
“Will I not?”
“No.”He was playing a dangerous game at this point, for their relationship was a constant knife’s edge of power.She would expect him, however, to be possessive.
She sighed winsomely and fixed the pin in his lapel.“There, see.I give it to you.What you do with it is for you to decide.Now,” she said, untying his cravat and opening his shirt.“What service will you give for such a jewel?”
He pushed her hands away and plunged his own under her skirts, for he knew her tastes.She needed roughness.He pushed up the layers of satin, silk, and lace to reveal her familiar nakedness and the lewd designs tattooed on her inner thighs.He forced her legs wide.“How can it be service when it is my pleasure?”he said, staring at her body, hoping he looked desirous instead of disgusted.
She lounged back, lips parted, heavy lids lowered.“But you look angry.It excites me when you are angry.Is it your friend?But I was only teasing, lovely one.He is a child.”
Nicholas was kneeling between her legs.“He is older than me.”
“He is a child,” she repeated.“That is why you objected, isn’t it?”
Dangerous ground.“No,” said Nicholas and began the finger play she enjoyed on her thighs.
“Yes, it is,” she said with a pout.
Then Therese abruptly dropped her playful tone and wriggled off the chaise to rearrange her clothing.Another favorite trick, but one he welcomed.
