"Give that back to me," she demanded.
He held up the book so she could see the picture. "What do you think of this position?"
She looked at the drawing of the chambermaid being fucked by her employer with great enthusiasm. As she continued to stare at it, her clitoris throbbed with growing excitement. Her nipples pushed against her gown until they ached to be touched.
"I love that position," she said seductively. "And I'd like to try it with a handsome man such as yourself."
Alex ran a trembling hand through his hair. There was something about this woman which made him feel like a callow, inexperienced youth.
Blood rushed to his loins as he savored her beauty. Her face was angelic yet wanton, with high cheekbones and full pink lips. Her pouty lower lip looked delicious enough to devour. She had creamy skin and lush curves which made her body ripe for lovemaking.
She leaned toward him and touched her mouth to his. Her lips were as soft as rose petals. His lips responded to hers as his erection grew. He fought the urge to pin her to the bed and mount her with enthusiasm. He wanted their time together to last as long as possible. Even if this was only a brief sexual encounter, he wanted it to be special. With her, he wanted more than a quick, casual fuck.
He savored her flesh as he licked the hollow of her throat. Her skin tasted sweet and salty and smelled of lilacs and springtime.
"That tickles." She gave a small giggle, and the sound of her sexy laughter caused him to harden to stone. His erection was almost painful, thicker and harder than it had been in years. He buried his face in her hair, inhaling the intoxicating scent of her soft tresses.
"Please open the window," she said softly. "It's a bit stuffy in here."
The night air was fresh and reviving after the cigar saturated rooms of the brothel. The lights of Paris glittered like diamonds in the distance, and Alex wondered if the city ever slept. It was one joyous celebration after another, and for once he felt part of the festivities, not merely a spectator. He was filled with the
joie de vivre
of the French people.
* * * *
"Your accent is English." He turned from the window and his exquisite emerald eyes held Genesis captive. "Yet there's a trace of the exotic about you."
"My mother was French, my father English." She tried to look away from him, but found it impossible.
"And do your parents know you're employed in this place?"
"My parents are dead."
"How did you come to be here?"
She sighed. "Why are you so interested? It's not important, is it?"
"I suppose not."
"Because what I want right now is you in this bed."
He raised an eyebrow. "There's still the matter of your remuneration."
"We don't need to discuss money either."
He ignored her words and mentioned an amount which caused her eyes to widen in surprise. Madame Colette had briefed her on what she could expect to earn from rich clients. The amount he quoted was ten times higher than anything she expected to earn.
"I—" Genesis stared at him wide-eyed. At a loss for words, she found herself flattered anyone was willing to spend so much for a night in her company. Then revulsion clawed at her like a wild creature. If she actually accepted payment, then she was well and truly a whore. Besides, it was not like she needed the money anyway.
"Let's not ruin the mood by discussing financial matters," she finally said.
He gave her a quizzical look. "Very well. We won't ruin the mood with crass talk. But I must tell you, you're a most unusual young lady. In my experience, women of your profession take care of business before pleasure."
"I like being unusual. It's better than being run-of-the-mill."
"Well said." He walked back to the bed and his tall, powerful body commanded her attention. His aristocratic bearing was evidence of wealth and breeding. Who was this man?
Nervousness gripped her. Could she actually go through with this? Exhilaration and fear warred within her. Shouldn't her first sexual experience be with someone as handsome as him? Perhaps it would make it easier to endure and she might even enjoy it.
Alex had an aura of danger about him with his steely-eyed green gaze. His chin was firm, his sensual lower lip created for kissing.
Her skin tingled and her nerves ignited with desire as his vivid eyes pierced hers.
His fingers gripped her shoulders, and he looked at her with a burning intensity. "I desire you, my angel. Do I meet with your approval?"
She took a shaky breath. "Would it matter?"
"It matters to me because I want you to enjoy our evening together as I know I will."
This was the moment of truth. The moment to decide. Her breathing came hard and fast as his intent gaze locked with hers. Genesis found herself ensnared by his incredible good looks.
She willed away her fears. Instead, she allowed her lust to have free reign. This was what she wanted, wasn't it? Under her stylish clothing and socially acceptable manners, she carried the legacy which came from her sinful mother. For so long, she hid a silent fire which no one imagined she possessed. Tonight she would fan the flames of that fire and see what happened.
She took a trembling breath and smiled at him. "You definitely meet with my approval, and I desire you as well."
He grinned in triumph, and she had no regrets about her decision.
Alex looked at her for a long moment, sensing hunger in her gaze and something more. Surely it wasn't fear he saw in the depths of her beautiful eyes?
Sweat dampened his palms. Why was he nervous? He was no stranger to amorous attention from women. His heart beat against his chest as he imagined dancing with her horizontally across the sheets.
He pulled her to her feet and then wrapped his arms around her waist. As he kissed her, he sensed a welcoming response from her luscious pink lips.
How many men had she entertained in this room? He frowned, deciding it was best not to think about it. He had never cared about the past history of any of his mistresses, so why should he care who this woman fucked before him? He knew he was being irrational, but he couldn't control the jealousy which threatened to engulf him.
He broke the embrace and feasted on the sight of her kiss-swollen mouth. Then he licked those lovely lips while her perfume wafted toward him. The sweetness of lilac, but underneath that, she smelled of desire.
* * * *
He stood before her, aristocratic and proud. Intense hunger for him was a craving Genesis knew she must satisfy. She inhaled his scent, the clean masculine smell of him mixed with a spicy aftershave. Her nipples hardened to firm buds as he framed her face with his strong hands.
"Am I dreaming?" he asked.
"Only if we're having the same dream."
He chuckled and she admired his brilliant white teeth and sensuous lower lip. If this man had been one of the suitors for her hand, she might have considered giving marriage a try. Instead, she had met him in a whorehouse of all places. Life laughed in your face sometimes, she thought ironically.
What did it matter anyway? She had no interest in marriage. No man would throw her aside like garbage, as her mother had been treated. Of course, she didn't know the entire story, but she still blamed her father. If he had loved her mother enough, if he'd offered to marry her maybe she wouldn't have left her child on his doorstep. Maybe she would still be alive. Maybe they could have been a happy family.
She stood and put some distance between herself and Alex. Seating herself on a plush settee, she fought the sting of tears.
"Have I done something to offend you?" he asked in surprise. "I thought you were rather enjoying yourself."
She was torn between her desire to know this man and her desire to be alone with her thoughts. Perhaps she should ask him to leave. All she had to do was ring the bell and one of the Nubian eunuchs would see that he was removed without a word.
Was that what she wanted? For the first time in her life, she struggled on the horns of a dilemma. Was her virginity worth so little she would offer it to the first attractive man she met? This was a simple business transaction, not a love affair. It was all so cold and businesslike.
What had she expected? She was the one pretending to be a whore. No, she amended, he was the one who stumbled into her room by mistake. She simply went along with the deception.
But that face! His face was a work of art which could have been sculpted by Michelangelo or Rodan. The planes of his high cheekbones were sharply angled and his mouth was so kissable. And those eyes. She had never seen eyes that green, that pure, that sharp, almost like finely cut emeralds. His dark blond hair shone golden in the lamplight. She had the urge to rip the stiffly starched shirt from his body and see what lay underneath. She was sure he would resemble one of those nude Greek statues she had seen in a Paris museum. He would have well-defined and finely toned muscles.
"Join me here on the bed." His voice was honey to her ears. "I promise I won't bite you unless it's expected of me."
Sparks of erotic heat shot through her body.
Torn between her desire to flee before things got out of hand, and her desire to know this Greek god in evening attire, Genesis hesitated. Why did he have to be so damn gorgeous?
Feeling like a defiled vestal virgin, she walked towards him. He met her in the middle of the room and she ran a hand through his thick hair. He slid his thumb across her lower lip then slid his hand down her throat until it cupped her full breast. Finding her hard nipple, he stroked it through the sheer material of the gown. She gave an involuntarily moan, which he silenced with his kisses.
"Have you been treated badly?" His voice was a hoarse whisper. "Is that why you found my touches distasteful?"
"They weren't distasteful by any means," she said quickly. "Sometimes women have their moods."
Sadness softened his strong features, making him seem young and vulnerable. "I know something of female moods. If I've done something to offend you, I beg your forgiveness."
"You've done nothing at all." She surprised herself by resting her head against his powerful chest. "I pray you will continue with your distasteful touches."
He threw back his head and laughed. He appeared happy and carefree, not the same dour man who first stepped into her room. She wondered about the melancholy expression which had touched his face. Perhaps like her, he wrestled with his own demons.
She had little time for speculation because his warm mouth skimmed across her throat. A thrill of desire coursed through her system, and she licked her lips in anticipation.
Her pulse quickened as lust engulfed her body and roared through her bloodstream like a consuming fire. She tangled her fingers in his hair as he slid the strap of her gown off her shoulder. One of her breasts sprang free, and he took it gently in his hand.
"So beautiful," he said softly, "so damn beautiful."
Then his mouth claimed her nipple and she gasped with surprise and pleasure. He licked and suckled on the extended peak as she embraced him tightly against her body.
She saw the hunger in his eyes, and his craving for her aroused her senses. He had a look of wonder on his face as his gaze held hers. At that moment, she felt like a fairy princess on her wedding night. She knew no princely groom could be more attentive to her than Alex Lansing. Feminine power surged through her body with this new and compelling emotion. Yet she also felt humbled by the thought of this exquisite man desiring her with such intensity.
"I want to fuck you and keep fucking you," he rasped against her skin.
The crudeness of his words didn't offend her. Instead they caused a heavy fullness between her legs, an urgent need to be touched by him, caressed by him, fucked by him.
"I feel the same way," she whispered against his ear. "Though perhaps you won't enjoy it enough to request an encore."
"I've only had a few moments with you and I already crave an encore." He stroked her nipples and they stiffened under his touch. "These are the most succulent buds I've ever seen."
Her skin tingled with excitement and his eyes held a predatory gleam.
His voice was a low growl, rich and deep with a hint of roughness. "I know I'll be back in this room tomorrow night and every night until I get you out of my system."
He took her nipple between his teeth, and she gave a sharp gasp.
"Did I hurt you?" he asked with concern.
"Not at all. It just felt so good."
"Do your clients pleasure you in this way?"
"Some of them," she lied.
He drowned out her words with a kiss which was manly and potent. "Do any of them kiss you this way?"
She knew no one would ever kiss her with such passion.
Genesis looked toward the closed door which had brought Alex into her life. How easy it would be to leave this room and this brothel and return home to England. She considered it for only a moment because his warm lips on hers caused the blood to roar in her veins. She hungered for his touch, imprisoned by his rough maleness as his exquisite sensuality overpowered her. She whimpered with desire as his kisses fluttered across her flushed skin.
He slid her gown slowly down her body and she stepped out of it. Lifting her in his arms, he carried her to the bed as if she weighed no more than a kitten. When he lay her gently across the soft bed covers, she didn't attempt to cover her exposed flesh, and his hot gaze roamed over her as he removed his jacket and loosened his collar. She drew a ragged breath as he unbuttoned his shirt and his tall, powerful body held her rapt attention. His bare chest seemed carved from marble, with a well-muscled torso tapering to narrow hips. A sweep of blond hair fell across his forehead, framing his perfectly handsome face.
An untamed, green-eyed panther.
He reminded her of the finely-carved statue of a majestic cat which rested in a drawer beside her bed. It was her most treasured possession, a gift from her father which he obtained on one of his frequent trips to Egypt. She had been allowed to accompany him on this particular expedition, and it remained one of her fondest memories of their time together.