Devlin stood behind her, his hand trailing leathered fingertips down her spine. “Do you know how much you excite me, Molly?”
He arched over her and sucked on her earlobe, his erection nudging her womanhood. “Since the moment I saw you, I ached to be inside you, to fill you.” His hot breath caressed her ear as he whispered, “And to give you pleasure.”
He clasped both her hips and guided his cock, inch by incredible inch, into her. His body melded to hers with perfection. Arousal swirled in her stomach again, sending bolts of savage lust through her.
Flesh to flesh, he plunged into her. Placing his hands on either side of hers on the mantle, he leaned over her back, their moist bodies slippery, moving in rhythm.
Breathing hurt her lungs as she fought for air. She would stand this way all day if it meant he would pleasure her, dominate her with his cock.
Pushing, plunging, impaling.
He ripped off her blindfold. Sweat poured down her forehead, stinging her eyes but she did not care. The pleasure was too intense, too consuming of every nerve.
She had to have all of him.
She needed all of him.
Tensing her arms, she pushed against the mantle, driving him deeper inside.
“Dear Lord,” he said with a release of breath, grinding his thick hardness into her. “I love how you feel.”
A molten ball of pleasure shattered within. Pulsating waves washed over her in exquisite sensations. Riding the passion of sheer ecstasy, she cried out the same time Devlin grunted with raw satisfaction.
His warm seed flooded into her.
He cradled her body as their breathing slowed in unison.
Rising, he turned her around and picked her up into his arms. She flopped against his chest, all energy drained from her limbs.
“I am sorry. I have nothing left,” she said in a drowsy voice.
He smiled down at her. “That is all right. You were magnificent.”
Laying her on the bed, he tucked her in. He walked to the door and her heart skipped a beat. “Don’t go.”
Turning the lock, he returned to the other side of the bed. “I wasn’t going to.”
Shuffling under the covers, he cuddled up beside her and pulled her close to rest her head on his chest. He took a deep breath, and she relaxed into the intimate embrace.
* * * *
“Bitch!” Kenneth stood outside the French doors to the lovers’ room. He could not stop watching them. Watching Molly permit his brother to take her like a rutting dog. If she wanted to be treated like a mutt, he would have dominated her from the beginning of his courtship. It seemed she liked it that way. He gaped through the glass door again to see Devlin’s hand rest on her ample breast. That should have been
his
hand tonight.
His
rod shoved inside the...
He growled low in his throat and pushed away from the wall. Lifting himself up onto the terrace railing, he leaped over to the next railing and jumped down. Acidic bile settled in the back of his throat. His chest weighed heavy with defeat.
It was time to put Lady Audrey’s plan into action.
Chapter Thirteen
Devlin watched Molly raise her face to the warm sunrays as they walked along the pebbled shore of the lake. In the distance, the sprawling manor overlooked the grand maze he loved so well.
“I used to play here as a child,” Devlin said, breaking the silence.
Molly glanced at him, her eyes shining while her smiling lips were still red from kissing. He could not think of a better day than spending it in bed with his redheaded minx, then showing her his favorite place.
“I’d wager you were precocious.” Molly slipped her hand into his palm, her chilled fingers entwined with his.
“Yes, I was.” The tender touch of her made him feel complete. For the first time in his life, he had a reason to exist other than to carry on the Harman title. The fresh, crisp air of the forest filled his lungs with renewal, and with something he had not felt in a long time...alive.
Yet happiness and guilt conflicted within him. “Molly, I have something to confess.” He regarded the glistening water, willing himself to tell her everything.
She stopped, and he took her into his embrace. “What is it?”
“Before I met you, my father made me an offer.”
“Are you referring to the wager?”
“You know?”
Molly nodded. “But I am confused. Why did you bid for me? I thought you wanted to marry Lady Audrey. Have you not been lovers for a long time?”
“Lady Audrey and I are not suited for each other. Nevertheless, I was resigned to marry her because it was my duty.”
“Until the wager?”
“My father gave me a way out.”
A wounded look spread over her face. “I understand. You only bid for me so you could break the contract.”
“No. Yes.” He shook his head and took a deep breath. “I mean it was not the only reason.”
Her gold-flecked green eyes flickered with uncertainty. The dusting of freckles across the bridge of her nose made her appear charming. Yet when her pink tongue innocently moistened her lips, his mind turned to last night’s activities. He knew her innocent appearances did not extend to the bedroom. There she was insatiable, eager to learn and explore new pleasures of the body. He shook his head, trying to expunge lustful thoughts from his mind even though his manhood had other ideas.
“What was the reason?” she asked.
“In truth, I wanted you all to myself.” He brushed the side of her cheek with the back of his fingers. “It tore me apart to think of another man touching you…loving you.”
Her arms tightened around his waist and her eyes brightened. “I feel the same way.”
He wanted to tell her how much he loved her, but old fears surfaced. A warning voice in his head told him to be cold. To not allow anyone into his heart. Had not his own mother hated him for showing feelings?
She gazed up at him expectantly. Dear Lord, she was beautiful. She was everything he needed, if only he could be the same for her.
“Molly, I—”
“There you are,” Kenneth interrupted. His boots crunched on the pebbles as he strode toward them. In a fine brown tailored suit with a tight cravat, his brother appeared every bit the gentleman. But he knew better. He and his brother were never close, and no matter how hard he tried to create a bond, Kenneth refused to accept him as a sibling. Instead, he used his time to create tension between them, undermining him in front of his father.
Devlin cleared his throat and took Molly’s hand in a grand gesture. He wanted to leave no doubt as to whom she belonged to.
Kenneth’s eyes narrowed in a familiar display of contempt. “Father sent me to find you. Joves needs to distribute the servants’ wages.”
Devlin searched for a possible explanation to refuse him, but it was his duty to see to their payments. He turned to Molly. “I will not be long.”
“I will keep Miss Molly company,” Kenneth crooned.
He hesitated.
“I’ll be fine, my lord,” Molly said and released his hand. “Hurry back so we can finish our discussion.”
An uneasy feeling settled in his stomach, but he pushed it aside. The quicker he finished his duty, the faster he could return to Molly with no distractions. Moreover, it would give him time to figure out his feelings. And how Molly would fit into his future.
“All right,” he said and glared at Kenneth. “Take good care of her.”
His brother gave him a shielded look. “Of course.”
Molly watched Devlin hike up the shoreline to the grass, she never tired of observing him, the way he walked, the confident way he moved.
Kenneth linked his arm with hers and pivoted her around to stroll in the opposite direction. “I know of a wondrous field of flowers beyond the trees.”
Absently walking, she wondered what Devlin was going to say before Kenneth interrupted them. For a brief moment, she suspected he looked wounded.
Lost in thought, Molly allowed Kenneth to lead her along a dirt path into the woods. The sound of a raven crying brought her out of her reverie. Looking around the unfamiliar landscape, apprehension skimmed across her shoulders. “I have not been down this path before. How long have we been walking?”
“Oh, not long,” he answered.
She tried gently pulling her arm out of his, but he squeezed his elbow and gave her a haunting grin.
Her heart skipped a beat in warning, but she pushed the uncomfortable feeling aside.
“Wh—where are these flowers?”
“Not too far.” He smiled again, but it did not reassure her. Something was not right. She feigned stubbing her toe and Kenneth released her arm.
“Did you hurt yourself?” he asked, bending down.
She stepped back. “I want to return to the manor,” she said carefully.
He rose to his full height, his face pulled into a sullen mask. “Does my presence repulse you so much?”
“No, no. I just…” Molly could not face him. A heated flush stung her cheeks.
“Just what?”
She took a fortifying breath. “I…I want to be with Devlin.”
“He can have you after I have grown tired of you.” Kenneth edged closer and Molly took another step back.
Silence stretched between them. Molly did not want to say anymore in case it angered him. “Take me back to the manor please.”
Kenneth crossed his arms and glared at her. “Do you think he would marry a lowborn like yourself? Our father would never permit it.”
“I…I do not care,” she said, unwilling to hear the truth.
He chuckled. “I think you have illusions of grandeur.”
She turned to leave, but he grabbed her arm. “You are not the first courtesan who tried to use her body to become a member of royalty.”
“You are hurting me,” she snarled.
“Why do you think he despises courtesans so much?”
“Stop saying that. It’s not true.” Molly twisted free from his grasp. She proudly lifted her chin, panic tearing at her insides. “I love him.”
“Love?” he scoffed. “Until you came along, he
was
betrothed to a powerful lady of title. You bewitched him and ruined his future.”
She flinched. “I cannot stop my heart from feeling.”
“Well, it is too late, Molly.” His menacing blue eyes glittered with a crazed stare. He edged closer to her. “Whether you like it or not, I will have you.”
Blood pounded in her ears as fear sizzled through every nerve in her body. Instinct told her to run, run as fast as she could. Just as he almost grabbed her, she twisted out of his reach and darted into the deep, shadowy woods. Lifting her heavy skirt, she jumped over large tree trunks and dodged thorny shrubs. The clammy forest became thicker and thicker. A damp moss aroma filled her lungs. Cruel branches sliced the skin on her face and arms, but she kept running.