Temporary Mistress

with an unbridled violence he knew he couldn't act on. But words were safe, piquant stimulation for her, delicious anticipation for them both. 'I'm going to make love to you soon,' he murmured against her mouth. 'You'll feel me deep inside you, all the way inside… until you're filled so full, you'll squirm to get away. But I won't let you go, I'll-'

As he spoke, the coiling heat inside her burned higher with each salacious word. 'I'll make love to you until you can't move, until I can't move, and then we'll rest and start all over again. Because I intend to keep you under me or over me or around me-'

Her climax burst over her, and she screamed at the wild, pulsing beauty, at the unadulterated rapture, the exquisite intoxication lasting and lasting and lasting, until finally she lay replete, eyes shut, a half-smile on her lips.

'Satisfied?' His voice was softly teasing as he sat beside her.

'Ummmm…' Her eyes slowly opened and her smile broadened. 'You are definitely good.'

'We try.' His grin was captivating.

'You really aren't selfish,' she murmured, reaching up to touch his muscled chest.

'Usually not.'

'I see why you're so much in demand.'

'The concept of mutual pleasure is more-gratifying.'

She stretched like a young sultana. 'More gratifying?' she breathed, one brow raised in delicious query. 'We'll definitely have to work on that.'

He smiled. 'My thoughts exactly.'

'I don't know though,' she hesitantly murmured. 'Can I do that again?'

He nodded. 'No problem.'

Her eyes glowed. 'You're sure?'

'Positive.'

She smiled faintly. 'I think Molly failed to mention a whole lot.'

'I'll show you what you missed.'

'Because you're not satisfied yet.'

'Partly.'

'And I'm the other part?' she playfully noted, arching her back in a theatrical, preening pose.

'Absolutely,' he said, enjoying the view.

'Am I allowed to say no?'

'You're allowed anything. But I guarantee, you'll like it.'

'And I'll feel that delicious, tingly, end-of-the-world thing all over again?'

He nodded again. 'All of it.'

'How can you be so sure?'

Years of fucking, he thought, but, circumspect, he said, 'I just know.'

'Because of all the ladies.'

'Because of that,' he admitted.

'What number am I?'

Was she resentful or curious? He couldn't tell with her brows drawn together like that. 'I don't count.'

'I think I might. Keep a diary or list. Like Casanova.'

'Casanova didn't have a list. He remembered because he liked all those women.'

'Do you like them too? Do you like me?'

Her frankness always surprised him. The ladies he knew were more artful. 'I like you very much.'

'I know I adore you… for what you did just now. I've never felt that wonderful before, not even when Grandpapa and I came upon that map of Galileo's.'

'I'm honored.' He gracefully bowed his head, amused at the comparison.

'All of a sudden I'm ever so hungry,' she abruptly confessed. 'Are you hungry?'

His hunger had nothing to do with food. 'I am if you are,' he politely replied.

'Would you mind if we ate first?'

It took a great deal of restraint to say 'No, of course I don't mind. I'll ring for Pomeroy.'

'You're an absolute darling,' she murmured, lightly touching his arm.

Yes, he was. Because he wanted to fuck the delectable Miss Leslie until he fucked himself to death. Nothing he couldn't put off until after supper.

Chapter Eight

DERMOTT HAD NO MORE than rung for Pomeroy than he was knocking at the dressing room door.

'Was he listening at the door?' Isabella's eyes went wide.

'No,' Dermott said, stepping into his breeches, although the thought had crossed his mind; it was at least five minutes from the kitchen. He tossed Isabella a dressing gown from a nearby chair. 'Put this on and I'll let him in.'

Scrambling from the bed, she slid the robe on, tied it around her waist, then rolled the sleeves up half a dozen times and still looked drowned in the large garment. Lifting the fabric that dragged on the carpet, she searched for a suitable spot to receive a stranger. 'Should I sit there?' She pointed to a chair near the fireplace. 'Or should I stand? Or better yet, I'll hide in the armoire.' She wasn't completely teasing.

Dermott swung around, his hands on the buttons to his breeches. 'You could be standing naked in the center of the room and Pomeroy wouldn't bat an eyelash-nor should he.' He gave her a reassuring smile. 'So do what you like-so long as you stay within reach,' he added with a roguish lift of his eyebrows.

'With you as incentive to stay,' Isabella lightly replied, her gaze slowly surveying his splendid form, 'I shall overlook any momentary embarrassment.'

He winked. 'Smart girl.' And with a small deferential bow to her, he turned to the door and called out, 'Come in.'

Pomeroy looked neither right nor left when he entered the room, his gaze scrupulously on his employer. Isabella could have been absent for all the notice he took of her. 'You rang, sir?'

'Miss Leslie is ready to sup.'

'Very good, sir. Here, sir?' The butler's demeanor gave away nothing of the chaos below stairs, where the chef had thrown a tantrum and stalked off when the food that had been ordered hadn't been sent for immediately. He hoped the lady wasn't particular about her menu, because several of the dishes were now cold and ruined and the sous-chefs were frantically trying to deal with the crisis.

'Yes, here.' Dermott began clearing the books and papers off a table.

'Immediately, sir?' It seemed a pertinent question considering the irregular scheduling of events.

'Yes, yes, of course, immediately.' Dermott looked at him as though he were dense.

'Very good, sir.' With a bow, he left.

'Is he always so grand?' Isabella asked, comparing him to her servants, who were more apt to tell her what to do than to take orders, since they'd raised her from a child.

Dermott looked up from his cleaning. 'I suppose so. I hadn't noticed.'

'Has he been with you long?'

'Always. My mother had him first.'

'Does your mother live in London?' Obviously, she didn't live here or he wouldn't have had her over, she speculated.

'She lives at Alworth.' At her blank look, he added, 'My country home.'

'She doesn't like the City?'

He shook his head. 'Come, sit down. I've cleared off enough space, I think. Do you have any favorite foods?'