from a mischievous vendor in an eastern market place. At twenty-two, he’d barely understood their purpose. Now he’d finally met a woman on whom to use them.
She gave a small smile as if she could read his thoughts and was ready and willing to be his sexual slave, chained for his pleasure. He couldn’t let his mind go astray. For a wild minute he wondered if the whole auction had been engineered to derail his plans to investigate his brother. But no, Sebastian had been genuinely shocked to see him alive and irate at losing Charlotte. Lucas needed to lose his new mistress and go looking for answers.
“One day. You can stay the night, but tomorrow, I expect you gone.” He waited for her to pout and whine like most women he’d known, but she merely smiled and kissed him on the cheek as if he were her big brother.
“Wonderful. You won’t regret it.”
She’d been given a reprieve. Granted, it was only one evening, but at least she wouldn’t be sleeping on the streets tonight. She’d simply have to convince Lucas she was worth having around. If his reaction to her little performance was any indication, she could unpack permanently tonight. Oh my, had Madame Bella known what she was talking about.
When she’d first discussed that particular sexual act and demonstrated on a willing footman, Charlotte had been aghast. It looked quite messy and humiliating, but it had really worked. Lucas had been at her command for a few glorious minutes. And it hadn’t been horrible—in fact, she’d liked holding his cock in her hand. It was warm and silky and hard all at the same time. Pleasuring him left her feeling edgy and heated. Perhaps she should demonstrate her mastery of some of Madame’s other lessons.
He seemed ready, if the swollen nature of his penis was any indication. Madame had said men needed time to recover, but Lucas had hardened almost immediately after she’d placed her hand on his lap. Perhaps she hadn’t performed correctly. Oh god, she was such a naïve little virgin. How could she have thought taking copious notes during the months of lessons were enough to make up for any real experience in the bedroom?
She’d simply have to try harder. When they arrived at his home, she’d remove her clothes and enter his bedroom and refuse to leave until she’d pleasured him thoroughly. Unless of course, his wife was waiting for him…
She looked up quickly. “Are you married?”
His brows lifted. “No. What gave you that idea?”
Relief flooded her. “I was just checking.”
“If I had a wife, I sure as hell wouldn’t be out purchasing mistresses.”
The vehemence in his voice shocked her. According to Madame, aristocratic gentleman thought nothing of having a wife along with a mistress. One for the breeding, one for the fucking, but Lucas didn’t seem to think that way.
“Or maybe I would be,” he muttered.
“Pardon?”
“Nothing.”
“No, you said something. I heard you,” she said insistently.
He picked up her palm and set it firmly off his lap onto her skirts. “If you keep up the questioning, you’ll be out of this carriage faster than you can say ‘I’m no virgin’.”
“But…”
“Enough, Charlotte. It’s been a long day. I’m weary.” To prove his words, he leaned his head against the carriage seat and closed his eyes.
She decided not to provoke him further. What was it Madame had said? Oh yes, men were often more loquacious after a good meal. It was her recommended time for asking for baubles or other favors.
While jewels would help, Charlotte needed a bit more money than some paste jewels would offer. A Season in London was expensive. If she was to help Elizabeth through, she needed the reliability of a monthly income for some time.
Sitting back, she pondered her future while Lucas pretended to sleep. Rather badly too. Having three younger sisters, she was aware when someone actually slept and when one faked it to get out of an unwanted conversation.
He