“Place your hands on the wall, Nanette,” he ordered.
“But I want to suck your cock, handsome. And then I want you to eat my sweet pussy.”
Hell, no. This was a fuck. A fuck with a purpose. A fuck to ease his discomfort and think of that fetching woman whose lips he couldn’t get out of his mind.
“No. This way. I want to fuck you up against the wall. Pound my hard cock into you.”
Nanette smiled. “I suppose, if you put that way…” She stood and moved to the wall, bracing her hands against the guilt-edged wallpaper, her legs parted slightly.
Zach moved behind her, his cock at attention. He bent his knees and rubbed it against the wetness of her slit. Yes, she was ready. Nanette was always ready.
As he prepared to plunge into her, he conjured a vision of Lady Sophie in his mind. Lord, would she ever offer her pussy to him like this? Would he get the chance to make her his?
Make her his? Where had that thought come from? He had never deluded himself that the women he bedded were his. He had no desire to make any of them his.
He backed away from Nanette, his cock already beginning to lose its erection. “I’m sorry, Nanette. I clearly lost my head for a moment, but I meant what I said earlier. It is over between us.”
“I don’t believe that for a moment.” Nanette slapped him across the face.
The smack stung, but it was nothing he hadn’t endured before. Nanette was far from the first woman he had offended.
“I am indeed sorry,” he said again.
“I suppose this means you no longer want me in your productions.”
“To the contrary. I appreciate your talent and would be happy to have you on my stage.”
“So I have talent. But I suppose I’m nothing compared to your new protégé, Lady Sophie.”
Zach let out a sigh. How could he explain this? “Lady Sophie has a gift.”
“And you don’t feel I have that gift?”
“You have a lovely voice. You’re good actress and a good singer. But Lady Sophie… It’s as if the angels themselves come down from heaven and sing through her.”
Nanette shook her head. “Did I really just hear you correctly? What utter nonsense! You want to know what I think? I think this ‘gift’ you speak about is your way to get into her drawers.”
“For God’s sake, Nanette. Get dressed and get out of here.”
Nanette gathered her garments and walked out of the office, still naked.
“Good riddance,” Zach said under his breath. He readjusted his britches quickly, pondering. Did Nanette have a point? Was he enamored with Sophie’s voice just because he wanted to get beneath her corset? Because he couldn’t deny it. He wanted Sophie. Something about her called to him.
Was it her voice? Her voice was angelic, and he did want to help her develop it. He truly did believe he could make her a sensation. But something more tugged at him. She was lovely—lovely in a way more understated than usual. She was a beautiful woman who didn’t know she was beautiful. Zach wanted to help her find her beauty and appreciate it.
He had to get her to agree to perform in the musical. It would not only help him and his production and be a gift to all audience members who heard her, but he had the distinct feeling that she needed it.
* * *
Sophie had no sooner returned to the estate than Ally pounced on her.
“Tell me all about it! How was the audition? How did you find Mr. Newland? Isn’t he just magnificent to look at? Were you nervous? What did he say about your singing?”
Sophie drew in a breath. “My goodness, how many questions did you just ask?”
“I counted five. Answer whichever you want first. It’s no matter to me.” Ally took Sophie’s hand and drew her into the parlor. “Now sit here right beside me.” Ally pointed to the divan.
Sophie sat—or rather, Sophie collapsed. Her energy was drained. First singing in front of Mr. Newland and others, and then the kiss, and then dealing with that other actress—all of it had sucked the energy right out of her.