Ecstasy (Notorious 4)

Then she caught sight of herself in the cheval glass. She looked like a woman who had been deliciously ravished all night long and who was more than eager to repeat the experience. Her hair was a wild tangle around her face, her lips bruised and swollen, her nipples rasped red from the attentions of his hot mouth…

Raven closed her eyes, remembering Kell’s exquisite lovemaking and the explosive desire he had aroused in her. The memory was a wild hunger in her-

A soft rap on the door made her snatch up her gown to cover her nakedness.

It was Emma, carrying a tray. “I’ve brought you breakfast,” she said with a cheerful smile, “or luncheon, really.”

Raven glanced at the brocade draperies, which were still shut against the morning light. “What time is it?”

“Nearly noon.”

“So late?” She blushed, feeling unexpectedly flustered to have been caught in Kell’s bed like this, by his mistress.

“Kell thought you needed to sleep. Your groom-O’Malley, is that his name?-was here at the crack of dawn, looking for you. He wanted to make certain you were all right. But Kell assured him you hadn’t been abducted again.”

Absurdly Raven found herself stammering. “I suppose…you are wondering what I’m doing here…”

“Not in the least,” Emma replied, setting down her tray on the small table near the hearth. “You are Kell’s wife, after all.”

“But still this is awkward with you being his…”

Emma’s eyebrows shot up. She studied Raven a moment before understanding dawned. “Did you think I was his paramour? Oh, Raven, Kell and I are not lovers, nor have we ever been. I have no claim to him.”

Raven stared, frowning. Had he deliberately misled her about the nature of his relationship with his beautiful hostess? She thought back to what he’d said about Emma knowing how to satisfy a man. He’d never actually declared in so many words that they were lovers, but he’d certainly implied as much, never taking the trouble to deny the accusation…

Relief and vexation roiling though her, Raven muttered an unladylike oath. She would have a few choice words to say to Kell about his deception when she next saw him. If not for her jealousy, she would never have agreed to share his bed last night-

Emma interrupted her vengeful thoughts with a faint, self-deprecating smile. “I admit I would have welcomed such an arrangement with Kell,” she confessed with surprising candor. “In fact, when he rescued me from my former situation, I offered to become his mistress, but he declined, claiming I was acting out of gratitude. He wouldn’t take advantage of my vulnerability. But if he had shown the slightest encouragement…” Her gaze focused on Raven. “I think you are very fortunate to have captured his interest,” she said softly, then shook herself out of her reverie. “Come, put something on and enjoy your breakfast before it grows cold.”

Raven felt herself flushing again, both at her state of undress and this strange turn of events, discussing Kell’s romantic inclinations with another woman. Rather than argue, however, she found a brocade robe of Kell’s in the wardrobe and settled before the hearth to eat. When she invited the hostess to join her, Emma hesitated only a moment before sitting in the adjacent chair.

“If I may,” the hostess murmured, “I have a question to ask you. It concerns his grace, the Duke of Halford.”

“Halford?” Raven repeated curiously as she sipped her hot coffee.

“Yes. Last night he…expressed an interest in seeing me again. Would you mind terribly if I were to agree? He seems in need of comfort after…well, after losing you to Kell.”

Swallowing her surprise, Raven shook her head. “No, I would not mind in the least. I have no claim to Halford.”

“I wouldn’t accept a permanent arrangement,” Emma remarked, “even if he offered. Kell pays me extremely well, enough to allow me a large measure of independence, so I can choose the gentlemen I see. But being alone as I am…well, it sometimes gets lonely.”

Raven felt a pang of sympathy. She understood loneliness; she’d known a great deal of it since her mother died, a feeling that had only been exacerbated since her marriage.

“I know Kell suffers from loneliness as well,” Emma said softly, “even though he would be the last to admit it. That’s why I am so glad he has you. I hope you will be spending more time here, Raven.”

She shook her head. “It’s unlikely, for I’ll be leaving town soon. I plan to celebrate Christmas in the country with my grandfather.”

“Oh, is Kell accompanying you?”

Raven hesitated. Her grandfather had expressly written in his last letter that her new husband would be welcome, but she hadn’t mentioned the invitation to Kell. “We haven’t discussed it yet, but I doubt he would want to go.”

“I do hope you can persuade him. It would do him a world of good to be with you.”

Raven wasn’t certain she wanted to persuade him, for sharing a holiday with Kell could only lead to more intimacy and complicate their relationship further.

And yet…Emma was no doubt right about his loneliness. She had sensed that in him almost from the first. Beneath his air of disdainful detachment, he was hiding more pain and loneliness than he would ever reveal. She just didn’t know if she wanted to do anything about it.

She had started to cut a bite of ham when the door opened and Kell walked in. As Raven glanced over her shoulder, he met her gaze, and heat crackled between them like a bolt of lightning. Raven found herself suddenly breathless.