“There will be no talk of marriage or love,” she added. She could never allow herself to fall in love with him when she already knew they could never be together. By protecting her heart, she wouldn’t feel the bitter taste of abandonment when they ended the relationship.
“How does one stop oneself from falling in love?” he asked with a deep frown.
“Surely, you haven’t fallen in love with all your mistresses.”
“No, but I never created rules such as yours with my mistresses. We both knew going into the arrangement that I would not and could not marry them.”
“Exactly, as is our case. Only that also includes love in our case. We cannot and will not fall in love.” She caressed his cheek with the back of her hand.
He shook his head. “It is not always that easy, sweetheart.”
“I do understand that, Nicholas. But if we agree in advance, then if one of us feels their attraction is turning into more, that person should end the relationship.”
“Very well, if that is how you would like this arrangement”—he paused for a moment as if he had more reservations—“I agree.”
“So now what?”
His brown eyes smoldered with gold flecks. He took her hand and led her up to his bedchamber in silence. Firelight danced across the room as he stared at her.
Sophie turned to get a breath before his look burned her to a cinder. His room was exactly how she would have pictured it. A large four poster bed occupied the majority of space with a mahogany night-stand next to it. On the opposite wall, a clothing press and cheval-glass mirror took up most of the space. Two gold velvet wingback chairs were placed by the fireplace. The walls were covered in a dark blue paper.
“Are you nervous?” he asked.
She spun around with a forced laugh. “Of course not!”
“I have wanted to strip that beautiful dress off you since you walked into my study.”
Sophie swallowed and watched as he walked to the mirror and turned it toward the bed. “What are you doing?”
The smile he sent her almost buckled her knees. She had heard of many peculiar things men liked in bed from her mother, but Sophie never imagined her body reacting so intensely to the idea of watching Nicholas make love to her. Her pulse thrummed and her folds dampened with desire.
“Come here,” he whispered, holding out his hand to her.
She walked over by the bed where he stood. He turned her to face the bedpost and then kissed her neck again. Sophie shivered as his fingers went to the buttons on the back of her dress and slowly slid them through their holes. From the angle of the mirror, she could see his mouth follow the path of the buttons down her back.
He slipped the silk off her shoulders. The dress looked like a glittering pond with the light of the fire dancing upon it. His hands moved to her stays and quickly unlaced them. In only a moment, she was standing naked by the bedpost with the rest of her undergarments strewn across the floor.
She held onto the bedpost for support as he trailed hot kisses down her back to her derrière. He slowly turned her so she faced him again.
“Why am I naked and you are not?” she asked, reaching for his coat.
“That is a problem most easily solved.” He tore at his clothing until he stood before her as naked as she was. “Better?”
“Much,” she said, reaching for his cock. She skimmed her fingers up the long length of him and watched his reaction in the mirror. Remembering what her mother told her men like the most, she circled her tongue around the velvety tip of him.
“Sophie,” he groaned. He reached for her hair and removed the pins, allowing her tresses to fall down her back.
She brought him completely into her mouth. Mimicking the movements they’d made in bed, she slid her mouth up and down his length.
“Oh, dear God,” he moaned, staring at her in the mirror. “Sophie, no more.” He lifted her up and moved her back against the post. His mouth found her taut nipple and suckled her.
Sophie couldn’t take her eyes off the mirror as he tugged and teased her breasts. Bringing her hands behind her back, she clung to the bedpost. The aching in her womb deepened. She needed him, wanted him.
“Nicholas, please.”
“Not yet,” he murmured. He kissed his way down her belly until he reached her moist folds. He placed one of her legs on the bed board allowing him greater access, and her the ability to see exactly what he was doing.
Watching his tongue on her was driving her mad with desire. When he slid his finger inside her, she almost buckled. He glided his finger in and out of her, imitating the action of his penis. Aching need spiraled deep inside of her until she felt compelled to close her eyes and let the climax wash over her. Shaking as she clutched the bedpost, she moaned his name.