Page 56 of Dangerous

She strode to her dressing table and took up a pair of pointed, smooth sticks, which she jammed into her hair at odd angles, keeping the heavy bun firmly at the back of her head. The clever trick distracted him and his eyes followed her as she moved toward the bellpull and then halted. “Shall I order breakfast and a bath or have you already done so?” she asked.

There was no hurry about introducing her to the mare.

“Both sound delightful.” He watched her from beneath lowered lids, like some hole-and-corner pervert.

Mia pulled the bell and then poured herself a glass of water from the pitcher that sat on the console table. She was refilling the glass when the door swung open and one of the housemaids entered. The girl’s jaw came unhinged and her eyes fixed on the naked backside of her mistress.

He lurched to his feet. “Come back in five minutes.”

The door clicked shut almost before the words left his mouth.

Mia glanced behind her and then cut him a puzzled look. “What is it, my lord?” She absently scratched one of her shoulders, her forearm brushing the tips of her delicious breasts.

Adam felt as though he was falling from a great height.

“Have you changed your mind, Adam?” she asked, flopping down onto her bed and folding her legs into the same cross-legged position as last night. Except last night she’d not been naked.

Adam could not pull his eyes from the tiny bit of pink peeking from the tangle of red hair. He was rock-hard and unable to put even two sensible words together. The silence lengthened before he managed to pull his eyes away from her sex. He coughed and cleared his throat, hoping to God he didn’t squeak like a rodent when he spoke.

“Perhaps you should put some clothing on when you call for a servant? It could have been one of the footmen who answered the bell.”

Mia looked down, as if realizing she was naked, and then looked back at him, a slow, sensual smile spreading across her face before she laughed, the action causing her small breasts to shake enticingly.

Adam snatched up the robe she’d worn last night. “Put this on.”

She shrugged into it. “I am accustomed to wearing fewer clothes.”

“Yes, well, I am very fond of seeing you without any clothing but would prefer others were not allowed the same privilege.” Like that bloody footman. A scorching wave of jealousy made one head hot with anger while the other throbbed to take her again, just to make sure she knew whom it was she belonged to.

Her knowing smile said she read him like a book. “Will you button me?” She came to stand close to him.

Adam fastened the small buttons, disgusted by the way his hands were shaking. “What would you like first, breakfast or bath?”

“Both. I would like to eat some breakfast while I soak with you.”

“Mm-hm.” It was the only sound he was capable of making as the clenching of his testicles almost doubled him over.

* * *

They lay in the enormous tub and Adam marveled that he’d never bathed with a lover. Mia, on the other hand, seemed as comfortable washing his body as she was her own. She scrubbed and soaped him with sensual efficiency. Her amusement at his constant erection was somewhat humiliating. She cocked one eyebrow as she studied the head of his penis above the water and met his eyes.

He shook his head. “No. Give me your foot.” He soaped her toes, trying to keep to the parts of her body that would not cause him to shame himself by ejaculating.

She lay back as he rubbed her feet and legs and took a piece of toast from the tea tray that had been placed next to the enormous bathtub.

“This is heaven.” Her eyes closed.

She was right. Adam was more relaxed this morning than he’d been in years—if ever. He was certainly more satisfied than he’d ever felt with his mistresses, whom he’d bedded and gifted but never exchanged intimacies with such as this.

“You’ll probably need to wait for your exhibition match until tomorrow. At this rate I’ll not have enough energy left to wield a fork.”

Her eyes opened to mere slits. “That is a pitiful admission, my lord marquess. Perhaps you need a more rigorous sparring partner to train with?”

“Are you applying for that position?” He wondered yet again whether he could take her once more and still have time to introduce her to her gift.

“I may have some available time.” She wrinkled her brow, as if mentally surveying a very crowded calendar.

Adam tugged on her foot and she slid forward. “Yes, yes, my lord! Of course I have space for just one more,” she laughingly protested as her chin dipped below the water, one hand held high to keep her toast dry.