Chance of a Lifetime

Chance of a Lifetime Read Free Page B

Book: Chance of a Lifetime Read Free
Author: Portia Da Costa
Tags: Fiction, Erótica, Short Stories (Single Author)
Ads: Link
he queries, swirling his glass in the face of my continued, dumbstruck silence.
    I want it. Oh, how I want it. And even just the mutual pleasure if I can’t have the other thing. But I’m scared. I feel as if I’m stuck between reality and some kind of weird dream. I still can’t speak, but I take another swig of my gin.
    The marquis frowns. It’s not a cross frown, just a sad little frown, sort of regretful. “I’m sorry. I’ve come on too strong, haven’t I?” He tips his head to one side, his dark hair sliding across his shoulders as he lets out a sigh. “Look, don’t worry about it. Don’t think any more about it. Just finish your gin and we’ll say no more about it. It was wrong of me to ask.”
    I don’t know whether I’m relieved or disappointed. I felt so close to him for a moment, and God, I wanted it all so much. My heart thudding, I swig down my gin and get to my feet on wobbly legs.
    The marquis rises immediately, perfect manners second nature to him. He comes forward as if to escort me to the door, and does so as I make my way toward it, my heart sinking at my own craven lack of daring.
    With one hand on the door handle, he touches my face. The contact is so gentle yet so meaningful, I feel quite faint.
    “Don’t worry, Rose, there’ll be no hard feelings. It’s just a might have been.” He sounds so kind, so ineffably kind that it’s almost like a knife in my heart. “I may have lost all my money and be a poor excuse for an aristocrat, but I do try to behave like a gentleman. We’ll speak no more of this and just go back to a friendly working relationship.”
    “No!”
    He stares at me. The frown is a puzzled one now.
    “No…I mean…yes, I am interested. Definitely. It’s just something that’s completely out of my experience…. Yes,” I repeat, aware that I’m babbling. “I’m definitely interested.”
    His stern, elegant face lights up as if the sun’s just come out. He looks happy, genuinely happy, in a way that seems quite astonishing in a man so obviously worldly and experienced.
    “Splendid!” He sets down his glass, and leans forward. “I’m so glad.”
    Without any warning, he leans down and dusts my lips with a tiny, fleeting kiss.
    “For luck. To seal our agreement.” A wry, strange smile flits across his face. It’s almost as if he’s surprised somehow, but not by me. “Come then.”
    He takes my hand and leads me back toward the fireside.
    When he reaches his armchair, he sits down in it, all elegant, languid grace, and draws me between his outstretched thighs. I suddenly feel very small. Like a naughty little girl, and as that registers, I realize it’s exactly what he wants me to feel. Suddenly I’m staring at my toes, too embarrassed to look at him, even though he’s the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.
    “Ah, now then, my Rose…” He reaches out, lifts my chin with the tip of his finger and makes me look at him. His brown eyes are electric, gleaming and wickedly dark. Just for a second his tongue tip flashes out and licks the center of his lower lip, and it’s as if in that instant someone’s thrown a switch and changed everything in the room.
    We’re playing.
    “So, do you normally go around prying into people’s private belongings? Or is it just me that you spy on?”
    I don’t know how to answer. I don’t even know if I should answer. But he prompts me.
    “Well, Rose?”
    “Um…no, not normally, but I was interested. I wanted something to watch.”
    “And you didn’t think to ask first?”
    “No, my lord…sorry, my lord….”
    His title slips perfectly off my tongue, so sweet and so dangerous in this context.
    “I think I should be punished,” I add rashly, suddenly wanting to move on and get to the heart of the game.
    “Really?” His voice is arch, slightly mocking, but I can still hear the joy in it. “In that case, my dear, bold Rose, I think we should oblige you, shouldn’t we?” He’s still holding my hand, and

Similar Books

Echoes of Tomorrow

Jenny Lykins

T.J. and the Cup Run

Theo Walcott

Looking for Alibrandi

Melina Marchetta

Rescue Nights

Nina Hamilton