embrace his long legs and the splendid lean musculature of his thighs and his backside. As he rises to his feet from the depths of one of the armchairs, I imagine, for a fleeting second, spanking him.
Blood fills my cheeks in a raging blush, and I falter and hang back. A huge waft of guilt rushes through me at even thinking that. I open my mouth, but I canât speak, and he smiles at me.
âCome on in, Rose. Would you like a drink?â I notice that he has a glass with something clear and icy set on a little table beside his chair. Vodka? Water? Gin? Who knowsâ¦?
âUmâ¦erâ¦yes.â I flick my glance to the sideboard and a few bottles, but I canât seem to compute whatâs there so I just say, âWhatever youâre havingâ¦please.â
âGood choiceâ¦and do sit down.â He gestures like a Renaissance courtier toward a free chair by the fire and watches me as I make my way there; Iâm terrified Iâll trip or something, despite the fact my heels arenât high or spindly.
I take my seat and watch him mix my drink, swiftly combining clear spirit, ice, mixer and a sliver of lemon. He prepares the concoction perfectly, despite the fact that heâs studying me intently almost all the time.
Iâve dressed carefully.
Jeans are awkward to wriggle out of, especially if youâve got a curvy bottom like mine, so Iâve chosen a soft, full summer skirt that almost sweeps the floor. A miniskirt would be too obvious, not ladylike, and as Iâm here with an aristocrat, Iâm compelled to make an effort to be worthy of him.
On my top half Iâve got a little buttoned camisole, pink to match the skirt, and a light cotton cardigan over that, to keep out the chills. My shoes are low-heeled and quite pretty, and underneath Iâm wearing my best and sexiest underwear.
I aim to pleaseâ¦.
The marquess comes across and hands me my drink, thenretreats to his own chair. Thereâs a moment of silence, tense for me, but apparently totally relaxed for him, and I snatch the opportunity to feast my eyes on his gorgeousness.
He sits so elegantly, even though heâs totally at ease. Long legs out in front of him, booted feet crossed.
Boots? Hell, yes! They do something visceral inside me. They make me shudder and my sex clench and seem to twist and flutter with their connotations of masterfulness. Theyâre old and soft and well polished and not all that tall, but all the same, I almost feel faint just looking at them.
And I get mostly the same feeling from the rest of him.
Heâs got the most exquisite black silk shirt on, full of sleeve and so fluid it seems to float on his body. The collarâs fastened up for the moment, but I have the most intense urge to crawl on my hands and knees across the room and rip it open so I can kiss his throat and his chest and suck his nipples.
And not just his nipples.
His thick, black hair is shiny with a fresh-washed satin sheen and his fine-boned face has the delicious gleam of a recent shave.
Bless him, heâs made as much of an effort for me as I have for him. Another reason to worship and adore him.
I take a mouthful of my drink. It is gin, as I mostly suspected, and itâs a strong one with very little tonic. The balsamic kick of the uncompromising spirit almost makes me cough, but Iâm glad of its heat as the first hit settles in my stomach.
âSoâ¦here we are,â the marquess says pleasantly, eyeing me over the rim of his own glass. As he takes a long swallow, his throat undulates, pale and sensuous.
âYesâ¦erâ¦here we are,â is all I can manage in reply. The gathering tension in my gut renders me all but speechless.
âHave you been thinking about what happened here the other day?â
I nod, dumbstruck now with intense lust. I donât knowwhether I want him to spank me or fuck meâ¦probably both. But I want whateverâs on offer as soon as I