Читать книгу Three Rich Men: House of Midnight Fantasies / Forced to the Altar / The Millionaire's Pregnant Mistress - Michelle Celmer - Страница 10

Selene was surprised to find the evening meal set out in the formal dining room, not at the small dinette in the kitchen. But she was even more shocked to see Adrien seated at one end of the rectangular table, wearing a crisp white shirt that matched the tablecloth, his dark hair framing his shadowed jaw in soft waves. His very first appearance at dinner.

When she noticed only one other place setting aside from his, she asked, “Is Ella not joining us?”

“She’s already had her dinner.” He picked up a knife and ran his fingertips along the blunt end of the silver blade. “She’s about to leave.”

Another surprise among several, and one Selene wasn’t certain she welcomed. “Where is she going?”

“Why don’t you ask her?”

“I will.”

Once in the kitchen, Selene found Ella sliding two plastic containers inside the refrigerator, a lone paisley bag set out on the floor not far way. “Going somewhere?”

Ella straightened, closed the door and faced Selene with a smile. “To visit my brother and nephews in Shreveport. I’m about to leave as soon as I finish up here. A car’s waiting to take me to the airport.”

“When did you decide to do this?” Selene heard uneasiness in her voice and tried to temper it when she added, “I don’t remember you mentioning a trip.”

Ella grabbed a dish towel, wiped her hands and then tossed it aside. “That’s because I only decided to go this afternoon.”

“Not a family emergency, I hope.”

“No, dear, just a visit that’s long past coming. I’ll only be gone a week, maybe two.”

A week or two? Selene resisted wringing her hands from a nervousness she couldn’t control. In a matter of moments, she would be in the house with Adrien, completely alone. That created some more cause for concern, although admittedly the thought excited her. “When you return, we need to discuss some of the particulars on the restoration. I have a few ideas I would like to run past you.”

“I look forward to it.” She picked up the bag and gestured toward the refrigerator. “I’ve prepared several meals for you to heat up. Just make sure he eats on occasion. He’s lost too much weight as it is. He’s too thin.”

Granted, Adrien was lean, but Selene wouldn’t exactly describe him as thin. Not in the least. “I’ll try, but I don’t know if I’ll make much headway.”

“All I ask is that you try. The rest is up to him.” Ella patted Selene’s cheek. “Now see me to the door, then you can eat before it gets cold.”

Silently they walked past the dining room where Adrien was still seated, then through the angel rotunda and into the vestibule. At the front door, Ella turned to Selene, concern calling out from her eyes. “Remember what I’ve told you. Stand your ground with Adrien. Don’t let him talk you into anything.”

Selene clasped the hem of her blouse and held it tightly. “You don’t have to worry. I’m not one to do anything I don’t want to do.” Not in this lifetime. Not any longer.

“And you don’t have to worry about Adrien doing you any harm.”

“That’s good to know.” When Ella’s gaze drifted away, Selene’s worry increased. “What is it you’re not telling me, Ella?”

“He is a very persuasive man, skâ. Many a woman could attest to that. But no one knows the real man behind that steel exterior. Take care to protect your heart.”

Selene released a humorless laugh. “Believe me, Ella, falling in love is the last thing on my mind. Let’s just say I’m rather jaded when it comes to that sort of thing.”

“Falling in love isn’t always a terrible thing.” Ella studied Selene a moment longer, looking thoughtful. “But now that I think about it, you could be the one.”

“The one?”

“The one who saves him from his isolation. Saves him from himself, in a manner of speaking. It will take a strong woman, but you could be that woman.”

After a brief hug, Ella walked out the door, leaving Selene to analyze her assertions. She’d never seen herself as being all that tough, at least not in recent years. Yet it had taken a good deal of strength to walk away from the only home she’d known and set out on her own. But was she strong enough to prevent her emotions from overtaking good sense if she did become further involved with Adrien?

He is a very persuasive man…. Many a woman could attest to that ….

All along, Selene had acknowledged she would be only another conquest. Another woman among heaven only knew how many more. But then, if she viewed it logically, he could be her conquest, too. Her ticket to the adventure of a lifetime. For that reason, she intended to explore all the possibilities with him, beginning tonight. She could play it safe and always wonder what she might be missing, or she could gain firsthand knowledge of his skill as a lover. She wanted that firsthand knowledge. She wanted to know what it would be like to have a man pay complete attention to her needs, as she knew he would.

Driven by anticipation and adrenaline, Selene made her way back through the house at a fast clip. She only paused to take a brief look at Grace’s portrait, questioning again if the young woman had been, in fact, the journal’s author. If so, Selene could definitely relate to how Grace had felt when she’d met her mysterious lover—excited, winded and somewhat wicked. Which would make Selene a “wanton,” she supposed. Well, not yet anyway, but possibly before the night was over, if all went as planned.

When she reached the dining room, Selene discovered Adrien had waited to begin eating. She took her designated place at the opposite end of the table and draped the napkin in her lap.

“Looks great,” she said as she inspected the food—blackened fish, a vegetable medley and rice. Unfortunately, she wasn’t at all hungry, even though she probably should be.

“Did you and Ella have a nice chat?”

Selene looked up from the plate to find Adrien staring at her. “We didn’t really have a chat. I told her to have a nice time and she told me to make you eat.” She picked up her fork and gestured toward his plate. “So eat, otherwise I might be out of a job if she comes back and finds you’ve totally wasted away.”

“I won’t be wasting away. In fact, I’ve had an increase in my appetites in the past few days.”

Selene concentrated on eating while considering he’d said “appetites,” meaning those not only having to do with sustenance. Needless to say, hers had improved as well, but not when it came to this particular meal. The fish was a bit too spicy for her taste and, although the vegetables were good, the rice seemed to stick in her parched throat. For the most part, she pushed the food around on her plate while the silence continued.

“I’m finished,” Adrien said after a time, drawing her attention to find his plate absent of any food.

Selene nudged her plate away and dabbed at her mouth with the napkin before setting it aside. “I’m finished, too.”

He leaned forward and studied her half-full dish. “You didn’t eat much at all.”

“It’s the hot weather,” she said. “I’m never that hungry in the summer.”

Without saying a word, he pushed back from the table, stood and strolled toward her, his gaze fastened firmly on hers.

Selene braced for what he might do next until he picked up her plate and said, “I’ll be back in a minute. Don’t go anywhere.”

She wasn’t sure she could move even if she’d wanted to.

Adrien grabbed his own plate, headed for the kitchen, then returned a few moments later with an open bottle of red wine. He came back to her, filled the glasses he’d brought with him and set one before her.

She waved it away. “No thanks.”

He nudged the wine closer. “Take it. You look like you could use a drink.”

Selene decided not to argue since a little libation might not be such a bad idea. Maybe it might even untangle the nervous knots in her belly. “Okay, I guess I could have a glass.” Or two or three should she decide she needed to find courage in a bottle. Ridiculous. She didn’t have to get drunk to enjoy Adrien’s attention. He was already intoxicating enough, particularly the way he filled out his slacks, something she couldn’t help but notice when he turned away to reclaim his place at the opposite end of the table.

After he settled back into his seat, he took a long drink of the port before he asked, “What were you like as a child?”

She wasn’t expecting that at all. “Serious, I guess you could say. An above-average student. I was fairly reserved.” And different, something she’d recognized at a very young age, thanks to the “gift.”

He rubbed a hand along his jaw. “Interesting. I had you pegged as a social butterfly.”

She’d never quite left her cocoon, the one she’d weaved for self-protection. “Not really. Now my baby sister, on the other hand, was quite the hellion. Someone had to keep her in line.”

That seemed to pique his interest. “Are you and your sister still close?”

“Yes. Very close. She’s back in Georgia and about to have her first baby. Do you have any siblings?”

He drank the last of his wine and set the glass down hard. “No.”

Selene sensed that was somewhat of a sorry subject from the somber look on his face. “What were you like growing up?”

He flashed a wry grin. “Trouble.”

She couldn’t help but return his smile. “Why does this not surprise me?”

He rimmed a slow finger along the edge of his glass, drawing her attention. “Unlike you, I wasn’t a great student. You could label me the classic underachiever, at least during high school. I did manage to obtain an MBA from Notre Dame.”

Selene didn’t consider that an underachievement at all. “I went to the University of Georgia for my undergraduate studies. No master’s although I did consider going back at one time. But then I made that fatal mistake of getting married instead.”

“To Richard the fool.”

Selene wrapped both her hands around her glass and stared into the burgundy liquid. “Yes, to Richard the fool.”

She heard the scrape of his chair but failed to look up, her pulse accelerating with the sound of his approaching footsteps. She finally did give him her attention when he pulled her chair from the table, turned it to one side, then positioned another chair to face her and dropped down into it.

He rested his hands on her thighs. “I like what you’re wearing tonight,” he said in his chill-inducing voice.

“Thank you.” She’d actually chosen the sleeveless red silk blouse and black mid-thigh skirt for him, as absurd as that seemed.

He inched his hands higher, just beneath the hem. “Have you thought about what I proposed earlier?”

She sighed. “That’s all I’ve been thinking about.”

“And?”

“I need to think a little more.” As if she could really think at all with his hands on her. “I’ll do that while I’m washing the dishes.”

“The dishes can wait.”

“I need something to do while I think.”

He hinted at a smile, as if he might have a suggestion on what she could do. “Leave your veranda doors open in your bedroom. I’ll come to you.” He leaned over and brushed a soft kiss on her lips, then stood.

“I guess I’ll see you in a while, then.” She’d agreed without hesitation, but then she’d known all along she would. Known that buying more time would only delay the inevitable, and he knew it, too.

He turned away briefly before facing her again. “Don’t get undressed. Wear what you’re wearing now.”

“Anything else?” she asked.

“That’s it. For now.”

Then he was gone, leaving behind his sandalwood scent and leaving Selene with a heightened sense of excitement and impatience.

Whatever he had in store for her, Selene doubted she would easily forget it—and she hoped she didn’t regret it.

Twenty minutes later, Selene walked into the darkened bedroom, fumbled for the lamp on the dresser and switched it on. After slipping off her sandals, she crossed the room, the floorboards creaking beneath her bare feet, her knees practically knocking from nervousness. She knew what she was about to do would be deemed risky, the reason why she hesitated when she clasped the brass handles. As soon as she opened the doors, she would be opening herself up to several possibilities that could be very good, or very bad, at least in the long term. The long term didn’t matter. Being with Adrien tonight did. A risk she planned to take.

Selene opened the doors wide, letting in a draft of warm, humid air. The moon had returned, fuller this time, washing the veranda in a blue glow. She backed away, uncertain what to do next or where to go. Should she lie back on the bed? Or would that make her seem too eager? After deliberating a few moments, she turned off the light, took the wing-back chair across the room and waited. And waited …

Just when she decided Adrien had changed his mind, he appeared at the open doors, causing Selene to startle even though she’d been staring at the spot for several minutes. He moved into the room like some ethereal being. A dark, imposing presence.

Surprisingly, he strode to the dresser and clicked on the same lamp Selene had turned off. Obviously he didn’t prefer darkness in every instance. He still had on his slacks, but he’d removed his shirt, and his wavy hair looked as untamed as his eyes. He touched the gold medallion hanging against his bronzed chest then ran a slow palm down from his sternum to his belly. For a minute she thought he might remove his pants but instead, he stalked toward her.

With great effort, Selene maintained a relaxed posture despite the rapid beat of her heart. “I thought you weren’t coming.”

Adrien braced both hands on the arms of the chair and leaned toward her. “I had every intention of coming, and soon you will, too.”

He topped off the suggestive comment with the hint of a smile that did little to ease Selene’s urge to twitch in the chair. She clasped his offered hands and allowed him to pull her up into his arms, against his solid body that radiated heat. When she pressed her palms against his chest, intending to explore, he caught her wrists and held her arms at her sides.

“I’ll do all the touching,” he told her, his voice impossibly deep.

“Does this mean you expect me to be submissive?”

“Yes.”

Nothing new there. She’d played the submissive to Richard, but then she hadn’t really cared enough to actively participate. Their married life had involved little more than occasional, perfunctory sex. Although she’d avoided too much analysis during their time together, she realized now that any true passion had been lacking from the beginning. During lovemaking—if she could really call it that—she’d always been detached. At times, even uncomfortable. Yet she sensed that with Adrien, detachment or discomfort wouldn’t be an issue.

He glanced behind him toward the bed before bringing his gaze back to hers. “Normally I prefer the unconventional, but I might have to make a few concessions tonight.”

She was more than curious and a tiny bit nervous over the possibilities. “What do you consider unconventional?”

He brushed her hair away from her shoulders. “Anywhere other than a bed. But after I get started, you might be too weak to stand.”

Weak? She was already feeling weak only imagining the potential in his promise. And in order to see this through, Selene would have to give him her trust. She honestly believed he didn’t intend to hold her down and torture her, or at least not any way that would put her in serious jeopardy.

Adrien kept his eyes leveled on Selene while he turned her palms up and kissed each wrist. “You don’t have to worry,” he said, as if he sensed her concerns. “It’s up to you to tell me when to stop or to go.” He lifted one of her hands and rubbed her knuckles along his jaw. “Although you’ll be saying go more than stop. Yes more than no.”

Selene appreciated his confidence. In fact, she appreciated everything about him at the moment—the length of his dark lashes, the definition of his incredible mouth, the breadth of his shoulders and the clear-cut control he emitted.

Absolute power.

“First, you need to relax,” he said as he took her hand and led her to the open doors, then stood behind her. A chorus of locusts eemed to keep time with Selene’s thrumming heart as Adrien circled his arms around her waist and pulled her back against him.

“The swamp is a powerhouse of biorhythms at night.” He moved his palm to her neck and rubbed his thumb up and down the column of her throat. “Unlike humans, animals don’t fight the force of nature.”

“They don’t overanalyze, you mean.” Selene was proud she could assimilate any thoughts at all with Adrien so close.

“Exactly.” He tipped her face back with his fingertips and pressed a kiss on her cheek. “They only consider their natural urges.”

Selene decided taking a lesson from nature seemed like a fine idea. Right now she would give up all reason for his attention. The pleasure of his touch. He kissed her lightly, chastely, before pulling away until she sought his mouth again. Twice more he retreated, and each time Selene went back for more. Finally he deepened the kiss, suckling her lips, nipping lightly, exploring meticulously with the soft thrust of his tongue.

So wrapped up in that kiss, it took a moment for Selene to register the waft of warm air on her chest. She hadn’t even noticed that Adrien had managed to unbutton her blouse, leaving her red lace bra exposed.

He halted the kiss to rest his lips against her ear. “Are you relaxed yet?”

Relaxed, not exactly. Heating up with every passing moment, definitely. “I’m getting there.”

“Good.”

When he circled her nipple through the thin lace with his fingertip, Selene’s whole body felt as if it might liquefy. She could only imagine how she would react when he finally touched her without any barriers at all.

He slid his hand down her bare midriff and around the skirt’s waistband, as he had in the cabin earlier that day.

“Stop or go?” In the instant that she hesitated, he told her, “Don’t think too much, Selene. Listen to your body, not your mind.”

“Go.” The word rode out on a shaky breath that halted altogether as Adrien reached down and worked her skirt up her thighs. When he formed one palm between her legs outside her panties and applied only a slight pressure, her knees practically buckled.

He released a rough, sensuous laugh. “We definitely need the bed.”

Again he took the lead, and she followed him back into the room without any real qualms. He seated her on the edge of the mattress and left her to open the screened windows flanking the closed doors, then walked to the middle of the room and pulled the chain that set the overhead fan on high.

He came back to the bed and stood over her. “Take off your blouse and your bra.” His voice was a firm command. His steadfast gaze demanded she answer.

As if she had no choice but to do his bidding, Selene slid the gaping top off her shoulders with ease and draped it on the footboard. But when she attempted to tackle the bra’s front closure, her hands trembled. Adrien knelt in front of her and gently moved her hands away before effortlessly flicking the bra open, proving he’d done this before. Probably many times, Selene decided. When he leaned forward and touched the tip of his tongue to her nipple, Selene experienced a pleasurable shock to her system and drenching dampness between her legs.

He stood, pulled her to her feet and, after he’d proficiently discarded her skirt, he tossed back the bedspread and sheets. “Stretch out on your back, Selene.”

Selene was naked except for her panties, and he was still wearing his slacks. That seemed somewhat unfair. “What about you?” she asked.

“What about me?”

“Aren’t you going to get undressed?”

“This is all about you right now.”

Well, that was definitely a first in Selene’s experience, so she chose not to argue even though she was somewhat disappointed. She doubted that her disappointment would last very long. After climbing into the bed, she laid her head back on the pillow, waiting and wondering what Adrien planned to do next.

Following a long look down her body, he sat, leaned over and braced his palms on either side of her. “I want you to watch what I’m doing.”

“I want to close my eyes so I can concentrate.” The truth, but only in part. She wanted to remain somewhat disconnected. She wanted to treat this exclusively as a visceral experience, leaving all emotions out of it. She didn’t want to become too attached to a man who lived only for the moment.

“If that makes you more comfortable, fine,” he said. “At least for now.”

Selene closed her eyes when he kissed her again with a highly evocative play of his tongue against hers, driving all reservations from her mind. When he broke the kiss and drew her nipple into his mouth, she absorbed the sensations, savoring every pass of his tongue, every pull of his lips. Then something happened that was both unexpected and enthralling—she could see as well as feel what Adrien was doing through the mystical workings of her mind now joined with his. She could see him skim his hands down her sides at the same time she experienced the slight abrasion of his callused palms. Could see as well as feel him draw a line with his fingertips from her pelvis to her hips before drifting down to bend her knees.

For endless moments he caressed her with delicate strokes all along her body, from her arms to her feet, leaving nothing untouched. After another stimulating kiss, he used his mouth and tongue to follow the path he’d taken with his hands. He tenderly manipulated places that at one time had seemed inconsequential to Selene when it came to lovemaking. Yet with Adrien, every spot he explored became overly sensitive, as if he had found undiscovered erogenous zones. Undiscovered to her, at least.

And all the while, she watched from his perspective from behind closed lids, taking an erotic journey into his mind, sensing his building excitement as well as her own. By the time he sucked a small patch of skin between her thighs, she was bordering on coming totally undone. And when he clasped the elastic band below her belly, she experienced an undeniable ache and another rush of damp heat between her thighs.

But instead of sliding her panties down, Adrien paused and said, “I want you to hold out as long as you can before you climax.”

Selene opened her eyes and met his intense gaze. “I’m not sure I can.”

He gave her the most patently sexy look she’d ever witnessed from a man. “Then I guess I’ll be forced to give you another orgasm.”

This had to be a dream. Never before had Selene encountered a man so determined to give her complete pleasure with no thought of his own needs.

Without wavering, Adrien worked the lace down her legs and tossed her panties aside. Again Selene closed her eyes and saw what he saw as he parted her legs. Now she was completely exposed to him and more vulnerable than she’d ever been before. Yet any concerns she might have entertained gave way to an unqualified rush when he divided her flesh, tested her with a fingertip, then two as he fondled her inside and out. He knew how to tease. He knew how to tempt. He knew exactly where to concentrate his attention until she lifted her hips in response.

Holding back wasn’t going to be possible, that much Selene knew as the first contraction hit her, causing her to clasp fistfuls of the sheet. She gritted her teeth, tried to cling to her control, but that control clashed with the need for release. The climax surged through her, shaking her entire body. She tipped her head back and a steady moan threatened to leave her mouth, saved only by Adrien’s own mouth closing over hers to absorb the sound.

When he broke the kiss, Selene opened her eyes to find him studying her. She draped an arm over her damp forehead and sighed. “I’m relaxed now.”

He released another low, grainy laugh. “You’re almost too hot to handle. But I’m going to do it to you again.”

“Adrien, I.”

Can’t handle any more. She had no choice but to try as Adrien began touching her as ardently as he had before.

“I want to use my mouth on you,” he said as he slid a finger inside her. “But I’ll save that for later, when I know you’re ready.”

If he did use his mouth, Selene had no doubt she would dissolve into the mattress beneath her back. And she wasn’t concerned with later. She was focused only on the here and now as Adrien worked his spell, speaking to her in a low steady voice, telling her how sweet she was and describing what he was doing to her in very detailed terms. In a matter of moments, he had her back on the brink, ready to plummet again. When he whispered, “I’m going to make you scream,” that was all it took.

Selene didn’t exactly scream when the orgasm hit, but she did groan. A long, almost mournful groan that she couldn’t believe actually came from her. She had no idea what he had done, only that she was practically panting by the time the sensations subsided. Then suddenly Adrien was next to her, enfolding her in his arms, soothing her with gentle kisses on her lips and cheeks.

“Where did you learn to do that?” she finally managed to say.

He brushed her hair from her forehead and kissed her there. “I studied tantric sex. Since then, I’ve done some modification and experimenting. And I’ve practiced.”

“With several partners, I take it.” Something that didn’t set well with Selene.

“No. Only a chosen few.”

That relieved her somewhat. “Should I be flattered?”

“Yes, you should. I’m very selective. And I always begin with the singular purpose of pleasing a woman. I’ve only scratched the surface with you.”

He’d scratched a few itches she hadn’t realized she’d had until now. “I’m not sure I can take much more of that.”

He rose up on one elbow, using his fist to support his jaw while keeping his free hand idling on her breast. “You can. But right now, you need to sleep.”

Selene could only gape when Adrien left the bed and started toward the door. “Wait a minute. That’s it?”

He faced her again. “That wasn’t enough?”

“Actually, I thought we were going to …” She wasn’t quite sure how to say it.

He leaned back against the door. “Anyone can climb on and have it over in a matter of minutes, Selene. But not everyone takes the time to get to know their partner’s body. I want to know yours before I’m inside you. And I’m only getting started.”

Then he left the room, the sounds of his footsteps and the opening and closing door echoing in Selene’s ears.

Adrien Morrell was a sexual savant bent on demonstrating his genius on her. And she would continue to be a willing study, as long as he eventually gave in and gave her his all.