Anna found it hard to hide her surprise. It had been nearly three weeks and now, out of the blue, Adam wanted to see her. Even more surprising was that he wanted her to go away with him for the night.
Uncertain as to what exactly he had in mind, she was tempted to turn the booking down.
“Do you know if it is an occasion? Or even where he wants to go?”
“No to both. He’d rather surprise you, apparently,” Maddie said.
“That’s nice,” she replied dryly.
She recalled the last time he had taken her away. He’d surprised her then, flying her to a private island. She did not expect him to do the same this time, nor did she want him to, given what had occurred there.
Despite her determination to remain indifferent, she felt a stirring of excitement, but by the time she had stepped into his car and settled into the sumptuous leather interior, her enthusiasm was all but gone.
Why had she agreed to see him? Hadn’t she put him behind her? She thought of her trip to Zakynthos and her newly found determination.
Adam leaned forward to place a gentle kiss on her cheek. Her response was the same as with any client. A warm smile. Unfazed, he grinned and winked at her. It was a wickedly flirtatious gesture, one that hinted at a shared and secret bond. It was almost her undoing.
Adam was a good driver, perhaps a little fast but not enough to concern her. It was as if the car, a high performance Cadillac coupe, was more comfortable cruising at the higher speed. That is, until they reached the narrower, winding country roads.
When the city was far behind them and the road hardly wide enough for two vehicles to pass, they slowed and drove between two imposing stone pillars. Although only early evening, the wintery day had faded long ago, and apart from the headlights, only the emerging moon shed any light. On either side of the long drive, the trees were already little more than dark silhouettes. Anna thought she could make out expansive paddocks and wondered if that meant there would be horses. Then the floodlit façade of the hotel came into view, and soon after the tarmac drive gave way to stone chips. The wheels of the Cadillac crunched as Adam pulled up under the large portico.
“I hope you will enjoy tonight,” he said, cutting the engine and turning to her.
“I’m sure I will,” Anna said. What was there not to enjoy? The hotel promised the luxury and graciousness of a bygone era, and as if to compound that fantasy, a top-hatted, tail-coated porter was advancing towards them.
The reception area was a grand statement of ornate moldings and decorative columns. The intricate marble flooring and carefully selected furniture were impressive, but even they paled beneath the huge chandelier glowing with what seemed like hundreds of tiny bulbs.
Adam placed an arm around her and leaned in. It was an intimate gesture, and one that caught her off guard.
“Will it do?” he said in an undertone.
“On first impression, I think it might.” Her mood was lifting considerably.
Behind a desk, an impeccably styled receptionist was smiling in welcome. Leaving Anna to enjoy her surroundings, Adam went forward and gave his name.
“Of course, sir.” The woman entered his details onto her screen. “You are in the Byron suite.”
She smiled across at Anna. “It overlooks the park.”
She rang a small hand bell.
“Marcus will show you to your room, and your bags are already on their way.”
Adam held out his arm to Anna once again. “No elevators,” he whispered, as they followed the ramrod straight back of the bellboy towards the widely curving staircase.
“Of course not,” she said, just as surreptitiously.
Their rooms were on the second floor, and as promised overlooked the countryside. Not that Anna could see anything when she eased aside the heavy curtains and peered out into the night.
Adam was unwrapping the foil from a bottle of Champagne.
“You think of everything,” she said approvingly.
The sitting room was large, as was the bedroom, but if anything the bathroom was the pièce de resistance, with the tallest paned windows Anna had ever seen and a large, claw-footed bath.
“I want to drown in that,” she said happily, before crossing the room to examine the extensive range of luxury toiletries displayed on the marble washstand.
“I hope not.” Adam had brought her Champagne to her, and now his arm was around her waist. “Unless you can wait until later.”
“I think I can manage that.” Despite an earlier promise to herself that she would keep the evening purely business, she put her glass down and draped her arms around his neck. “So what is this place?”
“It was built for a wealthy, nineteenth-century magnate. And as these things do, by the end of the twentieth century the world had moved on. Now it’s a very expensive hotel.”
“Oh. What happened to the family?”
“I have no idea. They are probably dispersed all over the world and living out their days quite happily.”
Anna giggled.
“Have you checked out the bedroom?” Adam leaned back, a roguish grin on his face.
“Yes I have. The bed is a trifle on the large side, don’t you think? It would sleep at least four.”
“Perhaps it came with the property,” he suggested.
“And what, the family slept together in it? I thought you said they were rich.” Easing away, she went through the double doors and back into the bedroom for another look.
“If it really is too big for you, we could always find another couple to share it with us,” he called out.
“Not on your life!”
Adam appeared in the doorway. “So, you’re not into a foursome?”
He ducked quickly to avoid the velvet sham aimed in his direction.
“No, I’m not.”
“Then I will have to make do with having you all to myself.”
“You will indeed.” She threw herself onto the embroidered silk coverlet.
“And will I be disappointed?”
Coming to stand in front of the bow-fronted dressing table, he folded his arms in a parody of authority.
“You’ll have to find out.”
“I look forward to it.”
Anna sensed he was as pleased as she was at the way things were turning out.
She stretched her arms above her head and then brought them down in a wide arc. Under her fingertips the silk was cool and lustrous.
“Meanwhile,” he suggested, “why don’t you make full use of the bath, while I shower? Then we’ll go down to dinner.”
Anna was playing elegantly with the stem of her heavy crystal flute.
“This is all so lovely,” she said, taking in the furnishings and artwork, the silverware and linen. She was thankful for the last minute decision to pack her strapless chiffon dress. It wouldn’t have done to have sat down in anything else.
“I’m glad you think so.”
“Have I ever complained before?” she teased.
“No, you haven’t.”
She smiled at him.
“I’ve missed you,” he said, unexpectedly.
Anna held back a caustic response. Why spoil what promised to be a lovely evening by challenging him on Inez? Even in a light-hearted way.
“I’m glad to hear it. You did leave it a while before calling.”
“I did,” he said with a rueful grin. “I understand you’ve been away?”
That had to be Maddie. Not that she would have said much. She was far too discreet for that.
“Yes, Greek Islands. I decided I needed a bit of sunshine, even for a few days.”
“Can’t blame you for that,” he said. Then, “Have you got anything planned for Christmas?”
She thought the question was framed a little too casually.
“Not yet. What about you? Will you be going away?”
“Tossing up between a traditional break in France or fishing for marlin down in the South Pacific.”
Anna remembered Adam had an apartment in Paris. It was the one thing she’d truly envied. At this time of year there would be festive markets and the cascading lights of the Eiffel Tower. Then on Christmas Eve, the splendor of Midnight Mass in Notre Dame Cathedral.
It all sounded absolutely perfect to her.
She shrugged, and smiled. “You could do both. Christmas in Paris, and the Tropics for New Year.”
“I could,” he said, nodding his head for a moment, as if the idea had never occurred to him.
“So tell me.” He put away his menu. “Did you come to any decisions while you were away?”
She was immediately wary.
“Decisions?”
“Well, wasn’t that why you went away? To think things through?”
Just what had Maddie been saying?
“It was only a break,” she insisted. “Nothing more.”
“Of course,” Adam agreed politely. “You would tell me though, if you were thinking of leaving the agency again?”
“Of course.”
But Anna knew that was the last thing she would do. He would no doubt try to talk her out of it. Or worse, make the same offer as last time. The role of his mistress. It would of course be temporary, concluding the minute he became tired of her, and have heavily submissive overtones.
Adam was watching her carefully.
She smiled and changed the subject.
“I feel like nobility.” She lifted her flute once more, and leaned her elbows on the table.
She really did. Everything about the place was impeccable. The food, the service, the elegant surroundings.
“And is that a good thing?” he challenged.
“Why not?”
“Well, most were completely hung up on power.”
She laughed. “Wouldn’t that be expected? Jostling for the closest position to the monarchy, etcetera?”
“Yes, but there were other aspects too.”
“Such as?” She looked at him inquiringly.
“Well, as wealthy landowners they did of course hold the lives of all their servants and tenants in their hands.”
“And?”
“During the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries most of them had considerable interests in the success of the industrial revolution. Not to mention expanding the influence of European domination.”
“You sound disapproving.”
“Perhaps. Although you could say we have a lot to thank them for, one way or the other.”
Anna thought for a moment. “Do you see anything in favour of a class structure? Or are you a complete and utter egalitarian?” She only asked the question when it was obvious he was not going to elaborate further.
“I’m not sure what I am.” He smiled disarmingly. Then he too placed his elbows on the table, and leaned forward conspiratorially. “But we can thank the aristocracy for one thing.”
“Oh and what’s that?”
“The creation of some of the most infamous gentlemen’s clubs ever known.”
Anna’s eyes sparkled with delight.
“Tell me more.”
“I thought you might be interested. Okay,” he gave a theatrical pause, “there were the Hellfire Clubs, for one.”
“Never heard of them!”
“Wonderful places. Orgies, drinking, and extensive libraries of pornography. Not only that, it’s said that they practiced black masses.”
“Really?” She arched an incredulous eyebrow.
“Truly. Apparently it was all about ritual, and the more deviant, the better.”
Adam sat back in satisfaction. It was obvious he knew he had her complete attention. “From what I have read,” he continued sotto voce, “the godfather of all this debauchery was a gentlemen called Dashwood.”
“Go on.”
“It’s even said that one of the founding fathers of America was involved.”
“Really? Which one?”
“Benjamin Franklin, no less.”
Anna found that hard to believe
“And do these clubs still exist?”
“I’m sure they do.”
She narrowed her eyes thoughtfully.
“What?” he said.
“You seem to know a fair bit about the subject. Tell me, are you by chance a member of one?”
Adam put down his glass and laughed. “Sadly, no.”
“That’s a shame.”
“And why’s that?”
“I wouldn’t mind a bit of debauchery every now and then.” She laughed.
“I’ll remember that when I take you to bed.”
There was something wonderfully erotic about making love in such surroundings. The bed was huge, the fabrics and drapes original. Or at least that’s how they looked. Feeling Adam’s warm breath on her belly, Anna closed her eyes and arched her back. She was caught up in a delicious fantasy, imagining herself about to lose her virginity to the master of the house.
Would it be consensual? She thought perhaps not. She had read about the rights of one’s lord. Even that he, not her husband, had first option to fuck the bride on her wedding night.
Adam’s tongue was leaving a moist trail as it edged towards the triangle of pubic hair. She moaned softly as if to encourage him.
She couldn’t imagine the feelings of the cuckolded spouse, especially if the marriage was a love match. Surely he would have to get as drunk as possible in hopes of passing out. Otherwise, the torment of his bride being deflowered, and perhaps even impregnated, by the man to whom he owed his loyalty would be unbearable.
Anna groaned again and Adam glanced up at her.
“What are you thinking about?”
She was reluctant to tell him. “Nothing.”
“You’re lying. Tell me. Or I’ll stop.”
“Droit de seigneur,” she said quietly.
“The right of the lord to his serf’s virginity,” he said wryly, before lowering his head to suck on her clit once more.
The sensation was incredible. She parted her legs further and tangled her fingers in his hair.
He lifted his head again. “No doubt you have a strong opinion on that?”
“Well, it‘s wrong.” She needed him to concentrate on pleasuring her.
“Really?”
To her chagrin he moved up the bed to lie over her. “But isn’t that what male domination is all about? The right of a man to do anything he wants?”
Anna was so wet. She wanted his touch, his fingers back on her aching clit.
“Even,” he continued as his mouth touched hers, “having other women?”
Anna knew he was alluding to Inez. She tried to form her thoughts into a coherent response.
“Would there be a need for other women if he is with the one he wants?”
Adam’s mouth moved downward, to suck and nibble at her neck. “At first no. But later? Perhaps he might want variety.”
“But then,” despite the delicious sensations, she felt the need to argue her case, “he might lose the one he loves.”
“He might. But if that were true, then she is not the one for him.”
“How can you say that?” The words tumbled out as his hand at last slipped between her legs.
“If she loved him, then she would want only his happiness.”
“I would not want my man having other women.”
She arched when two fingers were suddenly pushed inside her.
“Are you so insecure?”
“It’s not a case of being insecure.” Anna was becoming a little irritated. Conversation was not what she wanted at that moment.
“Then what is it?”
“I don’t know.” Anna groaned, her head twisting from side to side. Adam had dropped his head to gently catch a nipple between his teeth.
“Do you not think it would turn you on to be alone in your bed, knowing he is enjoying the thrill only another woman can give? You would be angry. Frustrated. Horny. Your imagination would be conjuring up images of them together.” Adam’s thumb was massaging her clit as his fingers probed deep inside her. “Her sucking his cock. You would picture his face as she pleasured him. His eyes would be closed. He would find it hard to breathe.”
Anna moaned loudly. She couldn’t think straight. But she knew it was true. As much as she hated to admit it, she had been turned on imagining him with Inez.
“But I could do that.” She somehow managed. She was going to cum. She was so close, so close.
“You could. But surely you wouldn’t deny him the pleasure he would find in another woman’s mouth or her cunt.”
Anna couldn’t speak. She couldn’t think.
“Cum for me, Anna.”
The command filtered through at the same moment he pushed a third finger into her. As if it were all she had been waiting for, she immediately gave herself up to her orgasm. Her back lifted with each wracking spasm, and then she was clinging to him, trembling violently as sensation after wonderful sensation coursed through her.