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Sophia wandered around the luxurious parlor, feeling an odd sense of comfort. Why was she so relaxed in a house of ill-repute? Her fingertips traced across the fireplace mantel, caressing the smooth finish. The room displayed an elegance, the kind one would find in the grandest homes in Mayfair. However, she wasn't in Mayfair. She was inside a brothel in Vauxhall Gardens. Why she allowed her best friend Lady Sidney Hartridge to persuade her to come here was lost on her at the moment.
Belle, the madame of the brothel, ushered Sidney into a private chamber. Once she returned, Belle held out a mask for Sophia to wear. It was a delicate design in a turquoise color decorated with sequins adorning the sides. The mask covered her face securely, only allowing her lips to show. She had to unwind her hair and drape her blonde tresses across her shoulders. Belle helped to tie the ribbon behind her head. She informed Sophia that she didn't want to risk exposing her to any of her customers. The repercussions would cause Belle to lose clientele. Also, Sophia’s reputation would be ruined.
Sophia again strolled around the room, impatient for Sidney to return. What was taking her so long? She knew Sidney’s experiment on exposing the gentlemen of the ton to their unsavory behavior would get them into trouble. She proved to be correct once again. Sidney always jumped feet-first into strife, while Sophia was one to proceed with caution. However, now they were beyond caution and in danger of ruination.
The fire in the parlor was too warm for Sophia. Her discomfort was a result of her nerves being on edge about getting caught. Since she was in a private room where only Madame Belle could enter, she decided to get more comfortable. She undid the first few buttons and opened her dress wider. When that didn’t cool her off, she loosened the strings on her chemise. While her breasts were not exposed, they were revealed in an inappropriate manner. Wanting a breath of fresh air, she went to where a breeze slipped through the window cracks. She pressed her head against the cool pane, seeking relief. Sophia took a few deep breaths as she tried to calm herself. Closing her eyes, her body relaxed, only to turn tense again as she heard the opening click of the door. She gasped in embarrassment, then realized the only people who would come into the parlor would be Madame Bellerose or Sidney. Finally, they could leave, and nobody would be the wiser of their visit.
When Sophia turned toward the door, her relief changed to fear. It wasn't Belle or Sidney that stood before her, but none other than Alexander Langley, the Duke of Sheffield. Her eyes widened in fright at her unfortunate luck. How would she remove herself from this predicament? He would ruin her, rather than save her. Her hatred of this man knew no bounds. His overbearing attitude regarding Sidney fueled her anger toward him. She pressed herself against the window, hoping to hide between the drapes. However, he was already aware of her. He froze Sophia in place with his gaze of desire.
Alex closed the door and leaned against the panel as he stared at the most amazing creature before his eyes. A new courtesan, no doubt. The mask she wore hid her identity, yet failed utterly to disguise her beauty. If he was a naïve young man, he would say she appeared frightened. But considering where they were, he knew it must be an act she tried to portray. While her eyes may speak fear, her body screamed siren. Her curly blonde hair lay tousled around her shoulders, her lips full and pouty, begging for someone to kiss them. Mmm, well he would have to change that shortly. Her simple dress suggested an innocent virgin. However, the undone buttons teasing him with the display of her breasts showed the role she performed. He never enjoyed these acts of play. Perhaps, he was missing out. He couldn’t lift his gaze away from her chest. In fact, it was what drew him closer to her. The need to touch her.
His footsteps brought him but an inch away from her. He heard the hitch in her breath at his closeness. When his fingers hovered over her creamy flesh, she let out a gasp. He felt the heat singe him and he stilled. Alex was in awe of the effect she held over him. He had yet to caress her, but she already felt like heaven to him. His fingers trailed across her chest. Her skin was the softest silk, smooth, and pleasurable to his senses. He began to explore her hidden charms as his fingers dipped inside her chemise. When his touch brushed across her nipples, they contracted into tight buds. He lowered his head, lost in a sensual desire, and a moment later she pulled out of his grasp.
Alex shook his head to clear his mind. A courtesan never affected him this strongly. He must pull himself together or she would take advantage of him. A duke must always be in control, even in the height of passion. If not, he was nothing but a mere man. And the Duke of Sheffield was anything but a mere man.
Sophia stood in shock. Did the Duke of Sheffield actually place his hands on her breasts and fondle her? The more important question was why she hadn't stopped him? He caught her unaware with the feelings he ignited in her. They were new to her. How did a man she detested awake her sexual awareness?
He watched the confusion in her eyes. They were a magnificent violet. Violet? Were her eyes the shade of purple? He peered into them, lost in her gaze, and admired the beautiful colors as they changed to match her emotions. When Alex again tried to close the gap between them, she slid past him to make her way behind a chair. So, this was how she would play this game. She was intriguing enough that he allowed himself to indulge her.
“Belle had not informed me of a new girl. What is your name, my darling?”
Sophia shook her head in denial. She couldn't speak without Sheffield recognizing her voice. She was caught in his trap until Belle rescued her. Sophia couldn’t simply escape either. It risked running into another member of the ton. She was stuck in this intimate room with the one man she disliked above all others.
“Mmm, you wish to remain mysterious. I am game. It has been a long while since any woman has drawn my attention. Since I am bored with my life, I will play for a while, my sweet.”
Bored in his life? Why, that condescending arse. He was the bore in life. His pursuit of her friend was boring? Sheffield should be so lucky that Sidney even gifted him a minute of her attention. Lost in her silent tirade toward him Sophia was unaware he had moved close to her once more. He now stood behind her. With the sweep of his hand he brought her hair around to drape over one shoulder. The next thing Sophia felt was the touch of his lips. Slow kisses that he dragged along her neck up to her ear, where he whispered the most scandalous of suggestions. Sophia’s knees sagged and Sheffield drew her against his body. His kisses and touch were shocking enough without him saying how he wanted to make love to her. No, what he suggested was not love-making. They were the naughtiest of thoughts that a gentleman should never whisper to a lady. However, he didn’t know she was a proper lady of the ton, but rather a lady of the evening.
She tasted like the sweetest spice. He wanted more. When his whispered words caused her to melt against him, he couldn't stop. His hand guided her head to the side as his lips took hers. Ahh, yes. So sweet. He coaxed her lips open with his tongue. As he slid inside, it was to teach her how to kiss. The game of innocence enticed him more. Soon, the girl's experience revealed itself and their tongues meshed in a dance of pleasure. Each stroke only became stronger. He turned her around in his arms, Alex's hands diving into her hair as he consumed her mouth. She was divine. He caught her gasps in between his breaths, each turning longer and into moans of desire.
Sophia was sinking into the pleasures of sin. How one man could spew such arrogance and kiss as a god confused her. She didn’t want to stop this madness; it was a pleasure never known before. Her lips followed his. When he stroked inside her mouth, Sophia copied his lead and moved her tongue along with his. His moans and the hold on her conveyed his need. When his hands slid inside her chemise, Sophia could only enjoy the thrill. Before she was aware of his intentions, he lifted and carried Sophia to the divan. She didn’t stop him. Not from fear of him learning her identity, but answering to the desire growing inside her.
She wanted more of his caresses. More of his kisses. She wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling his head closer, and ran her fingers through his short, dark tresses. He was the ever-proper duke. But when he kissed her, he turned into the man of her dreams. She'd often read stories about the hero sweeping the heroine off her feet. But no book ever prepared Sophia for the emotions Sheffield stirred in her core.
Sheffield laid the temptress on the sofa and knelt on the floor. The furniture wasn't wide enough to fit both of them comfortably. He only wanted to play. The first time he made love to her, it would be in a bed, not on a couch where anybody could walk in on them. But it didn't mean he couldn’t pleasure her for a while. Belle was occupied with another matter. He had time to tempt this sweet girl into becoming his mistress.
As he pulled away, her eyelids fluttered open to reveal the dark amethysts full of desire. He continued to watch her, pulling the buttons of her dress undone to fully reveal her breasts. If he thought her eyes couldn’t darken even more, he was wrong. When he spread the chemise wider, his hands slid over her breasts taking one into his palm. When his fingers brushed across her nipple, her eyes grew wide and a moan escaped her. He looked down at his hand and saw the beautiful globe begging to be kissed. When he drew it between his lips and softly sucked, his cock hardened. Aching to be relieved. If he thought her lips tasted sweet, it was nothing compared to her delicious nipples. When her fingers slid through his hair, she guided him to her other breast. This was a woman who understood how her body needed to be pleasured. He drew the sweet bud into his mouth. She arched against him, filled with the same need.
She must stop this insanity. But she could no more pull from his arms than stop him from kissing her. Sophia's mind was in a whirl and wouldn’t let her think, because her body didn’t want her to. She wanted to spin out of control, if this is what crazy felt like. These senses were like floating on a cloud of pleasure. She wanted more. No, she craved more. She was past caring who was eliciting these emotions. Her body silently pleaded for Sheffield to continue, tightly strung and begging for release. There had to be more.
Sheffield sensed her body unraveling. He needed to be the man who flew her over the edge. His hand slid underneath her skirts, tracing the silkiness of her legs to the spot he wanted to pleasure. When his fingers swept across her curls, it was to find her wet for him. He lightly traced over her wetness. When she moaned and pressed herself into his hands, he was certain this girl was no innocent miss. She was a woman who wanted him. When his fingers guided into her wetness, she melted at his touch. Her moans became long-winded sighs of pleasure. Sliding his fingers inside her deeper, he wanted to come right then. She coated his fingers with her warmth. He desired to push her skirts higher and press his mouth against her charms. He ached to sink his cock into the tight core of her body. She tightened around his fingers, close to release.
He drew her lips onto his as his fingers slid in and out of her. The rhythm increasing with each stroke. Her hips rose in time with his hand. Her sighs grew louder as he brought her near the edge. When she fell apart in his arms, her cries echoed around the room. Not wanting anybody to be summoned by the noise and interrupt them, his mouth devoured the enchantress as her passion exploded.
As her body calmed, Sophia realized she lay wrapped in Sheffield’s embrace. What came over her? The greatest pleasure imaginable. Her heart beat in a fast rhythm as his hands caressed her. Never in one place for very long. It was as if he wanted to consume her, but at a slow pace. He touched her as if he regarded Sophia as a special prize to treasure. It made her feel vulnerable and cared for. This whole encounter engulfed her in confusion.
Sheffield placed more soft kisses as his hands continued to explore the temptress in his arms. She was an enigma. One he wanted to understand. His hard cock yearned for release pressing into her hip. Still, he didn’t want to take her. This reaction was new to him. He felt a sense of sexual fulfillment just by bringing pleasure. Holding her while the girl regained her senses satisfied him.
He needed to withdraw from the room before Belle arrived. Her rule regarding a new girl didn't mesh with him sampling the merchandise. Belle always chose a specific gentleman to introduce a new girl to this profession. This way the girl would not be drawn toward the more powerful gentlemen of the ton and fool herself into believing it was love. When it was only pleasure. All new girls would be shown to mature men who would use them for sex, not young pups who always thought they were in love with whoever they bedded. Nor with any gentlemen of influence.
He was a duke who held power in his own right. But it was his control in Parliament that made him the most powerful. This creature was the last thing he needed to involve himself with now. She was a big mistake. With his pending betrothal to Lady Sidney Hartridge and the article of interest he was having Lord Hartridge research for him, it left Alex no room for distractions. And this temptation that lay in his arms moaning her pleasure was the biggest distraction there could be. Maybe he could find a way for them to amuse themselves without inducing Belle’s wrath? He would explain his intentions and work out a deal to spend time with this beauty.
As innocent as she looked when he touched her, she came alive at the pleasures of the flesh. Each stroke of his finger and tongue had her falling apart in his arms. He smiled to himself as a plan formed in his mind. Perhaps they didn’t need to involve Belle. He would sneak time in with her with nobody knowing. In the end he would provide well for her in case someone caught them.
He coaxed her head to rise as he placed a gentle kiss to her lips. While he desired to make passionate love to her, he also wanted to treasure her. She invoked a tenderness in him he had never felt with another soul—an emotion he should share with his intended, but didn’t. No, she only provoked his anger most of the time. But his involvement and pursuit of Sidney Hartridge was a game he couldn't lose, not even with the temptation of this intoxicating miss.
Sophia leaned into the gentle kiss. She felt a tenderness from him while he held back from his passion. His gentleness undid her. She should lay in his arms in shame. Instead she stayed in his embrace wanting more, reluctant to rise and put herself back together. She must be a wanton at heart. However, he must have thought differently, for he pulled away and rose to his feet. In embarrassment for clinging to him, she tried to set herself right. Her hands shook as she yanked the ribbons tight on her chemise. His hands clasped over hers.
“Easy, love. I am only pulling away, because if I hold you in my arms one second longer, I will ravish you with not a care on who disturbs us. When I make love to you, I want it to be in private. There will be a lock on the door, with no interruptions.”
Sophia blushed at his declaration. She'd thought he was dissatisfied and wanted to untangle from her web. Instead he proclaimed his true intentions.
However, this could never happen again.
Her blush was very becoming. She was a supreme actress to be able to blush so easily and to continue her act. He was charmed by her and didn't call her out on her deception. He would indulge her play, because it amused him. Alex tied her chemise and fastened her dress. When she pressed her hands to her skirts to smooth out her wrinkles, he pulled them into his and brought them to his lips. He brushed his mouth across her knuckles with tenderness. When she lifted her head to gaze into his eyes, the soft violet drew him in with a caring expression.
He reached behind her to undo the ribbon on the mask. He wanted to see her face. More than that, he needed to hear her voice. Even though he'd never heard the sweet melody, he imagined it would sink into his soul, for her moans and gasps had certainly brought him to his knees. To hear her speak his name would be heavenly. However, she stopped him before he undid the knot. Again, she silently shook her head in denial.
Now, Sophia panicked. Her heart stilled in her chest. Her hands settled over his, tugging them away from the strings to her identity. How can she convince him not to uncover her face without speaking? Her only thought was something she read in an erotic novel she discovered at the bookstore. She placed her hand on the placket of his trousers. When she encountered his hardness, she stroked, exploring him. The groan that swished between his lips encouraged her. As her palm enclosed around him and she rubbed, he rested his forehead against her as he fought for control. She felt it slipping when he placed his trembling hands over hers to halt her movement, his grip tightening and pulling her fingers away. Sheffield’s breathing quickened as he tried to fight against the pleasure. As much as she wanted to continue, even though it was wrong, it stopped him from discovering her true identity. He forgot about untying the mask.
She was a minx. Her action confirmed she was a practiced temptress. She knew exactly how to entice him. When he lifted his forehead from her, he expected to see a cunning smile of control. Except it was a look of wonder and eagerness to play more. She didn’t act conceited like most of the women here, but as one who wanted to experiment. He needed to leave. He was in over his head.
Alex walked over to the liquor cabinet to pour himself a drink. He didn’t stop at one but drank three shots of Belle’s strongest whiskey. The effect of this woman would undo him and soon he would profess his undying love to her. No, it was time he regained control and explained his plans for them. When he turned, he found her gazing into the fire, lost in her own thoughts.
It was then that he took full notice of her. Before him stood a young miss who must have been shunned by her family to be taking up residence at Belle’s. Her clothes were from the current fashion plates, and the material itself cost a fortune. It would explain why she held the look of innocence. She must have been tempted, then rejected by a suitor. There could be no other explanation for her sweet behavior and her temptress actions.
During their time together, he would secure her back into the finest grandeur. While he'd made the promise to avoid Belle’s and a mistress while he courted Lady Sidney Hartridge, this woman changed his mind. Alex only called upon Belle today to inquire about her troubles, he had no intention of enjoying any pleasures of the flesh. However, this girl tempted him to change his mind. He would enjoy her company. When he was finished with her, he would set her up in a cottage in a faraway village. Far enough away where no word of their relationship found their way into the gossip circle. She would never have to worry about another meal or home in her life, all in exchange for a few months spent in his companionship. Any woman of her status would jump in envy for this arrangement. He wouldn’t spoil their time together with the details.
He watched as she twisted her hands nervously. Alex wanted to put her at ease, so he drew her into his arms. Resting his chin on the top of her head, he held her until she relaxed.
“I must leave, my dear. I seek your silence of our time together. Not for me, but for your own good. If Belle were to find I sampled your sweets before the gentleman she assigns you, she will cast you back on the street. I do not wish that for you. Promise me, not a word.”
He watched as she nodded her promise to him. With a kiss upon her lips, he stepped back from the temptation of her sweetness.
“I don’t know how, but I will find time for us to be together. To discover the passion we are meant to share. Until then, goodbye, my sweet. You will never be far from my dreams.”
With that, Sheffield walked away from Sophia. He hesitated at the door as if he was contemplating turning around. Then he strolled out of the parlor as if their time spent together never happened. As Sophia listened to the clock chime, her actions finally sunk into her mind. Not only her mind, but her heart. In their short time together, Alexander Langley, the Duke of Sheffield, invaded her soul and cracked her shell of anger toward him. If it was possible, she almost believed she fell in love with him. An emotion she dare not explore. He was practically promised to her best friend. Not only that, he didn’t know her true identity. He thought Sophia to be a whore meant to pleasure the gentlemen of the ton.
Sophia collapsed on the divan. The very spot where he enticed her to the passion they could share. Her embarrassment changed into remembering the delights of his fingers playing music to her soul. Why? That was all she kept asking herself. Why him? Why her?
Belle rushed into the parlor. Sophia rose from the sofa, expecting a scandal to be lurking behind the Madame. However, it was with instructions from Belle to enclose herself in a cloak. Two of her men would escort Sophia to the carriage waiting in the alleyway.
As Sophia walked to the back door, she glanced around the hallways anticipating Sheffield to show his face. However, they were empty. Nobody stopped them in their tracks. Sophia settled in the carriage, waiting for Sidney to join her.
Sophia was staring out the window, lost in her thoughts, when her friend arrived and sat across from her. The coach swiftly carried them away from their moments in sin. Too absorbed in her own memories, Sophia neglected to take in the appearance of her friend. Sidney held the same look of sexual awakening Sophia did. The emotions Sheffield awakened in Sophia troubled her. She was overcome with sadness, because no matter how he made her feel, they would never be allowed to explore their desires.
~~~~~
ALEX TRIED TO CATCH a glimpse of his beauty as Belle ushered her from the parlor, but Belle’s men stopped him from interfering. He would have to wait. He was a patient man and she would be worth it. Lingering in the darkened alcove, he watched Belle knock on the door leading to her private chambers. When the door opened slightly, he stared as Belled argued with a gentleman. This new development intrigued Sheffield. Belle never allowed any man into her bedroom.
The mystery was solved as the lady he pursued this season left the room and was rushed out the back door.
Lady Sidney Hartridge held the glow of a woman well pleasured. With her hair in disarray around her shoulders, her clothes wrinkled beyond repair, and her lips full and pouty from being ravaged. Alex's eyes narrowed in anger, for he knew who would soon depart behind her. He wasn't mistaken, Noah Wildeburg strode from the bedroom as a man who'd had his sexual appetite appeased. The devil had bedded the lady Alex set to make his duchess.
It may appear that Alex had lost the game, but he still held one card he could play to win. Wilde would screw it up, he always did. And when he failed this time, Sheffield would be waiting. It would seem he would get his cake and eat it too.