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Over the next couple of days they settled into a strange courtship. Alex would send Sophia gifts, small trinkets at first. A box of candy, a bottle of perfume, then he started sending her books. First a simple gothic romance, then a few books from his personal library. More of the erotic kind, and he would place bookmarks in the novels sharing his favorite passages. When she read them, she blushed. When he acted out the scenes, she moaned in pleasure begging to learn more.
There was no more talk about his quest to find a bride, or her anger toward him. They avoided the sensitive subjects for more intimate acts. Their time was limited, and they explored their relationship with a desperate need. They feared the week coming to an end. Between their love-making they discussed their passions and dreams. Each of them discovered a layer of personality they would never have expected from the other. Sophia discussed her passion for the unfortunate and the need to help educate them. Alex shared his secret charity of helping orphans. When he explained how he supported two orphanages in the east end of London near the docks, her heart opened wider for him. He told her how he hired tutors to teach the children and supplied them with apprenticeship opportunities for their future. If any child was caught pick-pocketing or exploiting themselves, he would send them on their way. Their interests were so similar it was uncanny. How their activities never crossed as members of the ton astonished her. She'd never heard whispers of his unselfish efforts.
Every night he arrived to share a small meal with her. Not only at nights, but during the day he would surprise her with his company for lunch. The majority of the time they spent resting on the divan while he held her in his embrace, sharing secrets. However, this evening would be different. She noticed the difference in him after he entered. His eyes were alight with a need the moment he walked into the bedroom. He prowled through the door, determined for an evening of passion. One Sophia anticipated with her own desire.
He wanted her with a passion stronger than he could contain. Their time together this week only strengthened their bond of intimacy. While he enjoyed their long conversations, and her excitement when he brought her gifts, it didn't compare to when he held her in his arms and made love to her. His surprises for her tonight would only enhance the memories they would share in the future. When he entered the room, he found Violet standing at the window.
The other times he visited her a simple day-dress graced her form. However, this evening a nightgown of violet adorned her body. The dark silk emphasized the color of her eyes. The soft material draped her body, a long slit up one side of her leg, and her breasts spilled from the deep vee of her gown. Her long blonde hair hung along her back with a few curls dangling near her breasts, teasing him to wrap around his finger. She stood waiting for his reaction. The only thing running through his brain was to slide the silk up her legs and take her against the window now. His need for her controlled all his thoughts and emotions. But his desire to please her with more gifts overruled his need to claim her. He wanted to present her tonight with his plans for their future. He must remain calm and in control, for he knew she would put up resistance to his ideas. Tonight was otherwise their last moment together. It had been a week.
Sophia watched as he hurried over and halted near the bed, his hand holding the bedpost in a death grip. She continued to stare as he tried to rein in his passion. Confused, she took a step toward him. His grasp tightened, turning his fingers red. She was eager for his touch and needed him now. Tonight would be their last evening together and she didn’t want to waste a moment not being held in his arms. She wanted him to make love to her throughout the night. Belle had helped to choose a new negligee to match her eyes. Sheffield must never forget Violet. Her footsteps advanced again. A light growl hummed between his lips and his hand turned white against the strain of his grasp. Sophia smiled at him knowingly.
Alex stared as her confusion transformed into the smile of a siren. She finally understood the power she wielded. If she touched him, all his plans for the evening would fly out the window. He was powerless to her charm.
“Alex,” she purred.
Her husky voice whispering his name slipped his control lower. He gulped as her hand reached out to run across his chest, rubbing in small circles. As she came closer, he inhaled the fragrance he gifted her yesterday. The exotic scent stamped a memory into his soul. Whenever he breathed it again, he would remember her. As his eyes drifted lower, he gulped again as her breasts spilled from her gown, her nipples teasing his vision and begging for him to kiss them. He took a step backward.
“Alex,” she purred again, and this time her hand traveled to the placket of his trousers.
He grabbed her hand, enclosing her fingers and brought them to his mouth. He placed a kiss on them, shaking his head in denial. Her lips pouted her disappointment, his innocent temptress now a devilish siren meant to lead him down a path of sensual pleasure. He almost blurted out a marriage proposal in that instant. To hell with the scandal, or if she was even duchess material. It no longer mattered. When she stood on her toes and pressed her lips to his and pulled away to rest on the divan, it was clear what a mistake that would have been. His life outside of this house lay in shambles and he couldn’t afford any mistakes. This week was a whim he would never regret, but he must make other arrangements to avoid a scandal.
Sophia by now understood Sheffield. She could tell how he held on to his passions with a tight restraint and almost fell into her arms, but hesitated for a reason. He was a practical man who always had a plan. He would not give into the temptation until he was ready. She was tempted to entice him to loosen his stiff exterior. However, she also wanted to learn the purpose of his seriousness.
So, she rested on the divan, laying out in a tempting pose. She watched as emotions flittered across his face as she waited for his reaction. She shifted her legs, causing the slit in her nightgown to open wider, displaying the full length of her bare leg. He moved one step toward her. She ran her fingers across her chest, sliding her hair off to the side. Two steps closer. Her tongue slid out to trace her lips, biting her lower lip as she waited. Soon he stood above her. When she tilted her head against the pillow, his eyes darkened to the deepest shade of blue she had ever seen. She gulped at the power of emotions spilling forth from the depth of his gaze. It was then Sophia realized she was playing with fire, a fire that would only consume her. Up to now he had only singed her; tonight would be a burn from which she would never recover.
He trapped her with his stare, declaring his full desires. She had nowhere to retreat. She'd teased him to this point. Now all he could do was give in to her. Be damned with his plans for this evening. No part of their relationship was the standard courtship. It had been explosive from the start. He didn’t need to be the Duke of Sheffield. He only needed to be Alex. So, Alex she would have. His plans for them would come later when they burned the fire that heated the room, consuming them at this moment.
He dropped to his knees. “Violet,” he moaned as he took her lips in a kiss full of the passion simmering between them.
She responded by wrapping her arms around him and welcoming him into her hold. Finally, her wish would be granted. She had wondered if she held this power over him and felt relieved that she did. She didn’t want to use it, but only wished to know if she held any.
Their lips met in a fiery explosion from their bent-up passion. Each kiss overwhelming their need for more. He tasted of whiskey and soon she would taste of lemon after his surprise. For now, the flavor of Violet was enough for him. She would always be enough for him. Their hands removed their clothing. Each touch urgent and full of need. He pulled her off the couch and seated himself against the cushion, drawing her on top of him. He guided her hips as he slid his cock inside her wetness. Her body already throbbed with her desire. He watched the purple depths darken as she enjoyed their new position. Each moment he taught her something new, she responded as no woman he had ever known.
Their new position shocked Sophia, but the enjoyment she felt turned her astonishment to exploration. She rose as she felt his cock sliding out of her, then swiftly lowered. Hearing his groan of pleasure, she repeated her actions and the next time she rotated her core against his cock. He gripped her hips as his fingers stroked their pleasure at her movements.
She was heaven and hell in his arms at this moment. Her curiosity always enflamed his desire, but this was on a whole new level. Every time she rose and fell, his cock throbbed inside her tightened core. Her wetness slid between their bodies with every stroke. He knew she was ready; she held on for him. When she lowered her mouth to kiss him, long and slow, he gripped her hips tighter and rose into her. Matching her rhythm, he sent them into the burning fire together. He brought her back against the cushions with him, wrapping her in his embrace. As her body quieted in his arms, he stroked her hair and whispered words of endearments. After their trembles ceased, he kissed the top of her head.
“You ruined my plans for the evening, my dear.”
She chuckled. “I was trying to. You were much too serious for my mood, Your Grace.”
“Alex,” he growled.
“Alex,” she sighed, pulling back and propping her hands on his chest, resting her chin atop them.
He regarded the amusement in her eyes. His hands hovered over her hair, debating to untie those knots again. When her gaiety turned into panic at his intentions, he lowered his hands to run along her cheeks. Her violet eyes changed to hesitation. She feared him knowing who she was. It was then he knew his plans for their future would never be. Her identity would remain a mystery. The only way for him to discover who she was would be to follow her when she left Belle’s for the final time. To do that would betray all the trust she gifted him with this past week. Would abusing her trust to live a life of scandal be worth it? All he knew was that he could never hurt her. If he followed her, that would upset her. He decided to sacrifice his desires for her happiness. As much as it tore at his heart, he finally understood that when he left this room, their time must end.
Their awkward moment was interrupted by a knock on the door. A relief, for he could continue to spoil her with his surprises. After they parted ways, he could reflect on the treasures she gifted him with. He rolled off the divan, laying a cover over her naked form. Before he opened the door, he slid on a robe and guided servants into the bedroom. Candlelight flickered across the room and on the table with covered dishes. When the last of the servants departed, Alex locked the door and continued to her side with her new violet wrapper in his hands. He guided her into the garment and held her in his embrace. After he seated her at the table, he handed her a single white rose. She lifted the flower to her nose and smiled at his simple gesture.
“Now, my dear, I have had Belle’s chef prepare a dinner with all your favorites.”
Sophia giggled at his explanation and then laughed even harder as he lifted the lids to the platters. All her favorite desserts. Every pie she loved, different flavors of cake, biscuits, and a wide variety of pastries. One dish stayed covered. Her curiosity prompted her to lift the lid. However, his hand stopped her. He shook his head with a smile.
“That is the dessert of all desserts. First you must eat your dinner, then you can have a bite.”
“You are being unfair, please give me a hint.”
“Mmm, lemon. That is all I will reveal.”
“Mmm, I love lemon.”
“I know, my love.”
The endearment hung in the air between them. Neither one of them questioned why he spoke the intimate words. Sophia wished them to be true. Alex had expressed them out of necessity. He wanted her to know how she'd touched his heart during their arrangement.
Sophia ate, not wanting those sentiments to sink too deeply. She knew he spoke them out of context, yet it still hurt. Was there any truth to them? Instead of asking, she filled a plate with the delicious morsels.
Alex saw the doubt in her eyes. He wanted to shout out his love, but held the emotion deep inside his heart. She moaned over the delight of his treats. He teased her, and they settled into an easy banter over their enjoyment of dinner. Each regaling the other with moments in their childhood. He learned of her friend that she valued as a sister. He envied her friend, wishing it to be him. However, it gave him comfort that she had someone to confide in who wouldn't shun her. Sheffield had blundered his friendship with Wilde, and after his time with Violet he understood his friend’s quest for Sidney. Wilde must have been as enamored with Sidney as Sheffield was of Violet. Perhaps Wilde could help him deal with his latest predicament. He meant to share his troubles with Violet, but now realized they could never be.
After Sophia sampled every delicious treat, she reached for the last tray. She glanced at Alex, whose smile spread wide as he waited for her reaction. She lifted the lid and her mouth watered at the scrumptious treat. It was a lemon concoction in between butter biscuits. Scoops of whipped cream lay in layers of lemon pudding. She squealed in delight as she lifted her spoon to slide into the dessert. She brought the spoon to her lips. When she closed her eyes, the tart lemon flavor exploded her senses, with the whipped cream soothing the sour within her mouth. Her moans drew chuckles from Alex. It was divine. No dessert had ever tasted so sweet.
“You spoil me, Alex.”
“You are meant to be spoiled, my sweet Violet.”
“Mmm,” she moaned between bites. She took a biscuit and dipped it into the lemon. More moans escaped as she had a taste.
Alex watched her enjoyment. He groaned as her tongue licked the sweet lemon pudding off the biscuit. His need for her had never diminished, and it only grew stronger as she sucked each finger. She settled herself on his lap and gave him lemon-flavored kisses. Each kiss was as tart as the one before.
“You taste like lemon.”
“A flavor to imprint on your mind to always remember me by.”
“You will be impossible to forget, regardless of lemons.”
She lifted the spoon to his mouth to sample the treat. While she loved hearing his thoughts on never forgetting her, they were too much to bear. She wanted to keep their evening lighthearted and full of passion. He took the bite and closed his eyes as he enjoyed the dessert. A love of lemon treats was another thing they shared in common. When he opened his eyes, they were filled with his need for her again. He untied her robe and slipped the gown over her shoulders, her breasts displayed for his pleasure. When he dipped his fingers into the lemon and smoothed the creamy dessert across her nipples, she realized his full intention for the treat.
Alex’s lips slid down to lick the pudding off, each stroke of his touch savoring her tartness. As he sucked the lemon sweetness between his lips her buds tightened in his mouth. She moaned her delight at his attention, and he wanted to try more.
By now, nothing should shock her about Alex’s passion. However, he kept her surprised with new ways to love her. Even the books he supplied for her curiosity never did justice to his ideas. He lowered her to the bed and showed why he'd ordered the special dessert. He licked the lemon pudding off every inch of her body and in return she bestowed the same favor upon him. This time laughter filled their love-making. Every stroke of the tongue or smearing of lemon teased and tickled, enhancing their passion. As they lay in each other’s arms, they expressed their humor with more laughter at the stickiness of their bodies.
Alex rose and called the servants, ordering a bath and a change of the bed sheets. Sophia moved into the changing room, embarrassed at the mess they created. He chuckled and teased her until her body glowed red. Which only brought forth more laughter from him. When the servants left, he coaxed her to join him in the tub. As she pressed her back against him, he soaked her body. His touch gentle as he wiped the lemon concoction away. Her hair lay in rivulets against his chest. He lifted it from her nape to wash away more of the dessert. There he discovered a small mole underneath her hairline and placed his lips upon her imperfection. Another treasure to mark the beauty of his Violet. Her body relaxed against his as she dozed in the warm water. Not wanting to disturb her sleep he continued to wash them of their stickiness. When he finished, he carefully held her. The simplicity of the moment soothed him, although their time was ending. As the water chilled, he rose with her in his arms and settled them between the clean sheets. The whole time his Violet never stirred. He wished to wake her and make love to her before he left, but he didn’t want to disturb her slumber. There would be time in the morning for him to love her goodbye. Before he drifted off to sleep, he took a gift from his jacket pocket. It was supposed to persuade Violet to continue their union—his plans now scratched since she would never agree. He lifted the locket over her neck. As it nestled between her breasts, he placed a soft kiss across her lips and whispered words of love into the darkness.
~~~~~
SOPHIA AWOKE AS THE sun began to rise, her body wrapped tightly in Alex’s arms. His grip even in sleep wouldn't relinquish her. She'd been aware of his intentions when he entered the room the evening before. He meant to ask her to continue their arrangement, with a house in the country. Belle had informed Sophia of Sheffield's plans while she'd helped with the new nightgown. Sophia could never agree to such an outlandish request. The scandal alone would embarrass Sheffield. She couldn’t hurt him with her true identity. No, it was best they part ways.
The hardest thing she did was to untangle herself from his arms. As she dressed to depart, she watched him. He mumbled her name as he reached for her. With a hushed whisper to soothe him, he settled back to sleep. Tears slid from her eyes as she stood watching him rest. Her bags were already waiting for her below. Belle would have Ned escort her home as discreetly as possible. Her time spent with Alexander Langley, the Duke of Sheffield, was over. She leaned over to place a soft kiss on his lips, whispering to him as she pulled away. Her head devoid of her mask. She lay bare to him in case he would awake at that moment to see who she was. But he didn’t.
“I love you, Alex.”
With those last words she turned to leave. She paused at the door, her every desire to turn and beg him for whatever relationship he wanted. But she didn’t. If he couldn't love her openly and honestly, then it wasn’t fair to either one of them. After a while they would grow to resent each other. Not wanting that to happen, she left to cherish in her heart their time together.