“And now, my lady, you are mine, to do with as I please.”
His words lit a fire within me, Amelia. I quaked, waiting, wanting, desiring his touch. He pressed his hands lightly over my cheeks, my shoulders, over the top of my bosom, and then cupped each breast and found my nipples.
“What beautiful titties you have, my lady.”
I convulsed, my pussy quivering.
He climbed atop me and pressed his lips to mine. We kissed fervently for precious moments while he continued to play with my nipples.
Then he broke the kiss and slid his tongue all the way down my belly. He spread my legs and began to feast on me.
Chapter 18
Ally’s heart plummeted to her stomach. She had never dreamed that Evan would be so disgusted by her interest in erotica. He was conventional, yes, but he clearly enjoyed the pleasures of the flesh as much as anyone else. He had all but admitted to visiting brothels, and he definitely knew his way around a woman.
Well, so be it. Right now, the only important thing was Sophie.
“When do we leave?” she asked.
“We don’t,” he said. “I do. I will make the rendezvous at midnight tonight. You will be here, under lock and key.”
Anger rushed through her veins. “You will not cut me out of this! She is my sister, not yours. I love her more than anything. And as you have reminded me, she is in this mess because of me. Clearly, they think they have me. She has either not told them who she truly is, or they don’t care at this point. You cannot keep me from her.”
“Oh, yes, I can, and I will.”
Ally whipped her hands to her hips. “Yes, you’ve done such a good job of controlling me up until now, haven’t you?”
Evan’s face trembled. Oh, she had hit a nerve. No man would control her—not the way her father had controlled her mother.
“You will do as I say this time. Your sister’s safety depends on it.”
“I am the person who loves my sister the most. You cannot keep me out of this. She needs me.”
“She needs you here, where you are safe. That is what she would want.”
Yes, he was right about that. But Ally was not one to sit still, especially not when Sophie might be in peril. She would simply sneak out like she always did. And no one would stop her.
“Fine. But please, Evan, bring her back safely. I promise I will no longer be a thorn in your side. If you bring Sophie back to me, I will never bother you again.”
As much as she loved Evan and as much as the words broke her heart, she truly meant them. Sophie’s safety was paramount.
* * *
Evan’s heart pounded. He should have known Alexandra was behind all this. What would her mother say? Or his father? One thing was certain—he had to get Sophie home. His father would never forgive him if something happened to one of Iris’s daughters.
He wasn’t upset that Alexandra wrote erotica. He enjoyed such literature as much as anyone else. She had obviously written about Prudence Spofford and then used that name for her fictitious friend. The writing didn’t require his forgiveness. But she’d involved his business…
He sighed and retired to his office to think. Alexandra was wrong about no good coming from going to the address now. True, Sophie wouldn’t be there, but he could investigate, get to know the area. He would go. First, however, he pulled out the papers Woods had found near the front entrance.
The Ruby. And there it was. Confessions of Lady Prudence. He began to read.
My Dearest Amelia,
Forgive me for not having written in several weeks, but I had terrible sickness on the ship home. I miss you so, and I especially miss all the fun and frolic we shared whilst I visited you on holiday in the Americas.
I was no sooner back in our London townhome when Auntie Beatrice insisted that I begin art lessons. Amelia, I can’t draw a straight line to save my own soul. Art lessons? Truly? I dreaded the very thought. An hour several times per week listening to some old codger preach the virtues of light and dark hardly excited me, and I possess the artistic talent of a tomato. But Auntie would not be swayed. So yesterday, I began…
When Evan had finished, he was not only impressed, but also aroused. Alexandra had true talent as a writer. If only she had come to him first. But what would he have done? He would have refused to publish her stories. It was against the law.