When she finally opened her eyes, Zach sat beside her, looking down at her, his eyes dancing.
“You’re so beautiful, Sophie.”
Suddenly, embarrassment overwhelmed her. She was lying here in nothing but her drawers, and his fingers had been beneath them. She sat up quickly and covered her breasts with her arms.
“A shame to cover such beauty,” Zach said, smiling.
“My goodness,” Sophie said, “I have no idea what’s gotten to me. Why did I let you…? Why did I…?”
“I’m afraid I can’t answer that, sweet, but I’m very glad you did. I thoroughly enjoyed myself. Did you?”
“Why… A lady wouldn’t… I…I shouldn’t say…”
“It’s perfectly natural for a woman to enjoy such encounters.”
“That is what my sister always says…”
“Your sister happens to be correct. Now tell me, Sophie love, did you enjoy yourself?”
“I…I cannot say that…”
Zach grabbed her, turned her over his knee, and landed a smack on her bottom. “My lady, for every lie you tell me, I will give this charming rump of yours a slap.”
Sophie cried out, more from shock than pain. What was he doing? A jolt of energy rushed through her, surprising her even more. This was far from the first swat on her bottom she’d ever received, but… The others had been courtesy of a man she despised, a man who’d wanted to hurt her. But this? A handsome and kind man who had just shown her pleasure beyond reality was the perpetrator. It felt different, too. Oh, yes, it stung as any slap would, but the sting was oddly…pleasurable?
What on earth was she doing? Letting a man she hardly knew kiss her, touch her intimately, and now…spank her? Before she could voice her disapproval, his palm came down on her bottom once more.
And once more, energy coursed through her, culminating in that secret spot between her legs that was still sensitive and pulsating.
“Sir,” she said, “I have not lied to you. I do not lie.”
“Oh, my lady, but you did. You experienced a climax, and there is no woman in the world who doesn’t enjoy a climax.”
Climax? She would ask Ally about that. Whatever it was, she had enjoyed it—had reveled in it, actually—but a lady wouldn’t admit to such things.
“No, of course I didn’t enjoy any of this.”
Slap! Another spank on her bottom, and oh, the sting, the pleasure, the pain… Tiny little convulsions launched between her legs… Could it be? Not the… Oh, yes! She soared again, spiraling out of control! Such a heady sensation! What was happening to her?
“My dear Sophie, you are a rare treasure indeed—the voice of an angel, and a woman so responsive to my every touch. You are something special.”
As she came down from her high, she processed Zach’s words. Special? She was far from special. A rare treasure? Zach Newland had obviously gone dotty.
“Let me up, please.”
Zach helped her into a sitting position. “Absolutely, my dear. I will never make you do anything you don’t want to do.”
“Then why do you persist in asking me to sing on your stage?” Sophie asked, hastily pulling her chemise over her exposed skin.
He smiled, a gleam in his eye. “A fair question. I keep asking because you auditioned for me. And the fact that you auditioned means singing is something you want to do.”
“I auditioned because I lost a bet with my conniving younger sister.”
“Lady Xavier? Yes, I know of her. Quite the beauty.”
Sophie nodded. So much more striking than she would ever be.
“However,” Zach continued, “I find you infinitely more beautiful.”