He’d find a mistress and he’d take her to his bed, and he’d do ittonight.
“I ...oh dear.”She crouched down beside the bookshelves.Her topple had caused one of the books near the bottom to fall out and she picked it up.
Her gasp made him tense.“What’s wrong?”
She glanced over her shoulder at him with a hesitant smile.“Sorry, sir.I didn’t mean to startle you.It’s just ...so pretty.”Her gaze turned back to the book which had fallen open.
It had been a gift from someone, but he couldn’t recall who.He received any number of gifts every day of the week.This one was a collection of myths and legends, or some such nonsense.From where he stood he could see the illustrations.
But they didn’t hold his interest so much as Kitty’s rapt expression as she stared at the book in her hands with unabashed yearning.
Good Lord, she was perfection.Her cupid’s bow lips were pink and full, her skin creamy, and her features so delicate it made his chest ache to look at her.With her fair hair and bright blue eyes, she could have been one of those illustrations come to life.One of the goddesses of old, or maybe an angel from above…
“Take it,” he grunted.
She blinked up at him in surprise.Understandably.He’d rather shocked himself.
He paid his employees and his mistresses fairly, but he wasn’t a charitable man.He didn’t give gifts.Not to anyone, least of all lowly servants.
But the look of yearning in her eyes had been too sweet to bear.
She looked down at the book again now, this time as if it might come alive in her hands.“Oh, I-I couldn’t.”
“Why not?”He barely recognized himself as he glowered down at her.But for the love of God, couldn’t he give her a gift?Was that so wrong?
It wasn’t like he was taking something improper in turn.He just liked to see her smile, that was all.
“I-I…I cannot…” she started.
He waited impatiently for her to continue.
She ducked her head and let out a sharp exhale.“I can’t read, sir.I’m afraid your book would be wasted on me.”
He stared at the top of her head.Of course she couldn’t.He hadn’t thought she could.
He hadn’t thought at all, really, when he’d made the impulsive offer.
Not thinking was a problem.
He stiffened as he walked away from her.
He needed air.He needed space.
Most of all, he needed a good fuck to get this girl out of his system.
“Take it and look at the pictures.Take it to sell it, I don’t care.”He threw back the rest of his drink.Rules be damned.This lust was rattling his senses and interfering with good sense.
He’d head straight to Madame Loula’s brothel after this.He slammed the empty glass down on an end table before walking out without a backward glance.
He’d go to the brothel, choose himself a willing and eager whore—and he’d end this torture once and for all.