Page 69 of A Duchess to Unravel
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
“Alistair--”
“Quiet,” He commanded from the bed, his tone harsh.
Gathering anticipation had Theo practically crawling out of her skin as Alistair had led her away from the dancing and gathering and into one of the private rooms. Once he’d gotten her there, he’d stood her in the center, commanded she stay, and then walked to the edge of the bed. There he had stood, for several minutes, simply studying her with a growing intensity.
Theo gulped, beginning to wonder if her little soirée into blatant disobedience had been a good idea after all. Alistair’s head cocked a little to the left as he saw her throat bob, his lips still an even line across his masked face. He’d snuffed out most of the candles and lamps, making it impossible to see his eyes.
“Your mask. Take it off,” Alistair commanded.
Despite her earlier bravado, Theo’s fingertips trembled as she reached up to the mask and slid it away. Alistair moved with slow, sure steps toward her, and stretched out his hand, silently bidding her to give him the mask. She placed it in his palm.
“You like breaking the rules, don’t you?” He asked, his fingers swirling around the inside of the mask. Almost as if he were caressing the part that had touched her face.
“Not just mine. All of them. From anyone.” He took a measured breath then said. “You may answer.”
Theo drew in a breath of her own, feeling a sudden pressure to tell the truth.
“Yes,” she said, tilting her chin up. Not in defiance, but as an acknowledgment that it was true.
Alistair began to walk slowly around her, and she followed him with her eyes. Just as her head was about to turn so she could keep her eyes on him, Alistair moved with surprising speed and stopped her. His fingers were feather-light as they touched her jaw. He pushed her head back to stare straight ahead.
“Eyes forward,” he commanded, his tone void of anger.
Pleasure bloomed beneath the brief, small touch, and she did not fight him. She heard the scrape of something against a tabletop behind her, as if he were setting her mask down.
“Ye’ve never felt the reward of obedience, have ye, little kitten?” He asked from behind her.
Then commanded, “Answer.”
Again, another tremble down her spine. Again, she knew she had to tell the truth.
“Not until you,” she breathed, recalling their first lesson in his office. Just the memory had her nerve endings sparking alive, and her already sensitive body began to throb beneath her dress.
“Aye,” he purred, slowly coming around to face her again, “yet you disobeyed me.”
The throbbing sensation in her body intensified, and she felt her fingertips begin to tingle.
“Perhaps I need more proof,” she boldly offered. “That obedience can reap rewards.”
A deep, primal sound rumbled from Alistair’s chest as he stood before her, his massive body towering over her much smaller stature. Theo was painfully aware of every move he made, and when she saw his hand reach up, need sparked within her as she imagined it was to touch her. She was woefully disappointed when instead he reached for his cravat and loosened it.
“Rewards ye will get, little kitten,” he promised, slowly sliding the bit of fabric from his throat. “But first, ye will pay for ye disobedience.”
Theo waited for the usual bout of panic she felt when punishment was mentioned, but this time, her body only responded with increasing anticipation. Whatever Alistair’s punishment-she realized she wanted it.
Alistair continued his circling. This time Theo knew to keep facing forward, and she sighed with contentment when she felt him press against the back of her body.
“As long as we are together, little kitten,” he whispered into her ear, tracing fingertips down her throat, “I am theonlyone that touches you.”
She felt him draw the cravat around her throat, whimpered when the bit of fabric constricted around her airway.
“Answer,” he hummed into her ear.
“Yes,” she breathed.
“Yes, what?” Alistair said, cinching the cravat tighter.
