Page 37 of A Whisper of Desire
“Watched?”
“Most brothels have peepholes where others can watch a couple in the throes of passion from a hidden room or corridor. Usually with their permission, of course, but I suspect often not. We will be watched to ensure I am what I am portraying. That I do, in fact, fancy men.”
She flopped back in her chair. “Well, that’s darn annoying. I’m a woman. If I undress, they will clearly see I’m not male.”
“That’s all you’re concerned about? What about people watching you.”
“Watching won’t hurt me. If I’m in disguise they won’t even know who I am.” She sat back up. “How will we fool them if they watch?”
He cleared his throat. “There is one act that could allay their suspicions, and then I can think of a position that may still hide your sex for a few visits.”
She raised her eyebrow, indicating he should continue.
“I’m sure after a few visits they will stop watching us. For instance, you watched a woman service Arend…”
“Oh, use my mouth?”
For once Maitland’s composure was decidedly skipping. “You’d not have to expose any part of your body, so they would not suspect you of being a woman.”
“But they would be watching me perform, like I watched Arend?” Why did the notion of someone watching excite her?
He ran a finger under his cravat as if it was far too tight. “Yes.”
She laughed gaily. “No wonder you didn’t wish to discuss this with Sebastian.”
He stood and began to pace the room. “It is no laughing matter. It’s not proper to expect one’s wife to go down on her knees to…let alone allow others to watch the act.” He thumped the desk in front of him.
Marisa was speechless. She’d never seen him so worked up, and over sex. Had she married a prude?
—
He was his father. Sex. All he could think about right now was sex.
Why did the idea of his wife on her knees, her hot, wet mouth sliding over his hardness, set his skin on fire? He was growing hard simply thinking about it. Worse, she seemed to be aroused by the idea too. He noticed her breathing quicken and a flush race over her face.
She walked up behind him, her arms circling his waist. He felt her warmth as she pressed against him, her head on his back. All he wanted to do was turn round and force her to her knees right now, in his study.
“Don’t upset yourself. I’m more than happy to oblige and I’m a little curious about how I will feel, knowing someone is watching. Besides, they won’t really know it’s me, so I really don’t care who sees. What I do care about is capturing this woman who is trying to destroy our lives and the lives of our friends and family.”
He tried to ignore the feel of her softness pushing against him. Tried to ignore the small hand stroking down his stomach.
His rigid self-control began to crack and molten heat escaped. He turned, pulling her into his arms, and his mouth sought her luscious lips in a kiss filled with need and want. He tried to fight the urge to bend her over this desk and take her until he’d sated his unquenchable thirst for her. This was her fault. If she wasn’t so sensual, so desirable, so…
He groaned and cupped her buttocks, pulling her tight against him so he could grind against her. He was just about to sweep everything off his desk when there was a loud knock at his study door.
“Not now,” he yelled, as Marisa giggled.
The knocking grew more insistent. He released his hold on Marisa and stormed to the door, flinging it wide.
“My apologies, Your Grace, but Dowager Lyttleton has arrived.”
Maitland looked at Brunton as if he had gone mad. “Here, in London?” Priscilla never came to London. He moved to the top of the stairs and looked down to see a mess of trunks, Priscilla, and the girls. Just as he heard Marisa walk up behind him, Priscilla looked up and saw him.
She quickly made her way up the stairs and flung herself into his arms, hugging the breath from him. “Maitland, dear. I had to come to help celebrate your news.” She pulled back and turned to Marisa and pulled her into an embrace. “You must be Marisa. It is a pleasure to meet you.”
“I was not expecting you,” he stated blandly.
She swung her smile back to him. “I wanted to surprise you. When your letter arrived informing me of your sudden marriage, the girls were too excited to wait to meet Her Grace. You didn’t say when you would come to The Vyne.” She flashed a warm smile at Marisa.
