Page 79 of Their Master

“I would like that,” she said.

“So would I,” he said, not lying. He lowered his eyes to her spread sex, torn by regret and arousal. “I have to leave soon, but I need to taste you before I go.”

One last taste.

∞∞∞

Moira was finding it extremely difficult to relax under Smith’s touch. For the first time ever, she wasn’t even sure she could climax.

His lips and tongue were as magical as ever and yet… yet she couldn’t help feeling uneasy at his odd mood.

In the span of half-an-hour he’d taken her from arousal to horror back to arousal again.

She’d been startled when Smith had shown up, naked and slick from exertion, eyeing her with a strangely intense gaze, his bodyglowingwith health and vigor.

Moira knew he’d gone into his gymnasium not long after she had left his study earlier. According to a conversation between Luke and Knox, he’d been in there twice as long as usual.

Moira never would have heard the conversation if somebody hadn’t left the communicating door ajar.

“This much exercise cannot be good for him. Why does he punish himself like this?” Knox had fretted, concern for his employer evident in his voice.

“Something is probably wrong with one of the syndicate’s businesses,” Luke said. “That’s what he always does when there are problems: goes into his gymnasium. He told me it helps him think.” Luke’s tone was almost proprietary, as if he were Smith’s confidant.

Well, she’d known they were lovers, just not how close they were.

“That’s not theonlyway he manages his problems,” Knox said with a low chuckle. “Why don’t you go offer your services, Luke. It’s been a while, hasn’t it?”

“Unfortunately, that is no longer my place.” Although Luke’s voice had been as well-modulated as ever, Moira had heard the tension beneath the words.

“Knocked you back, did he?”

Luke made a dismissive sound. Even through the door it sounded forced. “It’s his way—he was the same with Mr. Charles, although that was because Charles had a tantrum if the master so much aslookedat another man or woman.” He paused, and then said, “With Jo Leather he was different.”

“Ah, yes. The incomparable Mr. Leather.”

This time it was Luke who laughed. “Is that jealousy I detect?”

“Who wouldn’t like to warm the master’s bed,” Knox said, apparently so sure of the answer he didn’t even wait to hear it. “Tell me, how was Smith different with Leather?”

“Well, he washappierfor one thing. Leather had no pretensions to anything more than serving him and didn’t mind if the master had outside interests.”

“The mandoeshave an impressive sexual appetite,” Knox marveled. “Gives me hope that my pecker won’t just up and die when I reach forty—” his voice had begun to get fainter as the men moved away and Moira didn’t hear Luke’s response.

Luke had arrived in her chambers soon afterward to begin the business of getting her ready for the evening.

And then Smith himself had appeared.

Although he’d said their evening was cancelled, he’d then taken the time to share a story he’d never told anyone else. A story that had been as sad as it had been awful.

Moira had seen him so clearly in her mind’s eye: a skinny boy, freezing and wandering the streets, eyes hollow with hunger and exhaustion.

The flat, emotionless way he’d delivered the tale had been belied by the anger in his eyes.

Or perhaps he was angry for some other reason?

He certainly hadn’t seemed angry afterward, nor was he showing any sign of anger at present.

Indeed, he was behaving with such animal enthusiasm that the room echoed with the loud, earthy sucking and primitive grunts and growls, all of which were as erotic as the masterful way he worked her cunt.

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