Lady Alexandra's Lover (22 page)

She twirled her tongue around his cockhead, sucking and licking, his soft groans fueling her desire to please him. When his shaft was nicely lubricated, she grasped the base and moved her fist up and down along with her lips, finding his rhythm.

He jerked his hips and let out a small cry.

She pulled her mouth away. “No, my love. Don’t move. Your thigh can’t take it. Let me do the work. Please. I want to do this for you.”

He closed his eyes, and a tear squeezed out from one. Ally’s lips trembled as she descended onto his cock once again. Emotion overwhelmed her—love, tenderness, soul-wrenching desire to give him everything. She sucked him slowly, gripping him and moving with him, loving him in the most intimate way she could.

When the tiny convulsions started at the base of his cock, she took him deep, to the back of her throat, drinking in his seed as though it were the nectar of life.

“Alexandra…my God.”

She let his cock drop from her mouth and slid forward, kissing him, letting him taste his own essence on her tongue. He responded, sweetly returning her kiss, moaning into her mouth, grasping her upper arms.

Until he pushed her away, breaking the suction of their mouths with a loud smack.

“Damn it! I cannot!” He turned away from her.

She cupped his cheeks and forced his gaze back to her. “I love you, Evan, my dearest Evan. Please don’t turn me away.”

“Without trust, we have nothing.”

“I swear to you, I had nothing to do with your business printing the paper.” Tears streaked down her cheeks.

“I’m sorry, Alexandra.” Evan cleared his throat, his own tears pooling in his beautiful eyes. “I don’t believe you.”

Ally turned, her body nearly immobile. Sadness clogged her throat. She willed her muscles to move and left the bedchamber, closing the door quietly behind her.

She should be angry at Evan for not believing her, and she was, but she hadn’t proven herself the most trustworthy during the past weeks. Damn it! How could she have been so ignorant?

Who could be behind this?

Whoever it was would not cost her true love. She would find a way out of this mess.

A
fter a good cry
, she swallowed back her tears and raced downstairs to the first story of the townhome and into the office. No help. Most of Evan’s important papers would be in his office on the estate in Wiltshire. She had to get back there, but how? It would be easy enough to escape Evan, he being bedridden for the next few days, but the earl and her mother were due to come through London first before going home to the estate. And what of Sophie? Sophie would not let Ally out of her sight right now.

And she was tired of running. She had run off to London twice now and hadn’t gotten what she wanted either time. But she had found something so much more wonderful. She had fallen in love with Evan, and she would not let him go without a fight.

She riffled through the papers on the desk. If Evan owned a printing business, perhaps he owned other businesses. She knew precious little about the man she loved. She had thought he was a second son with nothing to his name. She should have known better. Evan was much smarter than that. He would have seen to his own financial well-being, just as she had tried to. Evan and Ally were cut from the same cloth. She warmed at the thought.

As much as she enjoyed it, Ally would no longer write for
The Ruby
. She couldn’t risk anyone she loved paying for her actions. Evan had been right. She had not used good judgment.

She sighed. Nothing on the desk. She would have to check the drawers and the cabinets. She would find something, even if it took her all day.

After nearly an hour of investigating, she stumbled upon the address of a printing house in London. Printing houses of the same name were located in both Bath and Edinburgh. She scribbled the London address on a piece of parchment and headed to the parlor to tell Sophie she would be leaving on an errand.

Before she left the office, she caught a glimpse of a corner of parchment sticking out from under the desk blotter. Curious, she removed it. She dropped her mouth open. It was a poem, written in Evan’s hand.

Her hair the color of roasted chestnuts, silky against my fingers,

Her eyes of liquid gold, sparkling as she gazes into mine,

Her skin of rosy porcelain, soft as a feather beneath my touch,

Her voice like a delicate claret, so sweet as she says my name,

Her breasts, scarlet-tipped peaks, velvet against my tongue,

Her pussy, pink and swollen, slick as she moves against me,

Her hands, peachy and delicate, nestled in mine,

Her lips, ruby red and supple, so perfect as we kiss,

Her beauty, her strength, her will…like a storm on the roaring sea.

She is my love,

She is…

Alexandra

Ally’s heart melted. Evan wrote poetry? Erotic poetry? No wonder he didn’t have any issues with her writing for
The Ruby
. And this had been written for her.

Her eyes misted with tears. He was a writer. Evan. Her Evan.

And yes, damn it, he would still be her Evan. He still loved her, and she would prove she was worthy of his love. She would get to the bottom of whatever was going on at his business.

She walked quickly to the front entrance, looking around to make sure no one saw her. Sophie was in the conservatory playing the pianoforte and singing.

She opened the door and—

“Good afternoon, my lady.” Nathan Landon bowed.

Goodness, was it afternoon already? What was Mr. Landon doing here?

“Mr. Landon, I’m afraid I was just leaving…”

“My lady, I was so relieved to hear of Lady Sophie’s safe return. I have been worried sick about both of you.”

Ally forced a smile. “I do thank you for your concern. However, I’m afraid I do not have the time to visit.”

“But my lady, I was so hoping to finish our conversation. I would consider it a great honor if you would consent to be my wife.”

Mere weeks ago, Ally would have been delighted. Right now, all she could think of was her true love, Evan, who currently wanted nothing to do with her. The old Ally would have jumped at this proposal. Not today’s Ally. She was done with Mr. Landon. She intended to marry only one man, and he was in his bedchamber upstairs.

“Mr. Landon, I am indeed flattered by your offer, but I’m afraid that the sun has set on our time together.”

“You mean, you don’t wish to marry me?”

Ally shook her head. “No, and I’m truly sorry. I have enjoyed our time together.”

Mr. Landon returned her smile, and was that actually a look of relief on his handsome features?

“I am disappointed, my lady, but I do wish you well.” He bowed again.

“And I you, Mr. Landon.” An idea came to her. “Might I ask you a quick favor?”

“Of course, my lady, anything.”

“Could you give me a ride in your coach a couple of blocks into town where I might hail a hansom cab?”

“I can do better than that, my lady. It would be my honor to escort you to wherever you’re going myself.”

What would be the harm? He probably knew Evan owned the printing business, and it would not be unusual for Ally to go there. “Mr. Landon, I would be most appreciative. Thank you.”

When they arrived, Mr. Landon helped Alexandra alight.

“I thank you for the lift, Mr. Landon. And I do hope there will not be any awkwardness between us as we both go about our lives.”

“Of course not, my lady. I hope to see you at many events in the future. Please always save a dance for me.”

Ally smiled and blew him a kiss as he left. Then she turned and walked forward.

She drew in a deep breath, opened the door to the printing house, and strode in confidently.

A
melia
, all the licking and sucking, cocks and pussies everywhere. It was pure heaven, I tell you. Christophe grabbed me first and pressed his lips to mine. We kissed with fervor, our tongues whirling, twirling, dueling, my skin tingling all over, my pussy wet and hot.

Hattie was still bound to the bed. Lars unfastened her and turned her over, entering her swiftly from behind. She shrieked as he pounded her.

Christophe released me and positioned me in front of Hattie. “Lick Lady Prudence’s pussy, Hattie.”

I’d dreamed of this moment since I first seduced Hattie, Amelia, but she shied away.

“Don’t be timid, dear Hattie,” said I. “We shall both enjoy this. I promise you.”

She smiled and bent to her work. Her tongue was silken, Amelia. I’m not sure I’d ever felt any sensation quite like it. She licked my folds gently, so unlike Lars or Christophe. Tingles shot through me, and I nearly shattered.

Christophe straddled me, the tip of his cock nudging my lips. I opened for him gladly, taking him into my mouth. We were all joined, Amelia. Lars pounding Hattie, Hattie eating me, and me sucking Christophe. It was pure hedonistic pleasure.

I wanted to cry out, to scream all their names and tell them of the wonderful pleasure they were giving me, but my mouth was full of Christophe’s cock. I sucked him to the back of my throat, his knob nudging my tonsils. I grabbed his buttocks, kneading his muscular arse as he pounded into my mouth.

Hattie continued to eat me, her silky tongue pleasuring me like no other. When she forced a finger into my wet cunt, I nearly climaxed then and there. Such a slender little finger, Amelia, but the feeling was indescribable. She continued to fuck me with her finger as she sucked on my clitoris. I moaned, groaned, Christophe’s cock still filling my mouth. As much as I adored sucking his cock, I wanted to be able to see Hattie eating me and Lars behind her, fucking her. But imagination is almost as good, dear Amelia, and the images in my head made me so hot.

I brought my hands to Christophe’s cock and added them to the pleasure I was giving him. Soon he groaned and pumped into my mouth, spilling his seed down my throat. No sooner had I swallowed than my own climax came to me, and I shattered over Hattie’s silky tongue and finger. Behind her, Lars grunted loudly, withdrawing his cock and spurting over the lovely globes of her arse.

We all collapsed in a heap of quivering flesh, absolutely sated.

Amelia, I must part for now. Just thinking about our romp has me wet, and I am going to retire to my bedchamber and pleasure myself. Until next we write, I am affectionately yours,

Prudence

A
young man
stood behind the counter. “May I be of assistance, madam?”

Ally gathered her courage. “Yes, please. My name is Lady Alexandra MacIntyre. I am stepsister to Lord Evan Xavier, who owns this establishment.”

The young man extended his hand. “It is a pleasure to meet you, my lady. My name is Frank Osborne. What may I help you with today?”

“It has come to my attention that certain erotic literature is being printed here.”

Osborne arched his eyebrows. “Excuse me?”

“I believe you heard me. Do you wish me to repeat myself?”

“No, of course not, my lady. But I can assure you that—”

“You may not be aware of it, but Lord Evan is currently recovering from a gunshot wound.”

“I’m so sorry to hear that. What happened?”

“He was shot by a member of a group that crusades against obscene literature. Evidently, they believe Lord Evan is publishing it at one of his printing houses. I am here to find out who is behind this.”

“You should probably check with the night staff, my lady. I can assure you nothing like that is done during the day on my watch.”

Yes, the night staff. That did make sense. No one would be stupid enough to print erotica during the day, especially without Evan’s knowledge.

She would have to return after dark. But how could she? Her mother and the earl were due home any day now, and she needed to be at home. She breathed in and once again steeled herself for bravery.

“I will have a look around back myself.”

“My lady, I’m sorry but that is quite impossible.”

“This is my stepbrother’s establishment. You would be wise to do as I ask.” She walked behind the counter.

“My lady, please…”

Ally ignored him and headed toward the back. The sound of the presses whirred, the pungent scent of ink and newsprint wafted to her nose. The workers stared at her, their mouths open.

Osborne ran behind her. “My lady, please…” he said again.

And then, staring her in the face, at the end of one of the lines, sat a stack of papers.

The Ruby.

Ice formed in her veins. She turned to Osborne. “You lied to me. You
did
know that this was going on. Do you have any idea how much trouble Lord Evan could be in because of you?”

Osborne curved his thin lips into a nasty smile and moved his jacket aside to expose a handgun in his waistband. “You would do well to come with me.”

Alexandra shivered. The frigid fingers of fear lynched her. Not again. Hadn’t she endured enough?

Osborne took her arm and led her to the back and up a narrow flight of stairs. A chair sat in the middle of a dark room.

“I will have to keep you here until I can figure out what to do with you,” Osborne said. “I’ll have to gag you, though any noise you make wouldn’t matter anyway. No one would hear you over the sound of the presses.”

“Why are you doing this?”

Osborne pushed her into the chair and bound her ankles to the wooden legs. “Why do you think? For the money, of course. Not everyone is born into finery like you are, my lady.”

Ally gulped and said nothing. This man had no way of knowing she had been far from born into finery. Her mother had only recently married into it.

Money. Always the money. She had been no better than this man only a short time ago. She grimaced at how shallow she’d allowed herself to be.

“You do understand that what you’re doing is against the law.”

“Yes, yes, it’s a lousy misdemeanor. I am not worried.”

Ally saw red. “No, you don’t have to be because it is Evan who will take the blame if you are exposed.”

“Yes, that is a bit of a benefit. But I honestly never thought he would be exposed. We are only printing the papers here and at the facility in Bath.”

“Why didn’t you just ask Evan if you could print papers here?”

“Are you completely mad? First of all, he would want the house to be paid. But more importantly, he’s an uptight peer. He would never have consented. He would never do anything against the law.”

“No, he wouldn’t. He is a good man—more of a man than you will ever be.”

“Easy, my lady. I can show you exactly what kind of man I am right here. And no one would hear you scream.” He licked his lips lasciviously. “You are a beautiful woman. Beautiful…and that body…” His tongue snaked over his thin lips again.

Ally squirmed, nausea overwhelming her. No one would ever touch her again, other than Evan. Certainly not this lowlife. “Don’t you dare touch me.”

He chuckled. “What exactly would you do about it if I did? As I said, who would hear you? And if you went running to the constables, I would expose you for the little harpy you really are.”

“You don’t know anything about me.”

“Oh, don’t I…
Madame O
?”

Ally swallowed. Her pseudonym for her erotica. Oh, that she could go back in time and end this before it began!

“No one would believe I had violated you. I will simply tell them that you begged for it. And when I expose the fact that you are a writer for this lovely little paper, no one will believe that I did anything to you without your consent. Unfortunately, though, now is not the time. I must get back downstairs. The business doesn’t run without me.” He grinned.

Ally sat while he bound her hands behind her. “Why are you printing the paper now, in broad daylight?”

“Not that it’s any of your business, lovely lady, but we have a deadline, and we got behind a few days ago printing some useless rubble for his lordship. Something he deemed important, and everything had to be put on hold for it. A book of drivel.”

What had Evan deemed so important to stop the presses? Ally didn’t know, and right now she couldn’t dwell on it anyway.

“You’ll be quite comfortable here, my lady. We close at six p.m. At that time, I will come up and figure out what to do with you.”

“That’s hours away.”

“Yes, it is. It’s too bad I have to bind your hands otherwise I could bring you some parchment and you could do some writing of your feisty Lady Prudence.”

She seethed. “There is nothing wrong with what I write.”

“I couldn’t agree more, my lady. There is nothing wrong with what I print.”

“Except that it is not your printing house, and not your decision to make.”

“I’m bored with this conversation, I fear.” Osborne placed a gag in Ally’s mouth. “No need to blindfold you. You know where you are. I shall see you in a few hours.”

He left.

Ally struggled against the bindings, to no avail. Once again, she had managed to get herself stranded without a paddle. She did seem to have a penchant for it.

Evan wouldn’t come for her. He was physically incapable. And at this point, he probably wouldn’t want to anyway. How had she made such a mess of this? She had finally come to understand what was important in life, only for it to be too late.

The minutes crept by slowly. At least she had fulfilled her goal. She’d found out who was behind the printing of
The Ruby
. However, it wouldn’t do any good when she couldn’t get to Evan.

It was past time for luncheon, but she wouldn’t have been able to eat anyway. Her empty stomach gnawed at her. She fought back the ever-present nausea.

Sweat beaded on her forehead. The presses and the workers downstairs created more heat, and it rose to the second floor where she was. Her clothing stuck to her skin. She fought back tears. She wouldn’t be able to wipe them anyway. Nothing to do but sit—sit and await her fate.

Wait! Mr. Landon knew where she was. But no one knew he had come calling earlier, and because she had rejected his proposal, he would not come back. Most likely no one would think to ask him where she might have gone.

She was truly out of luck.

E
van drifted
in and out of slumber. His thigh ached, but it was nothing he couldn’t handle, thanks to the morphine that a servant gave him every six hours. Unfortunately, the morphine couldn’t touch the pain in his heart.

Thoughts of Alexandra tormented him. He’d used every bit of strength he possessed to send her away this morning, and it had weakened him even more. He would always love her. No one else would satisfy him now. So he had resigned himself to bachelorhood. Hell, who needed an heir, anyway? He was only a second son.

But a child…born of Alexandra’s womb… He’d dreamed of holding his son or daughter as he gazed at his beautiful wife…

Alexandra was everything to him. But he had to be strong and leave her be. He could no longer protect her. She was too impulsive, too strong-willed. She would always want to be doing something contrary to her best interests. What kind of life would that be for him, constantly keeping her out of trouble?

He couldn’t help smiling to himself. It would be an amazing life. A challenging life. A life of surprises.

The life he wanted.

But if he couldn’t trust her, no future existed for them. He could live with the fact that she wasn’t a soft-willed woman who acquiesced to all of her husband’s demands. That was the kind of woman his mother had been, and she had been a good wife to his father. But his father had never loved her. Instead, he had fallen for Alexandra’s mother. Iris was beautiful, tall, and regal like Alexandra. She no doubt possessed some of her daughter’s fire—what hadn’t been burned out by her first husband—and that is what had drawn his father to her. She was a woman of strength and character who had sacrificed everything to protect her daughters.

His father could not have done better for himself.

Evan finally understood. It was Alexandra’s fire that drew him. Her passion. Her strength. She was nothing like Evan’s mother.

If only she hadn’t violated his trust. He would have to learn to live without her. But how could he live when half of his heart—his soul—was missing?

A
lly had sunk
down in the chair as much as the bindings would allow. Dear Lord, the heat! The muskiness of her own body odor wafted to her nose. It hadn’t become unpleasant yet, but it was well on its way. Her hair felt like it was plastered to her scalp.

Her heart hammered as heavy footsteps clomped up the stairs. Osborne walked in.

“Good evening, my lady. I trust you have not been too uncomfortable.”

Ally strained against her gag. How dare he come in here so nonchalantly after kidnapping her and tying her up.

“And now, I must decide what to do with you. The night crew will be in before long, so I need to get rid of you before then.” He tapped his foot, rubbing his chin. “What to do?”

Ally’s stomach threatened to empty. She willed it back. Getting sick through the gag would not be pleasant.

Osborne strode forward, his eyes glazed over. He stroked her cheek, his bony fingers clammy against her skin. She winced.

“Do not shy away from my touch, my lady.”

Ally let out a scream, muffled through the gag.

“You are a beauty.” He leaned toward her and slithered his tongue up her cheek.

Ally nearly vomited. Her skin tightened against the gooey disgustingness of his saliva. This man oozed creepiness. He was a vile creature, and he would not violate her.

“Leave me alone!” The words did not make it past her gag.

“Such lovely lips.” Osborne traced them with his index finger. “If I remove this gag, will you kiss me?”

Ally violently shook her head.

“Oh, I think you will.” He ripped the gag from her and clamped his mouth onto hers.

The dreaded invisible worms crawled over her skin. She wanted to vomit. She pressed her lips shut, even as his tongue tried to force its way in. She would not allow it.

He withdrew. “So you want to make this rough, do you? I can’t say that will be unpleasant for me.” He chuckled and leered at her.

She cringed.

“I’ll have to get you out of that chair as your legs are no use to me now. I want them spread apart. I want to see the treasures you hide between them.”

Ally gagged and spat in his face. “You will not touch me!”

He laughed as he wiped her spittle from his cheek. “I think you’ve mistaken who is in control here. I will do what I please with you. After all, I have to dispose of you anyway. Why not have some fun before I do? What is the harm?”

“Lord Evan will come for me,” Ally said. “He is probably on his way right now with the constables.”

“Lord Evan is recovering from a gunshot wound. You said so yourself. I somehow doubt he is coming anywhere for you. And if anyone knew you were gone, the authorities would be here by now. I call your bluff, my lady.”

Ally wilted against the chair. He was right. No one was coming for her—certainly not Evan, who could barely walk.

So this was truly to be her fate. A result of poor judgment, Evan would say.

And he would be right.

She could only pray that it passed quickly.

Osborne unbound her feet from the chair. Quick as a jackrabbit, she landed a swift kick on his hand.

“Ouch! You filthy little bitch!” He slapped her across the face.

The strike stung, but it was nothing compared to the kind of punishment her father had doled out. “Is that all you have?”

He slapped her again. “You will not speak to me like that.”

Ally held back a sarcastic laugh. Osborne had no idea with whom he was dealing. Ally was no limp violet. She could take a beating, and a beating by this revolting creature would be far preferable to any sexual act with him. Make him angry enough, and he would beat her senseless instead of raping her.

And when he was done, she would somehow keep her vow—to kill any man who ever laid a hand on her again.

“Try to stop me, why don’t you? You’re weak. You can’t even hit a woman properly. Unbind my hands, and I’ll show you who is stronger between the two of us.”

“The only thing your hands will be doing is pumping my cock, you little whore, before I force it into your pretty mouth.”

She nearly retched, but she caught herself, continuing to play her part. “Suck you? You can’t be serious. Why, your tiny thing would get lost between my lips.”

“Shut up, bitch.” He slapped her across the face again.