The Erotic Dark (25 page)

“Very nice patterning,” Wallace remarked as his finger slipped audaciously into the crease of her buttocks.

Lydia gasped and pulled away from him as far as the table would allow, dropping her skirt back over herself. Wallace grasped her waist suddenly, thrusting his groin against her rump.

“Get away from me,” Lydia hissed, her skin crawling at the feel of his fat belly pushing against her, his flaccid penis hardening.

“You need to work on your attitude, Lydia,” Wallace said. He turned her around so she was forced to face him, his eyes starting to flare with the burn of lust. “I don’t care what Preston says. You’re expected to be friendlier here.”

Gabriel turned from the buffet, his expression darkening. “Watch it, Wallace. There isn’t a—”

“Your little plaything needs to learn some manners,” Wallace interrupted. He grasped Lydia by the neck and pulled her toward him, smashing his mouth against her lips with lecherous hunger.

A guttural protest came from Lydia’s throat before she was able to pull angrily away from him. She would not allow people to treat her like this without her consent, for there were some things she had certainly not agreed to.

A fierce rage broke open inside her, compounded by the humiliations and pain she had endured thus far and the rising conflict of her emotions. Without thinking, she spat furiously in Wallace’s face.

He stared at her in abhorrent shock. Silence descended over the room like a heavy cloud. For an instant, time seemed to halt as no one moved.

Then Wallace’s expression flared with black anger. Before Lydia realized what he was doing, his hand came up and slammed hard against the side of her face. She cried out as pain radiated over her neck and jaw, her vision blurring. Dimly, she heard Preston and Gabriel both shout, heard Kruin’s harsh “Get her away!”

With horror, she saw Wallace’s arm rise again. Before he could strike her a second time, before she could even right herself, the three men moved into action.

Kruin’s chair overturned as he leapt from the table and ran to tackle Wallace, his massive strength bringing the other man instantly to the floor. Gabriel rushed toward Lydia to move her away from the struggling men, pulling her into the protection of his arms.

“Get that bastard out of here!” Preston shouted, his blue eyes hot with anger as he strode toward Kruin and Wallace. “Kick him down the front steps. I never want to see him again!”

With minimal effort, Kruin grabbed the hapless Wallace by the back of his robe and hauled him from the solarium. The front door slammed hard.

“Lydia, are you all right?” Preston took Lydia’s face in his hands, turning her toward him so he could examine the bruising mark on her jaw. Distress darkened his eyes. “How badly did he hurt you?”

Lydia couldn’t reply, her body sinking against Gabriel’s as the shock began to dissipate. Preston’s fingers pressed gently against her cheek, his frown deepening.

“Open and close your mouth,” he said. “Does anything feel broken?”

“N-no.”

“Sit down.” Gabriel helped her sit in a chair, his hand sliding comfortingly into her hair.

Preston went to the sideboard and removed several pieces of ice from a silver bucket. He placed them into a linen napkin and returned to the table. Gabriel took the ice from him and pressed it carefully against Lydia’s cheek.

“He will never return here,” Kruin said, his body lined with furious tension as he returned to the solarium.

“Not only will he never return here,” Preston replied tersely, “he will regret ever having been here.”

“Come upstairs.” Gabriel tucked his arm around Lydia and helped her to her feet. “You’ve had quite a time these past couple of days.”

Lydia processed the fact that the other guests had been watching the entire incident in shock, but she no longer cared. She leaned heavily against Gabriel as they went upstairs and into her bedroom.

She stretched out on the bed, her eyelids drifting closed with relief. Gabriel sat beside her, still holding the ice to her cheek. After a few moments, he went into the bathroom and returned with a bottle of aspirin and a glass of water.

“Take these,” he said, tapping two pills into his palm.

Lydia struggled to sit up, pushing a pillow behind her back. The pain slowly began to ebb, although her nerves were frayed and raw. She swallowed the aspirin, eyeing Gabriel almost warily. He gave her a gentle look, smoothing his hand over her thigh.

“I’m sorry,” he said. “We should never have let him take such liberties with you.”

“It’s not entirely your fault. He started with me last night, so he was angry to begin with.”

“What did he do last night?”

When Lydia told him, Gabriel’s expression hardened with anger.

“Why didn’t you come and tell me?” he asked.

“You were…otherwise occupied.” Lydia broke her gaze from him and looked down at her hands.

“Then why didn’t you tell Preston or Kruin?”

“Because Preston had other plans in mind for me,” Lydia said. She paused, then asked, “Did she spend the night with you?”

“Who?”

“Helen.”

He looked surprised for an instant before comprehension dawned. “If she did, do you have a right to question that?”

“No. But I am wondering.”

“Why?”

Now Lydia was surprised. “What do you mean?”

“Why do you want to know?”

Lydia felt a flush begin to creep over her neck. “I’m…I’m curious. I saw you in the library with her.”

“Did you, now?” Gabriel murmured. “And did you like what you saw?”

Lydia nodded. A vivid picture of him and Helen came to mind, searing through her thoughts like a firebrand.

“I liked it and didn’t like it,” she confessed. “It was arousing, but…”

Her voice trailed off, and she shrugged. She felt Gabriel watching her as if he were able to read her thoughts.

“But?” he prompted.

Lydia pinched the bridge of her nose with a heavy sigh. Fatigue had seeped into her very bones, adding another layer to her whirlwind of emotions.

“I don’t know,” she finally said, her flush heightening. “I didn’t like seeing you with another woman.”

Gabriel was quiet for a moment before he leaned over to press his lips against her forehead.

“Try and get some more sleep, Lydia. The guests will be gone by the time you come downstairs again.”

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

“He was forced to resign.” Preston’s voice was filled with satisfaction as he poured himself another glass of wine.

“Good,” Kruin said.

“Who resigned?” Lydia asked.

“Wallace,” Gabriel explained. “He was a rather prominent judge in the state court. His superiors recently received some incriminating information about him, so he’s finished.”

“He’ll be arrested shortly,” Preston added. He lifted his wineglass in Lydia’s direction, his mouth curving. “See, darling? We’ll always take care of things. And of you.”

A strange feeling of complacency rose within Lydia. She remembered how swiftly the three men had reacted in her defense, making her wholly secure in the knowledge they would all go to any lengths to protect her. The incident with Wallace was only a tiny part of that knowledge. Their protection was like a vast, overarching umbrella that extended far beyond the boundaries of
La Nouvelle Vie
.

Lydia’s hand trembled as she picked up her fork. As they continued with dinner, she looked at each of the men in turn. Three men, all of whom had more control over her than anyone ever had in her entire life, all of whom had proven their ability to evoke infinite levels of both sensation and emotion in her physical body and spiritual soul.

There was Preston, who had agreed to provide her with a sanctuary in exchange for his domination over her. His authority was edged with vindictiveness and a hint of cruelty, yet his need for revenge was tempered by his evident desire and affection for her.

Although Preston continued to unnerve Lydia with his barbaric streak, she recognized it was the very unpredictability of his nature that was beginning to intrigue her. She never knew what to expect from him, and although she could be reasonably certain that some form of pain and humiliation would be involved, Preston’s intense desire for her balanced his discipline. He needed her, just as she needed him.

Lydia’s gaze shifted to Kruin. Solid as a rock, hard as nails, as enigmatic as a puzzle. He would brook no argument or defiance from her, yet he too would never allow anyone to hurt her. She still feared him and the hard edge of his punishment, but he also made her feel entirely safe.

And she knew he would never punish her unless she truly deserved it, which made his character all the more admirable. Lydia wanted to continue to earn his approval more than she had ever wanted anyone’s approval.

She looked at Gabriel. He was the one whose company she most enjoyed, the man with whom she wanted to spend long hours talking, laughing, and riding their horses. He aroused her with easy authority, making her want to pleasure him with the same intensity that she experienced at his hands. He was a beautiful man—gentle and kind, but with a distinct edge of power that she found highly captivating.

Lydia let out her breath slowly, wondering how long it might take before she began to truly understand each man in turn and her relationship with him on all levels.

She sliced a forkful of creamy, lemon tart and slipped the mouthful between her lips. The flavor melted sour and sweet against her tongue. She pushed her plate away and leaned her head against the back of her chair.

She closed her eyes, wondering at the utter feeling of satisfaction and calmness that had begun to invade her blood. She was beginning to feel as if she belonged here, as if her entire life beyond the plantation had absolutely ceased to exist. She didn’t even know what she would do anymore or what would happen if she were to walk out the doors of
La Nouvelle Vie
.

Nor did she ever want to find out.

Lydia opened her eyes and pushed her chair away from the table. The three men looked up from their plates questioningly.

Her heart began to hammer in her chest as she went around the table to Kruin’s side. His mouth compressed with a hint of annoyance, his fork clattering to his plate.

Lydia placed a tentative hand on his broad shoulder. Her legs suddenly felt shaky.

“I wanted to ask…” She paused and cleared her throat, aware they were all watching her. “I want to ask if you would spank me.”

Silence fell. The men all appeared rather shocked at the entirely unexpected request. A crimson blush covered Lydia’s cheeks, but she didn’t move, keeping her gaze on Kruin’s black eyes.

“I want it now,” she whispered hoarsely. “I want you to do it.”

Preston gave a shout of laughter that broke through the heavy silence.

“Well, I’ll be damned,” he said with genuine amusement. “You actually—”

His words died unspoken when Kruin held up a large hand. The big man didn’t take his eyes from Lydia’s face, just as she didn’t take her hand from his shoulder.

“Why do you want this?” he asked.

“Because I want to please you,” Lydia answered truthfully.

“Just now you’ve come to that realization?”

“No. I’ve wanted your approval…the approval of all three of you…since I first arrived. I suppose I just didn’t realize it until now.”

Kruin reached for his napkin. With slow deliberation, he wiped a crumb from his lip and placed the napkin beside his plate. He appeared to be turning her request over in his mind.

Lydia felt both Gabriel and Preston still looking at her silently. She watched Kruin with increasing nervousness, wondering if he would be displeased by her boldness.

“And how do you feel about your punishments?” Kruin asked.

“I don’t like them,” Lydia admitted.

“But you never fail to become aroused,” Kruin remarked, taking a sip of wine. “Especially considering how you fail to control your orgasms.”

A rush of embarrassment went through Lydia. “It’s not easy. I’m trying, though. I’ll continue to try. I promise.”

“And you’ll prove that now?” Kruin asked.

“Yes.”

“Why?”

“I said…I want to please you.”

“Why else?” Kruin asked. “What have you learned in the time you’ve been here?”

For a moment, Lydia couldn’t even respond. She struggled through her whirlwind of emotions, trying to fathom the motives of her dark triad in desiring control of her. Perhaps it was because they had withdrawn so thoroughly from the outside world that they wanted authority over everything in their present clandestine life.

How freeing it all was, Lydia thought suddenly. How utterly delicious not to have to worry about anything beyond the boundaries of the plantation. To allow these three men to do with her as they wished, secure in the knowledge that they were her ultimate guardians and protectors.

How delightfully liberating to live each day without care of the mundane aspects of life. Indeed, to live richly within life’s most exquisite offerings, those of sensual delights, savory foods, physical attraction, the pleasures of gardens, flowers, massive oak trees, sleeping in the warm sunlight, horseback riding, endless hours in which to read, and, yes, even of carnal pain.