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  He broke off the kiss and took her into his arms, then laid her on the desk. His hold tightened around her for a moment, pulling her hard against the broad planes of his chest. For that little amount of time, she could feel his heart was beating with the same rhythm hers was.

  His hands skimmed over her body, coasting over her arms and thighs. One thigh moved between hers. Skin teasing softer skin. Then he was standing between her legs. The insistent bulge of his cock brushed against her hip, a promise of the pleasure that she knew could be found in his arms.

  Fingers grasped the straps of her panties and pulled. A sense of freedom filled her when her panties were removed. Despite the fact that she still wore the maid costume, she'd never felt barer before.

  "Damn, you're beautiful."

  She didn't realize that she'd closed her eyes until she opened them to stare at him in wonder. Ansley sounded riveted. By her. More surprising than that was the intent look in his eyes. “Do you want this, Sophia?” Hard and unyielding, his cock moved across the slick folds of her sex.

  "Yes. God, yes."

  The sound of foil tearing cut through the air. Then Ansley's sheathed length was pressing into her. It had been some time since she last took a lover, and her vaginal muscles protested the invasion. He stilled when she groaned in discomfort. “One inch at a time,” he murmured. His fingers strummed her clitoris, pulling and tweaking the swollen bud. A moan escaped her lips, and Ansley thrust forward until he was seated to the hilt. “Perfect,” he growled.

  He leaned forward and she felt his moist breath against her throat before his mouth suckled the area right below her jaw. “Ansley,” she groaned.

  His teeth scraped across the sensitive skin. A warning. A promise. Then he pulled out until only the head of his cock was sheathed in her. Her eyes fluttered shut at his return. Then Ansley began a steady thrust-and-withdraw rhythm. He left her breathless, gasping for air, as he took her hard and deep, touching all her pleasure points.

  Flames streaked over every inch of her skin. Her body exploded. Her sheath tightened as her orgasm ripped through her body. Shocking pleasure shot through her pussy as she felt her vaginal muscles grip Ansley's cock as she shook beneath him.

  His pace didn't stop or alter. Ansley continued pounding into her through her release, forcing her body to find pleasure a second time. She screamed his name when her orgasm tore through her body. “Please. Oh, Lord. Ansley."

  The hands spread across the backs of her thighs tightened their grip, forcing her legs closer to her chest, opening her farther. She bucked beneath him, rocking her hips against his, meeting him thrust for thrust.

  "Ansley, please.” She groaned, filled with a burning need only he could appease. It might have been the plea, but Ansley's pace altered. She couldn't stifle her scream of pleasure when he sank deeper within her cunt. She shrieked Ansley's name and tugged on the bindings as her body erupted and broke out in shivers.

  Her orgasm seemed to shred what control Ansley had over himself. He grabbed her hips hard, almost painfully, as he pounded into her, stroking her cunt with deep thrusts that drew out Sophia's orgasm until she was racked with pleasure.

  With a heartfelt groan, Ansley spent himself deep within her folds. She felt a deep shudder run through his body just as his growl ripped through the pungent, sex-scented air. Breathing like a runner, Ansley pulled out of her and untied the scarf around her wrists.

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  Chapter Seven

  On Our Way

  Sophia watched Ansley's eyes drift to the glass of champagne in her hand. Her own eyes strayed to the flute. It had been filled most of the night. For the first time that evening, Sophia wondered how much alcohol was flowing through her veins. “I'm not drunk."

  One dark eyebrow lifted in silent inquiry at her statement, but other than that Ansley said nothing in response.

  His silence burned her ears. “I might be a little tipsy,” she qualified.

  A slow, sensual grin curved his firm mouth as the sooty fan of his lashes lifted. His gaze held hers. “I can handle tipsy,” he murmured as he leaned forward.

  He's going to kiss me.

  Seconds seemed to pass by slowly as she watched Ansley's face descend. Sophia groaned at the first touch of his lips against hers. Considering all that they had done together, Ansley's kiss shouldn't have affected her so much, but it did. It was like lightning to her nerve endings. Burning. Hot. So hot. Need similar to that which she felt when they made love coursed through her veins at the feel of his mouth moving across hers.

  His hand spanned the small of her back and slowly made its way north. With every inch he crossed, she felt the heat from his palm deep between her thighs. By the time he reached her shoulders, her panties were wet with need.

  Ansley pulled her close, until their bodies were lined against one another. Then he pressed one thigh between hers as he thrust his tongue farther into her mouth. Sophia groaned at the darkened tone of his embrace. Nothing had ever felt so seductive.

  There was no ignoring the allure.

  She was pulled forward, straight into the flaming heart of his desire.

  Her arms tightened around his waist and she tilted her head back, giving him free access to the deepest recesses of her mouth. Wicked, wet, and warm, his tongue laved her, consuming Sophia until she wasn't sure where his breath started and hers ended.

  The sound of raucous laughter filled the air, breaking the moment between them. Sophia looked over Ansley's shoulder to see a giggling trio of women trying to make their way into one of the bedrooms farther down the hall. Embarrassment flooded Sophia as she realized they were making out in the middle of the hall like high school students in between class. She pulled away from Ansley, but not before he placed one resounding kiss against her mouth. It was a promise, one she could not pretend to misunderstand as she lifted her gaze and looked into his eyes. There was desire and determination in his gaze.

  Hearing his unspoken demand, Sophia placed her face next to Ansley's so his lips were right against her ears. “I'm going to look for the piece. I'll be back later. Don't wait up."

  Although she wanted to protest his actions, Sophia knew it was foolish. Plus, they still had an audience. She tightened her hold around his waist as she replied, “Please be careful."

  He took a step backward, slid his hands up her back, over her neck, until they tightened in her hair. She shivered at the rough grip. A warm, intoxicating smile settled over the hard planes of his handsome face. “Of course. I've got something to return to,” he said before dipping his head and taking her lips in a turbulent kiss.

  At the feel of his insistent mouth against hers, Sophia was thrown into the deep end of her desire. She fought for purchase even as her hands gripped him closer. Lord, the man knows how to kiss, she thought as wave after wave of arousal flooded her body.

  All too soon the kiss was over and Sophia found herself being placed a foot away from Ansley. With a rush, she came back to herself. A darted glance told her that they no longer had witnesses. Evidently she'd missed the women's departure. Shaken from the power of her hunger, Sophia licked her lips and tasted Ansley on her tongue. With a strength she didn't think she owned, she ignored the flutter that moved through her sex as Ansley's flavor filled her mouth.

  "Good night, Ansley."

  His gaze searched her face for several seconds. Silence stretched between them. She took the chance to memorize his face as it looked at that moment, harshly carved by the blade of desire that sliced through the air.

  "Good night, Sophia."

  Feeling stronger than she'd felt in months, Sophia turned the knob on their shared suite and slipped into the room. Ansley's kiss was so powerful it gave her energy. She flicked on the light and glanced at the bed. The bed they were supposed to share.

  She seriously doubted she would be able to sleep there. Too much energy hummed through her veins for rest. She kicked off her shoes, picked up the platforms, then strode across the room.<
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  The night had been both more frightening and more exciting than she could imagine. Sophia stopped in front of the intricately carved wooden dresser that sat against the room's eastern wall. She placed her shoes beside its carved legs and brushed her fingers up the floral design that ran up the side. When she straightened, she stared at herself in the mirror.

  Her eyes were bright with excitement, her skin heated with pleasure, and most important of all, her lips were curved into a smile. Ansley had done this to her. His kiss, his touch, brought her to this place of bliss. She shivered as she thought about Ansley's hands on her body.

  She couldn't believe she'd allowed him to touch her, right there in the middle of the theater. On top of that, she'd found pleasure in his hands despite the fact that she was surrounded by strangers, and anyone of them could have been watching them.

  Thankfully, everyone seemed too intent of finding their own satisfaction to pay attention to what others were doing. Still, the very chance of being seen excited her.

  She'd only been there for one day and already she'd learned so much about herself. Sophia wasn't sure if it was excitement or fear that quickened her pulse at the thought of what else she might discover.

  And then there was the evening they'd shared in one of the estate's many studies. She found so much pleasure in his hands, she couldn't help wondering if it was a fantasy.

  * * * *

  Sleep wasn't coming. The memory of the experiences she shared with Ansley wouldn't allow her to find peace.

  Lying in bed was useless. She was restless and her fingers kept straying to her inner thighs, determined to quench the hunger there. But it wasn't her touch she wanted. Every time Sophia closed her eyes she pictured Ansley's hands on her flesh.

  It was late. Too late for her to be awake, especially when she thought about the day she'd had. As she crept from her bed, the glowing red numbers on the analog bedside clock warned her that it was after three in the morning.

  On unsteady legs, she strode forward, determined to conquer the hunger that flushed her body. She wasn't sure how long she walked, but her limbs felt frozen when she looked up and found herself standing in front of a small adobe church.

  The sky was a stark inky color. The many stars that glittered in it were so brightly lit the sky appeared unreal. Sophia wrapped her arms around her body as she gazed at the beautiful image.

  "Lovely,” she whispered as she stared at up at the pale pink structure. It reminded her of the late eighteenth-century churches that dotted the northern California landscape. The building was lovely with its simple elegance and charm. She stood before it, taking in the intricate detail that the architect had painstakingly employed. She knew that like the mansion, the church was less than a hundred years old, but the design gave it a very old-world feel. With a soft smile of praise to the architect, she grabbed the heavy oak door and pulled it open with all her might. The wood protested with a groan as she stepped into the church. From the sound of it, the religious building didn't get a lot of visitors.

  "You're getting one tonight,” she murmured as she moved deeper into the sanctuary.

  There was something about the comfortable warmth of the adobe church that called to her, soothed her frazzled mind. She swallowed thickly and made her way to the barely lit altar. Sophia took a seat on one of the carved wooden benches. She had no idea what to do or really why she'd entered the church. So she did the only thing she could think of doing, she spoke from her heart.

  "I can't and shouldn't need him like I do. Not so soon, not with so much ... power. Lord, just give me the strength to get through this weekend without a broken heart."

  She walked around the church, taking in the beauty of the building, until her nerves were calmed and she felt comfortable enough to return to her room.

  * * * *

  The slow climb of the sun was both humbling and exhilarating. For several moments, he simply watched the sunrise. With each moment, the sky brightened, becoming infused with streaks of pale pink and the lightest yellow. A quick glance at the clock told him it was not yet six. He should have been lying in bed, relaxing, but it was impossible to do. Finding sleep was a task he rarely succeeded in. Lately he wondered why he even bothered trying. With a sigh, he crept from the bedroom and into the adjoining room.

  His body ached, his head pounded, and Jacob couldn't escape the knowledge that he was utterly exhausted. The muscle pain was something he could work with, push past. It was the tiredness that cloaked his mind in a waxy film that he could not ignore.

  He'd long passed running on empty. Now only the strength of his will was keeping him together.

  Still it was all worth it. He had a job to do, and like most of the Bainsworths, he was goal oriented. Once he set out on a task, he accomplished it. Mind focused on what he had to do, he showered and dressed. Then he stepped into his private room, the one area where no servant dared to venture, and slipped his hands into a pair of medical gloves and picked up a syringe and vial. With precise care, he filled the syringe. After he finished the task he took a deep, calming breath. Just a little while longer, he told himself.

  It was time to go to work.

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  Chapter Eight

  The Allure of Triton's Palace

  Ansley stared at the slip of paper in his hand as a hot frisson of need snaked down his torso to pool in his groin. Another decree, another chance at pleasure. With careful, measured steps he made his way to his destination. Unlike the majority of the property, the foliage was not painstakingly manicured. He looked around him as he walked, taking note of the lushness of the plants. A second glance confirmed his belief. The area had been purposely neglected. The region gave one the feeling that they were in the middle of a rain forest. Accomplishing such a vision was not an easy feat in northern California in the middle of a drought.

  He still could not believe he was there on Bainsworth's massive estate, participating in a decadent weekend filled with sexual escapades. To top it all off, his partner was Sophia Feathermoore. For months now her voice and image haunted his nights. Now he knew the sight of her orgasmic face would fill his daydreams. Even the fact that it was Saturday afternoon and he had yet to find his family's armor didn't dissuade him from believing he would find the suit.

  So far the weekend had been perfect. More than he could ask for. “A lot more than I deserve,” he muttered as he continued down the winding path that was supposed to take him to the estate's infamous indoor pool, Triton's Palace.

  A jagged, rocky outcrop loomed before him. From where he stood, he could see a rugged entryway in the stone structure. He glanced down at the wooden signpost in the thick grass. According to it, the pool lay through the entryway. Excitement and heat flushed his system as he strode forward.

  Mere hours had passed since he last saw Sophia, but it felt like days. He was so finely attuned to her, when she was around his body craved her presence the moment she walked away.

  She was his addiction. No, he thought, correcting himself. Sophia was more than that. She was the cure to his monotony. When he was around her, the air smelled cleaner, the sun appeared brighter, and most importantly, the anger that lay buried beneath stopped raging.

  Sophia brought him peace and comfort.

  One weekend with her and he was already reluctant to see her go.

  He had to find a way to keep her, to make her his woman.

  Thankfully, the weekend was not over.

  He thought back to the fantasy they were supposed to be acting out. He was a male siren. His only objective was seduction. Triton's Palace was the official title of the estate's most infamous feature. The pool was more than one hundred feet long and almost as wide. Separate from the rest of the estate, it was housed in its own stone building, which gave one the feeling they were totally secluded from society. Thick foliage and intricate pieces of art created a lovely haven. He took in the unique beauty of the area as he slipped into the pool.

  Ansley
hadn't been treading water for more than five minutes when Sophia arrived. She strutted into the room, a cocky swing to her lush hips. He knew from the moment he spotted her what part she was playing. She wore tight navy blue breeches with white trimming. Black knee-high, lace-up boots graced her feet. Her blouse was white and ruffled, and rakishly perched on her midnight locks was an ebony pirate's hat.

  Sophia was his fallen sailor, strong, proud, and unwilling to heed his call. He grinned up at her as he treaded the water. “Join me, Sophia. Let us be one."

  The rich brown tone of her eyes darkened, and the autumn air around them deepened and thickened. He continued speaking. “I can promise you a night of pleasure. I can fulfill your deepest, darkest desires.

  Her chest rose as she took a deep breath and he watched the sight in awe, the image of her naked breasts, tips hard with desire emblazoned on his mind. “And what would your offer cost me? A lifetime as your prisoner?"

  He swam to the edge of the pool and set his arms on the side. “Would a lifetime with me be a sentence?"

  Her lips parted and he could see her wonderful mind picturing them together for a very long time. He smiled and lunged out of the pool. She gasped and took an instinctive step back. He refused to let her retreat. “Tell me, Sophia, am I a sentence?"

  "No."

  One simple word, but it gave him the hope of a thousand men. He took a step forward so only a few inches separated their bodies. The air was damp and water clung to his skin, but he was warmed by the proximity of her body. “Sophia?” he asked softly.

  "I ... What if...?” Without looking his way, she released the soft words in a stutter. It was then that Ansley truly understood what it meant that he was playing a male siren. His target needed to be about more than just physical seduction. He needed to entice Sophia's mind as well as her body. He needed to calm her emotions by telling her all the things she wanted to hear.