No. ’Twas a terrible idea. She stood, drew her loosely braided hair out of her clothing, and pulled her wrapper around her.
“I think not. Now, tell me what you’re doing here—” She held up a hand as he started to speak. “And I do not mean watching and learning. Why did you come here and in such a clandestine manner?”
“I wanted to see you. I could not bear to wait until I happened upon you at another ball. And my circumstances do not allow me much time to make social calls, nor did you permit them.”
“Yet you thought I’d permitthis?” She growled her question in a near-shout as she glared at him.
“I hoped. I beg your pardon, Mistress.” His grin tilted further on one side, a sly twinkle entering his gaze. “How may I make it up to you?”
Unh. How had he discovered her weakness so quickly and easily? The rakelet was shrewd as well as brave.
She opened her mouth to command that he leave but could not form the words.
His eyes glinted. “You are gorgeous. Naked or clothed.”
She gasped at his continued daring. One did not mention a lady’s nudity, no matter what the circumstance, but just like the garden at the ball, his admiration gave her pause.
He seemed to take her silence as encouragement. “I would very much appreciate you continuing to teach me how to behave the way you’d like. Perhaps if you tie me again, then I cannot get myself into more trouble. I would sit quietly. And I could…watch and learn.” He bit his lip, his expression shy yet confident.
The tethered lip and image of him tied were her undoing. Her fingers twitched with the urge to grab his wrists. Her nipples pebbled. The idea of educating someone to her tastes was nigh on irresistible. It had been so long. And Charles had already known what he wanted; the education had been hers. This magnificent young man was not even fully aware of what he was asking for.
His gaze flicked down to the hard tips poking through her thin clothing, then back up, tilting his head. “Please, Mistress? It shall be our secret?”
She clenched her fists, fighting her desire. But she’d already primed the pump imagining herself as Calypso holding him captive. Not to mention stroking herself while she imagined his naked form.
He grabbed a chair from the two-person seating area by the fireplace and dragged it around to face the foot of the bed. Sitting, he laid his hands on his knees. “Teach me? I love to learn.”
The dratted rakelet had somehow landed on the perfect thing to say. Her conscience was swept away on her next breath. She stood and stepped to her dresser. Wrenching the top drawer open, she pawed through it roughly. Yanking out a colorful scarf, she tossed it on the floor, hopeful. But she did not wear many scarves. She frowned, thinking, then side-stepped to jerk open another drawer, withdrawing gossamer sheer stockings.
Eager to see his reaction, she turned to him with an arched brow. They were going to do this on her terms. She’d use her anger to torment him in punishment for his uninvited visit.
“Mistress?” His throat moved as he gulped.
Good. He was nervous. He should have thought of that before he pushed so hard. She liked keeping a man off-balance.
“Quiet, lordling.” Her voice was clipped.
“Right. I can be quiet, I promise. But won’t you talk to me, to help me learn, please?”
She bit back a smile at his nervous chatter as she considered his request. “I am angry at myself as well as you, if you must know. You are too young, or I am too old, to be sneaking around for any reason, especially sex.”
“Is there a better reason to sneak?” he asked with a cheeky grin.
“Said with the solitary focus of youth,” she muttered under her breath.
He shrugged, his smile unwavering.
“William,” she said with a withering glare. “I will gag you if you are not quiet.”
His eyebrows rose.
Interesting. His face portrayed curiosity rather than fear. Liquid heat gathered between her thighs at the possibilities open to her.
He pressed his lips together, showing his willingness to follow orders.
She approached him, leaning over to tie one hand to the carved wooden arm of the chair, before moving to the other. Her shyness gone, she embraced the fantasy turned reality. Her pulse pounded in her chest, behind her ears, between her legs. Ah, the pleasure of subduing a partner to have her way with him. There was nothing like it. Wetness seeped down one leg.
She could smell her own arousal—could he? Could he even identify the scent at such a tender age? No, she would not think of that now. He’d pushed her beyond her control, but he was old enough to know better.
