AllFreeNovel
Share Us
She was afraid for Quill to see how conflicted she was by both the beauty and ugliness of his world. And letting others in was out of the question.
Marcus left her to soak in the tub. When the water turned cool, she drained it and put on a robe that was lying on the bench.
She wasn’t convinced Quill even wanted her. If he did, wouldn’t she be in the main house with him in his bed?
The marble sent a rippling chill through her as she walked across it, her feet bare. Marcus sat on a bench outside the main gallery lost inside a book. He slid a bookmark between the pages and laid it beside him.
“It’s late. You should try to get some sleep.”
“Do I have to sleep in the cage?”
Marcus rose from the bench and moved a stray bit of damp hair behind her ear. “I’m afraid so.”
“Do you have to lock me in?”
“Yes. Come on. Don’t make a fuss.” Marcus took her hand and led her back into the gallery. The painting Quill had done of her the other day already hung on the wall in its own glass case. There was still plenty of empty space in the gallery—room for many more paintings—but she wondered where he would put them when he ran out of wall. Assuming he kept painting her. Maybe he’d run out of interest before he ran out of space.
When she and Marcus reached the cage, he opened the robe and slowly slid it off her shoulders. She had the uncontrollable urge to cross her arms over her chest, but he stopped her.
“No. I want to look at you.”
She forced her hands to her sides.
Marcus’s finger gently grazed her collarbone. He used both hands to cup her breasts. Then he quite unexpectedly hooked one hand behind her neck and pulled her in for a softly consuming kiss.
When he stepped away, he searched her face. Whatever he was looking for, he seemed to find. “I’m going to finish my book. After that, I’m coming back for you. You’ll want to rest while you can.”
He opened the cage and motioned her in, locking the door behind her. Saskia stretched out on the bedding and fluffed the pillows.
She thought she’d only closed her eyes for a moment when he returned but if he’d finished his book it must have been hours. He’d still been in the first half when he’d put it down to lock her in the cage.
At first, he didn’t speak, and neither did she. She didn’t want him to know she was awake. He must have watched her for ten minutes or more before he finally lowered himself onto the ground beside the cage. She arched closer when he stroked her leg, first over the blanket, then underneath it.
Saskia drew in a sharp breath.
“I knew you were awake,” Marcus said. “Did you think I’d leave you alone if you were asleep?”
“No, sir.”
“Liar.” But his tone was light.
She opened her eyes and watched him. She remained curled in the blankets, her head cushioned on the pillows.
“Are you going to open the cage?”
“No. I like you in there. Scoot closer. I want you to move the blankets out of the way and flip over so that you’re on your hands and knees. Press yourself against the bars so I don’t have to reach for you.”
A flutter of excitement shot between her legs as she moved into the requested position.
“You’ll need to put your legs through the bars so you can get closer to me.”
The black metal bars were cold against her thighs as she pressed against them.
“Lie on the pillows. You’ll be here a while.”
Saskia pulled the pillows under her and lay down, closing her eyes as Marcus began to caress between her thighs.
As he stroked her, she pressed harder against the bars, so hard, she was sure they would leave red impressions against her skin. She couldn’t get close enough to him, and she was convinced he was staying just far enough away that she’d keep pressing harder to reach him and the pleasure he teased her with.
