Angel in Scarlet (Bound and Determined #4)(51)

Her whole body was as tight as a bowstring, every muscle straining.

Too much. It was too much.

And then it was over.

Her body sagged against the wall. She wished she could sink down beside him. Her muscles felt as if they would never move again. She felt his finger withdraw, and then with a small movement her skirts were free, falling to the ground.

She turned slowly, leaning, letting her head fall back so that she stared up at the stars.

A thousand tiny points of light spread across the sky. Even the faint glow shining from the house did not dampen the wonder, the glory of the moment.

—

Colton leaned against the wall to the house, fighting his own desire. She was magnificent. He had not expected that from her. He seemed to always be underestimating her, thinking that she would not measure up to what he needed, and always she surprised him.

Again he wondered: Could he have been mistaken when he decided she could not truly meet his needs? That possibility spun through his mind—and was rejected. They were playing right now.

They both admitted that this was a game. She might be intrigued with what they had done, but no more. They had played with the edge of excitement, but he had never pushed her over the edge into forbidden territory—well, only with Granderson, and that had not ended well. Nothing else they had done was that unusual. But what if he pushed her further, indulged his own desires a little more? She’d said she dreamed of being tied when questioned by her lieutenant—how far was his angel ready to go?

Lady Johnson let out a loud laugh below.

“I think I could float away.” Angela’s voice was soft and low, in many ways quieter than a whisper.

“I think that is a common experience after orgasm. I know that I frequently like to sleep.”

She laughed lightly, almost a titter. Her face came down to look at him. “I must admit I have heard that about men. Some of the married women speak of it with relief and some with regret. I think I would fall solidly into the regret category if you fell asleep on me.”

He had a hard time imagining falling asleep, although the fact that his cock was hard and bulging against his evening breeches may have had something to do with that. He pressed a hand tight against his flap, willing it down. He would not be able to return to the party until it did.

Her eyes followed his movement. “I could help with that.”

“And how would you propose that?” He focused on her mouth, on those still-damp lips.

She blinked. “I could certainly touch you. You could show me how.”

Well, that would work, too, but…“There is not time. The music is coming to an end. And the angles present something of a problem. It would not do for you to disappear, only to have me standing in your stead. I would imagine that your mother would be up here in less than five minutes. And I may be in a state of need, but I still like to think it would take more than five minutes.”

“Oh.” She considered his words, turned, and looked down over the balcony. She lifted a hand and waved. “She is looking at me.”

“I imagine she is. And I also imagine that at some point soon my absence will be noted.”

“I doubt that my mother would ever consider that she could be looking at me while I…”

“While you had an orgasm? Can you even say the word?”

“Orgasm.” She said it slowly and clearly, if rather quietly. “And climax. It is called that too, is it not?”

“Yes.”

She smiled, a cat with a faceful of cream.

Although perhaps he was the one with the faceful. He pushed to his feet, being careful to keep to the shadows as he stepped back through the music room doors. “I had best clean up and then reappear at the party. I would suggest that you stay in place until your mother gestures you down. I expect she will do so soon enough.”

“But what about…?” She gestured to his breeches.

“I will survive—or I will take it in hand as I did the other night. I can assure you that you have given me plenty of pretty pictures to relive. Should I describe what I saw? Would you like to know how you looked, how you tasted as my fingers plunged into you as—Fuck. Forget that. I do need to be going, and I see from the look in your eyes that you would like it all too much.”

“Yes. I believe that your words as much as your touch cause my body to heat. When you tell me what you want me to do, something happens to me. I want nothing more than to obey you, to please you. I don’t understand it, but I feel as if I have no control—as if I can only gain control by doing as you ask.”

And that was not helping his condition. Despite his words, he had no intention of pleasuring himself this evening. He’d spoken for himself as well when he talked of the glories of anticipation. “I will be off. Wait for your mother.” He quickly stepped farther back and strode from the music room. He would find a pitcher of cold water and probably a couple of strong whiskeys.

“But what comes next?” Her question echoed after him.





Chapter 14


What did come next? The question had troubled her throughout the long night. Angela glanced about the breakfast room. She’d thought of little else since her encounter with Colton. How had she ever dared to do such a thing? If he had described what he wanted to do, she doubted she would have agreed. How could that have happened to her body in a place where others were watching? She knew they could see nothing, but…