Mastering The Marquess (Bound and Determined #1)(88)

“I never found it so. Even the whippings freed something in me, cleansed me in some way. I always felt guilt that I had not stopped my family’s foolishness sooner, that I had not in some way saved my mother. Oh, don’t worry, even then I knew better, knew the guilt was unreasonable—but still, the whippings helped. I am over it now.”

She wasn’t so sure about that. But, it did begin to explain things.

“Do you still like to be whipped?” She forced the words from her mouth.



“No,” Geoffrey replied, watching her for every nuance of emotion. “I long ago realized that I do not enjoy giving power to another. My mother died because I was not yet ready to take control. It is a mistake I will not make again now that I am more able.”

“I do begin to understand.” Her face wrinkled as she considered.

He waited for the next question. The question that begged to be asked: And do you enjoy whipping others? That answer was far more complicated.

She curled deeper into his lap, her small hands pressed tight against his chest. Her cheek rubbed against him, seeking to give him comfort—and her ass rubbed against him as well, and it did not bring him comfort.

His hips turned to the side as he tried to maintain the emotional intimacy of the moment. This was his chance to tell all—if he did not ruin it by letting his cock rule. This was the moment for the control he had just talked about.

Warm breath seeped through his shirt as she turned her face up to him.

This was the moment.

“It must be very difficult to deal with your family, and particularly with Bliss, when you have such fear that their fun will lead to destruction.” She turned to look at the portrait of his mother. “Bliss looks much the same as your mother if one imagines the hair different in shade and style.”

That was not what he had expected. Could he turn the conversation back to that which he so needed to discuss? Could he explain what he needed?

Louisa continued to stare at the painting. “You must have loved her very much. I understand now why you look at Bliss with such love and worry. Are you afraid that she too will slip from your grasp, from your world?”

He lowered his head and buried his face in her hair. The moment was past—for now. “No. Yes. Maybe. Mostly I don’t want to be responsible for her choices. I know that may seem odd given everything I have just said of wishing for control, but I have realized that Bliss is uncontrollable—at least by me. I think I must marry her off to someone who will hold her with a strong bit.”

“I am not sure that will work. She may resist at every front. Surely you can give her time to make her own decisions?”

“I am not sure that she can. Sometimes I think she actively pursues disaster at every front. I simply cannot chase after her and watch my father and my younger sisters. Duldon has asked for her hand, and I may just say yes.”

She slid across his lap so that she could stare up at him. “Duldon? No, that will not do. She needs somebody more like her. You do want her to be happy, don’t you?”

“Mostly I want her to be safe.” He shifted again. If she was not still he might find the need to demonstrate his wants instead of discussing them. Even talking of his sister did not stop the blood from rushing to his cock when his wife moved her ass upon him. If anything, his vulnerability increased his need to move things back to familiar ground. And, she was doing it again. “Stop biting your lip or I’ll find another use for that charming mouth.”

“When the situation gets tense you use sex to put it back into control, don’t you?”

The breath caught in his throat. How had she come to know him so well, so quickly? She knew in days things it had taken him years to understand. “Would you like me to demonstrate?”

Her gaze held his as she slowly opened her mouth and let her tongue slip out to lick at the red indent her teeth had left behind. The glisten of saliva almost undid him. And then she bit down again, the pearly teeth worrying at the swollen flesh.

She was inviting him, teasing him.

His mind flashed back to that first night, to the magic Grace had worked with those sweet lips.

Emotions were swirling within him. She was right—he did need release, need the chance to regain power and control. “Get on your knees.”

Her eyes widened. Her teeth bit down again, and this time he thought it involuntary. He saw the glimmer of uncertainty, but he did not relent. He had opened his soul to her, given her what she needed. Now it was his turn—and she had invited it.

“Do I need to repeat myself?” he asked.





Chapter Twenty-six





Did he really mean that? He did. She saw the demand in his eyes, felt his cock growing stiff beneath her behind. How had everything changed in a matter of seconds? Was she ready for this?

A familiar ache grew between her legs. Yes, she was ready. Why even pretend?

“I am waiting.” His voice was cold, but she could see the heat in his eyes. She had pushed him far and now she had to pay.

And it was a price she rejoiced in. She did not want to like it, but could not contain the physical excitement that churned deep in her belly. Without thought she slid from his legs and down to her knees. Her gaze remained fixed with his.

Her lungs could pull in only short bursts of air. The heat radiating from his legs surrounded her.