Devil's Bargain (19 page)

“She would be popular without such measures, but it never hurts to give the appearance of youth. She does that by displaying boundless energy, Lynette, and great innovation.”

At that moment Louise spun toward the window, creating a display for Adrian and Lynette alone. She flattened herself along the glass, arms outstretched, body pressed hard against its cool surface.

Then slowly, simply, she arched herself backward. She peeled herself off the window, top first. Dropping her head backward, then her arms, she arched into a sort of bridge, giving Lynette her first full and complete look at a woman’s private parts.

Lynette gasped, unable to stop herself from stepping backward, even as her gaze was glued forward. She looked, saw. It was over in a flash, as Louise continued to draw her body up and over, in effect performing a slow flip to the delight of all who watched.

“Would you like to see more?” Adrian asked.

It was a useless question. Whether Lynette willed it or not, Louise continued. But Lynette did want to see more, to know more. In fact, moments later, she found herself stepping forward, closer to the window to view events more clearly.

Adrian followed. He spoke of the mechanics of copulation. That a woman must be open to receive
what a man offered. Her body was uniquely suited to widen, to lubricate, to accept.

Lynette heard his every word, but in a sort of daze. He spoke of wetness, of the smooth glide a man needed, but she did not understand. And when she tried to see what he referred to on Louise, she found the dancer moved too fast to give her a clear picture.

But then she noticed something else. Something about herself. Her own body seemed to be growing liquid. Her lower abdomen was heating, tingling, and in a flash, she thought she did understand. Whether or not she could see it in the dancer, Lynette herself was growing wet.

Then, just as the realization hit her, something else happened. The men grew more aggressive. Apparently, they had grown tired of watching Louise dance. They wanted more. They stalked her. They appeared ravenous. Almost feral.

As Lynette watched in fascination, Adrian fitted himself to her back, whispering explanations into her ear.

“Now she will undress them.”

Lynette scarcely knew what to think. She was about to see a naked man? Or more specifically, two naked men? She twisted, wanting to look at Adrian, but he stopped her.

“Do not shy away now, Lynette. You have come too far.”

It was true. She thought briefly of the innocent girl she had been when she’d first arrived at the viscount’s home. How far she had come. And now, right in front of her, was the next step—if only she had the courage to take it.

She didn’t. At least she did not feel courageous. But she did feel a burning curiosity, and so she leaned closer to the glass.

Adrian continued to explain. He used graphic terms. He spoke of the male organ—the penis. He likened it to a rod or a spade that planted a seed in a
woman’s womb. He said all sorts of confusing things, but he did not show her one.

Louise did.

The woman continued her seduction, dancing around the men, allowing them to touch her, and while they were otherwise occupied, she disrobed them. Unfortunately, they were not cooperating as much as Lynette would expect.

Instead, they were quite aggressive in their actions, touching her most intimately. The older one even used his hand in place of his male organ, pushing it roughly into the dancer and drawing it out slick with moisture.

“Doesn’t that hurt?” Lynette asked, her voice thick and low.

“Did you see how wet she was?”

Lynette nodded.

“That is how you know a woman is ready.” He stepped forward, and she could see the frown on Adrian’s face. “Funny. I do not believe they have done anything to excite her.” He glanced back toward Lynette. “Most men are particularly inept when it comes to exciting a woman.”

She tilted her head in confusion. “But you said she is ready.”

Again he looked back at the trio. “Like most smart women, Louise has found a way to enhance her pleasure without a man’s assistance.” He paused as he too watched. “I believe dancing must be her aphrodisiac.” He shrugged, turning back to Lynette. “You must find whatever thoughts are most stimulating to you.” Then he gestured to the window as he once again slid behind her, this time stroking her arms as he moved.
“Perhaps you will recall this moment in your mind. Perhaps you will remember
it
to grow wet.”

She did not know how it happened. Perhaps it was his voice. Perhaps it was his stroke across her arm, so near to brushing her breasts. Whatever the reason, as he whispered the word “wet” she felt a spasm in her lower abdomen. A tightening, and she gasped.

As if sensing what was happening, he pulled away, removing his touch, making his voice colder. “Watch, Lynette. Do not do more. There will be time for the rest later.”

She shifted, her eyes pulled wide as his implication sunk in. “Later…?”

He shook his head. “Not now,” he affirmed. Then he gestured to the tableau before them. “Ah, she has succeeded.”

Lynette’s gaze snapped back to the men, watching as the dancer indeed tumbled gracefully backward and stripped the younger man of his trousers. It was another moment before the woman shifted out of Lynette’s line of vision, and then, Lynette’s shocked gasp reverberated through the room.

There it was.

The male organ.

A penis. Ramrod straight and reddish, sticking up from the younger gentleman’s thatch of russet hair. Lynette stepped forward, placing her hand on the window glass as she stared and stared and stared.

“I believe it is young Bert’s birthday. Therefore, he will likely go first.”

Lynette did not comment. She was too busy staring. Indeed, as she watched, Louise did exactly what Lynette’s fingers itched to do.

She touched the rod. In fact, she did more than touch it. She stroked it. She caressed it. She toyed with it. Lynette saw the dancer lick her palm to bring moisture to the organ before grasping it firmly and tugging.

“My God,” breathed Lynette. “Doesn’t that hurt?”

Adrian’s low, deep voice sent a thrill of longing through Lynette as he answered. “Does he look to be in pain? I assure you, he is not.”

Lynette spared a glance at the young man’s face. Indeed, he was grimacing, his face nearly as red as his penis. But it seemed to be an ecstatic type of pain, and he began moving against Louise’s hand.

Then, abruptly, he slapped the dancer’s hand away.

The movement was so shocking that Lynette took a step backward, colliding with Adrian, directly behind her.

“He does not want to finish in her hand.”

She would have turned to ask him a question, but she could not take her eyes off the events unfolding before her. Where before Louise had been the one in control, now it seemed that the young man was. Surging off the pillows, he grasped Louise by the shoulders, and literally flung himself on top of her.

She went down smoothly, her dancer’s grace serving her well despite the man’s ardor.

Lynette watched in fascination as he used his knee to push the girl’s legs wide and plunged his member inside her.

“Oh!” Lynette cried out softly, not sure if she wanted to turn away or run and protect the woman. But Adrian held her firmly in place.

“Watch. It is all part of lovemaking.”

Indeed, as Lynette watched, the dancer arched her
back, moaning loudly as the young man rammed into her over and over again. Lynette was fascinated as he drew outward and then pushed back in. She saw his slim buttocks flex with each thrust while the muscles in his legs stood out like taut cords, and his one free hand grappled with the girl’s breast.

“He is hurting her!”

“He is aggressive, but believe me, Louise is used to far worse.”

Indeed, Louise somehow managed to wedge one of her arms between herself and the young man, then shoved outward, throwing his arm off her. The movement broke his rhythm, and for a moment he faltered, as he needed both his arms to support his weight.

Lynette thought at first that the gentleman would be angry. After all, the dancer had completely distracted him from his purpose. But then Louise threw her legs around his hips, arching into the young man. Apparently it was enough to put him back in a good humor.

He responded with a cry of exultation as he slammed into her again. Then, suddenly, he seemed to growl. There was no other word for it. It was a guttural cry echoing a shudder that seemed to go through his entire body.

“He has released his seed in her,” Adrian remarked, his tone almost casual.

“Amazing,” she whispered, awed by what she had just seen. There seemed to be such power in the union. A primal, almost animalistic energy surrounded the couple. Despite what she had been led to believe, there appeared nothing civilized at all about copulation. There was no closing of one’s eyes and thinking of England. This was all-consuming.

“Is it pleasurable? To be so swept away?”

She could hear the note of humor in Adrian’s voice as he answered. “A man often loses consciousness for a moment.”

Lynette could not believe he spoke the truth. But even as Adrian said the words, she could see the young man collapse. Indeed, if she did not know better, she might have thought him dead. “And Louise?” she asked softly, for the woman lay flat on her back, apparently barely conscious as well.

“She knows how to fake it. She did not reach orgasm.”

Lynette turned, confused at the new term. But before she could ask, Adrian held up his hand. “It is the term for sexual release. Obviously, young Bert has achieved his.”

Then he frowned at the other gentleman, stretched out on the pillows, watching the pair. The other man still wore his trousers, but the firm budge below the buttons clearly indicated an erection. She heard Adrian sigh.

He said, “I sincerely doubt Geoffrey will be able to assist her either.” Then he placed a finger beneath Lynette’s chin, turning her enough to look into his eyes. “I will have to show you what it is like. And you will have to remember.”

Lynette swallowed. “Show me?”

He nodded, equally grave. “I want you to remember the sensations. You will need to find them again on your own.” He waited until she gave him a nervous nod, then added, “One more thing.”

She waited, not knowing what to say.

“I want you to watch what is happening. Do not look at me. Look at them. Do you understand?”

She did. Or, rather, she nodded as if she did. In truth, she did not understand the urgency in his voice or his firm note of command. A tension seemed to have gripped him, making his voice tight, his tone curt. She did not understand why, except that it had to do with what was coming next.

His anxiety made her nervous. Still, Lynette knew better than to argue, and so she obediently turned her gaze to the glass, voicing her question without thought.

“Where is love in all of this? Does it even enter into the act?”

She heard him pause, half in and half out of his evening coat, his voice a sad whisper in the heated room. “Love certainly helps. A fondness, will lead to sensitivity and awareness of the other person.” Then he sighed, and she turned to see him, noting not the emptiness in his voice but the aching sadness that seemed to wrap his entire body. “But if there is love in sex, then I do not know how to find it.”

Such was the pain in his tone that Lynette immediately stepped toward him. She wanted to touch him, to ease the ache she knew he felt. She knew because she felt it as well. Dark and empty, like a hole centered in the middle of her chest. But he would not let her approach. He held up his hand even as he finished stripping out of his coat and began rolling up his sleeves.

“But there can be pleasure, Lynette. A great deal of pleasure. And that is what I will show you.”

She bit her lip, her hands feeling useless by her sides. “Is that enough?”

He shrugged, the motion obviously forced. “It is all we have, Lynette.” And she knew that for him, it was
true. He had nothing more. No parents to cherish him, no family to love him, and no woman either. He had only this—the education of young girls—and a dream of a healthy estate.

“Look at Louise,” he coaxed, gently touching her shoulders and turning her around. “Do not be afraid. I will not hurt you.”

“I know,” she whispered. And yet, even as she said the words, the ache in her heart increased, the pain tangible. How did he bear it? This emptiness? Even in the midst of the most intimate union possible between a man and woman, did he still feel this pain?

All the while he kept speaking, his voice conversational as he drew her attention to the mechanics of Louise’s work. “She is about to undress Geoffrey. Watch how she fascinates him so he is not even aware of what she is doing.”

Lynette turned her gaze back to the people through the window. The young man, Bert, was snoring, his exertions apparently too much for him. The other man, Geoffrey, was more relaxed, though his eyes gleamed with a feral light that Lynette was coming to recognize as hunger. Geoffrey’s shirt was gone, Louise having stripped it off, but his trousers were firmly shut as the dancer slipped near, her hips swaying to a beat only she heard.

Left. Right. Turn. Jump. Left. Right.

It must be the heat, Lynette thought dazedly. Though there was no music, she began to feel Louise’s dance herself. Then, as Adrian touched her shoulders, she began to sway along with it. With his encouragement, she began to shift slightly. Left, then right.

Adrian stood behind her, wrapping his arms
around her waist as he too seemed to pulse with the rhythm of Louise’s dance. “She is enticing him. Do you see it? Without benefit of clothes or fancy steps. She draws him closer even as she takes a step backward.”

As they watched, Louise lifted a hip, extended her leg, stretched out an arm. Geoffrey responded, moving closer to her, leaning forward. In fact, he soon appeared to be stalking her as he crawled over the pillows.

Playing the game, Louise slid backward, dancing around him.

Apparently, Geoffrey’s patience exhausted itself. Moving faster than Lynette expected, he lunged forward, grasping the woman about her waist and tumbling her to the ground.

And as Louise fell, so did the golden fabric of Lynette’s gown. Lynette had been watching the interplay between Geoffrey and Louise, completely oblivious to Adrian, who was releasing the buttons down her back. As she watched the couple before her, he had shifted her gown slowly forward until it slid off her arms and pooled at her feet.

Lynette began to turn, a question in her eyes, but Adrian did not allow it. He merely leaned forward, whispering in her ear.

“Watch.”

She did as she was bid. And as Geoffrey squeezed and pulled at Louise’s breasts, Lynette felt Adrian release the ties of her shift, tugging it away. Moments later, all her clothing joined her gown at her ankles.

She now stood naked in the warm room. But, somehow, she did not feel tense. She had been sleeping naked for weeks now, and the removal of clothing
allowed a cool brush of air across her heated skin. The clothing surrounding her feet also seemed fitting. Though she knew she could kick it away at any moment, the fabric felt like soft bonds, holding her still, keeping her from running.

Meanwhile, Geoffrey kissed and sucked at Louise’s puckered nipples. Lynette moaned in grateful delight as Adrian began to pull and knead her own. Louise writhed, her hands roaming freely over Geoffrey’s arms, shoulders, and muscular back. Adrian chafed Lynette’s back with the fine linen of his shirt.

“Take off your shirt,” she whispered.

Adrian paused in the act of nuzzling her neck.

“I have never felt a naked man before,” she continued. “Take off your shirt.”

At first she did not think he would comply. Then, suddenly, there was cool air behind her, and the telltale sounds of clothing being removed. Moments later Adrian returned, wrapping her in his arms. She felt the heated brush of bare skin along her back.

It was heavenly. She leaned back, swaying slightly and trying to memorize the sensation, feeling the smooth whisper of the skin of his arms, the gentle prickle of his chest hair where it caressed her back and, lastly, the covered bulge that spoke of his desire.

She tensed immediately, shocked by the size of what was behind her. Thank God he still wore his pants!