Read Mastering a Sinner Online
Authors: Kate Pearce
Mastering a Sinner (23 page)
“You were right as usual,” she said. “There
was
something odd going on. Did you find out the truth?”
was
something odd going on. Did you find out the truth?”
“Not quite. It was rather a surprise for me too. I’d begun to believe the countess was your mother.”
“Instead of my aunt.”
He considered her. “I should have realized it earlier. You have the countess’s blue eyes.”
“She did say I reminded her of someone when we first met.” She reached out and took his hand. “I should have listened to you.”
He grinned. “As should everyone.” He dropped a kiss on her palm. “I wish you every happiness, Stepmama. I don’t think you will ever have to worry about being alone again.”
“From what the earl said, I think that’s true.”
“I wasn’t referring to the Westbrooks.” He winked. “I’ll take my leave of you both. Good night, Mr. Maclean, take very good care of her, won’t you?”
When Diana looked up, she noticed that Adam and the Keyes were also leaving her alone with Alistair. She rested her head against his shoulder and simply breathed him in.
“I thought I was going to have to leave the Sinners tonight,” she confessed.
“I noticed that you had packed your bags.”
“Would you . . . have missed me?”
“Not particularly.”
She raised her head to stare at him and found that he was smiling.
“I knew where you were going, and I knew that if I stripped naked and was in your room at midnight every night, eventually you would come to your senses and master me.” He held her gaze. “Don’t you know that yet? That you own every part of me in bed and out of it?” He shifted her slightly on his lap. “That even now, I’m hard for you because that’s what you demand of me?”
“Oh, Alistair . . .”
He took her hand and brought her fingers beneath the neckline of his shirt. “I’m wearing my collar. I’ll wear it for you forever if you wish.”
She stroked the warm silver band. “I don’t deserve such devotion.”
“Why not?”
“Because I’m incapable of returning it.”
“I think you’re wrong about that.” His green eyes were steady. “You trust me to put myself completely in your hands. You take full responsibility for making me scream with pleasure and pain. But you also allow me to be myself, to hold you in my arms when you need to be held, to support you as I’m doing right now.” He kissed her nose. “We are devoted to
each other
. I give you as much as you give me. We
complement
each other.”
each other
. I give you as much as you give me. We
complement
each other.”
She swallowed hard. “Sometimes I don’t want to be the strong one.”
“I know that. It just makes me want you more. Knowing that I am the only man who brings out the mistress in you
and
the woman who just wants to be loved and protected makes me feel like a complete man and not a sorry excuse for one.” He hesitated. “You never make me feel weak for wanting you to dominate me in bed.”
and
the woman who just wants to be loved and protected makes me feel like a complete man and not a sorry excuse for one.” He hesitated. “You never make me feel weak for wanting you to dominate me in bed.”
“I
never
think of you as weak.”
never
think of you as weak.”
“Many men do.” His smile was wry. “I thought it myself until I met you. You showed me what being mastered really meant and how it freed me to be myself. Even if you don’t wish to stay with me, I’ll never forget that.”
She slid off his lap and put her hands on his shoulders, her voice trembling. “Having gone to all this trouble to tame you, Mr. Maclean, do you really think I will give you up so easily?”
He went down on his knees in front of her and lowered his gaze to the floor.
“No, my lady.”
She stared down at his gleaming auburn hair. Her slave, her lover, her everything.
“There is one thing I
would
like to ask you, my lady.”
would
like to ask you, my lady.”
“And what is that?”
“Would you consider marrying this sinner?”
She brought her hand to her heart. “I’ll consider it, Mr. Maclean. But you are going to have to work very hard indeed to convince me that it is a good idea.”
He bent and kissed the toe of her shoe. “Yes, my lady. It will be my pleasure.”
APHRODISIA BOOKS are published by
Kensington Publishing Corp.
119 West 40th Street
New York, NY 10018
119 West 40th Street
New York, NY 10018
Copyright © 2015 by Kate Pearce
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any means without the prior written consent of the Publisher, excepting brief quotes used in reviews.
Aphrodisia and the A logo Reg. U.S. Pat. & TM Off.
eISBN-13: 978-0-7582-9022-9
eISBN-10: 0-7582-9022-5
First Kensington Electronic Edition: January 2015
eISBN-10: 0-7582-9022-5
First Kensington Electronic Edition: January 2015
ISBN: 978-0-7582-9021-2
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