No Decent Gentleman (29 page)

"What are you doing?"

Sabrina looked up from her task. "I want to sit this way so I can see your face whenever I want."

Adam smiled at her sentiment. He rose and crossed the study to her. After turning the chair easily, he gave her derriere an affectionate pat and returned to his work.

Sabrina made herself comfortable in the chair and then asked, "Where is Winston hiding?"

Adam shrugged. "He's probably sleeping off lunch in the great hall."

"That way he can smell the aroma of supper being cooked," she replied.

Adam lifted his quill and gave his attention to his ledgers.

Sabrina looked at the carpet where her book and needlework lay. Read or sew?

Deciding on the lesser of two evils, Sabrina picked up the book,
Pride and Prejudice
by Jane Austen. She read the first chapter and then peeked at her husband so engrossed in his ledgers.

Sabrina couldn't figure out what she loved most about him. What is it his penetrating blue eyes and midnight-black hair? Was it his devastating smile? Or could it be his intelligence and nobility? A smile touched her lips as she tried to picture him as a young boy.

"What are you doing?" Adam asked, looking up at her as if he'd felt her intense stare.

"Watching you," she answered with a shy smile.

"Princess, tallying a large column of numbers while you watch me is distracting," Adam said. "Why don't you try your needlework?"

"I'm sorry."

Sabrina set the book down on the carpet and lifted her needlework off the floor. Sewing crooked stitches easily frustrated her, and then the damned thread knotted. She yanked on the needle so hard, she pricked her finger and cried, "Ouch!"

Adam snapped his head up.

"I pricked my finger," she said by way of an apology for disturbing him again.

"I can see I will accomplish no work with you in my study," Adam said, setting his quill down on the desk.

"Do you want me to leave?" Sabrina asked, sending him a hurt look.

Adam shook his head and smiled. "How about an interesting game of chess?"

"I never knew that chess could be interesting," Sabrina remarked.

"Ah, but you've never played with me." Adam stood and held out his hand in invitation, saying, "Come, Princess."

Leaving her book and needlework, Sabrina rose from the chair and crossed the study to place her hand in his. "Where are we going?" she asked.

"Upstairs." When they reached the foyer, Adam called for Razi, who materialized out of nowhere. "Bring the chess set to my chamber."

"Yes, master."

Hand in hand, Adam and Sabrina walked upstairs to his third-floor bedchamber. Adam stoked the fire in the hearth while they waited for Razi. Within minutes, the little man delivered the chess set and then left the room.

Adam bolted the door behind his man and then turned around to give her his devastating smile. "Have you ever played chess, Princess?"

"Once or twice," she answered.

Adam dragged the small table close to the hearth and turned two chairs to face it. Then he began placing the chessmen on the table, saying, "Come, Princess."

Sabrina sat opposite him and asked, "How will you make this interesting?"

"Each player who loses a chessman must remove an article of clothing, and the loser must finish undressing if not already naked," Adam said, the hint of a smile flirting with his lips. "Do you still want to play?"

Sabrina felt the heated blush staining her cheeks, but inclined her head in agreement.

"Take your shoes off and make yourself comfortable," Adam said.

"You want me to wear fewer clothes so I'll lose faster," Sabrina accused with a smile.

"How can you even suggest I would try to do such an evil thing?" Adam asked, his expression innocent. "I'll take my own shoes off." At that, he yanked his shoes off to reveal bare feet.

"That makes me feel so much better," Sabrina drawled, making him smile. She looked closely at the chess pieces and asked, "Are these Saxons and Normans?"

"We are going to replay the Battle of Hastings," he told her. "Do you prefer being white William or black Harold?"

"I'll take the white."

Together, they set up the chessboard, and then Sabrina asked, "Who will move first?"

"Why tamper with history?" Adam said. "You make the first move."

Sabrina stared at their battlefield for a long moment and then began the game by moving her king's pawn two squares forward. This left her queen and one of her bishops open for action.

"Nice opening, Princess." Adam began by bringing out his queen's knight, which leaped over the pawns and was ready for further action. "How many times have you played before?"

"Do not distract me," Sabrina said, smiling at him. "Or is that part of your strategy?"

Adam caught her gaze and held it captive. "I do not need to cause any distractions in order to win a game of chess with you," he said. Then in a husky voice, he added, "I love it when you are distracted by desire."

The sensitive spot between her thighs throbbed with his words, but Sabrina willed herself to remain cool. She advanced her queen's pawn two squares. This gave her queen more scope and unblocked her other bishop. Both of her bishops were now free to move.

"I love that soft moaning sound you make in your throat when passion rules your senses," Adam said, moving his king's pawn two squares. Both his knight and his pawn were positioned to attack her queen's pawn.

Ignoring his words, Sabrina stared hard at the battlefield and then advanced her queen's pawn one square forward. This move threatened his black knight with capture.

"You didn't think I'd let a measly pawn dispatch my knight?" Adam asked, moving his knight away, out of harm's way.

"My lord, I never have any idea what you will do," Sabrina said primly.

Adam grinned. "I'll take that as a compliment."

Sabrina moved her king-bishop's pawn two squares forward. This pawn was poised to attack the black pawn.

Adam moved his queen's pawn one square. This defended his king's pawn under attack by the white.

Sabrina studied the board. If she captured his king's pawn, the pawn he'd just moved would capture hers. Instead, she brought her king-knight into play. Its new position threatened his pawn and his bishop.

"Have I told you how much I love it when you suck upon my nipples?" she asked in an effort to distract him.

Adam adjusted himself in his chair. Ignoring her words, he raised his brows and said, "Good move, Princess."

Sabrina dropped her gaze to his groin and said in a breathless whisper, "Thank you, my lord."

"Unfortunately, your move isn't good enough," he added.

Sabrina watched him move his bishop and pin down her white knight. Now if she moved it, his bishop would capture her all-powerful queen.

Mobilizing her forces, Sabrina brought her other knight into play. Adam countered by moving his knight to attack her king-bishop's pawn.

Instead of guarding her pawn, Sabrina made a counterattack and threatened to capture his bishop by moving her king-rook's pawn one square forward. Adam captured her knight with his pawn.

"Take something off, sweet, preferably the gown," Adam said, looking at her with a wicked smile.

"Very well, but you'll need to unfasten the buttons," Sabrina said.

"Be certain to stand very carefully," Adam said, rising from his chair. "I do not want this board overturned."

"Would I do that?" Sabrina asked, her expression innocent as she rose from the chair.

Adam stepped closer when she showed him her back. He unfastened the gown's buttons with the practiced ease of a man who'd undressed dozens of women. Lifting her heavy copper mane off her neck, he planted a kiss there and then reached up with both hands to slip the gown off her shoulders. It dropped to the floor.

"Turn around," he whispered close to her ear.

When she did as told, he looked her up and down. She stood only in chemise, stockings, and garters. "You could tempt a priest to sin."

"I'll take that as a compliment," she said pertly, echoing his words.

Resuming her seat, Sabrina moved her bishop to a square on which it threatened his king. "Check," she called, knowing he needed to get his king out of check before attacking her queen.

Adam inclined his head. He advanced his queen-bishop's pawn one square, interposing it between his king and the checking bishop.

Sabrina captured his black pawn with her queen's pawn. She knew he would think her daft because now he could attack her queen. She wanted to win the war, not the battle.

"Take something off, my lord," she ordered.

"The shirt or the trousers?" he asked wickedly.

"The shirt."

Adam pulled his shirt over his head and tossed it onto the floor. Then he fell neatly into her trap by capturing her powerful queen with his bishop.

"Remove your chemise," Adam said with a smile.

"I think not."

Holding her leg out tantalizingly, Sabrina removed one silk stocking. She left the garter in place on her thigh.

"Garters and stockings come in pairs," Adam said. "Remove the other stocking."

Without a word, Sabrina stood and rested her foot on his chair. Slowly, she rolled the other stocking off her leg and then resumed her seat.

"Your move," Adam said in a choked voice.

Sabrina captured his queen-knight's pawn with her pawn, leaving her bishop open to attack his king. "Check," she called out. "First, remove those trousers."

"With pleasure, my lady." Adam unfastened his trousers and pulled them down. Then he tossed the trousers over his head and got his king out of check by moving him away from her bishop's diagonal attack.

Sabrina smiled sweetly at him and then moved her knight, checking the king.

In a forced move, Adam moved his king one square forward to get out of check.

Sabrina moved her king-bishop's pawn one square forward and announced, "Checkmate." There was no square his king could move to in order to escape her men.

"You are a better player than I thought," Adam said, looking at her in surprise.

"Thank you, my lord." Sabrina sat back in her chair. "Now, stand up."

Barechested and barefoot, Adam winked at her and rose from his chair. He reached to remove his black silk underdrawers, intending to remove them.

"Stop," Sabrina ordered, rising from the chair. "I want to admire you first."

Adam inclined his head.

Sabrina walked around him slowly. She ran a finger down the flesh on his spine and then, standing on tiptoes, planted a kiss on his upper back. "I love the supple strength in those muscles," she whispered.

Sabrina walked in front of him and stepped closer. With both hands, she reached up and drew his head down to hers and kissed him thoroughly. She slid her lips lower, down the column of his throat, while her fingers flicked teasingly across his nipples.

Hearing his sharp intake of breath, Sabrina slid her hand lower. She pushed the black silk underdrawers down.

"Christ, but you've become knowledgeable in less than a week," Adam said thickly.

"I've tasted the forbidden fruit," Sabrina murmured, and flicked her tongue across his nipples.

Adam moved to yank her into his arms, but she pushed his hands away and reminded him, "I won the game, my lord."

Sabrina dropped to her knees in front of him and wrapped her arms around his body, cupping his buttocks in her hands. She pressed her face against his groin, and taking his manhood in her mouth, sucked until it grew too big. Licking the long length of it, she flicked her tongue this way and that.

Suddenly, Adam drew her to her feet. He kissed her slowly, wetly, lingeringly as he reached up and slipped the straps of her chemise off her shoulders.

Then he stepped back and inspected her from the top of her head to the tips of her toes. All she wore was her glorious mane of copper hair and a garter on each thigh. The desire in his intense gaze was as tangible as the carpet beneath her feet.

"Touch me," Sabrina breathed, closing the short distance between them.

Adam caressed every inch of her silken flesh and then dipped his head to suckle upon her aroused nipples. He dropped to his knees in front of her and, using his tongue, teased the sensitive jewel of her womanhood, making her moan low in her throat. Without mercy, he slashed his tongue up and down her female crevice.

Surrendering to the exquisite feeling, Sabrina melted against his tongue. She cried out and clung to him as wave after wave of throbbing pleasure surged through her.

Adam stood and scooped her into his arms. He carried her across the chamber and gently laid her on his bed.

And then he gave her what she craved.

Adam plunged deep inside her and sheathed himself to the hilt. He withdrew slowly and then slid forward, piercing her softness, teasing her until she trembled with rekindled need.

With mingling cries, Adam and Sabrina exploded together and then lay still as they floated to earth from their shared paradise. He moved to one side, pulled her with him, and cradled her in his arms until both fell into a sated sleep.

Sabrina swam up from the depths of a deep, dreamless sleep. What had awakened her? Turning her head, she saw that the bed beside her was empty. She sat up and looked around. The bedchamber was deserted.

The dimness within the chamber announced the supper hour was at hand. Sabrina rose from the bed and slipped the chemise over her head. Then she grabbed her husband's shirt and put that on over the chemise.

Sabrina hurried across the chamber to the door and stepped outside. Noiselessly, she glided down the corridor to the east wing. The door had been left slightly ajar. By accident or design? Should she enter or not?

Pushing the door open, Sabrina stepped inside. Holy hemlock and henbane! She'd stepped into another world.

The opulence of the chamber shocked her. Lavishly tiled and luxuriously carpeted, the chamber featured an enormous bronze brazier and opaque glazes on the walls.

On her right was a narrow staircase leading to the second floor. Sabrina started down the stairs. When she reached the second floor, she looked around. The room, as opulent as the one above, was deserted, but an alcove across the chamber caught her attention. She sensed a presence there. On silent feet she crossed the chamber, but then stopped short at the startling sight that greeted her.