Exeter stared. “No doubt the Contessa thinks he’s a crusher—for a gigolo.” He felt a surge of . . . he was not sure what he would call it, certainly not jealousy. Alarmed by the very notion that he might harbor covetous feelings for Mia, he changed the subject. “That lovely diaphanous blue confection, we purchased today will be stunning on you. All your young suitors will wish to ravage you on the spot.” Exeter loosened his tie and removed his collar.

Mia opened her mouth, then quickly pressed her lips together. She appeared to consider his words. “Do you say these things to torture me, or is it more of a punishment—for the feelings I inspire?”

Exeter stared. “You’re keyed up from shopping.”

“I am not . . . keyed up from shopping.” Her eyes flashed with anger. “I am displeased with you.”

“I’ve just spent a king’s bloody ransom on your wardrobe.” He sagged against the damask stripes of the settee. “What do you want from me?”

Mia reached over and grabbed him by his waistcoat. “I want you, inside me,” she hissed. Luminous dark eyes flashed green, as pupils narrowed into slits.

His gaze dropped to her lips. “I see.” A pink tongue swept the pert curve of her upper lip. It seemed he was speaking with the cat.

“Whether you wish to admit it or not,’ she murmured, “these intimacies between us are real, and far beyond the physical.” Mia slid a fingernail down his jawline.

“Let’s get you out of these clothes.” He unbuttoned her dress and helped her step out of the several layers of overskirt and petticoats. Tossing the gown across the sofa, he scooped her up in his arms and made it as far as the dresser.

Good God, he wanted her so badly he was near delirium. Using the nearby wall to steady her back, he cupped her buttock cheeks, and brought her pelvis against his. “Put your legs around me, Mia.”

“Do not refuse me, Exeter.”

“Mia—we have been over this.” He groaned, still denying her—denying himself.

“Stop flogging yourself over your attraction to me—I like it—I want you to want me . . . and I will not ask again.” The cat nuzzled his neck and licked his ear. “Please, Exeter, it has to be you,” she whispered, her trembling body underscored her raw desire.

“Mia—of course I want you. You are quite the loveliest young woman in all the world.” He inhaled a harsh breath and exhaled ready to surrender. “But—”

“No buts—or I will go out and find a certain young gentleman who will be happy to service me.”

“That popinjay?” Exeter’s dark gaze sparked to angry life. “Never, Mia.”

“Then . . .” She ripped open his shirt and raked sharp fingernails over his chest. “I believe some ferocious sex and no arguing would be lovely right about now.” She tugged off his shirt and brushed her lips against his chest and neck. She licked his nipples, biting and suckling until he groaned his surrender.

Her hands moved lower, unbuttoning his trousers. The stroke of her fingers caressed his phallus like a whisper of wind. “You are ready for mating, sir. So hard and yet this broad sword feels like velvet,” she purred.

Exeter swallowed. “Use your nails—lightly.” His entire body quaked with mounting pleasure. He tore at her corset, lifting a breast to his mouth—tonguing her areola, he sucked the tip into his mouth and nibbled. She arched and cried out as he moved from one nipple to the other—he needed to see red from his suckling—his mark, his possession of her.

Sliding down his torso, Mia knelt in front of his rigid member. “Mon Dieu,” Exeter rasped out the words, for he was breathing hard from the feel of her tongue on his lower anatomy. Gazing down, he watched moist lips move timidly over his tightly drawn, engorged flesh. Sweet, crescent-shaped eyelashes resting on flushed cheeks. Her pretty lashes lifted, revealing such . . . wide-eyed loveliness. He could not help but plunge deeper into her mouth and quickly shot to the edge of climax. “That’s enough,” he gasped, and drew her up from her knees.

“Do I not please you?”

“You pleasure me too well.” He tipped his watch out of his waistcoat pocket. “We have hours, Mia—let’s take this slow and easy.” Standing in the center of the bedchamber, he removed her corset and camisole. He tugged on the ribbon of her pantalettes. “You’re very sure you want this—me?”

Her lingerie slipped off her waist, and rode her hips far below her navel. Silk fabric billowed around her legs. Playfully Mia shook her hips at Exeter. “I never wanted anyone but you, Asa.”

A part of him delighted in her erotic flirtation. “You are the picture of an eastern belly dancer, perhaps even more provocative. I am reminded of a poem—‘she has a way of walking like a gypsy and she smiles like a sultan.’ ” Exeter disrobed as she unpinned long ringlets of hair. Humming quietly, her hips swayed to an imaginary rhythm. A mane of loose tendrils concealed and revealed her breasts as she twirled.

Mia arched her back and veiled the lower part of her face with her hands. “I believe Eastern dancers push one hip forward and give it a shake? And then the other?” Her dancing became so erotic, his body ached for her. She held her mouth slightly open and drew close, her dark eyes smoldering with desire. She rubbed her hips, first one then the other, against the tops of his thighs. Her nipples rasped lightly across his torso.

He yanked off her pantalettes and turned her around. “Shake your lovely ass and rub against me.” She rubbed the firm, bouncy flesh of her buttocks against his body. Placing his hands on her hips, he guided her back and forth across his groin until he could stand it no longer.

She had tempted him beyond all reason—and now he had to have her. “Let me first make you wet for me.” He would use his fingers to rub and then pinch her nipples and massage her clitoris. And he would continue the manipulations until his hand was sopping. Only then would he impale her here, against the wall. He slid his tongue up the side of her neck and took her earlobe in her teeth. “Mia, your first time shouldn’t be so rough.”

She pivoted in his arms, and took his face in her hands. “Promise me you will be ungentlemanly.” She kissed him hard on the mouth—winding her tongue around his as she continued to rub against his aching need.

He had denied his growing hunger for her, pushed her away, suppressed his desire, and now he wanted more than a brief coupling. He wished to pleasure her in new, exciting ways and watch her passion mature—demand more of him. “Once I am inside you, Mia, you will experience new pleasures.” As he cupped her breasts with his hands, her nipples ruched at the brush of his fingers. There was a quick intake of air before she could respond to his question. “You bring me such pleasure—how could there possibly be more?”

“Oh, my dear . . .” His gaze met beautiful dark eyes glazed with desire. “There is so much more for us.” Using his thumb and forefinger, he coaxed translucent, silken flesh to harden and peak. She guided his hands lower, past ribs barely felt, down a smooth belly, to the soft nest of curls below. Urging him to explore the moist flesh of her sex, she shifted her stance wider to accommodate his probing finger. Her shiver of pleasure and a throaty moan prompted him to add another finger—delve deeper. Gently, he massaged her hymen—stretching the thin membrane. “The loss of one’s virginity comes down to a small prick, nothing more.”

Her hiss signaled he had penetrated her body.

He responded with gentle, reassuring words and soft kisses. Her supple, nubile body responded by pressing against him. Yes, Exeter.

Christ, he was as hard as a stone and ready for mating. “Wrap your legs around me.” He lifted her up from the buttocks, using the wall to steady her back.

Bracing one hand against the wall of the bedchamber, he pressed her slowly onto his cock. The slippery, tight fit of her was enough to edge him ever closer to climax. He pushed past the broken hymen, filling her a little bit more with each thrust.

“A kiss, Mia?” She covered his mouth with hers. “More tongue,” he whispered and received. Holding her against the wall, he drew himself in and out, using the throbbing tip to slip free and move over slick folds—to rub, tease, and make her moan. Slowly, one plunge at a time, he penetrated deeper, until he had planted himself to the hilt.

“Oh oui! Mon Dieu, oh oui!” She spoke to him in the blasphemous language French lovers understand. Her voice was breathy and edging toward the peak of her excitement. His own gasps and guttural cries increased along with the speed of his thrusts.

He held himself deep inside her and carried her across the room to the bed. Her legs remained tightly wrapped around his waist and she arched up to receive him again and again as he slipped in and out of her with greater urgency. At the peak of his pleasure, he remembered. And groaned.

Exeter slowed his pumping and lifted himself off the beautiful body beneath him. He trailed kisses from the hollow of her diaphragm to her belly, lapping up small beads of sweat with his tongue. He tasted salt and hotel soap—French lavender. Best of all, he tasted Mia.

Breathing hard, he sat back and rather methodically slipped off her garters and stockings. Cupping her leg at the crook of her knee, he kissed the sensitive flesh of her inner thigh. Mia propped herself up on her elbows. “I don’t understand—why are you stopping?” Exeter closed his eyes and continued to softly stroke the inside of her trembling thighs.

Having allowed himself a moment to recover, he reached for his medical bag, which he always kept on the nightstand when traveling. He removed a palm-sized tin and opened the lid. She lifted her chin for a better look. “Condoms?”

“Used primarily for the prevention of venereal disease. However, the doctor also recommends their use for contraception.” Exeter removed an individually wrapped latex sheath and set the tin aside.

Reaching over her, he picked up the red leather case and placed it on the flat of her abdomen. Mia ran her finger over the embossed gold leaf letters and smiled, shyly. In the dusky light of early evening there was a sultry look about her—disheveled, and so very beddable. He leaned forward and kissed her lightly. “Open your present.”

She fiddled with the small latch for a moment or two and then lifted the lid. Exeter never took his eyes off her. He wanted to read every nuance of her expression—good or bad.

“Exeter,” she whispered. “So many emeralds.”

Chapter Sixteen

MIA LIFTED THE NECKLACE out of the velvet lined case. On closer examination she arched a brow. Three rows of sparkling green stones studded a black leather collar. “Is this for me . . . or her?”

“You are one and the same, Mia—not either or.” Exeter scolded lightly. “I must confess, I have been colluding with Cartier for over a week now.” He wore a happy conspiratorial look on his face. “Julian Cartier and I were schoolmates at Harrow.” He appeared as fascinated by the gem-studded choker as she was.

“Ah, there’s a note.” He opened the small crisp envelope and removed the card. “This is a first sample—sent over for approval.” His gaze met hers. “Does it . . . meet with your approval?”

How was it this man could thrill her one moment and anger her the next? The collar was beautiful, but it was also disturbing. “I’m not sure—what do you intend to do with it?”

“As I explained earlier today, you are learning to control the emerging cat, but we also must work together to train her, when you are not in human form. I’m hoping this collar can restrain as well as persuade.” He reached for her and she flinched, involuntarily. “Mia, let me help you.”

“I’m afraid of her.”

“I know you are.” His demeanor shifted from tutor to something gentle and intimate. “Perhaps, and this is just a theory, but what if we can get about together in daylight? The Tuileries, for instance, a gentleman and his exotic pet out for a walk together. Might it not help you settle into your new alternate persona?”

Dear Exeter! He was always trying to create some sense of normalcy for her, as if such a life was possible. She had become a creature who existed in the half-light.

“So I am to be your curious pet. I suppose it is all the rage in London.” She had seen the Duke of Grafton and his magnificent Peruvian jaguar riding in an open carriage in Hyde Park. And the Marchioness Woburn, who never went anywhere without her pet ocelot. She shrugged a bit and sighed. “Is this behavior also fashionable in Paris, or might we get arrested?”