Stroke of Midnight (2 page)

 Alexander had willingly and enthusiastically shared every small detail about his wife. Lucien’s boy, liked to please; he grew excited when relating his wife’s proclivities in and out of bed. Lord and Lady Gage could have had the same dull society marriage everyone anticipated when they chose to marry, except that Lucien had interfered with Alexander’s decision.

 At Lucien's insistence, Alexander had courted the lovely Henrietta and married her as quickly as it could be arranged. They were the perfect couple. Henrietta was happy with her life, her husband and social position, and Alex brought out Lady Gage's desires as far as he was able. She had been teased, spanked, fucked hard and long until she begged for release.

 Unfortunately, Alexander was submissive, preferring to act under instruction in matters of pleasure more than taking a leading hand. His retiring nature prevented further exploration of his wife’s desires. Yet the incomparable Lady Gage still had depths of desire to plumb.

Lucien prowled forward.

Eager.

Willing.

“My love,” Alexander began, “may I introduce Lucien Maitland, my Master.”

The beauty's eyes widened and she glanced between them with a look of panic. “Master? But . . .”

Alexander waved him closer. “Lucien is a very, very old friend. He knows everything about me, and about us.”

Lucien almost laughed out loud at Alex’s description of him. Not so old that he was ancient, but old enough to know a trick or two more than Alexander did about pleasing a woman. He would like to use his skills on Lady Gage, but that depended entirely on her cooperation.

Lady Gage swallowed and Lucien had to tear his eyes away from the movement of her throat. His gaze fell on the intricate gold bracelet encircling her upper arm. Alexander’s gift; his mark of ownership. Despite the potential for difficulty, Lucien couldn’t wait to claim Lady Gage, to place his mark of ownership about her neck and hear her call out Master when she climaxed. She would complete the circle if she were willing to be their third, giving each of them exactly what they needed most. Alexander, in particular, needed this change to make him content.

Lady Gage glanced at her husband. “Alexander, may I speak privately with you for a moment?”

Alexander glanced at Lucien, twisting the ring Lucien had given him years ago when their relationship had become a permanent and satisfying arrangement. His boy was anxious when he fiddled with it. Lucien moved to Alex’s side. “Alex, step out of the room so your wife and I may have a private word. There's a good fellow.”

Alexander beamed, and then beat a hasty retreat to the adjoining room. He had learned his lessons well. Obey without hesitation, so long as doing so did not draw undesirable attention to what he was doing when in public.

When the door closed behind Alex, Lucien turned back to Lady Gage. “I will answer any question you care to ask in the next few minutes, but after that, if you decline your husband’s gift, I will not elaborate on my relationship with him. Are we clear? His happiness is very important to me.”

She nodded slowly, her tongue sliding over her lips quickly and then disappearing. “He calls you Master?”

Lucien liked the way Henrietta faced the situation head on. “Yes. That is what I am to him, almost from the first day we met.”

Her brow creased in confusion. “Why?”

“Do you not like to be told what to do?” Lucien smiled. Of course she did. He didn’t require an answer but she needed to have as many of the facts to hand before she made her decision about tonight. “When I first met Alexander, he was just like every young man about Town. Reckless, bored, wasteful.”

Her pose relaxed from the position her husband had placed her in, easing toward Lucien as if his words drew her to him. “And you changed him?”

“I guided him, at first. But the longer he listened, the more he liked doing what I told him to do. He became mine, my responsibility, three years before you married him.”

“Are you lovers?”

Lucien shifted his weight slightly at the question. She must be wondering about Alex’s disheveled appearance. Clever girl. Alex
had
gotten himself in somewhat of a state following Lucien’s instructions tonight. One of the things Lady Gage didn’t know about Alex yet was that her husband found pleasure in performing menial tasks before witnesses. Sexual relations between them rarely, if ever, came from those activities. Before Henrietta had joined them, Alexander had been polishing Lucien’s boots as if he was a menial servant. She’d become part of such activities if she was willing. “Our relationship is a little more complex than that.”

“That wasn't an answer.”

“Well, a man should be certain who he entrusts his secrets to. We have only just met. I only share my confidences when I’ve come to know someone much better than this.”

“So you are lovers?”

He shook his head at her tenacity. “In due time, you will see what our relationship truly is. There is nothing to fear. Alexander has, in fact, engaged in two relationships since your marriage quite easily. Should you decline his gift tonight, I am sure he will manage the two once again with no noticeable difference in his demeanor toward you. In fact, I can promise you he will perform admirably.”

Lady Gage didn’t need to know how disappointed they both might be should she decline their plans. He didn’t want her need to please Alex to color her decision to expand or limit her idea of what her marriage might be.

A frown creased her forehead as she thought over Lucien’s words. He circled behind her. “Stand still. Arms at your sides.”

Lady Gage's spine stiffened, but she didn't defy him. Emboldened, Lucien ran the tip of his finger along her arm. Her skin was silky smooth thanks to Alice’s tender care and he brought his hand to his nose to inhale the scent. “Your husband has given you to me as your wedding anniversary present.”

Lady Gage rocked forward, away from him. “No.”

“It is true.” Lucien circled her until he faced her again. “You are a needy woman, Lady Gage, more than a man like Alexander can satisfy properly. It will be best for both of you.”

Her eyes filled with tears. “But he loves me.”

She didn’t understand just how deep Alex’s love went yet, but she would see one day. “Of course he does. You are his wife and he is devoted to you. But that matters little in matters of the bedchamber when there is an inequality of desire at play. To meet your needs, Alexander has been acting under my instructions for some time.”

Her mouth opened to deny his suggestion. Lucien pressed a finger against her lips. “One thing you will learn about me is that I do not lie. The Gilford Ball, the wine cellar, the hunting lodge in Surrey last spring. Did you enjoy the waterfall? Alexander cursed me soundly for that one. He said it was damn cold but that you loved every moment you two spent cavorting naked beneath the sun.”

Her breath shuddered over his finger. She drew back to whisper, “You know about all that?”

“Of course, I plan every adventure meticulously.”

But he was tired of planning and hearing about it afterward. Lucien wanted to be doing things to the woman whose appetite for pleasure might match his. Alexander was floundering. It was time to take over or else Lady Gage's love life, and marriage, would fail.

She swallowed. “What is it you want from me?”

“Nothing. I intend to give you a gift.”

“Such as.”

Lucien leaned close against her back and drew in a deep breath of her scent. “Have you ever wanted to be the center of attention, not just for an hour or two, but for an entire night and a day?”

Her breath rushed through her lips loudly. Her chest rose and fell, drawing his attention to her peaked nipples. He’d chosen well for their first face to face adventure. She was definitely excited by the idea. He couldn’t wait to show her off to his acquaintances, masked of course, so her reputation would remain untarnished. Secrecy was paramount.

He eased closer to better see her face. “Alexander has given you to me. We will leave this house and you will come to mine to be pleased and nurtured.”

Her lips opened in protest. “What about my children? I cannot leave them behind without another thought.”

“Of course not. You are mine for one entire day which begins in a few moments when you leave the house with me.” Lucien glanced at the clock. “You will return to your children after that. Never fear.”

Her gaze met and held his. Her nostrils flared as she drew air deep into her lungs. “And that will be the end of the adventure?”

Chapter 3

Henrietta couldn’t believe that this is what her husband had decided to do for their anniversary, but she’d be a fool to turn down the opportunity to experience the man before her. Her sex wept in earnest as she looked into Lucien Maitland’s eyes. The darkness and promise held in them made her quake.

However, she knew better than to show her desires too openly. She dropped her gaze from his and focused instead on the wide chest before her.

“I believe I will take that as a sign that you are in agreement with your husband’s wishes,” Lucien murmured. His hand lifted to her cheek and he brushed his fingertips across her skin softly. Then he left her, striding away to the door Alexander had disappeared through.

 While he was gone from the room, she fought to regain her equilibrium. A man like that, all caged energy and mischief, made her husband appear a monk. She had no doubt that come morning she’d be sore and aching from a vigorous fucking and more. Lucien’s broad shoulders and long legs drew the eye. So too did the unmistakable bulge between his legs.

She kept her eyes forward as Lucien returned, Alex trailing a few steps behind. When their eyes met, Alex grinned but didn’t speak. Judging by the way his eyes sparked, he was happy with her decision to leave with this stranger. His gaze returned to his Master, and there was a look on his face she’d never noticed him bestow on another man before: adoration.

 Lucien held a cloak out. “Slip this over her gown, Alex, there is a cool breeze tonight.”

Her husband hastened to follow orders, covering her from shoulder to ankle, and then slipped the hood over her head. When she was securely wrapped, he placed a soft kiss to her brow and stepped back.

 A small smile played over Lucien’s mouth as he studied her husband. “Well, if that settles everything,” he reached into his pocket, “your instructions for tomorrow and the day after, Alexander. Be a good boy and try not to aggravate Lord Brindle tomorrow while I’m occupied with entertaining your wife. I’ll deal with him when we return.”

“Thank you, Master,” Alexander murmured took the note and lowered his head respectfully. It was the self-same gesture Henrietta used with Alexander. Yet she sensed no resistance in him as she often-times felt. He was completely submissive to Lucien Maitland. She’d never have expected that from him before tonight.

Lucien moved toward Alexander and a brief, whispered exchange took place. She couldn’t see their faces but with their heads bowed so close together they may have kissed right in front of her and she’d not be able to tell. Were they really lovers or simply very, very close friends?

The relationship Lucien spoke of though sounded much more intimate than mere friends. Her husband’s hand stretched to brush Lucien’s hand and then withdrew.

Lucien turned away from Alex and held out his hand to Henrietta. “Henry. Come.”

 Henry? Henrietta couldn’t hide her surprise and hesitated. No one had called her by that name in years.

A frown crossed Lucien’s face. “Henry.”