Impossible Desires (novella) (2 page)

“She has no dowry?”

His friend laughed heartily and drank again.

Several people turned to look at them. Boisterous behavior was not tolerated in London ballrooms. Perhaps they should move to the card room?

“She has more money than I, my friend. She doesn’t need to marry.”

Gareth turned to stare at the lady who so intrigued him, surprise written on his face at that exact moment she looked up and stared directly back at him.

Eleanor felt her belly quiver and heat pool between her legs. Gareth Osborne was indescribable. He was classically beautiful, it was true, but that wasn’t what attracted her. He was power, he was control, and he was going to be hers.

She needed someone who could awaken the passion that grew inside of her. Like a wild rose, it demanded to thrive. She had wilted and almost died in her previous marriage, due to neglect and abuse. She refused to allow that to happen again.

Eleanor would choose wisely, and she would get what she needed. She would be loved and she would be Mistress. She just needed to be clever about it.

“Would you join me for a walk around the gardens, my lady?” the young Viscount enquired with only the slightest glance at her décolletage.

Eleanor smiled in acceptance and took the offered arm. The man was a dandy but otherwise harmless. She would use him to take her to Gareth.

“I would prefer a walk on the balcony if you do not mind, my lord. I have a small headache.”

She pressed her fingers to her temples and hid a smile when the Viscount agreed. He was a nice man, a true gentleman. If she needed that, then he would be perfect. But she had need for someone, and something, so much more.

“Are you staying in London for the Off Season, my lady?” the Viscount enquired with a raised eyebrow.

Eleanor laughed. Not if she could help it.

“I do not flourish well in London I am afraid, my lord.”

“That is a pity, because London looks well on you.”

She smiled at his compliment but all she wanted was more moments alone with her chosen partner. How to achieve that?

“Thank you for bringing me into the night air, my lord. Would you be so kind as to fetch me a glass of punch?”Eleanor smiled as prettily as possible and watched the Viscount’s face crumple. The punch was on the other side of the ballroom.

But good manners dictated that he retrieve it for her and being a widow, Eleanor was free to be alone.

“Of course, my lady.”

She watched the young lord scurry off and took a deep breath as she walked out towards the gardens. There was beauty to be found everywhere, even in London.

“You got rid of the whelp, I see.”

Eleanor smiled and wrapped her arms around herself. His voice sent shivers racing across her skin. She could only imagine what his lips might do.

“That is not kind, Gareth.”

She kept her eyes fixed ahead and used the rest of her senses to reach out to him. His swift intake of breath made her smile again.

“Why do you call me Gareth?”

She turned at this and felt her stomach leap. His black eyes were ablaze with passion for her. She had not been wrong about him.

“That is your name, is it not?” She dropped her arms to her sides and allowed her figure to be easily appraised. His eyes didn’t waver from hers. He stared into her eyes and that pleased her greatly.

“No one calls me Gareth, not even my parents.”

His confusion was clear, and triumph filled her. Shock was a new emotion to the man in front of her.
Good.

“Gareth, you may call me Eleanor if it would make you feel more comfortable.”

She smiled again, unable to stop herself. Fun was a new aspect in her life and she intended to keep it.

“Eleanor, come home with me.”

The look of shock on Gareth’s face made her wonder if he had even registered the words in his brain before they spilled from his lips. He then clenched his jaw and raised his head a fraction. He may not have meant to speak aloud, but it was clear to Eleanor that he had meant what he had said.

She couldn’t go home with him. Not yet. Her future happiness with this man depended on him wanting to keep her for more than one night.

“Ask me again next time we meet,” she whispered, putting all of her longing into her eyes, allowing him to see how much she wanted him.

He growled in response and took a step towards her.

Her stomach dropped in anticipation of his action. Would he kiss her right here on the balcony?

As though she had planned it to stop his advance, the Viscount stepped out onto the balcony with her drink.

“My lady.” He half bowed as he rushed the glass to her fingertips.

Eleanor smiled in thanks and drank the cold liquid in one gulp. Her throat was sore and dry – when had that happened?

“My lord.” The viscount bowed in greeting to Gareth and stepped closer to her side.

Eleanor smothered her smile and looked up again at her chosen mate.

Gareth inclined his head and she curtsied low. “I hope you are feeling better soon, Lady Rossette.”

She watched him walk away and found herself wishing that their courtship was already over. She had to tread so carefully, build their relationship up to how it should be. Yet she wanted nothing except a life with that man. She was so impatient she could scream.

“Do you know Lord Osborne well?” Eleanor asked the Viscount.

The man colored and glanced after Gareth.

“Only through social circles, Lady Rossette. He is a very private man.”

Eleanor nodded. She knew he was.

“I had heard that he boxes and fences. Quite extreme for an Earl.” She smiled brightly giving the impression that she was eager for information.

“He does, my lady. Though they are gentlemanly enough pursuits.”

Eleanor smiled at the young gentleman’s defense of Gareth. She liked him even more now.

“Does he have other faults?”

The viscount frowned. “Not that I know of, my lady.”

Eleanor looked coyly down at the ground, striving for elegant shyness.

“Will you excuse me, my lord? I must use the powder room.”

She had obviously succeeded when the Viscount coughed and flushed.

“Of course, Lady Rossette. May I claim the next dance?”

She took the Viscount’s arm as they walked back into the ballroom. She spotted Gareth off to the side of the room, prowling along the wall like a fenced in animal.

“You may when I return, my lord. I will find you when I am ready.”

The Viscount smiled and bowed, releasing her hand.

“I would very much like that.”

Eleanor smiled at him and began to walk towards the lady’s room. She took the longest way possible, making sure her path crossed in front of Gareth’s vision.

She ambled along a long corridor, her breath catching in excitement. The trap was set – would her prey spring it?

The footsteps falling behind her caused another flood of excitement seconds before a hand wrapped around her elbow and she was lifted bodily into a small room off the corridor.

The bolt slid home on the study door with a loud clunk.

“What game are you playing, Eleanor?” Gareth’s voice slid into her ear like warm honey.
Oh, so good.

“A game of hide and seek, Gareth,” she purred, dislodging his arm and circling around to face him. There was very little light in the study, only three candles were lit. Slowly, her eyes adjusted to the darkness.

“Why do you torment me so?”

Eleanor laughed, low and husky. Torment him? If only he knew what she had planned!

“You are what I need, my lord. Every facet of who you are, what you are, I need.”

Gareth’s breath hitched at Eleanor’s declaration.

“You know nothing about me, my lady.”

Even as he said the words, Gareth wanted to call them back. What else did she need to know about him other than he desired her?

“I know that you take care of your servants, your invalid mother and your insane sister.”

His eyes narrowed, how did she know all of that? He spent a lot of time keeping that information private, well-guarded. She had deep pockets indeed.

“I know that you are respected in Parliament and that you are in control of every piece of your life. You want to marry. I would make you a good wife.”

Gareth laughed. He had imagined how his proposal would play out several times and none of those times included the lady doing the suggesting.

“If I choose to marry you, I will ask
you
my lady, not the other way around.”

“But you don’t know me the way I know you.”

Eleanor’s eyes slid over him in a way that made his loins throb. How did she arouse him with mere words and a glance?

“What do you know about me that I don’t know about you?”

He was
sincerely
interested in her answer.

“I know that you and I would suit perfectly. I know you will love all the things that make me different.”

She smiled, stepped towards him and with unerring accuracy she grabbed his left nipple and twisted hard.

Gareth gasped, pain rushing through him, followed by a long wave of desire. Lady Rossette didn’t move, but held tight to him.

“I know you have never been satisfied properly, my lord. I know some tricks that you would love.”

She released his nipple just as quickly as she had grabbed it and Gareth groaned in ecstasy. His erection was aching now – how would he make it go down before he went back into the ballroom?

In silent answer Lady Rossette flipped her dress up to her waist and bent over a chair, her exquisite derriere exposed for his use. Gareth swallowed against his needs.

“You may fuck me now.”

He pulled at his breeches to undo them before they split. She opened her legs wider and exposed her glistening slit to him. Her hips began to sway in anticipation and he moved to stand behind her. He held his cock in one hand and led it to her entrance. Taking a deep breath, he pushed the head into her and held her still.

She gripped him with her internal muscles and tilted her hips. Unable to resist such an invitation, Gareth thrust himself into her up to the hilt. They both groaned in bliss. He put a hand on her upper back to hold her down and gripped her hip with the other. He looked down to watch the way his body penetrated hers, over and over again. Eleanor began to call out to him as she reached between her legs to pinch his inner thigh, twisting the flesh there. He thrust harder, faster, unable to control himself. His orgasm was imminent.

Just before Gareth came he pulled out of her, and was shocked when she turned around and knelt on the floor in front of him. Too late, it took only one suck of her mouth to have him exploding, hot currents of come flowing into her hot, willing mouth.

“Lady Rossette, I am sorry…” he began as she stood up and turned the seat around.

“Call me Mistress.”

He frowned, why would he do that?

“Ahh, Mistress, I’m sorry that I…”

Keeping her dress around her waist Eleanor sat upon her chair, keeping her legs open and pointing to the floor between them.

“Make me come with your mouth.”

Half of Gareth’s brain was so shocked that he continued to stand for several moments longer. Fortunately the part of his brain that controlled his body worked faster. He dropped to his knees and leant in to suck her swollen and juicy flesh. She bucked against his mouth and wrapped her hands in his hair, gripping his skull.

Gareth used his tongue to flick against her and then couldn’t resist inserting two long fingers into her moist canal.

Eleanor moaned and arched her back. He sucked on her clitoris in time with the thrusts of his fingers until he felt her go rigid and cry out, wave upon wave of contractions tightening around his fingers.

When she leaned back, Gareth moved away to stare up at her.
How had that just happened?

Eleanor smiled with satisfaction and flicked her skirts back into place.

“Thank you, I needed that.”

Gareth stared after her as she moved to look at herself in the mirror. Her earlier words floated back to him.

“What do you want from me then?”

She smiled knowingly.

“I want you to be prepared for our next meeting. I want to marry you, become your life partner. We are very evenly matched – I already know this. It will take you longer to realize, but know that the next time we meet, you will end up tied to my bed and I don’t intend to let you get away.”

Eleanor smiled in a way that had Gareth’s pulse racing once again and his already sated cock twitched. Then she opened the door and slipped out.

He turned his back to the closed door and sat down by the fireplace. He couldn’t stop the involuntary shiver that went through his body at her suggestion. He had often secretly yearned to be dominated; yet he had never voiced the desire. It wasn’t proper of a gentleman. He also didn’t know if he could give up control in the bedroom.
To be tied to her bed
. Another shiver shook Gareth’s frame.

He had just had the most explosive sex of his life – he should be exhausted, sated and happy. Instead he was unsettled, worried and aroused. What else did she have in mind for him?

Two days later, Gareth received a note from Eleanor. She had invited him to have tea with her at three in the afternoon. The note held no suggestions for anything else. No perfume sprayed on the paper, nothing except the invitation. After their last meeting, he was surprised.

He sent an instant response saying of course he would be delighted.

His valet dressed him with care for his afternoon. Gareth knew that Eleanor preferred varying shades of pink and red in her clothing so he chose a rose waistcoat and cravat. His valet was delighted – he never chose such vivid colors.

When Gareth arrived at her town house, he was surprised anew. Eleanor’s townhouse was in the most expensive street in London, not far from his own home.

Smiling because he knew that Eleanor did not need his money, he reached for the doorknocker. The door flew open before he could connect with the metal – she had very efficient servants.

“Lord Osborne.” The butler bowed low.