The Virgin at Goodrich Hall (3 page)

As Victor made his way over to the woman in red, these were the questions he asked himself.

Maggie felt the curiosity from around the room, but what dazed her more than anything else was that she appeared to be the only person who was masked. More shocking, and somewhat daunting, was the fact that she recognised a large sum of those in attendance.

“You can leave at any time,” Anna said, capturing Maggie’s attention. As Maggie looked up at the beautiful woman, she noticed the interest in Anna’s features. Anna studied Maggie for a moment more before she smiled warmly. “Though I hope you do not.”

With a single nod of her head, Anna signalled for a footman to approach and selected two flutes of wine from the silver tray he carried. As she passed one to Maggie, the woman looked around the room.

“Please do not use your mind tonight.” Anna slid her gaze back to Maggie. “Listen to your body. It will guide you.” With that, she reached for Maggie’s hand and gave it a gentle squeeze before she headed towards the centre of the room.

Maggie stood frozen to the spot. She chanced a look around but found none paid her any mind. Instead, they watched Anna and the man whom she walked towards with what Maggie would call a rabid hunger.

The man smiled at Anna as she approached. The servant placed a chair directly behind where he waited. Maggie recognised the butler to be the same man who had taken her coat upon her arrival. It seemed they had all done this before.

Anna did not stop before the man and Maggie reminded herself of where she was. They were not here to talk about politics. No, they were here to fuck. Even as she thought the word, she felt heat rise upon her skin. It was all so indecent! Heat of a different kind warmed her body, rising from the depth of her core to the tips of her nipples. She shuddered at the same moment as gooseflesh rose upon her skin.

Even as she felt a presence come up beside her, Maggie could not draw her attention from the scene unfolding in front of her.

Anna reached for the man, her sure hands making light work of opening the front of his vest and shirt. He stood there, seeming pleased to simply watch, judging by the devilish curve of his lips. He did not have long to admire her swift movements as Anna gave him a firm, yet gentle push. He sat down instantly, seeming to expect the chair to have been placed behind him. Lowering herself to her knees, Anna held eye contact with him as he looked down at her. Her hands moved to his breeches and, within moments, she held his cock in her hand.

Never before had Maggie seen one. She had heard the maids talk and, having added it to her knowledge from the banned novels she’d concealed in her chamber, Maggie had assumed she was somewhat knowledgeable as to its appearance. She could now determine that her imagination, as well as the maids’ and authors’ descriptions, had not done it justice. Not at all.

Anna leant down, licked the head of his cock with a flick of her tongue before she drew it into her mouth, deep down her throat until Maggie could no longer see the thick shaft. The man rolled his head back, his groan rumbling around the now silent room.

Maggie clenched her thighs together as a pulsing started within the flesh of her cunt. While she liked the sensation, she held in the moan that wanted to escape. How could she become so aroused from simply watching? Still, she could not prevent a small sigh from escaping her lips as another woman approached the pair, her silks gone. Entirely naked, this woman leant down, capturing the man’s lips with her own. He slid his hand up from where it had rested on Anna’s head, up the woman’s leg, only to stop when he reached her cunt. Maggie saw his fingers disappear for a moment, only to emerge covered in the woman’s honey before he delved back in, rougher than Maggie would have expected. The woman groaned into his mouth, which reassured Maggie that she enjoyed the action.

Soon he broke his kiss with the woman he fingered, though he continued to work his fingers in her core. All the while, Anna still sucked on his cock. The woman leant forward, threading a hand though his hair while edging her breasts closer to his lips. The man took the bud of her rosy nipple into his mouth as his free hand moved to Anna’s hair, which he clasped tightly. Suckling sounds, sounds of wetness and a smell of musky sex slowly filled the room. Maggie’s internal muscles clenched around imaginary fingers as they caressed her from inside. How she wished to experience what these women did.

Anna suddenly rose. The cock that had been in her mouth moments ago now seemed to scream out for attention. Would the other woman take over? She didn’t seem interested or aware of anything else around her, nor of Anna, who now proceeded to undress in front of her.

Anna quickly slid out of her silks. Her body was just as Maggie had pictured it—sleek and graceful. Her long, flowing hair hung down her naked back to just above her tight bottom.
Beautiful.

She did not stand around for long. Anna moved forward, straddling the man’s lap and rising on her toes. Maggie had not realised until then, but the chair was somewhat lower than a normal one. Had it been designed for this purpose?
Fascinating.

Maggie watched in wonder as Anna lowered herself onto the man’s cock. Its engorged red form disappeared from view as it impaled her. Anna’s low moan vibrated off the walls as she rose and fell on the man’s hardness. Maggie could not contain the groan that left her lips.

Warmth settled behind her, and Maggie was incapable of stopping herself from leaning into it. Nor did she want to. She knew she leant back against the muscled chest of a man, a man she could not bring herself to glance at. His arm came around her, holding her steady as she watched the scene before her. His palm flattened over the softness of her belly. She could feel every movement of his hand through the thin silk. Another moan left her lips as she leaned farther into him, resting her head in the nook of his neck and shoulder, and yet she could not draw her attention away from Anna.

His firm hand on her belly slowly rose, the fingers massaging her gently as they moved. Once they touched her breast, she moaned again, unable to help herself. Maggie’s eyes drifted closed as he rolled her nipple between his sure fingers, squeezing firmly. She arched her back against him and her breathing changed, deepened. His other hand moved around her then, starting like the other had on her belly, but this one did not rise to her mounds. No, it descended to her core. She groaned, unable and unwilling to attempt to control herself. His fingers pressed into her folds though the fabric of the silks, firmly and with haste.

His hand upon her breast tightened, while his lower hand parted the fabric at her folds. He touched her then, without the barrier of clothing. She was so very thankful.

A need filled her to open her eyes, to look out at what surrounded her. Maggie gave in to that need and instantly regretted doing so. Every person in the room watched her, including Anna and those involved in their public dalliance, yet she could not find it in her to be embarrassed, instead basking in the heat building inside her. Anna still rose and fell upon the man’s cock, her gaze heavy as she looked at Maggie. The man whose cock impaled Anna looked on with a heated expression, his fingers working frantically on the two women he still touched and explored.

Another man now stood behind Anna—one Maggie recognised. Sir Andrew Harington wore no clothes at all, but what drew her notice first was how he stroked his own cock. A footman suddenly appeared with a small bowl. The man she had danced with at a ball only last week dipped his fingers in the liquid and then rubbed it along the length of his cock, in a long, smooth motion. It was only a moment before he moved his fingers to Anna’s ass, where he inserted them deeply.

Maggie moaned at the sight of this and the hands of the man who held her tightened, both upon her breast and on her bud, which he rolled between his fingers. She leaned against him for support, feeling his stiff cock pressing against her arse. Oh, if only she could feel what Anna did now! Another moan tumbled from her lips and he held her up with his strong arms. She held no doubt she would not be able to stand without them.

She forced her eyes to focus on Sir Andrew, behind Anna. He caught Maggie’s eye, and his thin lips curved sensually. He looked away and moved closer to Anna, his fingers slipping again into the pucker of her ass. The sound of pleasure that emerged from Anna’s lips sent shivers up Maggie’s spine. Sir Andrew positioned his cock at the pucker as he removed his fingers. His gaze again met Maggie’s as he pushed himself deep within Anna, in one sure thrust. Anna cried out again, and suddenly a wave of pleasure swamped Maggie.

The fingers at her core became firmer and, at the same moment, he pinched her breast and nipple hard. Maggie knew she screamed, but there was nothing she could do to stop it. She didn’t want to. He did not relent, though, as her climax took hold of her. Her body continued to pulse as his fingers worked against her bud. His warm and frantic breath on her neck was the last thing she recalled until another, stronger climax hit her, more powerful and consuming than anything she could have imagined.

Chapter Three

Warmth surrounded her as a gentle rocking lulled her from her slumber. Maggie rolled further into the comfort, murmuring her approval as the hold on her firmed. She nuzzled into the warmth, and the endearing scent of pine and musk filled her senses. It was divine, creating both a calming and an empowering feeling inside her.

The rocking stopped for a moment and she heard the gentle click of metal, but she refused to open her eyes. She was happy to remain where she was. She had never felt so content before.

Feeling herself being pulled away from the warmth, Maggie murmured her protests, but it was the cool softness that surrounded her that made her open one eye in annoyance. She gasped, unable to stop herself. A large, strong man had placed her into a large manor bed, and was now leaning over her. He looked down at her with deep blue eyes, which were more the colour before a storm than the calming blue of a sunny sky. He did not smile, simply studied her when he saw her eyes had opened.

“Ah, you are awake,” he said in a deep voice.

Maggie’s internal muscles clenched as his words rolled over her skin. Gooseflesh followed in their wake.

His gaze lingered on her for a moment before he sat on the side of the bed, facing her. “My name is Victor. You are?”

“M-Maggie,” she whispered.

For the first time his features were graced with a smile. His lips lifted ever so slightly, just enough for her to gauge his pleasure at her words.

“Well, it is my pleasure to meet you. I trust you are feeling relaxed after your fulfilment?”

She blushed.
How indecent.
“You saw?”

His lips lifted higher as his expression softened, his white teeth shining slightly in the candlelight. Not in a way that made him appear sinister—in truth, it made him appear kind and caring. Odd, because this man’s demeanour screamed of power. His mannerisms reeked of it.

“It was I who provided it.”

Her breath caught for a moment. “Oh?”

He did not seem surprised by her shock.

“Thank you,” she murmured, feeling the polite comment highly inappropriate, but she had been raised to be gracious, no matter what the situation.

He chuckled. “You are most welcome.”

Maggie pulled herself up into a sitting position, feeling somewhat vulnerable as she was, laid out for his perusal. It was silly, really, considering where this man had placed his hands on her only minutes ago. She felt a new wave of heat grace her skin.

“Maggie, did you gain what you sought tonight in attending Goodrich Hall?” he asked, settling farther onto the mattress alongside her.

She watched his movement. “I am not sure I understand your question, sir.”

“Victor,” he reminded her and, at her nod, he continued. “A maiden must be brave to attend our little gathering. You are not wed?”

She shook her head.

“Betrothed?”

“Not yet,” she whispered. “My father has not yet chosen for me, but he will.”

“Is it imminent?” he asked, his eyes narrowing slightly.

Maggie sighed. “I fear so.”

He reached out, picking up the black beads that hung around her neck. “You want to save yourself for your husband?”

Her eyes stayed glued to his hand, mere inches away from her face. “Yes.”

Victor dropped the beads. “I am sure your future husband will appreciate your restraint.”

She snorted, unable and unwilling to control herself. “He will not care for anything other than me becoming his brood mare and ensuring that I sire his heir.”

His gaze held hers for a moment, his features carrying an odd look. Instantly she realised her error. “I am sorry. I did not mean… Well, you being, uh—”

He hushed her simply by placing a finger to her lips. “It is all right, Maggie. I fear I agree with your assessment. Love matches are a rarity among noble houses.”

She sighed. “Yes, they are.”

Maggie looked into his dark eyes. They did not hold censure or ill respect for her. In fact, he seemed to appear on more of an equal footing to her than any of the other gentlemen she had ever met. He did not stand aloof on the sidelines like the others, congratulating himself on being such a stellar man, able to give orders. No—while he might do that, perhaps
did
do that at times, right now she felt a kinship with him, of sorts. Odd, really, because she knew nothing of this man, other than how wonderful he smelt and how much she enjoyed his touch.

“You do not wear a mask, either?”

“No.” He shook his head gently. “No, I do not feel the need. Those who come here would never speak of my attendance.”

“Why?”

“Because they, in turn, do not want me speaking of theirs.”

She huffed out a forced laugh. “No, I suppose not.”

“We have not met before, have we?” he asked as he studied her. Maggie suddenly felt self-conscious and touched the mask that covered her face. It remained fastened. “I would remember you if we had.”