Chapter Ten #2
Penelope actually shuddered at his words.
“I-I do not want that, my lord. It is because of their actions that I ran away in the first place.” Penelope’s gaze was innocent as she regarded him.
“It will be quite unpleasant when they take me home today. They are so very angry with me.” Her brow creased as she rubbed her arm.
A bruise was already visible on her fair skin.
Something flared inside him at the thought of this girl being abused by other hands.
“You will not be leaving with them, Penelope. You see, I do not trust your parents not to harm you in some way.” Simon tucked a stray lock of her hair behind her ear, his voice almost tender as he explained, “And I am the only one allowed to hurt you now.”
“You are angry, too.” She swallowed hard, her chin quivering as her new reality began creeping in.
“Yes. Immeasurably so.”
“Then what difference will it make if I go home with them or endure time spent with you?” Faint resentment leached into her words. How on earth did she manage to sound like a wounded fawn while also standing firm in her bravado?
“My methods of hurting you will be much different from those of your parents, I can assure you.” Simon’s heart rate accelerated as images assailed his mind.
Penelope, nude and trembling while bent over his lap.
Penelope, tied to the four posts of his bed, her legs wide and exposing her to his heated gaze.
Penelope, restrained to a wall, her limbs encircled by silk ropes as he explored every inch of her exquisite form.
Her eyes fluttered shut as if she could block out that bit of unpleasant truth before she once again met his stare.
“If I am not to go home, then where shall I go?” The question was hesitantly brave, and her cheeks were still stained pink.
Damned if Simon couldn’t wait to see every inch of her flushed with that pretty color.
His gaze traveled over her body as his thoughts drifted to their wedding night.
Would he take her hard and fast? Or would he show restraint and tenderly make love to his timid little bride?
Under his scrutiny, Penelope raised a hand to the bodice of her plain, unadorned gown.
The soft-green silk complemented her complexion, the square neckline highlighting her plump breasts, but as a countess, she would require a new trousseau befitting her new status and title.
His mother would be only too happy to assist in that endeavor.
Simon swallowed down a growl of irritation.
Lord and Lady Blackthorne would most certainly be ecstatic over their wild son’s upcoming nuptials—even if a dark cloud of scandal hovered over the event.
“I shall give you a choice. You may either stay with my parents here in London during the time it takes to arrange the wedding ceremony, or you can go home with Emily.” Simon’s voice was a gravelly sound of need.
He was tired of discussing things. He wanted to claim Penelope’s mouth with his own.
Drink her in and begin uncovering the mysteries of this strange attraction for the girl foolish enough to trap him in marriage.
“If you are certain it will not be too much of an inconvenience, I would rather stay with Lord and Lady Blackthorne,” Penelope murmured gratefully.
“It would not be fair to Emily and Lord Wyldewood to be burdened with a houseguest so soon after their wedding.” She cleared her throat in embarrassment.
“And if I am under your parents’ guardianship, it may alleviate some of the rumors we shall encounter. ”
Simon leaned closer until Penelope shrank even more against the wall.
She was now plastered flat against it, a flicker of panic lighting the depths of her eyes the longer he stared at her.
“There will be no escaping the scandal, you know,” he muttered, his gaze tracing the shape of her delectable mouth.
“It will be relentless. And terribly cruel. I will not be able to shield you from the majority of it. Even after we are wed, it will likely not stop for a while.”
“I am sorry, Lord Camden.” She sounded truly anguished. Biting her lower lip, she worried it between her teeth as Simon watched and stifled a groan of lust at the innocent gesture. “I never meant for any of this to happen,” she said softly.
“Little can be done to reverse course at this point, and we will both suffer the consequences. Now, about that kiss…” His lips brushed hers, and Penelope gasped in shock as he nibbled her lower lip with his own teeth.
With his wealth of sexual experience, he immediately realized his soon-to-be bride was completely inexperienced when it came to kissing.
The knowledge that she was truly an innocent settled deep within him, twisting his insides into an unfamiliar tangle of possessiveness and rage that he’d been so easily ensnared.
He quickly took advantage of her parted lips, molding his mouth to hers and sliding his tongue inside.
When she whimpered, he responded by stroking her tongue with his, exploring the crevices of her mouth and savoring the sweetness he found there.
Her hands fluttered nervously between their bodies until he captured them in one hand.
It took minimal effort to pin her wrists high above her head.
“Fair warning, little mouse,” Simon groaned between kisses that were growing increasingly rough.
He did not care that her parents waited anxiously down the corridor in his parlor.
He did not care that an interruption of this interlude was inevitable…
because he certainly could not keep her in his study for much longer without someone intruding for the sake of misguided propriety.
All that mattered in this moment was his claiming of Penelope’s delicious mouth and her brief initiation into the darkness of his world.
She melted against him with a shuddering sigh and her soft moan of acceptance told Simon everything he needed to know.
That she would surrender to his needs would be spectacularly exquisite.
“If I must be married, I intend to enjoy every minute of instructing you on the proper way to submit.”