LORD DECADENT'S OBSESSION (17 page)

and hair. It served him right having to wash with cold water.

He tucked his shirt into the waistband of his breeches, then retrieved a comb

from a nearby shelf and attempted to tame his unruly locks.

She wanted him gone, more so than ever, for she felt her resolve waning.

Prentice Hyde filled a room. The walls fairly vibrated with his presence. She feared

she'd never be able to sleep in this room again. He was everywhere, and the memory of

it would prove too painful. He simply must go.

"Prentice, I am grateful to you for your care and concern, but as you can well see,

I am on the road to recovery. Therefore, I must ask you to leave. I meant what I said."

"I am glad you are on the mend, though a bit scrawny. You seem to have

recovered your mental acuity as well. I worried you had done yourself some permanent

damage."

"I am fine, now, please." She extended her arm toward the door, which he

summarily ignored.

"Not without an explanation." He sat in a chair and crossed his arms.

"I don't need to explain anything to you, sir. This is my home, and I do not wish

to have you in it any longer. That is all the explanation I intend to give."

"So it is as I thought. You have no reason. Yes, as I suspected, you weren't . . . oh,

hell, how shall I say this . . . woman enough to tell me to my face. You hide behind

missives and illness, but can't tell a man the truth. I expected more of you, Desiree, I

truly did. You're weak, like most women, but worse, you pretend to be strong. Not a

flattering combination. I'd be well rid of you, if I chose to be so, which at the moment, I

don't."

"You have no choice, sir. Insulting me will not change my mind. You must leave,

and please do not return." She turned with the intention of leaving the room. She was

dangerously close to giving in to her heart. Before she could reach the door, he grabbed

her arm, swung her around and kissed her. His lips were so warm, conveyed so much

need. He plunged his tongue into her mouth, demanding she answer. He held her head

in his hands, not allowing her any movement that he didn't want.

The kiss went on and on as the ice around her heart began to melt. Then, he gave

her an opportunity, and she took it. He'd loosened his hold, allowing her to extricate

herself and get out the door before he realized what she was about. Weakly, she made

her way down the stairs, from where she shouted, "Prentice, you must go, now."

Several minutes later, he appeared in the door of her bedchamber, fully dressed,

sans his cravat. He sauntered down the stairs as though he were not being chucked out,

tapping his walking stick on each stair. Desiree stood next to Ferguson, who seemed as

incapable of determining what was unfolding before him as she.

Prentice had a smile on his face, one she knew meant mischief. She'd seen it too

many times before not to recognize it. He walked to where she stood, dismissing

Ferguson with a flick of his wrist.

"Don't you dare leave me alone with him!"

Prentice countermanded her, and Ferguson made for a less tension-filled part of

the house. If Ferguson hadn't been faithfully in her employ for so many years, she'd

have had the man drawn and quartered.

"You will not come into my home and order my servants about. Why, you won't

be coming into my home at all."

"I, my dear, have been ordering your servants about for days, which is why you

are standing where you are now and not being lowered into a dusty grave."

Good Lord, almighty, make this man leave now, before I rape him where his stands. No

man has a right to be so appealing.

She raised her chin in determination. "You must go, and please don't ever return.

I meant what I said."

"You did not mean what you said, but I will leave. Prepare for an all-out assault

on the bastion around your heart, for I will have you—all of you." He actually had the

nerve to pat her bottom before he opened the door and meandered out.

She closed the door behind him and slid down its length. She'd just allowed the

most important person in her life walk away, and wouldn't permit herself to do

anything to stop him.

Chapter Seventeen

Prentice found a hackney and made his way home. He spent much of the

morning setting himself to rights, then made his way to the club. The Sapphire Club

was the only place on earth he felt truly at home, other than anywhere Desiree

Huntington might be.

While soaking in his bath, he'd devised what he thought was a brilliant plan, but

he would have to enlist the help of his friends, Lucien and Serenity.

"Good to see, you," Lucien said, when Prentice appeared in the office.

"Nice to be seen." Prentice helped himself to a drink and sank into a cozy leather

chair.

"Where have you been?"

"Nursing Desiree."

"Did she change her mind about things?"

"No, she chucked me into the street just this morning."

"Did she tell you why the change of heart?"

"She did not, but it doesn't matter. I will have her, and there isn't a thing she can

do about it."

"The all powerful Marquess of Wycroft. Snap your mighty fingers and it shall be

yours." Lucien waved his arms in his imitation of the benevolent and demanding God

Wycroft.

"Nothing quite so dramatic. I have a plan, and I need your help—yours, and that

of your lovely wife."

Lucien called Serenity in to listen as Prentice set down his plan. His friends

agreed to help him in its implementation. Feeling quite satisfied with himself, he was

ready to take on a client or two, lest he lose his touch.

"The club is overrun with those who wish for my hand," Lucien boasted. "I've

had to involve Haynes a bit more. He's quite versatile it seems, somewhat of a

chameleon. He took on the Duke of Thornhill, at His Grace's behest."

"That is interesting, to say the least. I knew the duke was comfortable with men

or women, but Haynes too?"

"I don't ask such things." Lucien had never judged anyone for anything, lest

someone look too closely at his life.

"I must prepare."

"I hope this works for you, Prentice. If not, there is always Lady Foxworth."

"May the saints preserve me; I will leave her to you."

"Yes, I understand her imagination has now run toward pirates. In an hour's time

I shall be Blackbeard, and she my Spanish slave."

"Well, I must say you have the coloring for it."

"The hair is getting grayer by the day, my good man." The men laughed, though

Prentice was not exactly light of heart. If Serenity failed on the errand he had sent her

on, he feared he'd have to take drastic measures.

* * * * *

"I couldn't have been more surprised when Ferguson told me you had come to

call. I am so very glad to see you."

Serenity smiled, her icy blue eyes sparkling. "I couldn't stay away, Desiree. I've

come to make you an offer, one which I sincerely hope you will accept."

"Please, tell me what you have in mind." Curiosity was a weakness, one of many.

"I wish to offer you my services."

"Your services?"

"Yes. Forgive me, but I am of the understanding that you have needs similar to

my own. To be frank, I crave being spanked, and thankfully, my husband is a master at

it. At any rate, I have learned his techniques and wish to offer you my services. We can

conduct private sessions, and I can even provide you with sexual accommodation if you

so chose. Many of our members are unencumbered men who would be happy to satisfy

such a beautiful woman."

"Serenity, I am honored, but I don't know if I could do such a thing. As an adult,

I have never been spanked before, but for Prentice."

"Would you prefer I ask my husband? I am sure he would be more than happy to

accept you as a private client."

"Oh, good lord, no. I simply wouldn't wish to impose upon
your
time."

"I am making the offer, dear, and wouldn't if I weren't capable of doing so. We

are friends, and I know how difficult it would be for me if suddenly I had no way of

fulfilling my needs."

Desiree wanted to leap at the chance, but didn't wish to appear quite so anxious.

She poured tea, served small cakes, and thought about how wonderful it would be to at

least have some part of her life as she wished.

"I must ask that Lord Wycroft not be made privy to this agreement. I am quite

firm on that, but if that can be arranged, I gratefully accept your offer."

Serenity smiled and patted Desiree's hand. "I have time this afternoon if you

would care to join me on the ride back. I was so hoping you would accept. We are

having a tableau this evening. I would love to have you as my guest. There are so many

interesting things to see. I've still not grown accustomed to what people will do to reach

satisfaction."

Desiree nodded knowingly, thinking of all she had done, and would do again, if

she'd only allow herself the freedom.

"Please give me a moment while I change my clothes. I must confess to

excitement at what you have suggested."

Desiree raced to her bedchamber, quickly chose a rose muslin gown, and before

she knew it she was again downstairs, ready to join Serenity for the drive to the

Sapphire Club. She'd had no idea what she would do for sexual release after being

spanked, so she brought along her trusty phallus. She couldn't face allowing another

man to touch her, not after Prentice. She'd ask to be alone after the spanking and take

care of it on her own.

The women chatted about innocuous things during the carriage ride, making it

the most carefree time Desiree had spent since those days with Prentice at the folly.

Though she still didn't feel quite herself, she was stronger. For a certainty, she couldn't

keep herself locked away in her house. She'd move on with her life, and maybe one day

she could even see Prentice without feeling such profound sadness.

After informing her husband of her return, Serenity led Desiree to a room on the

second floor, chattering all the way. Desiree was excited, hoping that being spanked

would help to clear her head. This room did not look like a bedchamber.

"It was designed to be a room for punishment only. I thought you'd be more

comfortable here, considering."

"Yes, I think I might be, though I've never been spanked without . . . ."

"As I said, I can arrange it for you if you wish."

Desiree's eyes filled with tears. "No." She composed herself and then asked,

"How do you wish to do this, Serenity?"

"I will leave it to you, dear. This is for you. What shall I use?"

"I believe I need the paddle." She'd never request the strap again. It reminded her

too much of Prentice.

As Serenity prepared herself, Desiree walked around the room, avoiding the

Biedermeier chaise. In the end, she chose to bend over the back of a chair, her arms

braced in the seat. Though she would be spanked on the bare, she simply hiked her

clothing up to her waist.

Serenity came to her and rubbed her hand across Desiree's pristine cheeks. "Your

bottom shows no signs of ever having been spanked. It has been some time, hasn't it?"

"Too long."

"I believe I will warm you up a bit, before we begin."

Desiree nodded, almost wishing it were over. Serenity spanked one cheek then

the other. Desiree didn't react. Her mind was elsewhere.

The first swat of the paddle dragged Desiree's attention back to the present. She

wanted this desperately. With her legs spread wide, she accepted every swat; Serenity's

hand was as sure as Prentice's. Desiree absorbed each powerful strike, taking the pain

and craving more.

As always, the last two or three swats were the hardest. Serenity warned her

ahead of time by counting. Desiree braced for the impact and took it with a loud hiss.

When the last connected with her abraded flesh, tears streaked down her cheeks. She

remained in position and sobbed.

Serenity helped her to stand then folded her in her arms, where Desiree

remained for long minutes, crying as though she'd never cried before.

"Do you wish to talk?"

"I love him, you know. I truly do."

"If that is the case, why did you send him away?"

"He told you?"

"We are his friends. Prentice is like a brother to Lucien, and I owe him my life.

Yes, he told us, and he is devastated. He cares deeply for you as well, and he is

confused by this turn of events."

"I can't turn back now. I will have to learn to live without him."

"And if he wants you?"

"To his peril."

"What makes you say such a thing?"

"May I speak to you in confidence?"

"Of course."

"Ten years ago, I made a terrible decision. I allowed myself to be seduced at a

ball, and my virtue was taken. There was another young man who wished to marry me,

but his family insisted upon knowing for a certainty that my maidenhead was intact, so

they called a doctor in to examine me.

"I should have admitted to my indiscretion before things advanced to such a

stage, but I was afraid. When the doctor announced that, indeed, I was not a virgin, the

young man's parents forbid him to marry me. He wouldn't have done so anyway, and

as a result, I became a pariah. My family found a wealthy widower, a merchant thrice