Page 32 of Tutoring a Lady into Sin
Christianna obeyed him, and a second later, she felt a rush of something… exhilarating. “I,” she whispered, “I feel like a thousand tiny insects are running their way up my arm.”
“Good,” he murmured, “What now?”
“I think your hand is very near my collarbone because I feel warmth there…almost like what it feels like to lay in the grass and let the sun kiss my skin.”
“Excellent,” he breathed, “and now?”
A shiver raced up her spine as she was sure his hand was hovering just above the thin silk of her bodice. Her eyes sprung open, and she saw that her feelings had been accurate.
While Phineas had not touched her at all, his fingertips were drifting very near her decolletage, and she knew that if she leaned forward just a bit, his gloved hands would skim the tops of her breasts. “How did you do that?” she marvelled. “I feel like my head is spinning and…yes…my palms are even sweating.”
Phineas chuckled. “It is quite easy. If you have a steady hand and remind yourself that the game is to look, but not touch, you are capable of inspiring the same sort of feelings in others, I am sure.”
“Well, let me try then,” Christianna said as she lifted her own hand in the air. Phineas gave her a strange look, as if he was uncertain whether to acquiesce or not. “Go on,” she ordered. “I wish to experiment, Doctor Radcliff, and how should I ever learn properly if you do not allow me to do just that?”
Phineas shrugged his shoulders. “I suppose you are right, Lady Christianna.” He squeezed his eyes shut. “Now, just go slowly, as this is your first trial.”
Christianna was not sure where to touch, or rather, where not to touch him first. She held her hand out in front of herself, and then, as if it had a mind of its own, she reached out to brush his soft lips. “Oops,” she murmured as Phineas’ eyes sprung open, and she dropped her hand back into her lap.
“You were not supposed to touch me, my lady,” he said as he gazed back at her.
“Sorry,” she whispered. “Might I try again?” He nodded, then closed his eyes. She wanted to hover her glove above his chiselled cheekbone next but feared she might not be able to control her hand again and accidentally poke him in the eye, so instead, she lowered her hand and grazed her fingertips along the length of his broad shoulders.
“That is very nice, Christianna,” he breathed. “I cannot feel your touch, but my insides are wriggling like a bunch of worms.”
She laughed. “I am not sure what to make of that, Doctor. Do I want you to be reacting in that way?”
“It is rather pleasant, actually,” he said. “Do keep going.” She splayed her fingers and laid her palm flat. Slowly, she dragged her hand down the front of his jacket, careful not to touch the posey he had tucked into his lapel.
“Yes,” he whispered, “now I feel as if my chest is all aglow. It is like I have plunged into a pool of warm water.” His eyes fluttered open, and he beamed at her proudly. “Very well done.” He paused, and his grin widened. “Are you ready to move forward with the lesson then?”
“Yes, Doctor Radcliff,” she said as she nodded eagerly. He adjusted his position on the bench for a moment, even going so far as to straddle the seat with both legs, but then he gave up on it altogether and stood.
“Where are you going?” Christianna asked as Phineas walked toward a silver birch tree that stood several feet away.
“Come on,” he called over his shoulder. “For our next lesson, we need a prop of sorts.”
Christianna scurried after him, and when she reached his side, he began giving directions at once. “Put your back to the tree in a comfortable pose.”
“Like this?” she asked as she rested her shoulder blades on the tree trunk.
“Yes,” he murmured, “that will do nicely.” Then, Phineas leaned forward. He very gently nudged her legs with his knee. She inhaled sharply as he pushed a little more and rested his knee right between her thighs.
“What…what are you doing?” she asked.
Phineas laughed. “This is one of my brother’s favourite moves. I have seen him use it…well…let us just say that I have seen him do this before.” He moved both his hands so that they did not touch her but were grasping the tree trunk right beside her head.
He leaned ever further forward and whispered straight into her ear, “You see now, I am not exactly pinning you in place, because if you wanted to shimmy away, you could. If you are paying close attention, you will realise that I am not even touching you at all, but how is my proximity making you feel?”
“I…I…” Christiana gulped. “I feel like my whole body is tense. It is like I am waiting for something to happen, and….”
“Yes,” Phineas purred as he leaned nearer once more. His words, this time, grazed her earlobe. “You are anticipating what is to come. What do you wish I would do next, my lady?”
“Uh…” She was gobsmacked. “My knees have gone weak. I want…I want…”
“But do not worry about your knees,” Phineas coached. “I am right here, ready to support you if you need me. Tell me how you feel when I do this….” He tipped his head to the side, and now, instead of whispering in her ear, he made a soft whistling sound as his lips floated over her neckline.
“Are you touching me now,” Christianna gulped, “because I really feel like you are and…”
