Page 66 of The Villain
He kept his predatory gaze upon her while he disrobed, each movement of his hands clearly showing his agitation. It showed in the way he jerked at his cravat, tossing it carelessly onto the bed, and the way he tore at the buttons of his waistcoat, sending one of them skittering across the floor in his haste.
Once he had stripped to the waist, he raised an eyebrow at her. “You are still dressed.”
Scoffing, she rolled her eyes and folded her arms over her chest. “So it would seem.”
He moved toward her, the firelight emanating from the hearth playing over the muscles moving fluidly beneath his skin.
“Do not play games with me, Daphne,” he growled.
Not in the mood to cower away from him after being browbeaten all evening, she jabbed one finger at the center of his chest.
“Why not?” she challenged. “Youcertainly seem to enjoy playing them! Is that not why you purposely invited Robert and Lady Stanley here without warning me?”
Reaching out to grasp her wrist, he hauled her closer—until their bodies collided. The heat of his skin burned through the satin of her gown, searing her to the bone.
“You preciousRobertis fortunate I did not tear him limb from limb for daring to lay a hand upon what is mine,” he snarled.
She fought his hold, but he only tightened his grip on her wrist. When she swung her opposite hand at him, he snatched it out of the air, too, holding both her arms between their bodies and refusing to let her go.
“I do not belong to you,” she spat, unable to help the spark of defiance causing her to go against him.
She’d spent her entire night being as quiet and demure as possible, biting her tongue to keep from retorting to every rude remark that fell from Lady Stanley’s lips. She refused to cower anymore.
His smile chilled her to the core, sending a tremor of dread down her spine.
“But you are. You agreed to thirty days and nights, and until the sun rises at dawn, you still belong to me, little dove. Which is why I am going to make you pay for letting that simpering mama’s boy touch you. I am going to make you pay for letting him touch you, and lying to me about it.”
Her boldness began to melt away as he spun her around and pushed her toward the bed, throwing her facedown upon the coverlet. She tried to stand, but he was on top of her in an instant, his fingers fisting in her hair and wrenching upward. Her back arched, and her scalp tingled, his breath tickling her ear as he pressed his mouth against it.
“You were about to lie to me again,” he murmured. “So allow me to save you the trouble. Iknowhe had his hands on you … that he kissed you … tried to help himself to what belongs to me. I can smell him on you. The little milksop is more perfumed than you are.”
She closed her eyes and released a sigh of regret, cursing herself for a fool. Of course he had known.
“I tried to fight him,” she whispered hoarsely, tears springing to her eyes. “But he would not take no for an answer.”
Adam chuckled, the low rumble vibrating through her entire body. “Of course he wouldn’t. The idiot still thinks you’re his … that you are the same little girl he petted and kissed all those years ago.”
She gasped when he released her hair, swiftly taking hold of the back of her gown and tearing it. It rent as if it were made of paper instead of satin, baring her naked back to him.
“Did you like it when he kissed you, little dove?” he taunted, yanking her dress down her body to reveal her buttocks and stocking-clad legs. “Were his lips more pleasing than mine? Softer … gentler?”
She gasped when he thrust a finger into her, not bothering to be gentle. But then, she did not need him to be, her cunt wet and ready for him. Squirming beneath him, she clenched the counterpane in both hands and held on, gritting her teeth to hold back a moan. His thick digit caressed her inner walls, slowly moving back and forth inside her.
“Answer me,” he ground out, adding a second finger. “And do not lie to me again. Did you like it?”
Her back arched, and her knees pulled beneath her body, raising her arse into the air and inviting him in deeper. She shamelessly rocked against his hand, seeking her pleasure, wordlessly begging for more.
“N-No,” she whimpered, turning her head to rest it upon the bed, closing her eyes and surrendering to the moment.
There was no use fighting him. She had long since learned that he would only work harder to break her if she did … and he would not be gentle about it.
“I did not like it,” she added.
“Why not?” he prodded, sliding his thumb between her lower lips and seeking out her clit while still steadily pumping three fingers in and out of her channel. “Why didn’t you like it?”
She gasped, spreading her legs wider and undulating her hips, so close to spending, she could taste it.
“He … he wastoosoft … too … gentle.”
