Not a shade of my Sophia. Ethan sighed and said, “Sit, please. Have breakfast with me.”
She sat on the chair beside him and bit her lip, remembering Scott’s words. She almost smiled as she heard Ethan’s groan.
His hand shot to her chin and his thumb freed her lip from her teeth. “Don’t.” His hand fell from her chin and he motioned to the loaded table. “Choose something. Eggs, bread, fruit. Espresso, cappuccino.” He stepped on a button under the table and, within seconds, Imelda, his housekeeper, appeared at the door.
“Yes, Mr. Ashford?”
“Please, see to Sophia’s breakfast.” He motioned to Barbara and held her hand in his. “What do you want, darling?”
“Tea and a white omelet, if you please, Imelda.”
Tea with white omelet! Ugh! He breathed deep and turned back to his newspaper.
“Ethan,” Barbara entwined her fingers with his and squeezed lightly. “I wanted to ask if I can have today off. I’d be back tomorrow by mid-day.”
“Today? Saturday?” he frowned. “Your days off are Tuesdays and Thursdays.”
“I could take Mon–Monday off, if you think it’s bet-better…” she stammered. Then Barbara remembered Scott’s words, bit her lip for a second, looking down at her empty plate. She heard his sharp intake of breath. Then she said softly, “I’d like to visit my mother. She doesn’t live in London. She’s getting old and I haven’t seen her for some time.”
Hmm. Information, Ethan. An old mother is good leverage. He shifted on his chair, sitting more comfortably, and smiled at her. “Where does your mother live?”
Ethan was a master in subtly probing and manipulating others into relaxed and revealing conversations. He had made Sophia tell him many private things without realizing it. He didn’t mind using such methods to gather all the information he could in business or in personal affairs. In truth, he shared Machiavelli’s idea that the end justified the means.
He smiled and nodded to the woman in front of him, devoting all his attention to her.
Barbara didn’t know she was dealing with an extremely intelligent and perspicacious man as Ethan sometimes seemed to be just a rich, bored dandy. She knew he was the president of the board at Ashford Steel. She knew he was well-read and knowledgeable.
Nonetheless, Ethan masked his sharp mind and quick-wittedness very well.
Barbara smiled inwardly as she answered his questions and chatted away, revealing all he wanted to know. She thought that she could easily deceive and spellbind Ethan Ashford with her charms.
That would prove to be her greatest mistake.
Chapter 15
Ells Hall
11:27 a.m.
Tavish’s gaze kept returning to Sophia as she talked to Lachlann as if he were hypnotized. He didn’t even notice Alistair’s dark scowl.
She was mounting Craigdale Avenger, a surprise present from Lachlann. The stallion was a young Friesian Sporthorse with a long black-and-white mane, tail, and feathers on his lower legs.
He was stunned by how easily she controlled the big and nervous horse. One might have guessed that she had trained Avenger from the way the horse responded to her. He spurred his horse and galloped to her side, flanking her, listening to their conversation.
He was so absorbed by his thoughts that he didn’t notice Alice’s approach.
She motioned for him to slow his horse and snapped, “Tavish Uilleam. Stop it. You’re provoking Alistair Connor.”
Tavish looked at his sister, surprised, “Provoking? What am I doing to provoke him?”
“Give Sophia some room. You know he’s fiercely jealous of her.”
Tavish looked over his shoulder to where Alistair was riding with Leonard. If looks could kill, he would have dropped dead in that instant. He laughed out loud and turned to Alice. “It’s good to see Alistair Connor like that. Better than to see him dispatching one woman after another. She has tamed him, Alice.”
“Don’t you believe it. If you keep hovering over Sophia, he might break your nose again. And it will be merited. Again.”
“The first time it wasn’t. It was Heather’s fault.”
“I know but you provoked—”
“Alice.” He thinned his lips for a second before saying, “Do you want to know the truth? Heather was more than a whore. She…they were perverted. She made a pass at me first. And since I didn’t accept, she hinted at Father. For a threesome with her or her sister. And Alistair.”
“Jesus, Tavish Uilleam. Alistair Connor proposed a threesome with his wife? That can’t be true.”
“Nae. Not him. She wanted it. That’s why I started to treat her like the whore she was. But I never had the heart to tell Alistair about it until recently. I didn’t deserve that punch.”
“I don’t know how, but she manipulated him into seeing only what she wanted him to see.”
“The truth is, he was putty in her hands. I don’t know why. But he was. That woman was a fucking good actress. And it seems, a good fuck, too. She—”
“Tavish Uilleam. Please.” Alice made a face at him, disgusted. “Back to Sophia and Alistair Connor. Don’t provoke him. Heather’s cheating turned him into a different man.” She sighed. “Did he ever talk to you?”
“Never. I bet he thinks we don’t even know about it.”
“That bitch. He was never the same.”
“Nae.” He shook his head slowly at his sister, his gaze glued to Sophia’s back. “But I bet she can bring him back to us.”
The woman in front of him was completely different from any his brother had ever had. But he couldn’t fathom what attracted Sophia to Alistair besides his good looks. She was too independent to enjoy being suffocated by Alistair’s dominant way.
She’s an amazing horsewoman,” said Leonard trying to distract Alistair, who was almost foaming at the mouth with jealousy. “I didn’t know the vet had finished training that horse.”
Sophia had fallen in love with the beautiful, spirited horse at first sight, and not caring if it still wasn’t fully trained, demanded to ride it.
“She’s a witch. An enchantress,” Alistair avowed quietly as his powerful black Friesian stallion, Craigdale Beast, bucked, finding his owner’s unnerved state unusual. Alistair was too proud to admit, even to himself, that he resented his brother’s stare, that his distrust ran so deep that he felt insecure.
As if she could feel his need, Sophia turned and flashed him a shining smile, motioning with her head for him to join them. In a heartbeat, he was spellbound. Not only by her beauty, but also by her perfect timing.
And just like that, Alistair forgot his jealousy.
He inhaled deeply as strange sensations filled him. Pride, desire, love. Hypnotized, he spurred his horse to flank Sophia, leaving a smiling Leonard behind.
Tonight, I want to surprise you,” Alistair murmured in Sophia’s ear as they moved from the dining room to the library. He paused at the door and whirled her in his arms, “Will you let me?”
Sophia looked up at his handsome face, searching for a clue, “A hint, please?”
His smile was sensuous and dark. “Blindfolds, ties and something more.”
“Mmm. Seems interesting,” she whispered on his lips and pulled him by the hand to enter the library where Lachlann was settling in for a game of chess with Leonard.
“Do you play, Sophia?” Alice asked while she sat with Tavish at another table. “We could have a tournament.”
“I only know the basics. I’d lose for sure.” She looked around the library and spotted a marble table for backgammon in the far corner. She craned her neck to look at Alistair and rubbed her hands together with a devious glint in her eyes. “Backgammon?”
“Depends on the prize, my lady,” he bowed.
“Choose.” You’re not going to win.
“You know what I want,” he spoke, his voice deep. As she shook her head, he bent and breathed in her ear, “Your ass. Two fingers this time.”
She shuddered, uncertain,
but forged on, “And if I win?”
“Choose,” he shrugged, confident. You’re not going to win.
She smiled mischievously at him, stood on her tiptoes and whispered back in his ear, “Your ass. One finger this time.”
Of course not. Alistair stood there transfixed by her proposition.
“Deal?” She tilted her head to the side, studying his face, and taunted, “Afraid, my lord?”
Aye. Not exactly a turn on for me. “But…” You know how to push my buttons, don’t you, Sophia? But you don’t know whom you’re dealing with. I’m the backgammon champion in the family. “Why don’t you chose another prize?” he smirked at her, schooling his features.
“Chicken,” she bit out softly.
Sophia. Don’t challenge me. He scowled down at her.
She shrugged, “You want mine, I’ll have yours.”
Difficult woman! “Best out of three?”
She nodded.
“But the prize won’t be collected tonight. I have other plans.”
“Deal.”
“Deal.” He stretched out his hand to seal the deal. However the victorious smile that graced her face as she shook his hand, left him wondering if he had made the right choice.
The silence in the room left Alistair unsettled. Sophia was a very good player. They were even and she was already winning the last game.
Sophia drank her whisky and rattled the dice in the leather cup, slowly, enjoying the tension. With a deft flick of her hand, she threw them on the center of the table and drummed her nails on the marble, studying the possibilities. She moved her checkers and left a blot with the deliberate intention of it being hit by Alistair, yielding his point.
“Tempt? When you are almost ready to bear off? You don’t need this.” Alistair lifted an ink-black eyebrow at her and she lifted one of hers back at him. “Are you sure?”
I want to win with backgammon. “Makes the game even more interesting.” She flashed her avenging angel smile at him. “I double the stakes,” she turned the doubling cube to two. And, wiggling her brows, put up two united fingers.
I’m calling your bluff, Sophia. “Take it. And beaver.” He turned the doubling cube from two to four, with a devious smile and mouth to her ‘my cock’.
Sure of yourself, huh? You’re going to lose this game, Alistair Connor. “Ready for raccoon?” She picked up the cube, waiting for his answer.
Not bluffing? Hmm. He surveyed the table, licked his lips, uncertain, then nodded. She put it down with the eight facing up.
“How much was the initial bet?” Lachlann, who was perched on a chair beside Sophia, asked her.
Sophia burst out laughing, embarrassed, and asked Alistair with her eyes as to what she should answer.
“We didn’t bet money,” he answered his father, cryptically.
“Roll your dice, Alistair Connor,” Tavish coached, hovering over Alistair’s shoulder. “This game is just getting interesting.”
Alistair rattled the dice in the cup and put it down on the table, praying for fours or fives, but a four-five would do too.
Sophia toed off one of her pumps, and with her stockinged foot, pushed up the hem of Alistair’s wool trousers, caressing his shin.
He inhaled sharply and lost track of what he was doing, his eyes flying up to lock with hers. She had an amused look on her face.
“You praying?” she mocked, jutting her chin to the cup still turned upside down.
Tavish and Lachlann laughed.
And Alistair lifted the cup. The dice showed three-six. He huffed. No way back. I’m still on the bar.
Alice and Leonard, who had just finished their game, approached.
“What’s so funny?” Leonard asked, surveying the game board. “Oh, no! The mighty Alistair Connor is going to lose to a woman.”
An intelligent woman. “Leo, stop,” Alistair admonished.
Tavish pulled up a chair for Alice. “Sit, sis. This is too interesting to miss. They’re even. Best out of three.”
Leonard flanked Sophia as she picked up the dice and muttered quietly, “Doublet,” throwing them.
When they stopped, Alice swung her fist in the air and shouted, “Double deuces!”
“Changing sides, Sister?” Alistair grumbled.
“Maybe,” Alice smiled sweetly at him.
“You are doomed, Alistair Connor,” Lachlann chortled as Sophia moved her blot forward and bore off three checkers with a smug smile on her face. “Did you know, Sophia, that Alistair Connor rarely loses a game of backgammon?”
“Yeah?” She raised an elegant eyebrow. “There’s always a first time, Lachlann.”
You are enjoying this, aren’t you, Sophia? Wait until I show you what I have in store for tonight. “I haven’t lost yet, Father.”
The dice gave her the opportunity to close all her home board impeding Alistair’s entrance to the board. She smiled gently at Alistair. “Sorry, my dear.”
Alistair’s uneasiness grew as they played for a few more turns and Sophia kept steadily ahead of him.
Sophia rolled the dice three more times and bore off leaving two open points for Alistair to enter and move all his checkers on his own board, with a five-five.
Tavish pulled up a chair, sitting as he teased Alistair. “She’s going to win by gammon.”
“Only due to absurd luck,” he replied, and motioned to Sophia, unsmiling. “Your turn.” You are so going to choose another prize, Sophia.
“Now…” Sophia put her hand over the cup and brought it to her ear, closing her eyes and shaking it. She smiled as she felt Alistair’s foot moving up her calf, but it didn’t break her concentration. She put the cup down with determination, stating firmly, “Double sixes.” And motioned for Lachlann to lift the cup, “Please, Lachlann, do the honors.”
They all bent over the board as Lachlann carefully lifted the cup from the board. The dice showed six-six.
Sophia wanted to smile and gloat, but she schooled her features and said simply, “Gammon.”
I don’t believe it. Alistair gaped at her, “How did you do that?”
“Quoting you, absurd luck,” she shrugged, modestly.
Tavish slapped his brother on the shoulder, “Shame on you, Brother.”
“So, how much did you win, Sophia?” Leonard asked.
Alistair’s ass. “Leonard, you know I don’t bet money.” She rose from the chair and stretched, smiling mischievously. She walked to Alistair, hand extended to greet a fair opponent. “Thanks for the game.”
As they shook hands, Sophia murmured, “You must be wondering how you’re going to pay your debt.”
Alistair yanked her hand and she fell on his hard body, winding her arms around his waist. “You are playing with fire, Sophia.”
She threw her head back and laughed before whispering back to him, “But it’s you who will get burnt.”
Alistair shook his head, baffled. He didn’t even want to think about what Sophia planned to do.
Damn! Sophia’s smile waned as she exited the dressing room.
“What is that?” she asked, pointing at the riding crop lying on the bed next to four lengths of rope and a black scarf.
Alistair didn’t move from the armchair where he was finishing his Armagnac. He stretched out his hand beckoning her to him. “Come sit by me. I want to explain something to you.”
He saw hesitation in her eyes as she stared at him, her bottom lip caught between her teeth, frozen in the middle of his huge bedroom. He looked her over and his lust applauded the black transparent wrap that left her long legs encased in shadows. Under it, she was wearing a black lace nightie that clung to her body like a second skin, leaving nothing to the imagination. She whirled on her heels and walked to the bay window, pushing the curtain aside. The garden view didn’t soothe her fears though.
“Trust me?”
Sophia jumped when Alistair spoke near her ear. She hadn’t heard his approaching footsteps.
He brushed her hair back and, grasp
ing her chin in his hand, he tilted her head to the side so he could look into her eyes. “Can you do this? For me?”
That’s enough. A slap or two, okay. But a crop? She squared her shoulders and breathed deep. “Alistair, I’m not Heather.” She was glad her voice was even because inside she was quivering. “I told you yesterday. I don’t like pain or violence. It doesn’t turn me on. If I do this for you, and it would be only because of your…predilection and for your…pleasure, and I’ll hate myself tomorrow.” She turned and searched his eyes. “Have you always been like this?”
Nae, I have not. His arms went around her body. “No, but you’ll find it extremely pleasurable.”
No, I won’t. She stiffened. “Don’t bring Heather into our bed.”
She’s right. A bitter taste filled his mouth. Will I ever be free? “Relax, Sophia. I’m not going to do it if you don’t like it.” His hands caressed her back and her hair gently and he felt her trembling. Fuck, Alistair Connor. Don’t you learn from the mistakes you’ve made? “Shhh.”
“You scare the hell out of me sometimes, you know?” Sophia murmured, trying to put her thoughts in order. But the arms that enveloped her took away any coherence she tried to achieve. “I don’t understand. But I can try…not in bed, but in theory, if you explain it to me.” She wound her arms around his waist, her hands searching for the warmth of his back. “You don’t need violence to feel pleasure. You respond to my touch and I’ve seen you climax many times without having to resort to that.” She gazed into his eyes and they were tortured. “Do you trust me?”
“Aye,” he breathed and squeezed her in his arms as he lowered his head to kiss her. She tastes sweet. Sweet and tempting. Just like she looks.
Alistair’s warmth blanketed Sophia as the kiss deepened and she let her fears ebb away. But she wouldn’t be deterred from her goal. She broke the kiss and asked on his lips, “I want to do something. Will you let me?”
He closed his eyes for a brief moment before whispering, “Anything.”
“All right.” She breathed deeply and pulled him by the hand. “Strip and lie down in the center of bed.”