He also loved the fact that when she did so, she offered him entrance to her steaming cunt. He slipped the handle of the quirt inside.
She watched, agony written on her face.
Good. She deserved it. For letting another man touch her like this, have her like this, torment her like this.
In his fury, he shoved the quirt deeper, at the same time, pinching her nipple. Unable to stop himself, he smacked her cunt again, the sound echoing off the walls.
She stiffened, threw her head back and came, howling his name. “Edwaaard!”
He froze. Yanked out the quirt. She seized again.
Confusion racked him. Conflicting emotions warred within him. She had allowed a stranger intimacies he’d considered his and his alone. Yet she’d cried his name when she came. What did that mean? He hadn’t a clue.
Then again, his brain was rather fogged with lust. Dewy with it, perhaps.
He waited until she recovered herself before he said anything. When, finally, with a heady groan, she lifted her head, he caught her chin and held her gaze. “Why did you call me ‘Edward’ when you came?”
She snorted a little laugh. Tugged on her bonds. “Don’t be ridiculous. Untie me now. We have work to do.”
“Why did you call me ‘Edward’ when you came?”
“Because it’s your name, silly. Now untie me.”
Realization slammed through him. Fury. Relief. Annoyance. Lust. All swirling together.
He stood. Ripped off the mask. Stared at her. “How long have you known?”
She stilled. The grin flickering over her face was impish. “Why, from the very first. In Mr. Dithers’ office.”
He gaped. Last night? All this morning? She’d known? She’d been teasing him?
He wagged the quirt at her. “You are a naughty little minx.”
“Surely you didn’t think I wouldn’t recognize you? Edward, I could recognize you if you were wearing a full domino and I were blindfolded. In a dark room. Now please, untie me.”
He shook his head. “No. I don’t think so.”
She put out a lip. “We have work to do.”
“I have work to do.”
She gaped as he made his way to the armoire, pulling out one item after another and making sure she got a good look at each.
“Edward? What are you— Heavens! What is that for?”
“You thought to tease me?” He dropped the items on the bed and came over to the chair to release her legs. He released her hands too, but did not untie them. “Lady, I shall show you teasing. A teasing you will never forget.”
And then he slipped a blindfold over her eyes.
Chapter Twelve
It really should not have had such an effect on her, that blindfold. A mere scrap of silk. But it plunged her into a dark fantasy where she was utterly helpless, in the clutches of an evil stranger who had wicked designs upon her person. Anticipation crawled up her spine. She shuddered.
“Yes,” he murmured, rubbing her throbbing nipple. It peaked to an unbearable tautness. “Consider this research for our book, sweet. You are Fiona. The flame-haired maiden. Taken and held captive by England’s most notorious brigand.”
Something brushed her cheek, something soft and tantalizing. A feather? It trailed over her face, sending prickles along her skin.
“And now, he intends to tease you mercilessly.”
“M-mercilessly?”
A low chuckled thrummed. “Mercilessly. He will make you moan. Beg. Quail for release. Do you like that?” The feather skipped down to her exposed thighs, danced over the bare flesh. She tried to arch up into it, strain for more, but he did not allow it.
“He shall likely torment you for hours.”
A moan, ragged and needy, passed her lips. A gush of desire bubbled from her.
“God, you’re a tempting little piece.” His voice was just as ragged. Just as needy. Then he snorted, a harsh eruption. She heard him clomp away. When he returned, when his touch returned, it was not soft in the least.
He dragged something over her skin, in the same pattern as he had with the feather—but this object had a hard, bristled texture.
She flinched as it scored her nipples, one after the other in turn. “What is that?”
His breath kissed her ear. “Hush, darling. The brigand has a gag. He would love the excuse to tie it over your pretty mouth. Or perhaps not. Remember Asha’s punishment when she spoke out of turn?”
Kaitlin stilled and pressed her lips together.
Edward laughed.
Having silenced her so effectively, he proceeded to tease her, gently torture her with a variety of objects. Each heightened her arousal until she trembled with an unbearable tension.
It was nearly a relief when he unstrapped her legs and released her hands—but he didn’t untie her wrists.