Cat and Mouse by Genella deGrey

polite society never brought up and poked her between the legs until his prick broke through her maidenhead. Then he came on her belly and told her what that meant as well—an orgasm. He told her she hadn’t had one because she didn’t know how. For all the world, she couldn’t understand what all the uproar over coupling was about. It was irritating, uncomfortable and rather brief—the latter she’d been thankful for while she stomached Brenner’s company.
    At least she thought so until Maxwell introduced her to pleasures that suited her far better than what Brenner had to offer.
    However, this sort of thing should never again happen between her and Maxwell. There could be nothing between them. His associations with the upper crust of society, of which she was sure he had, only proved her theory. Besides, she wasn’t some sort of trollop who panted after men, for heaven’s sake—even men who knew what she wanted before she knew she wanted it.
    The recollection of Maxwell’s mouth between her legs invaded her thoughts and Katrina relaxed against him. In lieu of almost every one of her already few options being taken from her, and regardless of her wanton abandon this evening, she felt Maxwell was, at the very least, on her side. She claimed friendship with his sister, after all—that alone should secure an alliance with him, provided it returned to a more abstinent state—and he overlooked her chosen profession.
    Feeling more tranquil, she pointed her toes and stretched her legs upon the bed.
    His seduction of her person could be blamed entirely on him. For one thing, she hadn’t initiated it. Hell, she hadn’t even been given a choice.
    Maxwell is terribly wicked . She yawned. Susanna is so sweet, but her brother … Her brother could probably seduce a woman at twenty paces…
    * * * *
    Katrina had no idea how long she’d slept. Only a small amount of light leaked in through rifts in the walls near the high ceiling. The lamp on the table burnt low—she’d forgotten to douse it last night. Jimmy’s lamp . The memories mercilessly rushed back to her. Poor, darling Jimmy . Pain tore at her heart all over again, then the familiar fear began to seep in. Who would be her champion now?
    A noisy sigh came from behind her. She froze. So that was the warmth at her back. The nefarious Maxwell Courtland.
    In order to keep her sanity and not get intimately tangled up with him again, she needed to get off that bed, out of that room, and fast. Ever so slowly she pulled away. First her shoulders, her back, her bottom… His hand slid away from where it sat so intimately upon her hip. She moved her foot towards the edge of the mattress—
    At that moment, he moaned in protest and recaptured her by the waist. She rolled her gaze to the ceiling as he pulled her to him, helpless against his physical strength.
    He sighed and seemed to melt into her once more.
    Was he still asleep? Could she try again after a moment? The sun had risen and he had, after all, promised she could go at that time.
    Hadn’t he?
    Maxwell inhaled and the vacuum of air tickled the hairs on her neck. She reached up to scratch the spot. He kissed her knuckles and actually chuckled, as if he had a secret.
    She retracted her hand and pushed out a breath hoping it sounded as exasperated as she felt. “Are you quite through?”
    “No,” he whispered. “I haven’t yet begun.”
    “The sun has risen. You are honour-bound to keep your promise from last night.”
    “Mmmm…” He held her tighter. “Let me taste you again.”
    Katrina lost her breath. “You can’t be serious.”
    “I don’t think I’ve ever been more serious.” His voice was a mix of groan and growl in opposition of his words.
    “No. Absolutely not. I’m shocked you would even ask—No, I refuse your request.” Somewhere in the back of her mind she knew Maxwell could force upon her whatever licentious act he desired. Why, he could bind her to the bed and— No ! She held fast to