The Viscount's Addiction by Scottie Barrett Page A

for a minute and then he started laughing.
    She could feel the deep rumble of laughter in his chest. “And what exactly are you laughing at, Lord Blackwood?”
    “I was only thinking how amusing that would be. I’d place you on your feet and pull off the blindfold. We could all yell ‘surprise!’”
    “I’m so pleased that I planted that little scenario in your head. I won’t be able to trust you again.”
    His chuckles tapered away. “You can trust me, Jessie, of that I can assure you.” “But you don’t trust me. You think I helped trick you into this marriage.”
    “Do be quiet, woman. I intend to ravish you mercilessly tonight, and you are ruining my mood.” He stumbled slightly but caught himself and readjusted her in his arms. “Somehow I pictured you being a bit lighter.”
    “Oh, you! Well, bloody grand! Now you have ruined my mood.” “You had a mood ?” he asked.
    She didn’t answer.
    His rich, deep voice had a sensual tone now. “You were waiting for me, weren’t you?”
    She blushed and hoped the dark hid her embarrassment. He kissed her softly on the mouth as he continued to carry her.
    “We’ve arrived.”
    She reached up to remove the blindfold, but he stopped her. “Not yet.”
    Jessie could sense flickering light all around her and the sound and scent of running water. She surmised that they were near the small stream that traversed the west end of the property. He had carried her much farther than she’d realized and her without a stitch of clothing.
    He lowered her legs and her feet landed on a cold, slippery piece of fabric. She’d expected grass.
    “Lie down, my little witch.”

    She discovered more of the same satiny fabric. Her shoulders and head landed on soft, satiny pillows.
    Jessie could hear him moving around. She was tempted to lift the blindfold. “If you remove that scarf, I shall use it to tie up your hands. Damn…”
    “What’s the matter?” she asked, still wondering how he knew what she was contemplating.
    “I was thinking about you with your hands tied, and suddenly the idea seems very intriguing.”
    The next sound she heard was what she was quite sure was him removing his own clothing. There was another sound she could not distinguish, and then the sweet aroma of almond mingled with the scent of burning candles. Then his hands were on her. They were slick with warm oil. Her story. He was recreating the tale she’d concocted. She didn’t know whether to feel thrilled or embarrassed. He had rightly concluded that she had revealed one of her own fantasies. Suddenly, remembering the part of her story about being seduced by two men, she shot up abruptly into a seated position and grabbed for him. “Are we alone?” He caught her hands before she could yank off her blindfold.
    “Yes, sorry to disappoint, but I don’t share.” He sounded more than a little annoyed. “A very good thing, because I don’t want to be shared.”
    He pressed her down onto her back and rubbed the soothing, sweet oil over her shoulders and down her arms. When he began swirling the oil over her breasts, she arched her taut nipples toward his hands. He tugged on them and rubbed them between his fingers. Then he worked the oil all the way down her stomach and over her hips. He leaned over to kiss her on the mouth. His tongue smoothed over her slightly parted lips. She stroked her fingers through his silky black hair and sucked on his delicious tongue.
    He broke off the kiss. She could sense him looming over her again. He forced her legs apart. He trickled oil up the length of each leg, and then his big hands kneaded it into her skin. Desperate to see him, she pulled off the silk cloth.
    He was on his knees by her side, like a dark angel worshipping her body. Flickering candles cast the whole scene in otherworldly shadows. In moments, he became aware that she was staring at him. He did not look pleased to find she’d disobeyed him.
    “I do not recall ever mentioning a blindfold in