Free Wicked Proposition by Karolyn Cairns Page A

her heels digging shamelessly into his
buttocks. She wept into his neck, her nails digging fiercely into
his back. Gabriel held her hands in his, mindful of her nails this
time. He moved furiously within her, boring her into the mattress
with bruising intensity.
    Gabriel cut off her cries with his lips, his
hands sliding into her hair. She released a tormented sob as their
bodies moved together in unison. The pleasure was intense. He
stiffened above her soon, his eyes half-closed, a ragged groan
escaping him. He held her, his body shaking. When he finished, he
held her against his sweaty chest, stroking her hair until her
eyelids fluttered closed.
    Catherine opened her eyes drowsily and leaned
back against Gabriel’s warm chest. Her eyes flew wide to recall
where she was, and who she was with. It was a few hours before
dawn.
    Shame coursed through her. She despised herself
and wished to avoid facing what she had done.
    Lilly had not exaggerated her husband’s
considerable skills in bed. He made her enjoy it. It sickened her
to know she had found pleasure during the encounter. Catherine wept
silently as he slept at her side. She felt tormented as though she
had committed some horrific sin. She would be punished for this one
day.
    Catherine had no instructions from Clarice on
how to deal with these desolate feelings of remorse and
self-loathing. She cried until she had nothing left inside but
stark, numb acceptance.
    Catherine sighed as she noted the faint light in
the sky. She closed her eyes and finally found sleep. Contentment
was felt as his strong arm curled around her possessively. Willing
to pretend she belonged here with him, she accepted his
embrace.
    ###
    Clarice plugged the peephole at the end of the
evening, smiling in satisfaction. The Countess would be pleased.
Her sister had caught on very quickly. Iverleigh had been pleased,
that much was certain.
    Lord Dartmouth had been furious to be denied her
new girl. He had stormed from the house in a rage. The monies
Clarice made off the blue room voyeurs were enough to satisfy her
for losing Dartmouth’s fee for the evening.
    The closet had never been empty this night, all
eager to watch Iverleigh and her new girl. Clarice was humming as
she left the closet in the hall and returned to her office, eager
to count the evening’s profits.
    ###
    Nicholas stood naked as he looked out the window
of the rose room to the dark street below. His three companions
took up the bed. He couldn’t sleep anyway. The cheroot glowed as he
inhaled and blew smoke in frustration. The images of the green-eyed
beauty down the hall disturbed him. He refused to engage the
peepholes. His companions assured him the encounter had been
stimulating.
    Nicholas grit his teeth to hear them laughing
when they told him Clarice had been duped. The new girl had been a
virgin. Imaging the Clarice’s fury to know she had been cheated an
exorbitant fee made them chortle in mirth. He didn’t want to
examine the dismay he felt to learn the girl had been an innocent.
His first instincts had been correct in gouging her fear in the
salon.
    Nicholas doubted this could have pleased
Gabriel, knowing his friend. He anticipated he would be in a foul
mood come morning. She didn’t belong here, Nicholas thought
broodingly. He resisted the urge to go drag her from the blue room.
The desire to get her out of this place took hold.
    Thinking of Nan made him grimace. He might have
tried to do more for her. Still, those green eyes haunted him. It
was a long time before he wedged in between his companions and
found his rest.

CHAPTER SIX
     
    When Catherine awoke that morning the space
beside her was empty. Gabriel was gone. She sat up in the bed, her
hair mussed beyond repair. Mindful that the sun was now high in the
sky, she scooted out of the bed. Catherine’s stomach recoiled from
the champagne she had drunk. Her head hurt and her mouth tasted
sour.
    Catherine looked about the notorious blue Room.
She felt the onset of