His Lady Mistress

62 His Lady MistressA gentle way with women... ‘Why?’She thought he blinked. ‘Why? Because I’m asking you,Selina. Not forcing you. If you become my mistress, it mustbe willingly.’‘No. I meant, why do you want me as your mistress?’ Andwhy am I even asking?He definitely blinked. ‘Isn’t that obvious, Selina?’‘No.’ She couldn’t imagine why he would want her. Accordingto her aunt and cousins she had nothing to recommendher. Oh, she knew why Godfrey wanted her. Becauseshe was defenceless and he was a swaggering bully, not farremoved from the loutish schoolboy who had once drowneda kitten in front of his terrified little cousin, merely becausehe knew she was fond of it.But Max—Lord Blakehurst—was not of that ilk. She hadnot the least idea why a man with a reputation for takingbeautiful women as his mistresses would want her.‘Because I desire you of course.’ The sudden huskiness inhis voice shocked her. ‘Because I want to take you in myarms and kiss you and every one of those damn freckles.Because I want to see your eyes go black with desire whenI make love to you. Because I want to hear you beg me totake you. And I want to hear you cry out in pleasure when Ido.’As if he couldn’t help himself, he reached for her and shejerked back against the wall. Instantly his arms fell to hissides. She heard the rasp of his breath, saw the sudden flatteningof his mouth.‘I’m s-sorry,’ she whispered. ‘I didn’t mean to make youangry. You startled me.’Silence hung darkly between them.‘I’m not angry,’ he said at last. ‘Well, yes, I am. But withmyself for frightening you. The truth is, Selina, that I wantyou. I wanted you the minute I laid eyes on you. Or, to beaccurate, the minute I felt you in my arms.‘Think about it,’ he went on. ‘Even if you are not dis­