Page 20 of Wedlock

I sigh and look from his distraught expression to the ceiling as I try to restrain myself, but fail. Lunging forward, I grab him by the neck and squeeze until I hear a satisfying snap.

As he falls to the ground, eyes wide, I shake my finger at him.

“Never be more scared of anyone than your employer,” I snort, “it’s really quite embarrassing.”

Stepping over him I continue on to the door I’d intended, entering without knocking.

Benita, my new mistress, is waiting for me on the bed, her little negligee opened at the front, revealing full, rounded breasts, the caramel tint of her Italian skin contrasting beautifully with the crisp white lace.

I’d picked her up on a whim on my way back from Wolf’s estate. I wasn’t really interested in keeping her, but I’d been drunk, and since she’d been so keen. I couldn’t see any reasonnotto take her. Also, she was completely the opposite of Angie in every way possible, from her dark looks to her vacant eyes. They were night and day. And as the old saying goes, a change is as good as a holiday.

“Lord Falcon,” she pouts, “you told me I was the only one!”

“The only what?” I snort, walking towards her and unbuckling my belt. Tonight I just need to let off some steam. I want it quick and hard, and I don’t want any conversation.

“The only mistress.”

“I would never have said something so blatantly untrue,” I snort, turning her around so her face is pressed into the bed and her round little ass is turned up towards me.

“Well, you intimated,” she whines as she reaches back to shimmy down her lacy, white panties.

“Bullshit,” I growl as I push them down to her ankles and spread her legs. “And what the fuck are you talking about?”

“The other woman, the redhead, I saw her move into the room next door just this afternoon.”

I pause, both hands gripping her wide hips, and glower down at the back of her head, my ardour suddenly doused. Mother had been given strict instructions to keep Angie in her room. No onewas to know she was here, and any who did, the very few like the nanny and wetnurse, were told she was under suicide watch and could never leave her suite.

Letting my hands slide off the girl’s hips, I lean down and pull up my pants, not bothering to do up my belt as she flips over and frowns.

“Mia cara, have I said something wrong?”

I sigh heavily and glare at her before stomping to the door.

“I have work to do.”

‘I have to hire a new fucking butler.’

“Perche` mai!” She huffs, bouncing off the bed and running to stop me from leaving. “You have ME to do. I won’t mention any other woman again, I promise, cross my heart and hope to die.”

I pause, turning slowly back to her.

“That’s really not a wise thing to say to a vampire.”

17

A scream and a thud draw my attention and, remembering Eleanor didn’t lock my door, I stick my head out into the hallway, gasping as I see Falcon exiting the room across the hall, his belt unbuckled.

He meets my eyes and scowls.

“What are you doing out of your room?”

“I’m in my room.”

“Your head is sticking out!”

“So’s hers,” I nod to the floor behind him where a young woman lies, her dark hair framing her exotically beautiful face, her neckbent at an unnatural angle. I’d seen her earlier and given a smile that she hadn’t returned. I’d done it not because I feel any warmth towards any other woman fucking my husband, but because I secretly hope to form an ally here to help me escape.

‘Guess that isn’t going to happen now.’