“I will always give you three warnings before a correction is delivered.”
“You’ll tell me what I’m doing that displeases you?”
“Yes.” He cupped her breast, the one he’d pinched the previous night, and then slid his fingers to the tip. “It will be up to you whether or not you continue the activity and provoke me.”
Matilda shivered. He held her nipple lightly between his fingers as her breathing hitched. “Billy.”
“That one will always bring punishment.”
She met his gaze and smiled. The things he did and said to her had produced an ache between her legs she couldn’t control. “Make love to me.”
“That’s another matter that must be addressed.” He moved his hand away, leaving her bereft. “I decide when and where we meet for intimacy.”
“Do I have no say at all?”
“Some, but only when preceded by a punishment. I get so damned excited when I lay my hands on you, but you can stop me. You can always stop me.”
Matilda nodded, already believing that to be true.
A wicked smile played over his lips. “You might even come to enjoy my delays. Anticipation can be a powerful aphrodisiac. I will tease you, tempt you, but hold back your fulfillment until I am positive we will not be interrupted and that you enjoy every moment to the fullest extent.”
“That is what you do now. Hold yourself apart until you have to act.”
“Yes, but it is not without risk of disastrous results.”
She studied him. “The first time you spanked me, you said after that you had made a mistake.”
He winced. “I was too overcome with emotion to prepare you properly for my actions. That will not happen again.”
Matilda glanced at him shyly. “I am very prepared today.”
He stood and caught her hand. “We are going out.”
She stood quickly. “To where?”
“That is going to be a surprise. There is something we need to talk about, but not here. I want to be alone with you.”
He wrapped her hand around his arm and held her to his side. It was a possessive gesture—did William ever behave another way?—that sent a burst of happiness through her whole body.
“I’m growing to like your surprises.” She glanced down at his groin where the outline of an erection showed. “In fact, I could get very used to more.”
“Captain Ford, a word,” Mr. Carter said suddenly.
The butler’s interruption brought a blush to Matilda’s cheeks.
William shook his head. “Carter, we were just about to go out.”
“A messenger has come, sent by Miss Evelyn I believe. You are needed at Newberry House urgently, Captain. Something to do with an accident and your aunt. She does not know what to do.”
William glanced at her swiftly.
“You had better go,” Matilda urged. “We can talk another time.”
He seemed indecisive. “The thought of what Evelyn might do to aid my aunt sends a chill down my spine,” he confessed.
“Mine too.” She pushed him away. “You had better hurry or else she might water the woman’s feet with sherry. She wanted me to do that with you.”
William sprinted for the front door. “Dear God, I hope I’m in time to prevent such a travesty. ”