Read Online For Desire Alone by Jess Michaels - Free Book Online Page B

laugh. “Spend a few weeks immersed in pleasure with him and he might not be willing to let you go. He could be entirely under your spell.”
    Mariah blinked. Was that possible? Could she be the one to tame John’s wild heart? And what would happen if she was his ?
    “Perhaps,” she said, hesitating at the thought.
    Vivien sensed that hesitation. “Or do you fear you will be under his?”
    Mariah jerked her gaze to her friend. “ No . No, that would not be wise. I cannot risk love again, correct? So I will not fall under his spell. I won’t involve my feelings, nor ask him to involve his. We will share only sex. Only pleasure.” She sighed. “At least I can depend on John to give me that and not pretend anything more.”
    “No,” Vivien said softly. “John will never pretend. One way or another.”
    Mariah pushed to her feet and walked across the room. She stared out at the street below, where carriages bustled and couples strolled toward the park just down the street from Vivien’s home. She was quiet for a long time, thinking about everything Vivien had said. Thinking of everything she and John had already done.
    Slowly, she turned to find Vivien watching her, her gaze filled with concern.
    “You are my best friend,” Mariah began. “And you are more well-versed in these types of matters than anyone in our acquaintance. So I trust you tell me the truth. You think this is a bad idea, don’t you?”
    Vivien’s hesitation told a story before she spoke and Mariah’s heart sank. Until that moment, she hadn’t truly known how much she wanted to surrender to John with utter abandon. To throw away her obligations and fears and simply feel with him.
    Vivien got to her feet and crossed to Mariah. She wrapped her arms around Mariah’s waist and squeezed.
    “There are many things to consider, yes. Many pitfalls that could lead you to heartache. But, my dearest, I look at your situation and I think that you deserve some pleasure of your own. Do I believe you should tread carefully? I do, indeed.”
    Mariah nodded. “I agree. And I intend to tread very carefully.”
    Vivien smiled and gave her another squeeze, but as her friend pulled away and motioned to the door so they could proceed to supper, Mariah couldn’t help but wonder if she would be able to tread carefully with John. At the moment, she wanted to run headlong into what he offered.
    And that could be the biggest mistake of her life.
     
     
    John looked at the clock. It was nearly eight. But then, it had been nearly eight for at least a year because that seemed to be how long he had been watching the clock since he came into his chamber to wait for Mariah. A chamber he had shared with a great many women, and yet he had never paced about it in anticipation like this before.
    There was a light rap on his door and John froze. Slowly he smoothed his jacket and called out, “Come,” with as calm a tone as he could manage.
    The door swung open and Mariah stood in the entryway, eyes wide, face pale as she looked around slowly.
    “Hello,” he managed to croak out.
    She nodded. “H-Hello. I…Swanson told me to come to this room at your request.”
    John motioned her inside. She entered slowly and then closed the door behind her with a tiny, earth-shattering click.
    “I thought about meeting with you in a parlor,” he explained as he slowly crossed the room to her. “And sharing a drink and some empty conversation. But eventually I realized all that would do was prolong the time it took to get here. This chamber. Where we both want to be.” He took her hands and drew her closer. “Don’t we?”
    “Yes,” she breathed and lifted up on her tiptoes to crush her mouth to his.
    Any thoughts, any charming words that John had in his mind emptied in that moment. Finally, he was going to receive what he desired. Oh, he had taken Mariah before, but that wasn’t enough. Tonight he would really have her. Slowly. And he intended to take advantage of every moment