“You praying?” she mocked, jutting her chin to the cup still turned upside down.
Tavish and Lachlann laughed.
And Alistair lifted the cup. The dices showed three-six. He huffed. No way back. I’m still on the bar.
Alice and Leonard, who had just finished their game, approached.
“What’s so funny?” Leonard asked, surveying the game board. “Oh, no! The mighty Alistair Connor is going to lose to a woman.”
An intelligent woman. “Leo, stop,” Alistair admonished.
Tavish pulled up a chair for Alice. “Sit, sis. This is too interesting to miss. They’re even. Best out of three.”
Leonard flanked Sophia as she picked up the dice and muttered quietly, “Doublet,” throwing them.
When they stopped, Alice swung her fist in the air and shouted, “Double deuces!”
“Changing sides, Sister?” Alistair grumbled.
“Maybe,” Alice smiled sweetly at him.
“You are doomed, Alistair Connor,” Lachlann chortled as Sophia moved her blot forward and bore off three checkers with a smug smile on her face. “Did you know, Sophia, that Alistair Connor rarely loses a game of backgammon?”
“Yeah?” She raised an elegant eyebrow. “There’s always a first time, Lachlann.”
You are enjoying this, aren’t you, Sophia? Wait until I show you what I have in store for tonight. “I haven’t lost yet, Father.”
The dice gave her the opportunity to close all her home board impeding Alistair’s entrance to the board. She smiled gently at Alistair, “Sorry, my dear.”
Alistair’s uneasiness grew as they played for a few more turns and Sophia kept steadily ahead of him.
Sophia rolled the dice three more times and bore off leaving two open points for Alistair to enter and move all his checkers on his own board, with a five-five.
Tavish pulled up a chair, sitting as he teased Alistair. “She’s going to win by gammon.”
“Only due to absurd luck,” he replied, and motioned to Sophia, unsmiling. “Your turn.” You are so going to choose another prize, Sophia.
“Now...” Sophia put her hand over the cup and brought it to her ear, closing her eyes and shaking it. She smiled as she felt Alistair’s foot moving up her calf, but it didn’t break her concentration. She put the cup down with determination, stating firmly, “Double sixes.” And motioned for Lachlann to lift the cup, “Please, Lachlann, do the honors.”
They all bent over the board as Lachlann carefully lifted the cup from the board. The dice showed six-six.
Sophia wanted to smile and gloat, but she schooled her features and said simply, “Gammon.”
I don’t believe it. Alistair gaped at her, “How did you do that?”
“Quoting you, absurd luck,” she shrugged, modestly.
Tavish slapped his brother on the shoulder, “Shame on you, Brother.”
“So, how much did you win, Sophia?” Leonard asked.
Alistair’s ass. “Leonard, you know I don’t bet money.” She rose from the chair and stretched, smiling mischievously. She walked to Alistair, hand extended to greet a fair opponent. “Thanks for the game.”
As they shook hands, Sophia murmured, “You must be wondering how you’re going to pay your debt.”
Alistair yanked her hand and she fell on his hard body, winding her arms around his waist. “You are playing with fire, Sophia.”
She threw her head back and laughed before whispering back to him, “But it’s you who will get burnt.”
Alistair shook his head, baffled. He didn’t even want to think about what Sophia planned to do.
11.36 p.m.
Damn! Sophia’s smiled waned as she exited the dressing room.
“What is that?” she asked, pointing at the riding crop lying on the bed next to four lengths of rope and a black scarf.
Alistair didn’t move from the armchair where he was finishing his Armagnac. He stretched his hand beckoning her to him. “Come sit by me. I want to explain something to you.”
He saw hesitation in her eyes as she stared at him, her bottom lip caught between her teeth, frozen in the middle of his huge bedroom. He looked her over and his cock applauded the black transparent wrap that left her long legs encased in shadows. Under it, she was wearing a black lace nightie that clung to her body like a second skin, leaving nothing to the imagination. She whirled on her heels and walked to the bay window, pushing the curtain aside. The garden view didn’t soothe her fears, though.
“Trust me?”
Sophia jumped when Alistair spoke near her ear. She hadn’t heard his approaching footsteps.
He brushed her hair back and, grasping her chin in his hand, he tilted her head to the side so he could look into her eyes, “Can you do this? For me?”
That’s enough, Sophia. A slap or two, okay. But a crop? She squared her shoulders and breathed deep. “Alistair, I’m not Heather.” She was glad her voice was even because inside she was quivering. “I told you yesterday. I don’t like pain or violence. It doesn’t turn me on. If I do this for you, and it would be only because of your... predilection and for your... pleasure, and I’ll hate myself tomorrow.” She turned and searched his eyes. “Have you always been like this?”
Nae, I have not. His arms went around her body. “No, but... Please?”
She stiffened. “Don’t bring Heather into our bed.”
She’s right. A bitter taste filled his mouth. Will I ever be free? “Relax, Sophia. I’m not going to do it if you don’t like it.” His hands caressed her back and her hair gently. She’s trembling. Fuck, Alistair Connor. Don’t you learn from the mistakes you’ve made? “Shhh.”
“You scare the hell out of me sometimes, you know?” Sophia murmured, trying to put her thoughts in order. But the arms that enveloped her took away any coherence she tried to achieve. “I don’t understand. But I can try... Not in bed, but in theory, if you explain it to me.” She wound her arms around his waist, her hands searching for the warmth of his back. “You don’t need violence to feel pleasure. You respond to my touch and I’ve seen you climax many times without having to resort to that.” She gazed into his eyes and they were tortured. “Do you trust me?”
“Aye,” he breathed and squeezed her in his arms as he lowered his head to kiss her. She tastes sweet. Sweet and tempting. Just like she looks.
Alistair’s warmth blanketed Sophia as the kiss deepened and she let her fears ebb away. But she wouldn’t be deterred from her goal. She broke the kiss and asked on his lips, “I want to do something. Will you let me?”
He closed his eyes for a brief moment before whispering, “Anything.”
“All right.” She breathed deeply and pulled him by the hand. “Strip and lie down in the center of bed.”
He eyed her quizzically, but did as he was told, his eyes glued on her as she took off her wrap.
“Lie down,” she repeated the order and picked up the crop and ropes from the bed, putting them on the desk in the corner. When she returned to the bed, he was lying naked, propped on his elbows, watching her hungrily. His arousal evidenced his desire for her.
“Very well.” She paused at the end of the bed and pulled off her nightie. She bit her lip as she picked up the black scarf. She crawled on the bed and knelt beside him, showing the scarf. “You were going to use this as a blindfold, right?” He nodded. “Close your eyes, then.” She tied the blindfold and lightly pushed him back in the bed. “Lie down and don’t move. No matter what I do. Okay?”
“You can tie me up if you want.” He barely recognized the husky sound that left his throat.