His Mistress by Monica Burns Read Free Book Online Page A

lighting in the corner of the gallery cloaked his features. Arms folded across his chest, the stranger stood with one shoulder pressed into the wall. It was a nonchalant pose that suggested great strength, and he exuded a dangerous appeal that left her breathless. She knew she should turn away, but something about him captivated her attention.
    Despite the shadows, she could tell he was looking in her direction, and she was certain his focus was on her and no one else. Even without seeing his face, Jane recognized the sheer magnetism of the man’s presence. Power in its most potent form flowed off of him and filled the distance between them. What would it be like to harness that power and bend it to her will? Her mouth went dry at the thought.
    To make this man do her bidding was a heady thought. No, it was a dangerous thought. Jane swallowed the knot swelling in her throat. She was assuming he would be willing to submit to her. Just the aura of strength surrounding him said it was more than likely he would expect her to submit. Jane immediately rejected that possibility. Submitting to a man within the walls of La Maison des Plaisirs Sombres was an abhorrent idea. Outside of this sanctuary, she was forced to obey the edicts of others and constraints of society. Here in La Maison des Plaisirs Sombres , there were no such limitations, and she refused to give up the freedom she’d found within these walls.
    The air suddenly thickened making it difficult to breathe as the stranger straightened upright in a slow, lazy movement. Excitement, mixed with trepidation, slid through her veins as she watched him. His movement emulated that of one of the tigers she’d seen pacing in their cages in Regent Park. Like those large jungle cats, there was a raw, primitive strength beneath the stranger’s seemingly lazy shift in posture.
    An image of him on his knees before her made Jane’s chest tighten at the prospect. What would it be like for her to do with him as she pleased? Her mouth went dry at the thought. Beneath his dark suit, she was certain she’d find a hard, muscular body. The thought of slowly exploring him with her hands made her heart skip a beat.
    She silently berated herself. Even from a distance, she was certain this wasn’t a man who was capable of submitting himself to a woman’s command. His entire demeanor shouted he would be the master of any relationship he indulged in. A shudder rippled through Jane at the thought as she considered what surrendering to this man would be like. The thought that she’d even contemplate such a possibility appalled her. All too aware of her fascination, Jane tried to calm her racing pulse. She failed as the stranger bowed in her direction. She didn’t know why, but there was a confident air about him that convinced her he was smiling.
    It could have been a smile of enticement or amusement, but instinct said it was one of self-assured amusement. A confidence which would challenge her fledgling skills. Appalled, she rejected the notion. She had no desire to encourage the man. No, that wasn’t quite true. She had the desire. She simply knew it would be her downfall to answer his silent invitation. Without bothering to acknowledge the stranger, Jane slowly turned her attention back to the Obedience Chamber in a manner designed to illustrate her lack of interest. Even as she looked away from him, Jane longed to look back.
    Alarmed, she struggled to focus on the events in the chamber below. Angélique was laughing quietly as she instructed her charge to lie on his back. Despite her efforts to forget about the stranger, Jane could still feel his penetrating gaze on her back. She swallowed hard as she fought not to glance over her shoulder in the stranger’s direction.
    A split second later, every thought disappeared from Jane’s head as a frisson danced its way across the nape of her neck. The tingling intensified as she sensed a warm body suddenly occupy the chair behind her. Jane