Tavish’s gaze kept returning to Sophia as she talked to Lachlann as if he were hypnotized. He didn’t even notice Alistair’s dark scowl.

She was mounting Craigdale Avenger, a surprise present from Lachlann. The stallion was a young Friesian Sporthorse with a long black-and-white mane, tail, and feathers on his lower legs.

He was stunned by how easily she controlled the big and nervous horse. One might have guessed that she had trained Avenger from the way the horse responded to her. He spurred his horse and galloped to her side, flanking her, listening to their conversation.

He was so absorbed by his thoughts that he didn’t notice Alice’s approach.

She motioned for him to slow his horse and snapped, “Tavish Uilleam. Stop it. You’re provoking Alistair Connor.”

Tavish looked at his sister, surprised, “Provoking? What am I doing to provoke him?”

“Give Sophia some room. You know he’s fiercely jealous of her.”

Tavish looked over his shoulder to where Alistair was riding with Leonard. If looks could kill, he would have dropped dead in that instant. He laughed out loud and turned to Alice. “It’s good to see Alistair Connor like that. Better than to see him dispatching one woman after another. She has tamed him, Alice.”

“Don’t you believe it. If you keep hovering over Sophia, he might break your nose again. And it will be merited. Again.”

“The first time it wasn’t. It was Heather’s fault.”

“I know but you provoked—”

“Alice.” He thinned his lips for a second before saying, “Do you want to know the truth? Heather was more than a whore. She…they were perverted. She made a pass at me first. And since I didn’t accept, she hinted at Father. For a threesome with her or her sister. And Alistair.”

“Jesus, Tavish Uilleam. Alistair Connor proposed a threesome with his wife? That can’t be true.”

“Nae. Not him. She wanted it. That’s why I started to treat her like the whore she was. But I never had the heart to tell Alistair about it until recently. I didn’t deserve that punch.”

“I don’t know how, but she manipulated him into seeing only what she wanted him to see.”

“The truth is, he was putty in her hands. I don’t know why. But he was. That woman was a fucking good actress. And it seems, a good fuck, too. She—”

“Tavish Uilleam. Please.” Alice made a face at him, disgusted. “Back to Sophia and Alistair Connor. Don’t provoke him. Heather’s cheating turned him into a different man.” She sighed. “Did he ever talk to you?”

“Never. I bet he thinks we don’t even know about it.”

“That bitch. He was never the same.”

“Nae.” He shook his head slowly at his sister, his gaze glued to Sophia’s back. “But I bet she can bring him back to us.”

The woman in front of him was completely different from any his brother had ever had. But he couldn’t fathom what attracted Sophia to Alistair besides his good looks. She was too independent to enjoy being suffocated by Alistair’s dominant way.

* * *

She’s an amazing horsewoman,” said Leonard trying to distract Alistair, who was almost foaming at the mouth with jealousy. “I didn’t know the vet had finished training that horse.”

Sophia had fallen in love with the beautiful, spirited horse at first sight, and not caring if it still wasn’t fully trained, demanded to ride it.

“She’s a witch. An enchantress,” Alistair avowed quietly as his powerful black Friesian stallion, Craigdale Beast, bucked, finding his owner’s unnerved state unusual. Alistair was too proud to admit, even to himself, that he resented his brother’s stare, that his distrust ran so deep that he felt insecure.

As if she could feel his need, Sophia turned and flashed him a shining smile, motioning with her head for him to join them. In a heartbeat, he was spellbound. Not only by her beauty, but also by her perfect timing.

And just like that, Alistair forgot his jealousy.

He inhaled deeply as strange sensations filled him. Pride, desire, love. Hypnotized, he spurred his horse to flank Sophia, leaving a smiling Leonard behind.

* * *

Tonight, I want to surprise you,” Alistair murmured in Sophia’s ear as they moved from the dining room to the library. He paused at the door and whirled her in his arms, “Will you let me?”

Sophia looked up at his handsome face, searching for a clue, “A hint, please?”

His smile was sensuous and dark. “Blindfolds, ties and something more.”

“Mmm. Seems interesting,” she whispered on his lips and pulled him by the hand to enter the library where Lachlann was settling in for a game of chess with Leonard.

“Do you play, Sophia?” Alice asked while she sat with Tavish at another table. “We could have a tournament.”

“I only know the basics. I’d lose for sure.” She looked around the library and spotted a marble table for backgammon in the far corner. She craned her neck to look at Alistair and rubbed her hands together with a devious glint in her eyes. “Backgammon?”

“Depends on the prize, my lady,” he bowed.

“Choose.” You’re not going to win.

“You know what I want,” he spoke, his voice deep. As she shook her head, he bent and breathed in her ear, “Your ass. Two fingers this time.”

She shuddered, uncertain, but forged on, “And if I win?”

“Choose,” he shrugged, confident. You’re not going to win.

She smiled mischievously at him, stood on her tiptoes and whispered back in his ear, “Your ass. One finger this time.”

Of course not. Alistair stood there transfixed by her proposition.

“Deal?” She tilted her head to the side, studying his face, and taunted, “Afraid, my lord?”

Aye. Not exactly a turn on for me. “But…” You know how to push my buttons, don’t you, Sophia? But you don’t know whom you’re dealing with. I’m the backgammon champion in the family. “Why don’t you chose another prize?” he smirked at her, schooling his features.

“Chicken,” she bit out softly.

Sophia. Don’t challenge me. He scowled down at her.

She shrugged, “You want mine, I’ll have yours.”

Difficult woman! “Best out of three?”

She nodded.

“But the prize won’t be collected tonight. I have other plans.”

“Deal.”

“Deal.” He stretched out his hand to seal the deal. However the victorious smile that graced her face as she shook his hand, left him wondering if he had made the right choice.

* * *

The silence in the room left Alistair unsettled. Sophia was a very good player. They were even and she was already winning the last game.

Sophia drank her whisky and rattled the dice in the leather cup, slowly, enjoying the tension. With a deft flick of her hand, she threw them on the center of the table and drummed her nails on the marble, studying the possibilities. She moved her checkers and left a blot with the deliberate intention of it being hit by Alistair, yielding his point.

“Tempt? When you are almost ready to bear off? You don’t need this.” Alistair lifted an ink-black eyebrow at her and she lifted one of hers back at him. “Are you sure?”

I want to win with backgammon. “Makes the game even more interesting.” She flashed her avenging angel smile at him. “I double the stakes,” she turned the doubling cube to two. And, wiggling her brows, put up two united fingers.

I’m calling your bluff, Sophia. “Take it. And beaver.” He turned the doubling cube from two to four, with a devious smile and mouth to her ‘my cock’.

Sure of yourself, huh? You’re going to lose this game, Alistair Connor. “Ready for raccoon?” She picked up the cube, waiting for his answer.

Not bluffing? Hmm. He surveyed the table, licked his lips, uncertain, then nodded. She put it down with the eight facing up.

“How much was the initial bet?” Lachlann, who was perched on a chair beside Sophia, asked her.

Sophia burst out laughing, embarrassed, and asked Alistair with her eyes as to what she should answer.

“We didn’t bet money,” he answered his father, cryptically.

“Roll your dice, Alistair Connor,” Tavish coached, hovering over Alistair’s shoulder. “This game is just getting interesting.”

Alistair rattled the dice in the cup and put it down on the table, praying for fours or fives, but a four-five would do too.

Sophia toed off one of her pumps, and with her stockinged foot, pushed up the hem of Alistair’s wool trousers, caressing his shin.

He inhaled sharply and lost track of what he was doing, his eyes flying up to lock with hers. She had an amused look on her face.

“You praying?” she mocked, jutting her chin to the cup still turned upside down.

Tavish and Lachlann laughed.

And Alistair lifted the cup. The dice 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.

* * *

Damn! Sophia’s smile 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 out 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 lust 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. 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 you’ll find it extremely pleasurable.”

No, I won’t. 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 and he felt her 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 on 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.

“No. You will exercise your control. Don’t move and don’t touch me.”

“Aye,” he breathed. Aye, mistress.

She lightly put a fingertip in between his collarbones and moved it outward to his broad left shoulder. The tip of her tongue followed the dry caress.

Alistair suffered her slow exploration of his arms and chest. He held on to the sheets to stop his hands from grabbing Sophia and impaling her with his erection.

Fuck. My nipples. He moaned low as she grazed his nipples with her nails and lavished them with her tongue. Her hair caressed his abdomen making the muscles tense up.

“If you mean to torture me,” he gritted out, “you’re doing an excellent job of it.”

“Am I?” She placed her fingers over his collarbones again. She was deliberately teasing him. “I’m going to show you what pleasure really is.”

“Sophia.”

“If you move, I’ll start it all over again,” she threatened.

She worshipped and explored his body at a leisurely pace, making him delirious with desire. Every small inch of it received the attention of her fingers and tongue, but for his ignored cock that strained for her attention, arching up to his navel.

Too spellbound to do otherwise, Alistair simply lay there and endured the sweet torture, struggling to keep his climax at bay.

His breath was so uneven and shaky that Sophia smiled on his skin.

Fuck. Unable to resist, Alistair searched blindly for her hand and gripped it around his erection, curling his fingers over hers.

“I told you not to move.”

“Sophia. I’m dying here.”

She obliged him for a few tantalizing strokes.

“So. Fucking. Good,” he gasped. The relief was immediate, intense. And nowhere near enough. “That’s it, sweetheart. Now, take me in your mouth.”

Sophia stilled her hand, still gripping him tightly. “I’m a woman of my word, my lord. You moved. I have to start all over again.” She slid her hand up again. “Although, I have to confess that I quite like your cock.”

Fuck. She drives me wild when she talks like that.

But this time Sophia started with his face. Eyebrows, cheekbones, lips, the line of his nose. Her light touch was thorough and indiscriminate.

He found himself nuzzling onto her touch. He exhaled until his lungs were empty.

Her fingertip smoothed his lips and her tongue followed.

A delicate cascade of pleasure rippled through him and he raised his head and took her mouth in a desperate kiss. Her fingers plunged into his hair and he moaned. He never thought such simple and light caresses could be so arousing.

“We’re supposed to be making love,” he whispered in a strangle voice.

“That’s what I’m doing. Making love to your beautiful body.” Her voice betrayed her desire and he knew she was enjoying her power.

“You can do better.”

“I will. Patience.” Her tongue followed her fingertips down his chest and she nibbled his nipple.

He groaned.

“Better, Alistair Connor?” she mocked.

“Better.” Almost.

She licked his navel and made her way down to his straining erection.

His breath was a painful rasp in his throat. He couldn’t take much more of this. He felt her softly blowing on the head of his erection and then the wet tip of her tongue. She delicately swirled it around the broad head.

“Sophia, please.”

When her mouth found him, he let out a strangled shout, “Yes.”

It was sweet pain as she slowly glided her tongue over the smooth head. He was almost afraid to thrust up in her mouth and have her start again. She shifted on the bed, arranging herself in a better position and rested her hands on his hips. She put all her weight on her hands keeping him in place and engulfed his arousal in her mouth, sucking him in as deep as she could.

A feral need clawed its way through Alistair’s body as Sophia licked and sucked him with tantalizing movements of her mouth.

She was exposing an old need that had been studded in the deepest layer of his being. And she was doing nothing out of the normal.

He was being stripped bare of all his control.

She shifted again, pushing his legs wider apart and he felt her soft breasts, tipped with her chilled nipples caressing his thighs.

She delighted in the contrast of his coarse hairs with her soft skin. Alistair tasted just like he smelled, sweet and all male. And she wanted more. She wanted it all.

She wanted to show him she could make him come wildly apart in her arms. She drew him in deeper in long swipes of her head and he grunted and heaved, the sheets fisted in his hands.

Don’t stop. Please, don’t stop. “I’m going to—” He growled loudly, as her teeth grazed the head of his cock and she squeezed his balls lightly in her hand. She ran her tongue down the underside of his arousal and sucked one of his balls in her mouth, while her hand worked his length.

“Stop,” he choked out.

She took him again in her mouth and massaged his perineum with her thumb and, just like that, his control was gone.

He shouted her name as he reached for her, shoving his hands in her long hair as he came in her mouth, his hips jerking up with the force of his orgasm.

Exhausted and spent, he lay there gasping for air, struggling to make sense of what had just happened.

It seemed to him that his body had exploded in a million pieces and someone had yet to mend him.

His mind was so fuzzy that he didn’t even notice as Sophia went to the bathroom and returned with a warm moist towel. He felt her tender ministrations as she cleaned him and untied the blindfold. He blinked when the soft light of the room reached his eyes, focusing on her smiling face.

He rose on his elbows to look at her better.

“Was it good?” She was sitting by his side, naked, leaning on her hand, her feet tucked under her bent legs.

Good?! He shook his head, “Nae. It was…” How to qualify the best orgasm of one’s life? “I’ve never had such a powerful orgasm. Every time I’m with you, it gets better and better.” He pushed a lock of her long hair behind her ear and traced its shell with his finger. “You are the most incredible woman I’ve ever met.” He pulled her for a kiss.

Love is the most powerful medicine, Alistair Connor.

He broke the kiss and nonchalantly asked, “And what about your ass?”

“You owe me yours now.”

“Dream on, my lady,” he snorted. “Back to yours, you liked when I penetrated you with my finger.”

She blushed and he sniggered.

Why does he need to be so blunt? “One finger, Alistair Connor,” she snapped. “Not your…your…”

“Dick, prick, cock, shaft, rod—”

“Penis!” She jumped off the bed, her cheeks light pink.

He laughed, amused and endeared.

She shoved her hands into her hair, aggravated. “There is nothing funny about this.” She stomped her foot on the rug.

He laughed even more. “I love it when you stomp your beautiful foot. It makes me want to spank you.”

“I’m not spankable—” she paused at the weird word. “Alistair Connor, my ass is not available at the moment.”

At the moment. Mmm. That’s a good sign. “Okay, okay. No need to be mad at me. We’ll take a rain check.” His smile was wicked as he patted the bed beside him.

She crawled back to his side and sat there looking at him.

“One more thing to introduce you to, Beauty,” he mused. “I like it.”

She made a face at him.

“Now.” His eyes flashed green as he tumbled her down on the mattress with a naughty smile on his lips, “I want to…reciprocate your torture.”