Blurbportiadacosta.com : portia blog : portia's harlequin books
Please be aware that this excerpt contains sensual content that is only suitable for adult readers who are comfortable with frank language and descriptions of erotic scenarios
Blurb
At one time the only remaining prude in the Ladies' Sewing Circle, Mrs. Mary Brigstocke has finally seen the light. She and her beloved husband Leonard have taken to naughty erotic games like a pair of ducks to water... but when it's time to explore the world of scandalous spanking fun, they turn to handsome young "specialist" Benedict Holcombe to instruct them in the finer points.
After a convivial dinner party, it's time for the Brigstockes to begin their education and for Benedict to take the eager, excited Mary into his elegant, experienced hands.
Available from eHarlequin, Barnes and Noble Nook Store, Mills and Boon, Amazon Kindle US [April '12] and Amazon Kindle UK [April '12]
Excerpt
On entering the room, Leonard strode towards her, clasped her hands, and kissed her soundly on both cheeks. "My dear, I'm so sorry we kept you waiting. Do forgive us," he murmured, apparently unperturbed by the presence of the dark figure who'd followed him in.
Mary's heart gave a flutter. In immaculate evening dress, Leonard looked wonderfully handsome tonight. He was well into his forties, a little older than her, but his fine gray eyes twinkled like a merry youth's and a puckish smile played about his sensual lips. Only a slight disarray of his thick sandy hair betrayed his own expectancy. When he was in a state of agitation he was wont to run his fingers through it.
The man beside her husband could not have been more different to him. They were like the very day and night of masculine attractiveness, with Leonard the frank, open, benevolent sun and their guest the mysterious moon, dark and unknown.
"Please my apologies too, Mrs. Brigstock," said Benedict Holcombe, bending over her hand to press the lightest kiss upon her knuckles, "Your husband and I find that we have many interests in common, and we ranged over them so broadly that we quite forgot the time."
This was the specialist that Sofia Chamfleur had sent to instruct Leonard in the art of smacking a woman's bottom, the same man so clearly depicted in the engravings in Divertissements.
"It… It's quite all right," stammered Mary. Why did her corset suddenly seem twice as tight, obstructing her breathing? Much as she adored her husband, she found this strange young man suave and intoxicating. He was taller than Leonard, a long streak of a creature, rather thin, with an overly-grown dark hair and a pale, fierce, almost unnaturally white face. His eyes were large and a peculiarly light blue, his expression knowing, and his black clothing and soft collar and ribbon tie imparted to him a rakish, bohemian air.
"Very well, then, let's get to business, shall we? No use wasting time when we're all anxious to begin."
As Mary gaped at his no nonsense manner, Benedict cast a look towards Leonard, and she got the distinct impression he was securing a "by your leave" from her husband. The notion was confirmed when Leonard nodded slightly, accompanying the gesture with an almost conspiratorial smile as he sank into the depths of his favorite chair and made himself completely at his ease.
Men, they can be so smug sometimes!
But in truth, Mary had a hard time concealing her own smile. The reality of this evening was that they were doing exactly what she wanted. The whole performance was to serve her whim, her desires.
"Come here, Mrs. Brigstock, let me look at you," the younger man said, taking her by the hand and leading her into the centre of the rug and finding a spot that commanded the best illumination from the lamps around the room. Lit from all sides by their softly flickering radiance, Mary imagined the beat of her wild heart was visible, thudding in her bosom as it sent blood speeding around her body in a tribal thud. She turned quickly to Leonard, soliciting the façade of his approval, and there was such an expression of love and pride on his dear face that her spirits soared and her lust twisted like a vise, low in her belly.
Oh, how he understood her. How he wanted what she wanted, no matter how naughty the caprice.
"You're a very beautiful woman, Mrs. Brigstock," said Benedict, rolling her name over his tongue like an intimate caress, "So imperious, so full of spirit and fire…" His weird eyes narrowed, their pellucid blue almost radiant. "But something tells me you are willful and high-mettled. The sort of woman who needs mastering from time to time. For her own sake, as well as that of her husband." He paused and glanced across at Leonard. "Am I not right?"
"Indeed," replied he, his voice so full of passion it was almost a growl.
"But it's a simple matter to tame such a woman as you," said Benedict, still holding her hand, his finger stroking her palm in a way that suddenly seemed unbearably lewd, "a simple matter to calm you and make you biddable, obedient and pliable."
Mary almost growled herself. It was if his low voice, his teasing fingers and his cool, pale eyes were all hypnotizing her. As if his very presence was a ghostly hand that had slipped between her legs and started stroking her puss. A gasp escaped her lips as she felt the silky fluid of her desire trickle down the inside of her leg, only halted by one of her new lace trimmed garters. The sensation was so piquant that she had to brace her knees, imagining that both Leonard, relaxing in his chair, and Benedict, standing before her with his eyes fixed on hers, could see the slippery tell-tale clean through her layers of clothing.
Or perhaps smell it…
"I think it might facilitate this display if you were to disrobe, Mrs. Brigstock. Or at least remove some of your garments."
Mary did sway then, but Benedict caught her elbow, his strong grip bearing her up and strengthening her resolve. When Leonard murmured, "Courage, dear heart," she lifted her head proudly.
"Very well," she replied in as firm a voice as she could muster. It felt essential to her that despite all, she should exert her right to speak. These two must not get carried away in their masculine bonhomie… and forget who was really in charge.
Available from eHarlequin, Barnes and Noble Nook Store, Mills and Boon, Amazon Kindle US [April '12] and Amazon Kindle UK [April '12]
Harlequin Spice Briefs
Publication Date: TBA 2013
ISBN: TBA
Copyright © 2011 by Portia Da Costa
Harlequin Mills & Boon book covers © Copyright 2008-2011
by Harlequin Books, S.A.
® and ™ are trademarks of the publisher.
The edition published by arrangement with Harlequin Books S.A.