Her eyes cast downward. “He offered for me to warm his bed.”
Her words curdle in his stomach. “That did not appeal to you? Seems a perfect solution to your problem.”
She visibly bristled. “Mr. St. Claire,” she begins.
He held up a hand. “Sebastian.”
“Very well, Sebastian. I believe I was rather hasty in my decision to agree to you assisting me in my education. But it has come to my attention that there are other ways I can learn the necessary skills.”
He returned to the settee, in no hurry to leave her presence. He sat, spreading his arms across the back of the brocade fabric. “Did you find another tutor, then?”
“No.”
The relief that swept through him was jarring. He chose to ignore it. It didn’t mean anything other than he was very interested in bedding her himself. “Then what are these other ways for you to learn? Do you intend to watch other couples in hopes that you’ll absorb the information that way? Because I can assure you, little dove, watching—while highly arousing—is not the same as doing.”
Her mouth opened in blatant shock. “Do people do such things?”
He glanced down at his hand, inspecting his fingernails. Through her eyes, he would likely appear bored with their exchange. He was anything but. Showing her his eagerness, however, would never do. The truth was, though, he was practically salivating to teach this woman the pleasures of the flesh. She was ripe for the picking and he wanted to delight her. He wanted to hear her scream his name in pleasure.
“There are rooms at my mother’s establishment that allow such things. Of course everyone must agree to such a thing.”
She swallowed visibly and stepped closer to the settee.
“So if that’s not your chosen method, do tell me, Agatha, how do you intend to learn to pleasure a man?” He leaned forward, bracing his elbows on his knees. He made certain to spread his thighs, his tall form poised as if to pounce on her at any moment. “Because the truth of the matter is, we can tell when a woman is inexperienced. We know when a woman is untouched. You’ve said yourself that you remained a virgin. How do you intend to explain that to your first lover?”
Her shoulders rounded and she looked over her shoulder at him. Haughtiness personified. She definitely had fire in her. That alone was enough to have his cock stirring inside his trousers.
“I’m certain I can find books on the subject matter. The pleasuring a man, that is. My virginity is none of your concern.”
“You are correct to assume that there are such texts. Ancient texts from the Orient and Ancient Greece, all of which detail several different ways and positions to enjoy congress. You might be able to glean quite a bit of knowledge that way.” He stood and walked to her.
With one hand, he twirled one of her ebony curls around a finger. “You should consider what to do about your maidenhead blood when you leave it on your first lover’s bedding.” He lifted a shoulder. “Perhaps he won’t notice it there, but he’ll most assuredly notice the smear of red on his cock.”
Her pupils are blown and her breathing has become shallow.
“My proposition for you. Let me have you tonight. I can show you what your body is capable of. I can pleasure you in several different ways before we even remove all your clothing. I’ll make certain your body is ready to take a man so it will beas comfortable as possible.” He leaned down and placed a kiss at that sweet spot where her shoulder met the hollow of her neck.
“One night, Agatha,” he whispered.
“Why?” Her voice came out in a whisper. “Why do you want to help me?”
“This isn’t about help, little dove. This is about me wanting you. From the moment I laid eyes on you, I’ve wanted to peel you out of every layer of clothing. I want to lick and suck and kiss every inch of your skin.” To prove his point, he bit her gently in that spot, then licked and sucked until he earned a throaty moan from her. “I can’t promise what other lovers will do for you, but I can guarantee you’ll cry my name with pleasure before the night is over. I can show you how amazing your body can feel.”
“Only one night?” she whispered.
“One night if that is all you want.”
He nearly fell to his knees in thanks. That should be enough warning for him to get the hell out of here. He’d never begged a woman before. Never had to. Perhaps that’s why he found this particular woman so damned intoxicating.
“Where’s your bedchamber?” he asked.
“Upstairs in the left wing.”
Without another word, he scooped her up in his arms, cradling her to his chest.
“You do not need to carry me.”
“Consider it part of your seduction.” He followed her verbal instructions out the parlor and up the stairs, which he took two at a time. He was done pretending that his desire for her was casual. He was nearly choking on the need to pin her against something and take her mouth.