Dark Obsession Read online

  ‘Start!’ she screamed. ‘Don’t just look at me.’

  ‘I like looking,’ he murmured, reaching out one hand and tugging very lightly on her lower pubic hair. The movement of flesh caused by this touch sent tiny tingles of arousal up through Tania’s lower abdomen and she whimpered with need.

  With a low laugh Crispian allowed both hands to touch her, tenderly taking hold of her outer sex lips and pulling them apart to expose the shining pink inner tissue. The cool air brushed against her heat and Tania made a guttural sound of contentment, which quickly turned into a wail as he allowed her sex lips to close again.

  ‘Do keep your voice down,’ he said in amusement. ‘I’m sure Annabel wouldn’t be so vocal in her enjoyment.’

  ‘Touch me!’ shouted Tania, squirming against the frame beneath her and trying to force her vulva nearer to his clever hands.

  Crispian leant forward and slid his hands up over her abdomen and then down again before once more opening and closing her outer sex lips. She was quaking now, her whole body racked with desire, but she knew that he could make the game last an eternity if he wanted and this knowledge made her need all the sharper.

  Crispian let his hands travel upwards over her body again, but this time he lifted her breasts and then rolled the large nipples between his fingers. As Tania’s breathing grew ragged he pressed her breasts together and drew his flat tongue across each nipple in turn, moving from left to right in slow, steady sweeps until her breasts were swollen and throbbing with excitement.

  Just as she was about to climax from this stimulation alone, Crispian stopped and sat down in his chair again, leaving her frantic for further touches on her needy breasts. Now he turned his attention back to the area between her thighs. Bending his head, he licked her inner thighs, letting his tongue linger in the creases of the joins, and then he reached for a vibrator and held it high in the air.

  ‘Would you like me to use this, Tania?’ he teased as she squirmed helplessly on the frame, her legs unable to move.

  ‘Yes!’ she gasped.

  ‘Where?’

  ‘Anywhere,’ she shouted, knowing that if she chose her favourite place he’d only ignore her and use it somewhere else.

  ‘Anywhere?’ he queried, and then he was letting it touch the tightly stretched skin of her arms and she shrieked at him in frustration. ‘No, not there!’

  ‘Sshh!’ he cautioned her. ‘Pa might hear.’

  ‘I don’t care if he does,’ she groaned.

  ‘Well, I do, so keep quiet,’ said Crispian, and then she felt him parting her outer sex lips again and this time he let the head of the slender vibrator move in tiny circles just above her frantic clitoris.

  Tania felt as though he was applying an electric current to her as shockwaves of delight coursed through her and the familiar tight knot of an impending climax began to form behind her clitoris. He allowed the vibrator to play in the same spot until she was gasping, urging herself on in the climb towards release, but just as she was about to come he removed the stimulation and the delicious tremors slowly faded, leaving Tania close to tears of frustration.

  Crispian was enjoying himself. He always liked having Tania strapped to the frame and at his mercy, but today it was even more exciting because he was imagining having Annabel in the same position some time soon.

  Leaning forward he opened up his stepsister once more and this time he let his tongue run up and down her soaking inner channel, now and again easing the clitoral hood back so that he could flick the stiff tip of his tongue directly against it. Each time he did this Tania’s legs went rigid in the stirrups and her eyes started to roll back with ecstasy, but he never allowed her to topple over into an orgasm.

  For Tania the thrilling torture was almost unbearable and she could hear herself screaming at him to hurry and let her come, but the more she screamed the slower he worked. Just when she felt certain that she couldn’t bear the relentless teasing a moment longer, Crispian lubricated one finger with some soothing jelly and slid a hand beneath Tania’s bottom. Then he let his tongue slide in and out of her incredibly moist opening while his lubricated finger moved in and out of her back passage in exactly the same rhythm.

  Now the tightness was all over Tania’s body and her breasts were so swollen she felt as though they might burst unless she came quickly. Her neck was covered with a pink flush of arousal and there were beads of perspiration between her heavy breasts.

  Keeping his tongue and finger working together, Crispian let his spare hand slide up his stepsister’s rippling belly until it reached her left breast. He massaged it softly for a moment and then his fingers gripped the nipple hard and he extended it as far as possible, still massaging it firmly.

  For Tania this final touch was all that she needed. Now it felt as though the electric current between her thighs had joined with another one from her breasts; every muscle in her body seemed to bunch and coil before finally exploding as his tongue swirled round and round inside her. As the climax gripped her, Crispian felt her internal muscles tighten around his tongue and the walls of her rectum clenched violently as he slid a second finger inside her there.

  Tania was only aware of the fact that Crispian was filling her everywhere, either with his hands or his tongue, and she screamed with delirious delight at the shattering explosion he’d finally allowed to course through her.

  When she’d finished she waited for him to unfasten her from the frame, but instead he stood up and let his trousers fall to the floor as he pushed himself into her, moving hard against the tender flesh, his hands gripping her fastened hips.

  ‘I want you to come again, when I do,’ he muttered.

  ‘I can’t!’ wailed Tania.

  Muffling a curse, Crispian slid his hand across her body until it was resting on her pubic bone. Then he allowed his fingers to stray lower and as his own orgasm approached he beat a slow steady tattoo just above her still-swollen nub and immediately she felt her body racked by a second climax. Crispian threw his head back in triumph as he felt her contracting around him at the exact moment that he came.

  Along the corridor, Annabel heard his shout of triumph and wondered what the noise was.

  Chapter Three

  AT EIGHT-THIRTY IN the evening, Annabel heard a gong sound in the distance. Assuming that this was intended to summon them downstairs, she left her bedroom and walked straight into Crispian, who was coming out of Tania’s room, adjusting his cufflinks. The conventional dinner suit accentuated his fair good looks and Annabel wondered briefly what he’d be like as a lover.

  He looked at her appreciatively. ‘Very nice,’ he murmured, his eyes approving as he took in her bronze-coloured silk taffeta dress with thin shoulder straps, and a neckline that left her upper chest entirely bare. Two large imitation roses covered her breasts and the bodice of the dress was fitted at the waist before flaring out into a full skirt.

  ‘Those roses wouldn’t be large enough for Tania, but they look great on you!’ he said with a laugh. ‘Let me take you down. We have drinks in the library before dinner.’

  ‘What about Tania?’ asked Annabel.

  Crispian chuckled. ‘Tania’s late as usual! She’s only just getting dressed. At the moment her look is definitely what you might call sexily tousled.’

  His blue eyes stared into Annabel’s and she had a sudden image of the pair of them entwined on a bed, their fine-boned limbs writhing in ecstasy. When Crispian put a hand on her bare arm she jumped with surprise.

  ‘Daydreaming?’ he enquired as they walked down the stairs.

  ‘I’m afraid so. It’s a fault of mine.’

  ‘About the house, or its occupants?’

  Annabel glanced at him from beneath lowered lids. ‘The house, of course. Why would I daydream about the occupants?’

  ‘Why indeed? Pure conceit on my part; I was hoping you might be daydreaming about me.’

  The library was rather a shock to Annabel. It was small, cluttered and in total chaos. Books
were stacked untidily on the shelves and a small stepladder had been left resting against them. The once-splendid carpet was again threadbare, and holes in the sofa and chairs had been disguised by the simple tactic of throwing lion skins, complete with their heads, over them.

  In the midst of this mess Lady Corbett-Wynne looked totally out of place. She was wearing a pale-blue crepe and silk organza evening dress which had a wide shawl collar, tightly fitting long sleeves with large, turned-back cuffs, and a tight waistband that emphasised her slim figure. The skirt hung in long folds to the floor and her only jewellery was an emerald necklace, and what looked to Annabel like a chain of emeralds and diamonds that she’d fastened to the waist of the dress. This hung half-way down her skirt, rather like an old-fashioned chatelaine’s key chain. Her fair hair was drawn back off her face and fastened with a diamond clip.

  ‘There should be rushes on the floor,’ Crispian whispered in Annabel’s ear. ‘Don’t you think she looks like one of those historical ladies of the manor?’

  ‘I think she looks beautiful,’ Annabel whispered truthfully, wondering what on earth this withdrawn, aristocratic looking woman could possibly have in common with her large, florid-faced husband standing next to her, who apparently enjoyed the attentions of his girl grooms.

  ‘Where’s Tania?’ Lady Corbett-Wynne asked sharply.

  ‘No idea,’ replied Crispian. ‘I thought I ought to bring Annabel down, since no one had thought to tell her where we met up.’

  ‘Very good of you, my boy,’ said his father, glancing uneasily at his wife. He then walked towards Annabel, his hand outstretched. ‘Don’t think we’ve met yet. Lord Corbett-Wynne, the man whose home you’re planning to tear apart.’

  ‘I hope you don’t really believe that,’ replied Annabel. ‘Your wife wants me to help her redecorate some of the rooms, but I’d never do anything to spoil the atmosphere of the Hall.’

  ‘Then you can leave this room alone,’ he said shortly. ‘This is my favourite place. Somewhere a man can come and think.’

  ‘I didn’t know you did much of that, Pa!’ laughed Crispian. ‘Annabel, what can I get you?’

  ‘Sherry, please.’

  He crossed the room to the drinks cabinet, which looked like an old-fashioned gramophone box but opened up to reveal numerous bottles. ‘Any particular sherry?’

  ‘Amontillado if you’ve got it.’

  ‘Drink is one thing we’re very well-stocked with, isn’t that right, Step-mama?’

  Lady Corbett-Wynne flushed. ‘I’m sure I don’t know. It’s your father who’s the drinker around here.’

  ‘Damned shame you don’t drink more,’ said her husband. ‘Might loosen you up a bit.’

  His wife shot him an icy glance, but at that moment the door opened and the maid announced the arrival of Sir Matthew Stevens. Sherry glass in hand, Annabel turned to look at the dinner guest and at her very first glance her stomach tightened and she felt a pulse beating in the side of her neck.

  She had no idea why. He wasn’t conventionally handsome and his brown curly hair had one or two threads of silver in it. But his face was tanned and rugged and there was a sense of great strength and masculinity about him that she found almost irresistible. As he walked towards Lady Corbett-Wynne and started to greet her, he brushed against Annabel’s skirt. For a brief moment he turned to look at her. His grey eyes were unfathomable, but when he gave her a swift impersonal smile she felt ridiculously pleased, like a child given an unexpected present.

  Crispian watched Annabel closely. He recognised the signs of physical attraction immediately, and although surprised – he couldn’t see anything all that special about the newcomer – he’d heard rumours about the man’s success with women and Annabel’s response made it plain that these were most likely true.

  Matthew himself was hardly aware of Annabel at their initial meeting. He was far more interested in Lady Corbett-Wynne. Her delicate appearance intrigued him, as did the cool exterior she presented to the world. Always eager for a challenge, he felt that to break down her resistance, and capture her so that he could feel her slenderness against him, actually physically penetrate the facade she used like a shield against men, would give him tremendous satisfaction. And if he was any judge of women it would bring equal delight to her.

  None of this was apparent in his polite greeting, but he let his eyes hold hers for a fraction longer than necessary and once he’d been handed his drink he stood very slightly closer to her than she might have expected.

  Despite remaining calm and serene, Lady Corbett-Wynne was experiencing very similar sensations to Annabel’s, except that she didn’t recognise them for what they were and wondered if she was ill. Her stomach was turning in a decidedly uncomfortable manner and her mouth was strangely dry.

  ‘I’m afraid my daughter’s a little late, Sir Matthew,’ she apologised. ‘It’s a fault of hers.’

  He smiled. ‘I’ve seen your daughter out riding. Any girl as attractive as that is automatically forgiven for being late.’

  ‘Unfortunately she relies on that,’ responded his hostess. ‘I’ve tried to teach her manners, but she simply refuses to believe that they matter.’

  ‘You should use your time teaching her some morals,’ muttered Lord Corbett-Wynne.

  His wife turned her head sharply towards him. ‘Crispian of course has no need for such guidance?’

  Before he could reply the door opened and Tania came into the room. It was quite an entrance, Annabel conceded to herself. She was beautifully made up, her eyes well-defined with kohl and her lips carefully shaped with pencil and lipstick into a cupid’s bow, but it was the dress that really took everyone’s breath away. Ruby-red in colour, it seemed to match the lighter tones of her auburn hair, which was sleeked back for the evening, and the sheer old-fashioned glamour of the satin bias-cut dress with diamanté clasps and halter neck was stunning.

  Lady Corbett-Wynne, however, seemed oblivious of the impact her daughter’s entrance had made. ‘You’re late,’ she said coldly.

  ‘Sorry, Mother,’ said Tania, her tone of voice making it clear that she wasn’t. ‘It took me ages to wash my hair and bath, someone had used all the hot water, as usual. I think you should get the plumbing in this place seen to before you start on the decorations.’

  ‘Well, since you are here I’d like to introduce you to –’

  ‘We’ve already met,’ interrupted Tania.

  ‘When?’ asked her mother.

  ‘When I was out riding. Isn’t that right, Sir Matthew.’

  Annabel noticed that, although Sir Matthew nodded and smiled in agreement, he wasn’t quite as appreciative of Tania as might have been expected, and quickly turned his attention back to her mother.

  Tania didn’t like this. ‘God, I could use a drink. Isn’t anyone going to offer me one?’

  ‘Dinner’s ready,’ said her stepfather. ‘We’ve all been waiting for you.’

  ‘I’m sure you can wait five more minutes while I have a quick gin. Crispian, be an angel and pour me one, would you?’

  ‘How could I refuse?’ he asked with a lopsided smile. His father and stepmother glanced briefly at one another. And Annabel wondered if they were both aware of how close their offspring really were.

  ‘Even if you know my stepsister, I don’t suppose anyone’s thought to introduce you to Annabel,’ murmured Crispian as he poured out Tania’s gin.

  ‘How rude of me,’ said his stepmother, turning towards the waiting Annabel. ‘Sir Matthew, I’d like you to meet Annabel Moss. She works for David Crosbie and comes highly recommended by him. You’ve probably heard of David?’

  ‘Good heavens, yes. I knew him a few years ago. We ran with the same crowd but then I moved away. I haven’t seen him now for about three years or more. Is he still with Martin?’ he asked Annabel as he lightly took her outstretched hand.

  ‘Yes, yes, he is,’ she said in a low voice, hoping that he couldn’t feel the way her hand was trembling in his. It was
utterly ridiculous, and she didn’t know what was the matter with her, but all she wanted was to get this man into bed with her, to feel his strong, capable hands on her breasts, thighs, and buttocks. She’d heard of instant physical attraction, but never believed in it. Now she knew that it could happen. The only trouble was, he clearly didn’t feel the same.

  ‘Good. What are you planning to do with the Hall?’

  ‘I really don’t know yet. I only arrived this afternoon and although Lady Corbett-Wynne and I discussed some provisional ideas, they were just a starting point.’

  ‘I’m sure her taste will prove impeccable,’ replied Sir Matthew. He then turned away from Annabel and started talking to his hostess again.

  ‘Bad luck!’ whispered Crispian as he passed behind Annabel. ‘It seems he likes the more mature woman!’

  Annabel flushed, mortified that anyone had realised how she felt.

  ‘Do come along,’ Lord Corbett-Wynne said irritably. ‘I’m famished and Susan told us dinner was ready over ten minutes ago.’

  ‘Sorry, Step-papa,’ drawled Tania. They all moved towards the door.

  The dining room was large and dark. Old family portraits adorned the walls and the suspended lights over the dark mahogany dining table had navy-blue shades with gold braids over them. Annabel found herself seated between Lord Corbett-Wynne and Sir Matthew, which rather pleased her, with Tania and Crispian opposite her.

  The damask table cloth was immaculate and the pure crystal glasses shone, while the eighteenth-century pistol-handled cutlery added a wonderful touch. Small vases of freesias were placed along the centre of the table and their scent drifted in the air, masking the musty odour that seemed to be present in all the rooms of the Hall.

  The first course was delicious, smoked salmon in saffron aspic, and was accompanied by an excellent Chablis. Annabel found that the presence of Sir Matthew on her right seemed to have removed her appetite but she managed to force most of the light fish down.