Bad Kitty by Debra Glass Page B

her back, climb on top of her and thrust his cock into her sheath. His body tensed at the thought.
    When had he crawled into bed with her?
    He rubbed his aching temples. His head was pounding. Vaguely he recalled he had drunk far too much.
    How stupid and how dangerous!
    He sank into a chair in the guestroom and buried his face in his hands. The rough stubble on his jaw scratched his palms and it occurred to him that he needed a shave but today, he would just have to forego it.
    Bram sighed. This was ridiculous. It was time to put some respectable clothes on her and send her away. If it was a wedding ring she wanted, then maybe he could arrange something with an acquaintance. She was certainly attractive enough.
    I deserve my punishment. Please spank me, Master…
    His cock jerked against his breeches.
    Finding a husband for her would not be a problem. It was time to put this farce to an end.
    Inhaling, he stood and stepped out into the hallway.
    “My lord,” his personal servant, Cavanaugh, called.
    Bram turned.
    “There’s an urgent matter for you to attend.”
    “What?” Bram asked impatiently.
    “The Duke of Whitfield’s barrister, Montgomery, is in your study.”
    Bram stared. The well-trained valet showed no emotion on his face whatsoever so Bram could not read him. Still, why would his father’s attorney be here ?
    “Shall I tell him you will see him?” Cavanaugh asked.
    “Yes, yes,” Bram said, torn. “No. Wait. I will go directly to him. Please see that…the woman…in my room gets some breakfast and has absolute privacy.”
    Cavanaugh inclined his head, spun on his heel and set off while Bram strode toward his study.
    As he reached for the knob, his stomach knotted with tension. The reaction irritated him. Blast, he was an adult. His father had no power over him anymore. Steeling himself, Bram pushed open the door and faced his father’s barrister with his chin held high. He strode to his desk, ignoring the barrister’s respectful bow. “State your business, man.”
    Long and thin with sparse hair the same color as his ruddy skin, he stood, clutching his satchel and glancing at a chair, awaiting Bram’s invitation to sit. He looked rather like a weasel.
    Bram gestured with his hand and Montgomery sank into a chair.
    “Your father has drawn up a marriage proposal for you to offer,” the weasel said.
    Bram could hardly contain a burst of laughter. He leaned back in his char and steepled his fingers under his chin as he leveled his gaze on Montgomery. “Marriage?” he asked, though he was hardly surprised.
    Katrina Hartford’s presence here suddenly made perfect sense. But why her? She was only the daughter of a baron and, despite her beauty and intelligence—and incontrovertible sensuality—marriage to her could not possibly offer him any advantages socially, politically or financially.
    No doubt his father had hoped he would compromise her and then be forced to marry her. A pang struck Bram in the heart but he quickly quelled the unwelcome emotion. He had resolved long ago never to let his father hurt him again.
    “Listen up, Montgomery,” Bram said, looking down his nose at the scrawny weasel. “I know all about the old duke’s plans. You can go back and tell him I have not sullied the girl’s reputation in any way and that he cannot force a marriage on me.”
    Montgomery’s forehead crinkled. “I am certain I do not understand.”
    “Does he take me for an idiot as well as a lecher?” Bram asked, anger replacing the earlier hurt he had felt.
    He wondered how far Kitty was in on this scheme. Quite the actress, indeed. Bram burned when he thought of how innocently she’d looked at him with her dark blue eyes, how responsive she had been. Oh, how well they had trained her!
    Somehow he knew this was all his father’s doing and that Kitty was an innocent victim. She seemed so sincere. There would be far worse things in life than marrying Katrina Hartford. Still, the idea his father