London, May 1810


She watched as he slid his long, lean fingers down the female’s smooth body, stared in envy as that one received his gentle caresses. He wore no shirt and his exertions were leaving an enticing trail of sweat making its way slowly down his hard back. The tight black breeches complimented his perfect form, his feet bare as he continued the tender ministrations. She gazed in fascination as the muscles in his back and arms flexed with every fluent movement. Anticipating the moment, yearning for that instant when his hands would finally rove her own body with such care. Her dark green eyes slid appreciatively down his strong body as she undid another tiny button on her bodice. Yes, the time had come. The perfect opportunity to have him.

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To make him understand that he too desired her, though he’d most likely never dared given thought to that delicious notion. She listened in impatience as his deep voice spoke softly aloud, told that one how beautiful she was. Crooned that he could barely wait to ride her hard and fast so as to put all thoughts and cares behind him. She could scarcely take it any longer, her dainty foot taking its first step from behind her hiding place in the nearby stall. His instincts perfectly honed as ever, Derek heard the hay crumple beneath someone’s careless steps. Keeping one hand steady upon the mare’s back, he turned quickly to discover the intruder. Derek’s eyes narrowed briefly at the sight of his aunt’s approach. He wondered what the hell she was doing out in the far recesses of the stables at this time of day. “Aunt Bethany,” his rich voice greeted as he returned his attention to the beautiful mare named Lady. Bethany reached Derek’s side and casually reached out to stroke the horse. Lady snorted at the unwanted intrusion and Derek was hard put not to chuckle aloud at the offended look that crossed Bethany’s features as she took a step back. “I would have thought you were at the party with everyone else,” he commented.

Derek was referring to the annual gala his aunt and uncle threw every year. It was an outdoor affair with quaint dancing about the maypole, refreshments and entertainment galore. It was more of a county fair really, and a delightful if rare thing within the realm of sophisticated London.

Derek had first come to live on the immense estate with his aunt and uncle several years before, when his father had decreed him unmanageable and difficult at best. He’d been eleven at the time his mother died unexpectedly and Derek had never imagined such pain could exist. Although his mother’s soft touches and sweet hugs were rare, thanks to his father’s feelings that such displays of affection were unacceptable, Derek knew that she’d been the one and only good thing in his life. The stark realization that he would never again have that goodness and purity surrounding him left a bleak void in his young heart. A rebellious nature soon took hold of Derek and it wasn’t long before he was being kicked out of every prestigious boys’ school in Europe over a two year period. Unwilling to abide by his father’s demanding laws and unable to curb the bitterness that had taken over his entire existence, Derek finally bore the brunt of his father’s wrath once and for all.

After a severe beating with the dreaded leather strap, Derek was coldly informed that he would be sent to live with relatives. His father’s brother and family. They lived on the edge of London, their estate massive. Derek couldn’t recall their ever having visited his father’s relatives and wondered why he was being sent to live with someone his father obviously held little if any regard for. No more formal schooling for Derek either, his father had proclaimed. It would be strict tutors for the remainder of his education and Derek’s uncle swore he’d see that the boy never be let out of sight.

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