Part 24 (1/2)

She reached out and carefully wrapped her fingers around his erect shaft. He gripped her hand and squeezed harder than she would have dared. A deep sound of pure pleasure escaped his throat and reverberated inside her.

”Christ. I love your hand on my c.o.c.k,” he said, guiding her hand down his length, then back up to the tip. Though he was hard, his skin felt like satin. He loosened his hold, and she repeated the stroke, eliciting another thrilling groan from him. Touching him this way, watching how it affected him, was empowering. Enthralling. Her blood coursed hotter.

”I want to learn all the ways that give you pleasure, Simon.” She caressed him with another languid stroke. ”Will you show me?”

Briefly closing his eyes, he made a sound-a combination of a laugh and a groan. ”Even if it kills me,” he promised.

A glistening drop of fluid appeared on the tip. She touched it with her thumb, then spread it with light circular caresses.

He stilled her hand with a sharp groan, then drew in a ragged breath. Softly, he swore. ”Does it excite you to see what you're doing to me?”

”Yes,” she responded, without embarra.s.sment.

”Are you wet for me, Angelica?”

”I am.” She couldn't help it. It's what he did to her.

He smiled. ”That's excellent. Because you're going to show me just how wet you are.”

Before she could remark, he swept her up in his arms and carried her to the bed. The next thing she knew was the feel of the soft mattress against her back.

He straddled her, pressing his palms on the bed at either side of her shoulders. ”It's my turn to look at you.” Reaching down, he took hold of the hem of her chemise and gently slid it up her thighs. ”Let's remove this.”

She remained motionless, burning with fever.

He moved her hem a little higher. ”I swear, my eyes cannot get enough of you.” Those eyes he spoke of reflected the sincerity of his words.

Tamping down her inhibition, she helped him remove her last article of clothing.

With a few easy movements, the garment was on the floor, and he'd rearranged her legs so that he now knelt between her knees.

She bit down on her lip and fought back her instinctive shyness, battling the urge to cover herself with her arms.

He sat back on his heels and let his gaze move down the length of her body. She saw the warming look of appreciation in his eyes. Her discomfort melted away.

”You take my breath away... Every time.” Her throat tightened with emotion. ”Bend your knees. Let me look at the rest of you.”

She went stock-still. She could not possibly have heard correctly. He wasn't actually going to look at her there?

He must have noticed the uncertainty in her eyes because he said, ”This is what lovers do. They enjoy each other, filling their senses with one another. Touch, taste, sight.” He smoothed his warm palms up her thighs. ”Let me see you.” His voice was like velvet. ”Bend your knees for me.”

Her entire body flushed warm. His request was as exciting as it was intimidating. She reminded herself that this was what she wanted. To have Simon Boulenger as her lover. To be with him this way.

She closed her eyes and slowly bent her knees. Erotic expectation seized her. Her mental focus was now on her private area, open to his view. She tried not to squirm, unaccustomed to this sort of casual scrutiny, yet braced herself for the thrill of his touch.

His fingers lightly stroked along her inner thighs, moving toward her s.e.x. She fisted the sheets, her feminine flesh feeling overly sensitive and slick with desire.

”Cherie, look at me.”

Her eyes snapped open. He said cherie instead of chere. For the first time, he called her 'my darling.'

The smile on his lips and the soft look in his eyes pulled at her heart.

”Don't be embarra.s.sed.” His fingertips brushed against her moist cleft. She gasped. ”You are so beautiful here...” His finger gently circled her opening, the soft strokes making her moan. She closed her eyes, instinctively arching to him, trying to draw his fingers inside her. Eluding her, he glided his hand a little higher. She opened her eyes and stilled, barely breathing, his fingers so close to where she ached.

”And this pretty little c.l.i.t,” he said, circling yet barely touching the excited bud. ”It's not only perfect, but it also looks completely...delicious.” He gave her a light pinch.

She cried out at the sharp pleasure.

Leaning over her, he kissed her, sliding his fingers inside her. She mewed against his mouth and threw her arms around him. Lowering himself onto the bed, he began long even strokes with his practiced hand. The finesse of his touch fueling her frenzy. Driving her wild.

”I want to taste you,” he muttered. ”But I can't wait to have you any longer.”

Wantonly aroused, she had no idea what he was saying. Slowly, he withdrew his fingers. She protested with a whimper. Her s.e.x throbbed with need.

A roguish smile formed on his handsome face. ”Perhaps just a small sampling now...” he said and stroked her bottom lip with his finger, applying her essence to it. She jerked, shocked.

Dipping his head, he licked it off. ”So sweet...You taste as good as I knew you would.”

His weight pinning her to the mattress, he claimed her mouth in a hot, hungry kiss, and lodged the blunt tip of his s.e.x against her opening. She returned his kiss with equal hunger, her pulse racing wildly.

Slowly, steadily he began to push into her. The delicate muscles inside her resisted. She tensed. A sudden wave of anxiety washed over her, a fleeting distant memory of a long-ago event threatening the delicious s.e.xual abandon she felt. She tried to relax, knowing from experience the unpleasant feelings would vanish once Simon was completely inside her. She would then lose herself in the pleasure he created...

He stopped. He was no longer kissing her. No longer pressing into her.

Reluctantly, she opened her eyes.

There was comprehension in the blue eyes staring back at her. With a sinking feeling, she realized that not only had he noticed her sudden apprehension, but, given his knowledge of her past, guessed at the reason behind it too.

He looked concerned, as though he was going to say something on the abhorrent subject. Dear G.o.d. She didn't wish to discuss this. Not now.

But then he surprised her and smiled. ”Let's try something different.”

Before she could object to alterations to their intended course of action, he rolled with her in his arms. She found herself lying on top of him.

He pressed a finger to her lips just as she was about to speak up. ”Let's make love in a different position tonight.”

She jerked back. ”There are different positions?” What an appealing concept.

He chuckled. ”There are.” She opened her mouth. He placed his finger back on her lips. ”And yes, before you ask, I'll take you in as many as you want. As for now, I'm dying to be inside you. Sit up. Straddle me. In this position, you dictate the pace.”

He would be under her. She'd be in control. A fresh wave of arousal rushed through her. She sat up, the folds of her slick s.e.x inadvertently kissing his hard length. He growled her name, a low, sensual sound that quivered up her spine. Urgency swamped her.

He brought her hand to the base of his shaft. She quickly wrapped her fingers around it.

”It is entirely up to you, how deep, how fast, cherie.” His voice was strained, his eyes darkened with raw need, his reactions to her inflaming her further.

She positioned him at her opening. He held her hips and urged her down. His thumb gently stroked her c.l.i.t, creating tiny shocks of pleasure.

She sank down on him, her body opening to him, sheathing him inch by glorious inch. The decadent strokes of his thumb and the feel of him slowly filling her were indescribable bliss. When at last she'd taken his entire length, her head fell back. Oh G.o.d. He was so deep. Deeper than before. It felt so good. She felt so full.