Linna : Historical Romance (The Brocade Collection, Book 5) (8 page)

“Straddle me.”

Linna pulled away, and swallowed. She didn’t dare. It would be like that time beside the table, and she didn’t want it to be.

“You promise not to move?” she asked.

“If it’s at all possible,” he replied through what sounded like clenched teeth.

Linna cocked her head to the side as she considered it
. Then she did as he suggested. She lifted away in order to swing a leg up and over the width of him, avoiding his hips altogether. Everything on him felt like it was straining toward what she was denying. That was heady.

There
were more muscles in his stomach than she remembered, and her thighs were knowing each and every one as she perched atop him. Below her, Raoul panted, pulling in one breath after another. She knew he was doing it for her. He was holding back. Linna leaned closer to gain his other hand. At the movement, such intense bulk, rigidity, and heat touched her core that she broke out in sweat all along her hairline.

His groan this time came from the region of flesh she was astride
. Linna could actually feel it.

“Raoul?”  She knew what the length of him was
, and she forced herself not to move, not by a twitch. It wasn’t going to make accepting it into her own body any easier. “Is something wrong? Does it pain?”

“At the moment it’s complete hell
. Thanks for asking,” he replied, in a voice that didn’t sound remotely like him.

Linna drew her eyebrows together
. She didn’t understand it at all. She sat upright and that moved her away from the source of heat. “I didn’t know. What can I do?”

“Don’t move away
! Continue with your explorations. Don’t stop! Please? Don’t stop. I’m begging you.”

“But
—”

“You can kiss me
. That might work. Yes, that’s it. Kiss me. Now. Please? Now.”

Linna let go of his fingers and he let her
. She would have complied quicker, but she had to find his mouth first. She ran her fingers over the slightly rough texture of his chin, found his lips with a fingertip, and lowered her mouth to his. He was probably the one gulping more at her lips than she was at his, but it wasn’t his fault. She didn’t know a kiss could be like that.

Linna
helped him taste her, opening her mouth to gasp for air, but then holding it too long before releasing it, making a sensation akin to drowning and yet better than breathing. The tongue he slipped into her depths startled yet thrilled the moment she felt it. Linna moaned and writhed atop him, trying to take as much as he was demanding.

It wasn’t until she wrenched her lips from his and lifted her head, more to gain air than any other reason, that she realized how near she was to
his manhood. It emboldened her when he did nothing about it except catch a breath and tremble. Nothing more. Linna slid herself down to sit at the front of his loins, leaving a trail of moisture the entire way. Beneath her, Raoul was sucking for air, taking one breath after the other. Every bit of him felt tightened to the texture of a coiled spring.

Linna had located what she was searching for
. She went into an arch to slide first up the front of his rod and then down, moistening him and receiving his heat in exchange. Her innermost area was on fire and she didn’t know what to do about it. She slid up again, poised for a moment at the crest, and then went back down in an ooze of movement. Raoul wasn’t groaning anymore, he was making strangling noises from his throat.

Linna slid up again, poised atop him again, and tensed her thighs
. The heat hadn’t abated. She was being consumed by it. She hovered in place, lowered herself slightly...and she didn’t feel him move. Hard hands seized her by the waist - pinning her in place, right where she was.

“
Sweet heaven, Linna! Please? I cannot take much more. I’m begging you.   Now! Oh, love....now!”

His fingers were like talons, his arms trembled
, and he was lifting his hips at the same time, pushing the tip of himself into her, making her take it, testing her; tempting her.

“Aye,” she whispered back.

He didn’t give her another moment. Linna screamed at being impaled, as Raoul shoved so deeply, she might have torn even if she weren’t a maid.

The heat wasn’t fire, it
was an inferno. He pulled her down atop him, lifted her, and then hauled her back, doing the motion again and again. Over and over. Moisture coated his body making it hard to find any kind of a hold. Her hands kept slipping from wherever she put them. She settled with gripping to the backs of his upper arms.

“Oh yes
! Linna love, yes!”

His movements grew wilder
. Linna no longer worried over pain. It wasn’t bad like before. She found she wasn’t being held in place, after all. She was doing her share of the movement. She didn’t question how it had happened. She just knew it had.

“Oh
! Linna....I adore.... I needed this! I needed you! Ah...love!”

His words
grew more garbled and hoarse. Linna didn’t know why. But something was happening. Something wondrous. Savage and yet ecstatic. Linna could sense it. Feel it. Growing larger. Nearer. Her entire body tensed, and then went skyward with sensation. There wasn’t any way to contain it.

It wasn’t Raoul’s cry of satiation filling the bedchamber with sound, it was hers
. Raoul was grunting. Thrusting. Moving her. Again. Harder. Linna’s cry ended on a sob of sound, and she was grasping for the pleasure again. Raoul helped, maneuvering her. Up. Back down. Shoving again and again into her, in time with an increasing rhythm only he heard.

“Dearest...Linna
! Dearest! Sweet! Loving—”

His whispered endearments choked off
, turning into the longest, deepest groan. And he was arching up from the mattress, lifting her with it. The hands holding her waist shook as he convulsed over and over again inside her. She had to shut her eyes to the enormity of it.    

She knew her words were going to be proven false every day of their life together, too
. She’d been stupid to put such a condition on him. She’d been naive. She’d been foolish. She’d been fearful. To have this night be the only one she ever got with him? It was insanity to suggest it!

Cord stroked the tangled chestnut locks cascading over his chest and torso, caressing the woman perched atop him until her breathing deepened into sleep. He’d lost control. He couldn’t believe it. He’d never given a woman his seed. Ever. He’d been schooled better. He’d spent years giving pleasure and taking it, but that was all anyone ever got from him.

He still couldn’t believe what he’d done.

She stirred and he touched the pout of her lips with a forefinger, wondering how long he’d let her rest before he wouldn’t be able to hold it again. She had such a passionate mouth, just made for his kisses. He sighed, moving her body with it, and watched as she found a comfortable spot again atop him.

He’d control it better next time, because there was definitely going to be a next time
. She could say different, but he knew women. This one wasn’t going to be satisfied with just one session. Cord trailed his finger from her lips, around her shoulder, down her back to her buttocks. Perfect. Absolutely perfect.

He grinned, lowered his head, and took the kiss he was hungering for.

CHAPTER EIGHT

Cord watched the girl asleep on his bed and knew the truth now. She didn’t deserve what he’d done to her, and she wasn’t deserving of what he still had left to do either. He only wished it bothered him more.

He’d been afraid he’d lost the capacity for love and compassion
.

It was a shame to know it for certain
.

“Linna
? Love?”  He bent over her and whispered to the ear just peeking over the coverlet.

“No more...please?”

Cord smiled. She’d said that less than an hour ago, too. He hadn’t cared. He only got the one night. She had to fulfill her part of their bargain.

Too bad he wasn’t going to fulfill his.

“It’s nearly morn, Linna. You don’t wish to be caught in my bed, do you?”

“No more,” she repeated.

“Come along. Sun’s about up. We’ve got to get you back to your residence. Come along.”

She slid strands of hair out of her face and favored him with a half-open eye
. Cord sucked in on his cheeks as he looked. He’d been rougher the second time. Even more so the last one. Her lips were swollen, and there were several dark areas on her throat and chin where he’d sucked on her skin.

“It’s almost morn, then?”

“Tired of me already?” he asked in reply. For some reason the relief in her voice grated on him. He’d been rough, yes, but she’d been screaming words of ecstasy through most of it.

“Would you...turn aside so I can rise?”

“Oh, I don’t think so. I’ve pretty much memorized that body of yours. There’s nothing I haven’t seen and nothing I haven’t tasted. I’d like to see it again. Now.”

She started up and winced once she sat
. Cord rolled his tongue along his cheeks as he watched her.

“Very well
. Look...your fill. Then never...again, remember?”

She wasn’t moving very easily, and Cord watched as she gingerly moved her legs to the side of the mattress
. She had shapely legs. He caught the whistle of appreciation before it sounded. “Oh, I don’t think I said a thing about looking,
Mademoiselle
. In fact, I’m certain of it. Touching, yes. Looking? Another story. Would you like to bargain again?”

“No.”

She stood unsteadily, holding the coverlet about herself. Cord approached her, his boots making little sound on the carpeted floor. She met his look well enough, although she paled.

“It’s not yet dawn,” he said softly when he reached her, “and I’m a hard man to satisfy
. I might need more...if given the proper motivation.”

She dropped the material, where it trailed from the bed onto a puddle on the floor.

“Much better. I don’t suppose you brought a change of clothing last night, did you?”

“Why would I
? I—I was attending a ball.”

“True enough
. You’ll have to wear your gown. It’s a little worse for wear, I’m afraid.”

Cord lifted the white dress and handed it to her
. He’d found it in the corner. He didn’t have to tell her. Her face had darkened. It made her more beautiful than she already was. Cord swallowed.

“Where are my under-things?”

“Not yours anymore, I’m afraid. I’m keeping them.”

“What?” 

After everything he’d shown her, the shock in her voice sounded out of place. Cord tried to stop his grin before she saw it. Then he shrugged. He didn’t care what she saw. She’d been very satisfying, and very passionate, and very much a woman. She’d been enough to make him forget his life goal for a few hours. That was more than he deserved.

“I don’t think I can move,” she whispered.

He barely stopped the laughter. He hadn’t felt like laughing in more years than he could remember. It probably sounded in his voice. “I’ll help you.”

Linna shoved her hair over her shoulders and faced him, holding herself to her full height
. Cord didn’t move as he let his eyes rove about every bit of her. She had to be the most beautiful female in existence. He’d thought so when he first saw her portrait in the locket. Now, he knew it.

“Turn around,” he commanded.

“I don’t see why—”

“It’s not yet light
. You wouldn’t ruin your bargain now, would you?”

She set her jaw and swiveled
. Cord stopped the groan from sounding as he moved to fit himself to her backside. He probably shouldn’t have dressed already. He’d sated himself with her three times and still felt the stir. He shook his head in amazement. His women wouldn’t believe it. They’d probably double their efforts if he told them of it though. He put an arm around Linna and lifted her against him. Beyond a gasp, she didn’t struggle.

“You smell wonderful.”

“I need a bath.”

“Don’t have one yet
. Please?”

“Your night is almost over, Raoul.”

“Don’t you know what this smell is?”  Cord crushed her to him and inhaled deeply of her hair.

“You’re barbaric
! This is – put me down!”

Cord had her in his arms and buried his nose between her breasts, moving the flesh out of his way
. “You’ve so much to learn. How can I get you to understand if you hold me to my bargain?”

“Not again, please
. I’m too sore. Please?”

“I should go find a preacher, make you mine,  then keep you in my bed day in and day out
. That’s what I should do.”

This time, he got more than her gasp as she cried out
. “We made a bargain. We did. I kept my part.”

“I...didn’t convince you otherwise?”

“You’re—it was...I’ve been—this is ridiculous. You can’t possibly mean—”

“I may not be able to keep to my part of this bargain, Linna
. You’re too desirable. Can’t you tell that?”

“What
? You’re insatiable!”

“Not really
. I’m just desperate. You opened up heaven and now you’re locking me out. I have only a few minutes to plead my side. I’m not doing it very well.”

“Oh yes, you are.”

Cord lifted his head. From the span of inches, she met his eyes and smiled slightly. “I can’t say I didn’t enjoy what you did, Raoul. I may...it will be...I, uh...let’s just say, I was hasty when I bargained what I bargained.” 

She lifted her hands and pushed the hair from his face
. Then while holding his head, she moved to kiss him. He was amazed he kept the shudder inside until she pulled away from him.

Bottomless, whiskey-tinged eyes held his
. Cord felt the strangest twinge in the depths of him, almost like when he’d pulled a muscle, only sharper and sweeter. His eyes widened.

“Let’s just say, I’ll think about it
. Fair?” she asked.

“Will you still bathe?”

She rolled her eyes. “You can’t be serious. I smell like—I feel like—well, quite frankly, I reek. That’s how I feel.”

“You smell like me, Linna
. It’s the smell of lovers. Us. Combined. Don’t you see?”

She was blinking rapidly
. Cord couldn’t believe it. He was making her cry?

“I thought you weren’t very good with words,” she whispered.

He gripped her to him until she protested in his ear. He lifted his head to listen.

“The sun
is almost up, Raoul. I can’t be found here. I have to prepare.”

“For what?” he asked.

She giggled. “Our wedding. Remember?”

“Oh, yeah
. That.”

“You still want to, don’t you?”

“Of course,” he answered, setting her back down and shaking her dress out. “You don’t have much time. It’s almost five. I’ve arranged for the carriage.”

“When will you come for me?” she asked.

“Soon enough. I have things to see to. I wasn’t planning on gaining a wife last night.”

She slid the dress over her head and put her arms through the sleeves
. They weren’t staying up very well. “Oh. I remember,” she told him, holding the straps up with crossed arms. “You tore it.”

“I did?”

“Last night. When you...you—well, you’re very impatient.”

“We’ll buy more.”

“You aren’t planning on tearing all my clothes from me, are you?”

The teasing glint was back in her eye
. Cord winked. “I might. Would it bother you unduly?”

“It’s rather wasteful
. And I hate waste.”

“Change your opinion
. Come along. I haven’t got all day to wait to carry you.”

“I can walk,” she answered, taking a step in a cautious fashion
.

Cord swooped her up
. He told himself it was due to necessity. He didn’t want her to be seen yet. He didn’t want her checking their surroundings. She felt wonderful. He was already feeling like he was wearing skin that was too tight and clothing that bound him in place.

He wasn’t about to admit to any of it.

He’d lived ten years in hell. Nothing resembling love and compassion survived. He knew it. They all did. He was actually surprised his arms trembled. He told himself it was due to lack of sleep and made himself believe it.

One thing was certain, he’d earned Fletcher’s gold
. He put her in the carriage, looked sidelong at her driver, Blight, and shut the door. Then he turned back. He had to get out of these clothes. He had to get back to the ship. He had everything else packed and ready. He didn’t look back.

Linna was almost asleep again when the carriage halted. She wondered how she was going to sneak back into her room without Rhea or Drake catching her. She didn’t think she could walk. She should have asked Raoul for the cloak, she decided, holding to her straps. She scooted to the door.

“What’re we stopping here for
? We was told to take her to Main and make her walk. She’s supposed to be seen. That won’t happen here. She’ll look just like one of them doxies.”

“We’re stopping because there’s some plans that are being seen through, and some that’s being changed
. That’s why we’re stopping.”

“What
? Why wasn’t I told?”

“And we’re stopping because I had a rough night
. We all did. I’ve got a hankering. And she’s going to see to it. I’m going to have her, too. Why should our friend get all the goodies, huh? We earned it, too. Besides...she’s ruined. That’s what was paid for, wasn’t it? Well?”

Linna heard the voices and found her legs really did have the capability of moving
. She slid back to the far wall as the door opened. A man with the most pocked face she’d ever seen leered at her. Then he turned back to the smaller man hovering at his side. Linna didn’t take her eyes from them. Over their heads, she could tell they weren’t anywhere near Rhea’s house. It looked more like the ocean-front lay beyond them. It smelled like it, too.

“Fletch won’t like this
. He don’t like his plans changed. He won’t like it. Nope. He won’t. Not a-tall.”

“Shut up, Birdie
. Guard the door. I’ve an itch to scratch. Besides, Fletch will never even know, will he?”

“Oh, he’ll know
. He knows everything. I’m going to make certain of it, too. I’ll tell him. He’ll reward me.”  The smaller man bobbed his head as he spoke, reminding Linna of a baby bird.

“You tell him and I’ll say Cord wanted it.”

“Cord? He’ll have your neck. I’ll watch. He will. I’ll tell him, too.”

“Why would you tell him, when you’re going to get a turn, too?”

Linna’s eyes widened. Her heart was hammering in the same tempo as her pulse, making it hard to hear.

“I am
? Well...that changes things. Yep, it does. It changes them an awful lot. It does.”

“You touch me and I’ll scream,” Linna said
. She knew they were near the wharf. She could hear the sounds about them.

“Screams have a way of being ignored in this part of the world, lass
. You should-a thought of that a-fore you let our Cord ply you.”

Linna hadn’t seen any sign of a rope or cord
. If she had, she’d be using it. “My husband-to-be will see you both hanged.”

“Husband
? Did you hear that, Birdie? Husband. Ha, ha.”

He wasn’t laughing when he said it
. Linna looked about for a weapon. She had nothing. The door was still open though. She screamed, startling both of them. Linna screamed again. The scarred man lunged for her, but he was too slow. Linna kicked at him, holding her dress together with both hands and yelling at the same time.

“Help me
! Somebody! Help!”

Somebody had heard
. She could tell by the little man’s reaction. Linna didn’t stop however. She kept screaming.