She answered his gentle, sensually teasing
smile with one of her own.
In that case,
I will never have cause to remove it. I
cannot imagine not feeling about you the
way I do now."
Remember that, hmmm?" He brushed
his knuckles lightly across her cheek before
reaching down to open his breeches.
He stepped out of the remainder of his
clothes, revealing a hard, aroused male
body. But Victoria noticed nothing else
about him in that moment except the
wide, ragged scar on his thigh.
Dear God," she whispered.
Does it bother you?" He stood waiting,
his breeches still in his hands, his eyes
unreadable.
She reached out to touch the ruined
flesh with gentle, soothing fingers.
Bother
me? Of course it does not bother me. Not
in the way you mean." She looked up at
him, stricken.
But how it must have hurt
you. I cannot bear the thought that you
suffered such agony, that you came so
close to death."
Hush, Vicky. Do not fret about it.
It was a long time ago and I assure
you right now it is not bothering me in
the slightest. I have far more important
things on my mind and none of them
have anything to do with death. They are
all matters of life." He caught her fingers
in his hand and kissed them.
Do you
know I didn't think it would upset you
too much. There are women who would
have recoiled in shock and revulsion. But
somehow I rather thought you would not
be put off by it. You are a most unusual
woman, Victoria."
Not really, but I
She broke off as
she finally noticed the rest of him.
Oh,
my." Victoria gazed at him, mesmerized.
He was hard and swollen in a state of
full arousal and his masculinity appeared
overwhelming to her inexperienced eyes.
Well, at least your mind is off that
damned scar," Lucas observed with wry humor
as he tossed his breeches over
a chair.
You are very
." Her tongue seemed
to grow awkward in her mouth. She
moistened her lips and tried again.
You
are quite magnificent, my lord. Rather
large, in fact. Bigger than I had imagined."
She felt herself turning red as he quirked
a brow.
Not that I was quite certain just
what you would look like, but I am
that
is, the plain fact is that I was not expecting
quite so much of you."
Lucas muttered an exclamation that
was half laugh and half groan as he
came down beside her and slid under
the covers.
Vicky, my darling, you say
the most delightfully honest things at the
most amazing times. God, but you are
sweet. I wonder how I waited this long
to have you near me like this."
He pulled her close, his hand closing
around her bare buttocks to urge her
against his strong thighs. He used his
foot to gently pry apart her legs and she
suddenly realized she had been clamping
them together. Fully intending to force
herself to relax, she wound up squeezing
her knees even more tightly shut.
Lucas's smile was deeply sensual.
I must
tell you, sweetheart, that this particular
aspect of our intellectual inquiry cannot
proceed much farther if you keep your
knees locked together."
The comment broke through her nervousness
and elicited a small gurgle of
laughter from her. Victoria put her arms
around his neck and smiled up at him.
Is
that right, my lord? I would never have
guessed. I shall rely upon you to keep
me informed of the small details of this
experiment."
Very well, here is one small detail that
most certainly must not be overlooked."
He bent his head and sipped one nipple
carefully between his strong, white teeth.
Lucas." Victoria gasped and closed her
eyes at the thrill that shot through her.
Instinctively she arched herself so that he
could take her more completely into his
mouth.
Lucas obliged her, and when she
was dazed with the sensations pouring
through her, Victoria felt his leg slide
effortlessly between her thighs. This time
she offered no resistance at all, opening
herself completely to his touch.
So soft. So sweet and soft and welcoming."
Lucas's voice was husky with his
passion. His long, elegant fingers moved
over her, exploring, searching, setting her
on fire, just as he had promised.
As she adjusted to the exquisite delights
unfolding in and around her, Victoria
slowly grew more bold. When she stroked
his shoulders and then traced the line of his
spine down to his hips, Lucas encouraged
her with dark, heated words.
You feel so good, Vicky. Your touch is
like none I have ever known."
He brushed himself lightly against her
thigh, letting her feel the fullness of his
manhood but not forcing her to accept
him yet.
Without stopping to think, Victoria
reached down to glide her fingertips across
the broad tip of his engorged shaft. She
gasped a little and drew back when she
encountered a bead of moisture.
Please," Lucas rasped against her breast.
Do it again." He thrust himself back
into her palm, asking silently for another
caress.
This time Victoria stroked him tentatively
with quivering fingers and was
delighted with his deep groan of response.
She discovered she loved knowing she had
such an effect on him.
Slowly he moved on top of her, settling
himself between her legs. She felt his hands
under her knees, raising them until she was
completely open to him. Then he lowered
his mouth and kissed her.
Lift yourself," he urged.
She drew a deep breath and did so
cautiously. He was ready and waiting for
her, She retreated instantly as she felt him
start to enter her. He was very large and
solid, she realized. There was no give to
him at all. She lifted her lashes and looked
up into his stark face.
I am not at all certain this is going to
work," Victoria said tightly.
It will work. Do not be in such a rush,
darling. We have hours yet." He kissed her
throat and nibbled tenderly at her ear.
Although I am quite certain I won't be
able to wait hours to show you that we
will fit together very well indeed. If I did
hold off that long, I would be headed for
Bedlam in the morning, a ruined man."
She started to laugh nervously at the
image, but just as the giggle emerged he slid
his palm down over her belly and carefully
sought the blossoming petals between her
legs with one long finger. Victoria's small
giggle turned into a breathless gasp.
Then he was doing the things he had
done to her that night in the carriage,
the things that would soon make her
shiver and cry out against his shoulder.
The fabulous spiral of excitement twisted
and condensed within her and turned her
into a wild, writhing creature of light and
energy.
As the storm within her threatened to
break, Victoria clutched tightly at Lucas,
digging her nails into his shoulders and
lifting her hips impulsively against his
hand. Her pleas began as small, frantic,
cajoling cries of delight and finally were
transformed into fierce little feminine
demands for release.
Do you want me now, sweetheart?"
Lucas parted her with his fingers and let
her feel the broad head of his shaft once
more.
This time she did not retreat.
Yes. Oh,
dear God, yes, my love."
He groaned, his whole body taut with
the effort he was exerting to retain his
self-control. Slowly he started to sink into
her.
Victoria flinched, unprepared for the full
force of his intrusion. Much of the dazzling
excitement she had been feeling vanished
as the pressure built. But she refused to
stop now. She had come this far and it
was clear that Lucas was at the end of his
tether. She could not deny him the same
release he had once given so generously to
her. She tightened her grip on his arm and
braced herself.
Take it easy, darling, this is not
supposed to be an act of martyrdom,"
Lucas whispered.
I'm sorry. Please, Lucas, go ahead. I
will be all right."
I want you to be more than all right." His
mouth fastened on hers and he withdrew
himself from her. He reached down to
insert his hand once more between their
bodies.
He teased her with his fingers, sliding
first one and then another just inside her,
stretching her gently, drawing forth the
sweet, hot honey. Soon she was once
more swept back into the grip of sensual
excitement.
This time he waited until she went coiled
and taut beneath him, waited until her
head tipped back over his arm, waited
until she cried out, waited until she began
to convulse gently and clutched at him
so passionately she left small marks in
his skin.
Then and only then did Lucas thrust
fully into her in one long, relentless stroke
that filled her completely.
He was drinking the last of her soft
cries of mingled release and erotic surprise
when his own shuddering climax broke
over him.
Victoria came slowly awake as she realized
that the unending pounding she was
hearing was the sound of someone knock
ing forcefully on her door. But that made
no sense. Nan would not dream of
knocking so impolitely and no one else
in the household except her aunt would