“How are you feeling?”
The question made his entire body tense. How was he feeling? Did the woman have any idea how difficult it was not to pull her into his arms and kiss her? Make love to her? He sat up, prepared to get out of bed, and remembered he’d refused his nightshirt. He didn’t have a stitch of clothing on. The small clock on the mantle chimed the hour of three, and he seized on the fact that at this time of the morning the likelihood of anyone seeing her leave was doubtful.
“I asked you a question, Percy.”
She sat up and pressed her body into his shoulder. Instantly, the warmth of her barreled through him. Unlike her voice, which contained resolute determination, her body was silky soft against his shoulder. Unable to help himself his gaze drifted down to her neck then lower to where the thin lawn of her chemise covered her breasts. The material barely left anything to his imagination, and at the moment his mind was racing in a direction that was reckless beyond anything he’d ever done. Without warning his cock stirred against his leg and hardened, and he barely managed to keep from reaching out to cup her breast.
“I’m fine,” he said through clenched teeth. “What the hell are you doing here?”
“I stayed to ensure you were all right.”
“And how the devil did you explain your presence in my bedroom—half naked?”
“I told Jenkins I was your mistress.”
“You did what?” Thunderstruck by her revelation, Percy stared at her in shock.
“I believe my words were distinctly audible.”
“Oh, I heard you quite clearly,” he snarled angrily. The woman was mad. “What I don’t know is why.”
“Because I wanted to stay with you. I wanted to be sure you were all right.”
“Damnit, Rhea,” he growled. “Have you lost your mind?”
“I thought the Rockwoods approved of reckless behavior.” The fact that there was just a hint of amusement in her gaze made him grit his teeth.
“The situation is at a level of recklessness that even I wouldn’t dare to achieve.”
“Are you saying you’re unhappy I’m here?”
“I didn’t say that.”
“Then you are glad.”
Before he could reply to her softly spoken words, Rhea gently pushed him back into the pillows and straddled him. Even with every alarm going off in his brain, he didn’t need any warning that the situation was out of hand. His body had gone rigid with need, and he was barely holding on to what little self-restraint he still possessed. If he didn’t end this quickly, something would happen—something she would regret.
“Well, Percy?” she whispered as she lowered her head and brushed her lips across his jaw. “Am I right? Are you happy I’m here?”
“Christ Jesus.” His voice was thick and unsteady. “How am I supposed to answer that?”
“Honestly.”
She lifted her head to study him and the flash of trepidation in her eyes tugged at his heart. Did she think herself so sullied that no decent man could want her? Care for her? She was wrong to think such a thing. He could easily come up with a dozen reasons why any man of good breeding would be proud to call her his. He reached up to stroke her cheek with his fingers.
“Yes,” he rasped. “Yes, I’m glad you’re here.”
It was the truth. Even though he knew it was foolhardy for her to be here. God help him, he shouldn’t allow this to go any further. He should carry her downstairs, order a hack, and send her home. But he couldn’t. He didn’t want to let her go. A small smile touched her lips as she caught his hand and kissed his palm. The featherlight caress sent desire barreling through him. As she nuzzled her mouth against his palm, she looked at him.
“I want this, Percy. I want you.”
Her words were a mere whisper of sound. It was an open display of vulnerability and trust. Percy swallowed the knot that formed in his throat. Damnation, he couldn’t take advantage of her like this. As if she sensed his struggle with his sensibilities, she kissed the palm of his hand then reached for her chemise.
“If I wasn’t sure about this I wouldn’t be here,” she whispered.
In a breathtaking, lethargic movement, she slowly pulled her chemise up over her thighs then up over her body. The moment her breasts came into view, he sucked in a harsh breath of air. She was exquisite. As if it had a mind of its own, his hand reached out to stroke the side of one round, full breast as she finished removing her chemise. The thin garment slipped from her fingers as she let it fall off the side of the bed to the floor.
Desire darkened her eyes to a deep purple hue. In one languid movement, she lowered her head to kiss him again. It was a velvety soft caress that teased and enticed at the same time. His hand curled around her neck, and he pulled her close then nipped at her bottom lip. The small gasp she made gave him access to the warmth of her mouth. Fresh honey on a hot summer day could not have been sweeter.
With each stroke of his tongue against hers, a growing need hammered at his body. The urgency of it surged through his body, through his blood, and into his already stiff cock. It stretched and hardened further. The ache it produced was a pleasurable one that demanded a release. Every inch of him shouted with a need to slide into the slick heat of her and make her his. Quickly twisting his body, he rolled her onto her back and hovered over her.
She murmured her disapproval, but he silenced her objection with a hard kiss. Her protest became a quiet mewl as his lips left hers to caress the side of her jaw and down to the side of her neck. As he explored the curve of her shoulder with his lips, she released a soft sigh of pleasure, and he smiled at the sound.
“I like the way you taste,” he murmured as he continued his downward path to her breast.
A shudder rippled through her followed by a quiet sound of delight as he grazed the tip of her nipple with his teeth. The moment he pulled the stiff peak into his mouth, she gasped and arched her body upward. Satisfaction gripped him hard at her response. In a slow, deliberate motion, he scraped across the tip of her with his tongue.
“Oh God, Percy,” she moaned. He paused and raised his head slightly.
“I take it, you enjoyed that.”
“Yes,” she whispered as she met his gaze. Violet eyes dark with passion, she caressed his temple with the tips of her fingers.
“Good,” he said gruffly.
He brushed the side of her with his mouth then kissed her breastbone as he turned his attention to the other soft, rounded breast. The only response she made was a sharp inhalation of air as he flicked his tongue over the tip of her. Desire pounded its way through him, and he lifted his head to look at her. Eyes closed, her face was flushed with pleasure, and she cried out again as he gently tugged at her rigid nipple with his teeth.
Releasing the stiff peak, he swirled his tongue around the tip of her then sucked at the hard pebble again taking pleasure in the moans pouring out of her. The moment he lifted his head and blew a small puff of air against her flesh, she cried out his name. It was a gratifying sound that wrapped around him and pushed its way through his skin until it rushed through his veins driving with it a need to possess her completely.
Heart pounding with exhilaration, he lifted his head to look at her. The bliss reflected on her lovely face shot a bolt of something unexpected through him. He was responsible for that look of ecstasy. It made her beautiful beyond words. Silently he vowed no other man would ever see her this radiant and exquisite as long as he drew breath. From this moment on he would be the only man to touch her—pleasure her.
The depth of that commitment set off fire alarms in his head, but he silenced them. In a leisurely fashion he briefly explored the valley between her rounded flesh. A faint floral scent filled his nostrils. It was as if she had been lying in a field of wildflowers at Melton Park. The sudden erotic image of seeing her naked in a bed of flowers made his body flex with tension. The pictures in his head aroused an intense need to assuage his desire for her this instant, but he held back.
Instinctively, he knew everything about their relationship going forward hinged on him putting her needs first. The men who’d used her had done so for their own gratification and nothing more. He needed to make her understand her needs and pleasure were just as important as his own were. His cock protested with a violent jerk as he strengthened his resolve not to give way to his desire. It tightened and stretched in retribution for his self-denial.
His mouth captured her nipple and teased it as he had the other. With a whimper of need, she bucked against him. The instant her hands slid downward to reach for his erection, he caught her hand and held it up over her head. When she froze beneath him, he quickly released her and lifted his head to stare down into her eyes. Apprehension darkened the purple hue until the violet orbs were almost black. Keeping his touch gentle, he stroked her cheek.
“Don’t be afraid, sweetheart,” he soothed. “I just want to focus on pleasing you without any distractions. And I confess that every time you touch me I’m definitely distracted.”
Surprise lightened her wary expression before she smiled slowly. It was a womanly smile that said she understood she possessed power over him at this moment in time. He was only grateful she didn’t realize precisely how much power she wielded over him already.
