She belonged to someone she loved and he need not be ashamed of her.
As if he knew what she was thinking, the Prince said,
“The past is over. Forget it. There is so much, heart of my heart, my perfect love, in the future for us both.”
He touched her hair.
“I have so much to make up to you for, for the years of loneliness, the uncertainty, the fear, the secrecy which every woman hates, but most of all, my precious darling, because you were afraid of what the future might hold.”
“But I – found you,” Lokita said softly, “and now you are my future. All that happened in the past I can forget.”
“I will make you forget it,” the Prince replied. “I will make you remember only that I love you and that we belong to each other. That you are mine now and for all Eternity.”
He pushed back her hair from her shoulders and bent his head. He did not kiss her skin as she thought he might, but moved his lips over the softness of it.
It had excited her before when he had touched her fingers with his mouth, but now it sent thrill after thrill coursing through her.
Somehow it was intermingled with the music and the fragrance of the flowers to make her feel that she was no longer herself and had no identity apart from him.
As the Prince felt her tremble not with fear but with the intensity of her feelings, he exclaimed triumphantly,
“I excite you, my beloved little flower!”
Lokita blushed.
“I love – you, Ivan,” she whispered.
There was a note in her voice that brought the fire flaming to his eyes and broke the spell that had bound them since the vows they had exchanged in the Chapel.
The Prince’s arms tightened and now his kisses became masterful and insistent.
He kissed her shoulders, first one, then the other, then her neck, intensifying the thrills and the excitement she felt and lastly her mouth.
She felt as if he was like a tempest rising slowly and growing stronger every second until finally when his lips held hers captive she was swept away by a whirlwind.
It was so powerful, an irresistible force, and yet it was a rapture beyond words, almost beyond thought.
She knew that the Prince’s iron control, which had prevented him from touching her until now, had been broken.
She felt too as if all the inhibitions, the anxieties and even the shyness that had held her like little fetters was broken too.
This was life, this was a love so omnipotent and so overwhelming that she could only acknowledge its majesty.
The Prince’s kisses became more passionate, fierce and demanding, and yet she was not afraid.
She surrendered herself utterly to him, giving him not only her body but also her heart, her soul and her mind.
She no longer existed as an individual, she was his, subservient to his will and glorying in his supremacy.
“I love you!” God in Heaven how I love you!” the Prince exclaimed.
Now Lokita felt him undoing her gown and, as it slipped to the ground like a shaft of moonlight, he lifted her into his arms.
He carried her to the petal-strewn couch and laid her down gently to stand for a moment looking down at her. At her fair hair streaming down over her nakedness, at her eyes wide and soft with love and at her lips trembling for his lips.
“I love you!” the Prince said again, but she was not certain whether he spoke in Russian, French or English.
The language they used was the language of the Gods and the love they expressed with their lips, their hearts and their bodies was the manifestation of love that both men and Gods have used since the beginning of time.
“You are mine!” the Prince exclaimed. “Mine from the top of your shining head to the soles of your tiny feet. I worship you, my lovely darling! Equally I want you as a man wants the woman who is his!”
“1 want you too,” Lokita wished to say, but the words were lost against his mouth.
She felt his hands touching her and something wild and wonderful within her body rose like a flame to echo the fire that she could feel on his lips and in every breath he drew.
She knew that this was part of their love, as sacred and perfect as the feelings she had felt when she raised her arms to the stars.
It was love, all-consuming, all-demanding. A love that swept away not only barriers but all reservations and all restrictions.
The Prince’s lips were fiercely demanding and she knew that there was nothing of her that did not belong to him, just as the wild and wonderful passion she evoked in him was part of her.
“I love you, my precious, my Drouska, my flower, my wife!”
She could feel his heart beating against hers and she thought that there was another light that gleamed in the room besides the light behind the walls.
It was the light of love, the light that was Divine, the light that came from their souls –
“I love – you – I love you.”
“You are mine! Give me yourself.”
“I am – yours – yours.”
“My Flower – my little Star – my Soul!”
Then there was only the murmur of the sea, the petals falling softly from the ceiling and the stars coming out one by one in the great arc of the sky to be reflected in the water beneath them.
OTHER BOOKS IN THIS SERIES
The Barbara Cartland Eternal Collection is the unique opportunity to collect as ebooks all five hundred of the timeless beautiful romantic novels written by the world’s most celebrated and enduring romantic author.
Named the Eternal Collection because Barbara’s inspiring stories of pure love, just the same as love itself, the books will be published on the internet at the rate of four titles per month until all five hundred are available.
The Eternal Collection, classic pure romance available worldwide for all time .
Elizabethan Lover
The Little Pretender
A Ghost in Monte Carlo
A Duel of Hearts
The Saint and the Sinner
The Penniless Peer
The Proud Princess
The Dare-Devil Duke
Diona and a Dalmatian
A Shaft of Sunlight
Lies for Love
Love and Lucia
Love and the Loathsome Leopard
Beauty or Brains
The Temptation of Torilla
The Goddess and the Gaiety Girl
Fragrant Flower
Look Listen and Love
The Duke and the Preacher’s Daughter
A Kiss for the King
The Mysterious Maid-servant
Lucky Logan Finds Love
The Wings of Ecstacy
Mission to Monte Carlo
Revenge of the Heart
The Unbreakable Spell
Never Laugh at Love
Bride to a Brigand
Lucifer and the Angel
Journey to a Star
Solita and the Spies
The Chieftain Without a Heart
No Escape from Love
Dollars for the duke
Pure and Untouched
Secrets
Fire in the Blood
Love, Lies and Marriage
The Ghost who Fell in Love
Hungry for Love
The Wild Cry of Love
The Blue-eyed Witch
The Punishment of a Vixen
The Secret of the Glen
Bride to the King
For All Eternity
King in Love
A Marriage made in Heaven
Who can deny Love?
Riding to the Moon
Wish for Love
Dancing on a Rainbow
Gypsy Magic
Love in the Clouds
Count the Stars
White Lilac
Too Precious to Lose
The Devil Defeated
An Angel Runs Away
The Duchess Disappeared
The Pre
tty Horse-breakers
The Prisoner of Love
Ola and the Sea Wolf
The Castle made for Love
A Heart is Stolen
The Love Pirate
As Eagles Fly
The Magic of Love
Love Leaves at Midnight
A Witch’s Spell
Love Comes West
The Impetuous Duchess
A Tangled Web
Love lifts the Curse
Saved By A Saint
Love is Dangerous
The Poor Governess
The Peril and the Prince
A Very Unusual Wife
Say Yes Samantha
Punished with love
A Royal Rebuke
The Husband Hunters
Signpost To Love
Love Forbidden
Gift Of the Gods
The Outrageous Lady
The Slaves Of Love
The Disgraceful Duke
The Unwanted Wedding
Lord Ravenscar’s Revenge
From Hate to Love
A Very Naughty Angel
The Innocent Imposter
A Rebel Princess
A Wish Comes True
Haunted
Passions In The Sand
Little White Doves of Love
A Portrait of Love
The Enchanted Waltz
Alone and Afraid
The Call of the Highlands
The Glittering Lights
An Angel in Hell
Only a Dream
A Nightingale Sang
Pride and the Poor Princess
Stars in my Heart
The Fire of Love
A Dream from the Night
Sweet Enchantress
The Kiss of the Devil
Fascination in France
Love Runs In
Lost Enchantment
Love is Innocent
The Love Trap
No Darkness for Love
Kiss from a Stranger
The Flame Is Love
A Touch of Love
The Dangerous Dandy
In Love In Lucca
The Karma Of Love
Magic For The Heart
Paradise Found
Only Love
A Duel with Destiny
The Heart of the Clan
The Ruthless Rake
Revenge is Sweet
Fire on the Snow
A Revolution of Love
Love at the Helm
Listen to Love
Love Casts out Fear
The Devilish Deception
Riding in the Sky
The Wonderful Dream
This Time it’s Love
The River of Love
A Gentleman in Love
The Island of Love
Miracle for a Madonna
The Storms of Love
The Prince and the Pekingese
The Golden Cage
Theresa and a Tiger
The Goddess of Love
Alone in Paris
The Earl Rings a Belle
The Runaway Heart
From Hell to Heaven
Love in the Ruins
Crowned with Love
Love is a Maze
Hidden by Love
Love is the Key
A Miracle in Music
The Race for Love
Call of the Heart
The Curse of the Clan
Saved by Love
The Tears of Love
Winged Magic
Born of Love
Love Holds the Cards
A Chieftain Finds Love
The Horizons of Love
The Marquis Wins
A Duke in Danger
Warned by a Ghost
Forced to Marry
Sweet Adventure
Love is a Gamble
Love on the Wind
Looking for Love
Love is the Enemy
The Passion and the Flower
THE LATE DAME BARBARA CARTLAND
Barbara Cartland, who sadly died in May 2000 at the grand age of ninety eight, remains one of the world’s most famous romantic novelists. With worldwide sales of over one billion, her outstanding 723 books have been translated into thirty six different languages, to be enjoyed by readers of romance globally.
Writing her first book ‘Jigsaw’ at the age of 21, Barbara became an immediate bestseller. Building upon this initial success, she wrote continuously throughout her life, producing bestsellers for an astonishing 76 years. In addition to Barbara Cartland’s legion of fans in the UK and across Europe, her books have always been immensely popular in the USA. In 1976 she achieved the unprecedented feat of having books at numbers 1 & 2 in the prestigious B. Dalton Bookseller bestsellers list.
Although she is often referred to as the ‘Queen of Romance’, Barbara Cartland also wrote several historical biographies, six autobiographies and numerous theatrical plays as well as books on life, love, health and cookery. Becoming one of Britain’s most popular media personalities and dressed in her trademark pink, Barbara spoke on radio and television about social and political issues, as well as making many public appearances.
In 1991 she became a Dame of the Order of the British Empire for her contribution to literature and her work for humanitarian and charitable causes.
Known for her glamour, style, and vitality Barbara Cartland became a legend in her own lifetime. Best remembered for her wonderful romantic novels and loved by millions of readers worldwide, her books remain treasured for their heroic heroes, plucky heroines and traditional values. But above all, it was Barbara Cartland’s overriding belief in the positive power of love to help, heal and improve the quality of life for everyone that made her truly unique.
The Passion and the Flower
Barbara Cartland
Barbara Cartland Ebooks Ltd
This edition © 2017
Copyright Cartland Promotions 1978
eBook conversion by M-Y Books
The Passion and the Flower Page 16