“All right.” She scooted over on the bed and patted the side. “Come sit here with me so we can play.”
Gavin stared where she had touched the cot. It was an innocent enough gesture... Odessa must not have realized what a temptation she was to him. They were going to play a game, nothing more. He’d be the perfect gentleman the entire time. He couldn’t help picturing an activity that two people could participate in that had nothing to do with cards though... He pushed the image of their naked bodies writhing in ecstasy out of his mind and swallowed hard.
“Would you like to deal?” His voice came out huskier than he’d wanted it to. Gavin hoped she hadn’t noticed. He moved over to the cot and sat as far away as he could on the small space, covertly adjusting his hard cock when she wasn’t looking.
“No,” she replied. “You go first. I don’t mind.”
He smiled. “You trust me?”
“Always,” she said fervently. “You’ve never given me any reason not to.”
That was because she didn’t know him as well as she thought. He’d never intentionally hurt her; however, that didn’t mean he wasn’t capable of it. His family curse often struck when it was least expected. It might even be the reason she’d had that first ill-fated accident when they were younger. Maybe if he didn’t care for her as he did, she wouldn’t have fallen on the ice and came so close to permanent injury or death. At least he’d been able to save her then, and now. In the future, he might not be so lucky and fail to protect her. If she were to become his wife, it could become her curse too. He couldn’t do that to her. He’d make her understand before they left the hunting lodge.
“Why don’t we make this interesting,” he said as he dealt her three cards, then himself the same amount.
“What do you have in mind?” she asked. Odessa tilted her head slightly, curiosity settling on her face. She lifted a brow and waited for him to respond.
“We don’t have the chips necessary for betting,” he said. “Maybe we can use something else.” He had no idea what possessed him to suggest such a thing. They didn’t have anything to use for chips either. “And add a wager of sorts to the game too.”
She tilted her head and scrunched her eyebrows together. “You want to gamble in truth?”
He was going to hell. “You wanted to do something entertaining, and this might make the time go by faster. The storm isn’t showing any signs of letting up so what do we have to lose?” Only his soul...
“All right,” Odessa nibbled on her lip and then nodded. “I know what we can use in place of chips.” She reached down to the floor and lifted the hair pins she’d pulled from her hair. “There’s enough of these, don’t you think?”
“Yes,” he said. “Divide them up between us.”
Odessa divided up the pins, giving him six and setting hers to the side. “Before we begin, we should decide what our wager is to be.”
Gavin swallowed hard. There was one thing he wanted, but he dared not ask for it. She was already nearly naked, and it wouldn’t take much to remove the rest of her garments. He wasn’t far behind her in the clothing department either. He’d put his shirt on once it dried for some semblance of propriety, but he still wore next to nothing.
“What do you propose?” He didn’t dare suggest what he wanted. If he did, she’d lose her clothing fast and he’d be having his way with her.
“How about for every hand won, the loser owes the winner a boon of their choosing,” she suggested.
“That’s a bit much, don’t you think?”
In his state of mind, he’d owe her everything he owned before the game was done. Not that he’d mind—he’d give it all to her without a silly game to make him. In another lifetime, things could have been different. If he could lay the world at her feet...
“All right,” she said thoughtfully. “I still say a boon is owed, but let’s keep it small. Like a question or a small favor.”
That didn’t seem so bad, but her questions could destroy him if she asked the right ones. He promised her answers earlier, so he’d go through with it. Maybe this way it would be less dreadful. “Agreed,” he said and flipped over the top card of the deck to indicate trump. “An ace.” He grinned. “I win.”
She pouted. “That’s not fair. I didn’t even stand a chance.”
“I gave you the opportunity to deal first,” he said. “You said you trusted me. Did that change?”
He hadn’t cheated, but he wouldn’t turn down his good luck. That was part of the game. An ace was the dealer’s winning hand every time in Speculation. Maybe his fortune was taking a turn for the better.
“You’re right,” she said and sighed. “I watched you shuffle the cards. You wouldn’t take advantage of me.” She slid her cards over to him. “I owe you a boon, my lord. What may I do for you.”
He shouldn’t ask for it. Gavin should pull the cards to the side and ask her a silly question or something else inane, but he couldn’t do it. There was one thing he wanted, and damn it, he’d take it. There were already too many consequences because of their seclusion, and even if he didn’t want to admit it, there was no turning back.
He’d wanted to be the perfect gentleman, and for too many years he had been. Everything he’d done had all been for her and what he believed she needed. Maybe it was time to stop fighting the inevitable and take a leap of faith. It scared him to death, but he was beyond reason.
“Kiss me,” he demanded.
She smiled. “I thought you’d never ask.”
Gavin was doomed and he didn’t care. He’d been living a condemned life since the moment he first drew breath. At least when he took his last one, he’d have this moment to look back on. One moment of purity and love to tide him over in hell.
Chapter Five
Odessa didn’t have a lot of experience to fall back on. She’d kissed Gavin once several years ago, but it’d been nothing more than a press of her lips to his. It had ended before it had a chance to begin. With this kiss, she wanted so much more. This was her one chance to let him know how much she loved him without saying the words. She couldn’t be certain why he’d stopped fighting it and didn’t really care. The point was he did stop, and she’d take full advantage of it.
She brought her hand up and caressed his cheek. Touching him when she’d not dared to before. The request gave her permission to do a lot of things she’d never have dared to do otherwise. It was time to be bold and let go of any reservations she might have. Maybe he’d help her out a little once she began—take over and teach her how to kiss properly. Odessa leaned in, her lips a breath away from his. Gavin remained still, giving her control of the situation. All she had to do was close the gap between them and pray it played out how it always had in her mind.
“Are you afraid,” Gavin asked.
“No,” she said. That wasn’t true. She wasn’t afraid of him or even the kiss, but more of how it might change things. If he didn’t react as she anticipated, it might be the end of all her hopes and dreams. “This is something I want too.”
Odessa pressed her lips to his before he could continue the conversation. Sparks shot through her on contact. That hadn’t happened before, and she was a little surprised by it now. She wrapped her arms around his neck and moved her mouth over his several times. Light kisses that he quickly took control over.
She gasped, and he took advantage of her open mouth. He pressed his tongue to hers. Who knew kissing could be like this? She should have found some books or something to tutor herself on it. Gavin tugged her closer and began to trail kisses down her face, then her neck. When he lowered his head to her chest she hugged him to her breast, not sure what she wanted. He did though... Gavin sucked her nipple through the sheer material of her chemise.
Her moans echoed through the room... “Oh, yes, more,” she urged him.
She scraped her nails across his back. His shirt was an aberration and had to go. Odessa yanked on it lifting it upward, finding his bare skin. She slid her hand down his ba
ck, reveling in his hard muscles. A kiss led them to this point, and a kiss would bring her everything she’d been hoping for. She’d never wanted anything more than this man.
“Love me,” she begged.
“Always,” he promised. He pulled away and yanked his shirt over his head. “I need to taste all of you.”
“Please,” she moaned.
Gavin didn’t need any more invitation than that. He lifted her up and laid her flat on the bed, sliding the cards and hairpins to the floor. They’d served their purpose for the short time they’d played. He pushed her chemise up to her waist and bared her bottom. She ached so much, and she didn’t have a clue what to do. Gavin trailed kisses down her leg stopping a short time at her knee before continuing down her thigh. His hot breath spread through her center. He wasn’t... Oh God, yes, he was. He’d meant it when he said he wanted to taste all of her.
He pressed his tongue on her center and she nearly leapt off the cot. His tongue rubbed against her sensitive flesh and she screamed. Gavin held on to her and kept licking as if he’d found a special treat he couldn’t get enough of. Odessa was going to die from the pleasure coursing through her body. Her breathing hitched and something was building up inside of her. Gavin slid his tongue against her once more, and the world exploded. Her screams probably could be heard from miles.
“God, you’re beautiful,” he said. “So, so lovely.”
Odessa was a pile of nothing. Her muscles had turned into jelly and moving seemed near impossible. That had been the most amazing thing she’d ever felt in her entire life. “But you didn’t...” He hadn’t found any pleasure, and he couldn’t be done yet. She’d witnessed a stallion mounting a mare once and believed there was more to this act than this. She wanted it all.
“I don’t need to,” he said.
“Ridiculous,” she said as she sat up. “You said you would love me.”
“Odessa...” He stopped and rubbed his hand over his face. “We shouldn’t have even done this much. You’re an innocent.”
She wanted to pound her fists on his chest and demand he make love to her. All the way, not the coward’s way out. Yes, he’d given her unimaginable pleasure, but it wasn’t enough. He still held a part of himself back, and until he let himself give in fully they didn’t stand a chance. There had to be a way to make him see that.
There might not have been a book on kissing in the library, but there had been one on anatomy. Killian had weird interests and had purchased it on his last trip to London. She’d sneaked it out of the library and read everything in it. The pictures had been particularly enlightening. There were sketches of both the male and female form. If she remembered correctly, his male appendage was a rod that hung between his legs. If she touched him there, perhaps it would excite him the way his touch had her.
“Everyone starts out innocent,” she said mulishly. “I don’t wish to be the naïve girl you think I am.”
Odessa cupped his member. He wore a thin pair of smalls and his heat engulfed her palm. Gavin groaned as she rubbed him. He felt hard and long... She wanted to touch him without the clothing between them. She slid her hand beneath his smalls and he brought his hand up to stop her. “Don’t,” he groaned. “If you continue this, I will lose control.”
“Good,” she said and pushed her hand until she reached his rod. It was so hard and smooth. She trailed her fingers over it, fascinated. Gavin had tasted her. Maybe he’d like if she did the same to him. “Would you like me to put my mouth on you?”
“Oh, God,” he moaned out the words. He closed his eyes and the muscles in his cheek tightened. His eyelids opened and he met her gaze. “You’re killing me.”
“I take that as a yes,” she said and lifted a brow. “Let’s see if you lose control the way I did.”
She started to lower her head, but he stopped her. “Don’t,” he begged. “I can’t let you do that.”
“I want to,” she insisted.
He closed his eyes and leaned his forehead against hers. Gavin remained quiet for a moment and then he kissed her. It took her breath away. Had he finally given in and realized this was inevitable? She certainly hoped so... The kiss went on forever with Gavin stopping periodically for them to draw air into their lungs. He shoved her chemise all the way off during one of those moments and cupped her breast into his palm. The heat between her legs began to build again.
Gavin pulled back and met her gaze. “If we do this, there is no going back. I won’t be able to walk away from you ever again.”
“Good,” she said. “Shut up and make love to me.”
GAVIN SHOULD NOT HAVE asked for the kiss as his boon. Things had progressed past the point of no return. He wanted her, and she wasn’t about to let him walk away now. A mere brush of her lips over his wasn’t enough— never would be. Why had he fought this for so long? Oh, yeah, the curse... He couldn’t think about that. Odessa was his, damn it, and he planned to claim her. The curse could go to the devil.
“Your wish is my command,” he said and stood to kick off his smalls.
Odessa stared at him, her eyes widening. “You are quite large...”
He grinned. When she boldly caressed his cock, pleasure coursed through him, leaving him mindless. He’d never have believed she’d dare to do such a thing. Then, when she’d suggested she put her mouth on him... One day he’d take her up on that offer, but not yet. She was still too new to all of this, and he didn’t want to shock her.
Gavin joined her on the cot. She laid back, spreading her legs to him. She was so brazen and all his. The urge to lick her again filled him. A little taste to make sure she was ready... He leaned down and pressed one of his fingers into her. She moaned as he stroked it in and out of her heat. Instead of licking her core, he sucked on one of her nipples as he caressed her tight channel with his finger. Odessa moaned and he moved over to her other breast to give it equal attention.
“Gavin,” she said breathlessly. “I’m...”
“Let go, love,” he urged. He wanted her to find release again. It would make her even slicker once he entered her, and he feared she might not feel much pleasure in the actual act. It was her first time, and she’d probably have more pain than joy in the penetration. He hated he would hurt her, but took comfort it wouldn’t always be that way.
Gavin caressed, kissed, and pleasured her with both his mouth and tongue. He rubbed his thumb over her sensitive nub and stroked her with another. It didn’t take long until her screams echoed through the cabin again. He could get used to that sound. Hell, there was a lot he could become accustomed to. He’d held himself in check for too long, and now that he had her—letting go would prove difficult.
He pushed her thighs apart and settled between them, then leaned down to kiss her. The distraction might help abate her discomfort a little bit. He pushed himself into her, mewling with pleasure as her heat and wetness enveloped him. Odessa clenched her thighs around him and he stilled. He had to slow things down and ease into her gently. This was about her.
“I’m sorry,” he whispered in her ear. “I don’t want to hurt you.”
“It’s all right,” she said. “I trust you.”
That was a knife to his heart every time she said it. She shouldn’t trust him. He was poison and would destroy her in the end. He was such a selfish prick for letting things get this far. Slowly, Gavin inched farther inside of her until he was fully seated. He groaned and buried his face in her neck. Sweat feathered his brow from the restraint to remain still.
Odessa rubbed her hand across his back. “You’re not done, are you?” She almost sounded disappointed.
He chuckled. “No, love,” Gavin glanced up to look at her. She was so beautiful. He kissed her lightly. “Are you all right?”
“I’m fine,” she reassured him. “Full, but in a good way.”
That was all the encouragement he needed. He pulled out of her and rocked back in. She moaned and met his thrusts with a vigor he couldn’t have anticipated. When she wrapped her
legs around his waist, he lost all control and quickened his pace. When his climax hit, he’d have sworn stars exploded behind his eyes. Making love to her was everything he imagined it would be and so much more.
His world went black, and for a few brief moments, happiness filled his heart. Maybe, together they could defeat anything. Then he remembered that every Havenwood earl before him had believed the same thing... He was a bloody fool. He’d never be able to live with the idea he could destroy her.
Chapter Six
Gavin pulled away from her and sat up on the edge of the cot. He had to tell her everything now. The truth about the curse was something he should have told her before he let things get this far. He didn’t want to let her go; however, he would if that was what she wanted.
“What is it?” she wrapped her arm around his waist. “Did I do something wrong?”
He was an ass... “No, you were perfect,” he reassured her.
“I don’t understand,” she said. “That was amazing...”
It was. If he died tomorrow, at least he had this one chance with her. It lived up to every one of his expectations. No, it was far more than that. It was like two souls meeting together as they were meant to. The truth would change everything though.
“Every night I close my eyes and dream of loving you, and it’s everything I could have imagined. There is more love and happiness than a person can envision, until it turns to darkness and grief, and my dream becomes my greatest nightmare.” Gavin closed his eyes and swallowed the lump in his throat. “I find you in a pool of your own blood and your death is my undoing. My family ruins everything it touches, and if I bring you into my life it will destroy you. I don’t want to lose you.”
Odessa leaned her head against his back and held on tight. “That is ridiculous,” she said adamantly. “Nothing is wrong with you, and I am not going anywhere.”
“You say that now...”
Unwrapping a Rogue: A Christmas Regency Boxset Page 45