A Moment of Passion (The Ladies Book of Pleasures)

by Jess Michaels

  “Before you came to me that afternoon after my birthday, I was stagnant. I knew my place, I accepted it, I didn’t want more. I also had come to know that people would never see me as more, so I didn’t try to be more. But when you touched me, it was like you pulled open a door I hadn’t even seen. The light flooded in and it hit me and suddenly I was...I was…”

  He squeezed his eyes shut, for the water had gone cloudy, but her hand was still beneath it, likely washing a place he very much wished to explore.

  “You were alive,” he suggested when she couldn’t find the words.

  “Yes, exactly,” she said, and the soap came back above the water as she set it on the table next to her. She watched him, her gaze never wavering. “I was dormant and you woke me. Not just to pleasure, although that was certainly the best part of the experience, but to living. You gave me permission to be me, the person I had been hiding from since I was ruined.”

  She flinched at the word and he knew she was thinking about her father’s part in that. It was something they would have to deal with later, but for now he wanted to make those thoughts go away.

  “If I did anything to help you, I’m glad,” he said, grabbing for the big towel by the tub and holding it out her. “Because I know I hurt you too.”

  She met his stare for a moment, then rose to her feet, water streaming down her body like an erotic waterfall. His mouth went dry at the sight of her and he knew in that moment, she had changed him too. More than he wanted, more than he had ever known was possible. He was changed, burned, branded, destroyed and rebuilt.

  And he loved it.

  “Make it up to me now,” she whispered as she steadied herself on his shoulder and stepped down to let him wrap the towel and his arms around her. “Make everything else go away.”

  He nodded as he dropped his mouth to her. She was warm and wet against him, even through the towel, and he leaned into her, letting her feel his erection against her belly before he swept her off her feet.

  She let out a yelp of surprise as he carried her into the other room and the big bed where he intended to do exactly as she asked, as long as he liked, as long as she liked. Starting now.

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  “There is a difference between having sex and making love. When you make love, you’ll know it.”—The Ladies Book of Pleasures

  Jacinda shivered as Jason laid her back against the pillows, but it wasn’t because she was cold. On the contrary, she was on fire and had been since he undressed her and helped her into the tub. His desire had been so evident, so powerful, that her entire body seemed to ache with anticipation.

  The earlier events of the night faded as he smiled down at her, eyes filled with wicked promises. Then he dropped his mouth to her throat and began to feather light, teasing kisses along her skin.

  She relaxed entirely, surrendering herself as she knew she could to him. Perhaps tomorrow this would be over, perhaps she would never have it again, but tonight she would forget that and live in this glorious moment.

  He dragged warm lips along her flesh, darting out his tongue to lick away errant drops of water from the bath. When he reached the edge of the towel still wrapped around her breasts, he chuckled.

  “You look more beautiful in a bath towel than most women do in a ballgown,” he whispered as he slipped a finger beneath the fabric and pulled it away. “Mmmm, and even better without it.”

  She laughed at his teasing even though his eyes burning over her naked flesh made her tremble. How could he make everything so...easy for her? Make her believe she could be worshipped, wanted, like a goddess?

  However he did it, she reveled in it as his mouth returned to her flesh. He cupped her breasts gently, pressing them together as he stroked his tongue between them. The feel of his tongue there reminded her of when he licked her sex, and her sheath began to tingle with pleasure at the memory. She moaned, lifting her hands above her head and clutching at the headboard.

  “More,” she whispered, demanded.

  He looked up her body, grinning. “Yes, my lady. Your wish is most definitely my command.”

  He licked his way to her right breast and swirled the tip of his tongue around her hard and sensitive nipple. When he sucked it into the hot cavern of his mouth, she arched her hips, rubbing them against his side as she sought relief from the pressure that had already begun to mount deep between her legs.

  “No rush,” he whispered, scraping his teeth against her breast once more before he turned his attention to the opposite one. Once more he tasted and teased, sucked and nibbled until her hips found a seeking rhythm and her body felt weak with desire.

  Only then did he glide his mouth lower, lapping a lazy path down the apex of her body, dipping his tongue inside her belly button suggestively before he put two hands against her thighs and pressed gently.

  Her legs fell open most willingly and she sighed as she readied herself for the pleasure about to come. He did not deny her, but spread open her outer folds and licked her gently. She gasped, then covered her mouth with her hand so that the noise wouldn’t spread throughout the house.

  He looked up at her, bright eyes locking with hers. “Scream away, Jacinda. We are in my house and no one here will come to interrupt us.”

  She arched as he returned his mouth to her. She had always forced herself to be quiet when he pleasured her, so she wouldn’t bring the attention of her aunt or servants who would see her ruined again. Now she took advantage of his offer and moaned loudly.

  Her verbal expression of pleasure only seemed to spurn him further. He pressed a finger deep inside her as he focused the attentions of his tongue on her clitoris. He sucked her gently, then harder, and she thrashed her head on the pillow as the pressure grew harder against the dam of her self-control. He swirled his tongue ’round and ’round, ’round and ’round, until she reached down to grasp his hair and lifted her hips to take more.

  Finally, with a keening cry, the pleasure took over. Her sheath began to ripple, twitch out of control as wave after wave of release overtook her. But he didn’t allow her the relief. He continued to suck her, licking until the edges of her world blurred and she collapsed, still shaking and gripping the mangled coverlet.

  He pressed a kiss to her inner thigh, then lifted himself up to lay beside her. She felt him watching her, even as she lay panting, her eyes closed. When she peeked at him, he smiled.

  “Is there anything else you require, my lady?” he asked, teasing.

  She rolled to her side and gripped his upper arm. Drawing him closer, she kissed him, tasting her orgasm on his lips and tongue, drowning in the erotic realization that part of her remained on him, marking him as hers, if only temporarily.

  “Oh, much more,” she whispered, pushing him to his back. “I have so much more I want.”

  He didn’t argue, he didn’t even touch her. He simply lay there as she straddled him, positioning herself above the rock-hard cock already at attention for her. Her folds felt exquisitely sensitive from her recent release, so when she manueuvered him into position and lowered herself onto his cock, her entire body tremored at once, a hint of the powerful orgasm she would soon have again.

  Jason’s eyes fluttered shut as he let out a long, low moan that seemed to echo in the room.

  “I have missed this,” he growled.

  She almost laughed. “It has been only a short time since you touched me last.”

  He shook his head, utterly serious. “Too long, Jacinda. I am under your spell and even a few hours without you feels like an eternity. I have suffered the past day and a half, and even more since I thought I might never have this moment with you again.”

  She leaned in, moved by his words, even as she tried not to read too much foolish hope for the future in them.

  “You have this moment now,” she whispered, then circled her hips around him until he swore beneath his breath.

  “I do indeed,” he said, voice strained.

  He reached down and cupped he
r backside as she moved over him, guiding her tempo, demanding her attention. And she loved it. She loved having this control over him, yet feeling his presence with every thrust of her hips and rock of her body. They were one, and in this moment it seemed like a partnership that could last forever.

  She stroked, reaching hard for pleasure, dragging from him a series of moans that tumbled from his lips as beautifully as any sonnet. Finally, she could take no more.

  She clung to his shoulders, feeling her fingernails dig into his skin as she shattered into a second orgasm that stole her control and had her rocking wildly above him.

  He roared out her name and flipped her on her back as her release continued, thrusting hard into her as she wrapped her legs around him and screamed in pleasure and relief.

  Finally, he grunted and withdrew, spending his seed with a howl of incoherent pleasure and collapsing over her to kiss her once more.

  She lifted into the kiss, wrapping her arms around him, feeling her love for him surround and protect her. Even if it was so very fleeting.

  When he pulled away, it was to stare down at her in dazed pleasure. Slowly, he rolled away from her and drew her close. His arms came around her in a warm cocoon and he whispered, “Sleep.”

  She shook her head, even though the desire to do just as he ordered was nearly overwhelming.

  “I don’t want to sleep,” she lied. “Morning will come too fast.”

  He chuckled as he pulled the coverlet around her and whispered, “A new day isn’t the worst thing to happen, Jacinda.”

  She smiled against his skin, but as she drifted off to sleep, she knew better. The dawn of a new day could bring nothing better than tonight. She feared it brought the beginning of the end.

  Morning light cascaded through the window, casting Jacinda’s naked body in an ethereal glow that suited her. Jason smiled as he rolled to his side and began to stoke his fingers along her spine.

  Waking up with her beside him was a pleasure indeed. Knowing he could wake her up in any way he chose was even better.

  He kissed her back gently and she let out a moan that went straight to his already-hard cock. She rolled over, and his smile fell.

  She had a bruise on her arm he hadn’t noticed before. High up near her shoulders, it looked like...fingertips.

  His desire faded as he examined the marking. Anger boiled in him, but as Jacinda’s eyes opened, he covered his reaction with a kiss.

  She lifted into the kiss, a soft sigh the only thing that parted them.

  “I feel like I’m still dreaming,” she said, her voice soft and filled with sleep.

  “You are awake, I promise you. Unless we are in a dream together,” he said.

  She smiled. “Then let’s never wake up and stay here forever.” Her smile turned to a frown. “That would be wonderful.”

  There was no mistaking the wistful sadness in her voice and her eyes. She was thinking of her future, and there was no joy for her in those thoughts.

  “Did I bruise you here?” he asked, casual as he indicated the mark on her arm, which he knew he had not created.

  She glanced at the purple mark. “No.”

  It was one word but filled with meaning, and Jason’s jaw set. “Carnthorn?”

  To his surprise, she shook her head no. “My father,” she said softly. “When I begged him not to remove me from my aunt’s home.”

  Jason rolled away to stare up at the ceiling. Guilt merged with his anger and began to consume him from his heart outward.

  “I’m sorry,” he said, the words lame and almost empty.

  She rested her cheek on his chest. “I don’t blame you. Not anymore. At any rate, you’ve more than made up for it with your heroics at Carnthorn’s last night.”

  He stroked his fingers through her hair absently, his thoughts turning wildly from one subject to another.

  She lifted her head to look at him. “The duke and his servants heard you say you wouldn’t take me home last night, I fear.”

  Jason winced. “That may be true.”

  “Do you think he’ll tell anyone?” she whispered.

  He looked into her face. She appeared fearful, but also accepting. She had a well of strength within her that had been unappreciated, even by him. She knew what would happen if the duke talked, she knew the destruction it could bring, but she was steadfast in facing it.

  In her position, he didn’t know that he would be the same.

  “He might,” he admitted, determined not to lie to her, never again. “If he thought it would hurt you, hurt me, he might take that chance to say something. Even after my threats.”

  She nodded. “I thought so.” She rested her head back on Jason’s chest with a resigned sigh. “He will ruin me.”

  Jason stared at her, her dark hair spread across his pillow, his chest, his life. And in that flash of a moment, he knew what to do.

  “Not if you’re married,” he said.

  She looked up at him, lips pursed in frustration. “Please don’t start that again,” she pleaded.

  He sat up, forcing her to do the same. “Start what?”

  “Talking to me about ridiculous plans of finding me some husband. You know Carnthorn will at least let any man who expressed an interest in me know that I am unworthy. That is what I don’t want you to start again.”

  He pursed his lips. As resigned and strong as she was in the face of adversity, it seemed she was also determined not to understand him. And he needed her to understand him because he was about to offer something he had never thought to give anyone before.

  Something he wanted her to take more than he had ever wanted anything in his life. In fact, it was all he could think of now as he looked at her, so beautiful, so perfect.

  “I’m not starting that at all,” he whispered. “I’m doing something I’ve never done before, actually. I’m asking you to marry me.”

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  “Love and passion are a potent mix.”—The Ladies Book of Pleasures

  Jacinda blinked as she stared into the face of the man she loved and had loved for nearly as long as she could remember. The same man who had just asked her to marry him.

  “I don’t understand,” she whispered, for in her shock she could think of nothing else to say.

  “Being that you are naked and this is not a typical proposal, I can understand that. I will be more clear,” he teased. “Marry me, Jacinda.”

  She squeezed her eyes shut as comprehension dawned. “You feel responsible for the position I’m now in with my father, with Carnthorn, with a renewed possibility of a second and probably ultimate, ruination. And I appreciate your desire to save me, that you pity me—”

  “Pity you?” he interrupted, leaning back with an expression of horror. “You misunderstand me again. I don’t pity you, Jacinda. I love you.”

  She tugged the coverlet up around her, a shield to the very strange words he was saying. She couldn’t be hearing them correctly.

  “You don’t love me,” she said, sliding away a fraction.

  He caught her hand and held her steady. “You know me well, Jacinda. But not that well. I love you.”

  She shook his hand away and got up, hauling the rumpled coverlet behind her because despite everything they’d shared, she didn’t want him to see her naked. She was already naked enough with him saying these things, these wonderful things that couldn’t be true and only cut her down to the bone.

  “You look at me as if I’m mad,” he said softly, his expression unreadable.

  “You are mad,” she responded, putting a hand against her forehead. “Or I am.”

  “I love you.” He said it again, as if it would begin to make sense the more he said it. “I trusted you with my darkest secret and you kept it without censure, even when you could have used it to help yourself. And I love you. I found myself drawn to you, even when I pretended it was only to offer you support. And I love you.”

  She blinked. He was rising now, naked and glorious, not stop
ping, not looking away from her.

  “When I thought of you marrying anyone else, becoming any other man’s lover, it broke me inside even though that was my own stupid, foolish plan. And I love you.”

  Her legs felt like they might give out and she gripped the back of a chair near the bed to keep from tumbling to the floor. “Jason—”

  “When your family spoke of you so cruelly, I wanted to destroy them. And I love you,” he said, still so soft and yet so impactful.

  “You can’t—”

  “That man, that monster Carnthorn, took you and when I said I would gladly be transported if it meant I could kill him should he ever dare touch you again, I meant every word. And I love you.”

  He moved toward her and she backed up, still quaking with disbelief. She hit the wall next to the window and he swiftly placed one hand on either side of her head, trapping her there.

  “I dream of you every night. I think of you every day. When you were gone for thirty-six hours I thought I might die. And I love you. Should I go on?” She opened her mouth and he smiled, lazy and seductive. “I could, you know. The rest of the morning, the rest of the day, the rest of my life if it would convince you.”

  She swallowed, fighting to gather her thoughts as she whispered, “You told me you couldn’t marry. You told me it was the only power you held over your father was to ensure that his line would not continue past you. You made it clear that a future together was not possible.”

  She cut herself off, uncertain why she was reminding him of the past when he was saying such beautiful things now. Except that she didn’t want him to say them only to regret them later. Trapping a man was her father’s way, not hers.

  “I also said I would abandon my father’s lands and destroy his fortune,” he said with a shrug that dismissed how powerful those promises had been. “One word from you ended that as well. Oh, and I love you.”

  She couldn’t breathe as she stared up at him. His eyes didn’t waver at all. He just stood there, watching her, waiting for her, convincing her with everything he said and everything he left unsaid.