He continued to lave and suckle, feeding on her ripe breasts. Even through the night rail he could taste her sweet skin, smell the rose water perfume that clung to her skin, feel the crinkles as her nipples puckered beneath his tongue. He was in heaven. Richard pulled away and Lily arched up as if seeking his mouth, a soft moan escaping her lips. He smiled, he couldn’t help himself.
Soon Lily would experience the need that nearly drove him to his knees every time he was around her. He wanted her burning with the same desire that scalded his insides. Once she realized they were made for each other she’d easily make her decision to accept his offer. He hoped.
Richard lifted the night rail to expose a fraction of her leg. Long white limbs shifted beneath his gaze. The room’s temperature seemed to increase tenfold. Need slammed into him centering on the throbbing cock beneath his breeches. He lifted the material until the crisp curls at her apex were visible. They were golden like he had known they would be. Richard swallowed hard. His fangs ached, not from hunger, but need. This remarkable woman held him in thrall and she wasn’t even aware of it.
He leaned forward inhaling her unique scent, one he vowed he’d never get enough of, nor forget. The urge to taste her, skin on skin was too great. He dropped the material of her night rail. It floated to her body, settling on her nicely rounded stomach. Richard sat down on the side of the bed, then ran his fingers up the length of one leg, gently separating her thighs. His hands trembled as incendiary heat spread throughout his body consuming him.
Lily mewed, drawing Richard’s attention to her face. Her eyes flicked open, capturing his gaze. For a moment Richard forgot to breathe or even think. He waited, frozen in time, for her reaction. Instead of the scream he expected, she surprised him with a soft smile, then spread her legs wide in flagrant invitation.
“Richard, hmm… “ she murmured. “What a delicious dream.”
It took him a moment to respond, for Lily believed she imagined him. Part of Richard was disappointed, but her belief certainly helped his current tack. “Good evening, Lily. How can I make your dream more enjoyable?”
For a moment Lily frowned, then as if finally understanding the question she smiled again. “You could touch me.” She lifted a hand, but then let it drop as if it were too heavy.
Richard grinned, shifting his weight, so he could easily reach her. “I’d be delighted.” He moved her night rail out of the way until her nipples were bared to his touch. “Are you sure?” He caught her gaze again.
Lily nodded.
He didn’t wait to be asked twice. Richard’s mouth closed around one nipple, sucking it between his lips, circling it with his tongue. Lily moaned. She reached out, her fingers sinking into his hair. Richard closed his eyes as she gripped his head, his mouth continuing to torture her peak. Lily writhed beneath him. He switched to her other nipple and playfully nipped the rigid crest. She shrieked. Richard released her, his lips found hers in a crushing kiss, silencing her cries. Their tongues dueled, diving and dipping before withdrawing to do it all over again. It took Richard a moment to realize Lily kissed him back.
He pulled away, his breath coming out in panting gasps.
“No,” she pursed. “I want… I need… ugh.” Her brows knitted as she tried to explain what she wanted. Finally she pointed to the juncture between her thighs. “I ache, here.”
Richard knew without her asking what she longed for. He also knew she had no idea what she asked of him. Sure, he’d wanted to taste her earlier, but she hadn’t been participating at that time. How was he supposed to pull back, keep himself from sinking his cock deep inside her virgin pussy? Richard didn’t know if he’d have the strength to do so once he tasted her.
His body trembled as he fought the urge to take. As much as he wanted to believe she was asking him to fuck her, he knew better. For all that transpired, Lily still believed she dreamt the whole situation.
His breath came out in a hiss as he forced himself to stand and look away. By touch, he reached up to pull her night rail down, his fingers had just grasped the soft material when her hand caught his, stilling his movements. Richard told himself to shake her off, walk away while he still could, but he didn’t—and couldn’t.
Although her grip was light, it might as well have been a shackle. He looked into her face. Her blue eyes sparkled in the sliver of moonlight that spilled into her room from the open window. Warmth emanating from her skin radiated from her in waves, rolling over him. Her lips were swollen from his kisses and her nipples stabbed out like raspberries ready for the picking.
“Please,” she uttered the word so softly he barely caught it. Her lids dropped.
Richard squared his shoulders, growling out a curse under his breath. She let go of his hand. He released her night rail and walked to the end of the bed. He pulled off his coat, shirt, and cravat. Lily watched. She appeared mesmerized by his movements. He knew beyond a doubt she’d never seen a gentleman in this state of undress. The thought pleased him, despite the tension taking up residence between his shoulder blades. He stood, letting her look her fill at his bare chest. Richard decided against removing his breeches or boots. He needed as much protection between them as possible.
Crawling on all fours, Richard prowled up the bed until he seated himself between Lily’s thighs. She stared down at his face, her eyes widening as he neared her pussy.
“Open for me, my lady,” he rasped.
Lily did as he bid and spread her legs wider. Richard lifted first one thigh and then the other, placing her long legs over his shoulders until he was flush with her pussy.
“What are you doing?” Lily whimpered, her hips beginning to move of their own volition.
“I’m going to pleasure you.” Richard clenched his jaw to the point of pain, fighting the sudden guilt rising in his mind, as thoughts of ravishing her swept through him. The innocence of her question raked furrows across his heart leaving gaping holes behind. “Tell me to stop and I’ll find the strength to do so.” His voice quavered.
She paused for a moment and then shook her head. “No,” she whispered, “I want
to see where this dream leads.”
Richard blew warm air upon her curls. Lily mewed. It was too late. He couldn’t turn back now. One finger snaked out as he ran it along her moist folds. He listened to the sounds of her body, gauging her need accordingly. Her dew gathered upon his fingertips glimmering in the darkness, like the morning dampness clings to a blade of grass. Richard shuddered, and then parted her folds. Lily groaned. His gaze shot up to her face.
“If we are to do this, my lady, you are going to have to try to be quiet. You wouldn’t want your dream waking the entire household.”
“No, of course not.” She nodded in agreement.
The last thing he needed was her maid entering the chamber while his face was buried in her mistress’s cunt. Richard stroked her again, then replaced his finger with his tongue. His control snapped as her taste wreathed through his mind, filling his mouth with her juices, engaging his senses.
He lapped at her folds, seeking the hidden bud beneath. When he found her clit, Richard buried his face deep, feasting on her swollen bounty. Lily’s body trembled beneath him as she drew nearer to release. Richard slipped one finger inside her tight sheath, her velvet muscles gripped him. He pulled it out again, then slid it back home.
He looked up long enough to see Lily’s head thrashing from side to side. She bit one knuckle to keep from crying out. He smiled, then dove back in licking and swirling, sucking and nibbling at her jutting pearl like it would be his last time between a woman’s thighs. Lily came on a muted cry, her body lifting beneath him. Richard held her down and continued to lave her, rapaciously lapping up her release, before sweeping his tongue one final time along her slit.
Her breath came out in shuddery gasps, as her whole body throbbed beneath his touch. He tentatively reached for her thoughts, needing the closeness, the intimacy. Her mind was a whirl of colors. She blinked as if to clea
r her vision and he withdrew. He didn’t think sensations like these were even possible, until now. She caught her breath, then reached out and touched his lips. He kissed her questing fingertips. Lily’s eyelids grew heavy once more as the draught and satiation set in.
Richard pressed his lips to her hand then pulled her night rail down and covered her up. He dressed quickly and then forced himself to walk to the window. Every fiber of his being called out to claim what was rightfully his.
He cursed under his breath. It was one thing to pretend to be a dream. It was quite another to take her virginity under less than honorable circumstances. He wanted that gift given to him freely, along with her hand in marriage.
Until then, he’d just have to try to persuade her any way he saw fit. Richard knew he wasn’t playing fair, but he was too desperate to do otherwise. He needed this woman, practically salivated at the thought of tasting her again. Richard wanted this woman. And damn it, he was going to have her.
*
Richard arrived home moments later. He didn’t stop in the library, which was his usual oasis. Instead, he raced up the stairs for his chamber, and upon entering shut the door behind him, throwing the latch. A fire lay built and waiting. The sun would be up in an hour, yet he felt as if rest would elude him. His skin itched, his cock ached, and his fangs throbbed. He paced in front of the fireplace, allowing the flames to warm him. Richard knew he wouldn’t be able to last another three weeks or so to have Lily, yet that was precisely the amount of time needed for the call of the banns.
He could always go to the Archbishop of Canterbury or one of his representatives to obtain a special license, enabling him to marry Lily at any convenient time or place. Of course that wouldn’t take care of his biggest obstacle, Lily herself. How could he convince her in a few days that his intentions were true, if not exactly honorable?
Guilt lanced through him as he considered the reality of what he asked her to do. He knew it wasn’t fair to her. He knew he should let her go before it was too late. But in his heart of hearts, Richard knew something more, that despite his good intentions, his selfishness, and ultimately the repercussions—he’d never give her up. At least not willingly…
With a sigh, he walked across the room, drew the drapes back from his bed. Richard removed his clothes and lay down naked upon the cool linens. Blood thumped through his veins, calling out to the beast within. He wouldn’t rest in his current state. He gritted his teeth and took himself in hand. Satiny steel slid through his palm. He hadn’t bothered seeking pleasure like this in a long while because he hadn’t needed to. There had been enough willing matrons around to be good bed sport and when he tired of them there was always Rose.
He stroked his cock as he thought of Lily’s tight pussy squeezing his finger, replaying her soft mewls in his mind. She’d been everything he’d imagined. Richard’s breath came out on a hiss. His hand gripped his girth and he increased his up and down movements as he imagined her ruby lips slipping over his shaft, taking him deep inside her wet mouth.
He could almost feel the light suction on his cock. Richard inhaled deeply. The smell of her musk was still upon his face, the scent finer than any perfume. Every muscle in his body tensed and his sac drew up. He bit back a groan, coming hard.
His orgasm exploded in his mind like the royal fireworks and left him gasping for breath. If merely thinking of Lily made it this intense, what would fucking her be like? And how would he wait to find out?
He’d only taken the edge off his need. He hadn’t sated it.
He blew out a frustrated breath, then closed his eyes in preparation for the day. Rest called out to his weary body. He’d need every bit of willpower he had to keep his hands off of Lily at Lady Gordon’s ball.
*
By the time Richard entered the ballroom the next night the crowd had started to disburse. He’d sent his carriage as promised to escort Lily and her family to the ball. He’d managed to keep himself away, thinking that was the best way to avoid temptation, after tasting her last night. When he glanced around the room and spotted Lily looking around, he realized how wrong he’d been.
She wore a long cobalt blue gown of delicate silk, the color of her eyes. Her hair had been swept up and back, pressing golden curls tight to her head, framing her heart-shaped face. Her lips were pale rouge, but Richard could tell she’d applied no dye. Lily’s skin seemed almost translucent in the candlelight, where she stood chatting with Lord Thomas Wells, along with a few others.
Martins stood across the room glaring in Lily’s direction, his thoughts coiled around revenge. Rage flared inside of Richard at the threatening stance the young dandy had taken. He would not allow him to harm his bloodmate. Richard glanced back at Lily while his mind once again sought Lord Martins’s. When he was sure he had contact, Richard began sending Martins vivid pictures of fangs and claws ripping him to pieces. He planted extreme pain inside the man’s mind. He heard a gasp. Without looking Richard felt the tension rise within Martins followed by chilling tentacles of fear as it grasped his skull and slithered down his spine.
You will stay away from Lady Lily from this night forth. If any harm shall befall her, the pictures you see now will become reality. Richard slammed the words in Martins’s mind. Then and only then did he turn to face the man. Martins had gone deathly pale, his eyes were wide with fright. Richard smiled, his incisors flashing. Now leave this place.
Martins choked and then scrambled off, but not before Richard sensed a surge of rebellion emanating from the man. He had a feeling he hadn’t heard the last of Lord Martins. Richard turned back to his quarry.
Lily took a breath, causing the swell of her breasts to rise.
Richard’s anger faded instantly. He stared transfixed. Every muscle tightened to the point of discomfort. He was keenly aware of people pressing past him on their way to awaiting carriages. Perfume hung thick in the air, along with the ever-present smell of blood. Richard ignored it all, focusing instead on the vision across the room.
Her gaze scanned the thinning crowd, taking in the surrounding faces, when she spotted him. Richard knew the exact second it occurred because her eyes widened considerably, she flushed, and her hand flew out of reflex to her throat.
He’d find it laughable, if it wasn’t coming from Lily. From the rise and fall of her breasts, he knew her breathing had sped up. Richard’s vision narrowed. He recalled last night and wet his lips with the tip of his tongue. He couldn’t hear it, but he knew her blood gushed through her veins, calling to him, beckoning, until his feet moved toward her of their own volition.
Within moments Richard stood before her, heart on sleeve. He swept Lily with an elegant bow, bringing her knuckles to his lips. She trembled beneath his touch and a fresh shade of pink washed over her skin. She flew her colors for all to see.
Richard hid his triumphant smile. She might think there was nothing between them but good company. She’d soon learn otherwise.
“It seems I’ve missed the ball,” he said casually, glancing around the room.
Lily stared at him for a second before dropping her gaze to his lips. This time there was no stopping his smile. As if realizing what she’d been doing, her eyes sought his.
“I hadn’t noticed.” She shrugged, but her rigid stance said she had indeed noticed his absence. “It was quite a good showing, but there will be others,” she managed to push out, but was unable to hide the disappointment in her voice.
Richard’s brows knitted. Apparently, this wasn’t about last night’s encounter, but his absence from the ball. “I do apologize, if I’ve inconvenienced you in any way, my lady. I trust my carriage was quite warm.”
Lily’s jaw firmed and her spine stiffened. “For that to have occurred there would have to be an agreement between us. As there is none, there is no harm done.” She turned a half shoulder to him. “As for your carriage, it was acceptable.”
Lord Thomas Wells laughed. Richard bit back his immediate retort. Somehow in protecting her, he�
�d managed to hurt her feelings. This would not do.
“Forgive me, my lady.” He bowed again, his eyes locking with hers. Surely she hadn’t realized last night wasn’t a dream. Richard tugged at his cuffs.
The urge to read her thoughts and use compulsion overwhelmed him. It would be so easy to convince her to believe him, but he wouldn’t. He owed it to them both. He wanted Lily without trickery. He knew he wasn’t beyond using persuasion, as last night in her bedroom proved, but he would never lie to her or intentionally hurt her. Richard was about to explain his absence when he spotted Lord Devlin closing in. He stepped away from Lily and excused himself, cutting Archibald off before he reached their position.
“I trust all is well, now that half your debts have been settled,” he practically growled at Lily’s father.
The man blanched, but did not back away.
“I’ve come to fetch my daughter. The hour is late.” Anger coiled in Devlin’s voice like a threatened snake.
“She is perfectly safe.” Richard stepped in the man’s path, preventing him from going further. “I’ll escort her back with you.”
“See here, that would be quite improper and you know it.”
Richard grinned, but there was no humor in his smile. “That is why I said I will be riding along with you. You are her father, so therefore the perfect chaperone. Her reputation will be well protected.”
“You don’t give a farthing about my daughter’s reputation. Given leave, you’ll—”
“Marry her.” Richard’s voice broke in, holding no room for argument. He tired of this conversation and Lily waited. “Now we’ll say our goodbyes and be on our way.”
“You’ll pay for this, mark my words.”
Richard snorted. “I already have, remember?”
Lord Devlin flinched and then said his goodbyes. He made his way toward the door, leaving Lily standing and gaping after him. Richard reached out and gently laid a finger beneath her chin to shut her mouth. She glared at him for his efforts. She stalked across the floor a few moments later to retrieve her pelisse, and then thanked the hostess, Lady Gordon. Richard strode in her wake, mumbling beneath his breath about stubborn women.
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