Lily’s eyes widened. “Richard, you’ve gone mad.” She shook her head in disbelief, backing away.
“Remember when I told you I couldn’t go out in the sunlight due to an ailment?”
Lily nodded. Her body struck the chair by the fire, stopping her with a thud.
Richard closed the distance, his mass blocking her escape. “Well that was the truth to a certain extent.”
“What do you mean?” Her body trembled.
“Are you frightened, Lily?”
She nodded.
“Not nearly frightened enough.” He loomed over her, his gaze locking onto hers. He reached out and stroked the hair at the side of her head. “I didn’t lie when I told you, you were the only one in my life—my heart.” He took a steadying breath. “It was the truth then and it’s the truth now. I love you Lily, like I’ve loved no other. You are my bloodmate, which makes you infinitely more precious to me than a wife could ever be.”
Lily’s heart shattered, his words more powerful than the walls she’d constructed. Flames danced in his eyes from the reflecting firelight. Emotion wavered and swam in the black depths. He looked so sincere, even though part of her was scared witless by his sudden aggression. He had confessed. She might as well hear all before she left.
She took a shuddering breath. “What is a bloodmate and why can’t you go out in the sunlight, Richard?”
He stared at her, his face churning with emotion. His body quavered as if a battle raged inside him.
“I’m willing to hear the truth,” she said, her voice quivering. “I don’t know if it will change any of the facts as I see them, but I will listen.” She tilted her chin and met his unblinking gaze.
Richard swallowed hard, his whole body tense from indecision. Everything teetered on this one moment of truth. Would his love be enough to keep her? Or would his secret scare away the last chance he had for finding true happiness? His mind urged him to lie, keep his skeletons firmly hidden away, while his heart pleaded with him to place it upon his sleeve.
He stared into blue eyes, so clear, trusting, and full of love that they tipped the scales. He tugged at his cuffs and straightened his jacket. “I’m about to trust you with far more than my heart, darling Lily.” His gaze leveled. “I trust you with my life. Do with it what you will.”
Lily blinked, then slowly nodded.
Richard inhaled deeply, taking in the sweet aroma of her blood. His fangs sprang into his mouth, gleaming white, dangerously sharp. He peered down into Lily’s face and smiled.
The hair on the nape of Lily’s neck rose on end. Surely her eyes played tricks on her. Those were not fangs in Richard’s mouth. She looked away and then back. Glanced at the floor, then up to his face. No matter what she did the vision before her didn’t change. The air caught in her throat.
He was a monster. It’s the same man you fell in love with. He was going to kill her. He had plenty of opportunities to do so before and did not. Instead he made love to you through the night. She should turn him in. But if you do that the magistrates will sentence him to death. Lily knew she wouldn’t be able live with herself if anything happened to Richard, despite everything she still loved him.
“As you can see, I’m a vampire.” He stood proudly, his head held high.
Her mind scrambled to assimilate the information that he presented her with. Could she live with a vampire? Her gaze bulleted to his fangs and her breath came out in choppy gasps. Lily wasn’t sure. He told you the only reason he’d visited the incognita was because of his need for blood. Could she give him what he needed? Her head began to spin at the thought.
Richard’s smile faded, his expression grew solemn. His head dropped to his chin while she considered his fate.
He’d told the truth. Something he’d vowed he’d never do until after they had wed and she’d had no option. However, if he hadn’t, Lily wouldn’t be standing here now. As it was, she might very well walk out of here and leave him hanging in the wind. He considered the gallows. He didn’t fear death, having already experienced it once, but he did fear Lily’s decision. If she chose to go, his heart would go with her. Richard cleared his throat and looked into her face.
“I’m asking more from you than just your love, probably more than I should ever ask of anyone.” He exhaled, audibly. “I’m asking you to look into the eyes of a beast and not falter. Can you do that Lily? Could you love a monster?” His voice was tight as he continued. “That is what I am, you know. An abomination that deserves not your pity, nor your love, but I ask for it anyhow. To be given freely.” His hands shook at his sides. “I can offer you nothing, no children, no family, only myself. It’s important you understand.”
A myriad of emotions passed over her features. He considered reading her mind, but decided against it. He would give Lily something he’d never given anyone but Hurley—total trust. Her eyes continued to study him, searching for any sign that would indicate he wasn’t the man she’d fallen in love with. Richard gave her nothing to find.
The anguish in his voice tore fragments from her heart. Lily still couldn’t comprehend that the man standing before her was not a man at all, but a real, live vampire. She’d heard legends, old wives tales meant to keep her from playing in the woods as a child, but nothing described remotely resembled Richard. Handsome as the day she’d met him, there was a touch of vulnerability to him and now, thanks to her, pain. Was it possible, that despite his strange malady he was just like everyone else? Could he truly feel emotions?
Lily’s heart clenched at the thought of hurting Richard. “I’m not going to turn you in, but I haven’t as of yet changed my mind about us. I’d like some answers.”
“By all means… “ He motioned her to the chaise, then sat beside her, his long legs brushing against her skirt.
Lily’s breath shuddered from his nearness, but it wasn’t due to fear. Her awareness of him heightened to a fevered pitch now that she knew his secret. An element of danger existed between them that despite her initial reaction excited her. She felt her nipples stab against her chemise, rasping with every inhalation. Her body pulsed and ached.
She gazed at Richard from beneath her lashes, searching for a sign, something that would indicate what she should do. There was nothing. He appeared, acted, and spoke like Richard Sebastian Stuart, the sixth Earl of Lyon. His face remained flawless perfection, pale yet sensuous. His eyes intense. That gaze alone set Lily’s belly to fluttering at the passion it promised.
They’d shared much over the past couple weeks, more than she’d ever shared with any man. Lily stilled as she realized she’d willingly handed over her virtue to Richard without a second thought, and would do so again even knowing his secret. She reached out and touched his face. His skin felt cool beneath her fingertips, yet soft.
“How old are you, Richard?” Lily asked, touching the contours.
He smiled, keeping his fangs concealed. “Seven hundred years old, give or take.”
Lily’s eyes widened. “You don’t look that old.” Her gaze lingered on his lips, remembering all the kisses they’d shared.
“I assure you I feel it.” He laughed bitterly.
She tilted her head. “Why me? Why now?”
Richard sighed. “I’ve waited for centuries to find someone like you, my darling. A woman strong enough to stand up to me, sensible enough to keep good conversation, and unique enough to want to be my wife, my bloodmate.” He ran his hand through his hair. “You have no idea what a daunting task it has turned out to be. I can’t exactly tell everyone my secret and hope that once the screaming stops, someone will step forward and volunteer.”
“Not hardly.” She wrung her hands. “Is that why you struck that bargain with my father?”
“Not exactly.” He tugged at his sleeve. “I only drew up an agreement with your father to ensure a chance to offer for you. I knew nothing was certain. That’s why I kept the agreement with Rose even after I met you. I had to be sure. “
“Go on.”
<
br /> “I didn’t sleep with Rose after I met you. I couldn’t bring myself to do so. I wanted no one in my bed, but you.”
Lily watched as he spoke, searching for any signs of deception. There were none. He spoke the truth, although it would have been the last thing she’d have anticipated he’d say. Her mind raged against her heart. Part of Lily longed to reassure him. Tell him that yes she’d stand by his side, even with this surprising news. But she wasn’t sure she could. There was still the little fact that he was a vampire, a dangerous creature known for its ravenous appetites. He’d be alive and well long after they planted her into the ground. His immortality assured.
Her breathing hitched. Those appetites extended into the boudoir. Lily’s thoughts tumbled, focusing on the moisture between her legs, as she remembered their bodies wrapped in sheets, joined as one. She swallowed, trying to diminish the pictures that formed in her mind at rapid speed. Bare skin greeting bare skin, heated, writhing, encircling each other, rising to the highest heights of ecstasy. Would Richard be even more enthusiastic now that she knew his secret? Lily tried to vanquish the idea, but it lingered like a shadow, stretching and morphing, clouding her mind.
She smoothed her skirts. “Have you ever asked anyone else to marry you?” For some reason the answer was truly important to Lily.
Richard laughed again and then slowly shook his head back and forth. “I’ve never met anyone who could hold my interest.”
Lily smiled, despite her mixed feelings. She recalled the times they’d spent in Richard’s carriage. Her cheeks heated. His firm mouth had been latched onto her ripe nipples, suckling and laving, drawing out every last ounce of her arousal. His fingers had slid effortlessly into her tight sheath, while his thumb played with her hidden bud. When that wash of emotions surged through her, he could have done anything, anything at all to her and she wouldn’t have protested nor cared. But he hadn’t, he’d backed off refusing to take her virtue in such a manner. Then there’d been the dreams…
Richard stared at her. The expressions on her face were heated. He wondered if she knew how much she gave away by looking at him. He didn’t have to read her mind to know she recalled their more intimate moments together. The slight flush of her cheeks and the subtle dilation of her pupils lent proof, along with her sudden deepening of breath. Signs Richard knew all too well to ignore. He inhaled, fighting the urge to take her in his arms.
“Why did you come to my room every night, leading me to believe I dreamt your visits?”
His breath froze. His gaze searched hers before answering. “I couldn’t stay away… “ Guilt threatened to impale him. “I’m sorry for taking your virtue, believe me when I say I considered it the greatest gift I’ve ever been given. But how did you know?”
She stared at him for what felt like an interminable amount of time. “Last night I didn’t take the sleep draught.”
Lily’s tongue darted out. The unconscious movement snapped the threadbare tethers holding him back. Richard crushed her to him without thinking. She gasped and he plunged inside, tasting and taunting, hoping to turn her flagging embers into an inferno.
His mind went askew the second his lips touched hers. All the nights, all the carriage rides had all boiled down to this one moment in time. Was she woman enough to accept his plea? He deepened the kiss swiping at her tongue like a master swordsman. She groaned, relaxing into his firm hold. He knew she wanted to leave, but he had to try to convince her body to stay. Her flesh longed for what only he could give it. Traitorously her body responded to his determined touch.
Her back arched into his chest, her nipples scraping his coat through her gown. Lily reached up and grasped his lapels. Could he let her walk away, after everything they’d been through? In his mind, he’d already resigned himself to a life of loneliness, knowing full well no other woman would be able to capture his heart like the one he ravished right now.
With a moan of surrender, she kissed him back, tentatively at first. She ran her tongue along his bottom lip, avoiding the razor sharp fangs in his mouth. It was as if for a moment, she’d forgotten all about them. Richard’s mind shrouded in a haze of desire, his want had replaced good sense long ago. He allowed her to plunder and mold, claim and brand. Lily ran her fingers over his steely muscles, tracing every ridge, every plane.
Her feminine entreaty was as clear to Richard as if she had shouted from the rooftops. He swung her up into his arms and stood all in one motion, before carrying her to the door. Easily juggling her weight, he opened the door and walked through, Lily held firmly to his chest. He strode down the hall toward the staircase not even faltering when Hurley appeared.
“Keep our dinner warm, my friend. We’ll be busy for a while,” Richard tossed back as he took the stairs two at a time.
Lily ducked her head, her face flushing a glowing pink.
Richard reached the top and turned left heading for his apartments. He’d never brought a woman into his inner sanctum and found the proposition a little intimidating. He threw open the door, halting before entering. He stared down into Lily’s glowing face.
“Will you be my wife, Lady Lily Devlin, knowing all my secrets?” he asked, then waited.
She looked up at his face, the strain of emotion marring her delicate features. Her fingertips traced the outline of his lips. “I will.”
With that Richard stepped across the threshold. A fire had been built in the hearth. Candles were lit giving the room a soft and pleasing glow. Richard smiled to himself. Obviously Hurley had been busy with more than kitchen duties. Fresh green satin linens had been laid upon his mahogany bed. An oversized bath, with a sponge included sat in the corner steaming with hot water. His eyes narrowed at the scene, but Richard said nothing, grateful beyond words that his old friend had taken such care.
He set Lily down, making sure she’d found her feet before letting go. Deftly he slipped the buttons on her gown from their eyelets, until the dress slid to the floor. He released her laces and removed her petticoat, before pulling her chemise from her body.
Richard then dropped to his knees, rolling down her stockings in the process and helped her out of her slippers. Within in moments Lily stood before him naked. “You are exquisite.” He kissed her abdomen and led her to the tub, helping her step inside.
Lily sunk down into the warm water, letting it lap at her heated flesh like a thousand tiny waves. She watched as Richard removed his coat, then his cravat and shirt, baring his chest for her perusal, her gaze drinking in his masculine beauty, like the sponge soaked up water. His eyes caught hers as he slipped the buttons on his breeches one by one, taking care to tease. Lily licked her lips in anticipation and hunkered deeper in the tub. He removed his Hessians, then peeled his breeches down his muscled thighs until he could step out of them. Naked and erect, he stood like a pagan god in the center of the room.
He was all hers. The thought sent slivers of excitement racing up Lily’s arms.
She sucked in a breath as he stepped forward, closing the distance between them. He stepped into the tub and sat. When Lily tried to scoot away, he scooped her up and spun her around until her back pressed to his chest. She squealed. He picked up the sponge floating on the surface of the water and brushed it down Lily’s arm. Memories of what she’d done in her tub earlier slammed into her. Richard’s erect cock rested against the crack of her bottom. Her heart thudded when she felt it throb at the small of her back.
Lily shivered as Richard rubbed the sponge over her shoulders, along her neck and around to her nipples. The pink tips pebbled into hard kernels. He rasped the sponge over her breasts again and she moaned. The ache between her thighs had turned into a molten inferno. Lily could hardly think as his hand slid below the surface nearing her entrance. He didn’t touch her and Lily’s frustration ratcheted up a notch. The tension stringing her senses grew taut.
“Do you know how much I love touching you?” his deep voice murmured near her ear, his tongue swiping at the soft shell.
“No,” she whispered breathlessly.
“And your taste drives me insane.”
Lily froze. “Have you ever taken my blood, Richard?”
He didn’t answer. Her breathing increased.
“Richard, please, I need to know the truth.”
Lily heard him swallow. “Only once, but it’s not what you think. I’ve never fed from you, only nicked you once while we were in your conservatory.”
Her eyes widened as she recalled the moment he alluded to. It had only stung for a moment and then was gone. “Is that what it feels like when you bite?”
“Since I’ve only been bitten once, I can only go by my own experience and what I’ve been told by others.” He paused. “When a vampire bites you in the throes of passion, you’ll feel a momentary flash of white hot pain followed immediately by a wave of desire. There is something in my saliva that is not only healing but intoxicating.” He shrugged. “I can heighten pleasure at will.”
“Did you do that with me?”
“No. I wanted you of your own free will.”
He ran his fingers along her arm. Lily trembled. Despite her fear of pain, the promise of overwhelming desire was alluring. She wrestled with her uncertainty as she considered all he’d told her. His hands slid lower, tangling in the nest of curls at her apex. Lily’s head dropped back against his shoulder. Richard grabbed her around the waist and lifted her, until her entrance was above his shaft. She gasped, then wiggled, trying to lower herself.
Richard let her slowly slide down, impaling her on his cock. Lily’s breathing stalled as he filled her, stretching her pussy until she’d taken every inch. Then he leaned forward slightly.
“Slide onto your knees and grab hold of the tub.” His voice sounded strained as his hips jerked against her ass.
Lily did as she was instructed, grasping the tub as Richard thrust into her from behind. Goosebumps prickled her skin at the new and exciting position he’d placed them in. He seemed to reach deeper, stimulating a spot inside her channel that increased the building pleasure-pain sensation. Lily groaned and threw her hips back meeting Richard’s upward stroke. They both gasped, then Richard growled. He clasped his hands onto her hips and dove deep, spearing her with his cock.
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