Draco moved his hand slowly down the indention of her back to caress the nether cheek that had been damaged. His touch drew a moan for her. “Forgive me, sweetling.”
“Whatever for?” Bianca’s voice hitched with sudden apprehension that with his next words he would put an end to their embrace. She was not certain that she could live through such rejection and in self-preservation, she closed her eyes and waited with bated breath. But his gentle stroking over her sensitive bare skin did not cease and the caresses became bolder, moving lower and more intimate, doing strange things to her concentration.
“For having to take my blade to your lovely little derriere,” he whispered against her ear as his hands cupped her offended cheek gently. He smiled against her skin as she gasped at his boldness. He blazed a slow trail of fire down the side of her slender neck with his lips and teeth and tongue. He placed hot, wet kisses along her jaw to her chin as his hands moved, exploring every part of her. Soon Bianca found it difficult to breathe under his tender assault.
It was only when his movements stilled that she opened her eyes. She found him staring up at her with such a look of hopelessness in his eyes that it left her breath stalling within her chest.
“You did not hurt me too badly. It was a necessary measure.” Her gaze dropped to his mouth and she found that his firm, sculptured lips were too tantalizing, so near and so inviting. She touched her trembling mouth to his in response to the torment that she detected. His response was instantaneous.
With a deep groan, he clasped her head as his mouth moved over her lips, his teeth nipping, his tongue licking until Bianca’s lips felt bee-stung. But he wanted more from her.
“Open for me, dearling. Open your mouth.”
When she complied, she found her mouth filled with his tongue as he explored the moist cavity. His fierce passion threatened to consume her. His mighty arms enveloped her slight body and crushed her against his massive chest as his mouth ravaged hers, leaving them both breathless, yearning for more.
“Oh, my!” Her breathy exclamation after the long, passionate kiss brought a satisfied grin to Draco’s lips. Bianca opened her eyes and gazed down at his handsome face, flushed with desire and his eyes hot with hunger for her and she wondered at this passion that flared between them.
Bianca had been attracted to the great Black Dragon from that moment in the Great Hall when she had first laid eyes on him. She made the decision then that there would be no other man for her. Bianca wanted Draco for her husband and she had set out to seduce him in any way she could.
But now as she lay draped across his broad chest, his hands wandering over her body at will, she came to understand what physical love was. Bianca had believed herself in love with this great man from the beginning, but it was not until this moment that she understood that there were two kinds of love.
One was a young girl’s first fantasy love that she creates in her childish dreams before she matures into a woman. As a young woman, she soon begins to aspire for a husband and perhaps lover, and a woman’s love, physical and spiritual, fulfilled only when she finds the one and only true love great enough to fulfill all her dreams and more. Bianca had experienced both. As she gazed down at this great warrior with his battle scars and lonely, hungry eyes, she realized that she loved him with her whole heart and soul. Nothing would change her feelings not in this lifetime.
And then suddenly she was more afraid than she had ever been. How could she hope to hold fast to such a worldly man, her being so naïve and innocent? Perhaps this night would be just one more in a long procession of passion-filled nights for him. She had witnessed the looks that the gypsy dancer gave him. The thought scared her to death.
It was a fact that passion was something that could flare between any man and woman if the circumstances proved to be right. Even as much as she loved him, Bianca wondered if she could every hold a man like Draco? Could she force him to love her back?
If there was one thing Bianca had learned since Draco had set foot in Castle Neige, it was that love was not make-believe. Love was definitely real and at times, it could hurt. She loved Draco with all her heart and she wanted to believe that he would someday return that love. But until he said the words aloud, she accepted that she would have to be satisfied with the great passion that flared between them.
Bianca carefully studied his handsome, rugged features, her slender fingers moving over his strong jaw, wide cheekbones. She traced one fingertip down over the long scar that divided his face. Then she lowered her head and pressed her soft lips to his cheek and kissed it tenderly, drawing a low groan from him that rumbled deep in his chest. He cupped the back of her head and held her while his mouth captured hers in a passionate kiss.
Did Bianca ache for his touch, as he did hers? Draco could no long deny that her touch affected him. He had tried to do just that, but it had all been a lie he made up to convince himself and her, but no longer. He wanted Bianca more than life and now that she was here in his arms, there was no way he could pretend to be even a little chivalrous. She was his, at least for the moment. Tomorrow would take care of itself.
Even as those thoughts flew through his mind his mouth moved over hers in an uninhibited, ardent kiss that left her moaning her need into his mouth. Ravenously, he deepened the kiss, plunging his tongue into her warmth again and again. And without reservation, Bianca moved restlessly against him. She returned his kiss with unconcealed passion.
Without breaking their kiss, Draco rolled Bianca beneath him, wedging his large body between her soft white thighs, nestling the ridge of his throbbing, male hardness against her moist curls guarding her womanhood. The only thing separating them was the soft wool of his breeches.
Shocked at the feelings that swept through her at the intimacy of their position, Bianca drew back from his kiss and stared up at him in wonderment. The intensity of his gaze held her as he reached down between their bodies. The feel of his hand caressing down over the bare skin of her abdomen and lower into the tight black curls of her mons left her breathless with anticipation. And then his fingers found the delicate folds of her nether lips and the sensitive nub hidden there.
“Oh, oh!” The soft sigh of feeling that escaped her lips was little more than a soft puff of breath. As he manipulated the delicate, swollen bud, Draco watched Bianca’s passion-flushed face as her eyelids drifted closed and she worried her bottom lips with her teeth.
“Oh, God! Do not stop!” she begged as he removed his hand.
“Do not worry, dearling, I have no intention of stopping. We have not even begun yet.” He adjusted his position to give himself a better view of her lovely secrets.
“Open your legs, sweetheart. Oh yes, wider. There. God, you are so beautiful!”
Draco wanted to rip off his breeches and thrust into her right then, but instead, he tore his eyes from the lovely sight of her and moved up to cover her body with his. His mouth took hers in a passionate kiss, leaving her whimpering in her need. Again, his lips slanted over hers as he cupped her breasts, kneading them, his thumb rolling her nipple until it pearled beneath his touch. Then his hot, hungry mouth was there, taking one hard nipple into his mouth, lapping its peak with his hot, wet tongue and then drawing on it, suckling her long and hard. The result was a writhing lush body beneath his.
“Oh, Draco, please. Please!”
Her plea brought him close to the end of his endurance and he knew that he had to bring her closer to the edge before he could take her completely. His fingers found her wet and swollen and he knew that it would not take much to bring her to climax. He manipulated her nub with his thumb as he lowered his mouth over her other breast and suckled it until she was wild in his arms. He raised his head to nip her kiss-swollen lips once again and then grazed across her cheek to her ear.
“It will be all right, Bianca. Relax. Enjoy your release.”
Leaving her ear, Draco moved to her glorious breasts once again, paying homage to them with thoroughness that left her breathle
ss and moaning. She was so lost in her need that he was sure she did not realize he had lifted her legs to wrap them around his waist so that she was fully open to him.
“Feel how much I want you.” Draco’s hands clutched Bianca’s bare buttocks to hold her tight as he gently rocked with her, the ridge of his arousal pressed against her. He thrust against her, becoming more demanding in a tormented search for release. As she writhed beneath him, it was apparent that Bianca was close and with one last undulation, Draco pressed himself tight against her. As he felt her stiffen and her cry of release echoed off the walls, he let his own fantasies carry him over the edge and he threw back his head as he gripped her hips and shuddered as he spilled his seed within his breeches. It took several moments for him to relax enough to ease his hold on her, and then he collapsed beside her, all strength ebbing from his muscles.
Draco rolled to his back taking Bianca with him draping her wantonly across his broad chest. Her body still shuddered from the aftereffects of her climax. He was amused by the stunned expression on her face, as Bianca fought to regain control over her overwhelmed emotions.
Her composure was in tatters. Despite all the new and breathtaking sensations that she had just experienced, the one thing that lay utmost on her mind was that Draco had brought her such pleasure and fulfillment and yet he had not actually penetrated her. It had been caressing and rubbing and she had enjoyed every moment of it, but she was also bewildered and somewhat embarrassed that she had been naked all the while and Draco had never removed his breeches. She had no notion that people could find gratification in such a manner.
As if reading her thoughts, Draco pulled her tense body close and kissed her hot cheeks. “There is no shame in what we have just enjoyed together, my sweet. This way I could give you carnal pleasure without breaching your maidenhead.” But his words did not stanch the furious blush and as her eyes welled up with hot tears, Bianca turned her face to his neck and wept quietly.
“Hush, my love. You break my heart with these tears. What can I do to reassure you on this point?” Bianca raised her head and looked at him through her blinding tears.
“Say that you do not think less of me for what we have just done. I could not bear it if I lost you because I could not give you the same pleasure you gave me.” Even with tears wetting her face, Bianca still blushed at what she insinuated. She found great pleasure in their lovemaking, but if he had not even removed his clothing how could he have felt anything? Of a sudden, a distant rumbling sounded beneath her hands, splayed across his chest. She glanced at Draco and when the corners of his mouth tilted up, she realized that he was laughing at her. She fisted her hands and began to beat his chest in fury at his rudeness.
“How could you? How could you be so callous? I am only thinking of your comfort and you laugh at me.”
Her wrath was precious. Draco captured her flailing hands in his to still them before she bruised them and raised them to his lips.
“Who said that I received no pleasure in what just happened? Did you not notice my high agitation or hear my bellow of release? I assure you that even with my clothes still covering my body, I could feel every move you made. Just looking at your lovely body gives me more pleasure than I have ever experienced previously. Yea, you, Bianca de Neige are more than just beautiful. You are passionate, arousing, exciting, magnificent. Do not underestimate yourself. You are all woman.”
When she opened her mouth, Draco cut off her words by leaning over her and covering her mouth with his. He kissed her until she was nearly senseless. And then he lay back on the bed and drew her into the crook of his shoulder before pulling a light blanket over them.
“Sleep, my love. Sleep and dream sweet dreams.”
* * * * *
With pertinacity best attributed to a courageous knight,
The Maid de Neige vowed she would be this man’s wife,
Even if it took her all of this lifetime and into eternity.
She vowed to concoct a scheme to keep him in close proximity,
Pretending to peruse the canaille out to claim her inheritance,
Whether the man looked like a mouse, a cat, or a frog, for instance.
Alas none were good enough, her sweet Knight decreed,
Still he stubbornly denied her the choice that was he.
Chapter Thirteen
It was wonderfully peaceful in the rose garden. Small yellow songbirds twittered above her head as they jumped from twig to twig among the white blooms of the dogwood tree Bianca sat beneath, the unopened book on her lap forgotten as she took in the early morning beauty around her.
This secluded rose arbor was a favorite hiding place to which Bianca sometimes escaped when she wanted to avoid the resident witch when that lady went on one of her tiresome tirades, as she did so this morning.
Bianca had managed to keep out of Heloise’s way by slipping out of the castle by way of the kitchen and with a little help from Cook who intercepted the duchess on the pretext of looking at the evening menus. Bianca fled unnoticed out the back door and into the fragrant herb garden. From there she skirted around the outer wall of the hall, quickly losing herself in the formal gardens. This morning Bianca had more important things to contemplate than the trivial reason for her stepmother’s latest tantrum.
Even as a young girl, Bianca had loved this quiet, peaceful arbor. It was her haven when she needed privacy to cry out her childish pains and girlish woes. The solitude of this fresh green place with the wonderful perfumes of the many flowers that grew around it had been a sanctuary in which she had hidden many times as a child until her father came looking for her. At those times, he had gathered her close and whispered words of comfort against her silky black hair as he sat on this very seat, rocking her in his arms until her tears dried. The memory of those special moments brought mist to her eyes and she took a deep breath to keep the tears at bay.
“He has asked me to marry him.”
At her cousin’s sudden appearance, Bianca quickly swiped the telltale trace of tears from the corner of her eyes and pasted on a bright smile before lifting her head and peeking up at her from beneath the wide-brimmed hat she wore. It was a moment before the significance of what Modesta announced touched her. And then envy raised its vicious head for an instant, coloring her thoughts. Ashamed of her jealousy, Bianca quickly swept it aside to give her full attention to her cousin’s wonderful tidings.
Modesta collapsed gracefully on the stone bench and wrapped her slender arms about Bianca hugging her close, kissing her warmly on the cheek. Her happiness was undeniable as her lovely blue eyes sparked with joy.
“So the great handsome baron has finally decided to accept his fate, has he?” Bianca teased Modesta, watching the rosy color wash over her lovely features. “This is wonderful, dear cousin. It is what I wished for you. You deserve the best of fortune.”
“Thank you for your good wishes, Bianca. I still find it hard to believe that Lord Charles wants me, that he finds me acceptable even in my present circumstances.”
“Do not slight yourself, dear Modesta. You are young and beautiful with a kind heart and pleasant manners. He should consider himself the fortunate one. I can think of one or two other men who have lost their hearts to your beauty.” At her look of disbelief, Bianca almost laughed out loud.
“Who?”
“Why, Sir Dominic for one,” Bianca announced with a straight face. “And then there is Sir Raphael, Sir Gunthry and…” At the incredulous expression on Modesta’s face, Bianca could not hold back her delighted laughter. It pealed loud and joyously from her lips. She slapped a hand over her mouth when she realized that she was attracting the attention of several of the gardeners.
When she realized that her cousin but teased her, Modesta joined in the laughter. The thought of any one of those foolish knights traipsing after her with their tongues hanging out was hilarious.
It was true that all the older knights in the Duke’s service were good, honorable men, but several of them
were so tongue-tied that they stammered when either Bianca or Modesta, or any fair maiden for that matter, happened to speak to them. They were great, strong men-at-arms who had pledged their lives to protect the Neige family, but they were also very bashful when it came to a pretty maiden.
The memory of the red-faced Sir Dominic requesting a dance at the ball the evening before sobered Modesta. She considered that they were being unkind by finding humor in that poor knight’s social ineptness.
“Sir Dominic is a good and honorable knight, but I would never encourage a man for whom I held no tendre. I find myself very much in love with Lord Charles. I want no other. I truly believe that he could eventually come to love me just as well. Even now, I think he holds me in high regard.”
At Modesta’s obvious uncertainty over whether Lord Charles actually loved her or not, Bianca decided to gently move the conversation toward the happier aspects of the marriage proposal. “When did he offer for you?”
As she made the query, Bianca stood and pulled Modesta to her feet. She hooked her arm with her cousin thinking that a walk through the garden would be just the thing as they continued their conversation. They made their way through the maze of flower beds and hedges, Bianca listened to Modesta’s exciting chatter about the evening before and the ball and all the guests and their magnificent costumes. She was relieved to have something to fill her thoughts so that she could push the memory of what had happened between herself and Draco the previous night to the back of her mind for a while.
Bianca wished she had the courage to talk of such matters with her cousin. But she did not want to shock Modesta by admitting to her just how brazen she had become. No, it was impossible. The whole situation disconcerted her and she found that what she really wanted was a conversation with Draco, himself. When she awoke this morning, he had already gone from her bed. She had been disappointed but at the same time relieved. Bianca feared that she would have found the situation very embarrassing, being completely naked in the broad daylight in bed with a nearly naked man.
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