He responded by taking full advantage of her vulnerable nape. The warmth of his breath, the dampness of his tongue, the sharp edge of his teeth as he half kissed, half bit, made her shudder convulsively.
‘Please, Andrew, don’t…’
As she spoke she realised his fingers were subtly removing the pins from her hair, but before she could get a hand up to stop him the silky mass had tumbled around her shoulders.
With a sudden, unexpected movement he turned her into his arms, strong fingers lifted her chin and his lips came down on hers, preventing any further protest.
Silently she resisted, putting her hands flat against his chest in an attempt to push him away. She might as well have tried to move Trajan’s Column. He merely tightened his hold and drew her closer, trapping her hands between them.
She tried to keep her teeth clenched together, but his tongue-tip stroking backwards and forwards across the sensitive skin just inside her upper lip made her shudder. This erotic torment was followed by a series of light, plucking kisses that coaxed and invited, until she could no longer fight the urge to open her mouth to him just this once.
The exploration that followed was slow and sensuous, with none of the fierce passion she might have expected. He kissed her skilfully, persuasively, with no hint of urgency, as though they both had all the time in the world to enjoy the experience.
She should have been wary, but the unhurried gentleness of his kiss lulled her into a sense of security, made her believe she could bring it to an end any time she wished.
But when, fearing the liquid core of heat forming in the pit of her stomach, she tentatively tried, he took her face between his hands and, running his fingers into her hair and tilting her head to accommodate his wishes, forced her mouth to open more fully to deepen the kiss.
It was an assault on her senses that swamped any lingering caution and gave rise to a kind of drugging excitement.
Beneath her palms his shirt was cool and silky, but she wanted to touch him; it was a barrier. Without conscious volition, her fingers slid into the open neck to find the smooth warmth of his skin, the hard muscle, the slight roughness of body hair.
She was so absorbed that she scarcely noticed he was making his own voyage of discovery, stroking down her neck, finding the warm hollow at the base of her throat, smoothing her shoulders.
Not until he’d brushed aside the thin straps of her camisole top and slipped a hand inside to cup her breast did she realise the full extent of her danger and once more try to pull away.
But he wouldn’t allow it, and her agonised whisper of, ‘Don’t, please don’t…’ ended in a throaty gasp as his thumb and finger found and teased the sensitive nipple through the delicate fabric of her bra.
While one hand continued to drive her wild the other worked on her buttons, and a second later he’d eased the top from the waistband of her skirt and tossed it aside.
‘The taxi…’ Pulling free, she made one last desperate attempt to save herself, clinging to the thought as a drowning man would cling to a lifeline.
He cut the line with just a few incisive words. ‘There won’t be any taxi.’
‘I don’t know what—’
‘There won’t be any taxi,’ he repeated flatly.
‘You only pretended to call one!’
Making no attempt to deny the accusation, he drew her back into his arms, his kiss smothering any further protest.
CHAPTER FIVE
ONE hand held her against him and the other began to follow the curve of her hip and buttock while he continued to kiss her with an arrogant demand, a fierce desire that fanned the flames and threatened to send her own hunger raging like a forest fire out of control.
She was submerged in wanting, racked by the most devastating need she had ever experienced, when all at once he drew back a little, leaving her alone and bereft.
With a murmur of protest, she put her arms around his neck and pressed herself against him.
In a calculated gamble, he took her upper arms and held her away from him. ‘Perhaps we should call a halt while we still can?’
‘What?’ she asked thickly, her eyes blind, the blood still pounding in her ears, desire running like molten lava through her veins.
‘Tomorrow morning I don’t want any regrets, or any suggestion that I forced you to stay. So if you want to leave, I really will phone for a taxi.’
From somewhere the thought came…He had already taken her virginity, so she had nothing to lose and what seemed like the whole world to gain. ‘No.’
‘No, what?’
‘I don’t want to leave.’
‘Then tell me what you do want.’
‘You know what I want,’ she muttered hoarsely.
His face ruthless, he insisted, ‘Say it.’
‘I want to stay here. I want you to make love to me.’
With a little growl of satisfaction he swept her up into his arms and, like some conqueror, headed for the bedroom.
When he laid her on the four-poster, in the now dusky bedroom, she put her arms around his neck and tried to pull him down to her.
‘Easy, darling,’ he murmured huskily. ‘While I like to see you’re enthusiastic, I don’t want to spoil things by rushing. We’ve all night ahead of us. I want to have time to touch you, to learn all your body’s most intimate secrets.’
With maddening slowness he finished undressing her, kissing and caressing each inch of exposed flesh, finding all her erogenous zones, playing her, enjoying the way every nerve-ending quivered and responded to his touch.
When she was completely naked, he switched on the lamp and stood back to look at her as she lay motionless, vulnerable, open to his gaze.
Her beautiful hair was spread across the pillow, her eyes were closed, and he could see the rapid throbbing of the pulse at the base of her throat.
Slim and golden, her body was fine-boned, with curving hips and long, slender legs. Her pale breasts, their rosy nipples firm and waiting, were fuller and heavier than they appeared when she was dressed.
As he moved away from her she felt the cool night breeze that drifted in through the open windows, taking the place of his warm fingers caressing her heated flesh.
Lifting heavy lids, she found his eyes were roving over her, questing as his hands and mouth had been, and was suddenly afraid, alarmed by the way he was making love to her.
Like the revealing flash of a flare, it occurred to her that this wasn’t how she’d expected it to be. It wasn’t just a coming together, a quick and passionate exchange of sexual pleasure. It was as if he was taking her over, body and soul. Making her his so completely that she would never be free again.
She shivered.
Seeing that shiver, and misinterpreting it, he quickly stripped off his clothes and stretched out beside her, drawing her body against the long, muscular warmth of his own.
For a moment she tried to resist, to fight the sensual hunger that was keeping her enslaved, but before she could make any real move to save herself he was kissing her, and she was sinking, drowning, fathoms deep in desire.
His mouth at her breast made her jump convulsively.
‘Please don’t!’ she whispered hoarsely.
‘Don’t you like that?’
‘Yes…Yes…But I don’t think I can stand any more.’
He chuckled softly, and said, ‘My sweet innocent, that’s only the beginning.’ Then, having laved the taut nipple with his tongue, he began to suckle hungrily, tugging a little.
She heard the pounding of her own heart, and tried at first to swallow the little sounds and murmurs that rose in her throat. But the needle-sharp sensations were so sweet, so keenly felt, that she gasped and moaned aloud as the exquisite torture continued.
She was soon to learn that he’d spoken the truth when he’d told her that it was only the beginning.
His intense, yet leisurely lovemaking was like nothing she had ever experienced, or even dreamt of in her wildest and most erotic fantas
ies.
With his mouth and hands, and an expert knowledge of the female libido, he kept her poised on the very brink, enjoying his mastery of her body, until she was almost mindless with pleasure and with wanting, begging feverishly, ‘Please, oh, please…’
Just when she thought she would die if he didn’t soon satisfy the longing he’d aroused, he moved over her and she felt his weight pressing her into the mattress.
Though ardent he was a gentle, considerate lover, and she was unprepared for the sudden brief tearing pain that, taking her by surprise, made her cry out.
As she stiffened beneath him he whispered, ‘Bel, my beautiful Bel,’ and began to kiss her deeply, passionately, at the same time moving with a careful domination that almost immediately began to rewind the spiral of desire, making her forget everything but her need for this man.
It was wonderful, awesome, this total giving over of one’s self to another human being, this building up of sensation that grew so intense that the pleasure was terrifying.
She was mindless, lost to the world, her whole being intent, waiting, focused on that inner core of molten fire, her throat dry and tight from the gasping cries he was forcing from it.
Then all at once there was an explosion of heat and light that engulfed her in a burning ecstasy, making her whole body quiver and pulsate. It was so intense that it swept her up and carried her to the stars.
As she drifted back to earth, and her breathing and heartbeat began to slow to a more normal pace, she was conscious of Andrew lifting himself away.
For a moment she felt bereft, abandoned, then he reached to switch off the lamp and, drawing her back into his arms, settled her head on his shoulder before pulling a lightweight duvet over their rapidly cooling bodies.
They seemed to share the same breath, the same heartbeat. She felt his fingers stroking her hair and brushing a silky strand away from her cheek, while peace, like soft black velvet, enfolded her.
Her last thought before she slept, was that he was much more than her sexual nemesis. Much more than her lover. He was her love.
Bel opened her eyes to find fresh morning air spilling into the attractive room, and bright sunshine slanting through the light muslin curtains.
Beneath the blue and gold canopy she was lying securely in the crook of Andrew’s arm. He seemed to be still asleep and, afraid of waking him until she’d had time to collect her thoughts, she lay quite still, hardly daring to breathe.
Her first and only lover. Her first and only love.
The placid affection she’d felt for Roderick paled and shrivelled into insignificance beside the passion she felt for this man.
A passion that, rather than beginning with a seed of liking and growing gradually into love, had, she realised now, sprung fully formed into vigorous life at their very first meeting.
Yet how was it possible to feel so strongly about a man she was unable to trust? A man who, to achieve his own ends, had not only lied about calling a taxi but had tricked and deluded her into believing they had made love that very first night, when quite obviously they hadn’t
If she’d guessed earlier it would have made all the difference. Given her the will-power to resist him.
Or would it? a little demon of doubt queried. Just lately she seemed to have lost every ounce of self-control, forgotten all the principles and moral values she’d grown up with.
But, bewitched as she undoubtedly was, she had never intended to start an affair with him. It could only lead to pain and disillusionment
Oh, why had she been such a fool?
A lean index finger stroked her cheek. ‘A hundred lire for your thoughts.’
Jumping violently, Bel pulled herself free and leaned back against the pillows. Embarrassed by her nakedness, she hitched the lightweight duvet up to cover her breasts and tucked it beneath her arms, before asking jerkily, ‘How did you know I was awake?’
Andrew sat up, looking fit and healthy and incredibly sexy, his hair rumpled, a dark stubble only adding to his attraction. ‘I heard your breathing change, and you were lying unnaturally still. So what were you thinking?’ Seeing her bite her lip, he went on, ‘At a guess, I’d say you were giving yourself hell for behaving like a warm, passionate woman?’
Her expression was answer enough.
He sighed. ‘I was hoping you wouldn’t wake up regretting it’
‘What else can I do but regret it?’ she burst out, her green eyes agitated. ‘I should have had more sense than to let you persuade me to stay…’
A wry smile twisted his lips.
Flushing, she said, ‘I know you asked if I wanted to leave…’
‘And you said no.’
‘But then I thought—’ She broke off, her colour deepening.
‘That we’d already made love?’
‘It was what you intended me to think!’
He made no attempt to deny it
‘You lied to me!’
‘I didn’t tell you any lies. I only let you believe it had happened.’
As she contemplated this fine distinction in silence he said plaintively, ‘You were angry when you thought I’d seduced you, now you’re angry because I hadn’t.’
Though she knew full well that he was teasing her, she couldn’t prevent herself answering crossly, ‘I’m not angry because you hadn’t. I’m angry because you deliberately misled me…Why did you want me to believe something you knew wasn’t true?’
Just for an instant he looked disconcerted, then he said, ‘Do you really need to ask?’
No, she didn’t. She already had her answer.
Because she’d believed her bridges had already been burnt, it had seemed so much easier to go forward.
And he’d realised that would be the case. Banked on it, the swine!
But if he’d intended to have her anyway, why hadn’t he taken her that first night? She’d certainly been in no state to resist.
Hesitant about asking the question direct, she said obliquely, ‘I can’t remember anything that happened after leaving the party.’
‘I helped you upstairs and into your room, and gave you a hand to undress—’
Cheeks burning, she broke in sarcastically, ‘How very noble of you.’
‘Then I lifted you into bed.’
A thought struck her. ‘And you took off my ring!’
‘Yes,’ he admitted. ‘But apart from that I didn’t lay a finger on you.’
‘Why? I must have been far too drunk to put up any resistance.’
She saw his jaw tighten and knew the implication had made him furious.
His voice smooth, yet abrasive as pumice stone, he said coldly, ‘I’ve always had a silly preference for my partner to be wide awake and co-operative. You were fast asleep as soon as your head touched the pillow.’
Curious enough to brave his wrath, she asked, ‘But if you didn’t intend to…to take advantage of me…why didn’t you go to your own room?’
For a second or two his face became a blank mask, as though a shutter had dropped, then he shrugged slightly. ‘Maybe I had hopes of…shall we say…an early-morning romp, when you’d slept it off?’
An early-morning romp? Somehow it didn’t ring true. Yet what other reason could there be? ‘Even though you knew I was engaged to Roderick?’
He reached out to brush the back of his hand down her half-averted cheek. ‘As I told you once before, he isn’t the man for you.’
‘That’s a matter of opinion,’ she said sharply.
‘Do you still imagine he’s the love of your life?’ Andrew’s question made a sudden harsh counterpoint to the caress of his fingers.
She shook her head mutely.
He took hold of her shoulders and turned her to face him. ‘Tell me something, Bel…If Bentinck changed his mind and asked you to go back to him, would you?’
‘No. It would be no use. In just a few days everything’s changed.’ Almost to herself, she added, ‘I’m not the same person any longer.’
�
��Well, if you’re willing to concede that, we’re making some progress,’ Andrew said.
His casual arrogance stung her, and she pulled herself free.
‘How much “progress” were you hoping for?’ Giving him no chance to answer, she rushed on, ‘As far as I’m concerned last night was a terrible mistake and should never have happened, so if you were thinking of a full-scale affair, you can think again.’
‘That’s fine by me—’ his smile was serene ‘—because an affair isn’t what I have in mind.’
‘Oh…’ Bel was taken aback. She’d been so sure. ‘Then what do you have in mind?’
With calm certainty, he informed her, ‘I intend to marry you.’
‘Marry me?’ The shock was chaotic, literally robbing her of breath.
He couldn’t mean it! Yet with every nerve in her body tightening with a combination of alarm and excitement, she knew he did. Both his voice and his expression had been implacable.
Cool, heavy-lidded eyes studied her face, gauging her reaction. ‘What do you think of the idea?’
When she could breathe again, she said, ‘It’s totally absurd!’
‘Why is it absurd?’
‘We’re little more than strangers.’
‘Intimate strangers, wouldn’t you say?’
Determinedly ignoring his quizzical glance, she pointed out jerkily, ‘We only met three days ago.’
‘By dispensing with the usual conventions we’ve come a long way in three days.’
‘You still don’t know me,’ she protested. ‘I could be quite impossible…’
‘I know you’re not cruel, vain, vindictive, emptyheaded or shallow. Anything else I can live with.’
‘But why marriage? I just don’t understand.’
‘Because I want to marry you. And with you having lured me to bed…’
Rising to the bait, she cried, ‘I did no such thing!’
Ignoring her indignant denial, he went on ironically, ‘I think you should make an honest man of me.’
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