He started off gentle, the warmth of his tongue stroking her in slow, languid caresses. She gasped, her fingers digging into the soft white sheets beneath her, trembling as sensations rippled through her. She tried to remain still. Surely a lady didn’t react in such a wanton way. Yet when his finger entered her in a gentle slide, filling her body, as well as her soul, she could no longer rein in the instinct to move.
Crying out into the dimness of the room, she raised her hips, pressing against his mouth. He growled low, and the vibrations of the sound, focused on that part of her that was quickly becoming the center of her universe, sent her spiraling further over the edge. His tongue worked faster, his lips closing around her, his finger working inside her until she thought she would shatter.
And then she did, into a million pieces that she thought would never find their way back together again.
Until he rose up over her, and pulled her trembling body into his arms, cradling her to his chest. It was then she felt it, her heart settling where it belonged, beating strong and sure against him.
***
Peter had never felt so content, so whole, so free from the pain and anger of his past, as he did in that moment. Lenora lay curled against his side, all limp softness. As much as she had surprised him with her passion before, her response tonight left him dizzy with pleasure. That she could trust him enough to open herself up in such a way humbled him. Would that he could spend the rest of his days bringing her such pleasure, that he could claim her for his own.
He immediately recoiled from the rogue thought. He couldn’t abandon the plans of half a lifetime.
Regret, heavy and bitter, filled him. Yes, he would see his vow through. He tightened his hold on Lenora, paradise in his arms. Though it would not happen without a price.
“Peter?”
Her voice startled him. He’d thought her sleeping. “Yes?”
Her slender fingers played over his chest. “Is everything all right?”
He forced himself to relax under her. She didn’t deserve his dark thoughts. She was innocent in all this, someone who had wandered too close to a flame. He prayed she didn’t get scorched when it was over and done with.
He doubted he would be so lucky.
“Everything is fine,” he murmured into the crown of her head. Dropping a kiss there, he rubbed his hand over her back, hoping to lull her to sleep.
But Lenora rose up on her elbow and looked down on him. Even in the dim light, he could see the worry that drew her brows together. “Tell me what’s troubling you, Peter.”
Damn but she was lovely. Her hair was in disarray, her lips swollen from his kisses. Unable to help himself, he cupped the back of her head and pulled her down for a kiss. “Nothing is troubling me.”
“Liar,” she whispered, though there was no anger in the word. She melted against him, splaying her hands over his chest. Suddenly a flush stole over her cheeks, even discernible in the low light. Her eyes lowered to his chin. “But you did not…uh…”
He frowned. “Did not what?”
Her cheeks went even darker. “When I…er…you did not…um…”
Was she asking him if he had finished? Despite himself, his lips twitched. “I thought you were more eloquent than that.”
She shot him a glare, pushing against his chest. Immediately his arms tightened about her, his lips going to her neck to disguise the grin that had spilled over.
“You’re asking if I reached satisfaction?” he murmured against her skin.
She shivered, and he could almost hear her eyes rolling back in her head. She nuzzled his temple, nodding. “I want to know if you felt what I did.”
The husky rasp of her voice, quickly building again to desire, nearly did him in right then and there. Taking firm control of himself—so he didn’t spend himself like a young lad without even a touch, or roll her onto her back and sink into her warmth—he pulled back and looked her in the eye.
“Never mind me, Lenora. Tonight was for you.”
Her lips parted, the breath leaving her in a soft rush. “But…don’t you want to?”
He nearly groaned. “More than you know, sweet.”
Her brows drew together again in a frustrated little dip. “Then why?”
Cupping her cheek, he ran his thumb over her soft skin. “I told you I wouldn’t ruin you. I won’t break that promise.”
Instead of being grateful, she glowered at him. “I don’t recall asking you to make that promise.”
