"Sorry, I cannot seem to find my way back in the dark," he said, whispering his words against my ear in the most tempting manner.
"Darcy," I begged, I was quite beyond pride.
Now he gave his attentions to my left breast, sucking and gently biting on the tip, driving me to the brink of ecstasy.
But it wasn't enough.
I knew what I needed. I was sorely tempted to give myself over to wantonness and press my yearnful cleft against his hardness, but then he would know my terrible secret.
Releasing my wrists, Darcy shifted to one side.
One of his hands traveled up my thigh and for one hopeful moment I thought he might already know my most intimate desire but no, I was wrong, he had only the vaguest inclination of what my secret might be. His hand continued its journey, fingertips casually passing over where they ought to have stayed.
There was really nothing for it.
Grabbing his hand I led it back to my need, then I did my best to show him what was required of him. Fortunately Darcy caught on quickly.
"Like this?"
My affirmative reply came out as a moan.
"It is even better than when I do it myself. I thought it might be, it is wonderful to know I was right," I babbled breathlessly. As soon as I had spoken I knew I ought to have keptmy mouth shut.
"You do this to yourself?" Darcy asked. He did not halt his ministrations (thank goodness) but there was a hint of amusement in his tone I could not like. It probably wasn't a lady-like thing to give oneself such pleasure, but it caused no harm and I quite enjoyed it and now that the secret was out I refused to be embarrassed by it.
"I am twenty years old, Darcy, you did not think I could have lived so long without exploring my Garden of Delight, did you?"
Now he did stop his attentions. "Pardon, your what?"
"Garden of Delight," I repeated reluctantly, knowing it would only cause him further amusement. "You are laughing," I accused.
"I am not, I have not made a sound."
"You are laughing in your head and I can hear it."
"You read minds now?"
"Just yours."
"Well, that is terrifying," he said.
He returned to his task and for several moments my labored breathing was the only sound in the room.
"When you are exploring your Garden of— " Darcy began, then laughed, "I cannot even say it."
"It is not that amusing," I said with undisguised annoyance. If the man wasn't going to bring me to ecstasy the very least he could do was not amuse himself at my expense.
"Mama calls it a fertile valley," I added just so he would know there were more ridiculous things it could be called.
"Garden of Delight is certainly superior," Darcy agreed, but I could hear the sarcasm. "When you are pleasuring yourself do you think of me?" he asked finally.
I answered, perhaps too vehemently, "Of course not!"
Darcy paused. His silence seemed a bit sullen.
"Do you think of me?" I asked because now Ihadto say something . . . and I did wish to know. "When you—whet your weapon?"
He chuckled at my wording, but did not answer immediately.
