She could sense the pounding of his heart and each breath brought thewarm and musky scent that was his alone. “I don’t want to forgetanything,” she said. “Everything that is you, I will cherish to my dyingday.”
His fingers gently traced her discolored cheek. “Even this?”
“Even that,” she said, looking up at his troubled face. “Because I knowit will never happen again. The circumstances were a little strange, afterall.”
It was most extraordinary. All he was doing was holding her and yet hermouth was dry and her heart was pounding. A faint, aching need was growingin her that was driving her. Demanding. She reached up and took his facebetween her hands.
“Kiss me, Lucien.”
His mouth settled on hers, slick and hot, assuaging some of her hunger.Her hands slipped into the crisp silk of his hair to hold him close andshe opened to taste the sweetness of him. His tongue played against hers,and her whole world concentrated into that point of contact. Then shecollapsed back and his solid warmth settled over her so that the delightextended the length of her body, every part in contact with him.
It was not nearly enough.
She felt his hand at her breast through the soft muslin, a thumbrubbing softly at her nipple. When the kiss ended, his mouth trailed downto play at the same spot, and a shudder passed through her like awave.
He deftly changed their positions so she was lying in his lap. Cleverfingers made short work of the drawstring at the neckline of her gown.Beth made a brief, instinctive move of denial but then relaxed. She washis. He smoothed the creamy material back from her breasts.
“Ah, my darling,” he breathed softly as one long finger slowly circledfirst one nipple then the other. Watching her with a loving smile heplayed with her. Beth was trapped by his passionate eyes as her body wascaught in delicious, spiraling magic. Then his mouth came down, warm andmoist to tease her.
Beth released a shuddering sigh. “Oh heavens. Oh, Venus and Mars,” shewhispered.
“What?” he asked, laughing.
“I’ll tell you sometime. Not now. Don’t stop.”
“Oh, I won’t, my love,” he said huskily, his fingers returning to theirmagic game. “Just promise me there’s no surprise guest next door. Nosecrets lurking.”
Beth shook her head, hot and dizzy. “Nothing.” She feasted her eyes onhis beauty. The long muscles of his neck begged to be stroked, and sheraised her hand to them. Then she boldly slid her hand inside the necklineof his shirt to feel the rippling muscles of his shoulder.
He caught his breath and she hesitated. “Am I allowed to do this?” sheasked.
He stripped off his shirt. “You can do anything, Beth. Touch meanywhere. Ask anything of me.”
Beth looked at his beautiful torso and licked her lips. It was finelymuscled and tawny from some type of masculine outdoor exercise. Shewondered what, and if she might have the chance to watch. There was a lineof golden curls down the center of his chest, and she reached up to tangleher finger in them.
“You are very beautiful, my husband.”
“And so are you, my dearest wife.”
Beth moved to plant little kisses over his warm and silky skin andfound this brought her naked breasts against his chest, where they found anew delicious pleasure. She heard his breathing become ragged anddelighted in it. Perhaps Venus could take part as well as Mars. She lether tongue begin to trace moist patterns working towards his small, flatnipples. He stood suddenly with her in his arms.
“My room, you requested, madam?”
“That was only because of Clarissa,” Beth mumbled, continuing herdelicious work.
“Never mind,” he said unsteadily and twirled her around and aroundacross the room.
At the door he bent slightly and Beth turned the knob. They progressedthrough the sequence of rooms somewhat unsteadily, but finally arrived athis bedroom.
Beth had never been here before. It was, as he had said, very much likeher own save that the colors were greens and golds, not blues. The bed waslarger and had a canopy over it with curtains hanging down which tied backagainst the wall. When he laid her down on the silken cover, she saw theunderside of the canopy was decorated with his coat of arms.
Beth chuckled. “For the glory and honor of the de Vaux!” she declared,opening her arms.
He fell beside her on the bed so that the whole solid frame shuddered.“Indeed yes. Lots and lots of little de Vaux. Don’t mind the escutcheon,”he said, laying a flat possessive hand on her abdomen. “It wascommissioned by my grandmother for my father. She didn’t think he wassufficiently aware of his dignity.”
“The duke?” Beth queried in surprise. Her mind seemed to be neatlydivided ? one half in passion, aware of his hand as a fire which burnt itsway into her, the other still capable of rational conversation. Shedecided to try fingers on his nipples. Then, gently, her nails.
Lucien sucked in a sharp breath. “He was . . . less starchy in hisyouth, I gather. Beth!” He captured her hand and kissed each fingertipmoistly. Then he began to suck on them. He rolled onto his back andcarried her with him so she lay on top of him. “Don’t worry,” he said ashis fingers loosened the waist-tie at her back, “I’ve been sleeping underthe thing since I left the nursery and it hasn’t stiffened me yet.” Thedrawstring fell loose, and her dress was held in place by nothing atall.
