“Lisbeth, you canopen your eyes now. I know you are awake.”
There was amusement in Oliver’s tone. Had her reluctance to fully wake been so obvious?
She touched him tentatively, like he might just turn into a puff of smoke and disappear before her eyes. “You are still here.” It was more a statement than a question.
He raised a brow. “You seem surprised. Did you really think I would leave you?”
“That is what men do, don’t they? I mean, afterwards?”
He laughed at that. “Only the stupid ones.”
His smile warmed her all the way to her toes. She reached up to capture his face so she could give him a good morning kiss. And it was a good morning, the best morning of her life.
He gathered her reassuringly in his arms. “I’m not leaving, at least, not for another hour or so,” he assured her.
Oliver kissed her with the enthusiasm that she had benefitted from last night. Gentle but sure, confident but not overbearing. She felt him swell against her thigh. A feeling of great satisfaction flowed through her even as her limbs turned to melted chocolate and her heart picked up pace in anticipation of what was to come.Shewas able to make him react like that.Shehad the power to turn this strong man into a slave to her every whim. What’s more, he wanted to give her the chance to discover her desire, her sensual self as a woman. She had already learnedso much from him, but knew that she could have a lifetime and not learn everything there was to know about him and herself.
He made love to her less gently than last night, in no doubt now of her response. He wasn’t rough but the power of his strokes brought her body into sharp relief. She matched him stroke for stroke, kiss for kiss, and caress for decadent caress until they were both shuddering and gasping each other’s name.
“You were made for me,” he whispered in her ear.
“Only you,” she replied, holding him tightly to her.
She had no idea where these new feelings for him would lead but for now she just wanted to feel his weight on her, hear his words of encouragement, and make love to the man who had brought her back to life.
He held her for a while, the two of them safe and secure in a world all their own, but eventually, as she knew it would, reality returned.
“Lisbeth?”
“Yes?” She curled more closely to him even though his chest hair tickled her nose.
“I need feeding.”
“What?” She struggled to open her eyes.
“You have quite drained me, my love. I need food and a hot cup of tea.”
“Oh, yes, of course. I’ll ring the bell.” With that she slipped from the bed, forgetting completely she was naked as the day she was born, until she heard him groan and say, “Forget the bloody bell and get back here. Next time, I’ll ring the bell myself.”
Lisbeth could only smile as she looked over her shoulder to see the evidence for herself. It was a most gratifying sight. He crooked his finger at her. She smiled and dropped the bell pull. He smiled as she started walking back to the bed, slowly so he could take his fill of her nakedness. She surprised even herself at her boldness in front of him.
When she reached the bed, his eyes were dark pools of desire. She crawled onto the mattress, but he stopped her from lying down.
“Do you like to ride, Lisbeth?”
“That’s an odd question at a time like this.”
“Let me rephrase. Would you like to ride me?” He took her hand and guided her until she was sitting astride him. She was in no confusion as to his meaning then.
“I’ve never ridden a horse like this,” she said to him as her hands came down to rest on his chest.
“There is a first time for everything, my dear. Besides, I’m not sure it can be done sidesaddle. We could always try that later if you wish.” With that he pulled her down for a kiss.
She guided him inside her and was surprised at the exquisite fullness she felt. With his hands on her hips, he showed her the way, and it was bliss. She rode him, slowly, then fast, and then slow again. She rode him until her body contracted in bliss. She flung her head back and let out a satisfied, “Yes!” He shuddered beneath her, and she collapsed happily and fully satisfied on his chest.
“You ride very well, Countess,” he drawled.
When her stomach gurgled with hunger, they both laughed and laughed and laughed.
