“I’m fine.” She wasn’t fine. This all seemed so easy. So familiar and yet Lucien was a virtual stranger. She hoped her memories, or dreams of what their life could have been, weren’t clouding her view of reality. Should it be this easy?
He picked her up in his arms and whispered, “Let’s go to bed.”
She buried her face into his jacket and merely nodded, too overcome with emotions to even speak. After tonight there would be no going back, and they both knew it.
She barely noted when Lucien laid her gently on her bed. Her heart pounded in her chest.
She wanted her body to remember. But she also wanted new memories.
She was beginning to despair that this would not be the same when Lucien followed her down, the weight of his body pressing her into the mattress. He made a sound low in his throat and began kissing down her neck.
And that was when her body remembered. She felt it begin in her toes, a tingling sensation, a warmth that traveled up her legs, pooled in the most sensitive areas between her legs, making her hot and aching, then moving on to her breasts and her neck and her face. It was as if she were awakening from a long winter nap. Perhaps here, in bed, would be the one place he was the Lucien she had known.
Her body was awake and aware. Oh, how aware. How gloriously, wonderfully, exquisitely aware.
She realized now that for the past five years, she’d not been living. She’d been merely existing. How had she ever thought she could remain a spinster? Or was it only in Lucien’s arms she could feel this heat, this desire—feel so alive?
She lay beneath him as he slowly undressed her, barely noting the cold air as each layer was removed. Every nerve ending was on fire, desperate for his touch. His lips trailed over her bare skin as if in worship. When she finally lay naked under his gaze, she watched with heat building as he lifted a shaky hand and ran it down her side.
“So soft…” He bent and pressed his lips to one bared breast.
The tenderness was what got her. This was the Lucien she’d known before. His touch wasn’t that of a stranger. It was the touch of her Lucien. His hand traveled down her body, stopping at her womanhood. He lay his hand there and drew in a deep breath.
She rose up onto her elbows. “Are you having second thoughts?”
He looked at her with heat and desire flaring in his eyes. “I was just thinking how lucky I am to have you. How you make my return bearable. And how I want this night to be special.”
He was beautiful and she’d not yet seen him completely naked. Her heart beat frantically, her attraction to him overwhelming her. The thought of one day lying with this man every night, was intoxicating. A small thought entered her head, especially if he gave her his heart…
Tonight, she would freely give herself to the man she loved, and she would then savor the memory for eternity. She’d enjoy Lucien’s touch, and she’d give everything of herself to ensure he was satisfied. To wipe away the memory of any other.
“You’re beautiful, Lucien. I’ve always remembered you as beautiful,” she added wistfully. “It’s your turn to undress.”
“I’ve wanted you since we arrived here.” The deliberate plea in his voice saw her reach for the placket of his trousers. Her fingers fumbled and she heard him issue a curse before he swept her hands aside and freed his rigid erection into her waiting hands.
Her hand firmed around the thick length, and at her first stroke, he sighed and tilted his head back. She explored him and realized her touch pleased him.
Finally, he let out a groan and he pushed her down on the bed. “You have far too many clothes on,” she huskily murmured. “Remove them and let me watch.”
When he complied, she drank her fill. There were a few more scars on his body that hadn’t been there before, and he’d filled out. All muscle. No longer the softness of youth.
“You’re even more beautiful than I had ever imagined.” She brushed a hand over his chest. “You’re worth waiting for, but I’ve waited far too long. And I’m hungry for you.”
He took her hand and dragged it down over every ridge and muscle of his torso to his groin. She was startled by the warmthpooling in her stomach at the feel of him, hard and hot beneath her palm.
“See what you do to me. My body wants you. I want you.”
The earthy rawness of his words sent a shudder down her spine. She loved how he encouraged her hand to explore more of him.
He cupped her chin and the suddenness of his kiss started a fire raging in her belly. She gave herself up to pleasure as his hands explored her naked flesh.
He kissed her. It was a demanding kiss, possessive and controlling. Hot and needy, his tongue swept into her mouth. The taste of maleness on it tantalized her taste buds as it swirled around hers until she lay weak and needy on the pillow. A strong hand ran over every inch of her goose-bumped skin, igniting the heat of passion within her. He deepened the kiss. It tugged at her, demanding a response and she gave it willingly.
The feel of his soft chest hair upon her sensitive nipples shot tiny frissons of sensation across her skin. He felt so large, so big and so overwhelming as she lay in the protective shadow of his massive frame.
The skillful touch had her melting. His dark, spicy scent was like an aphrodisiac, urging her on. She pushed even closer, exploring further.
Cool air brushed her mouth as his lips danced across her cheek in search of first her ear lobe, and then her neck.
