She looked over her shoulder at him a second time, and he nearly came undone at the sensual expression, the glazed passion and naked longing on her face.
She didn’t say anything. Just held his stare as she snaked a hand between her legs and began to rub her clitoris. He felt her bearing down against her fingers, against his cock and he shut his eyes. She would unman him and he couldn’t wait.
He felt her jolt beneath him and she let out a gasp, a groan, and then her pussy was gripping him in wave after wave of release. He thrust through it, reveling in the rippling pull that urged him to release.
When it came, he nearly spent inside of her. Only barely did he withdraw, letting out a cry as he poured himself out against her skin and felt her shiver beneath him.
Then he fell against her, tucking her to his side and letting the connection warm him, the release heal him, and her presence soothe him, even though he knew full well that it wouldn’t last.
Chapter Ten
Slowly Diana woke through a cloud of comfort and pleasure. She was warm and safe, and as she cuddled into the blankets she felt strong arms fold tighter against her. This was heaven, there was nothing else to it, and she didn’t want to wake up from it.
Except she did. Reality crept in at last, and she opened her eyes to find hazy sunlight filtering into the room behind the curtains. She was on her side, facing Lucas. His arms were around her, but he was still sleeping.
In this rare moment, she drank in the sight of him. He was truly beautiful, and never more so than when he was relaxed like this. It made him look younger, less jaded by the world, less affected by pain.
But she wasn’t fooled by the look. Yesterday he had used passion against her. They’d been talking, she had requested he share a little about the life he’d once led, and he had cut her off by bedding her.
She’d let him because his touch was too perfect not to surrender to. She wanted it, she wantedhim. So she’d taken him, over and over, until night came, until sleep came.
But she couldn’t ignore that he was perfectly willing to turn the desires of her wanton body against her.
Was that for the best? Well, that was another question entirely. Sharing secrets with him was dangerous. It led to a sense of closeness, which was false, a trap. If her walls came down, that could be devastating, especially considering the anniversary that would soon approach. A week more and she would be fighting to keep herself distant from him so he wouldn’t see her weakness and her heartbreak.
Perhaps she needed to start practicing that distance now.
She rolled away slowly and pushed at the covers, moving to extract herself from his arms, but he tightened them around her and suddenly she was flush against him. Her back flattened against his broad chest and the hardness of his cock pressed against her as he placed a kiss to the place where her neck and shoulder met.
His voice was deep and sleepy as he murmured, “You told me to rest, Diana. Stay in bed with me today.”
She couldn’t help but smile, even though the pure temptation of those words was dangerous beyond belief. Stay with him for today? It was too easy to begin picturing staying with him forever. In his bed, in his arms, in his life.
“We’ll starve,” she protested, trying not to sigh as he continued to kiss along her skin.
“Worth it,” he breathed.
She shivered, searching for an answer that would free her from the prison she adored. “Stalwood is coming later this morning,” she finally said.
“It’s not later yet,” he argued, and began to flick her nipple with his thumb until she could not find her breath.
But she did find her resolve. She pushed against him. “Lucas, honestly, we don’t have time.”
He released her immediately, and she stumbled from the bed and searched the floor for the robe she had discarded late last night when she went on a search for food after the third time he made love to her.
When she was covered and somewhat calm, she turned back to him. He was staring at her, his gaze hooded and analyzing and judging. Like he could see through her if he focused hard enough. In truth, she feared he could.
“Come, I’ll assist you as you ready yourself for the day,” she said, turning to efficiency to cloak her deeper emotions. “Let me look at that wound and then I’ll help you dress.”
For a moment she thought he might refuse. Confront. Seduce her back to his arms, and then she would tell him everything she’d spent a lifetime keeping secret. He would have all of her and when he left he’d take it all with him.
But he didn’t. His face was still unreadable as he drew out of the bed and inclined his head. “As you wish, Diana. Whatever you’d like.”
She motioned him to the chair by the fire so she could check his wound, but this acquiescence felt nothing like a victory. It felt like a move in a chess game.
And it was one she didn’t think she was winning.
All morning Lucas had felt the distance Diana put between them. It was evident in the cool way she assisted him. In the way she avoided conversation beyond polite questions and answers. The way she put him in the parlor for his breakfast, rather than in their…hisbedroom or the kitchen, where they sometimes broke bread together.
