When he finally covered her breast with his hand, she jumped. He plied the nipple with his fingers until she arched against him, silently begging.
He undid the ties at her neck, then opened her nightraile to reveal her breasts. She was beyond embarrassment, her desire masking everything but the pleasure and anticipation coursing through her body. Scooping the pale flesh in his hand, he lifted the pink tip to his mouth and sucked.
A needle of pleasure shot through her. His warm, wet mouth on her sensitive flesh sent wicked sensations shuddering through her. The passion he’d carefully wrought within her came perilously close to bursting.
His low growl of pleasure as he squeezed her breasts with his hands and sucked her with his incredible mouth sent heat washing over her. Her hips started to lift as the urgency between her legs grew unbearable.
Her obvious need seemed to shatter his control. His mouth grew more insistent as he sucked, his tongue circling and his teeth nipping lightly on the turgid peak until her entire body arched against him.
Finally, when she didn’t think she could stand it anymore, he lifted his head from her breast and moved over her. He lowered his chest to hers, letting her feel some of his weight. The warm air hit her skin as he lifted her nightraile and slid his hands between her legs.
All of a sudden, she froze.
His weight suddenly felt suffocating as her mind filled with haunting images. His gentle touch suddenly felt rough and threatening. Bile rose in the back of her throat. The smoke. The soldier attempting to pry her legs apart.
She pushed against him, tears stinging her eyes, the beauty of the moment shattered by memories of the past. “Stop!” she cried. “Please stop! I can’t do this.”
Chapter 12
Desire twisted around Jamie like a steel vise. He drew a long, ragged breath, every inch of his body primed for passion. Never had he so wanted to thrust inside a woman and relieve the agonizing pressure in his loins. His cock throbbed, pulsing with need. Every primal instinct clamored to take. Her kiss. Her moans. The sweet movements of her body. Her responsiveness had brought him to the breaking point. He held himself taut, fighting for control, until sweat gathered on his forehead.
He knew what he had to do, even if it killed him. Slowly, he lifted himself off her. “You have nothing to fear from me, Caitrina. I would never hurt you.”
She looked ready to burst into tears. “It’s just that I keep remembering . . .”
Jamie cursed his brother’s guardsman. If the blackguard weren’t dead already, he would be now.
“You don’t understand.” She looked at him wildly, tears streaming down her cheeks. “I think he . . . violated me.”
He wiped a hot tear away with his thumb. She’d remembered more than he’d realized, but not all of it. “He didn’t rape you, Caitrina.”
“How can you be sure?”
“Because I prevented him from doing so.”
Her eyes grew wide. “You did?”
He nodded. “You were unconscious, and I wasn’t sure how much you remembered. I would have said something earlier if I’d known what you thought.” His face grew grim. “But be assured the scourge paid the price for what he attempted.”
He could see that she’d understood—the soldier was dead.
“Thank you,” she said softly, lifting her eyes to his.
Though he knew she was relieved to discover she hadn’t been raped, he also knew that her fears would not be so quickly forgotten. But he also knew that making love would bring them closer. How could he show her . . .
All at once, he knew.
He took her hand, drawing it up to his mouth to place a soft kiss on her palm. “You show me what you want.” He saw her uncertainty.
“What do you mean?”
“I swear that I will not touch you unless you ask it of me.”Heaven help me.“If you want to stop, just say so.” She would be in control.
She looked at him uncertainly. “You would do this for me?”
“Aye.” He lifted her hand to his mouth. “I told you, I want to bring you pleasure.”
She blushed. “You were, until . . .”
