Anne gasped just before he lowered his head and kissed her. His lips commanded hers as he pinned her to the bed. Holding her fast, he plundered her mouth, each lick of his tongue and graze of his teeth igniting a new fire of longing inside her. She arched up, wanting more, and moaned with need.
Tearing his mouth from hers, he kissed along her jaw and down her neck. Hot, frenzied kisses that ravaged her flesh.
“God, I want you in every way,” he rasped. He held her wrists as his mouth descended, finding its way to her nipple where he licked and sucked her through the thin lawn of her night rail.
Anne whimpered as she rose off the mattress and pushed herself into him. “Please.”
He growled against her and released her hands. Cupping her breast, he pulled at the top of her chemise, making a small tear in the fabric just before he latched onto her.
She cast her head back, squeezing her eyes closed and giving herself over to the mad sensation of his lips and tongue. He plucked her other nipple over and over, drawing louder and louder moans from her throat.
His hand skimmed down her abdomen, and he pushed up the night rail. When his hand slipped between her legs and found her sex, she opened her eyes and pushed at him. “No.”
He stopped abruptly, lifting his head. “No?”
“You said I could be on top this time.”
His frame gently sagged with relief. “I did.”
“You are wearing all your clothes.”
“I am.” He rolled to his back. “In the interest of expediency, you need only unbutton my fall and remove my cock. That’s the only part of me that really matters at the moment.”
“That is highly debatable.” Anne sat up and went to work removing his boots, dropping first one then the other to the floor. “I like many parts of you. All of them, actually. My only complaint is that I haven’t spent nearly enough time exploring them.” She pulled his stockings off next.
“I would beg of you that you don’t take that time right now. I am, ah, quite desperate.” His voice was low and dark, and perhaps even on the edge of breaking.
“Are you?” She straddled his knees and cupped him through his breeches and smallclothes. “Yes, I’d say you are.” She flicked one button open while continuing to cradle his shaft through his clothing.
He sucked in a sharp breath, his hands gripping the bedclothes at his sides. “Anne. Please.”
She released another button as she rubbed her hand along his length. “I think I’m enjoying this. Aren’t you?”
“No. Yes.” He threw his head back. “Yes.”
She quickly popped open the remaining buttons on that side of his fall and slipped her hand inside his breeches. “No smallclothes?”
“I don’t always wear them.” He sounded strained, as if he were being tortured.
Sliding her hand along the warm ridge of his cock, she moved her other hand lower, cupping his balls through his clothing. “Is this painful, Rafe?”
“In the very best way. Faster. Please.”
“You said I get to control things this time. So I think I’ll go as fast as I like. I think you deserve a bit of torment, don’t you?”
“Yes.” He moved his hands to her thighs, his fingers digging into her. His eyes opened and found hers in the near darkness. “Do your will. I am yours.”
She unbuttoned the other side and drew the flap down, exposing him. He was so hard, so hot. Heat pulsed in her sex. She suddenly felt as tortured as he looked.
“Tell me what to do,” she whispered.
“Take off your gown. Now.”
Reluctant to release him, she removed the garment quickly and immediately clasped him again, moving her hand along his length. She realized he wasn’t wearing a coat. Just a waistcoat. And a cravat that had to be annoying. Without slowing her strokes, she reached up and pulled the knot free.
He squeezed her thighs. “Straddle my hips.”
She moved up and gasped as her sex covered his. His hips rose, and she rolled with him.
He reached between them, putting his hand over hers. “Rise up, just a bit.”
Following his command, she lifted slightly, and he positioned himself at her opening. “Slide down and take me,” he rasped.
She slowly lowered herself, and he filled her with his flesh. She let go of his cock. He did the same as she came down completely.
This was different from the first time. She felt him in a completely new, deeper way. Sensation rocked through her, coaxing her hips to move.
He gripped her hips tightly. “Yes. Like that. Ride me.”
Ride. She splayed her palms on his chest and adjusted herself until she found the perfect angle. Moaning, she began to move, gradually finding a rhythm that stroked the most wonderful spot inside her. And if she pitched forward just a bit more, he rubbed against her clitoris and…
Anne cried out as pleasure began to build inside her. He moved one hand to her breast, pulling and teasing her nipple. The resulting sensations were overpowering. She began to shake, her body pushing her to move faster, to take him deeper.
He pulled her down and suckled her breast, his hand tangling in the ends of her hair grazing her arm. Falling back, he groaned. “Yes, Anne. Ride. Harder. Faster.”
Her muscles began to clench as her release floated just beyond reach. His hand moved between them and stroked her clitoris. It was all she needed to find that elusive rapture.
She cried out as her body split asunder. He clasped her hips and drove up into her relentlessly. She was practically senseless, her body a quivering vessel for his release.
He started to shout but immediately muffled his voice, throwing his arm over his mouth. Anne pitched forward, her limbs limp. He caught her against his chest and cupped the back of her head, his fingers threading through her hair. Digging his fingers into her scalp, he kissed her, claiming her again, as if she had any doubt that he owned her body and soul.
His kiss gentled, his thumb tracing the edge of her ear as he murmured her name over and over into her mouth. She sighed into him and rolled to the bed. “You’re still wearing too many clothes.”
Pushing herself up on her elbow she unbuttoned his waistcoat. His chest moved slightly faster than normal as his breathing regulated. She opened the waistcoat and pressed her hand beneath the garment against his shirt.
She felt something wet. “What’s—” Investigating the dampness, she shot straight up, gasping. “Is that blood?”
He lazily opened his eyes and blinked, lifting his head slightly off the pillow. “That? Oh, yes.” His lips spread in a satisfied grin as his lids drifted closed once more. “Last night, I was stabbed.”
Chapter 16
Anne leapt out of the bed and lit the candle on the side table. Holding it over him, she stared down at the slowly spreading dark red stain. “Why on earth were you stabbed?”
“Knife fight. You should have seen my opponent. He fared much worse.”
Blowing out an agitated breath, Anne set the candle down and went to fetch the pitcher of water, basin, and a cloth.
She poured the water into the basin and wet the cloth. “You’re going to bleed all over my bed.”
“Damn, you’re right.” He opened his eyes again—finally—and sat up. “It’s not that bad.” He looked down and winced. “It really isn’t, I promise.”