Chapter Thirty-Five

The innocence in her eyes uprooted Raven.

“I hadn’t thought about that part of the question, but my answer would be yes.”

What happened to his legendary self-control? What a sorceress. “And by the way, my dear lady, I would appreciate it if you would stop your flirtations with Prince Nicholas. He’s not as patient and honorable a man as I.” After he had blurted out the words, he laughed riotously.

“Yes, I noticed your patience.” She began to walk her fingers across his chest, with clumsy effort she attempted to unbutton his breeches, “I know how honorable you are, but would you think me a wanton if I asked you to pleasure me again?”

“If you manage to convince me, you will be sore tomorrow.”

It was a reply her expression indicated was of no consequence. Tears brimmed in her eyes and they touched his soul. For the second time, he gave in to a passion for this woman. “Yes, I would, my anxious lady. I can’t undo what’s happened. I don’t want to hurt you with such strenuous activity on your untried body. Are you sure?”

“Yes.” Another tear escaped.

He thumbed it away. “Somehow, I could think of nothing better I’d like to do at the moment.” He proceeded to accommodate her request. He covered her body with his lips and started from head to toe. He heard her giggle when he sucked her toes and then worked back up her legs and thighs with exquisite care. He paused to observe her reactions to all he did. He so wanted their coupling to be memorable.

Raven liked her this way. It was her combination of fire and ice—her icy intellect and fiery passion that called to him. He was the one who always spoke of honor. How could he make this right? It pleased him she wanted to mate again, yet he knew he needed to tantalize her senses.

Raven decided to show Samantha something new, at least to her, and took the balance of the brandy in her glass by the bed and spilled it over her breasts.

“Oh, my,” Samantha squealed. Her eyes widened in surprise, but she said nothing.

“Umm.” He licked the brandy and her generous globes at the same time. “I think you are more enjoyable than the liquor. You offer me a double pleasure.”

Raven retrieved his almost empty glass and spilled its contents on her abdomen, and it trickled downward like a watercolor pigment, puddled in her navel and the excess continued its flow to the essence of her femaleness. He sank to his knees and licked her into new and glorious heights. Such an eager response. Heaven help him. Raven not only enjoyed her passion and her need of him, but he felt, yes felt, his years melt away, almost as if back in time with Liana. He couldn’t recall Liana’s face. Samantha replaced that vision, and he experienced content.

Raven sensed her liquid core needed, wanted, demanded more of him, and he prepared to give her so much love she’d never deny him anything ever again. Never would he have enough of her. That fact became clear. He spread her thighs with his knees, sank his member into her, and never wanted to leave, but the action required plunging and withdrawal to heighten the act. At the moment he made love in a world of nevers.

Small talk stopped. That would come later. Raven gave into the passion of the moment. He laved all of the brandy from her body with unleashed zealousness, biting his lips to leave the taste on them. Then his mouth claimed her sacred spot, and her soft moans begged for his manhood that ached with so much want. He teased at her wet channel with his rigid shaft. It didn’t take much to fill her with a need stronger than his.

Samantha undulated beneath him in impatience as she clasped his buttocks to her. He started to enter, but stopped, propped up his arms, and said, “Look down at us, Samantha, you impatient wench, this is what lovers do.”

Her gasp was so exhilarating. And without further ado, she raised her body while her hands pulled his body to her with such force, her urging surprised.

Hot and pliant with their bodies glossy with slick, liquid heat, Samantha whispered his name. She took one hand, placed it in between their bodies where they joined and rubbed on him.

She tightened her inner coil around him in glorious contractions. Lust returned to entice her with an urgent desire for release. Samantha joined his rhythm and crested in sublime fulfillment.

Sure of her orgasm, he withdrew his cock and exploded his seed in the comforter. He feared this gallant gesture might have been too late. When he climbed off, drenched, exhausted and shaken by the propensity of their passion-filled ardor, she pulled him back to her.

And it would start all over again. Insatiable, they propelled to delirium—a timeless interlude before reality reared its ugly head.

“You are a virile man in every sense of the word, Raven.”

“You make me feel young and gallant, Samantha. I’m like a poor man invited to a feast…who has tasted a bit of everything.”

He muttered and caught himself when he almost called her Liana. Her eagerness along with her innocence and passion seduced him. He whispered, “Virgin or experienced woman, you are the most incredible lover on this earth.”

“Not the universe, Raven? You’ll have to teach me how I reach a loftier status, otherwise, what are the heavens for?” she said with coyness, and a languorous smile that radiated her obvious content.

Raven whispered, “You have the ability to pleasure with wild abandon. It comes as a natural part of you to pleasure and be pleasured. Passion eluded me until now.” He took her hand and kissed her palm with his tongue, “Thank you.” He paused. “I worry that you will be sore tomorrow. Forgive me.”

Raven dressed, gazed out the window at the rippling water, then turned and listened to her voice.

“I thought this kind of passion and happiness didn’t exist. Oh, to be loved like this all the time,” Samantha purred.

“I’ll be one tired man,” he said. “You are quick to learn.”

With a smile, she reached for her clothes. “I will allow you to rest in between, Raven.” She winked at him. “I do have a confession to make as a virgin. I found a copy of the Kama Sutra in my father’s library. A few times, I managed to sneak it away. I do believe there are positions we haven’t tried.” He laughed when she did.

“I’m sure they weren’t all demonstrated in one night. How precious you are. It’s an ancient Sanskrit text on the art of lovemaking. However, I don’t know if we can bend and twist like the illustrations. There are always the traditional ways.”

She complicated everything with her deceit. Pensive, implosive and intense at the same time, shameful thoughts assailed him. Could it be her goal to entrap him? True, her despicable husband victimized her. True, Samantha caused him to lose his honor. True, it was easy now for him to say he should not have bedded her—he should have been stronger. True, it was all a lie on his part.

What was worse, he knew she would be ill-prepared for the consequences. Samantha was an innocent in the ways of life. How could she know that magic soon became reality? She’d tasted ambrosia and wanted to consume all in one sitting. Her introduction to insane passion and lust started with deceit, but could it also be love?

How could Raven regain his honor and do the right thing? He placed his right hand on the window molding. His dilemma conquered his deep thought as he looked out at the shimmering lake.

Things worth having sometimes have a dear price. Could he pay that high?

In bed with her, he burned with passion.

Out of bed, he burned with shame.

What happened to his quiet and routine-ordered life? It could never be the same again.

Could something benevolent result from his shameful act? What would the future portend for them?