The Buccaneer(67)

He moved to rest full-length beside her, taking her in his arms while her breathing eased and her body relaxed. He caressed her arm, kissed her forehead. "You taste like the sea, fresh, tangy, and delicious.

Catherine snuggled against him to hide her embarrassment, tucking her head beneath his chin so he couldn't see her heated cheeks. Wondering why he had stopped from satisfying himself, blessing Bonnie for having described so explicitly the joys of lovemaking. And praying Lucian intended to continue.

Her prayer was soon answered.

His hands roamed past her arm to her naked bottom. He stroked, he squeezed, and he patted her soft flesh. "I want more of you, angel."

She bravely lifted her head to look at him. "And I want more of you, Lucian."

He needed no more encouragement, his mouth dropped to hers. Where before he had been gentle, introducing her to new delights, now he kissed her savagely. He demanded and took from her, but in return he ignited a passion that this time would not be easily extinguished.

His one hand caught in her hair, tightening around the silver strands, his other hand slipped around her waist and in an instant she lay flat beneath him. His powerful, muscled body covered hers.

He pulled away from her mouth. "Damn, but I love the taste of you."

He settled his mouth over her nipple and Catherine threaded her fingers in his hair. She never wanted him to stop tasting her. She wanted him to feast and enjoy. She wanted this pleasurable torment to last forever.

He attempted to give her her wish. Wherever his lips touched he lingered, treating her to the most exquisite tortures. She moaned, cried out, begged, and still he lingered.

She moved impatiently beneath him, against him, her hands roaming his body exulting in his strength and power. She was beyond reason, beyond insanity; she had sunk into the very depths of madness.

"Do you want me, angel?" His voice was ragged, his breathing heavy. He gave her no chance to respond, he continued on. "Me. Do you want me?"

She understood his urgency. Understood what he needed to hear. What she needed to say. "I want you, Lucian, only you."

He held himself above her and stared down at her, his eyes narrowed, his thoughts serious. "There is only you and me at this moment. Only you and me."

Her arms reached up and circled his neck, pulling his mouth down to hers to steal a much-needed kiss.

He rested his forehead against hers, kissed her nose, her cheek while his hand reached down and gently eased her legs apart. "Bloody hell, but I hate the thought of hurting you."

Catherine attempted to reassure him. "It's all right. Bonnie explained it all to me and warned me to pay it no mind."

"Bonnie?" he questioned, and lost all reason when he slipped a finger inside her. Finding her more than ready his body responded with an unbearable ache. Sanity eluded him.

He lifted himself to his knees and eased his shaft to her entrance; gently he probed her, gently urged inward, her liquid heat closing around him, encompassing him, cradling him.

Catherine grasped the edge of the pillows, tossed her head, moaned and closed her eyes.

"Not this time, angel. This time I want you looking at me."

Her eyes widened. She couldn't. She just couldn't.

"Don't dare," he commanded. "Keep your eyes open and focused on me."

"I —"

"Will obey me." He smiled and slid farther inside her.

Her eyes fluttered.

He warned, "Keep them open. Look at me. Feel me."

In deeper he drove, steeling himself against the urge to rush into her. He wanted her to remember. He wanted to remember this night together.

"Lucian," she cried, his size filling her to near bursting.

"It's all right," he soothed. "Soon it will be —"

"Over?" she finished anxiously.

He shook his head and dropped down over her. "Just beginning."

He took her completely then, tearing through her maidenhead, the small obstruction that had begun this whole charade.

She cried out at the piercing pain and dug her fingers into Lucian's broad shoulders.

"Easy, angel, easy," he comforted.

His words relaxed her and his movement, though a discomfort at first, quickly turned to pleasure and forgotten was the moment's pain and knowledge of the importance of what she had forfeited to him.

Lucian eased with grace and skill within her, his movement growing, gaining intensity, and gaining a rhythm that couldn't be denied.

Catherine wrapped her arms around his back and held on, her soaring passion climbing to the stars.

Lucian felt her tighten around him, hot and hard. Wild and wicked. Sensual and satisfying. His jolting thought took him over the edge into oblivion where Catherine soon joined him.

She lay silent, her body exhausted, her mind unable to focus. Her only thought was to calm her racing heart and breathe.