The Buccaneer(68)

Lucian trembled from the aftermath, unwilling to move, feeling fulfilled and satisfied.

Satisfied.

The thought that Catherine satisfied him so thoroughly disturbed him. He had come to accept that such euphoria was out of his reach. Yet—

"Lucian," Catherine said softly.

He lifted his head.

"Are you all right?"

Laughter rumbled in his chest. "That is a question I should be addressing to you."

"I'm fine," she said, her smile hesitant.

Lucian eased his weight from her and wrapped her in his solid arms. "The truth, angel."

She attempted to shrug her answer, but his firm hug made it difficult. "I feel odd."

"How so?"

"As if I—"

"Don't turn shy on me now. Tell me," he urged, curious.

"I feel that perhaps I enjoyed myself too much."

"You can never enjoy lovemaking too much," he teased, and kissed her forehead.

"But Bonnie said that ladies didn't enjoy lovemaking, that they found it bothersome, a chore they tolerated."

Lucian eased Catherine away from him and raised a brow as he asked. "What did you discuss with Bonnie?"

Catherine squirmed uneasily in his arms.

"I'll have an answer, now," he insisted. He sat up, bracing himself against the pillows and lifting Catherine to sit across his lap.

Stunned when her bare derriere met his naked leg, her mouth dropped open.

"Think of yourself as nesting, madam. If you keep him warm, he'll grow to delight you," he teased outrageously.

Catherine buried her red face against his chest.

He wouldn't hear of her hiding. He yanked her away. "Forget about your perch for the moment and answer me."

The idea of changing the subject appealed to Catherine. "I asked Bonnie to enlighten me about lovemaking. And she did a most wonderful job of it. She detailed everything."

"Hence the tales you entertained me with?"

"Each and every one."

"Handsome Harry?" he asked, wanting an explanation.

Catherine sighed. "I allowed Bonnie to talk me into seeing if what she had taught me would work. A quick trip around the tables," she had suggested. Everything seemed all right until I caught sight of Bones and Jolly's faces. I realized how foolish I had been and intended to speak with them."

"Handsome Harry stopped you on the way over," he said, finishing her explanation.

She nodded.

"Anything else I should know about what Bonnie discussed with you or your tales of delight?"

A deep blush rushed to stain Catherine's cheeks.

"A blushing response," he taunted. "What is it you hide this time?" He caressed her arm, needing to touch her again.

"It's nothing," she said, attempting to brush it off as inconsequential.

"Not so," he protested. "A blush suggests that the matter is important or — embarrassing. Are you too embarrassed to speak to me about it, Catherine?"

His fingers drifted to her lips and he traced and toyed with them, his finger slipping inside her lower lip for her to taste. "With what we've just shared and what we will share again how can there be anything that flusters you?"

Catherine stirred in his lap, enjoying his teasing play with her lips. "My imagination."

"Embarrasses you?" He stroked her neck slowly.

She nodded with a sigh. "Remember my favorite earl?"

"Explicitly," Lucian answered, recalling how he had detested the imaginary fellow.

Her head dropped back, giving him room to continue to stoke her. His strokes extended farther down to her breasts. "You know him well," she teased for a change.

Lucian stopped stroking. "I do?"

She nodded again. "He's you."

Lucian cast her an odd look.

"I —" She paused, uncertain if she should tell him.

He encouraged, his hand resuming his caressing strokes. "I'm curious, share this tale with me."

She did before she lost her nerve and her voice. "I fantasized that you were the earl that I had such a devilishly good time with."

"You thought of us making love on a dining table?"

"Yes," she said, relieved he remembered that part and not the other.

He thought a moment and she felt him shift her on his lap. And felt him rise beneath her. She looked at him wide-eyed.

"I thought of how long the earl's tongue was and how he pleased you."

Catherine shuddered against him. She raised her hand to his cheek and stroked his clean-shaven face softly. "You pleased me well, my earl."

"I wish to please you again, m'lady."

"And I you, m'lord."

Their lips met and forgotten was all but the pleasures they sought from each other.

o0o



Hours later, wrapped in each other's arms, Lucian and Catherine slept, having loved time and time again. And having tried to make the night last forever.