Still, she knew that was not quite true either: Jane and Sarah had been proof of that. As would she be if she kept letting this total stranger whose face she could not even see keep touching her like that.
For his hands had begun to rove all over, exploring, soothing, yet setting on her fire at the same time, scorching her through the thin drenched muslin of her gown. Her shoes and stockings had fallen from her nerveless fingers, and now the man's jacket tumbled onto the sand as he stroked down her neck, shoulders, back, right down to her thighs.
A tickling coolness upon her calves told her he was now tugging up her dress. She jumped in shock as one hand shot up her thigh, and was impeded only by her lacy linen drawers. He pulled her leg up high against his waist and ground their hips together, leaving Elizabeth aquiver with desire. She groaned against his questing lips and pulled him tighter.
At last his mouth freed hers, moving along her cheek. His kisses, open and hot. traveled down her neck and throat, downwards to the neckline of her gown, licking, nuzzling. The rasp of his lightly bristled chin made her arch her back even more fiercely. With a few flicks of his lean hard fingers, he bared her breasts and began to suckle their tops and licked between them, until at last his mouth slid over to take one nipple into his mouth.
Elizabeth frenziedly yanked at the fastenings of his shirt, trying to touch him everywhere at once, his warm soft skin like a drug she could not get enough of. His lightly downed chest was like nothing she had ever felt, rippling with muscles which she felt sure could squeeze the life out of her if they chose.
Yet his huge hands were so gentle as they whispered over her, one hand upon her bare bottom, the other gliding down the delicate curve of her stomach until he reached her soft curls. Only then did she understand the true nature of what was about to happen to her if she didn't try to control this wildfire passion which had sprung up in the darkness and was blazing out of control.
"It's all right," he whispered against her tingling breasts. "Much as I hate to let you go, I have to. I want our first time together to be far more than a roll a dank cave. You are so beautiful, such a treasure. Made for loving long and lingeringly."
He laughed, a low throaty sound which had her panting for him anew. "I can't believe it. Nothing like this has ever happened to me. But that's why it's too special. Just tell me your name, sweetest love. Then I shall give you one more kiss and let you go."
"Elizabeth. Elizabeth Eltham," she panted, her hands never still upon him.
He stiffened and stilled for a moment, but the enticing things she was doing to him with her nimble fingers was enough to urge him on once more.
"Elizabeth," the mysterious man murmured, her name upon his lips sounding like a tender vow that the most sensual delights would soon be hers. "I shall see you again soon, my most beautiful Elizabeth. Just promise me, darling, you'll never tell anyone about this place, our secret haven. If you promise, then one day soon, you shall be mine."
She would have asked a million questions, and yet only one: Will you make me yours now?
Her enigmatic lover had stilled, waiting for her answer, one hand now poised around her tender throat.
She whispered, "I promise. You and the cave are mine. I don't want to share you with anyone. I just want to be here with you like this, to revel in this, this magic, and make the whole world go away."
His hand between her thighs stroking her, and his mouth descending upon hers once more, silenced her utterly. She had no urge to ask him any more questions, not even his name. All she wanted was to let the incredible sensations wash over her like the thundering tide.
Elizabeth felt a flood of heat fly upwards to her face, downwards toward her hips. As one of his fingers pressed in deeply, she dug her nails into the bare flesh of his back and mewled like a kitten.
He laughed tenderly against her lips, and moved his finger and thumb. An inward quiver so strong it shook her from head to toe rippled through Elizabeth, causing her to gasp and pull away, open-mouthed with desire.
"Don't be afraid. It's only the beginning. A bit of light loving. I won't damage you or press my advances too far. Enjoy this brief taste of delight for now, and keep it locked in your memory until next we're alone, my love."
His hand moved again, and a rainbow sparkled in her head. Elizabeth gasped, writhed, and panted, her eyes tightly shut, swirling like a feather wafted by a hurricane....
Chapter Three
When Elizabeth at last came to some sort of semblance of sanity, she was lying on her back in the sunshine on the beach. Alone.
She sat up quickly on the damp sand, looking around her. She was on the downward sea-facing slope of a low dune. The ocean sparkled in front of her like a polished sapphire. The wind had stilled to a gentle breeze which whispered across her bare skin.