Chapter 10
As Alesia’s taste filled him, Colyne’s heart slammed against his chest and his body hardened to a fierce ache. A sword’s wrath! He caught her by the shoulders and, with regret, held her away. “I want you, but if the gentry should learn of this indiscretion—”
Moss-green eyes flashed with heated determination. She stepped back and began to loosen her cloak. “You yourself said each day is filled with danger. Who knows if we shall ever have this time alone again? Time that we can be with each other.”
His body trembled beneath his restraint. “You do nae know what you are saying,” he forced out, giving her a chance to walk away.
Her fingers trembled on the hood of her cloak. “You do not want me?” she whispered, a catch in her voice.
Do nae want her? That such an interpretation would ever occur to Alesia left Colyne dumbstruck. He exhaled a rough breath. “I want you more than is right.”
She tugged the cloak free and it tumbled to the floor. With her gaze locked on his, her fingers moved to the ties of her gown.
“Do nae.” Colyne’s body trembled as he stared at her, wanting her, needing her more than he’d ever believed. He damned decorum, damned propriety, and damned his weakness when it came to her. On a groan, he gave into his longings and stepped forward. “Let me.”
His blood heated as he freed her gown, inch by glorious inch.
She inspired feelings in him he’d believed lost, and he found it incomprehensible how anyone could have hurt her.
Alesia’s past may have offered her the belief that she wasna wanted, but he would show her differently.
He would teach her to understand the beauty and depth he saw in her.
With the flick of his wrist, the last tie fell away. On an unsteady breath, he edged the dress from her shoulders. The gown puddled atop her cloak.
Illuminated within the candle’s golden glow, she stood before him wearing her chemise, a simple yet elegant shift. The dusky tips of her breasts jutted proudly against the creamy fabric, taut, beckoning.
Without hesitation, she moved into his embrace, warm and willing, and liquid heat slid through him to melt the last of his reserve.
“God help me,” Colyne whispered as he claimed her mouth.
He’d meant for the kiss to be gentle, but she pressed her sweet body against him, threaded her hands through his hair and dragged him closer. Their mouths entwined in a greedy kiss.
Hard.
Fast.
Desperate.
With his mind spinning from her taste, he took the kiss deeper, teasing, seducing, until she moaned from the onslaught of sensations.
Like a fantasy, she met his every demand.
His breath coming fast, his body screaming with need, Colyne slowed his pace and broke away, refusing to take her with such untamed intensity.
“What is wrong?” she asked, her eyes wide with questions, her lips swollen from his kisses.
“You have never been with a man. Your first time. Our first time,” he added, his words thick with emotion, “will nae be a fast coupling to sate our desire.” He stroked his finger along the soft curve of her neck.
Her eyes softened. “Our first time.” She laid her palm upon his cheek. “ ’Tis a blessing to share such a special moment with you.”
He dismissed the unease her words stirred. Tomorrow would come soon enough, as would the time to unravel the worries plaguing him.
She started to remove the chemise, but he stayed her fingers. “Nay.”
Alesia lowered her hands and gave him complete access.
Colyne stepped back to admire her beauty, to cherish her every curve, each tempting swell. “Do nae move.” Tremors rocked him as he tugged off his garb until he stood in his undershirt and braies. Catching his breath, he skimmed his fingers over the fabric of her chemise. “It feels like silk.”
Heat stole up her face. “Oui.”
He slid his fingers up her arms and then cupped the curve of her shoulders. “As long as ’twas nae a gift from a suitor.”
Alesia’s blush deepened and she shook her head.
He laughed. “I am but teasing you.”
“I know.” Her cheeks continued to flush in an inviting contrast.
With tenderness, Colyne brushed a kiss upon her mouth, pausing, savoring, before moving to the curve of her jaw.
On a quiet moan she arched her neck, and he gently took, her taste potent as he skimmed along the velvet length.
“We shall learn many things together,” he murmured against the base of her throat where her pulse raced warm and inviting.
“But first—” he drew away, pleased by the desire in her eyes—“I will help you bathe.”
She frowned. “I can—”
“Nay.” He cupped her face pressed a soft kiss upon her mouth. “I assure you, you have never experienced anything like this before. Do nae move.” Colyne retrieved the heather soap, along with a cloth. After soaking the linen with water from the tub, he returned. “Come here.”
Alesia walked toward him as if a nervous queen, regal, elegant, but with a freshness nae found in any royalty he’d ever beheld. A hand’s length away, she stopped, her gaze confused.
Heated images of what this night would bring singed his mind as Colyne lifted the dampened cloth and laid it upon her nipple.
She gasped, and a shiver swept her body. Warm, caressing drops rolled down the delicate silk, saturating the chemise until it clung to her magnificent curves.
With reverence, he skimmed the wet linen in provocative circles over the silk and kept his every movement slow to relish her sensual awakening. Like a fairy’s magic, wherever he drew the sodden cloth, her soft curves became visible beneath the translucent material.
Need seared him, and he grazed his teeth along her throat. Like honey, her taste sweetened his tongue, beckoned him to fulfill his every fantasy. On a moan, he caught her silk-covered nub between his teeth and nipped.
“Colyne!”
As she arched beneath him, his body shook with the effort nae to take her now. A sword’s wrath! He’d but touched her and she’d come apart.
Thrilled by her sensitivity to his every touch, he lifted his gaze to hers. Colyne flicked his tongue against her taut bud.
Her eyes glazed with need.
He clenched his teeth. Keep it slow. He would, if it took every last ounce of his strength.
Sweat broke out on his brow as he again skimmed the cloth over the soft swells of her breasts. Then he caressed the soapy linen over her most sensitive place and whorls of downy hair became exposed beneath the glistening sheen.
Tempted, needing to taste her, he drew the tip of her silk-covered breast into his mouth and began to suckle.
Her head tilted back on a wanton sigh. “Colyne.”
On a maddening growl, he dropped the cloth and skimmed his hand up her thighs, her shivers at his touch offering their own sweet torture. “Open for me, Alesia.”
“I—”
He drew a steadying breath. “Trust me.” As her legs relaxed, he skimmed his hand over her dewy flesh in slow, smooth strokes, savoring the way her body responded at his every touch.
As her pulse raced, Colyne knelt before her, skimming kisses through the wet silk as he moved lower. He glanced up to find her eyes watching him, her breath unsteady, and his body went up in flames.
Swallowing hard, he pressed his brow against the flat of her stomach and regained control.
Barely.
Fingers trembling, he slid her shift up until she lay exposed to him, completely, totally.
His heart pounded against his chest at her pure perfection. “Now your bath, as promised.”
Confusion clouded her eyes. “But I—”
“Watch me,” he commanded softly.
His senses hummed as with sinful slowness he eased the moistened cloth to her thighs, enjoying her gasps of pleasure.
Once he’d washed and rinsed her with gentle thoroughness, he set the cloth aside.
“I am going to kiss you—” he cupped her, as if the most exquisite fare—“here.” Keeping his gaze on hers, Colyne leaned forward and slid his tongue along her slick folds.
Alesia’s gasp ended on a moan. She lay her head back.
Her taste intoxicating, he blew lightly across her swollen flesh, and then recaptured her nub and gently began to suckle.
Her legs began to tremble.
Pleased by her sensitivity, wanting her quaking against him, he used his fingers and tongue to drive her over the edge. As her body began to convulse, Alesia caught his shoulders. “Colyne!”
With her cries of release surrounding him, he drew her against him and absorbed her every quiver.
“I . . . This . . .” She shook her head. “I never knew . . .”
Her breathy words, her soft moans, tore at his fragile control.
“ ’Tis you who are amazing.” Lifting her in his arms, Colyne claimed her mouth as he walked to the tub, drinking in her heady response.
He lowered to one knee and then set her into the water.
On a groan, he ran his hands along her entire length.
“You are perfect,” he whispered. “Everything a man could desire and more.”
A sultry smile caressed her mouth. “You are beautiful as well.”
Colyne chuckled. “I am nae sure I am flattered by such a laud.”
“Handsome, then,” she said as she scanned him from head to toe; he hardened further beneath her gaze. “And breathtaking.”
“Am I now?” Pleased, he stood. With slow movements, he began stripping away his tunic and braies. She watched him as he removed each garment, her gaze becoming more daring, leaving him further aroused.
Naked before her, Colyne reveled in the boldness of her gaze roaming his muscled frame. As her eyes lowered past his hips, she paused. A frown creased her brow. “I—”
“I shall be gentle. If I could remove the pain of the first time, I would.”
Hesitant, her gaze lifted to his. “I know.” She tried to turn away, but he caught her face.
“You are untouched. You are allowed to be nervous.” He lifted her chin. However much he wanted to make love with her, she needed to be sure. “And,” he paused, gathering strength, “if you have changed your mind, I will stop.”
Moss-green eyes softened. “I want you, Colyne. More than my next breath.”