Chapter 13 #2
She sank back into the bed, unable to think, unable to move, limp with the pleasure. Rafe kissed her gently and she looked into his eyes, glowing like gypsy fires in the half-darkness of the alcove.
“Alix,” he whispered. “I want to finish what we’ve started. I need to finish. I need to come inside you.”
She shivered at the passion in his voice, at the implications of his words, at the ache that still burned deep and low between her thighs. Tomorrow she would worry about what it all meant. Tonight she didn’t want to think anymore; she wanted him, not just his touch, but the sweet oblivion as well.
“Come,” she murmured back. He stripped away her crumpled chemise and then his mouth found hers.
She felt her senses begin to swim, as his body covered hers, the fur of his chest teasing and warm against her breasts.
Alix wrapped her arms around Rafe, needing to feel him close, needing to explore what he was offering.
She scattered kisses along his face, nibbled at his ears, teased his neck with her tongue.
Then, growing braver, she traced the shapes of his back, his ribs, and his waist, her hands surprised to find the skin covering his lithe muscles so soft.
Her fingers fluttered tentatively toward his flanks.
She felt his hips shift, nudge her thighs apart.
Then she felt the head of his erection hot against her thigh.
She felt him reach down and position himself between her slick folds, felt him nudge his thickness forward.
She rocked her hips slowly wanting to feel him, but frightened.
She felt him slide farther in. It was good; it was what she wanted.
She arched up, felt him press deeper, then felt the stinging shock of pain.
Rafe smoothed the damp hair back from her brow and kissed the tears forming in her eyes.
“Only this bit of pain, sweetheart, then it will be better.” He stroked her breasts, teasing her nipples with the rough pad of his thumb, and desire set her hips in motion.
“That’s it Alix,” he breathed, “open for me.”
Rafe felt her slick and tight and he shuddered.
He wanted nothing more than to plunge deeply inside her and ride her until the dark passion that roiled in his blood was exhausted.
But he wouldn’t hurt her. She was so giving, so trusting.
A heady mix of power and protectiveness pulsed with the desire coursing through his veins.
He slid his hands down around the cheeks of her bottom, kneading encouragingly as he pushed himself inexorably deeper. She moved her hips tentatively upward and he pushed again until at last he felt her heat encompass the length of his throbbing member.
She was his, he thought triumphantly, the unique treasure he had found.
He raised himself slightly to see the curves of her body, slick with sweat, her skin flushed.
Alix’s eyes were closed and her bottom lip was caught between her teeth.
He began to move his hips slowly, determined to see her gray eyes open and filled with the same smoky passion he’d seen when he’d pleasured her with his hand.
He saw her teeth lose their grip, saw the tip of her tongue leave her plush lower lip, and he began to move.
Slowly at first, easing himself in and out, allowing her tender flesh to adapt to his fullness.
He felt the tension in her body ebb, and her hips began to move to his seductive rhythm.
He began to thrust faster, then faster and it was his undoing.
He couldn’t help himself, he was losing himself in her heat, and her wetness, and the music of her soft moans.
Alix’s eyes flew open, locking with Rafe’s as he reared back and plunged.
He needed her, needed to bury himself deep inside her.
He felt his body surge and he no longer knew where his body ended and hers began.
Alix’s arms and thighs wrapped tightly around him as they climaxed together, their bodies shuddering as if absorbing the aftershocks of an earthquake.
They lay together afterwards in a musky tangle of limbs, unspeaking.
Rafe rolled off Alix, and pulled her close to his side, and she leaned her head against his chest, their breath mingling in shattered gasps.
He wrapped the coverlet around them, and they nestled in the alcove, watching the firelight flicker behind the red draperies of the bed.
Towards morning, Rafe awoke, strangely pleased to find Alix’s arm thrown across his chest, one slim leg draped across his.
Beyond the curtains the room was gray and cold, the fire just a memory of smoldering coals.
But inside the air was still redolent with the heavy warmth of their lovemaking.
Rafe felt himself stirring against Alix’s thigh.
He smiled wryly. Last night had not cured his passion for the little hoyden.
He turned, running a finger along the underside of her arm until he reached the curve of her breast. Gently he traced the rounded shape pressed against his chest, watching with pleasure as her nipple stiffened at his touch.
Her hips moved unconsciously against him and he swept his hand down to cup the cheeks of her bottom.
Rolling her onto her back, he kissed her neck, savoring the taste of her skin. He felt her arms go around him as she roused to his touch, and he heard her whisper, “Again?”
“Are you too sore, sweetheart?” he asked, concerned that she might not be ready for him so soon.
He felt her shake her head, no, then felt her tongue flicker at his ear.
He chuckled softly in his throat, as her hands slid down his back and fluttered tentatively on his buttocks.
She was learning fast, and the knowledge that her passion had only been whetted by their first encounter was a powerful aphrodisiac.
He slid his hands back up her flanks to cup her breasts and took turns suckling at each.
With his teeth he tugged gently, enjoying her shudders of pleasure.
It struck him, as he trailed kisses along her abdomen, stopping to swirl and dip his tongue into her navel, that he wanted very much to give Alix pleasure, wanted to brand her with his touch the way she had branded him.
He ran his tongue along the bones of her hip, then traced their gentle decline to the dark curls between her legs. She gasped and tried to sit up.
He looked up from between her thighs, to see her face flushed and embarrassed.
“It’s not right,” she whispered hoarsely, “you shouldn’t.”
“Trust me Alix,” he said, “it’s very right.”
She lay back down, but he felt her tremble.
Sliding her thighs apart, he lowered his head, inhaling the fragrance of her arousal.
His mouth meandered along her inner thighs, until he found her heated core.
His tongue dipped and probed her moist folds, then his lips fastened around her most sensitive flesh and he suckled gently.
Alix arched and shuddered against him, sharp cries caught tight in her throat.
It was too much, it was not enough, her mind screamed as waves of sensations arced through her body.
“I need, I need,” she moaned and he obliged, thrusting deep within her, filling her with his heat, riding her hard over the edge of her climax and falling with her into sweet release.
He fell limply against her, and she stroked the damp tendrils of his hair.
“I’m too heavy for you,” he said. But he wasn’t, she thought wonderingly, and she held him close. She’d supposed she ought to feel regret for what she’d done; no doubt that would come later. But strangely, at this moment she felt more at peace than she had in months.
Alix caressed the sinews of Rafe’s back and shoulders.
His breathing slowed, and she felt him soften within her.
An image of a tapestry that hung in her father’s home came to her mind, a virgin taming a unicorn.
She smiled into Rafe’s hair, perhaps it was just a young girl’s fancy, but that was how she felt, as if she had tamed some powerful, magical beast.