Chapter Twelve
Lucy knew the moment Cedric gave in. He’d been trying to spare her, believing that he knew better than she did what she wanted.
He didn’t.
She knew she wanted his hands on her body, his tongue challenging hers and all the storm of feeling he created inside her. Nothing had ever felt as explosive as what he did to her now. And she never wanted it to end.
His tongue pushed against hers while her body tightened with the invasion. Heat burst across her skin and her head dropped back. She loved the way he dominated all her senses. He kissed across her jaw and down her throat. And when his hands found her breasts, she cried out in welcome.
Yes, yes, yes. Touch me there!
He squeezed her nipples and lightning pierced her womb, even through the dampening feel of her clothing. Always she had been afraid when someone touched her. She knew the dangers of such madness, but she knew him now. He would not hurt her.
And so she was the one who pulled open the buttons across her bodice. She unraveled the tie of her shift, and she shrugged her shoulders until dress and shift slipped down to bare her breasts.
He pulled back, his breath coming as fast as hers. His eyes were wild, but no more than hers. And while her heart beat fast in her ears, she could see the rapid pulse in his neck as he gazed down at her.
‘Perfect,’ he whispered. ‘You’re so damn perfect.’
His words sank into her heart. She felt perfect with the way he looked at her. And she needed to be perfect if she were to keep him. Her hand trembled as she caught his fingers and pulled them up to her breast. She wanted to feel his hands on her flesh with nothing between them.
He cupped her breasts. First one, then the other. She felt the new callouses on his fingers as he sweetly abraded her nipples.
‘You don’t understand,’ he murmured. ‘You think this is love.’
She barely heard him. She was so absorbed in the way he squeezed her breast, in the exquisite bite when he twisted her nipples. She wanted it to continue forever. And she wanted more. Her belly trembled and her knees softened. If she weren’t leaning against the wall of the galley, she would collapse.
And still he tormented her. His left hand slid to her waist, resting atop the bunch of fabric there. It took only a slight amount of pressure for him to tug her hips forwards, her back arching as she lifted her breasts to him. And to her delight, his mouth soon descended upon her flesh.
He flicked her nipple with his tongue, and when she gasped in shock, he sucked it into his mouth.
Such skill he had, sucking and flicking. Did he bite her? She didn’t know. She was lost in a whirlwind of sensation that obliterated all thought.
She clutched at his shoulders, holding herself to him or him to her. Either way, she quickly began to want more. Soon she framed his head with her hands and brought his face up to hers.
‘Make me yours,’ she said.
Did she speak in Chinese? The shocked look he gave her made her frantic with frustration.
‘I want to be yours,’ she repeated.
He dropped his forehead to hers. ‘You don’t understand.’
‘I do.’
‘You don’t know how powerful lust is.’
She didn’t know that English word, neither did she care. She wasn’t a child. But before she could say more, he abruptly stepped back. She would have cried out, but he pressed two fingers to her mouth.
‘I’ll show you,’ he rasped. ‘But not here.’ He quickly pulled her gown up, but he didn’t tie or button the clothing. Glancing through the galley door, he whispered, ‘Come to my room when it is safe.’
She nodded, though she thought it safe now. Still, she would make sure her father and sister slept.
‘I will show you,’ he said one last time. ‘If you can promise to be quiet.’
She flashed him a smile. ‘I have always been quiet.’
‘Not to me, you haven’t. To me, you are a siren song. I cannot be rid of it.’