Page 37 of Magic Touch
William slides a finger inside me and then another. Sucking and pumping while his moans vibrate along the sensitive flesh.
My world erupts. Stars explode behind my clenched lids. My body is racked with bolts of pleasure so extreme it's hard to breathe. I shake with the rush of it.
William wraps his arms around me and coos sweet words as he kisses my hair, my cheek, and my forehead. "Esme, you are so beautiful, so sweet, such perfection."
Nothing he's saying is true, of course, but I love hearing the words and dreaming they could be real. I want to give him pleasure, but I'm drifting into the loveliest sleep.
"Esme." His voice is soft and close just as it was in my dream.
I blink. "What? Is it morning?"
He kisses my lips ever so gently. "No, love. It's still dark. I must return to my own bed. I don't want to leave and have you wake not knowing when or why."
Still foggy with sleep, I struggle to work out what he's trying to say. "You must go. I...I understand."
His weight presses along my side. "Look at me, sweetheart."
With much struggle, I open my eyes to find him staring down at me, even more handsome than the portrait I fell in love with months ago. It's hard to imagine not having him in my life. "Hello."
His beautiful lips pull into a grin. "I don't want the house to wake and find us like this. I would hold you day and night if it were proper. I worry about how to make that dream a reality."
Madness. He must have lost his senses. Pushing his shoulders, I sit. Gripping the blanket to cover myself, I still feel exposed. "Don't be silly. Dreams are meant to be that and nothing more. Of course, you must go to your own room and think nothing of it. I'll be ready to resume as your teacher in the morning. Nothing has changed."
I turn away from him. He'll dress and leave, and I'll not watch and wish. I'm stronger than that.
"Esme?"
"What?"
The bed dips, and he sighs long. Clothes rustle, and I imagine him dressing. I close my eyes and wish it wouldn't look childish if I held my ears to block out all sense of him. I swallow emotions trying to clog my throat and push tears into my eyes.
The mattress beside me shifts with his weight. He takes one of my hands from where I clutch the blanket. "I won't believe that last night meant nothing to you no matter how hard you try to prove it to me." He kisses my hand.
"What can one night mean?" I force denial into my voice but keep my eyes closed.
"Please look at me, sweetheart."
It's the plea in his voice that forces my eyes open. "I see you."
His clothes are rumpled from lying on the floor most of the night. His hair sticks out in all directions, fresh from sleep.
He's the most beautiful man I've ever seen.
"If you wish for me to leave the country, I'll do so. I don't want to make you uncomfortable. However, I'm never going to pretend last night had no meaning."
A tear forces its way from my eye and trails down my cheek. "I don't want you to leave. You must learn to use your magic. I am your friend."
"I'm relieved to hear we are still friends." His shoulders relax, and he kisses my hand again.
I pull my hand back, clutch the blanket and sit beside him with my bare legs hanging from the side of the bed. "I will always be your friend, William. I'll not let them bind your magic unless that is what you wish above all else. If you leave here, Sara Beth will find you and you will be bound. Living with that would kill me. I'll not fail you."
"But you are ashamed of our lovemaking." Sorrow burns in his statement.
I pull his hand from his lap and kiss his knuckles. "It shouldn't have happened. You have too much at stake to be distracted by such foolishness. There may be even more at stake if your awakening powers have some purpose in the light. How can we have been so selfish as to take our pleasure and risk ruining our friendship in light of all that?"
"I never believed our friendship was at risk. I only know I wanted you and want you still. I cannot believe a desire this strong can be wrong." With a loud sigh, he rises. Leaning down, he kisses the top of my head.
"You are a good man, William. I knew it from only your portrait," I whisper in my dark room as he walks away.
