Page 76 of Bride of Fire
He laid her atop the coverlet. A fierce swelling of lust left him breathless as he gazed down at the beautiful lass. Her mouth was open in awe. Her breast heaved with passion.
He’d never wanted a woman more.
And yet enough chivalry remained to give him pause. He clenched his fists, fighting his inner beast. He closed his eyes, hoping—robbed of the sight of her—he might see reason more clearly and change his mind.
He never guessed she would seize the reins of his desire. Nor did he anticipate the frenzied pace at which she intended to compel him.
But in the next instant, she tugged off his linen covering with a soft gasp of wonder. Then there was no hiding his ardor now. No denying what he craved.
And when he dared to open his eyes, he saw a thirst in her gaze that was undisguised and unabashed, brash and demanding.
He knew then that he was completely wrong about her. The lass had definitely done this before.
There was no hesitation in her manner. Not a shred of modesty. Not even a pretense of maidenly shyness.
And that, more than anything else, convinced him to plunge headlong into the waters of temptation.
Jenefer’s head was spinning.
She had no idea what she was doing.
Instinct made her race headlong toward the seduction she’d intended. And she didn’t dare stop, lest her plans be undone.
But her heart was pounding at the prospect. Coursing through her veins was a thrill of excitement and desire and fear. Fear, because she’d never done such a thing before.
Once, she’d caught a pair of servants coupling in the stables. And she’d overheard tales of conquest from knights in the armory. But what she knew of lovemaking wouldn’t fill a thimble.
Besides, this felt so much more real. More present. More compelling.
She was no longer master of her body. She could hardly catch her breath. Every nerve was quivering with life.
And yet, instead of feeling panic, the rush of sensation and emotion exhilarated her.
She felt like an arrow shot from a bow, arcing with precision and purpose toward its target. Once released, it couldn’t be recalled. And she wouldn’t know for certain whether she’d sailed true until she met her mark.
So she ventured onward, following her heart’s desire and her body’s cravings.
Freeing him from the linen, she was startled for an instant at the size of him. Perhaps he was no larger than other men. But considering what she was about to do, that part of him seemed enormous and foreign and forbidding.
Then he swept down upon her, branding her as they met, skin to skin, and blotting out her thoughts.
Now there was only want and need. A primal urgency to mate that went beyond the two of them. A drive as old as nature. As inevitable as time.
With every fiber of her being, she welcomed him. Already clasping her arms around his neck, she arched up and locked her legs around his buttocks.
He groaned against her ear.
A primitive vibration shivered through her.
He rasped his chest against her bosom.
Her nipples stiffened, sending fiery current racing to the spot where her legs joined.
She pressed hard against him, hoping to ease the suffering there.
He growled in answer, pressing back.
Yet it wasn’t enough.
