Page 54 of Wild Lily
He caught her up to pull her with him to a chair. He had to sit before his knees gave way. How he found one, he’d no idea. He only knew she was in his lap and he had his hands full of her, her sculpted back, her slim shoulders, her firm breasts. Her bountiful breasts that he knew for certain stood tall and plump without aid of any corset. Against the wet cloth, he thumbed her pinpoint nipples. She let her head loll back and he bent, mad to please her, and suck one taut areola, soft cloth and fragrant flesh, into his mouth. With a cry, she dug her nails into his shoulders as he bit her nipple and moved to lave the other.
She had come to him so freely and he was a cad to ravish her so. But his hunger was painful and her surrender too compelling to refuse.
She wiggled, kissing him eagerly. Her bottom pressed down against his. He groaned, certain she had no idea how she lured him on. He couldn’t stop to tell her. More fool he.
He arched her up so that he could take more of her marvelous breast into his mouth. With an avid tongue, he stroked her. She undulated, her nails now talons in his skin. With his teeth, he nipped her. She shuddered and he quaked, recognizing her feminine plea for more of this. More of him. He’d be an idiot not to give it. He’d be a devil to enjoy it. But he had to stop.
Stop now.
She deserved a bed. And he would do her justice only in a broad one.
He shut his eyes. Curled her against him. Her taut, ready body, pliant in his arms. He shouldn’t want her. But the rage to take her ran through him like molten lead. He couldn’t have her another time. Another night. Not unless he—of course—married her.
Could I?
He stared at her. She was wide-eyed, as stunned by their passion as he was.
She was his beauty, his lovely Lily, and he meant to seduce her, ravish her, enjoy her. Lily, Lily, she was his flower. Fresh, wild, charming. Lily.
He knew what had thrilled her. His taste of her had destroyed all her own reason along with his. “Darling, that should—”
She slanted a finger across his lips.
“I need more,” she whispered and thrust her hand in his hair, kissing his eyes, his cheeks and mouth with furtive need.
He stilled her, a thumb at the corner of her mouth, his tongue sliding inside to seduce hers. She was a willing partner, that rare woman who could match him in appetite. Virgin that she most assuredly was, she had more enthusiasm for the sport than most. He welcomed the chance to teach her more about the pleasures of love than she anticipated.
Moaning, she pushed away. Put a hand to her mouth. “I’m sorry,” she murmured and shot from his lap.
He caught her by her wrist. “Don’t go. Please.”
She stood, kneading her fingers, her eyes flicking from him to the door, a trapped animal. “That was— You must not tell.”
“I won’t.”
“Papa would skin me.”
“No, never.”
She nodded, frightened. “Yes. It’s our bargain, you see.”
He gave a shake of his head. “I don’t understand.”
“If I’m ever caught out being improper, he’d demand I wed immediately. To one he names.”
“I do doubt that.” Killian Hanniford would not throw away this lovely flower on anyone. Julian tugged her into his arms and cradled her head against his throat. He squeezed his eyes shut, trying to control his desire for her but loving the pride of protecting her. With a shaking hand, he petted her hair. “Sweet girl, you’re fine. You’re safe. Don’t quake. I won’t hurt you. Wouldn’t. I promised you.”
She sniffed, her face in his jacket, her words muffled. “But I didn’t.”
Confusion filled his feverish mind. “Didn’t what?”
She lifted her face and his heart dropped. She had tears in her eyes. “I didn’t promise to be good. And now look what I’ve done. I’m a reprobate.”
Oh, her torture tore at him. He put his palm to her cheek. “Lily, you’ve only kissed me.”
She shot to her feet, pivoted away and rolled a shoulder. “I’ve mauled you.”
“Darling, no,” he said with compassion for her embarrassment and pulled her lithe body nearer. “That fault is mine.”
