Page 15 of The Rake and the Muse
She stood before him bare, and the proximity of his siren almost made him want to drop the whole idea of drawing her and pull her back onto the bed.
“What about what occurred between us?” she asked.
“Nothing like that ever has to occur again, unless you wish for it to,” he replied. “I didn’t intend for it, but I’m not sorry it happened. I hope you aren’t either.”
“Of course not,” she said quickly. “I’m afraid I might want more from you. Does that make me a wanton?”
“Not at all. Given neither of us delights in the prospect of marriage,” he said, “perhaps we can enjoy each other while we are here.” How could he offer to use an innocent for pleasure? He was playing with the hottest of fires andhe merely spread his arms and walked head first into the flames.
She laughed. “I think that would be agreeable.” He wasn’t sure if he should be surprised that she agreed, but he only knew he wasn’t strong enough to change his mind.
“And does that mean you might allow me to draw you then?”
She nodded. “When shall we begin?”
Chapter 6
“How about now?”
“Now?” She wanted him to draw her, but she thought she might need a while longer to get more comfortable with the idea.
“Why not? You are already naked, and we can light a few more candles. I’ll sketch for a while and then I’ll do something for you to help you sleep.” His expression was even more mischievous in the light of the candles.
Being on display for him would be thrilling—and intimidating. She hadn’t always felt comfortable in her own skin, especially with a body so different from the other ladies, and one that received such ridicule from those very same ladies. But with Theo, she didn’t feel the urge to cover herself. She believed him when he said shewas perfect, and the confidence his words gave her was intoxicating.
“Where do you want me?”
He laughed. “What a question, with many different answers. We shall keep it focused on art for the time being.” He smirked at her.
Theo grabbed her hand and pulled her over to the settee. “Sit down here and lean back against the armrest.”
She did as he said. “Turn on your side a bit so you face me more,” he instructed.
Her elbow was underneath her, and he positioned her free arm to lie on her side. He moved her top leg so that her foot rested flat on the settee with her knee in the air, leaving her core open and bare to him.
“Beautiful,” he said. “May I release your hair?”
She nodded, and he removed the ribbon and shook her hair loose from her plait. The sensation of him running his fingers through her hair heated her entire body. He positioned her hair to frame her shoulders.
He drew a deep breath and then swallowed hard. “It is going to take every ounce of my honor not to beg at your feet for you to give me your virginity, Jules. I only tell you this, so you always know how desirable you are.”
She knew her neck and cheeks were flushed and would be a deep crimson from his words. Her cunt was already wet and aching for him to touch her again.
As if he heard her body’s silent pleas, he leaned his head down between her legs and inserted his tongue inside of her and then ran it up to circle her delicate nub. She fought to remain in the position he put her in. “Yes, Theo,” she moaned.
He pulled back and grinned at her. “That will give you something to think about while you lie there.”
She noticed his cock was fully erect, so he wasn’t unaffected by the action, which gave her a bit of satisfaction from him teasing her.
He lit a few more candles and positioned them on the tables that were at each end of the settee. The room was much brighter with the additional candles. He added a log to the fire and stoked it, reviving the roaring flames and casting dancing flickers of light within the chamber.
“There,” he said. “I believe I shall begin.”
She shivered, watching his eyes as he gazed at her. He sat in a chair across from her, still nude himself, holding a tablet with a parchment and a charcoal in hand. She longed to brush back some of the hair that fell across his handsome forehead as he began making his first marks with the charcoal.
She found that she loved watching him work. He appeared peaceful and content, the most himself and comfortable in his element she’d seen. Her heart pounded in her chest, and she did her best to ignore it. It wouldn’tdo at all to develop any actual feelings for him beyond friendship.
He was a rake unready to settle down in marriage, and she wasn’t certain she wished to give up her freedom. But something about him made her question all of her resolve the longer she spent with him.
