back to Etaine and her own life. She could not look forward to
many pleasures in the future, why should she not satisfy this
craving that racked her body with burning need? „I don’t want
to go to sleep.“ She got to her knees and quickly unbuttoned
the shirt she was wearing and slipped it off. „What if I fell
asleep and the monster devoured me?“
„It’s not any monster you have to worry about tonight.“ His
eyes remained tightly closed. „I assure you that I – “ He broke
off and his eyes flew open. Long strands of fragrant satin-dark
hair were trailing across his chest as she leaned over him,
veiled only by the sheer tunic. „My God,“ he whispered.
A faint flush colored her cheeks as she slipped the tunic to
her waist and leaned closer. „I do not fear you.“ Her lips
touched his shoulder. „Do you fear me?“
„God, yes. I’m scared as hell you’re going to tie me in
knots and then leave me. It’s a game you’re quite adept at
playing.“
„I will not leave you.“ Her mouth moved to the golden
thatch of hair on his chest and she opened her lips to tug at a
tuft like a playful puppy. His heart gave a great leap and then
started pounding erratically. „Not until you have what you
want.“ Pressing her breasts to the thatch of hair, she rubbed
back and forth, closing her eyes to enjoy the sensation more
fully. It was even better than she had imagined. Each brush
against her sensitive nipples caused a hot tingle to rush
through her and the aching between her thighs to increase
tenfold.
„You’re hurt.“
„No longer. It was nothing. I’m strong now.“
„You’re sure?“
„I’m sure.“ She took his hand and placed his palm on her
left breast. „Touch me. I think it will give me pleasure.“
His hand slowly closed on her breast, his eyes narrowing
on her face. She was flaming. Glowing. Her excitement so
intense she was trembling as he squeezed the rounded globe.
He felt a sudden surge of power flood him. He could do this to
her. He could make her flame and tremble. He reached out
with the other hand and cupped her right breast and began to
squeeze rhythmically, watching with pleasure the hardening of
her nipples, the swelling of her breasts in the palms of his
hands. „I think it does give you pleasure, love. Come here.“
He moved her up so that her full breasts hung over his mouth
like ripe golden apples. He licked delicately at one rosy nipple.
„And I think this gives you pleasure too, doesn’t it?“
Pleasure. It was too tame a word for the emotion tearing
through her. She was burning. She couldn’t breathe. She bent
closer, nudging at his mouth with her breast. „More. Please.“
He opened his lips and enveloped her with his mouth,
sucking strongly. She cried out, throwing back her head as the
wild, unbearably exciting sensations tore through her. Her
hands went to his cheeks, stroking, helping him take….
The tears brimmed and then rolled down her cheeks. She
was panting. „Nicholas, I want – “
He pulled away, his mouth releasing her. „Shhh. I know.“
His hands continued to squeeze her, watching the expressions
on her face. „My God, your breasts are sensitive. I wonder…“
He removed his hands and gently pushed her away. „Let me
up, I have to get out of these clothes before I – “ He was
tearing at his clothes, his gaze still on her face. Her hunger
was naked and so arousing to behold that when his manhood
finally sprang free, it was with a power greater than he had
ever experienced.
She was staring at him, her pink tongue absently
moistening her berry-stained lips. He felt a thrust of heat so
intense, he made a guttural sound deep in his throat.
„I want to touch you.“ Silver’s gaze never left him. She got
to her knees, her fingers running delicately, curiously, over the
thatch of hair surrounding his manhood. „Your hair is golden
all over your body. It’s darker gold here but…“ She forgot
what she was going to say as her hand grasped him. He jerked,
a great shudder racking his body. It was like holding a great
stallion with only a satin hair ribbon, she thought. All that
force and power held helpless by the pleasure of her hand.
She slowly raised herself so that her breasts were touching
him and gently brushed against him, letting him feel her
softness against his manhood. His chest was moving in and out
with the harshness of his breathing as he looked down at her
dark head. „Silver…“ His voice was choked. „I can’t bear
much more. I’m…“ He groaned through his teeth as her
tongue touched him. His nostrils flared. „No! Not now!“
He jerked away from her and sank to his knees. His ebony
eyes were glazed as he pushed her down on the moss and
opened her thighs. He was wild, savage, as he tore the sheer
veiling from her body. „I have to…“ He trailed off, his hands
searching.
She knew what he had to do, what she wanted him to do.
The desire she felt was as wild and primitive as what he was
feeling. Her palms slid up his chest, savoring the heat, the
textures of him. She was making tiny frantic sounds as she felt
his fingers probe and then enter her before beginning a gentle
thrusting motion.
„More!“ she gasped. „Nicholas, more!“
„Shh. Soon.“ He moved between her thighs, his manhood
nudging against her. „It’s just that you’re so tight. I want to
make sure I don’t hurt you.“
Her nails dug into his shoulders. „I don’t care if you hurt
me,“ she said fiercely. „More.“
„Yes, yes!“ A groan came with the same explosive power
as his action as he suddenly plunged deep inside her.
Pain. Silver inhaled sharply as the expected wave of pain
rolled over her. Then it was gone and there was only the hot,
sweet fullness of joining.
„Silver.“ Nicholas was looking down at her, stunned.
„It was nothing,“ she said impatiently. „I expected much
more pain. Go on. Is it always this good?“
„No.“ He was still frozen, gazing at her blankly. She was so
damn hot, tight, enveloping him. He was quivering, flexing,
his manhood fighting to take more. More! My God, hadn’t he
taken enough from her?
It appeared he hadn’t, for she was glaring up at him. „Don’t
you dare stop. I won’t be cheated after I’ve gone this far.“
His laugh was a half sob in his throat. Only Silver would
react to her deflowering in this fashion. Well, he would not
cheat her or himself either. It was too late to stop now anyway.
He plunged again and began a wild rhythm that started the
tension throbbing, rising, within them both.
Silver’s head was thrashing back and forth, her eyes
gleaming like crystals as she gazed up at him. She was
panting, moaning, ablaze. A firebird rising, fiery wings
outstretched, soaring toward the sun. He rode the firebird into
the dazzling radiance waiting for them beyond the horizon.
Burning away the wind, the earth, the stars. Then in a wild and
shimmering burst of flame, they burned away the sun itself.
And were left only with the velvet darkness of eternity…
and each other.
Silver lay in hazy contentment, lost in a dreamy lethargy of
sensual pleasure she had never known before. Where was
Nicholas? She had been vaguely conscious of him leaving her,
but she had been too breathless and happy to protest.
Then he was beside her, kneeling and parting her thighs.
„What are you doing?“ A cool dampness soothed her flesh.
„Where did you get the cloth?“ she asked lazily.
„That bed curtain is quite versatile in its uses.“ He didn’t
look at her as he threw the cloth aside. „It would have been of