Love's Portrait (12 page)

“Did you love him?”

“
No
. I—” She abruptly ended her vehement response. Desperate to change the subject, she hid the tumult inside her and met his gaze again. “It was a marriage no different than many others. And you. Why haven’t you married? I would think you’d like a son to take over your business one day.”

Others less observant wouldn’t have noticed the sudden stillness about him that indicated he was immediately on guard despite his seemingly relaxed posture. There was a tension flowing through him that was almost tangible. He clearly hadn’t been expecting the sudden shift of direction in their conversation. One elbow resting on the arm of his chair, his long fingers lightly rubbed against his chin as he studied her with an odd expression on his features.

“I suppose it’s because there hasn’t been a woman I liked well enough to ask.” Something about his response made her heart skip a beat, but she ignored the unfamiliar sensation.

“Like.” She tested the word on her tongue before nodding. “Yes, that would make the state of matrimony more agreeable, wouldn’t it?”

It was a rhetorical question, and she watched as his forefinger tapped his firm, sensual mouth. A shiver of expectation raced across her skin at the memory of those lips on her sex. The nervous flutter that stirred in her belly made her hand tremble as she reached for her glass. The wine barely eased the dryness of her mouth.

“So you decided to be daring and had Peebles paint you, but that doesn’t explain why you chose to make
me
your next adventure.” His statement caught her off guard, and her eyes widened in surprise.

“I told you. I wanted to offer up your handkerchief for auction.” As she recalled him bidding on his own handkerchief, she frowned with irritation.

“And you weren’t expecting me to show up and bid on the item.” His chuckle of amusement made her glare at him.

“It was unfair of you to bid against me.”

“You set the terms of our wager. I simply saw to it that I didn’t lose.”

The grin on his face should have angered her, but it was impossible to be irritated when he looked like a mischievous boy who’d just gotten away with stealing a cookie.

“You’re impossible,” she huffed.

“Only when I don’t get my way. But it still doesn’t explain why you chose me, Julia.” The deliberate note in his voice said he wasn’t about to let her avoid answering the question. With a sigh of exasperation, she scowled at him. Why
had
she chosen to steal his handkerchief? The answer was simple. She met his gaze steadily.

“The portrait gave me a taste of what it was like to be daring. To take a risk. It was exhilarating, and I wanted to experience the sensation again. I knew your handkerchief would be a popular item at the auction, so I decided to steal it.”

“It was a reckless thing to do,” he growled fiercely. “Any other man might have forced you into his bed.”

“Yes, but I’d seen how fair you are with the people who work for you. I knew you were an honorable man.” He frowned and arched his eyebrows with skepticism. “Instinct told me that despite your reputation, I could trust you not to…to take advantage of me if I were caught in your room.”

It was the truth. And he’d reinforced her opinion when he’d not demanded payment the minute she lost their wager. In fact, she was certain he would never have tried to coerce her into making good on her debt if she’d not been willing. And she was willing. Why else would she be here? She’d agreed to come here tonight not because of the wager, but because Morgan excited her.

In the back of her mind, she acknowledged the danger such a thought presented, but a familiar sensation flooded her senses. Exhilaration in its most potent form. Morgan had already shown her how thrilling his touch was, and tonight she intended to indulge her senses all she wanted. Just for this one night, she would allow herself the chance to experience what it was like to be in Morgan’s bed. She could even attempt to seduce him if she wanted. Her skin grew warm at the thought.

“You put great faith in that instinct of yours,” he said in a disapproving voice. “How I treat my employees doesn’t reflect anything about me other than my belief that a happy employee is a productive employee.”

“Are you going to deny that you’re an honorable man?”

“That’s not the point, Julia, and you know it.” He glared at her. “You had no way of knowing I wouldn’t seduce you the moment I found you in my bed chamber.”

“What if I’d been the one doing the seducing?” She smiled at the look of astonishment on his face. “Do you think I’m incapable of seducing the great Morgan St. Claire?”

Arching an eyebrow, she stretched out her hand toward the plate of fruit sitting in the center of the table. She picked up a fat, luscious strawberry and dipped it into a small bowl of honey that sat next to the plate. The honey slowly edged its way down to the tip of the fruit, and she tilted her head back to catch the first drop in her mouth.

Her eyes caught Morgan’s enthralled look. The desire blazing in his eyes pleased her. Tempting him gave her a sense of power. The sweet taste of control. The natural sweetener dripped onto her tongue. It was warm and sweet. Enjoying the taste of it, she swirled her tongue around the tip of the strawberry for more of the smooth, sticky treat. Then with a neat nip of her teeth, she bit off the bottom portion of the fruit.

The low sound he made was part growl, part curse. His gaze bored into hers as he rose to his feet like a powerful lion ready to pounce. Her heart slammed against her breastbone. Whatever had made her even
think
she could seduce the man. She trembled as he stretched out his hand to her. The control she’d thought she had over him had been an illusion. She’d aroused his desire, but he’d never been out of control the entire time he’d been watching her.

The air around her seemed to pulse with a fury she was certain would consume her if she didn’t take care. For the second time this evening, exhilaration pounding its way through her veins. Mesmerized by the raw passion in his riveting blue eyes, she laid her hand in his. His fingers closed over hers in a strong, but gentle grip as he pulled her to her feet and into his arms.

“You have a wicked streak in you, Julia.”

She smiled at the gruffness in his voice. At least her effort to tease and tempt him had not been a clumsy one on her part. “As usual, you exaggerate.”

“
This
is hardly an exaggeration.” If possible, he pulled her closer to him then guided her hand down to his trousers and his erection. Startled by the feel of him beneath her palm, she shuddered as she met his intent gaze. “My cock is hard for you, Julia. It won’t be satisfied until its buried deep inside you.”

The earthy rawness of his language sent excitement rushing through her limbs until need settled like a raging fire in her belly. As he encouraged her to rub her palm over his hard length, her skin tingled with the desire to hold him naked and unrestrained in her hand. The thought dried her mouth as a sudden rush of fear tried to crowd its way into the forefront of her emotions. The suddenness of his kiss drove all her apprehension out of her head, and she gave herself up to the pleasure of his caress. It was a demanding kiss, but playful too. His teeth gently nipped at her bottom lip.

Hot and needy, his tongue swept into her mouth. Claret tantalized her taste buds as his tongue swirled around hers until her knees wobbled. A strong hand warmed the skin of her shoulder as his kiss deepened. It tugged at her, demanded a response and she gave it willingly. Her hands unbuttoned the front of his shirt, and tiny frissons slid across her skin as she touched the solid muscles of his chest.

Despite every warning she’d ever told herself about Morgan, there was no doubt in her mind that this was an adventure she’d been longing for all her life. The skillful touch of his hands sent her dress sliding to the floor. Her corset followed the gown, but the only thing that registered in her mind was the dark, spicy scent, taste and feel of him. Cool air brushed her mouth as his lips danced across her cheek in search of first her ear lobe and then her neck.

An instant later, a large hand cupped her and his thumb brushed across her nipple. With a low moan of pleasure, her head fell backward, giving him free access to her throat. His teeth gently nipped at her skin as his thumb continued to circle round the stiff peak of her breast. It was heaven and penitence all in the same instant. Heaven to be succumbing to his wicked touch, while the intense hunger enveloping her body was penance for every moment she’d resisted the pleasure of his caresses.

The second his mouth captured her sensitive nipple through the thin silk of her chemise, another moan poured out of her. The wet heat of him suckling her ignited a wild need inside her body that demanded satisfaction. With a mind of its own, her body pressed into him eagerly. A sigh of bliss whispered past her lips as he massaged her other breast while his mouth devoured her stiff peak. Nothing she’d ever read or heard could have prepared her for the deliciously sinful sensations he aroused in her. Desire streaked through her veins, and the moment his teeth clamped gently down on the nipple, her insides grew slick with desire.

Her body was on fire, and she instinctively reached for him, eager to satisfy the increasing ache inside her. Fingers flying over the waistband of his trousers, she freed his hard erection and grasped him firmly. Her touch pulled a growl of delight from him, and he moved his body so that his phallus thrust in and out of her grasp. The friction from his action burned pleasurably against her palm. He was hard and thick beneath her fingers. The thought of him sliding into her made her shiver with a mixture of trepidation and excitement.

Not once had her husband ever aroused her desire, but with only a few kisses, Morgan had created a wild craving that made her ready to give him whatever he asked of her. Her heart pounding in her breast, she longed to feel Morgan’s skin heating hers. With shaky fingers, she tugged at her chemise, almost frantic to remove all barriers between them.

Releasing her, he stepped back and swiftly removed the rest of his clothing as she discarded what little she still wore. Naked before him, she sucked in a sharp breath as his hand cupped her chin.

“God, but you’re beautiful.” The palm of his hand caressed her throat before moving down across her breasts. When he reached her belly, a tremor went through her. “Are you hot and wet for me, sweetheart?”

His lungs were on fire as he held his breath waiting for her response. When she released a soft sound of excitement, triumph surged through him and he kissed her again, lusting after the honey-sweet taste of her tongue against his. With an eagerness that pleased him, she pressed her hips into him and her damp curls teased the tip of his cock. Christ, he’d never expected her to behave with such wanton abandon. His gut lurched with desire the instant she wrapped her arms around him, her fingernails lightly razing the skin of his back as she murmured his name in an achy plea. He’d never heard a sweeter sound in all his life.

Eager to assuage their need for each other, he guided her backward until she half-plopped, half-sat on the edge of the bed. Gently, he forced her to lie back on the mattress. The arousal glowing in the depths of her eyes took his breath away. His erection pulsed with need, making him realize how close he was to coming just from looking at her. Leaning forward slightly, he slid his hands under her round buttocks.

The fleshy underside of her was soft and full against his fingers as he shifted her body upward at an angle. Surprise swept over her face, as he grabbed a pillow and situated it beneath her. Not waiting for her to protest, he wrapped her legs around his waist and pressed his cock at the entrance to her cunny before filling her to the hilt. The astonishment on her face disappeared as a sharp cry of intense pleasure broke from her.

Gratified by her response, his body rejoiced in the hot feel of her. God almighty, she was tight and fiery around his cock. A delicious sounding moan echoed out of her as she arched her body off the bed. If possible, the sight of her so aroused increased his own desire. He looked down to see his erection coated with her hot cream. Slick with passion, her insides shuddered and clutched at his rock hard rod.

Christ Jesus. The woman was about to make him come faster than an inexperienced youth. Another cry broke from her lips and her tight, creamy folds contracted around him with spiked spasms of pleasure. The frissons of sensation tantalizing his cock tugged a guttural cry from him as thrust into her one last time before spilling his seed deep inside her.

Lodged inside her, his body throbbed with a pleasure he’d never experienced before. It was as if everything that had come before Julia had been obliterated in one simple act. His hands braced on either side of her, he drank in deep gulps of air as he enjoyed the slowly ebbing waves of their climax. He knew his body wasn’t ready, but he wanted to take her again and again. Christ Jesus, what was happening to him? He’d never been this infatuated with a woman before. Luminous hazel eyes fluttered open to look up at him, and he swallowed hard. When in the hell had the tables been switched?

Chapter 8

With a plate of fruit in his hand, Morgan turned around and paused to stare at Julia in his bed. Lying on top of the mattress with a red silk sheet entwined between her legs and pressed against her chest, she was studying him with an expression of appreciation. As her gaze met his, he saw the flash of hunger in her hazel eyes. Satisfaction sped through his veins. It wasn’t even the midnight hour and they’d made love several times, yet his body craved hers as a drunkard did his wine.

“I take it you like what you see,” he said with a grin.

“Very much.” The husky sound of her voice instantly made his cock stiffen, and he looked downward before he lifted her gaze to meet hers. A slight flush tinged her cheeks at the sight of his arousal.

“You have that effect on me quite a bit.” He chuckled as she blushed deeply. Crossing the floor, he dropped down onto the mattress beside her. “Don’t be ashamed of your power to incite desire, Julia.”