Love's Portrait (21 page)

“I simply came to see if you were ill.”

She grew still as he uncurled his large frame out of his chair and moved toward her. Unable to move, she shuddered the moment he closed the distance between them. He bent his head until his mouth brushed lightly against her ear.

“Liar.”

The heat from his body was an inferno across her skin. Tilting her head back, she looked up into his eyes. They blaze with a hunger that pulled her muscles tight with anticipation. Julia swallowed hard as she tried to speak, but her throat was dry. She ached for him to touch her, but he didn’t move. He was clearly waiting for her to reach out to him. Something pulsed between them, and she trembled at the desire building in her like a violin’s crescendo.

“Tell me why you’re really here, Julia,” he rasped.

The words formed in her head, but it was too difficult to speak them, and she shook her head as her courage failed her. She bit down on her lip. Worry might have been the catalyst bringing her here, but she would have come even if she’d known he was hale and hearty. She was certain he knew why she was here. She’d come to him, just as he’d demanded.

“I’ve already told you. I wanted to ensure that you were in good health.”

“Then now that you’ve seen I’m well, there’s no need for you to stay,” Morgan growled as he wheeled away from her and returned to his chair.

Startled by his reaction, she frowned. The man was impossible. Hadn’t she done as he asked? She’d come to him, but she wasn’t going to beg for his touch. Frustrated, she clenched her hands and one balled fist burrowed its way through a thick layer of silk to press into her leg.

“Blast you St. Claire. I came as you asked—no—
demanded
. I came here not just because I was concerned about you, but because I wanted to. What more do you want from me?”

Silence filled the room, and she tried to read his expression as she glared at him. Why was she standing here, allowing him to control her like this? The question made her suck in a deep breath. No. He wasn’t the one in control. She was. She could easily leave. All she had to do was walk away from him. But she didn’t want to.

“I want you to undress for me.” His soft words pierced her turbulent thoughts.

“Wha…What?”

“Remove your clothes. Slowly.” This time it was a command and she stiffened with fear at the idea of baring herself while he sat there watching her.

“You’re mad,” she snapped.

“Mrs. Welkins won’t interrupt us.”

“But…I…”

“Afraid?”

Despite the arrogant smile on his lips, there was a hint of fear in the way he leaned forward slightly in his chair. As if realizing how much his posture revealed, Morgan reclined back into the massive armchair and arched an eyebrow at her. Muscles tight and taut under his piercing gaze, she narrowed her eyes at him.

He’d regained control of his emotions, and yet she had no doubt that he wanted her. Although he appeared relaxed, desire flickered briefly in his eyes. It had been maddening to have him so close just a moment ago and know that she’d not been able to tempt him into losing control. And now—now he wanted her to undress for him while he watched.

Just once, she’d like to turn the tables on the man. Tease him. Tempt him. Drive him to distraction until he— her thoughts crashed one into another. Morgan had always been the one pleasuring her. What if
she
pleasured him? The idea sent her heart slamming into her chest.

Could she be that daring? Was this what Morgan had been trying to show her all along? That she had the ability to direct the path their lovemaking took if she only had the courage to try. Fear cascaded through her. Whirling around, she hurried toward the door.

∫

The moment she turned away and raced for the door, Morgan was on his feet. He was out of his mind if he let her go.
Christ Jesus
, she’d come to him as he’d asked. All he had to do was take her into his arms, and she’d be his. But he wanted more. He wanted her heart to lead her to him. The instant she wrapped her hand around the doorknob he took a step forward then froze as she hesitated.

For a long moment, she stared at the door handle until she slowly turned the key in the lock. The tension holding him rigid fled his body as Julia faced him. The hesitant look on her face required every bit of restraint he possessed not to stride across the room and pull her into his arms.

He knew it hadn’t been easy for her to come to him. Even if she’d done so under the pretense of her concern for him, he didn’t care. She was here. A wave of uncertainty rolled over him, and to harness the emotion, he sank down into his chair and waited. The look of confidence sweeping over her face made him stiffened. It was as if she’d recognized his indecision and had taken strength from it.

Julia walked forward until she was only a few feet away from him. For a brief moment, he saw her courage falter before a sultry confidence darkened her eyes. His cock stirred in his trousers at the sight of her. God, she was beautiful.

With slow, deliberate precision, her hand glided up from her waist to cup her breast then circle the silk over her nipple with her forefinger. His mouth had been dry for several minutes, but now he was parched. Mesmerized, he could only watch in mute fascination as she reached behind her to undo her dress. The movement sent her breasts jutting outward, and made him hard as iron.

There was an uninhibited air about her that amazed him—excited him. He didn’t know what had changed her mind, but he didn’t care. The woman from the portrait met his gaze boldly and without shame. Had he finally won? Had he truly succeeded in making her realize that being with him was her choice?

Candlelight shimmered across Julia’s face, giving her a luminescent quality. Enthralled, he sucked in a sharp breath as their gazes locked and she slipped her dress off one softly rounded shoulder. It made him crave the heat he knew resided between her thighs. Watching her like this made him hot. Hotter than he’d been the night she’d come to his bed.

She pushed the dress downward as she continued to disrobe. He’d thought himself hard already. But when her corset came off and the light mocha color of her nipples peeked through her thin chemise, his cock jump in a silent demand for action. But he didn’t move. He couldn’t. It might break the spell she was casting on him. And he didn’t want that to happen. Not yet.

Moments later she stood in front of him completely exposed. With a half smile curving her lips, she reached up to undo her hair. The movement lifted her breasts higher and he ached to flick his tongue across her hard nipples. Silky, burnt sienna tresses tumbled down onto her shoulders and dipped to brush across the stiff peaks.

“Is this what you wanted me to do, Morgan?” The husky tone of her voice shot anticipation through him.

“Yes,” he growled.

She moved toward him and knelt at his feet. He smelled the lemony scent of her hair. There was also the scent of her passion. It was a hot musk, and it teased his senses until he was rigid with longing. Not once did her gaze waver from his face as she rested her hand on his hard length.

The moment she did so, he sucked in a deep breath. God almighty, she was a siren. She’d bewitched him. He didn’t move as her fingers undid his trousers. As his cock sprang out in eager anticipation of plunging into her heated depths, he struggled to control his ragged breathing. He failed the moment she reached out to touch him.

One elegant finger traced a line from the tip of him down to his ballocks. It was a light touch, but it generated an excruciating need for more. Seconds later, the warmth of her hand encircled him, and he released a groan of pleasure. Firelight threw one side of her face into the shadows, but the gleam in her hazel eyes warned him she knew
exactly
what she was doing.

It was a confidence he’d not seen in her before, but it was clear she knew how she was making him feel. Even more visible in her features was the way she was reveling in that knowledge. He watched her head descend toward his cock. Good god, was she—

“Christ Jesus,” he rasped as her tongue stroked up the length of him and swirled around the tip of his cock. The seductive caress made his erection expand further. Barely able to control his need, he slid his hands through the silk of her hair and jerked as she blew a hot, yet cool breeze across his bare skin. Her tongue slid over him once more before her beautiful mouth wrapped around him in a tight grip.

The flick of her tongue over the ridge of him tugged another groan from him, and he looked down to watch her mouth slide up and down his erection. It was the most erotic thing he’d ever witnessed. With each stroke, she increased the pace until the exquisite friction of her mouth on him sent his senses reeling. Barely able to think straight, he threaded his hands through her silky tresses and rocked his hips against her mouth.

He’d had the best suck on his cock, and not one of them had come close to making him ready to explode as quickly as she did. With each swirl of her tongue, she was driving him closer to the edge of a pleasure he’d never thought any woman could arouse in him. Suddenly, her mouth tightened around him like a hot vise then she tugged her head up and retreated from him.

Stunned, he jumped as her fingers brushed against his ballocks and cool air swept over his cock. His eyes flew open to watch her rise to her feet and stand in front of him, the reddish-brown curls at the apex of her thighs so close and yet so far away.

He struggled not to lose control of his faculties as she trailed her fingers over her breasts and caressed her nipples. In disbelief, he watched one hand trail down over her stomach to part her velvety folds and stroked herself.

“Do you like watching me like this, Morgan?”

The husky sound of her voice tantalized him, while the sultry twist of her lips teased him as he watched her play with herself. His eyes caught a glimpse of cream on her fingers, and he groaned. It was time to end this tempting display and take what his body demanded. Christ, his body wasn’t just demanding satisfaction it shouted for it. He reached out for her, but she took a quick step back, and a small smile curved her mouth as she trailed her fingers across her rigid nipples again.

∫

The look of astonishment on his face pleased her. For once, she was in control, and she liked it. She hadn’t expected to enjoy taking him into her mouth, but she had. Even more pleasing was knowing she was responsible for his harsh breathing and growls of excitement.

It was a powerful sensation that had increased her confidence to the point that she felt no shame or embarrassment touching herself so boldly in front of him. She was certain this was what he’d meant when he’d said he wanted the bold woman in the portrait.

Cupping her breasts, she rolled her thumbs over the stiff peaks, her fingertips skating over her dimpled areoles. He didn’t take his eyes off of her, and the desire in his expression thrilled her.

“You didn’t answer me, Morgan, do you like watching me?”

“Yes,
Christ Jesus
.” His voice was hoarse as he rose to his feet and stepped toward her. She retreated again.

“Do you want me?” Heart pounding, she waited for his reply.

“Damn it, you know I do. I want you
now
.”

The growled response made her draw in a quick breath of anticipation as he stepped forward. She reached out her hand and pressed it against his chest, stopping him in his tracks. Beneath the palm of her hand his heart beat a fast pace, while his breathing was ragged as if he’d run a great distance.

“How badly do you want me?” Her question made him narrow his eyes at her.

“What game are you playing at, Julia.”

“It’s not a game. I simply need to know how badly you want me.” She deliberately reached out to delve her hand into his open trousers and grasped him in a tight grip. “Tell me.”

“God in heaven, woman, do you want me to beg?” He groaned.

“Would you?” She held her breath as she watched his jaw flex with tension.

“Yes,” he rasped as he caught her shoulders in a rough grip. “I’d move heaven and earth for you. I’ll give you anything you ask—just let me love you.”

Her hand slid off his erection and she pressed her body against him. The tip of his phallus pressed into her curls as she pulled his head down toward hers. Brushing her mouth against his, she laced her tongue over his lips.

“That’s all I wanted to hear,” she whispered.

The groan rumbling deep in his chest reverberated over her skin, and she melted into him welcoming his hot kiss. Beneath her hands, the soft fabric of his shirt interfered with her need to touch him, and her fingers frantically undid the buttons as his tongue swept into her mouth.

Eager to feel his hard muscles beneath her hands, she tugged his shirt open and glided her fingertips across the hard ridges of his chest. A hot need uncurled in her belly and sped through her limbs until it consumed her. As he discarded his shirt in a rough movement, he pulled her closer, and her nipples tingled as they rubbed against his chest.

His mouth slanted off hers and blazed a path of heat down her throat to one breast. The moment the heat of his tongue swirled around her nipple, her legs wobbled beneath her. The masculine, spicy scent of him filled her senses as her body cried out for his possession. A moan parted her mouth as her fingertips dug into his shoulders in an effort to remain standing.

“Oh God, Morgan. I want you. I want to feel you inside me.”

Lifting his head, his thumb continued to stroke the sharp peak of her breast. He shuddered against her, but there was a determined look in his eyes as he stared down at her.

“Say it, Julia.” His words made her stiffen as he wrapped his arms tight around her to keep her from escaping him. “It’s only three words, sweetheart.”

“Morgan, please…” She swallowed hard as she shook her head. His expression tender, pleading almost, he pressed his forehead against hers. It undid her. “I…I love…you.”

The moment she uttered the words, amazement crashed its way into every part of her. She’d done it. She’d actually admitted her feelings for him. It created a sense of freedom inside her. As he exhaled a deep breath, Julia realized he’d been unsure of her. The knowledge startled her.