Page 41 of The Pirate and the Pagan
They wore each other out with passion, then with limbs still entwined they fell asleep, totally sated for the moment. Rarely had two lovers been so well matched or so deeply in love after only one night.
When Summer opened her eyes, it was still pitch dark outside and she had no idea what the hour was. She became fully awake instantly when she realized Ruark was not in the bed with her. She had never felt so alive before in her life.
She was filled with such vitality and energy that she felt a compulsion to greet the dawn with her pagan ritual as a form of celebration, a thank-you to the gods for their splendid gift of Ruark Helford.
The air was soft and warm, the subtropical weather still blessing this sheltered, magical corner of Cornwall. She picked up Ruark’s fine white shirt from the chair and slipped her arms into the long sleeves. It covered her thighs and for Summer this was enough. The faint, delicious scent of her husband lingered upon the garment and filled her senses. Her delicate nostrils flared at the maleness of the fragrance.
On bare feet she crept from the house and made her way to the stables. All was in total darkness as she led Ebony from his stall, not bothering with either saddle or bridle.
Astride the horse, she used only her knees as he delicately picked his way down the face of the cliff, then once she was down on the sands, she threaded her fingers through the black stallion’s flowing mane and dug in her heels. With a great surge of power he leaped forward in the ride which brought him as much pleasure as it did his mistress.
A faint light was just beginning to show upon the horizon beyond the sea at the edge of the world. Summer felt her blood racing through her veins. She was transformed. She was invincible. She was in love!
Suddenly out of the darkness loomed a rider bearing down upon her in a relentless gallop. She had only time to take a deep breath; no time whatsoever to swerve from his path. But the other rider was so expert he came alongside her with only inches to spare, reached out strong arms, and, lifted her from Ebony onto his own mount.
“Ruark!” she cried exultantly.
“I knew you would come, it was inevitable,” he said triumphantly.
He was naked, she realized as her arms went about his body for support. With a joyful cry she flung off his shirt and pressed herself against his bare, muscular body, then like riding on the wind, they thundered down the deserted beach to greet the dawn.
On the way back it became a daring race with the tide as it swept in to hurl itself against the rocks of the cliff. Ebony had followed the other horse up the shore and back and stayed close as they tackled the steep bridle path back up the face of the cliff. Ruark unrolled his cloak where it lay on the saddle and wrapped it about himself and Summer just in case some of the servants were about early.
They slipped through the French doors in the south wing and gained the sanctity of their bedchamber before dawn had spread its pink fingers up the sky. They were laughing and carefree as children, totally happy in the moments they had stolen from the rest of civilization.
“I watched you ride like a pagan the first morning I was here. I went up on the roof to the widow’s walk and became enchanted by your spell.”
She turned to gaze at his splendid male body. “Today we were pagans together. I’ll remember it always.”
He closed the distance between them in three strides. “Darling, you must promise me you’ll never ride before daylight, and it goes without saying, I hope, that you must never ride naked. This coast is a haven for pirates and smugglers and is extremely dangerous.”
“Danger excites me,” she said, standing on tiptoe to kiss him.
He kissed her back fiercely. “You remind me exactly of my beautiful figurehead on the Pagan Goddess.” He carried her to their bed, but when he let go of her, she stood up on the bed, put her back against one of the carved posts, then put her arms behind her to suspend herself in the same pose as the figurehead.
It thrilled him deeply that she was so natural and artless with him. No trace of self-consciousness marred their love play. He took hold of her lovely legs and pulled her down onto the pillows. He straddled her and bent to give her a dozen kisses, then he rolled with her until she lay on top of him. “Let’s make love while the reckless pagan mood is still upon us,” he invited.
She needed little urging. She ran her fingers over the crisp dark hair of his chest, then fastening them in the black curls on his head, she drew up his face to hers until their mouths fused. Then her legs stretched and her body opened to receive him. Instantly her body contracted as if to seal that part of him inside her forever. They were aroused to such a pitch she felt she could never absorb enough of him.
When they reached the peak of their endurance, they erupted and spilled together, and she fell trembling upon him and sobbed from the great release she had received.
Ruark cradled her and soothed her. “My baby, my honey love, don’t cry, life is too short.”
She dashed the tears from her cheeks and gave him a dazzling smile. “Lady Helford has a thousand things to do this morning, if you will release me from this bed.”
“I will release you on condition you let me watch you take your bath.”
“Watch me? Surely you will join me?” she tempted wickedly. He needed no urging and went himself to carry in the large slipper bath.
“Ru, I was teasing,” she gasped.
“I was serious”—he grinned—“but I’ll tease you if you wish.” For the first time she blushed.
He summoned maids for hot water and built a fire so she wouldn’t be cold. Though it was still very early, light had begun to stream through the tall windows, and when she realized their nakedness would not be half-shadowed or bathed in candleglow, a thrill ran up her spine. He enjoyed looking at her so much, he made her feel very beautiful. She eyed his great length doubtfully. “Will it hold us both?”
“Only if you sit in my lap.” He leered at her wickedly as he lifted her to stand in the water and climbed in behind her. He sat down first and made a chair for her with his knees, but before she could sit, he pressed a kiss upon her bottom. “Has anyone ever told you what a pretty bum you have?”
“And who, pray, would tell me such a thing?” she asked primly, suffused with blushes.
