Page 26 of A Kiss Of Lies

She groaned into the stillness of the cabin.

She felt him shudder, and one hand tightened on her breast while the other moved downward, his palm stroking over her ribcage and lower . . . over her stomach . . . and yet lower still, to the juncture of her thighs. His heat seared her skin through the cloth; his hand came to rest over her mound with his fingers probing determinedly through the linen of her skirts.

At this, Sarah’s crooning cries of pleasure echoed in the night as she arched helplessly against him . . .

ChapterSeven

Her breathy whimpers and sultry pleading inflamed Christian’s desire until he was consumed with a driving need to possess her. Yet he knew he could not rush her.

The feel of her buttocks pressing so tantalizingly against him made his member throb painfully in the tight confines of his breeches. Unable to resist, he turned Sarah in his arms and lowered his head to taste her skin.

Never had a woman driven him to such a maddening need so quickly. He bent her gently over his arm and his lips sought her breasts. He let his tongue glide around her taut peaks; he could feel her body almost humming as he licked closer and closer to her hardened tips. Her moans grew more urgent in the silence of the cabin. She arched back further, forcing her breasts closer to his mouth, silently pleading. Finally he gave her what her body was demanding. His mouth covered her and he suckled a turgid nipple, rolling his tongue around and over it in his mouth, suckling greedily until he was sure he’d mark her skin.

But he had an even fiercer urge to explore the rest of her silken skin and taste the sweet essence between her thighs. The thought of her lying naked before him, every inch of her ivory skin exposed to his touch and taste, her pale thighs open in welcome for him, was gnawing hungrily at him . . .

He could feel her tremors burn through him in exquisite torture. He wanted her as badly as he’d wanted any woman in his life. But he wanted her pleasure more. He wanted her to know, feel, and experience the ecstasy of his lovemaking. He wanted Sarah moaning beneath him, sheathing him in her wet heat, hearing her cries as she orgasmed, before finally sending him spiraling into his own release.

Unable to help himself, Christian tore his mouth from her body and cried out, his voice almost a plea, “God, I want you!”

She heard the note of desperation in his voice. He was nearing the point of no return. He wanted her so badly, so desperately . . . Normally she was afraid of a man’s arousal. Her husband had hurt her when he came to her bed. Even now her body tensed at those raw memories.

But she knew Christian had a reputation as a magnificent lover. She’d heard the ladies of thetontalk. They spoke of his size and stamina, his ability to bring a woman to orgasm over and over again before he gave himself to his own release, and his reputed skill with both hands and tongue.

Prior to her wedding she hadn’t really understood much of what had been said. Even now she had no idea what an orgasm felt like. The ladies referred to it as the “little death.” What had occurred in her husband’s bed felt like death, certainly, but she was sure this was not what they had meant, because when they spoke of it their faces flushed and their eyes took on a dreamy, faraway look.

Besides, having seen his behavior toward Lily and those in the Pearson household, she sensed he was a protector at heart. He would not hurt her.

If she trusted him enough, he would introduce her to passion. Perhaps even wipe out the degrading and incapacitating memories of her husband’s treatment from her mind. Maybe then she’d become whole again.

He was watching her with emerald eyes so dark they almost looked black. She could feel his arousal pulse against her stomach and then, just like that, the old fear returned.

Not only fear of the physical act they were spiraling out of control toward, but fear about her future, her position, her need to remain hidden, and the need not to draw any attention to herself. Becoming Lord Markham’s mistress would undoubtedly set tongues wagging because of his reputation as the disfigured infamous war hero. She couldn’t afford to draw that kind of interest upon herself.

He saw her withdrawal before she had to speak. He reluctantly let her go and gently pulled up her bodice and helped her tidy her clothing.

“You’re not ready to trust me. But I promise you, Sarah, if you give yourself to me, you’ll not suffer in my bed. In fact, I’m sure I can boldly state you’ll thoroughly enjoy yourself.”

She didn’t hesitate. “I’m sure you’re right, my lord. However, as I pointed out earlier, I’m not looking to become a man’s mistress. Once I journey down that path, I’d have no other option but to continue to slide down it. The next man who becomes my protector may not be of such a kind disposition. I’m a governess, and a governess I shall remain.”

She watched him fight with himself over the implications. Finally he drew a deep breath. “You’re right. My apologies. I simply hate to see you decide upon a life of loneliness when, with the right man, sex can be exquisite, rewarding, and pleasurable.” He ran his fingers through her hair. “You deserve more.”

She reached up and kissed his scarred cheek. “Thank you. Maybe one day I’ll be ready to take that step—with the right man. But that is not you, Christian.”

He paled, and sadness filled his face. “Because I’m so hideous to look at, do I make you more afraid?”

“No!” she cried. She grabbed his arm. “No! How can you think that? If I didn’t care about my reputation, if I was free to do so, I would be honored to become your paramour. But that is another of life’s dreams that I must forgo.”

“Why?” he urged. “Why can we not simply be lovers?”

She turned away from him. It would be so easy to say yes, to forget the penalties of being exposed. “I can’t because of the scandal. If it became known that I was your mistress . . . I can’t risk it. Think of Lily’s reputation too. I could no longer be her governess. Lily would lose another person she’s just come to know and trust.” She swung around to face him. “I won’t risk it. Can you forgive me? I’m sorry if I have given you the wrong impression.”

He picked up her hand and brought it to his lips. He pressed a kiss on her knuckles before letting her hand drop back to her side. “There is nothing to forgive. I am thankful to have found Lily such a wonderful governess, and a friend to make my voyage more enjoyable. I hope the events of this evening will not stop you from playing chess with me again.”

She smiled. “It would make for a very tedious voyage if I couldn’t beat you at chess every night.”

He laughed, the tension of the moment broken. “I swear, by the time this voyage ends I shall beat you.”

“You’d best hope it’s a long voyage, then.”

---