Virtue and Vice (12 page)

Chapter 11

One week until the wedding…

For the third time, Ram approached the door to the crofters hut, then turned away without opening it. He ran his fingers through his hair, frustrated. More than anything, he wanted to open the door, take Izzy into his arms, and make love to her all afternoon. On the other hand, he didn’t know if he trusted himself to stop at the edge one more time. He was going out of his mind.

He should have stayed away. Just one more week until their wedding day. Only seven more days and this torment would be over. He didn’t look forward to facing an enraged Izzy when she learned the truth of his identity, but he was confident it wouldn’t take much to earn her forgiveness.

There was still plenty left for him to do in London, where he’d gone upon discovering his friend, Lucien, wasn’t in residence in Devon. He could leave Cornwall now and Izzy would never know he’d been here. He could return to the city and finish making his home ready for his bride and their new life. 

In the past week, he’d extricated himself from one irate mistress, and now, with that unpleasant task behind him, he was ready for marital bliss. There had been tears, cajoling, and pleading, but in the end he and Louisa had both walked away satisfied. He’d deeded her the townhouse which he’d bought for their use months before, and she promised to disappear from his life for good. An expensive trade-off, aye, but well worth it just the same. He wanted everything to be perfect when he brought Izzy home for the first time.

As he paced in indecision, he thought about the vagaries of fate. Louisa had been his mistress for a fairly short period of time and he’d been content with her when he’d set her up in the small, but luxurious townhouse. Now the thought of keeping a mistress was frankly distasteful. How could he even contemplate keeping another woman when Izzy would always be waiting for him to come home?

He had to make a decision. If Izzy was inside, it was only a matter of time until she opened the door to leave, as it was already more than an hour past the agreed upon meeting time. What could he say if she found him pacing outside the door, afraid to enter?

He should leave. Remove any risk of temptation. Even as he told himself that, he reached for the door. He had to see her, if only for a little while. He need only control himself this one last time. When next he saw her she would become his wife and there would be no more need for restraint.

His breath caught as he stepped inside, catching sight of her expression from where she sat on the pallet. She looked…desolate. But as soon as she raised her head and saw him, the sorrow disappeared from her eyes and a brilliant smile lit her face. It made him want to go away often just so he could see that expression on her face each time he returned to her.

“You came!”

His heart turned over. Had she really been so devastated that he might not come?

“I’m so sorry I’m late, Sweet-” Before he finished the sentence, she threw herself into his embrace, wrapping her arms around his neck, straining her mouth toward his. 

It was an invitation impossible to resist.

The taste of her was so sweet, he realized then she satiated a hunger he never even knew burned within him. He might have deluded himself that all was well when they were apart, but the feel of her in his arms made him whole, brought into sharp focus that each day without her had been utterly lacking.

He cradled her face in both hands, kissing her with a tenderness he hoped bespoke of the feelings welling inside of him. He’d never been a romantic by nature and he didn’t believe in love at first sight, but his feelings for this woman were alien to him. He wasn’t yet ready to label it love, for that was an emotion he had little experience with, but he needed her unlike he’d ever needed another woman. It bordered almost upon obsession.

Not a fortnight, it wasn’t enough. Once they married he’d keep her locked in their bedchamber for at least a month.

Her hair hung loose down her back and he adored her all the more for leaving it down, for she’d done it for him. He ran his fingers through her chestnut tresses, loving the silky feel against his skin and the way the strands clung to him almost possessively. Then he bent, scooped her into his arms, and carried her to the pallet. He lay beside her. She turned onto her side, reaching for him, but instead he tucked her close against him, sliding his arm under her head to pillow her. With his free hand he reached for hers, entwining his fingers with hers. She stared at him, her blue eyes wide and luminescent, questioning.

He cleared his throat. “You have my most sincere apology for being so late. I should have been here much earlier.”

Her smile was soft. “’Tis all right. I’m sure whatever kept you was important.”

He’d been an idiot to waste so much time waffling with indecision. “Nothing is more important than being here with you, right now.” He meant every word.

She grinned, a quirking of her lips that was both saucy and challenging. “Then prove it.” Her voice was husky, flowing over to warm him like whisky on a cold day.

“You are incorrigible!” he laughed and tapped her nose.

“Mmm. I know. ‘Tis what you love most about me.”

She was probably right.

His breath caught as she leaned over and pressed her lips to his neck. Her soft kisses sent waves of heat rippling through his body.

To his surprise, she bolted upright, swinging one leg over his hips until she was straddling him, her knees resting on the pallet on either side of his waist. In a flash he imagined her atop him the exact same way, yet completely unclothed, riding them both to the heights of ecstasy. Every ounce of blood thundered through his body with the same destination in mind. His cock rose in his breeches, straining at the material. By the widening of her eyes and then her quick smile, he knew she noted his instant physical response.

She dipped her face toward his, resting her chin on her folded arms against his chest. The motion brought her backside into close contact with his shaft and he bit back a groan.

“Am I too heavy?”

He snorted. “You weigh scarcely more than a bird.”

“But you seem so uncomfortable.” Her voice was teasing and she wiggled her backside against him, the motion sweet torment. His need to touch her grew almost out of control.

Taking her hips in his hands, he ground her against his throbbing arousal. “If I’m uncomfortable, ‘tis only because you deem it necessary to keep me so, Sweetheart.”

She laughed, a sound so sweet, yet so tormenting at the same time. Her eyes darkened and her tongue flicked out to wet her lips.

“We must remedy that situation, posthaste.” She said before brushing a kiss across his lips. Then she sat again. Her nimble fingers tugged at his white shirt, pulling it from his breeches. Warm fingers swept beneath the material, stroking lightly against his fevered flesh. He shivered at her touch.

God, he needed to take control, but he bade himself be still and let her have her way. He couldn’t wait to see what she planned. It both scared and excited him.

Her hands slid up, her fingernails raked over his nipples and he sucked in a breath. Then her hands dipped down to the hem of the shirt, lifting it to bare him to her gaze.

Her pupils dilated with pleasure and he saw only the top of her head as she leaned down, using her mouth to follow the trail of her fingers. She crept her way up his chest, her tongue and teeth driving him crazy with tiny nips and gentle laving. Her small teeth grazed one of his nipples and he bucked beneath her. His patience at its end, he slid his hands up her back, prepared to pull her mouth up to his, but she reached for his arms and lifted them above his head the way he’d once done to her, making it clear she intended to remain in control.

He narrowed his eyes.

He could practically feel her self-satisfied smile against his skin and it took every ounce of patience he had to hold onto the last vestige of restraint and not grab her and flip her onto her back.

Sliding the shirt over his arms and head, Izzy sent it flying with a flick of her wrist.

He gritted his teeth as her fingers went to the waistband of his breeches. It was time for him to take control, before he lost control.

“Izzy-”

“Shh.” Her voice was a whisper.

Sweat formed on his brow as her fingers found the fastenings of his breeches and unlaced them. She shifted her body down his, the hardened peaks of her breasts scorching him through the fabric of her shirt as she slid lower.

He would die if he didn’t soon touch her.

All thought fled as she tugged his breeches down, releasing his shaft to spring free. Exposed to the warm air in the hut and her even warmer gaze, his cock thickened and grew yet harder. She continued to peel his breeches down his legs, her breasts grazing his groin, followed by the soft, trailing ends of her hair as she moved. He bit back a groan as his erection strained toward her.

And then her cheek was there and thoughts of what she could do to him with her lips and tongue ricocheted through his mind. As if she were able to read his innermost desires, she grasped him with one hand, then turned her face so her breath feathered over his sensitive flesh. Ram held his breath. Surely she wouldn’t…

Her hand stroked up and down. His breath whooshed out of him as her tongue lapped over the head of his cock. Looking down, he couldn’t believe how intensely erotic it was to watch as she tasted him, her hair flowing like a waterfall to cover half her face.

With her tongue she explored the ridge below the head, then slowly licked all the way down to the base. Her hand followed her mouth, squeezing him as it slid down, then back up again.

He clenched his fists.

And then she took him into her mouth and he rose up off the mattress, almost losing control right then. He groaned with the pleasure of the moist heat of her mouth combined with the gentle suction. A small sound of delight escaped her as she took him against the back of her throat, and Ram was nearly undone.

“Izzy”- he gasped, but she paid no heed to his plea. She looked up at him, met his eyes, and he was lost…so lost. Her motion increased and she continued pleasuring him with her mouth, taking him in as far as she could, then releasing him and repeating the act all over again. Her fingers persisted in stroking his cock, her hand closing more firmly around him, using her own saliva as a lubricant to keep him slippery. Each time her mouth released him her fingers continued up to squeeze the head of his cock before sliding back down once again. Her left hand cradled one of his balls and began to massage.

Holy Hell. Where had she learned to do this?

The thought fled as once again she took him deep and he came close to spilling his seed.

“Izzy, you must stop.” The words came out on a groan, but still she ignored him. Instead, her stroking and sucking became more rapid and she moved faster and faster over him. Her mouth was hot and wet around him, it was madness to think he could resist. His balls tightened and the base of his spine tingled as his body prepared to erupt. He tried to pull away before he came, but she held on with tenacious determination.

Stars burst behind Ram’s eyelids and he gripped the sheets beneath him. He exploded in one of the most powerful climaxes of his life. A ragged groan escaped his lips as his seed spurted. Her mouth remained clamped about him as she swallowed his offering, using her mouth and tongue to lap at anything that had escaped.

His head slumped against the pillow as he laid there, his forearm thrown over his eyes, trying to catch his breath, while only one thought filled his mind.

I’m crazy in love with this woman!

***

Izzy glowed with satisfaction for approximately three minutes before ultimate dismay took its place. Maura had warned her not to let Julian spill his seed, ere he not be able to make love to her, yet she hadn’t heeded the woman’s advice.

What have I done?

The truth was she had enjoyed the pleasure she gave Julian so much she’d disregarded all warnings, both Julian’s and Maura’s. When Julian climaxed, it caught her by surprise, though she had to admit she loved the feeling of power her control over him had garnered within her.

Panic set in. She’d not asked Maura how long it took a man to recover between sessions of lovemaking. Could a man even do it more than once a day? Had she just lost her last chance to lose her maidenhead?

Aside from dismay at her lack of control, Izzy felt a deep dissatisfaction within her own body. Giving Julian such pleasure had aroused her to unbearable heights and now she suffered because she’d not gained release as he had.

The urge to weep almost overwhelmed her.

She managed to pull herself together just as Julian removed his arm from across his face, lifting his head to look at her. His gaze was so tender, her heart thumped with wild abandon.

“I-I don’t know what to say, Izzy. ‘Twas incredible.”

She breathed a sigh of relief. At least she’d managed to do one thing right.

Leaning down, he grasped her arm and tugged her up beside him on the pallet, tucking her against his side and wrapping his strong arms around her. Izzy inhaled deeply of his scent and some of her panic subsided. They still had time yet, she would find a way to give Julian her virtue.