Chapter 16

When the last notes of the song came to an end, Levi held Siena's hand up between them, placing a kiss upon it before bowing to her and she sank into a deep curtsy, the gold of her dress shimmering in the dimly lit room.

He had become accustomed to small fires in the grate – he'd had no choice, or else he would freeze to death – but he felt more at ease than he had been in quite some time with Siena's presence.

"Well, Lady Siena," he said, grinning at her mischievously. "You must be tired. I will walk you to your chamber."

"I would appreciate that," she said, a spark in her eyes that matched his playfulness. "Thank you for the lovely dinner. Truly." She turned toward Mrs. Porter, who was still sitting on the stool in front of the piano, watching the two of them with a knowing expression, not fooled by their innocent words. "Thank you, Mrs. Porter. That was truly lovely."

"I was happy to play, and will do so at any time," she said as she pushed the stool out and dipped her head toward them. "Goodnight."

After she slipped out of the room, Levi placed his hand on Siena's lower back, guiding her toward the doorway. "It's getting late," he murmured in her ear, the growl returned, although this time, she welcomed it. "Thank you for the best night I believe I might have ever had."

"You are the one to thank. No one has ever done anything like this for me before," she said as they climbed the stairs together. "But I am not ready for the evening to be over."

"Are you not?"

"No," she said, and Levi thought it was overly endearing how she pressed her lips together to prevent the smile from emerging. "Perhaps we could extend the evening?"

"In what way do you suggest?" he asked, and with that she grabbed his hand and pulled him into her bedroom, shutting the door behind them.

"You made tonight so special for me," she said. "I would like to do the same for you."

He reached to take her in his arms, but she shook her head, trailing her fingers from his shoulders over his chest, her touch barely noticeable through the fabric of his jacket, waistcoat, and shirt.

Yet he could feel her deep within his soul.

"What are you doing?" he asked hoarsely, for he had a fair idea and yet he wondered how an innocent young woman such as she would have any idea that such a thing was even a possibility, let alone something she would be willing to try.

"I told you – I am doing something for you."

"But how—" he choked out.

"Eliza knows many things that a woman of her status should not," she said, looking up at him as her fingers reached his waistband. "She taught me a few things."

He knew that he should stop her, that this was not the sort of act he should allow a young woman like her to do, but when she began to unfasten the fall of his trousers, he found that he did not have the wherewithal to say no.

She gently tugged at the fabric, pulling the trousers down just enough to expose him. Her eyes widened slightly in surprise, but she didn"t falter. Instead, she looked up at him with a shy smile before lowering her head.

Levi"s breath hitched as her warm breath brushed against him. He tangled his fingers in her hair, the silky strands slipping through his fingers as she leaned closer. He could sense her hesitation, but there was also a determination in her movements that he found incredibly arousing.

She tentatively touched her tongue to him, and he cursed at the contact. She looked up at him, her brown eyes wide and uncertain. He nodded encouragingly, and she closed her eyes before taking him into her mouth.

Levi couldn"t help the low groan that escaped his lips. She was so innocent, yet so eager to please him. Her lips were soft and warm around him, her tongue swirling gently, the sensation unlike anything he had ever experienced. He watched in awe as she slowly moved her head, her eyes closed, lost in the moment.

He could hear her breathing, shallow and quick, and he knew that she was as affected by the act as he was. He wanted to lose himself in her, to let go of his inhibitions and give himself over to her completely.

And she seemed eager to take him, to explore every inch of him, to make him feel completely and utterly alive. He would remember this moment for the rest of his life – the way she looked at him, the way she gently sucked and caressed him, the way she took him deep inside her mouth.

He never thought he would have this again — and not only a woman's touch but a touch that reached past his body to his heart.

The tension built within him, and he knew that he was close – so close – but he didn"t want it to end.

She was still moving her head, her lips sliding up and down, her tongue darting out to touch him just so. Her eyes were closed tightly, her face flushed, her lips swollen and parted.

The tingling sensation spread throughout his entire body. He could feel it coming, the rush of pleasure threatening to overwhelm him.

But, as if she was unsure of what she was sensing, she pulled back slightly, gazing up at him with a mixture of concern and confusion.

"Are you well?" she whispered, her voice barely audible over the pounding of his pulse. "You're trembling."

He managed a soft nod, his eyes never leaving hers. "Just... a little shocked, that's all."

She nodded, her eyes widening slightly before she leaned forward once more, her lips closing around him again.

This time, he was ready. As she took him deep inside her mouth, his body convulsed, the pleasure building until he could take no more. With a loud cry, he thrust forward, his hips bucking uncontrollably as waves of pleasure coursed through him.

He kept his eyes closed as surrendered to the experience — to her — but then her hand gripped his hip, grounding him and bringing him back to reality. Her eyes were wide, her face flushed and her breath coming in short gasps. She looked up at him, her lips swollen and glistening, her eyes filled with a mixture of shock and triumph.

"Are...are you all right?" she asked breathlessly, her voice barely audible over the sound of their heavy breathing.

He had to laugh at that as he looked deep into her eyes. "I've never felt better in my life. You are an unbelievable woman, Siena."

Siena shook her head, her eyes still wide with disbelief. "I've never done...this before," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "I was afraid I wouldn't be able to please you."

Levi cupped her face with both hands, his thumbs stroking her cheeks. "You do nothing but please me," he said. "And now it's my turn to do the same for you."

Before she could realizewhat was happening, he had reached down and picked her up, one arm under her knees, the other around her back as he walked her across the room and set her gently on the bed, tugging her forward until she was lying near the edge of it. He lifted her skirts, spreading them out around them, then knelt before her.

Just what was he about? Eliza had told her many things, but she had never told her about this.

He reached out and cupped her thighs, spreading her legs wider, then slowly began to lower his head. Siena gasped as his warm breath fanned over her most intimate place, and a delicate shiver ran through her body.

His tongue darted out, just the edge of it teasing the sensitive skin, and Siena felt a wriggle of desire unfurl deep inside her even as she was shocked beyond belief.

"Levi, is this?—"

He lifted his head. "This is something I have been thinking about since you first walked into my life."

She had no answers for that, but knew she was safe with him, that he would never lead her astray.

Levi dipped his head, causing Siena to arch off the bed when he continued to explore, circling her folds with the flat of his tongue, drawing softly on the skin as he teased and tantalized.

Siena was lost in the pleasure, her breath catching in her throat as she felt as if she were suspended on the edge of a precipice, waiting for the moment to push her over into the abyss of sensation. Levi's mouth was hot and wet, drawing her into the depths of his passion, and Siena felt as if she could never quite reach the bottom.

He continued to taste her, his lips and tongue worshipping her in a way that she would never have thought possible. Siena moaned softly as he suckled, her hips rocking against him in a rhythm that he matched perfectly. She felt as though she was being filled with fire, her body responding to his touch in the most exquisite of ways.

Levi pulled back for a moment, his gaze locked with hers as he looked up at her.

"Are you ready, Siena?" he whispered, his voice deep and husky.

Siena nodded, arching into him, and then, he touched that most vulnerable bud of nerves again and in moments, she unexpectedly tipped over the edge as her entire body began vibrating with the waves of heat and light that took her over.

She reached her arms out nearly frantically, needing Levi to anchor her, and soon they were filled with him as he pressed kisses softly over her cheeks, whispering in her ear.

"I've got you," he said. "I am here with you – how ever you need."

She nodded into his chest as he rolled her to her side, tucking her in next to his body. She knew that at some point, Mary would come to ready her for bed and Levi would have to leave her, but for now, she was content in staying exactly where she was – in his arms.

While the thought of leaving was becoming harder and harder to bear.

"I can see why you came here," she said softly. "This place… it's an escape from the rest of the world, a place where we can just be who we want to be, do what we want to do without worry about the repercussions or the judgements of others."

"It is that," he agreed, his breath warm on her ear, "but it can become far too comfortable as well. If I had never come upon you in the woods, then who knows what kind of man I would have turned into, alone without any company save for my servants, most of whom I had practically scared away from ever speaking to me."

"They are loyal to you," she said. "You are fortunate."

She could tell he was considering that for a moment. "I suppose you're right," he said. "I never would have considered myself a fortunate man after all that has happened to me, and yet…"

"Sometimes things come to us when we least expect it."

"On that," he said as he placed a kiss on the top of her head, "you are most certainly right."

"It is so strange," she said. "All of my life, my every moment was so closely controlled. I could never do a thing without the permission of one of my parents. This freedom to be able to act as I choose is a new, nearly overwhelming way to live. And now that I have it, I have no wish to be anywhere but with you."

He tugged her close and placed a kiss on the top of her head.

"I am not inclined to let you go anytime soon," he said, even though she could sense some melancholy in those words – as though the day would come when he would do so no matter his inclination.

It was a day that she had no desire for, but she would only stay if he wanted her.

She just wasn't sure how long she could wait for him to decide.