Chapter Sixteen

E llis had wanted this so much, nearly from the first moment she had seen Owen. Even before she had kissed him and the taste and smell and feel of him made her ache with longing. It was as if of all the men in the world, her heart and her mind had already known this was the one for her.

He was still kissing her, his mouth against her throat, his curls tickling her nose as he bent his head. Perhaps he liked the smell and taste and feel of her, as much as she did him. He was no longer a principled gentleman keeping his distance—he was a man who was insatiable for her.

Suddenly he swung her up into his arms and she gave a squeak. He was carrying her, his intent gaze on hers as if all he could see was her, and then he lay her carefully down on the bed. She thought that might be it, that he would pull back and wish her goodnight, but instead he stretched out beside her, and nuzzled against her, breathing on her skin, and pushing aside her gown and letting his teeth graze her collarbone.

"I want to learn everything about you," he whispered. "I want to kiss every inch of you."

"Every inch?" she gasped. "I want to do the same." Then, hurriedly, "I'm sorry I left you before. To go to Elijah. I wouldn't have if it weren't—"

He stopped her with a kiss, his lips firm against hers, and then the tip of his tongue tracing their shape. As she responded, he deepened the kiss until she couldn't remember what she was going to say.

He stripped the gown from her body and his lips were on her breasts, his hands caressing the rounded flesh, and they both groaned. His mouth sucking on her nipple was so exquisite she could hardly breathe. The pleasure produced a desperate ache that was linked to the flesh between her thighs, a memory of the pleasure he had brought her earlier.

Had she ever wondered if reality would be a pale imitation of her imagination and the romances she read? Well she knew now. Reality was so much better, or perhaps it was just that Owen made it so.

"Let me look at you, too," she gasped, her hands beneath his shirt, exploring his warm skin. In response he shrugged the garment off over his head and tossed it aside. She clung to the firm muscles of his upper arms, before sliding her hands over his shoulders, and leaning in to press her lips to the hollow of his throat. Owen was lean and hard-bodied—she could see his bones beneath the muscle and skin—but he was made that way. A healthy male animal whose long body seemed so perfect to her. He used that word often when it came to Ellis, but right now he was the one who deserved it.

He was struggling to unfasten his breeches, and she reached to help, making it worse. Their fingers getting in each other's way. They laughed, and he kissed her again, seeming to lose himself for a time. Eventually, he tugged the garment down and threw it after his shirt. That made her laugh, too. She was giddy with joy.

And then she stopped, and her eyes widened. She had seen him half naked on the chaise longue today, but she had been at such a fever pitch she had barely been able to think straight. This was different, and she looked her fill.

Her gaze fixed on his shaft, rising out of the dark curls at his groin, and angling upward against his belly. She reached out to stroke her finger down its length, and then up again. There was a milky drop leaking from the tip, and she circled it around the head of his cock.

That made him groan, and once again he leaned in to capture her mouth with his, pressing her back into the soft bed.

She wanted him, all of him. His body on hers, his mouth on hers. He reached for her hips, and his hands slid around to clasp the globes of her bottom. His body felt heavy and unfamiliar on hers, as he settled between her thighs. She was aware of his cock seeking entry, and suddenly this was all very real.

Ellis didn't mean to tense, but she was a virgin. An eager one, it was true, but still inexperienced apart from the basic mechanics of what was about to happen. Owen must have felt her sudden rigidity because he stopped moving.

"Ellis?" His voice was deep and very close to her ear. "Is this too fast for you, cariad ? I can go slower. I can wait. We have all the time in the world."

But did they? For all she knew Theo might be approaching the door now, to demand to be allowed inside, and Ellis could not risk that. She wanted Owen, all of him, so why did she suddenly have these foolish doubts?

"Ellis?" he murmured. "Tell me what's wrong."

There had been enough deceit on her part. She took a shaky breath.

"I've never done this before. But I want to. So much, Owen."

Now he tensed, and she could sense his indecision in the hitching of his breath. He lifted his weight off her. Was this it? Was he going to stop now? Warily, she opened her eyes and looked up at where he was hovering above her. He seemed to be considering having a chivalrous discussion with her, and she really couldn't let him talk them both out of this moment.

"I want this," she said, stretching up to kiss his jaw, the corner of his mouth. She tried to tug him back down. "I want you."

Briefly, he resisted. "Are you sure?"

"Yes, yes, I'm sure!"

Now he was smiling, and she felt the curve of his lips with hers. "I won't hurt you," he promised earnestly.

"You would never hurt me," she whispered.

Carefully, he lowered himself back between her thighs, and she felt his cockhead against her soft flesh. He was kissing her again, deep, passionate kisses that distracted her from the pressure of his entry. His hand cupped her breast, tweaking the hard nipple, and pleasure soared through her.

He was deeper inside her now, but when he moved his length rubbed against her lower lips, parting them and finding that aching pearl. She arched into him with a soft cry. What had been a tingle of pleasure turned into a raging torrent.

This felt right, it felt perfect.

His was licking her throat, tasting and nuzzling, and she stretched so that he had better access. She could feel him fully inside her now, stretching her, and then he reached down to circle his thumb against her swollen flesh, and the pleasure seemed to build and build.

"Want you so much," he mumbled against her, his free arm caging her, his hips rocking, until she felt surrounded by him.

"Yes, yes..." She kept speaking but it was just nonsense. Her entire being was focused on that point of contact, his body sliding into hers, his thumb lifting her higher and then... she cried out as everything shattered.

Ellis wasn't sure how long she lay there before he cried out as he reached his own peak. He was talking nonsense, too, and kissing her wildly. It felt as if she was being buffeted by a storm, and pleasure speared through her for a second time. She had not expected that. Although not as tumultuous as the first climax, it was long and slow and rather wonderful. Eventually, she reached the eye of the storm, and everything stilled. Her heartbeat slowed and her breaths returned to normal.

Owen lifted his head, his face flushed, his hair damp from exertion and his bright hazel eyes delving into hers. "Are you—"

"I feel wonderful."

He grinned. "So do I. That was... I've never felt like this," he admitted, and she could hear the wonder in his voice.

Ellis stroked his cheek, learning the shape of his face, feeling the smooth-shaven skin of his jaw. "I've been so alone all my life," she said. "There have been friends, and I have my family, but inside I always felt a loneliness. Now you are there."

He kissed her tenderly and when he moved to lie on his side, their faces barely inches apart, he smiled.

Ellis's eyelids felt heavy, but she reminded herself she needed to speak to him. It was past time she told him the whole truth.

"I want to explain to you—" she began.

Gently he pressed his fingertips to her lips. "In the morning," he said. "You can tell me everything then."

Ellis was too grateful to protest, though it came with a measure of guilt. She could put it off for a little longer. Surely the morning would be soon enough to confess all she had been keeping from him. She hoped it would make no difference, and right now she felt as if they could overcome any hurdle. That together they were invincible.

Her eyes closed and she fell asleep to Owen's gentle smile and his hand tenderly stroking her face.