Chapter 18

The desire and passion she had experienced previously flared in an instant. This was probably not wise, but Olivia did not care. All she knew was that she needed to be closer to Xavier.

She broke the kiss and pulled back. His brown eyes looked into hers.

“I should apologize,” he offered.

“No, you should not.” She then took his wineglass and placed it on the table with hers so that they were no longer in the way. Olivia then put both hands on his face, the stubble of his beard tickled against her palms. And she drew him toward her and kissed him.

He groaned as his arms wrapped about her as he deepened the kiss.

Her blood heated, breasts tightened and the more he caressed her back, his hands smoothing up and down as he delved, the more she began to ache in her nether regions.

She should put a stop to this now, but Olivia did not have the will to do so. She wanted to experience passion. She wanted to let go of all rules and live and enjoy and she wanted to do that with Xavier tonight.

She needed him in a way she still was not certain that she understood but feared that if she grew cautious and proper tonight, that she may never have the opportunity again.

Olivia needed to know what it was like to have a man touch her skin, to know what it was like to experience the closest intimacy that a man and woman could share.

Xavier pulled his lips away and she thought that he was done kissing. Instead, he trailed his lips along her cheek, jaw and then her neck. How was it possible that a neck could be so sensitive?

She was helpless to do anything but grasp his shoulders and let her head fall back. Xavier could kiss her anywhere he wanted.

His hands smoothed down her side then up along her ribs and just as his lips reached that curve from her neck to her shoulder, his hand grasped a breast and his thumb smoothed over an erect nipple. Olivia couldn’t have held back the moan if she had wanted to.

Such sweet, delicious sensations rioted within her body and the aches that had developed only grew stronger.

Oh, this was madness, and she should make him stop, but Olivia did not want to. She wanted to experience everything.

Xavier lifted his head, his brown eyes darkened with passion. “I want you, Olivia, like I have never wanted anyone.”

Her breaths were short and she was uncertain as to whether she should voice her desires.

The disappointment was but a flash and he pulled away. “I am sorry. I pressed too far.”

He had not pressed far enough. “You misunderstand my hesitation.”

“It is wrong of me to have kissed and touched you as I have.”

“Are you sorry that you did?” she asked.

“Good God no.”

“Nor am I.”

Olivia rose from the settee and crossed the parlor and stopped before the door.

Xavier came to his feet. “I shall go.”

Though a wise woman would let him leave before it was too late, Olivia closed the door and locked it before she turned back to Xavier.

His brown eyes darkened.

“Are you certain that is wise.”

“I know that it is not.” She took a step in his direction.

“What is it you want, Olivia.”

“You,” she answered simply. “I desire you, Xavier. I want to know the passion that you have already stirred within my being. I need to know where it leads and how it ends.”

“You are innocent?” he asked quietly.

“Does it matter?”

“It should,” he said.

“I am a spinster, therefore, it does not.”

“Are you certain?”

She glanced down to note his manhood pressed against the placket of his trousers. The throbbing in her nether regions grew nearly unbearable. “Yes.”

Xavier did not question her further, but pulled Olivia close, devouring her with his mouth as he loosened her gown.

He had never wanted a woman as much as he wanted Olivia in that moment.

But he’d not rush this. He would savor her as if she were a fine wine, a delicacy. Despite how badly he ached to be buried in her, there would be no rushing. She wanted to experience passion, he would show her his and leave her sated so that she did not regret her decision.

Once the dress was loosened, he slid it from her shoulders, along with the straps of the chemise, stopping only when her perfect breasts were exposed. Bending, he took one nipple in his mouth, sucked, nipped, and licked. Olivia groaned and brought her hands to his shoulders for support, but her movement raised the gown to cover her breasts again. He stepped back and slid both gown and chemise from her arms and they fell to the floor which left Olivia naked before him, wearing only stockings and her shoes.

She started to lift her hands to cover herself, but Xavier stopped her. “God, you are perfection.”

A blush started at her cheeks then traveled down to her neck and chest. If he stood here much longer admiring her, Olivia may change her mind, so he drew her close once again, placing his lips against hers and he filled his hands with the perfect globes of her bum and pressed against her so that she could feel his need for her.

Olivia returned his heated kisses as she pulled his linen shirt from his trousers. Xavier paused only a moment to pull it over his head and toss it to the floor. He didn’t care where it landed and then went back to kissing her.

Olivia’s fingers were next on the buttons of his trousers. This time he stilled her hands. “Not yet.”

She blinked at him, her blue eyes full of worry and concern.

“Not until you’ve known pleasure, then we shall join.”

Her eyebrows drew together in confusion.

“I need to touch and caress you everywhere, Olivia. I do not dare free myself for I do not want to press my desire on you until you are ready.”

“I am,” she whispered.

He simply smiled as his hands slipped down her stomach, to her curls and then dampness. “Soon, but not yet.”

Xavier stepped away and picked up the blanket that had been neatly folded and spread it on the floor before the fireplace. He then drew Olivia near as he dropped to his knees. She moved to join him, but he anchored his hands on her hips to hold her in place then kissed her stomach, trailing his tongue lower.

Olivia gasped when he reached the swollen nub. He pressed against her thighs so that she would open further for him.

As she did, one of Olivia’s hands dropped to his head for support. He glanced up to note that the other had reached out and grasped the mantle before he spread her further and toyed with the nub as first one finger entered her tight channel and then another. Her moans grew louder as she swelled further beneath his tongue.

He teased, pressed forward, drew back, then pressed again. One hand pleasured her and the other freed his manhood.

“Please.” she whispered and he knew that Olivia could likely take no more, he increased the pressure and her knees nearly buckled as her release swept through her body. Her cries were silenced as she bit down on her fist. As she was coming down, Xavier stood, swept her up in his arms, laid her on the blanket before coming over her and pressed at her entrance. Her thighs widened and he thrust forward. She was a virgin, and it was best to be done with it quickly as he had already prepared her the best that he could.

She winced, but that was all. He paused to look down, her blue, passion-filled eyes stared up at him in awe, her coral lips parted. He leaned forward to kiss her, pulled back and thrust again.

Olivia moaned but soon her arms were about him as she braced her feet on the blanket and lifted her pelvis to join with him.

Her tight heat enveloped him in the sweetest pleasure and as much as he tried to hold back, to bring her release again, Xavier could not and was soon arching, and moaning as he pumped his release into her body before collapsing at her side.

Never had a release been so powerful that he felt it with his entire being.