“You wanted to break the mirror,” Jean Marc said softly. “Did it never occur to you that’s what would happen if we came together? Destruction and then renewal.”
Juliette’s hands clenched into fists at her sides. Could he be right? It was true Jean Marc had dominated her thoughts since she had first met him, and when he had returned to her life she had not been able to be in the same room with him without a sense of excitement and anticipation.
No, she couldn’t accept that he could be so important to her. It was much too dangerous. “I wanted only to paint you,” she repeated.
He uncorked a bottle of wine at the sideboard, brought it and a glass to the table, and sat down. “It doesn’t really matter now. Undress, please.”
Her heart leapt in her throat. “I thought you said—”
“Oh, I did, but there are other forms of gratification besides a final consummation. While you undress I’ll tell you what I’ll expect of you on this journey.” He poured a glass of wine and leaned against the high back of the chair. “As my mistress, naturally you’ll be obedient to my wishes in all things carnal. You agree that’s reasonable?”
“Yes,” she said warily.
“Well, first I want to see you entirely unclothed.” He raised the glass, a brilliant smile lighting his dark face. “Oblige me,s’il vous plaît. You see, I’m not afraid to say the words. Polite requests are natural between lovers.”
“We’re not lovers.” Juliette began to unfasten her gown. “It’s only another bargain.”
“Yes, and you’ve placed yourself in a position where I set the terms. Shall I tell you what they are?”
Juliette’s dark red gown slipped to form a pool of color at her feet. She stepped out of it. “Why do you ask me? You’re going to do it anyway.”
“You have the most superb skin.” His gaze caressed the flesh of her shoulders. “Do you know how many times I’ve wanted to reach out and stroke it? To put my palm on your cheek or run my fingertips over your throat?”
Juliette tensed under his gaze and she hurriedly looked away. “You’ve touched me before.”
“Oh, but not enough. I want to be able to touch you at will. Whenever we’re in this cabin I want you available to me.”
“I’ll be spending a good deal of time on the deck sketching.”
“Will you? I have no objection as long as you go to the cabin when you’re sent.”
“Is that supposed to make me angry?” Juliette sat down on the bunk and began to take off her stockings. “I’m not at all pretty and I have no idea how to please a man. You’ll probably become bored quite soon and let me do as I will.”
He chuckled and shook his head. “No, Juliette, it will take me a long time to become bored with you. I haven’t been able to think of anything but you since I first set eyes on you.” His hand tightened on the stem of the glass. “You have only a few garments left, and I find I’m becoming impatient. Shall I help you?”
“No.” She stood up and with trembling hands discarded the last petticoats and stood there completely unclothed. “I need no help.”
“I do.” His voice was thick. “Come here.”
Her gaze flew to his face and for a moment she couldn’t move. He looked…she didn’t know how to interpret how he was looking at her, but it was having a most strange effect on her. A tingling seemed to be spreading from the palms of her hands and the baresoles of her feet to every nerve and muscle in her body. She walked slowly across the room and stopped before his chair.
“Closer.”
“I’m nearly on top of you now.”
“What a delightful thought.” His gaze moved from her breasts down her body to narrow on the tight curls surrounding her womanhood. “Dark as the other. I wondered…”
The blood seemed to scorch beneath her skin and then center heavily where his gaze was resting.
A flush tinted his cheeks, and his nostrils flared slightly as his breathing quickened. “Part your thighs.”
She hesitated and then obeyed.
“Wider.” His gaze never left her lower body. “Do you know how exquisite you are? Your breasts are quite perfect and your limbs remind me of one of the nymphs in a painting by—”
“You don’t have to lie to me. I know I’m not—” She inhaled sharply as his hard, warm palm suddenly covered the curls he’d been studying so closely. He started to pet her, slowly, sensuously. The muscles in her stomach clenched helplessly as his fingers tangled and pulled at the short curls.
“You like that?” His gaze lifted to her breasts. “Yes, I see you do. You’re very responsive, Juliette.” He leaned forward and his tongue caressed the pointed nipple of her left breast. “Sometimes I wake in the night and remember how you looked lying on the stairs with these pretty things ruby-red and glistening, how you tasted…” His teeth closed gently on the distended pink tip, and he shook his head teasingly back and forth. Then his mouth opened wide and he enveloped almost her entire breast as if he wanted to devour her, his warm tongue exploring even as he drew strongly.
