“No.” Her voice was trembling. “Now. Though I may not be able to please you.”
“You’ll please me.” His fingers sought and found the pins holding her bun, plucking them out one by one and dropping them on the floor. “If you only let me hold you close, you’ll please me. It pleases me to look at you, to hear you laugh.” He threaded his fingers through her long hair. “That’s the difference between love and lust, Catherine.”
His green eyes were so intent, his smile so tender, she felt her fear melting away. “How…do we start?”
He lifted a long silken strand and rubbed it on his lips. “Anywhere we choose. We can do anything we like. There are no rules.” Suddenly his smile widened mischievously. “I know. Why don’t I brush your hair, my sweet?”
The pounding of her heart was starting to steady as she looked up at François. “Is…it over?”
A shudder went through François’s body as he moved off her and lay down beside her. “Yes.” His chest was moving in and out with the unevenness of his breathing. He turned her over and cradled her spoon fashion. “For now.”
“You were quite…intense.” She thought about it. “Does it always bring you that much pleasure?”
“It always brings pleasure but this”—he kissed her ear—“this is extraordinary, my love.”
“Why?”
“Do you suppose it’s because I love you? I can’t think of any other reason.”
“I like to know I brought you pleasure. It…warms me.”
He went still. “But you felt no pleasure yourself, did you?”
“I don’t know what you mean. I told you I—”
“Were you frightened?”
“At first, but not later.” She kissed the arm binding her to him. “You were so kind to me. I was afraid I’d see…but there was only you.”
“That’s good.” His voice was husky in her ear. “But I want more for you. Tell me what you felt, Catherine. I need to know.”
“Warmth, comfort, love.” She nestled against him. “It was really quite pleasant.”
“Nothing else?”
“Toward the end a kind of…tingling.” She rushed to assure him. “But you didn’t hurt me. I know you were being very careful.”
“Not careful enough. I should have taken more time. I tried but…” His lips brushed her ear and his voice was suddenly hoarse. “I’ve loved you for too long, Catherine.”
“Why do you feel so bad? I told you that I thought you—”
“Kind and gentle.” His arms tightened about her. “I believe I’m too impatient.”
“There’s something wrong? I was supposed to do something else?”
“No, I just thank God you’re not afraid of me.” He kissed her gently. “Never mind, another time. This is enough for now.”
“You came.” Dupree felt a fierce burst of pleasure as he gazed at Nana Sarpelier. He hadn’t been sure she would obey him even though it meant displeasing the count. He had watched her closely these past weeks and knew she wasn’t hesitant about jumping into the bed of any man who took her fancy. Still, she seemed to be of a deplorably independent nature. “Come in.” He stepped aside as she came into the room. “I expected you, of course. You have seen Etchelet?”
She shook her head. “I told you I wouldn’t be able to contact him so quickly.”
“Tomorrow will do as well.” He closed the door, his gaze running over her. “Take off your cloak.”
She took off her coat and draped it over a chair. “I don’t like this, Dupree.”
“But you do like the extra livres the count gives you.”
“A woman must eat.”
