Page 65 of Lionheart

Vanoratook a deep breath and asked, "Do you truly wish to remain wed tome?"

Lionheartshrugged. "If I am to remain at Cragdon, the arrangement suits me wellenough. I never wanted a wife and family, but now that I have lands of my own,the idea of children has appeal."

"Youwant children with me?"

"Unlessyou are barren, 'tis likely to happen whether we wish it or not."

Angersurged through Vanora. Gathering her strength, she pushed him away and rolledoff the bed. " 'Tis not good enough, Lord Lionheart! I want my husband tobe passionate about marriage and children."

A glintappeared in Lionheart's eyes. "You want passion, my lady? Then I shallgive you passion."

She turnedto flee, remembered she was naked and stopped at the door. Lionheart caught herand carried her back to the bed. "Aye, passion I have in abundance."

His lipsfound hers unerringly. She wanted to fight, to prove she was not vulnerable tohis kisses, but it was she who rose into the kiss, her hands digging into hisshoulders. Marshaling her resistance, she braced her hands against him to pushhim away, but when his ringers traveled down her stomach to delve into herweeping center, she dragged him closer.

With histongue he traced a feathery circle around one peaked nipple. The rosy crestsprang taut into his mouth. She stifled a groan and let her fingers wanderwhere they would, learning him by touch as well as by sight.

He liftedhis head, gazed down at her. A soft laugh betrayed his victory. "Am Ipassionate enough for you, sweeting? 'Tis what you want, is it not?"

"Iwant... I want. . ."

"I knowwhat you want, and you shall have it... when I am good and ready."

Vanoraclosed her eyes tightly, suddenly frightened of the way she felt. She no longerhad control over herself; she was Lionheart's, to do with as he pleased.

"Stop!I do not want this," she cried.

If heheard, he ignored her. His mouth took hers once more as he spread her thighsand fondled her, his drugging kisses turning her to putty in his arms. Hiskisses were starkly sensual, bold, his tongue a probing sword that pricked hersenses. When his mouth left hers and latched onto a nipple, she arched againsthim and surrendered to his passion . . . and hers.

Abruptlyshe pressed her hands against his chest and pushed. Startled, he reared up. Shescrambled to her knees and shoved him down onto the furs. When she crouchedover him, he blinked, as if suddenly aware of her intention.

He openedhis mouth to protest, but the word lodged in his suddenly dry mouth. Her lasheslowered. She leaned closer. The silken caress of her hair, swinging forward tobrush his thighs, created afirestorm inside him that was tantamount to torture. Distracted, he held hisbreath as her head bent toward him.

He feltthe touch of hot breath first, like a brand against the most sensitive part ofhis body. Then her lips touched, kissed, caressed him lingeringly; they partedand took him into the hot cavern of her mouth. Every muscle locked. Hestruggled to breathe, struggled to deny the feelings assailing him. Vanora wasthe only woman who had breached the walls guarding his heart.

"God'sblood, woman, you are killing me!"

She smiledup at him. "Good."

He foughtto maintain a modicum of control, but the task was a daunting one with Vanora'swarm mouth upon him and her tongue driving him out of his mind. He was close tothe breaking point when, muscles bunching, flexing, he lifted her away andpulled her up over him. Instantly she wrapped her long legs about his hips andpositioned herself over him.

He nearlyexploded when she captured the throbbing head of his sex in the slick fleshbetween her thighs, leaving him poised at her entrance, desperate and aching.Then she took him into her hand and sank down, impaling herself on his rigidhardness. Lowering her head, she covered his lips with hers, brushing them,tantalizing them, her sizzling passion driving him wild.

His armsclosed like a steel vise about her. His hands found the creamy globes of herbuttocks, lifting her to meet his long, deep thrusts. Their bodies shifted,then locked tight. With a groan of surrender, he unleashed the tension coiledinside him.

The power,the force, the dominance of his male ego took over. Vanora sensed it in thetaut sinews that held her. Tightening her arms around his neck, she held himcloser, reveling in the towering passion the two of them had unleashed.

"Loveme, Lionheart," she whispered against his lips. "Please loveme."

"Iam," he answered.

Vanoraknew immediately that he did not understand what she was asking. He thought inphysical terms, not emotional ones. While she knew without a doubt that sheloved him, he had not the slightest notion what it meant to love with the heartas well as the body.

His teethgritted, his body drawn taut as a bowstring, Lionheart drove into her, lettinginstinct take over. He hung on by sheer will, watching her face tighten withpassion, then ease as he felt her hot sheath soften to receive his seed.Shudders wracked him; closing his eyes, he gave himself up to pleasure sointense he felt as if his soul had left his body.

Aneternity later, Lionheart rolled away. Lying on his back, one hand flung overhis eyes, he tried to make sense of what had just happened and the way he felt.

He hadnever known love. After his mother left his father gave him less attention thanhe did his horse. Lionheart had never allowed a woman to get close enough tohim to discover his flawed heart. The heart his mother had destroyed.