Page 76 of Lionheart

"Ifyou settle down for a moment and let me explain, I am sure you will be pleasedwith what I have to say."

"Doesit concern Althea?"

"Aye.Are you jealous, sweeting?"

"Whatif I am?"

"Youhave naught to be jealous about."

She didnot believe him. "Tell me about Althea and I shall decide formyself."

"Verywell. Giles does not want her. He is already betrothed. I plan to return Altheato England as soon as arrangements can be made."

Vanorasearched his face for the truth, realized he meant what he had said, and flungherself into his arms. Laughing, Lionheart swept her up and carried her totheir bed.

ChapterFourteen

Lionhearttook long, blissful minutes undressing Vanora and himself, then made slow,tender love to her. Inserting his right hand between her knees, he begandrawing teasing patterns on the inside of her thigh, his caress drifting upwardby gradual increments. Her legs opened in blatant invitation as his fingersteased through dark curls and silky folds to the moist flesh beneath.

She tracedthe edge of his ear with her tongue, then nibbled down the length of his throatto the hollow at the base. He groaned.

His mouthfound that sensitive place on her shoulder and tormented the spot with teethand tongue. He could feel her pulse beating crazily, jerkily, at the hollow ofher throat and her nipples growing hard and rigid as his fingers played withthem and his thumbs brushed the turgid peaks.

He loweredhis head, blew upon a wet crest, then took it into his mouth. He suckled theripe bud, took it between his teeth, hot tongue flicking the sensitive tipuntil it tautened. Then he plied his mouth on her other nipple. He could feelher body vibrating with desperate need as she took his head in her hands andstroked his hair. His tongue moved from one breast to the other, his fingersslipping inside her to stroke her slick cleft.

Suddenlyhis mouth left her breasts, meandering down to the swollen folds of herwomanhood, where, as she writhed beneath him, his lips kissed her and histongue tasted her. She felt something unfurl inside her, then blossom wildly,making her arch her hips frantically against his marauding mouth. Over andover, she cried out as tremors shook her, until she lay quiescent and satedbeneath him.

"Comeinside me," she begged, pulling Lionheart over her. Lifting her head, shekissed him, tasting her own musky scent on his lips. She caught his moan in hermouth, raised her hips and met his thrust as he entered her. His hips began tomove quickly, and she lost herself to the motion of the moment, to thethrusting that seemed to sweep her away to a higher plane.

"Godhelp me, I cannot get enough of you," he said on a swift intake of breath.

Hequickened the motion of his hips and grasped her legs, raising them over hisshoulders for better leverage. He rode upward, moving harder and faster, untilshe felt herself drifting away to a place where naught but pleasure ruled. Asif from a great distance she heard him shout her name and go still inside heras his warm seed flooded her.

She laystill under the weight of his damp body, sated and content, her body vibratingwith ecstasy.

He drewback and stared down at her. The look on his face was one of surprise andwonder. He gazed at her as if she were someone he did not know, as if he had justlearned something of great import.

"Isaught wrong?"

He tracedhis thumb along her bottom lip. "Naught is wrong."

"Whyare you looking at me like that?"

"Likewhat?"

"Like... I know not... as if you are seeing me for the first time."

"Youare imagining things," he said gruffly. He slid off of her and onto hisside.

"I amnot imagining things."

"Iwas just thinking how beautiful you are. Your skin has a translucent glow, likeshimmering pearls."

"Ihave never seen a pearl," Vanora said wistfully.

His browsshot upward. "Pity." His finger traced over her collarbone, down herarm and over her ribs.

"Forgetabout pearls," Vanora said, removing his roving hand from her body."Tell me how soon I can expect Althea to leave Cragdon."