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The chains on my control began to loosen and I leaned forward even more, unable to help myself. I inhaled her scent, my breath against the soft, tender skin of her cheek. ‘Sex is all I have to give you.’ I tried not to growl. ‘There won’t be anything more than that. Not ever. Do you understand?’
‘Yes.’ Her voice was patient, as if she was trying to soothe me. ‘I understand.’
But I didn’t want to be soothed. I wanted to let go of my control, my restraint, let go of everything and take what was mine.
I angled my head, brushing my mouth along her jaw, intoxicated by the scent of feminine arousal and her own intrinsic sweetness.
‘Tell me to stop and I will,’ I murmured, easing forward, my body almost pressing against hers, a delicious agony. ‘I will not hurt you. I will never hurt you.’
‘I know you won’t.’ She took a ragged breath. ‘Ask me, Con. Ask me, please.’
I could hear the note of desperation in her voice. It was the same desperation that lived in my own heart, and even though the logical part of me was telling me this was a mistake, I couldn’t refuse.
‘Marry me, Jenny,’ I said. ‘Be my wife.’
She gave a husky laugh. ‘It’s supposed to be a question, not an order.’ But she must have seen that I was beyond amusement at this point, because her smile faded. ‘Yes. Yes, I will be your wife, Constantine.’
A deep satisfaction swept through me. All the tension in my muscles faded, the beast inside me quietening. As if now she’d agreed to be mine it was content.
The man, however, was not. The man was starving.
I leaned in again, putting my mouth near her ear. ‘Stay still,’ I said. ‘Stay very, very still.’
She did as she was told and I inhaled again, breathing in her scent, indulging myself utterly. I was hard, and I didn’t resist, letting desire tighten its grip.
‘You’re mine now.’ I bent to nuzzle against the side of her neck, brushing my mouth over her skin. ‘Every part of you is mine.’
She was shaking, but she didn’t move.
My satisfaction deepened, a sharp, intense pleasure I’d never allowed myself. It was addictive to have this, to indulge myself so completely, and perhaps it was a mistake. But, no, I could have her and keep my emotions separate. That was what I’d spent my life doing, after all.
I nuzzled into her throat, enjoying how she trembled, then put my mouth over her leaping pulse, the sweet, salty flavour of her skin on my tongue.
A breathy sound escaped her, honing my desire.
I sucked gently, tasting her frantic heartbeat. There would be a mark there in the morning and the thought pleased me.
I lifted my head and glanced down into her face. Her dark eyes were black and glittering as they met mine. I lifted one hand from the cushions and took hold of the tie of her dress, tugging on it.
She shivered, but made no move to grab the fabric as it fell away from her body, the red silk slipping open to reveal her.
My breath caught.
She was so very, very perfect. Even more so than I’d anticipated. Full breasts and rounded hips and thighs. She wore the red lace underwear I’d bought for her, the gaps in the fabric giving me a glimpse of soft pink nipples and the dark curls between her thighs.
Now she moved, lifting her hands as if to cover herself, but I grabbed her wrists before she could and held them down at her sides.
‘No,’ I ordered roughly, unable to tear my gaze from her beautiful body. ‘I want to look at you.’
Another shiver went through her, but she didn’t try to pull away. Her breathing was short and fast and ragged, and that red flush was creeping down her neck and over her chest.
‘Beautiful.’ I let my gaze sweep slowly over her creamy silky skin, her full breasts, her elegant, narrow waist, her curvaceous hips and thighs.
Her lashes fell, veiling her gaze, and I wasn’t sure why. But then I had an inkling. It was Catherine and all the lies she’d told Jenny about herself.
It made me furious to think how she wasn’t valued by the one person who should value her, but it wasn’t the right time to talk about it. I was impatient, and hungry, and I could think of better ways to let Jenny know how beautiful she was.
I let go of one of her slender wrists and put my fingers against her throat, stroking over her frantically beating pulse and the red mark I’d left on her skin there.
