To Love and Protect (28 page)

Her eyes widened, and her mouth formed a perfect O.
 
His fingers began to ply her, slipping into the already slick crevice.
 

“Justin,” she cried hoarsely.

“This is just the beginning,” he cooed.
 
His hand slid to her stomach, resting low between her hips.
 
“I’m going to touch you now,” he whispered, before inserting a single finger into the hot and weepy crevice.
   

“Please, just make it stop.”
 
She felt his fingers tease a part of her that she had refused to acknowledge even existed.
 
She knew she should not be allowing him these intimacies.
 
His calloused finger brushed a part of her, making her jolt.
 

“What?”
 
he queried, pulling away only to hear her whimper.

Was that me?
Clarissa wondered somewhat dazedly.
 
She watched him return his attention to her breast, and this time definitely heard herself moan.
 
Her hands fell away from his head and instead clutched at his impressive shoulders.
 
In seconds she felt so tightly strung she thought her body would snap in two, like one might a dried twig.
 
He left her alabaster globe and kissed her deeply.
 
He began a rhythm within her, using his skilled fingers, plunge, retreat, plunge, retreat.
 
She felt her body trying to follow his tempo.

He teased her apex, parting the curls to give him better access to her hidden jewel.
 
After finding the nub of nerves that he knew would give her great pleasure, he began to manipulate it, as well.
 
He watched with satisfaction as her hips began to jerk to and fro. She voluntarily spread her legs wider as if to give him greater access.

“Oh,” she moaned softly.

“Am I hurting you?” he inquired.

“No, don’t stop,” she cried, grabbing his wrist.
 
“It feels new and wonderful and just don’t stop.”

He bent to kiss her as he began a rhythm within her body.
 
She felt herself moving, trying to find what she needed.
 
She felt like she stood on the edge of a cliff, trying to grab for something just out of her reach.
 
She moved her hips at a different angle as she felt another finger plunge in to join the first.
 
“Ahh,” she cried as she felt him scrape across an extremely sensitive area.
 
“Again,” she pleaded.

He followed her dictates, knowing she was his best source on what pleased her.
 
He watched, mesmerized, as she licked her lips, her head thrashing on the mattress.
 
She reached up and gripped his shoulders.
 
He put the tiniest pressure on that bundle of nerves with his thumb as he plunged his fingers in once more.
 
He watched, and felt, her fracture from the sensation.

He pulled her into his arms, feeling her heart pounding against her chest.
 
Her hair clung to her damp body.
 
Her breathing felt harsh and labored, and he just held her, calming her in the aftermath of her climax.
 
Her breathing began to return to normal and the shaking slowly subsided.
 
He could not help himself and kissed her once more.

“My,” she said, when they finally broke apart.

“‘My’ what?”

“My, my.”
 

“Is that a good ‘my, my’ or a bad ‘my, my’?”

“Good, very good.
 
If I had known that this is what would have happened in the study that day, I would have run Megan off myself,” she said.
 
He laughed, tilted her chin up and took her lips.

“Perhaps we should stop here,” he said, trying to be the voice of reason.

“I don’t think so,” she said, running a hand down his back and into the loosened waist of his trousers.
 
Her hand cupped his buttocks and squeezed.

Chapter 12

Clarissa knelt on the bed beside Justin and pushed his trousers down the length of his legs to the tops of his boots.
 
She looked at what she had uncovered.
 
In her years of growing up on an estate, she had witnessed stallions covering mares, but never had she seen a naked human male.
 
He looked glorious.

His manhood sprang up at her from a nest of curls.
 
Its size took her breath away, and for a moment, she felt unsure about the entire process.
 
Hesitantly, she reached out to touch the tip of his member, and it jerked in response.
 
She snatched her hand back as if bitten by a snake.
 
She heard a chuckle emanate from Justin.

“What is so funny?”

“You.”

“Me?”

“You want to appear brave and worldly, but you are anything but.
 
It warms my heart.”

“Truly?”

“Truly.
 
Now come here.”

“But don’t you want me to, well, you know, touch you?”

“I would love for you to touch me, but I don’t think you’re ready for that just yet.
 
But don’t worry, you will be.”

“We’ll do this again?”

“As much as we shouldn’t, I don’t think I can stay away from you.”
 
He grabbed her about the waist and flipped her so that she lay on the bed once more.
 
“Now, where were we?”
 

“I think I just flew to the moon,” she answered, a smile teasing her lips.

“Prepare to make a trip to the sun, as well,” Justin replied and captured her mouth.
 
She could truly feel his member throbbing against her hip now.
 
A slight dampness seeped from the tip onto her.
 
Just the thought that she could do that to him excited her and caused her to become damp once more.
 
She kissed Justin back, throwing her arms around his neck, holding him tight.

She felt him plying her nether lips once more.
 
Clarissa found herself lost in the sensations.
 
Soon something larger than his finger probed her.
 
She wrapped her legs around his thighs, pulling him closer.
 

Justin rubbed himself back and forth against her causing a tantalizing friction between them.
 
He teased her opening with his fingers and his member, preparing her for his entrance.
 
When he felt her body weep for him, he slowly began joining his body to hers.
 
He gave her time to become accustomed to his size before he pushed any more of himself into her.
 
Her channel widened, accepting him, and then she welcomed him fully within herself.

He rested his forehead against hers and looked into those deep, brown eyes.
 
Amber highlights sparkled in them.
 
“It is not too late.
 
I can still stop.”

“If you stop now, I might very well kill you,” she said breathlessly, unconsciously clenching her sheath around him.

“Don’t do that quite yet or you’ll unman me.”
 

“This?” she asked, a sultry note in her voice, and repeated the action.

“Stop,” he groaned.
 

“Well, is this it?”

“Oh, no, this is not it at all.
 
This is just the beginning,” he murmured.
 
He pulled his lower body away from her, very slowly, causing sensations to pulse madly within her.
 
Just when she thought he would leave her entirely, he rejoined with her.
 
He began a slow rhythm, back and forth.
 
Slowly, she began to move with him, adding to the friction and the feelings.

She heard herself encouraging him, begging him to move faster.
 
She could barely believe that she said those things.
 
But he did as she asked.
 
The feelings, both physically and emotionally, were almost too much for her to bear.
 
It was the same feelings as earlier, only magnified.
 
Justin plunged into her with more force now.
 
She pushed against him, causing a greater friction between them.
 
Her eyes were closed, savoring the feelings.

“Look at me, Clare,” he demanded.
 
She could not deny him.
 
She opened her eyes and witnessed the passion and determination in the sparkling blue depths.
 
She felt him reach between them and he pinched that little bud just as he plunged into her once more.
 
Clarissa spun off into the brightness of the sun that he had promised her earlier.
 
As she returned to earth, she felt him moving faster in her, heard the sound of their bodies meeting.
 
She clenched her inner muscles that he had warned her against earlier in a sultry rhythm.
 
His eyes widened as he plunged one last time and spilled his seed at her entrance as he barely pulled out, before collapsing on her.

***

It seemed like hours later that they lay there, curled into one another, their breathing finally stable.
 
Not having anything else, Justin pulled the Holland cover up over their semi-nude, damp bodies.
 
Clarissa’s head lay pillowed on Justin’s shoulder as if he were made for just that purpose.
 
She ran her fingers back and forth across his chest, playing in the springy hair.

“Why did you pull out at the very last?” Clarissa asked curiously.

“To try and prevent your getting with child.”

“Oh,” she said softly.
 
“Do you think it worked?”

“I hope so.”

“Do you not want a child?”

“Have you forgotten something very important?
 
We are not married, and you said that you never wanted to be?”

“I did, didn’t I?” She couldn’t help the sadness that leaked into her voice.

“Dammit, I knew this was a mistake.
 
I shouldn’t have let you talk me into this.
 
Get dressed and I’ll help you back to your room,” he threw the cover off, stood, and pulled up his pants.
 
He then walked to the end of the bed.
 
“I couldn’t even take the time to remove my pants and boots, rutting like an animal.”
 
He speared his fingers through his hair and began walking the floor.

“No, Justin, wait, please,” she scrambled to the end of the bed and perched there in her nude glory.
 
She placed a gentle hand on his arm to stop him.
 
“I’m sorry.
 
It’s just, well, I don’t know.
 
I guess, deep down, every woman thinks of the day she will marry and have children.
 
But you’re right.
 
I’ve made my decision and will stand by it.”
 
He looked at her, and she could not tell if disappointment crossed his face or not.
 
“Please, I didn’t mean to run you out of bed.”

He looked at her once more and could feel desire course through his body once more.
 
Why did she stir him so?
 
Her blonde hair was a riot of curls about her head.
 
The sun made them look like a golden halo.
 
She reached down and gently wrapped her fingers around his hardening member, ending any thoughts of her being angelic.
 

“Didn’t you tell me you would show me how to do this properly?”

“I can’t remember,” he replied hoarsely.

“Well, I think you should, Southerby,” she gently scraped a fingernail along his growing length.

“Damn you, Clarissa,” he growled before tossing her onto the bed and following her.

“Think you’ll get your boots off this time?”

“I doubt it,” he kissed her ravenously.

***

Late afternoon shadows fell across the two lovers lying in the bed.
 
Clarissa lay awake in Justin’s arms, thinking about the pleasant way they had spent the day.
 
Justin had taught her so much, not just about men and making love, but also about herself.
 
It had been a wondrous experience, but it had to end.
 
Perhaps they should not have let it happen; however, she did not regret it in the least.

She rolled over to look at the man she had quietly fallen in love with.
 
She could admit it to herself now.
 
At least she would always have this day to look back on with love and fondness—a day of memories.
 
She shivered as the room darkened and lost the heat provided from the sun.
 
She felt a soft kiss on her shoulder and turned to look up at him.

“We should probably sneak downstairs.”

“Probably,” he replied.

“Are you going to let me up?”

“Maybe.”

“Justin,” she admonished, teasingly.

“All right.
 
I suppose we need to attend supper.”

“How are we going to act like nothing happened?”

“I’m sure we’ll do fine.”
 
He rose from the bed and stretched like a jungle cat, not at all concerned about his nudity.
 
She, on the other hand, suddenly felt self-conscious and anxious.

Once they were both dressed and presentable enough to escape to their own rooms, Justin checked both the passageway and the staircase.
 
After he made certain both were clear, he swung her up in his arms and carried her to her bedroom.

“I thank you for the ride, kind sir.”

“It was my absolute pleasure, madam.
 
And may I thank you for the ride this afternoon?” he whispered lasciviously.

“Southerby,” she whispered, swatting his arm and looking around.
 
He merely laughed and closed her door as he left.
 
Clarissa took a few moments to study her appearance in the mirror.
 
She did indeed look as if she had been on a wild ride.
 
Her hair hung in riotous curls that looked to be tangled.
 
Her upper chest had rosy spots from Justin’s day’s growth of beard.
 
Her lips looked bee-stung.
 
She could still smell the musky scent of them together lingering on her skin.