Encore! (Tudor Saga Book 1) (7 page)

He reached down, laying the bag he was carrying on the floor, one hand still on my robe and his eyes penetrating me. I was transfixed and unable to tie it shut, again. His face was unreadable, serious, as he looked at me, his long hair, damp and flowing. It was obvious he'd walked to my apartment in the night-time drizzle. He leaned into me and kissed the flesh between my breasts. I felt his hot breath as slowly he began to kiss his way upwards to my neck. He had hold of my face with his free hand and the other slowly wrapped behind my back and began pulling me tighter against him. I surrendered, wrapping my arms around his neck.

By now he was cradling my face in both hands and I felt his mouth moving to the shell of my ear. "I had to see you, Mary," he whispered, as his lips found mine.  I melted into him, our tongues exploring each other.

Wanting more, my body arched into his as our kiss became more intense and erotic. I wanted this man and I didn't care what rules I might have set down earlier.

When we broke free to catch our breath, we stood face to face, our foreheads touching, eyes boring through to the other's soul.

"Mary, I am so tired."

Staring at him, I knew I was so screwed; but something about his demeanor told me he was not playing with me. "That’s not fair, Daniel."

"I know, but please, Mary…"

He placed those gorgeous, luscious lips of his back on mine. I heard myself groan as the dance began. His hands found their way to my shoulders and guided the robe over them, letting it fall to the ground. His hands reached for my hips and he lifted me to his waist. I wrapped my legs around him.

I noted the bag still on the entry floor. "If there's a box of condoms in that bag…"

He leaned his head back and laughed before walking, with my legs still wrapped around him, down the hall toward my bedroom. "No, it's something special for someone very special to me."

Yep, I was so screwed!

He deposited me onto the bed, pulling the covers over me as he stood in front of me and began to undress, slowly, my eyes never leaving his. Even in the darkness of the bedroom, there was enough light coming in from outside to see just how beautiful he really was.

Crawling in beside me, he leaned over, consuming me in another kiss. His hands roamed my body, but never touching where it screamed for him.

Sitting up, he swung his legs over the side of the bed and began removing those massive metal rings off his hands. As he did, I noticed a tattoo encircling his bicep on the arm closest to me. I reached up and put my hand on it as he slid the last ring off his fingers and carefully placed it on the bedside table.

"I don't want to hurt you with these," he whispered before engulfing me with his body once again. I felt his erection against my belly. I spread my legs wanting more. He shifted himself next to me, his fingers exploring, slowly and methodically. His mouth took a nipple, sucking, biting. I caught myself moaning at the heat from it.

Opening my eyes, I felt his fingers dip further down and begin to explore my folds. He slid two fingers inside of me, his thumb working my hardened nub.

"God, Mary, you're so wet. Let me help you, angel."

My body began moving against his hand until I could no longer hold back.

"Daniel…"

"That's right, angel, cum for me." Which was exactly what I did, his cock rubbing against my thigh.

He gathered me in his arms and lay me close to him. My face burned where his beard had rubbed against me in our passion.

"Daniel?" I asked.

"Hmmm, what is it, angel mine. You know that's what you are don't you?"

"Don't you want…?"

"To make love to you? Of course I do, Mary, more than anything else in the world. Right now, though, what I really want is for you to hold me. You soothe me; calm me from all the madness in my life."

We fell asleep, still holding each other. It was early morning when I heard him stir. The next thing I knew he was getting out of the bed, but I drifted back to sleep.

"Mary, sweet, wake up. I've got to go. I play in Liverpool, tonight. My plane leaves in two hours. Come with me?"

"Daniel, I can't just…"

He silenced me with a kiss. "It's Sunday. We'll be back tomorrow morning. Then I've two days off before I'm gone again for the remainder of the week. Please, angel mine?" He pleaded, those dark brown eyes looking all doe-like and innocent.

I sighed, not knowing if what I was embarking on was a good thing or not. It felt good; so do it, right? "Okay, but only if you promise to have me home tomorrow morning."

"Come on then, let's get ready. Pack yourself a change or two of clothes. We've got to hurry."

As I was putting the last few items into my overnight bag and closing it, Daniel reappeared with two mugs of coffee along with the bag he had carried in the night before.

"Here, I made us some coffee. And this is for you. Let's just call it my thanks for all your hard work and whatever else we can think of."

Peering inside I pulled out a box. Inside was an antique Hasselblad camera.

"Daniel! I can't accept this. It's far too valuable for you to be giving me."

He wasn't to be deterred. "Ridiculous. I chose it specifically with you in mind."

"Well, thank you very much, then. It's beautiful and it's something I'll cherish always."

"Good, and I hope you will use it. Now let's go. I called a cab and they're downstairs waiting."

Once we were finally in route to the airport, Elle texted me wanting to know what I was up to and asking if I knew my phone was going directly to voice mail.

I replied that I was out of town and that yes, I knew my phone was not picking up. That, I hoped, would tell her something without coming straight out and telling her.

Once we arrived at his Liverpool hotel suite, I began having flashbacks—memories of being on the road with my brothers. Though Daniel played another form of music, much of what went along with being on tour was exactly the same. Music was music and being a star, no matter what form it took, was still about being in the spotlight.

This was my first time to actually see Daniel perform since Julliard—away from fellow students and teachers. This was the Daniel Kennedy of today, and he was mesmerizing. He was still the same perfectionist and he expected far too much of himself; but it was the only way he knew, and it was also what wore him down and made him vulnerable to himself. Hence, his visit to me last night.

"I understand you're coming back to the school of performing arts, here," I said, "to work with the students. That's wonderful."

"Yes, and you will come with me and capture it all."

"I'm sure they will have their own people there to record it all, Daniel."

"But I want you there, just as I want you there when I go on stage, tonight."

Which I was.

If he was nervous, he didn't show it outwardly. This was something he'd been doing since he was a little boy, so I imagined it was pretty much second nature to him. I watched as he stood off to one side by himself for a minute, taking in what I thought were deep, cleansing breaths as he clutched his violin in one hand and bow in the other. Dressed in black pants, a dark shirt and black jacket, his boots seemed out of place with the rest of his outfit. But, I reminded myself as I watched, Daniel Kennedy wasn't like any other violinist.

I came out of my daydream as he turned and strode back to me, making sure I had a clear view of the stage. Then, not saying a word, he planted a kiss on my right cheek as they announced his name. He turned quickly and walked toward the bright lights.

I stood there in the wings, peering out at the audience who were already on their feet applauding before he even got underway. I watched in awe as he picked up the bow and started into his first piece. Within the first note, he hit his stride. He'd once told me that he barely felt the strings as his fingers moved over them. The bow, he said, served as an extension of himself. He added that he imagined music formed a cloud in which he floated as it hovered above the world. It was evident he was doing just that as I humbly watched.

Before I knew it, ninety minutes had flown by. I had been mesmerized along with the sold-out crowd. After he had two encores, I watched as he left the stage, his fans standing on their feet wanting more. Someone handed him a towel as he reached the wings. He walked over to me, passing me his violin and bow while wiping the sweat off his face and hands. Taking a bottle of water someone handed him, he took one long drink off it before retrieving his instrument from me. Carefully, he placed them both in their protective case. He grinned like a satisfied little boy who knew he'd done well.

Finally, we were alone in his Liverpool hotel suite. A couple bottles of white wine were on a table along with crystal glasses and a cork screw. Another was chilling in ice. I walked toward the table as Daniel settled in. Quietly, I removed the one bottle from the ice, uncorked it and poured two glasses. I walked over to where he was sitting and relaxing. He'd stopped reading a text to watch me. There was that look in his eyes, again—the one that always drew me in.

I handed him one of the glasses. "Here, you look like you could use this to help you unwind."

"Thank you," he murmured, taking the glass from me. I watched as he took a long swallow of the pale liquid, not really stopping to savor the taste, merely attempting to relax.

Then, without a word, it happened. He took my partially empty glass from my hand and placed both glasses on a table. He lowered his head and our lips met. It wasn't meant as anything but a kiss of passion. His tongue found no resistance as he urgently plunged it in to greedily find mine. By the time we parted, I had to cling to him to maintain my balance. He pushed my dress up over my hips. While one free hand held my body upright, the other had found its way down and into the folds between my thighs. His fingers explored me as finely as he played his violin. Unable to resist his touch, wanting it more of it, my legs instinctively parted, allowing him to tease me. He plunged two fingers into my heat while his thumb stroked my clit. I came undone, craving more.

He led me to the edge of the bed where we both feverishly removed our clothes, letting them fall to the floor. Daniel lowered my body, our mouths entwined in a scalding kiss. Before I made contact with the mattress, he flipped me onto to my stomach and spread my legs to accommodate him. I heard the sound of foil being torn and then felt the head of his cock as he readied himself. Then he plunged inside me until he could go no further. I met him thrust for thrust as we made love in a frenzy. No, it wasn't really making love; it was more of a fuck. Two lovers each claiming the other.

As soon as he placed his finger on my clit, I lost all sense of reality. He didn't have to do anything but let me feel his warmth. I vaguely remember him yelling something as he thrust one last time, coming deep inside me. Exhausted, he collapsed on my back, using his arms to hold some of his weight until our panting subsided. I felt his warm kisses on my neck and earlobe.

"Mmmmmm, that was incredible, angel mine, just as I knew it would be." He chuckled as he softly kissed me once more.

"Hmmm," was all I could reply, his cock still hard within me. I shivered as he lifted his body off me and withdrew. Then I felt him playfully nip my buttocks before he walked into the bathroom to remove the condom.

I crawled up in the bed, tearing the covers back as I snuggled in between the sheets, pulling them back up as I did. Whatever just happened I wanted more of it. A moment later, Daniel joined me, nestling me in his arms. His touch scalded my skin. Now that he knew me more intimately, I wanted him to touch every inch of me and I wanted to do the same with him.

"What are you thinking, sweet?" He asked lazily.

"Which version do you want to hear?"

He chuckled as he leaned over to kiss my forehead. "Hmmm, this could prove to be most interesting. How about both?"

I hesitated for a second, taking in a deep breath. "Well, part of me is dying to know if you planned all this to happen tonight or was it purely spontaneous. And, the other part wants you inside me, never stopping."

He repositioned his magnificent body so he was lying on his side, facing me. His long brown hair was loose and flowing against his cheeks. I took it and slowly moved it behind one ear as I awaited his answer.

"This was all spontaneous, nothing was planned; and it never has to stop, Mary. Never."

"So, what now?" I whispered. I wasn't afraid to hear the answer because I sensed what it was going to be.

"This time we make love--slowly and sensually, for as long as we want. I'm not going anywhere, angel mine. Understand that. I don't know how we're going to make this work, but we will. I promise you that."

Chapter Six

Over the course of the next three months, I was caught up in Daniel and his tour. Flying to be with him and watching his sold out performances whenever I could. He encouraged and got me started playing again, or so he thought. It was always out of the blue. I never knew when he would simply ask me to play for him or with him. But always, it was in front of no one but him. I found myself easily shamed. Even with all my years of training, I was no match for him. But then again, no one was.

Daniel encouraged my new celebrity as his photographer of choice. Though I was sought after now, I realized quickly that being particular about whom or what I photographed was to my advantage. But, Daniel was now the center of my world, and my world was a smaller one.

My one constant friend of many years, Eloise, while thrilled for me and my new celebrity boyfriend, was taking another path, one I never saw coming. Elle had been dating Mark for about six months when, out of the blue, the pair decided to up and move to Spain. They had purchased a small hostel, courtesy of a small inheritance Mark received from his grandmother. Though Elle was only a phone call or text away, I missed her advice terribly. Her one last texts to me while she was preparing to leave was…

"Don't forget M & me will be back to see those Tudor boys perform."