The Scarlet Bride (14 page)

“Do not put too much thought into this moment,” Laura said softly as he carried her down the hallway toward a row of bedrooms and kicked open the last door on the right. She pressed her mouth against his neck and trailed kisses up along his jaw to the corner of his mouth. “There will be no one but us two in that bed.”

Swinging her about, he paused, and she followed his gaze. The bed was massive, with a deep blue and white coverlet and four posts carved by a master craftsman. They stared, incredulous. “An entire family could sleep comfortably there,” he said with a snort.

Laura screwed up her face. “And the staff and a few of the neighbors, too,” she added. “This kingly bed must have been a strong consideration when you decided to purchase the manor.”

“Truthfully, I didn’t give it much notice.” His eyes were warm on her. “Until now.”

“Then we shall explore it together.”

The lightness in her tone uplifted his spirits. In the days since they’d met, this beautiful woman had flourished under the care of the women at the courtesan school. She was healing well and was not the same terrified woman fleeing for her life.

Her scent claimed his attention away from the bed and he leaned to press a kiss at the base of her throat. “Thankfully, there is only you and I. I’d hate to love you with an audience in attendance.”

Laura giggled, both from his comment and from the light brush of stubble against her skin. “I, too, am thankful.”

If Eva or Noelle found out about this seduction, they’d rip him apart. However, now was not the time to think of his two cousins, the school, or Laura’s past. He had a seduction to deliver and he wanted it to be all she’d hoped.

Simon lowered her feet to the floor and turned her in his arms. He captured her soft mouth in another hungry kiss.

Once before, he’d suspected that her mouth was made for kissing. He was right. The softness of her lips, her sweet taste, and the touch of innocence in her kisses were burning fire through his senses. It was impossible to believe she’d held on to any measure of purity through her trials, yet she had. The seductive Laura was only in her exotic eyes and lush body.

“You are very beautiful,” he said as he drew his mouth away from her lips and down to nuzzle the spot below her ear. She tipped her head back and sighed.

“I have been told I resemble my mother,” she replied and slowly ran her hands from his waist to his hips. “Your shoulder seems to have recovered.”

“I can ignore the pain with you in my arms.”

Simon relished the feel of her hands on his body. Her scent, light and floral, drifted from her and made him think of making love to her in a meadow of wildflowers. Perhaps on some future sunny day, he could make that happen.

He lightly nibbled the spot where her dress ended on her shoulder and pushed the material away from where he’d
seen the scar. The spot was healed and fading. Still, it would always be a reminder of her past.

Kissing it gently, he felt her tense.

“I intend to kiss every one, love.” Simon lifted his head to see concern on her face. He locked on to her eyes. “Trust me.”

Very slowly, her body relaxed. She reached up to gently touch his face. “Simon, I do.”

They stood for a moment before Simon reached for the ties at the neckline of her dress. He pulled the ribbon loose and the bodice sagged slightly, exposing her chemise and the swell of velvety flesh.

He put his hands on her shoulders and slid the gown down her arms to her waist. Once freed of her trim hips, it dropped to the floor in a whisper of fabric.

Simon awaited her cues. There was no fear in her eyes, only an open curiosity. Simon was taken aback. Had she never been gently undressed by her abuser?

Likely he’d taken her without preliminaries.

It made Simon angry to think of anyone not treasuring Laura as she deserved. She was a rarity among women, and he vowed to always treat her like a gift.

“You are thinking again,” Laura said softly, bringing his thoughts back to her. She frowned and crossed her arms. “I am beginning to feel neglected.”

Her teasing tone belied the set-down and he grinned. “I apologize, darling Laura. Your loveliness has muddled my brain.”

She shook her head. “You possess a silver tongue, rogue, but I am feeling chilled. Perhaps you should continue with my unwrapping before my teeth start to chatter.”

Simon shot her a heated stare. “Yes, Milady.”

With measured steps, he placed a hand on her hip and drew it over her as he walked around behind her. He encompassed her in his embrace, nibbling her neck and splaying his hands over her stomach. At her moan, he slid them upward to cup her delightful and perfect breasts.

Her breath caught. “Warmer now, love?” he asked.

“Much,” she breathed.

The husky sound ravaged through his senses, making him steely hard. It took extreme control not to carry her to the bed and bury himself between her legs. He’d vowed to make this afternoon memorable, and impatience would ruin the moment.

He eased her chemise down and kissed her silky white shoulder. Her sweet scent drew him to the curve on her neck. He pressed his mouth there, earning a sigh. He grinned against her skin and tangled his hand in the knot at her nape. With a deftness he didn’t realize he possessed, he freed the silky strands with one hand.

It tumbled down her back in a riot of sable and light.

His breath caught. In that moment, she possessed him completely.

Moving onward, Simon discovered a small scar between her shoulder blades and struggled to keep from cursing. He’d made a promise to himself to keep his attention on her and not tangle this moment up with dark thoughts. There would be time to exact revenge for her mistreatment later.

“You have on too many clothes still.” Simon had to get her naked to distract him from the urge to kill. He continued around her until they were facing each other again and began the work of divesting her of her undergarments.

The chemise and corset proved to be no obstacle and soon she was bared to his view.

In the cool air of the room, her rosy nipples pebbled to tight peaks and her pale skin glowed in the dim room. Mottled along her skin were imperfections, each building a map of the suffering she’d experienced. There was a peculiar long and oddly shaped scuff-scar on her upper thigh, as if she’d been pressed down with the heel of a boot.

Rage ripped through Simon.

F
ighting the desire to flinch under the fierce anger on Simon’s face, Laura knew his reaction had nothing to do with her. Nor did she have to look down to see what had caused the change in him. Her body was marred, damaged by evil.

“Please. Do not allow him to ruin this moment.” Laura moved against Simon and took his face in her hands. She stared hard into his eyes. “He has taken enough from me. I cannot bear it if he takes you, too.”

Her plea had the desired effect. His lids closed briefly as he drew a deep breath. When his eyes opened again, they were clear blue and the anger was gone. He reached out to span her waist with his hands and passion flared again.

“Nothing will change my desire for you. Not scars, not anger, not my need to kill for you.” He ran a fingertip across her lower lip. “You are lovely in my eyes.”

She’d felt, seen, his protective nature before. If she named her abuser, he’d be off, storm be damned, exacting revenge on her behalf.

At this moment, she didn’t need a chest-thumping,
woman-in-distress-saving knight. She needed him. She needed to be desired, marks and all. She wanted to see the intensity in his eyes as he looked at her, kissed her, a look that was not tinged by the desire to punish with a fist if she didn’t comply with any demand.

Her confidence wavered. Simon was telling her that she was lovely. Was it because he knew compliments were required when a naked woman was standing in front of you? Could he really look past the scars?

Suddenly shy, she bent and pulled her chemise back up. She kept her eyes averted, knowing if she were to see distaste on his face, she couldn’t bear it.

She had the straps of the chemise halfway up her arms when his hands stopped her progress. Finally she lifted her gaze.

“Do not cover yourself, love.” He brushed aside her hands to allow the chemise to return to the floor. He lifted her hand to press a kiss on her palm. “Your beauty steals my breath.”

Laura trembled at the tenderness she saw when he looked at her. In spite of her flaws, her lingering imperfections, he desired her. And she sensed that it had nothing to do with her lack of clothing or a simple eagerness to bed her.

Simon smiled and bent to lift her into his arms. He carried her to the bed in a few long strides and gently placed her on the downy mattress with its endless blue and white coverlet.

The musty scent of the unused room did not distract Laura from her focus. As Simon straightened and began the process of removing his boots and breeches, she stared at him hungrily, eager to see the last bits of his magnificent body.

Not even when he freed his erection and tossed his breeches aside did she falter. Her nipples tingled in anticipation of his touch. Her core pulsed with need. When he climbed onto the bed and covered her with his hard body, she reached up and pulled him down for a kiss.

She was no longer a virgin, nor could she save herself for a husband. No amount of wishing could make her that innocent girl she once was.

This time was for her. Her choice. Her desire.

Later, she’d return to the school and make plans for her future. Today, she wanted passion.

He slid up and over her, reclaiming her mouth. Laura caressed her hands over him, from hip to waist, to his muscled rib cage, letting her fingers explore the dips and planes of his body.

The spicy scent of his skin teased her senses, and his hungry kiss added to the delightful mix of sensations that left her breathless.

When he broke the tender kiss, his warm eyes focused on hers. “From now until dawn, I intend to kiss away every mark, every dark memory for you. By morning, you will know what it feels like to be treasured, adored.”

Laura felt the prickle of tears behind her lids. “I ask for nothing more than to feel desire. Real desire.” She lifted her hand to cup the space below his ear and brushed her thumb across his strong jaw. Moving farther forward, she touched his bottom lip as she held on to his gaze. She arched slightly against him. “I want you desperately,” she breathed.

Amusement tugged one side of his mouth into a crooked grin. He looked down between their bodies and reached to brush a fingertip over one erect nipple. She twitched. “Your desire is only half as great as mine, my seductive Laura.” He shifted slightly and she felt the full press of his thick erection on her stomach. “I think we should start here.” He pressed a kiss on her neck. “And continue here.” He kissed the other side. “Before moving down here.” He kissed the hollow of her throat.

“Excellent choices,” she said with a sigh. His mouth tickled on her skin. “Where do you go from there?”

He lifted his head to once more capture her eyes and grinned. “I was thinking here.” He didn’t look away as he
lowered his head to capture her nipple, suckling it between his lips and teasing the peak with his tongue.

Laura gasped and arched back on the bed. Still, she could not break contact with his eyes as he released the nipple and moved across to the other. He drew his tongue around the firm peak, then nipped gently on the tip.

A small moan escaped her parted lips. Simon cupped the other breast, playing with the damp nipple between his fingers until her breathing turned ragged.

“I assume you like this?” Simon said, lifting his head.

“Very much.” Laura grinned at his teasing tone. “However, there are other areas sadly in need of attention.”

“Is that so?” He cocked a brow.

She nodded. “Several areas.”

Sobering, he frowned. “Then I will be remiss if I do not explore every inch of you.”

Laura watched with soft eyes as he moved down her body, kissing his way to her toes. When he finished the front, he rolled her over and kissed her back, caressing and kneading her flesh until she was groaning with the sheer pleasure of his ministrations.

Her body tingled with each kiss and caress. He rolled her back over and kneeled between her legs.

“Did I miss anything?” he said, sliding his gaze up and down her body. “I wouldn’t want to be taken to task for any errors.”

There was only one place he’d clearly avoided. She looked down at the thatch of sable hair. Heat crept into her cheeks. The juncture between her legs pulsed, but she dared not ask him to kiss and touch her there. He would be scandalized and think her wanton.

“Oh, dear.” He looked down to where her gaze rested. “I overlooked one important area.”

Before Laura could lift her head to see where his intentions lay, she felt his hand move downward from her stomach to caress over the soft curls between her legs.

From some disembodied place, she thought she heard
someone whisper, “Oh, yes,” followed in short order by a deep male chuckle. But she wasn’t at all certain it was she who had spoken. All that came from her throat, when he slipped a finger between the folds to caress the throbbing nub, was some sort of mewling noise.