A Scandalous Charade (19 page)

His toothy grin reflected in the moonlight, and Juliet’s heart leapt as he draped his arm about her waist and began to tow her toward the courtyard gate. “It’s a surprise.”

Before she knew it, they were flying down Upper Brook Street toward her uncertain future. But she didn’t have long to contemplate the path she’d chosen, as Luke didn’t give her any time to think. He held her securely on his lap. Touching her. Kissing her.

One wicked hand slid up under her dress and found her ankle. Then he began to inch his way up her leg, sending searing heat and spirals of desire straight to the apex of her thighs. She had never felt so deliriously wanton in her entire life. She would happily go off to her own execution, if he’d just keep touching her.

And touch her he did.

His strong hand grasped one of her knees and he groaned into her mouth. His strength was seductive. Her skin burned where he touched her, and she lost her breath as his hand continued its journey up her thigh. She had never dreamed of anyone touching her here, and then he went even higher. Juliet thought she would expire on the spot when he untied the ribbon of her drawers and slid his hand inside the gaping material.

Luke kissed her softly, sucking her bottom lip into his mouth, at the same time his finger trailed through her springy curls and gently touched her there. Need surged through her, a need she didn’t quite understand, but knew that only he could assuage. She arched against his long finger as it delved inside her soft opening.

Dear God, she’d never felt anything like that before.

His finger twitched inside her, and Juliet thought she would come apart. “Luke!”

He chuckled against her lips and moved his finger out of her and then slid it back in with methodical procession, over and over, until her head was spinning and she found it difficult to breath.

“Do you like that, princess?”

She couldn’t speak, so she simply nodded and then gasped when he made his finger twitch again. His tongue slipped inside her mouth, tangling with her own. So many things were happening at once she couldn’t concentrate—she could only feel.

Then the coach came to a halt. Luke’s grin grew wide as he smoothed her skirts back in place. “We’re here.”

Juliet wasn’t certain where here was. And she must have looked frightened, because Luke softly kissed the corner of her jaw and whispered, “There’s nothing to worry about, princess. I’ve got you.”

Then he pushed open the door and lifted her in his arms. Juliet gasped from surprise, but quickly recovered her composure as Luke settled her on the ground near the docks where his yacht silently awaited them.

The night sky was reflected in the calm, dark waters of the Thames, and Juliet felt her racing heart start to slow back down toward its normal rhythm. Then Luke’s hand was on the small of her back, guiding her up the gangplank, and his warm, citrus-scented breath was on her cheek. “Just a few more steps, princess.”

A few more steps and her life would never be the same again. Though, honestly, it hadn’t been the same since he’d entered it. A moment later, Juliet found herself standing on the yacht’s massive deck, staring up at the crescent-shaped moon above them.  It looked different in the dead of night. It was as if they were the only two people in the world.

From behind her, Luke encircled her waist with his arms and pulled her against his chest, resting his chin on her head. Everything felt perfect, the peaceful water, the cloudless sky, the powerfully seductive man at her back. Juliet covered his hands with hers and sighed.

“Are you cold?” Luke asked softly and pulled her more securely against him, the evidence of his desire pressing against her bottom.

Hardly! She didn’t think she’d ever been so warm, with his strong chest and arms surrounding her. A giggle escaped her throat at his suggestion.

“Nervous?” he asked and dropped a kiss behind her ear.

Now, nervous—that was more on the mark. She turned in his arms and ran her fingers up his chest, settling them on his broad shoulders. “Shouldn’t I be?”

His heart-stopping grin, the one she’d fallen in love with, spread across his face and his devilish, green eyes twinkled. “Do you trust me?” he countered.

Strangely, she did. She would trust him with her life, and hopes, and dreams. Juliet simply nodded her head.

Luke kissed the tip of her nose and then stepped away from her, taking her hand in his. He led her to the rear of the deck and down the darkened stairs they’d once traveled together before.

Below deck, it was darker than the night and Juliet couldn’t see a thing, but Luke’s warm hand continued to direct her down what seemed a long, narrow corridor. Then he stopped and pushed open a door. Still it was dark as pitch, and Juliet sucked in a surprised gulp of air when he released her hand and she was suddenly alone in the darkness.

But a moment later a candle came to life, warmly glowing in the corner of the room. And though it was still fairly dark, Juliet recognized that she was in the room he’d taken her to weeks earlier when Rachel Benton had discovered them. Luke tugged at his cravat as he crossed the floor, where Juliet still stood glued to her spot.

Apparently, she was more nervous than she’d thought. She swallowed anxiously.

But his lazy smiled was comforting and when he reached her, Juliet sighed. He was so magnificent. He ran a hand through his golden hair and arched one eyebrow. “My lady.” He offered her his hand.

Juliet followed him to the large, four-poster bed. This was it. The moment of truth. The end to her life as an innocent.  Juliet decided she didn’t much care about that. Being with Luke, making love to him was something she desperately wanted. Besides, no one would ever know. Just the two of them.

“You’re shaking, princess.” Luke ran his hands down her arms.

“I’m fine.” She smiled up at him, and was relieved when he gently caressed the side of her neck.

Then he pulled her into his embrace and simply held her against him. Luke started to gently run his hands down her sides, warming her from the inside out. Then he dipped his head and began to nuzzle her neck. Before she knew what was happening, her dress slid down her body and pooled at her feet.

She looked up into his green eyes and pulled the ribbon ties to her chemise, letting the silk drop to the ground and leaving her only in her drawers. It was a bold thing to do, but she wanted him to know that she, too, was eager. That she wanted this. That she wanted him.

His eyes dropped to her now bare breasts and he sucked in a breath. “Sweet Lucifer, you’re beautiful.”

She couldn’t help but smile at that, and she cupped his jaw in her hands. “Touch me, Luke.”

He didn’t have to be asked twice. In the blink of an eye, Juliet found herself flat on her back and Luke hovering over her on his knees. He sucked one aching nipple into his mouth, and she moaned from the fire it stoked in her. His sinful tongue circled her and circled her before he nipped at her ruched peak. She thought she would expire on the spot.

Desire shot straight through to her core, the place he’d teased her in the coach. The place he was now rubbing through her drawers. “Lucas,” she panted, “you have entirely too many clothes on.”

He chuckled, though his mouth didn’t leave her breast. The he sucked her harder and harder, until she nearly arched off the bed. Finally, he lifted his head and grinned down at her. “I should have known that you’d be impatient, Juliet.”

Then he shrugged out of his jacket and threw it across the room. She’d never seen him in only shirtsleeves before, and she quite enjoyed the sight against the flickering candlelight. He looked strong and...

He slid his shirt over his head and tossed it over his shoulder, then placed his hands on his trouser buttons. He was all muscle and sinew, and a dusting of dark golden hair. His eyes bored into hers and she swallowed. She had been right to think he was Adonis. A more beautiful man didn’t exist.  She drank in the sight of him, but he was now staring at her with a very peculiar look in his eye.

“You first, princess.”

“Me first? She echoed in confusion.

Luke’s fingers left his waistband and untied the silk ribbon tie of her drawers. Then he settled next to her on the bed, and slid the one remaining article of clothing from her body. Her eyes flew to his, and he splayed his hand across her belly. “I’ve wanted this for so long, Juliet. I need you.”

Juliet ran her hand along his naked chest and felt his muscles contract with her touch. “What are you waiting for?”

He moved his fingers even lower across her body and slid them between her curls, that she was surprised felt damp against her legs. He dipped one long finger back inside her and her entire body tensed at the heavenly invasion. “To make it perfect,” he answered before nibbling on the hollow of her neck.

She was truly delectable and Luke was certain he was going to explode before he could ever bury himself inside her. When she clenched around his finger, it was his undoing. He’d tried to prepare her body for him. To make her as wet as possible, but she was doing her best to send him over the edge. And he still had his damned trousers on.

Slowly, he removed his finger from her softness, yanked his pants down, tugged his boots off, and stood at the foot of the bed just looking at her. He stroked himself as he stared at his princess, desire pushing him to the edge. She was heaven, waiting for him, lounged across his bed. Her beautiful breasts were rising and falling in a rhythm that captured him.

He knelt before her, his erection larger than he could recall it being before. But it had been waiting for her. For weeks. She stared at him in awe and swallowed. Hard. That was a reaction he enjoyed, and he could hardly wait to press himself into her over and over again.

Luke ran one hand up her leg, until it stopped on her knee. Then he spread her wide and gazed down at her. She was perfect. She was his. His free hand found her other knee and he held her open. Her scent was captivating.

He settled himself between her legs, and his straining cock twitched to be inside her. He pushed gently at her opening and she gasped, her nipples hardening even more. He murmured words of encouragement as he sank deeper into her, until his crown was completely embedded.

She was delightfully tight. And he had to hold back from losing complete control. But he continued pressing himself inside her, each inch more heavenly then the last. Then he came to her barrier, the evidence of her innocence.

Julie had never felt so stretched in her life. But his invasion of her body was more intense, more pleasurable, more… Dear God he was huge. Then he stopped, and looked down at her, love in his eyes.  “Kiss me, Juliet.”

He lowered his lips to hers, and then suddenly thrust deep inside her. Pain shot through her, though he captured her cry in his mouth. Then he softly kissed her, his tongue lightly caressing hers, and she started to relax.

He moved inside her, and waves of pleasure washed over Juliet’s body. There was no more pain. There was only Luke. He moaned in her ear as he thrust inside her again and again, until she was writhing beneath him, tears of joy streaming down her face. An urgency built inside her, growing stronger each time he pushed further and further into her. It was the most pleasurable, exciting… And then she reached a peak she hadn’t known she was looking for. All of her muscles tensed, and the most amazing release spread across her entire body, as if stars from the heavens had all rained down upon her.

Luke increased his speed, faster and faster he pushed into her, then he groaned and called out her name, just as he left her body.  He collapsed next to her, and cradled Juliet into the safety of his arms. She rested her head on his chest with a contended sigh. She had never felt more at one with the world.

***

Luke had never felt more lost than he did at this moment.

What in God’s name was wrong with him? He’d been a half second away from spilling himself inside her. Had he gone and lost his bloody mind? Getting Juliet with his child was the last thing he wanted. It was the last thing either of them wanted. He was the experienced one. It was his responsibility.

But she’d felt so damned amazing. Like no other woman he’d ever—he couldn’t even remember any other women. This was a problem. A complication he hadn’t anticipated.

Her lips were on his chest, and he hardened up again. God in heaven! How could he possibly be hard again? It had only been two bloody minutes. He slid out from under her and searched frantically for his pants. Where had he left the damned things?

“Luke, are you all right?”

Shouldn’t he be asking her that? He couldn’t look at her. If he did, he’d be back on that bed, back between her legs, and he didn’t know if he could control himself the next time. There couldn’t be a next time.  He didn’t trust himself.

What the devil was wrong with him?

“Luke?” she asked again. This time, concern laced in her voice.

“Get dressed,” he barked. He hadn’t meant to sound gruff, but he couldn’t seem to help it. He didn’t seem to be able to help anything.

He found his trousers and pulled them on. Then his boots. He couldn’t look at her.  God only knew what he’d see. Whatever it was, he didn’t want to see it. Pain. Confusion. Worry. He was dealing with enough of that of his own.

He nearly stumbled pulling on his boots, but he got them on. Then his shirt, and…to hell with the jacket. He could hear her fumbling around. “I’ll see you on deck.”

~14 ~

The world had stopped making sense to Juliet. How could things have been so perfect, so wonderful—just to end up like this? Luke had shuffled her off into his coach, with barely a word, and she’d rambled along the streets back to Prestwick House—alone and confused.

She just couldn’t understand what had happened. She went over the night in her mind countless times during the trip back home, but she could not figure out what had made him react hat way. Though it had something to do with their lovemaking, obviously. Had she done something wrong?  He seemed frightened, though she couldn’t understand what there was to be frightened about.