An Invitation to Sin (33 page)

Chapter 6

“Gavin, I believe your lips were a little closer to her cheek,” Doña Yvonne instructed. “Charlotte, tilt your head toward me. There you go.
Perfecto!
Now do not move.”

Once again, Charlotte found herself posed half naked in Gavin’s embrace. She had feared seeing him this morning after their passionate kiss on the balcony the night before, but there had been no reason to feel so. The endearing smile he gave her washed away any unease that lingered the moment their eyes met.

She was more relaxed this morning during the sitting. In fact, she enjoyed it more than she had yesterday. There was something special about being held in Gavin’s arms and now they had this lovely secret between them. Their kiss last night and this painting. No one but Doña Yvonne knew of their scandalous pose, for the artist kept her studio off limits. Once the painting was complete no one could deny her the pleasure of sitting for it.

And no one knew about their kiss. His kiss had been quite the surprise. A quite wonderful surprise.

She had spent most of the evening on the arm of Pedro Bautista-Martín. He was handsome and charming, no doubt. She had found him to be amusing, had enjoyed his company, and had been grateful for his attention, since Gavin had seemed to be happily partnered with the pretty Señorita Hernandez. The feeling of jealousy at seeing the Spanish woman’s hands on Gavin’s arm had made her uncomfortable. Although she had posed for an intimate painting with him, she had no claim upon Gavin Ellsworth whatsoever. She had held up her head and taken the advice Aunt Louisa had given her. She had tried to enjoy the evening and found herself laughing at Pedro’s silly jokes, but still she had felt Gavin’s eyes on her.

Later that night when he had knocked on the door to her bedroom, she had been stunned, because the look on his face caused her heart to somersault in her chest. He was jealous that his friend had wanted to kiss her. The thought thrilled her! Pedro had not tried to kiss her, nor would she have allowed him to. Yet when Gavin took her in his arms, she had no wish to deny him.

She had been craving his kiss since the moment she first saw him, all tan and golden. And that kiss …

Oh, that kiss!

Her stomach did a little flip at the memory of the sensations the kiss had awakened within her. She had assumed Gavin to be skilled in the art of kissing and she had not been disappointed. No, not at all. She had never wanted their kiss to end. But it had to end and she had been grateful for his self-control, if not quite at the time, then definitely later.

Now, she leaned back into his embrace, enjoying the feel of his bare and muscled arms holding her. The soft dawn light spilled around them, bathing them in its pale glow. She wished she could see Gavin’s eyes, but her back was to him and Doña Yvonne became agitated if her subjects moved position.

They remained very still until she felt Gavin’s hand, which was resting upon her breast, gently squeeze her through the thin silk. She held her breath while the tip of his finger slid ever so slightly over the tip of her nipple. Sheer pleasure washed over her. His breath was hot on her cheek and sent shivers of delight down her spine. She wished desperately that they were alone and he could touch her without the silk covering her skin.

Charlotte almost bolted off the marble bench at the outrageous thought. Only a few days in the south of Spain with her aunt, and she had lost all sense of decency! Good heavens! What had come over her?

“Spend the day with me,” he whispered in her ear.

“Yes, of course,” she murmured in return. At the moment he could ask her to do anything, anything, and she would agree to it.

“What are you two whispering about?” Doña Yvonne called out. “
¿Qué es el secreto?”

“I was asking Charlotte to spend the day with me,” Gavin explained, turning his head toward their hostess.

“Do not move!” she scolded him, and Gavin resumed his position with his lips on Charlotte’s cheek. Then Doña Yvonne laughed. “And did the lovely Charlotte agree to go with you?”

Charlotte felt his lips and the heat of his breath as he responded, “Yes, she did.”

“Maravilloso!”
Doña Yvonne exclaimed with undisguised amusement. “Just a few more moments of the light and then you shall be free to go.”

Only a few more moments! The morning had slipped by far too quickly for Charlotte.

Before she knew it she was dressed in a sweet gown of pale lemon muslin with a wide straw sun hat draped with matching yellow ribbons and on her way to the shore with Gavin. Because they had risen so much earlier than the others, they slipped away before anyone knew they were gone, although Charlotte left a note for Aunt Louisa. Even though her aunt had given her carte blanche to do as she wished, Charlotte did not wish to worry Aunt Louisa over her whereabouts.

One of the coachmen from the villa drove them in an open carriage down to the shore. The warm sun shone brilliantly above and only a few puffy clouds dotted the sky. The scent of the sea invigorated her. Charlotte felt decidedly wicked being with Gavin without a chaperone, something that never would have been sanctioned had she been home in England. Once they reached the shore, Gavin instructed the coachman to wait for them. The beach was empty except for a few fishermen here and there. After assisting her from the carriage, Gavin took her hand in his and together they walked along the sand. How odd that holding his hand now seemed a more intimate gesture than posing for the portrait!

“You are not at all what I expected,” Gavin said to her, over the sound of the rolling waves and screeching seabirds.

“Whatever do you mean?”

“You are taking this all very calmly.”

“This?”

“The painting and the posing. Most well-brought-up ladies such as yourself would be too mortified to pose in such a manner.”

“Do you think less of me then?” she questioned.

He turned to look at her, his lustrous hazel eyes intense. “No, of course not.”

“Then why would you say something like that?”

“Because you are more than I expected.”

Charlotte remained quiet at that remark, not sure how she should take it.

“Why did you agree to pose for the portrait, Charlotte?”

“When Doña Yvonne asked to paint us, I had no idea it would be so … Grecian,” she said for lack of a better word, “and then once I realized what she meant to do, it seemed rude to refuse.”

Gavin chuckled. “So you are draped in nothing but silk with my hands on your body merely to be polite?”

Charlotte stopped walking and faced him. His blond hair glinted in the sun. “Why are you posing?”

“Because I was ready to accept any excuse to be near you.”

He had agreed to sit for a portrait in order to spend time with her. She wanted to believe him, although he probably said such pretty words to every girl. Gavin was outrageous in the things he said to her. But she could not resist the thought that he really meant them. That this handsome, sweet, charming man truly wanted to be near her. She reached one lacy-gloved hand up to touch his cheek. Would she allow herself to believe, just this one time? Just for this summer. Just with him. That his words were true. That his kisses were true. It would be so terribly easy….

She stood on tiptoe and placed a soft kiss on his cheek, near the dimple that so distracted her.

He smiled, revealing the said dimple on the side of his mouth. “What did I do to deserve such a sweet kiss?”

Suddenly feeling shy, she lowered her hand and turned, continuing to walk. He fell into pace quickly beside her, still holding her other hand in his.

“You always smell pretty, like flowers,” he said.

“It’s lily of the valley.”

“I like it.”

Charlotte smiled. They walked in comfortable silence, the waves crashing along the shore.

“Where do you go to school?” she asked.

“Nowhere at present.” He cast her a sheepish glance. “I was just tossed out of Oxford last term.”

“I see.” She had suspected this about him from the start. “Dare I ask what you did to warrant such an action?”

“It was a little scheme that Pedro and I concocted. Foolish, but funny. I got caught and he did not. I shall spare you the grim details.”

“What will you do now?”

He gave a slight shrug. “I suppose my father is trying his damnedest to find another university willing to take me on.”

“Is it so difficult to just do as you ought?” she asked softly. “Wouldn’t that be easier than having to hide in shame for the summer?”

“I’m not ashamed,” he barked. “And I am not hiding.”

For once, Charlotte bit her tongue, feeling his hand tense. “What I meant was, wouldn’t it be less trouble to simply follow the rules and get on with it?”

“With my education, you mean?” Gavin’s sardonic laughter echoed on the sea breeze. “What do I need an education for? I’ll inherit my father’s title and lands. I’ll become the Earl of Breckinridge, marry well, produce an heir, retire to the country, and become old and fat. What difference does it make if I get an education or not? My future has been preordained.”

She paused before responding. “If you don’t wish to further your education for the sake of not playing the fool while you sit in the House of Lords someday, fine. But do you have any idea how many men would give all they have for the chance to attend university and never will?”

He remained silent but looked properly chagrined by her words.

“You should not squander such an opportunity, Gavin. It may not come again.” Her aunt’s sentiment to her the day before echoed in her mind.

“Point taken.” He held up a hand in mock surrender and flashed his grin.

“My brother attends Cambridge,” she added.

“Have you a brother?” He seemed intrigued.

“I have five brothers. One older and four younger.”

“No sisters?”

“No, but I wish I had at least one.”

“It must be great fun to be a part of a large family,” Gavin said.

“Yes and no.”

“No? All those men in the house must treat you like a princess!”

“Not exactly.” Charlotte shook her head ruefully. “My older brother is away at school most of the time and my little brothers, well, let’s just say they are very energetic. My mother and stepfather have their hands full with raising them.”

“I always wished for a sibling.”

“I did too. Then my mother remarried after my father died and before I knew it I had a stepbrother and four little half brothers!”

“Poor Charlotte,” Gavin said softly, but not at all condescendingly. “You’re lost in the shuffle of your new family, aren’t you?”

She had never actually put that thought into words before, but she supposed there was a grain of truth in what he said. Since her marriage, Charlotte’s mother had not had as much time for her, so consumed was she with raising her sons. Oh, Charlotte loved her younger brothers and helped her mother as much as she could. Still, it was difficult to share her mother when it had been just the two of them for so long. Over the years she told herself it did not matter, but inside she felt a bit of a castoff. Odd that someone like Gavin would pick up on something so insignificant.

He continued, “Still, I wanted a sibling. Brother or sister, it didn’t matter. Just someone to take some of the attention and pressure off of me.”

Charlotte said teasingly, “I would think you enjoyed getting all the attention.”

“That depends on the kind of attention I’m getting.”

“And just what would that be?” she glanced up at him.

He stopped walking this time. “Any attention that I get from you.” He leaned down and kissed her cheek.

Flustered by his impetuous kiss, she smiled at him. He had the power to send her heart tripping….

“We should head back to the carriage,” he suggested. Giving her hand a light squeeze, he turned them around.

Just then a large wave washed ashore farther than they expected. With a startled shriek, Charlotte tried to run so as not to ruin her slippers, but in one swift movement, Gavin swept her up in his arms just as the water rushed in around them. She held on tightly to his shoulders, delighting in being so close to him. She rested her head on his chest as he trudged back through the wet sand carrying her effortlessly.

It was such a sweet and thoughtful gesture that she felt her barriers against him completely disappearing.

Their days fell into an easy pattern. Gavin and Charlotte spent their mornings posing for Doña Yvonne and their afternoons alone together exploring the countryside. Each evening they dined with all the guests at the villa, and everyone was aware that Gavin was openly courting Charlotte. Both Pedro Bautista-Martín and Isabella Hernandez withdrew their attentions, for it was obvious that Charlotte and Gavin only had eyes for each other.

Charlotte knew that it wouldn’t last. That it was just for the summer. She knew that Gavin did not truly care for her and was aware that he would lose interest and grow bored with the novelty of her. She prepared herself for that eventuality. In the meantime she tried to figure out, to pinpoint exactly what it was about him that so intrigued her. That drew her to him. The answer never really presented itself. All she could do was let herself be swept up in the giddy feelings that washed over her whenever she was with him.

Chapter 7

“Voilà!”

Neither Gavin nor Charlotte moved. As the last of the morning light faded, they remained in their reclining posture on the marble bench, draped in pale silk.

“
El retrato está completo!
” Doña Yvonne exclaimed from the other side of the canvas. “It is finished!”

It had been nearly two weeks since they began this unusual little venture in Doña Yvonne’s art studio. During that time it seemed that Charlotte and Gavin existed only for each other and their days revolved around their intimate sessions together. In the studio they were not Gavin or Charlotte. No. They were not themselves. He was a powerful Greek god and she was a splendid Greek goddess. They lived another life in that studio. There were no limits. They were bare to each other with only a bit of filmy fabric between them …

And now it was over. As was her time in Spain.

They still did not move.

“Oh, it is beautiful. Beautiful!
Perfecto.
But you cannot see it just yet. I will surprise you with it. Go and dress now, my dears.”

Gavin slowly slid his hands from Charlotte’s body, lingering as he did so. Just as reluctantly she moved from his embrace.
Is he sad too? Does he feel as bereft as I do?
As Doña Yvonne chattered away and busied herself with her paints, Charlotte dared a glance at Gavin’s handsome face. His hazel eyes were full of longing and the blatant desire that flamed within their depths took her breath away. A burning blush crept up her cheeks and she suddenly stood, clutching the silk tightly against her chest.

When Charlotte returned from the dressing room, Gavin was waiting for her. As was their routine, they had their walk on the beach and a drive through the surrounding countryside. By the time they dined that evening, Charlotte could hardly believe her last day in Spain was over.

And she still had not told Gavin that she was leaving for Italy in the morning.

Aunt Louisa had received a letter from her friend in Italy who was ill and she wished to travel to her as quickly as possible, so they were cutting their stay in Spain a little short and moving on to Venice in the morning. Charlotte did not know if Gavin had heard the news from someone else or not, but she had not mentioned it to him. For some reason, she felt it would break the spell they were under if they spoke of the end of their time together in Spain. She had no expectations from him of what would become of them after.

Gavin took her in his arms and kissed her on the balcony outside her bedroom, as he had done every night since the first time he had kissed her and she had melted into him. Their kisses had grown more and more passionate each night, their hands venturing farther and farther beyond where they should. But as always he stopped before they became too carried away, even though she longed for more, ached for more.

“Good night, my beautiful Charlotte,” he whispered in her ear. “I’ll see you in the morning.”

Yet tomorrow morning they would not meet at dawn in the studio as they had.

It was on the tip of her tongue to tell him then that she was leaving in the morning, but the words would not come out. “Good night,” was all she could muster.

And then he disappeared down the spiral staircase.

Charlotte returned to her empty room, blinking back unshed tears and feeling as if someone had kicked her in the stomach. She sat on the edge of her bed, wrapped her arms across her waist, and tried to catch her breath. Finally she stood. With trembling fingers she removed her pretty gown and all its trappings and slipped into the coolness of her white lawn nightdress. She unpinned her long hair, letting it fall to her waist. She turned down the lights and climbed into the tall bed. Restless and anxious and filled with longing, she could not lie still.

Charlotte rose from her bed. She began to pace across the room, her bare feet silent upon the smooth tile. Back and forth she moved, back and forth across the floor. Finally she paused.

She stared at the balcony doors.

Before she could think, before she could change her mind, she slipped out the doors and fairly flew down the iron steps that led to Gavin’s room. Her heart pounding an erratic rhythm, she tapped lightly on his door. Without waiting for a response she pulled the double doors open. Her eyes scanned the dimly lit room, focusing in on him.

He turned at the sound of her entrance and froze in place. He had just removed his shirt and stood in only his trousers. The sight of his bare chest made her shiver.

“Charlotte?”

Her mouth was too dry to speak. She closed the doors behind her and stepped toward him on unsteady legs, ignoring the incredible roaring in her ears. Her eyes moved to the large bed that dominated the room and back to Gavin.

He tossed his shirt to the floor and came to her. He gathered her in his arms and she breathed in the clean scent of him. It calmed her. As did being in his familiar embrace. She pressed her cheek into the heat of his bare chest, could hear the beating of his heart. Her arms wrapped around him and her hands caressed the smoothness of his back. He kissed the top of her head over and over, while his hands stroked her hair.

When she could breathe again, he cupped her face in his hands, making her look at him. Charlotte stared into his eyes and was lost.

He knew why she had come.

Without a word, his mouth came down over hers, hot and possessive and demanding. His tongue plundered her. She clung to him tightly and kissed him back as fiercely as she could. She wanted him. She wanted everything. And nothing else mattered at that moment but the two of them. She clung to him, to his soft lips, to his hot mouth.

Finally allowed the freedom to touch her where he wished, Gavin’s hands raced over her body, caressing her through her nightdress. He slid his hands down her back, over her hips, then cupped her bottom and pressed her against him. With his fingers he hitched up the fabric of her nightgown, slowly sliding the material up her legs, leaving bare skin in its wake. When he had enough in his hands he pulled the rest of it up and over her head, as she obligingly raised her arms.

A rush of air escaped him in a low whistle. “I’ve pictured you like this a thousand times, Charlotte, and you are even more beautiful than I imagined.”

Naked before him, without the cover of pale silk between them this time, he ran his warm hands over her skin, caressing her shoulders, her arms, her back. Shivers of delight washed over her. Leaning forward she kissed him, her mouth hungry for the taste of him. Effortlessly, he lifted her up and carried her, just like the day on the beach. She loved it when he did that. With a gentle touch he placed her on the bed and positioned himself beside her. He rested his head on his hand and gazed at her.

“You’ve done this before,” she whispered in apprehension, knowing what his answer would be.

He gave a slight nod.

“With very many women?”

“That doesn’t matter now.”

“I’ve never done—”

“I know.” He kissed the words from her lips and stroked her face in a soothing motion.

Charlotte leaned into him.

“Do you know what torture it was for me to hold you in my arms each morning in the studio and feel your body so close to mine, and yet not be able to do this?”

With the lightest, the faintest of touches, he traced a delicate path from her cheek, to her jaw, down her neck, caressing across her chest until he crested at the peak of one breast. Her eyes fluttered while he stared at her, his eyes heavy lidded with passion.

“Or this?”

He lowered his head and kissed her breast, his tongue teasing the nipple.

Her breathing now began to come in shallow pants and she shivered with pleasure at his intimate touch. It was rapturous, every bit of it.

“Or this?”

He continued to lavish honey-sweet kisses on her other breast.

As she lay naked on his bed, a moment of panic consumed her at the inevitability of what she was about to do. She closed her eyes and pulled him to her, wanting the weight, the solidness, of his body to cover hers. She heard the sound of his voice, soft murmurings of endearments, soothing words. He whispered her name as he kissed her face, her eyes, her cheeks, her throat. She was not afraid, for she wanted this, wanted him too much to truly be afraid. It was the unknown that had her so skittish.

Thoughts, everything and nothing at all, raced through her mind. She could not catch one long enough before another one replaced it. He smelled nice, like spicy soap. His skin was so warm and smooth. His blond hair was thick and silky. She loved the sound of his name. She may have even said it out loud. His touch felt wonderful. Time was suspended around them, for each second seemed to last an eternity. Every caress, every kiss was intensified between them. She could not get close enough and she writhed beneath him. He moved away, and feeling bereft, she pulled him back to her.

She wanted to melt into him, to become part of him. Her mouth sought his and they kissed, their lips searing each other. Tasting, licking, sucking. She splayed her fingers through his thick blond hair, losing herself in the feel of him. She arched her back, pressing against his body, which covered the length of hers. Taut muscle and heated skin, a long, hard penis … Her eyes flew open! Unaware of how he had shed the rest of his clothes, she suddenly realized he was as naked as she was. Heavens! She knew it would come to this, and she had four little brothers so she had an idea of what one looked like, but she was not at all prepared for the sight or feel of Gavin’s! She gasped and wriggled against the male protrusion that rested intimately between her legs. He kissed her, calming her and enflaming her once again. His molten eyes bored into her and she could not look away, no longer wanted to keep her eyes closed from him.

“Charlotte?” he asked, his voice hoarse with desire. The muscles in his arms tightened.

She knew what he asked. “Yes,” she breathed so low she wasn’t sure if he heard her.

He kissed her mouth again, his eyes still on hers. He heard.

When he entered her, hard and swift, she cried out before she could stop herself. The pain and awkwardness subsided as he continued to move in a steady rhythm within her. She lay motionless at first, unable to do anything else but accept. But then, oh but then … Those sensations began to escalate anew…. She had no choice. She had to move then, move with him. The look in his eyes as she shifted her body with his excited her.

Their pace increased, their fervor for each other in a fever pitch. Awash in pleasure and blissful sensations and feelings that had no name, Charlotte thought she would faint. Or scream. Or both. Instead she held on to Gavin’s strong shoulders as the only stable element in her spinning world as she was suddenly overcome with waves of the most intense pleasure she had ever known as he strained his body against hers.

Then he collapsed next to her, breathing as heavily as she was.

Exhausted and basking in the delicious lethargy that crept over her entire body, she curled up next to him. Gavin drew her into the circle of his arms and kissed her.

Charlotte closed her eyes then.