Caressed by Moonlight (12 page)

“You may ask me anything you like.”

“Do I torture you?”

“Torture me?” he asked his brow wrinkled in confusion.

“What I mean to say is do I tempt you too much?”

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His stormy eyes met hers in the mirror. All emotion had vanished from his face and her heart skipped a beat.

“Every damn day,” he answered his voice deep and rough.

“That is not my intention.”

“I know,” he sighed, reaching back and hooking his arm about her waist. “I try to keep my hands off you.” He rubbed the small of her back. “In truth, I try to hide from you during the day, but when we lay in bed and you press yourself so innocently against me in your sleep – That is torture. I want nothing more than to take you in my arms and hold you close.” He pulled her against his back. “I respect the fact that you want to get to know me better and I'm willing to wait.”

Victoria wrapped her arms about his neck and rested her chin upon his head, their eyes once again locked in the mirror.

“You are a good man, Dorian.”

He cringed inwardly at her ignorant words. She knew nothing of his past, nothing of what he was. She was so trusting and warm while he was detached and cold. He was a vampire, but he would not allow that part of him to ruin the short time they have together.

“And you are one sweet fire spitting kitten.”

She smiled and placed a soft kiss on his cheek before continuing to gather the hay. When she was finished Dorian stood and turned to her. He brushed her soft neck with his thumbs and leaned down as Victoria tilted her head, prepared to greet his lips.

“I'm starving, lets eat, lets eat,” Margaret called as she dashed down the hall with Ophelia hurrying after her.

Dorian groaned at the intrusion, knowing their moment had been destroyed, but Victoria took his breath away when she pressed herself to him and whispered, “Later,” against his lips.

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Chapter Seventeen

Victoria tied the silk robe about her waist and turned to gaze at Dorian. He sat in his chair peering out the window as he did every night while she took her bath. He had given her complete privacy, never glancing over his shoulder or claiming he needed to fetch something so he could sneak a peek at her. It was as if he was not there.

“I'm out,” she called to him.

Dorian sighed and stood. His muscles ached, as they did every night after her bath. It took all his will power to stay in that chair as she bathed. He turned and clenched his jaw at the sight of her standing in her scarlet robe. It hugged every curve, every hollow of her body and set his lust on fire. He turned his eyes to the tub, needing to look at anything but his beautiful young wife.

“Was it warm enough? Dobbins was afraid he had mixed too much cold water in with the hot.”

“It was perfect.”

He nodded and fixed his eyes on the floor as he walked past her. His hand twitched with the need to reach out and touch her, but he clenched it into a fist and came to stand before the bed, his back to her.

Victoria watched Dorian, desire heating her eyes.

She chewed her bottom lip nervously as she thought again about Lana's words. Did Dorian love her? Was it at all possible?

She had expected that over time he would at least grow fond of her, but love? Could it be possible that she meant more to him than a sweet treat to curb his appetite? He had saved her from death, absolute ruin, and kept her from losing her sister. He had teased her, baited her, and taunted her. He was considerate, giving, and understanding. Then, at times, he was also protective and caring.

Lana was right he did love her. All the signs were there, but she needed him to admit it. She needed to hear the words from his sinful lips. She knew he was stubborn and she knew he was not a man to give in easily. She would be patient with him, while she showed him how much she cared.

She had given Lana’s words a lot of thought as she sat in her bath. The man drove her crazy, in more ways than one. He could spark her anger faster than anyone she had ever met, but he
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could bring a smile to her lips and light her desire just as quickly.

Her heart stuttered every time he touched her. Could these strange feelings be love? Yes. She nodded to herself. She loved him and she would show him.

“Dorian.”

Her voice brushed chills down his spine. He was afraid to turn around, to look upon her. His muscles clenched as he stood perfectly still.

“Yes?” he asked, his throat dry. His cold heart tightened as he listened to her cross the floor. She stood behind him, he could feel her, smell her, taste her. She placed a warm, small, thin hand on his shoulder and he shuddered.

Victoria came up to her tiptoes; leaned against his hard back, and lightly whispered, “Make love to me.”

A tremor of excitement and pure happiness shook him as he turned. Dorian took her lips in a ferocious kiss that snatched her breath away and left her helpless. She fell against him, her limbs liquid. He did not need to be asked twice and he was not about to give her the chance to change her mind. He could not possibly wait any longer. He needed her. Now.

Dorian groaned when she opened her mouth to him, his tongue plunging inside to conquer and toy with hers. His strong hands moved up her back, massaging as they went. His skilled fingers fisted in her long, wet hair as his mouth broke away from hers. He nipped at her chin and traced her jaw with his tongue before he attacked her ear. Shivers raced down her spine as he suckled the sensitive lobe.

Her heart was beginning to pound and the rhythmic beats vibrated Dorian's body. Her blood was heating, but he wanted it to boil. He dropped his lips to the tender flesh of her throat and gently sucked on her pulse, a gasp of pure delight escaped her throat. His hands slipped into the robe, stroking her sides as he slowly parted the silk folds. The robe slipped from her shoulders and cascaded to the floor unnoticed.

Dorian took her lips again, his hands roamed over her back in sensuous circles, pressing her bare breasts hard against his nude chest. The warmth of her body seeped into him, comforting him.

He wanted her with a need, a passion, that he never knew was possible. Her skin was so delicate and it drove him to the brink of insanity. He was consumed with desire, he wanted to drive into her fast and hard, but he knew he couldn't. He had to go slow, he had to be patience. Feeling like a plundering barbarian, he wrenched
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his lips away from hers, leaving Victoria dazed and gasping for air.

He closed his eyes and tried to calm the raging storm in his body.

“Is something wrong?”

He shook his head and kissed her forehead. Then took her up in his arms and set her gently upon the bed. He did not look at her; he feared he would lose what little hold he had on his control.

“These pants need to come off,” he said as he began to attack the buttons, needing the distraction.

Victoria's eyes devoured him, slowly moving across his solid chest, down over his tight stomach, and came to rest at the bulge between his thighs. She licked her lips in anticipation as he freed the last button, and then gasped. His rich laugh brought her eyes up to his.

“Never seen one before?” he said, his large shoulders shaking with mirth.

“No. I don't go around peeking at men.”

“Good thing too. If you did I doubt you would have remained a virgin for long.”

She blushed and dropped her gaze to his chest as he continued to remove his clothing. He came down on the bed and pressed her back against the pillows then took one leg in his hand and rested it upon his shoulder. He traced her ankle with his tongue and trailed a line of fire to her knee. He nipped and kissed until her body hummed with red-hot passion once more.

He allowed her leg to drop as he slowly moved up her body like a wild prowling jungle cat. He blanketed her frame with his as he smoothed her hair away from her face. He traced the curve of her bottom lip with his warm tongue, placed light kisses to each corner of her mouth before Victoria wrapped her arms about his neck and snatched his lips. She could not stand to be teased any longer. She wanted to be pleased.

Dorian growled low, accepting her demand, his hands moving to cup her breasts. He brushed each nipple with the pad of his thumbs and they grew into hard buds as she shivered in pleasure. Victoria rubbed her legs enticingly against his. He groaned and buried his face in the curve of her neck as she wiggled her hips. He kissed and licked his way down her throat and nipped playfully at her collarbone.

Victoria's breath caught in her throat as his perfect mouth hovered a scant inch above her nipple. She withered beneath him, his warm breath tormented as it whispered over her breasts. She closed her eyes in anticipation, waiting and longing for the feel of
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his scorching tongue. A loud cry echoed in the large chamber as his mouth fastened on the bud. Her back arched as her fingers gripped his hair. He made agonizingly slow love to each of her breasts, suckling, kissing, laving, and nipping. She moaned and sighed in delight and he smiled with satisfaction. He was in control, but he knew she could make him lose it and that was the most powerful aphrodisiac.

His hand slipped between her silken thighs and quickly found the heat he so desired. He pulled away from his luscious feast to catch her lips. Victoria met his mouth hungrily and squealed with pleasure as he sank a long finger into her depths. He stroked her pulsing flesh as he toyed with her womanly nub. She tugged at his shoulders wanting more, needing more, and he obliged, slipping another finger inside her hot sheath.

Eyes shut. Victoria was lost in the sea of exquisite sensation. A delicious storm swept through her body and pushed her toward the cliff of pure ecstasy. Her muscles were taut. She had reached the edge.

Dorian pulled away and chuckled at her whimper of protest. He ignored her pleads, ignored the demands of her body and began to torment her once again with his succulent mouth. He licked a hot trail down her neck, across her shoulders and between the valley of her breasts. Dorian nipped and kissed each rib sending chills down her spine and to her toes. He seared her naval with his tongue and grinned against her stomach as she wildly moaned. His mouth continued down to the apex of her thighs. He paused to look up at her before leaning forward to press a possessive kiss atop her curls.

She murmured in protest then hissed in pleasure. Her head fell back as his tongue tasted her in hot, languid swirls, growing all the more ravenous with each thrust. She was rich, vicious, sweet honey and he knew he could never get enough. He wrapped his solid arms about her waist bringing her closer to him. He groaned as her hands grew into fists in his hair. Victoria moved her hips to his fierce rhythm. She was wild in her abandon and he loved it.

Her back arched as the coiling heat within her grew and tightened. Her breath came in gasps as Dorian ravished her. She rubbed her legs against his sides as she gripped his hair. Just when Victoria felt she could not take anymore of his sweet torture, the world burst into a bright blaze and she cried out his name as magnificent ecstasy washed over her.

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His strong hands cupped her breasts as he continued to take her with his mouth. His thumbs brushed her nipples while his tongue brushed her pleasure nub.

“Oh no more,” she begged between gasps. “I can't take any more.”

“You can and you will,” Dorian growled.

His assault grew more feverish as he slipped a finger between her slick folds. She whimpered, her hands falling from his hair to his shoulders. Her nails bit into his skin as another shattering climax gripped her. He smiled to himself and slowly retraced his way back up to her mouth. No part of her was left unexplored.

Victoria greedily took his lips and suckled his tongue as she locked her arms about his neck. She cradled his hips with hers and tunneled her fingers through his dark, rich, thick hair. He deepened the kiss as he pressed the broad head of his shaft against her hot core. With blind hunger, she rubbed herself against him. He could not hold back any longer. With one swift thrust, he was buried to the hilt. Victoria broke the kiss and gave a small cry of pain and he froze.

Had he been too rough? Had he hurt her? He knew there was pain for a virgin and he feared he had made it worse.

“I'm sorry,” he whispered pressing kisses to her temple.

“I'm sorry.”

“Dorian,” her voice was shaking as she took his face in her hands. He was shocked and thrilled when she placed a soft kiss to his lips.

Dorian remained still allowing her to adjust to his size.

Then slowly, carefully, he began to move with in her. Desperately wanting to make up for the pain he had caused her, he loved her neck and throat, kissing, licking, as he began a steady vigorous rhythm. He was aware of her every heart beat, every breath, every touch, every gasp of pleasure. He clenched his teeth as he thrust and thrust and thrust, fighting against himself. His eyes focused on the all too vulnerable pulse of her throat. His fangs grew long with desire, as his manhood swelled even larger with need. He ran his tongue over the delicious proof of life and grazed it with his teeth.

He was about to surrender to the beast within when she sighed his name. It was the lightest of sounds but it touched his black heart.

His eyes moved to her face. He watched the hot flush of passion and arousal wash over her skin. He savored her gasps and as he penetrated and withdrew and took note of the frantic arching of her
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back and hips. She was the most beautiful creature he had ever seen.

His body claimed hers with deep, sure, possessive strokes.

She withered beneath him, her thighs gripping his hips, her nails digging into his flesh. The moon exploded into stars of vibrant colors as she cried out his name.

The feel of her climax, her warm, tight sheath clenching around him, fueled his need. He drove into her again and again, intent on sating an insatiable hunger. Faster and harder he plunged to her depths sending her spiraling through time and space, her moans and gasps filled the room as she was wrapped in a blanket of mind numbing pleasure.

Dorian drove into her one last time, buried himself deep in her core and melted in delirious bliss, flooding her, filling her, experiencing primordial ecstasy. He kissed her with an urgency that he had never known and hugged her close. Not wanting to leave her, he ended the kiss and propped himself upon one elbow and gazed down at her. Her eyes were closed and her lips swollen from his intense kisses.

“No one could have prepared me for this.” She smiled and ran her fingers through his hair. “If I had known what it would be like, I would not have asked you to wait.”

Dorian kissed her brow. He had never experienced such a perfect moment. He could not deny that he had been pleasured before, but never like this.
My kitten is special
, he thought as he gently brushed her cheek with his thumb.

“I guarantee you will never become bored in my bed,” he said, confidence dripping from his lips.

“No,” she agreed, her head still spinning. “That is something we will never argue about.” She laughed and opened her eyes. Great luminous, sparkling pools of green peered up at him and he could not resist the urge to place a soft kiss upon love worn lips.

He rolled to his side and she snuggled against him, her head resting against his shoulder.

“Good night,” she whispered moments before she slipped into a sated slumber.

Dorian lay in thought. He had been insane to think he could only spend one night with her. She had given him the greatest pleasure he had ever known. His heart ached as the thought of leaving her entered his mine. He would have to go back to his clan soon, for they needed him and she certainly could not go
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with him. He would have to let her go; he would have to leave her behind.

He pressed her hard against him and inhaled her light lovely scent. He would never forget the feel of her or the taste of her or the way her eyes light up when she smiled, but he would leave her. He had to. A peculiar, unnerving feeling spread through his chest as he stared at the ceiling, was it sadness?