Damien's Destiny (10 page)

He’d known he couldn’t stand the tedium of attendance at the House of Lords, although he enjoyed doing occasional tasks for the War Ministry. He belonged at Tregaron. Much later that night he shoved aside the last of his papers, sighed and leaned back in his commodious chair. Something about the feel, even the smell of leather always comforted him. As it would any male. He wondered briefly if Toria felt the same solace in leather. Probably not but the thought brought a smile to his heart. She possessed a sensitive soul. She’d definitely fingered and liked the velvet of her riding habit.

He looked once again at the message on the wireless that waited for him. Thank heavens it was from Jason. They’d both learned the Morse code a long time ago and now could read the messages almost automatically. It was by far the quickest way to correspond over such a large distance.

The
Sea Gull
neared the Suez Canal. An extra message than the schedule they’d arranged but it cheered Damien to see it. Jason promised to wire Damien as soon as he managed to join the next scheduled convoy. With a sigh, Damien dropped the wireless transcript on his desk. Exchanging one problem for another seemed to be his usual mode nowadays.

He’d found a modicum of relief in the message, rejoicing for more than one reason Jason was indeed about to enter the Canal. Not only was his friend close to his objective but he would enjoy a much needed respite from the rigors of ocean sailing. The prescribed slow speed for convoys passing through the Canal left the crew and passengers with little to do but take pleasure in the passing scenery.

Damien slowly climbed the stairs. Surprisingly, he could see a light glimmering from under the door to Toria’s room. Was she still then distraught?

Knocking on her door, he heard a rustle of skirts as she hurried to answer. She opened it, saw who it was and propelled herself straight into his arms. He tightened them around her soft curves, fighting down the desire that always swamped him when he touched her.

“Hush, love, don’t take on so.”

He kissed her hair and when she continued to cling to him slowly tipped her face up to his. Damien gave her every opportunity to move away but she did not hesitate as she pulled his lips down and kissed him with little sign of restraint. The kiss rocked him to his toes. It was the kiss of an innocent woman, to be sure but one eager to learn more. Much more. A woman with more passion in her than he’d even hoped and all the more enticing since she didn’t realize how much she revealed. He was too experienced to fail to recognize the desire in her beautiful eyes. Did she know even their color mesmerized him, a shade combining blue and purple and bottomless as calm ocean waters?

Did she realize she was beginning to want him?

He let the kiss deepen and she continued to try to imitate his every motion. Her lips parted under his and he instantly inserted his tongue. She hesitated and then returned the gesture, although he didn’t doubt such an intimate kiss was still not familiar to her.

Their tongues danced and swirled around each other and with a gasp she tried to move even closer. Damien freed himself enough to touch her breasts, feeling their wondrous shape and the perfect way they filled his hand as he moved it from one to the other.

Toria could not believe how very weird and wonderful she felt. Beyond strange, as if she dwelt in another world from the one she’d always known. If she found the first part of his kiss intoxicating, when he opened his mouth over hers she found no words to describe the wondrous sensation overriding all her fears. She simply surrendered to Damien, loving his masterful touch, knowing she was being seduced by an expert. But one who would never hurt her.

She reveled in sensations she’d never imagined. She tilted her head slightly to better accommodate his hot mouth. Damien’s touch and kiss filled her with desire, although she couldn’t say what she so badly wanted. She only knew she yearned for him to take her to this other world his touch always promised. A world she both longed for and feared.

She comprehended only a little of what she sought. She felt as if she were tumbling in space and yet she knew herself to be anchored within his strong arms. She wanted to stay in those exciting arms forever, protected from all the injuries that might ever besiege her. Damien could conquer any evil. As long as his strength surrounded her with such devastating delirium she knew nothing could harm her.

She loosened her arms from the lock around his neck and let one hand roam under his coat, hoping what thrilled her would also please him. She fingered his chest under his sheer batiste shirt, marveling at how his muscles jerked and hardened. His entire form seemed so different from hers. His chest was flat and muscled but as she moved her fingers a little lower he groaned and caught her hand. He radiated warmth, his heat almost burning her palm.

“Toria, I love you touching me. I can’t tell you how much it pleases me. But not in the hall. May I come into your bedroom?”

She nodded, suddenly cognizant a servant could appear at any time. As usual, Damien was thinking only of her. She took his hand, leading him in. As soon as they entered he wrapped one arm around her and walked her to the edge of her bed.

“Toria, will you permit me to lie down with you, for just a little while? I want only to give you pleasure.”

She had no idea what he meant but she knew she didn’t want him to leave. She felt safe with Damien and only with Damien. She’d been terrified so long. Anything to keep Damien with her suddenly became her dearest desire. She stared at him, saying nothing. She might not actually know what he meant but she knew she trusted him.

She saw his look, one of a deep emotion she couldn’t begin to interpret. She knew he wanted something from her and wanted it with every fiber of his being. Blood pounded in her ears as she regarded the striking man in front of her. Tall, erect, handsome beyond belief and yet with a yearning in his eyes she couldn’t comprehend. What could she possibly offer to begin to match this matchless man?

He spread his thumb softly over her lips and then kissed her with tender awe.

“We belong together, Toria. You’ll come to accept that in time. May I show you a little of the love I feel for you?”

She looked into his eyes and saw only that emotion she did not understand. Nor did she understand herself. She only knew whatever Damien wanted, she did also.

She nodded even as he lifted her in his arms and laid her gently on the bed. Not only gently but with reverence, as if she were the most precious jewel in the world. He untied the ribbon in her hair and threw it aside, running his hands through the shining mass. She clung to him even as he lifted her skirts around her waist and proceeded to caress her in places she’d never known could be so pleasurable.

At first she tried to push his hand away but when his expert fingers delved in the thick curls between her legs she felt only a soaring delight. And as he unerringly found a spot she’d not even known existed, she almost bolted from his arms.

“Hush love,” he whispered. “This is for you. Only for you. Let me give you pleasure.”

He continued to caress this most sensitive spot and almost before she found strength to worry about such intimacy she felt her body begin to clench. Consumed by delightful waves rolling her body, she lay back and did nothing to stop this wonder. Soon she felt an ecstasy she’d never dreamed existed flood her entire being. She clutched him and held tight as he took her to a world she’d not imagined.

She writhed in his arms as the pleasure shook her and saw a look of satisfaction on his face even as she bit her lips to keep from screaming with this unknown bliss.

Damien held her until she quieted and then kissed her and rose from the bed. Soothing her hair from her forehead and not saying a word, he somehow made it plain he’d much rather stay than go.

Finally he spoke.

“Remember I want only delight for you, Toria. Always. Never pain. Thank you for trusting me in this.”

She thought he walked rather stiffly from the room, which puzzled her. She was more relaxed than she could ever remember. She felt boneless, still washed with waves of astonishing satisfaction.

Why didn’t he seem as relaxed? She definitely didn’t understand Damien, even though the very thought of him could make her shiver in her slippers. He was a mystery to her in so many ways, including his ability to make her crave his expert kisses. A desire that seemed to be growing with every day.

She sighed and got under the covers, luxuriating in her new and delightful feelings. He was gone but the astonishing relaxation he’d evoked stayed with her. For now it was enough.

She drifted into a blissful sleep, dreaming of Damien’s wonderful caresses.

For Damien, giving Toria pleasure had been the sweetest of torture. He had reveled in her innocent response but had never forgotten he dare not lose control of himself. He’d wanted to show her loving could be an unequaled delight and to do that he could think only of her.

Her very naïveté had made him feel like a conqueror, even as he’d trembled to keep from plowing himself into her as he’d so badly craved. Still he’d known in his heart this was too soon. He’d wanted to show her a little of the glory of passion, although he’d known this pleasure was but a partial path to his ultimate goal. One he’d prayed would make her more susceptible to loving him eventually with the ardor he craved.

His previous sexual activities were meaningless but for the fact he now knew well how to pleasure his love. Nothing mattered but Toria. Trembling from head to foot, he’d watched her beautiful face as she’d started to respond. When she’d begun to thrash her body from side to side he’d moved to hold her still with one big hand on her hip and then continued his expert assault. It took her longer than he’d thought he could endure but he’d steeled himself to wait and kept himself firmly on his self-imposed leash. He’d carefully never let his full-blown erection touch her, as he’d held himself a little to one side and dedicated his passion to bringing her the relief she didn’t even know she sought.

When she’d finally crested Damien had thought it the most wonderful moment of his life, even though it might also be the most intrinsically painful.

He’d kissed her and left her while he still could walk away.

He’d made her joyful and brought her peace.

May Merlin always extend all his blessings to his only love.

Chapter Eight

Jason found he enjoyed the passage through the Suez Canal. Very pleasurable to be in a convoy of ships with no rough waves buffeting the yacht. He’d telegraphed their arrival to Damien and now he welcomed the brief respite of the Canal. Damien wired in return that Jase would find matters in order when he reached Beira. They both felt obliged to couch everything in cryptic terms, since neither Lord Salisbury nor Cecil Rhodes would appreciate even the slightest cause for public speculation. Sending a wire required relays and they’d agreed to be circumspect. No use advertising why Jason traveled to South Africa.

Quite evidently Damien had managed to secure Lord Salisbury’s cooperation. No wonder, Damien possessed powers no one could easily ignore. Now he must concentrate on how to cope with Rafe’s condition when he finally reached him. He wished Damien had been able to come with him, even though there’d really never been a question of his leaving Toria and Debora alone for any stretch of time. Damien’s powers could so easily be necessary to deal with the evil baron.

Doubtless Damien was fretting even more than Jason. Being here well might turn out to be heartbreaking but it must be better than sitting at home and wondering.

As soon as they left the canal the trip turned miserably uncomfortable. An unexpected gale buffeted the coast of Africa and the relatively small yacht rolled and lurched with the impact of the storm. When the
Sea Gull
finally docked at Beira Jason was worried and weary. To his surprise, an officer of Rhodes’ army, a Captain Reeves, stood waiting for him and immediately requested permission to board.

Jason welcomed him with dignity but also with restraint. He’d no idea if Cecil Rhodes felt incensed or relieved to see someone appear to rescue Rafe. As it turned out, Rhodes was well cognizant a noble son of a prominent British family had been captured by rebel forces. The fact Rafe had gone into enemy territory on his own was never mentioned. Rhodes was evidently too clever to court enemies at home. The Portuguese must not want trouble and seemed to be cooperating.

The captain saluted smartly.

“What can we do to help, sir? I’ve been instructed to assist you in any way I can. We’ve succeeded in having your friend taken to the very border of Mashonaland but then we could not make Lobengula bring him further. Our Portuguese hosts are being quite helpful. But Lobengula demands a ransom, I fear, in order to let your friend cross the boundary.”

Jason nodded. “Lord Sinclair expected that and I’ve come prepared. What I need are a few men to help me secure the Duke of Essingdon’s son and transfer him to Lord Sinclair’s yacht. I have no idea of how mobile our friend will be after so long a time in Lobengula’s hands.”

Captain Reeves looked solemn. “I think he’ll not be in good shape, sir. Lobengula’s men are not known for treating a hostage with kindness. Would four men be of help? Plus myself, of course.”

Jason smiled his first genuine smile in the long days since he’d left England.