Velvet Chains (Historical Romance) (13 page)

She realized that The Raven had removed his leather mask when she felt his lips against her neck. "Please don't do this," she pleaded. "I have done nothing to deserve this treatment from you."

He wound her hair around his hand and jerked her head forward. She could feel his warm breath against her lips.

"Have you not?" he whispered.

Suddenly Season felt the full weight of his body. She was sure she would be crushed. "Please I implore you— let me up." Her fear was deeper now, for she knew what he had in mind.

"I have heard it said, my lady, that you are no lady. What difference then if I take what you have so often given to other poor fools? I could make you want me, shall I prove it?"

"No! I have . . . never done ... no one has ever . . ." Her words were choked off as his hand ran softly across her cheek, then down to rest against her neck.

All at once her fear was replaced by a deeper and more frightening sensation. She felt his teeth nibbling at her earlobe, causing tiny shivers of delight to skirt across her skin, and she seemed to go weak all over as he brushed his hot mouth against hers.

Season tried to remember that she was a lady, that this man was nothing more than a black-hearted pirate. She was about to voice her objections, when his hand brushed against her breast and caressed it with a slow circular motion. The only sound that escaped her lips was a low moan.

Her lips trembled as his tongue circled her mouth. Season was aware that his hands were unfastening the laces at the bodice of her gown, but she didn't seem to have the will to stop him.

In no time at all he removed her clothing, with a masterfulness that led her to believe he had performed the deed many times before.

"No, no," she moaned, just before his scorching mouth settled on hers. At first Season was shocked and tried to pull away, but soon she became aware of a deep ache in the pit of her stomach. She had never been kissed in such a way before and she didn't know how to react. His hands were roaming over her hips and she felt a slow burning sensation wherever they touched her skin.

"Open your mouth," he whispered against her lips. His voice was deep and husky and sent her senses reeling.

"No," she pleaded, turning her head from side to side, trying to escape the lips that were causing her to feel things she didn't want to feel.

He grabbed her chin in one hand and covered her lips with hot kisses. Season could feel herself surrendering against her will as he forced her lips apart and plunged his tongue inside the warm sweetness of her mouth.

At that moment The Raven knew he had won. She became soft and pliant in his arms, and her hands moved around his neck to tangle in his hair.

Season was overcome by the new feelings that ran through her untested body. She felt the whole world had no substance; nothing mattered to her but the dark Raven who, in his impatience, was stripping the shirt from his own body while his lips caressed and teased Season's tender mouth.

Season was experiencing many new and different sensations, but the one that seemed to render her mindless was the feel of the rough hair on his hard chest brushing against her swollen breasts.

She was locked in a warm cocoon of darkness, where only the feelings aroused by the man who was becoming master of her body mattered. There was no world outside this room. She clamped her mouth together tightly as his hot lips traveled down her arched throat to move slowly over her breasts. When he encircled a silky peak with his tongue, she felt her body respond even more. She couldn't control the tremor that shook her.

Season now had no feeling of what was right or wrong. It was as if their bodies had been destined for one another. In all her girlhood fantasies, she had never dreamed a man could make her feel so alive. The Raven was not her enemy—he was the one for whom her body had been created.

No, this isn't wrong, she thought, as a warmth spread through her body. What harm was there in allowing him a few kisses? He could feel her naked body, but he couldn't see her. Season knew she wasn't thinking rationally, but that didn't matter—nothing mattered but the feel of those sensuous hands moving across her stomach as softly as butterfly wings.

Season felt momentary confusion as he moved off the bed. She could see nothing in the total darkness; she could hear only The Raven's heavy breathing. Suddenly she felt him beside her again, and he pulled her against his hot body. She heard a low groan escape his lips, when hot naked flesh fused with hot naked flesh.

"No, this is wrong," she whispered, feeling as if her breathing had closed off.

"You have a debt to pay, my lady," he whispered against her lips. "It may not be your debt, but you will pay it all the same."

"I don't understand," she said, trying to make some sense out of what he was saying.

"I'll say one thing for you, my lady. You are the best I've had up to this point. Someone taught you very well. You make my blood burn. I can hardly wait to feel all the delights your body can offer." His voice was no more than a soft whisper, but the sound of it echoed in Season's mind.

She didn't know what he was talking about, but she didn't care. She moved her body against his and felt a deep satisfaction when he groaned and clasped her tightly against his lean hard body. She could feel his swollen shaft against her inner thigh and touched it with her hand. She heard The Raven gasp and could feel him tremble.

"I will have you, even if I die for it," he groaned in her ear. "I could sooner die than stop now. You are in my blood, and have been since the first moment I saw you."

His mouth sought and found hers. Season felt her head swim at the intensity of feeling that passed between them. She knew instinctively that The Raven was as moved by her as she was by him.

She had no notion as to what the mating of a man and woman would be like, but she knew she was about to find out. Would the meeting of their flesh be as consuming as the kisses and caresses The Raven had bestowed on her? she wondered. Suddenly she was impatient to find out. She felt his hands on her knees as he easily spread her legs apart. When he paused above her Season wondered what new sensation awaited her.

His hand moved over her inner thigh and Season bit her lip to keep from crying out. Surely his hands have magic in them, she thought as his fingers brushed against her.

Suddenly she could feel him tense. "It has to be now, my lady, he whispered. "You are driving me out of my mind. I need to feel myself deep inside your body."

Season cried out as he thrust his swollen manhood into her. Pain ripped through her and she gasped for breath. She hadn't known there would be pain!

She felt him stiffen, and he grabbed a handful of hair and jerked her head up to him. "Damn you to hell! What trick is this? You have never been with a man before! You were a virgin."

"Let me go, you are hurting me," she cried, trying to pry his hands away from her hair. "You are a brute!" she sobbed, pounding against his chest.

The Raven was totally confused. He suddenly wanted to draw her to him and comfort her. Her first time with a man should have been handled gently and patiently. He realized how wrong he had been about her, and how he must have hurt her. What monster had spread the lies that she was a soiled dove? As his lips moved over her face, he could taste the saltiness of her tears, and he felt the fire within his body intensify. He knew he wanted her more than ever. For some reason he found great satisfaction in knowing he was the first man to be with her.

"If I had known…" he whispered against her trembling lips. "But the damage is done; I see no reason to stop now. I would be doing you no favor if I stopped at this point. It might do you more harm than good."

"No, I don't want—"

"Listen to me, my lady," he said, touching her face softly. He still rested inside her and it was hard for him to concentrate. "If I do not complete the act, you might shy away from men in the future. Trust me when I tell you there is pleasure beyond the pain."

Before Season could voice her objections, he dipped his head and found her honeyed lips. Slowly and gently he began moving inside her. Season didn't know when the pain ceased and the pleasure began, but suddenly she arched her hips and met his forward thrust, feeling as if she were floating in a deep, warm void where only pleasure and wild sensations dwelled.

"Sweet little virgin," he breathed against her ear.

The sound of his raspy voice reminded Season that this man was not only her enemy but a pirate as well. She struggled against him trying to push him away!

"It will do no good to fight, my lady. It would be far more enjoyable if you would go with your feelings," he urged softly.

"Never! I will see you dead before I succumb to your beastly appetites. I will fight you with my dying breath!"

Soft laughter rumbled deep inside his chest. "The time for maidenly protests has passed. I think you will not fight me," he said in an amused voice.

Season hated him for being so sure of his domination of her. She closed her eyes, knowing he was too strong for her to fight him. She would just lie passive; surely he wouldn't want her that way.

He started moving inside her again, but this time it was different. Whereas before he had been gentle with her, he now thrust forward forcefully, penetrating deep into the depths of her womanhood. "I think you will give me all I ask and more," he breathed against her satiny breast.

"Please, Raven," she said in a throaty voice.

"Please what, my sweet, sweet lady?"

"I don't want this," she groaned.

"Pity you are so young and inexperienced, my lady, but I know just how to make you want me."

"No, never," she said, not realizing her passion-laced voice lent the lie to her claim.

"Never is such a pessimistic word, my lady," he said, thrusting forward with such intensity that her arms slid around his back and she dug her fingernails into his skin.

Instantly, Season swallowed her pride, knowing she no longer wanted to fight this man. Pleasurable feelings flowed like the stormy sea through her veins. Her untrained body was reacting urgently to his masterful manipulation. When his mouth sought hers, her parted lips welcomed his kiss. How easily he had won her over, she thought, unable to stop her hungry body from trembling.

The Raven's kiss deepened as her soft yielding body seemed to set him afire. He had long ago lost count of the number of women he had bedded. Lately the women he had known had been nothing more than objects on which to release his pent-up emotions, but this time it was different. His whole being seemed to tremble as a lock of her sweet, scented hair brushed against his lips.

Closing his eyes, he tried to close his heart to the new feelings that seemed to entrap his whole being. There was danger in the silken arms wound about his neck. He had sought to revenge his uncle's death by taking Lady Season, but perhaps it was she who had extracted the revenge. She was casting a spell on him, and he feared it was a spell that would never be broken. The Raven was angry with himself for wanting her, angry with her for making him experience these unwanted feelings. But it was too late to run now. He had a sensation not unlike that of drowning, and he knew she had extracted his heart from his body!

As his lips tasted the salty tears on her face, he realized he was being too rough with her, so he gentled his movements. Where was the victory in striking out at her as at an enemy? Just then his body reached the highest plane of satisfaction. He shuddered. No, he thought. I have not conquered the enemy—she now holds me captive! In truth, the Lady Season Chats-worth had answered a hunger deep inside him that he never had known existed.

"My lady, my lady," he murmured over and over. It sounded to Season's ears as if he were calling her
his
lady.

In that moment she experienced a new and deeper feeling. Her body seemed to erupt, and she felt her whole being tremble. Never had she felt so at peace with the world, never had she felt so fulfilled and alive!

For a long moment neither of them moved, the only sounds their heavy breathing and the lapping of the waves against the side of the
Andromeda
.

Season reached up to shyly touch The Raven's face, and he kissed her hand, but suddenly he tensed and shoved her roughly from him. Aware that he had moved off the bed, she wondered why he had changed toward her. Season strained her eyes in the darkened room, but she could see nothing. The hopelessness of her situation seemed to hit her like a physical blow.

She was in disgrace! She had wantonly allowed The Raven to take what she would never have given to another man. Season couldn't even claim rape! What little effort it had taken to break down her defiance. Now the things that were being whispered about her in private drawing rooms was true. She was a soiled woman!

"I am ruined forever," Season cried out, burying her face in her hands.

"Don't take it so hard, my lady. You have merely lived up to your reputation," came the cruel reply.

"You took advantage of me!" she accused, as some of her spirit returned.

"That might have been true in the beginning, my lady, but after a bit you were willing enough."

"You are a beast, and I will hate you until I die!" she cried. Hot tears scalded her face, and Season pounded her fists into the soft mattress. "If only I were a man, I would see you dead!"