Nicole Jordan - Ecstasy

“Leave it to me,” Kell said brusquely before his tone softened. “Meanwhile…”

With slow deliberation, he pulled the covers from her grasp and reached down to stroke her inner thigh. His burning touch made her body clench with longing.

“There is still the matter of satisfying my sexual needs…” he murmured, his voice warm and rough like velvet. “And your own.”

Raven drew a steadying breath, vainly fighting the rush of desire that flooded over her. She wanted Kell to satisfy her. Desperately wanted him…

As his mouth slowly descended toward hers, she shut her eyes, ignoring the warning voices in her head. Surely she could manage a sexual relationship without tumbling into the quagmire of love.

Her chief goal would be to keep her heart safe, she vowed silently, trying to convince herself. She would never surrender her heart to this man…

Then the thought fled her mind as his scorching mouth met hers, and with a sensual shudder, she gave herself up to his caresses.

Raven woke disoriented. The crackling fire looked familiar, however, as did the masculine bedchamber. She was alone, she realized, lying naked in Kell’s bed at the gaming house. The same bed where she’d spent her abduction.

Heat flooded her entire body as she recalled the mindless passion between them last night. She’d behaved just as wantonly as her first time in Kell’s arms, only last night she hadn’t had the excuse of being drugged.

Flushing, Raven sat up and saw her ruined gown draped over a chair along with her other garments. When she climbed from the bed in order to dress, she found herself wincing at the unaccustomed aches and twinges from too much sensual indulgence.

Then she caught sight of herself in the cheval glass. She looked like a woman who had been deliciously ravished all night long and who was more than eager to repeat the experience. Her hair was a wild tangle around her face, her lips bruised and swollen, her nipples rasped red from the attentions of his hot mouth…

Raven closed her eyes, remembering Kell’s exquisite lovemaking and the explosive desire he had aroused in her. The memory was a wild hunger in her-

A soft rap on the door made her snatch up her gown to cover her nakedness.

It was Emma, carrying a tray. “I’ve brought you breakfast,” she said with a cheerful smile, “or luncheon, really.”

Raven glanced at the brocade draperies, which were still shut against the morning light. “What time is it?”

“Nearly noon.”

“So late?” She blushed, feeling unexpectedly flustered to have been caught in Kell’s bed like this, by his mistress.

“Kell thought you needed to sleep. Your groom-O’Malley, is that his name?-was here at the crack of dawn, looking for you. He wanted to make certain you were all right. But Kell assured him you hadn’t been abducted again.”

Absurdly Raven found herself stammering. “I suppose…you are wondering what I’m doing here…”

“Not in the least,” Emma replied, setting down her tray on the small table near the hearth. “You are Kell’s wife, after all.”

“But still this is awkward with you being his…”

Emma’s eyebrows shot up. She studied Raven a moment before understanding dawned. “Did you think I was his paramour? Oh, Raven, Kell and I are not lovers, nor have we ever been. I have no claim to him.”

Raven stared, frowning. Had he deliberately misled her about the nature of his relationship with his beautiful hostess? She thought back to what he’d said about Emma knowing how to satisfy a man. He’d never actually declared in so many words that they were lovers, but he’d certainly implied as much, never taking the trouble to deny the accusation…

Relief and vexation roiling though her, Raven muttered an unladylike oath. She would have a few choice words to say to Kell about his deception when she next saw him. If not for her jealousy, she would never have agreed to share his bed last night-

Emma interrupted her vengeful thoughts with a faint, self-deprecating smile. “I admit I would have welcomed such an arrangement with Kell,” she confessed with surprising candor. “In fact, when he rescued me from my former situation, I offered to become his mistress, but he declined, claiming I was acting out of gratitude. He wouldn’t take advantage of my vulnerability. But if he had shown the slightest encouragement…” Her gaze focused on Raven. “I think you are very fortunate to have captured his interest,” she said softly, then shook herself out of her reverie. “Come, put something on and enjoy your breakfast before it grows cold.”

Raven felt herself flushing again, both at her state of undress and this strange turn of events, discussing Kell’s romantic inclinations with another woman. Rather than argue, however, she found a brocade robe of Kell’s in the wardrobe and settled before the hearth to eat. When she invited the hostess to join her, Emma hesitated only a moment before sitting in the adjacent chair.

“If I may,” the hostess murmured, “I have a question to ask you. It concerns his grace, the Duke of Halford.”

“Halford?” Raven repeated curiously as she sipped her hot coffee.

“Yes. Last night he…expressed an interest in seeing me again. Would you mind terribly if I were to agree? He seems in need of comfort after…well, after losing you to Kell.”

Swallowing her surprise, Raven shook her head. “No, I would not mind in the least. I have no claim to Halford.”

“I wouldn’t accept a permanent arrangement,” Emma remarked, “even if he offered. Kell pays me extremely well, enough to allow me a large measure of independence, so I can choose the gentlemen I see. But being alone as I am…well, it sometimes gets lonely.”

Raven felt a pang of sympathy. She understood loneliness; she’d known a great deal of it since her mother died, a feeling that had only been exacerbated since her marriage.

“I know Kell suffers from loneliness as well,” Emma said softly, “even though he would be the last to admit it. That’s why I am so glad he has you. I hope you will be spending more time here, Raven.”

She shook her head. “It’s unlikely, for I’ll be leaving town soon. I plan to celebrate Christmas in the country with my grandfather.”

“Oh, is Kell accompanying you?”

Raven hesitated. Her grandfather had expressly written in his last letter that her new husband would be welcome, but she hadn’t mentioned the invitation to Kell. “We haven’t discussed it yet, but I doubt he would want to go.”

“I do hope you can persuade him. It would do him a world of good to be with you.”

Raven wasn’t certain she wanted to persuade him, for sharing a holiday with Kell could only lead to more intimacy and complicate their relationship further.

And yet…Emma was no doubt right about his loneliness. She had sensed that in him almost from the first. Beneath his air of disdainful detachment, he was hiding more pain and loneliness than he would ever reveal. She just didn’t know if she wanted to do anything about it.

She had started to cut a bite of ham when the door opened and Kell walked in. As Raven glanced over her shoulder, he met her gaze, and heat crackled between them like a bolt of lightning. Raven found herself suddenly breathless.

An instant later, he dropped his gaze to survey her attire. The rakish gleam in his dark eyes told her clearly that he recognized the dressing gown she wore, and that he knew she was naked underneath.

Raven flushed and swiftly tucked her bare feet beneath the hem.

His attention turned to Emma. “I have a fencing match in a short while, and I need to dress.”

“Then you will wish me to leave,” the hostess said with a smile as she rose.

When the door shut behind her, Raven found herself unexpectedly tongue-tied. After their passionate encounter last night, she wasn’t certain what to say to him.

Kell, however, seemed perfectly at ease as he went to the bureau and fetched a length of starched linen for a cravat. “What of your plans for the rest of the day?” he asked Raven casually. “I can drop you at home on the way to my match…unless you prefer to remain here?”

The thought of staying here in his bedchamber made butterflies dance in her stomach. “No,” she said at once. She needed a bath but that could wait. “I intend to go home-but I should get dressed…”

She started to rise but Kell stayed her with a wave of his hand. “You have time to finish your breakfast.”

Raven sank back down in her chair, relieved that she wouldn’t have to dress in front of him. She applied herself to her food, but when Kell stood before the glass to tie his cravat, she found herself covertly watching him, fascinated by this routine male task. Then she realized what she was doing and averted her gaze. It was such an intimate act, a wife watching her husband dress…

“You seem to be extremely fond of fencing,” she remarked, anxious to break the private mood.

“I am. Beyond that, physical exertion tends to burn off sexual frustration.” He gave her a wry glance over his shoulder. “I’ve been fencing a good deal of late.”

Raven could feel her cheeks flush with heat.

“I wonder, did O’Malley teach you to fence?” Kell asked when she was silent.

“No, only to shoot.”

“And to cheat at dice.”

The mention of cheating brought to mind her own grievance with him. “I am not the only one to resort to duplicity when it suits me. You were plainly dishonest last night when you led me to believe Emma was your mistress.”

Kell raised an eyebrow. “Am I to blame if you leapt to such an erroneous conclusion?”