They rode as well as walked. Here in this secluded hideaway, Aurora could indulge her secret vice to her heart's content. One of her greatest pleasures was enjoying a wild gallop through a morning meadow with the wind in her face and Nicholas close on her heels.

Mostly, however, they made love. Nothing was forbidden, no place or time off limits. Nicholas was determined to shatter every last measure of her reserve. They made love in the bath, and at the supper table, and beside the reflecting pool, sheltered by the high courtyard walls. They fed each other honey-drenched sweetmeats and delicious fruits, and then drank from each other's lips. They made love on a bed of rose petals, whose fragrant perfume was almost dizzying, just as in the journal.

The journal guided Aurora in certain instruments of delight as well. Her favorite novelty was a pair of smooth silver balls, meant to be inserted deep between a woman's thighs and designed to titillate and arouse.

The first time Aurora wore them was a shock; she had never felt such awareness of her body, or of Nicholas's. The delicious sensations filled her with such excitement, she could scarcely keep her hands off him.

They explored the maze during an afternoon warm and lazy and golden with sunlight. Nicholas made the venture an exercise in eroticism, showering her with hot, slow kisses as he led her deeper into the winding labyrinth.

When they reached the very heart of the maze, Aurora was unsurprised to find a life-size marble statue of two lovers in the throes of passion, displayed like a shrine in a grassy, open-air temple. She had no trouble divining Nicholas's intent when he spread a quilt on the grass and tugged off his cravat. But when he reached for her, she tensed. The high yew hedges offered all the privacy she could wish for, yet she still wasn't completely comfortable at such licentiousness.

At her hesitation, Nicholas gave her a look that was a challenge. "No one can see us, sweeting, but if it really troubles you…"

"No," she replied, remembering all the wonderful pleasures she had discovered at his wanton urging. "It doesn't trouble me."

"I'm glad. I want you naked, love, with only hot skin between us. Come here."

He drew her into his embrace, his soft, persuasive lips caressing her face. Aurora responded helplessly, swaying closer to the solid strength of him.

She melted to his touch as he freed her warm skin to the sun and to his hands; she could feel her body softening, turning to warm, sweet honey.

When she finally stood nude before him, his eyes devoured her with a boldness that alone aroused her. The mere feel of his heated eyes on her naked breasts made them quiver with sensation. Her nipples were peeking out from beneath the burnished strands of her hair, and his index finger leisurely traced an aureole. Aurora caught her breath as he plucked it to a taut peak.

Hearing the soft sound, he raised both his hands to cover her lush breasts. "You have the most responsive nipples. One touch and they harden."

His warm palms rubbing the crested points, he watched her start and shiver under his touch.

"Nicholas…"

At her husky plea, he made a sympathetic sound. "Easy, sweet."

He kissed her mouth, not roughly but possessively, as if he meant to make her his, then slowly bore her down to the coverlet. He was still clothed, while she was completely naked, Aurora realized.

She stared up at him with a sharp sense of awareness. He returned her gaze boldly as he knelt above her, his hot eyes roaming over her. Aurora felt her breath catch in her throat. She lay completely exposed to the sun and to his heated gaze, and when he looked at her with such raw hunger, she felt deliciously sinful and desirable.

She reached for him, but he shook his head. "No. Just let me touch you."

She closed her eyes, feeling an erotic heat spread through her body that had nothing to do with the warmth of the sun. His hands were moving over her flesh, creating a sensation so piercing and sweet, she felt weak. Then he bent his head, his lips lowering to lovingly attend her breasts.

The heat within her intensified; every sensation was vividly magnified as his tongue worshiped her breasts with slow, languid strokes upon their throbbing peaks. Restlessly, Aurora clutched the coverlet with her fingers. When he blew on the nipple that was still glistening from his mouth, she moaned.

"Nicholas…" she exclaimed hoarsely, "I want you…"

He drew back; his eyes caressed her bare breasts. "Yes, I know."

The tender half smile playing on his lips promised even greater delights as his hand moved down her body to slip between her thighs to cover her hot, pulsing feminine mound. She gasped aloud, and then gasped again at the luscious slide of his thumb against the moist and aching focus of sensation.

"You are already wet for me," he said in husky approval. "Maybe we should see if we can make you wetter."

Easing himself between her parted, shivering thighs, he bent down to taste her. Excitement pierced Aurora like a lightning bolt as she realized his brazen intent.

Holding her hips with his strong hands, Nicholas brushed a probing kiss against her feminine cleft. Aurora gave a strangled moan at the intimate caress. "Ohhhh."

"Yes, love, let me hear you…" His lips faintly upturned in the quiet certainty of his power, he bent to her again.

A delicious shock flared through her body as he explored the yielding, warm folds of flesh with his erotic mouth. Shuddering uncontrollably, she gave herself over to his lavish sensuality.

Her head fell back in surrender as he savored her with his caressing lips and tongue. When she arched against him, he clasped her buttocks, giving her no opportunity to evade him. With exquisite skill he lapped at her slowly, thoroughly, his hot, rasping tongue stroking her in heated pulses, delighting the quivering, throbbing bud that was the center of her pleasure.

Her hands rose to his hair, desperately clutching. His mouth with its lazy suckling was driving her wild. "God… Nicholas… please."

"Oh, yes," he murmured against her hot flesh. "I will please you in every possible way."

He held her to him more firmly, his face pressed against her, his tongue delving inside her swollen cleft, sweetly ravishing.

Fire leapt from his mouth into her flesh, dragging a wrenching shudder from her. Her whole body was a hot screaming mass of desire. She writhed beneath him, whimpering mindlessly, until finally a shriek tore from her.

She climaxed again and again, a wild, rippling, seemingly never-ending series. Mercilessly he drew every last drop of excruciating pleasure from her quivering flesh, until she fell back, limp and helpless with exhaustion.

Satisfied, he stretched out beside her. After a long moment, he pressed a kiss against her temple. "You cannot fall asleep just yet," he murmured warmly against her ear. "We have only begun to obliterate your inhibitions."

Aurora stirred against him languorously, not wanting to move. It was scandalous, what he had done, but she couldn't bring herself to lament her wanton behavior. Instead she wanted more.

"I am not about to fall asleep," she returned in a voice still husky with passion. "I am simply being patient, waiting for you to undress. You have far too many clothes on."

His smile was so sensual, it made her heart turn over. "Your wish is my command, angel."

He started to undress, but Aurora took over. It was her turn to torment him.

Kneeling over him, she took off his garments, one by one, drawing out the moment. When he was nude, she sat back on her heels, marveling at his hard-muscled glory. His skin was golden in the sunlight, except for the paler flesh at his groin and upper thighs. He was brazen, naked male, all corded muscle and lithe strength. And he was boldly aroused.

"Now what do you mean to do with me?" he murmured, half taunting.

She returned her own taunting smile in answer. Holding his gaze, she reached for him, her hands cupping his hard, pulsing arousal.

His groan was soft and erotic in the quiet of the afternoon.

When he tried to pull her down to him, she released him abruptly and pressed her palms against his powerful chest. She intended to be the seducer this time. "No, Nicholas. You aren't to touch me. You aren't even to move."

Reluctantly he obeyed, holding his arms by his side.

Aurora leaned over him, feeling the strength of his muscles beneath her hands, his hot skin against her palms.

"You think you can make me burn?" he asked, his tone challenging.

"I know I can," she replied, feeling very, very powerful.

She bent to taste him, running her tongue over his silky, granite-hard flesh.

He arched against her mouth, as if in pain. "Aurora…"

"Be still."

She knelt there in the warm sunlight, attending to him, arousing him the way he had her. It was exciting, exhilarating. She was totally in control this time, driving Nicholas slowly mad with desire. In only a few moments, his breathing became erratic. She felt his hand clutch in her hair as he strove to remain still.

"Enough," he at last muttered roughly. "Have mercy. I surrender."

He caught her shoulders and drew her down to lie full length upon him. Her breasts lightly caressed his chest as she stared down into his pleasure-hazed eyes.

Aurora didn't protest as he lifted her up to settle her astride him. It was what she wanted, too. She drew a sharp breath as he lowered her onto his thick shaft, his slow, filling length impaling her, then sighed when she felt the heat of him inside her.