This is so good. Hot desire pumped into Ethan’s manhood, making him swell even more and he grabbed her hips and thrust in her. He gasped as he burrowed deeper, “You feel so good, baby.”

Eve closed her eyes tight and let out a faked gasp of pain.

He stopped, unsure. “Did I hurt you?”

She bent down and whispered in his ear, “Just a bit. But it’s okay.”

Damn, Ethan. She’s a virgin. “I’m sorry,” he cupped her face and kissed her lips gently.

“Don’t stop, Ethan,” she pleaded and tentatively moved down more.

Awkwardly, Ethan thrust up as she rocked down.

“Am I doing this right?” she asked shyly.

I don’t have a clue, but it seems so. “Perfect.” Ethan felt her lips searching his, felt her hands gripping his shoulders and her body tightening around him.

They found a more tuned pace and finally set in a fine tempo.

Ethan closed his eyes tight as a starburst took him and exploded, sweeping him in light, washing away every previous fear, replacing it with a pleasure so deep he thought he’d died.

The unexpectedness of Eve’s orgasm only made it more intense, and she shuddered and whispered his name as she came, burying her face on Ethan’s chest.

He settled on the pillows with a satisfied sigh and looked up at the ceiling, caressing her back. He wanted to ask if everything was all right; if he had hurt her too bad, but didn’t know how.

Eve raised her head and smiled at him, “Oh, Ethan. You were so gentle. Thank you.”

“Did you like it?” Ethan asked, his voice full of concern, betraying his nervousness.

She bobbed her head, “It was wonderful. Can we do it again?”

A happy grin spread his lips, “I guess so.”

Ethan slowly pulled away from beneath Eve’s sleeping body. She moaned softly, but didn’t wake up. After the second time they’d made love, they’d talked about nothing and everything, and then made love again. Afterwards, they held each other in silence and she drifted off to sleep.

Ethan walked to his veranda and stretched looking at the sky. The night was beautiful, the stars were bright, reflecting on the Mediterranean Sea. The weather was cooler at that time of the night, but he didn’t care. With every second he passed with Eve, his life seemed to righten. He wished it would never end. He returned to bed and pulled her into his arms.

And then, with his body sated and his mind near sleep, he began to understand that even with the deep scars his parents had left on his soul, he could enjoy life.

Ethan Ashford’s Penthouse.


Saturday, March 27th, 2010.


1.27 a.m.

Ethan shook his head hard. He didn’t want to remember Eve. Even after all these years, the betrayal hurt still. In spite of everything, he knew he also had to be grateful.

His eyes searched for the beautiful Buccellati silver frame. Sophia.

His gaze swung to the woman on the bed. He knew that she had been making an effort to please him by emulating Sophia’s style. In the last few days, she had become even more like the love of his life. He smiled sadly. No one can replace Sophia.

As if Barbara could hear his thoughts, she stirred. A moment later she rolled toward his side and her fingers searched for him. She sat on the bed and looked around.

In the dimness of the room, the motionless figure that stared back at her in stony silence looked lonely and, for the first time, Barbara took pity on that man. He had everything, but love. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing,” he replied dryly. “Go back to sleep, Sophia.”

Her mind spun, searching for what Sophia would have said. And decided that action sometimes spoke louder than words. She rose from the bed thanking her acting training.

Barbara never felt very comfortable walking around naked. She hadn’t any problems with her body, but she wasn’t used to it. She mentally shrugged and concentrated on the task at hand. Not that it was a difficult one. Ethan Ashford was a very handsome man.

And very generous too, she was reminded, when the soft light of the side lamp in the sitting room glittered on the diamond tennis bracelet he had given her the day before.

The way Ethan’s eyes devoured her face and then her body sent a giddy thrill down her spine. She stopped in front of him and bent down, speaking daringly close to his lips, as she imagined Sophia would do, “I heard what you said, but I should warn you that I’ve never been good at taking directions.”

Jesus! Every day this woman is more and more like Sophia. Ethan ran his hands over her back up to her nape, gently pulling her head toward his, taking her mouth in a hungry kiss.

When he broke the kiss, he grinned mischievously at her and said, “Then, do your worst.”

Craigdale Castle.


9.29 a.m.

Soft light poured through the gap in the curtains and Sophia felt a large, warm hand caressing her naked back. It was a wondrous way to wake up. She lifted her head and found Alistair staring down at her.

She didn’t speak nor did he. There was a peaceful quiet in the room that they seemed in agreement not to disturb.

Alistair was propped on the pillows, his long hair streaming over his broad shoulders. He looked deliciously savage, but content as well. His hand moved up to her hair and he gently combed it with his fingers, resting his hand on the small of her back where it ended.

Something in the depth of his green gaze fired to life. Something that made her melt inside. She licked her lips unconsciously and his gaze lit up further, until the green of his eyes was a slim ring around the dilated black of his pupils. His breathing roughened.

She didn’t resist the silent invitation as his lips parted. His hand tightened around her waist when she pulled his head down to gently kiss him. It was barely a brush of lips, but one that made his already warming desire boil.

Alistair pushed her onto her back as his tongue lapped her mouth, warm and rough, outlining the curve of her lips and then running along the seam, demanding entrance.

Unable to deny him anything, she kissed him and his moan sent shivers down her spine that turn to a delicious burning as he kissed her back senselessly.

“You’re so responsive. You’re already on fire,” Alistair whispered as his hand trailed down her body. His hand cupped her and she gasped, arching her body in bed.

He kissed his way down, with light kisses as two fingers dipped into her.

Sophia moaned as he softly bit and licked her clitoris. His hands moved to palm her buttocks and he gently kneaded and lifted them open. “You have such an ass, Sophia,” he blew softly and with the tip of his tongue rimmed her tight ring.

“Alistair,” Sophia gasped astonished at the unusual caress.

“Does it feel good?”

She was so surprised she couldn’t form any thoughts. “I- Do it again.”

He chuckled low before he licked her again and this time his tongue probed deeper.

“Ah,” she moaned and her hips jerked in his hands.

His hands lowered her hips back to bed and he ordered, “Turn.”

She opened her eyes; a cautious look on her face.

“Soon, Sophia. But not today.” He smiled wickedly, his green eyes blazing with the idea, “Turn. On your hands and knees.”

He went to his side of the bed and opened a drawer on the bedside table, but stopped before taking out what was inside. “Do you trust me?”

“No pain?” she asked quietly.

He shook his head, “No pain, no violence. Promise.”

“All right,” she breathed. “What is it?”

He smiled naughtily, “A surprise. Just turn around.”

Sophia didn’t hesitate. This was Alistair. She wanted him, her body craved his touch. She turned over and pushed onto her hands and knees. She slowly crawled backward to get closer to him.

A firm hand gently gripped her hip and his knee nudged her legs farther apart and she spread them to give him better access. As soon as he was satisfied with her position, he slid his hands over the curve of her buttocks.

He squeezed and fondled her breasts. “I am going take you like this, Sophia. Like a stallion covering a mare.”

Sophia closed her eyes and braced her palms against the bed in an effort to keep from falling, as her mind conjured all sorts of naughty images. She felt extremely vulnerable and aroused in that position. Her defenses were down. He could take her as he liked, do anything he wanted, and she didn’t want to stop him. Again his hand caressed her backside, caressing and rubbing until she sighed with pleasure.

He released her hip and came down over her until his body lightly rested against her curved back. The bed dipped as he braced his weight with one hand. He just slid one of his hands from her hip to curve under her belly, then lower until his fingertips teased her seam. He growled softly as he located her clitoris, rubbing back and forth until low moans burst from her parted lips. “That’s it. Nice and slow.”

Her eyes closed as she lowered her head and chest to the sheets and abandoned herself to the lust that coursed through her veins. A loud moan left her lips as she rocked on his fingers.

“Easy, now.” He shifted again and Sophia felt a slippery gel and a cold tip probing her anus and then pushing in. She gasped as a shudder ran through her body and tightened up in reflex. She didn’t know if she feared the pain or the pleasure.

“This is about pleasure. Relax,” he urged softly as he touched her clitoris with one talented fingertip and pressed in the anal plug. And turned on its vibrator.