Led Astray by a Rake (The Husband Hunters Club 1)

She stepped back now, frowning at him, wondering where this was going. “I find that difficult to believe.”

He reached out and caught her chin in his fingers, holding her almost painfully. “Let’s put it to the test, shall we?”

Her heart gave an uneasy jolt. He was playing games with her, perhaps even trying to frighten her away, and she was frightened—a little bit. But she was also excited, and it was the excitement that made her nod her head in acquiescence.

“Lie down on your back, demoiselle,” he murmured.

The bed was far bigger than she was used to, and the mattress softer. An avalanche of pillows and bolsters was scattered about them, as Olivia lay down, wriggling to get comfortable. Nic climbed over her, his hands catching her wrists and holding them above her head.

“Open your legs,” he commanded.

She could feel his cock against the apex of her thighs, seeking entrance. Slowly she opened her legs, and felt him settle between them. The only part of their bodies touching was from the waist down—he held himself up from her chest. He wouldn’t hurt her, she was certain of that. She trusted him; she wouldn’t be here if she didn’t.

“Can you feel me?” he growled.

“Yes…”

He drove deep inside her, all the time watching her face. She strained against him, trying to initiate the caresses and kisses she enjoyed so much, but he held himself away.

“Can you feel me?” he asked again.

“I…I don’t understand. Nic?”

“Pretend I am my wicked ancestor, Olivia, and you my unwilling bedmate. Are you still unwilling?”

“If you have dragged me in from the fields then I am sure I am,” she said breathlessly.

He was moving inside her, first from side to side, then rotating in a way that seemed to touch every inch of her. And then he paused and his lips curled in a wicked smile.

“Are you sure you’re unwilling?” he said, and moved with a single deep thrust.

“Very unwilling,” she groaned, trying to nuzzle against his throat.

“Wait,” he commanded. “I want you totally mine.”

He narrowed his eyes and shifted again. And then he thrust inside her once more, and it was as if she took flight. Wh

atever he’d done, Olivia was beyond thought. She cried out, and her body convulsed with a bolt of such ecstasy she wondered if she was going to faint.

“Ah,” he growled, “you can feel me now.”

He thrust again, and pushed her over the edge before she even knew she was there. Her body clenched so hard around him that he lost his control, too, and gave a hoarse shout as he shattered.

They lay, trembling, unable to do more than breathe, until slowly the bedchamber came back into focus.

If this was what his wicked ancestor had done to the girls from the fields, Olivia thought, then she couldn’t understand why they were unwilling. No one could fight pleasure like that.

“Nic…” she tried to speak, but he wouldn’t let her.

“Sleep,” he said, drawing the covers over them both. He pulled her into his warm arms, kissing her temple. “Sleep, Olivia.”

So she did.

Chapter 15

Sleep for Nic wasn’t as easy as it seemed to be for Olivia. He’d thought to frighten her, he admitted it now. In some perverse way, by playacting as his wicked ancestor, he’d considered driving her away. But it hadn’t worked. She’d thrown herself into the playacting with him, losing any inhibitions she had left and thoroughly enjoying herself. Besides, he knew that if she had been frightened he wouldn’t have gone through with it.

His body was drained, totally relaxed, in a way he couldn’t remember feeling before. Who’d have thought an inexperienced girl could do this to him, the wicked rake? Remembering the way she’d touched him, the wet lick of her tongue, he almost groaned again. The sight of her lying under him, naked and wild with delight, was something he’d never forget.