“Yes,” she said. “I came to seduce you.” Without another word, she slipped the straps of her chemise from her shoulders and pushed it downward. He couldn’t seem to take his eyes off her. He hadn’t remembered how perfect she was.
He tried to jump to his feet, but she grabbed his arm, and somehow—he wasn’t exactly certain later how it happened—he was on the sofa, his arms around her back, and his mouth pressed against the hollow of her throat.
Adam had felt desire many times, but he had never before loved a woman he desired. He was amazed at how fiercely he wanted to possess her, to make her a part of him. He wanted her, as he had wanted many women before her, but he wanted even more than that to have her desire him.
“Come,” he said. He pulled her to her feet and lifted her in his arms. He felt her light kisses against his throat as he carried her up the narrow staircase.
Adam placed her on his bed and quickly lit the candle. From where he stood he could see the excited anticipation in her eyes, smiling to himself.
Rayna lowered her eyes to the remaining buttons on her gown and began to unfasten them, her fingers steady.
He sat beside her, pausing to push a tendril of auburn hair from her forehead, kissed her, and rose. He paused again, his hands on his cravat, to lean down and pull the spread over her.
He gently kissed the tip of her nose, and straightened to strip off his clothes. It was like the night before, when Rayna lay sprawled on the bed before him, terrified yet trusting him. He was aware now, just as he had been then, that she was watching him, her eyes on his body. He turned slowly, naked, to face her.
“I didn’t remember you like that.”
Adam cocked his head to one side, not understanding. “Like what, Rayna?”
“It is impossible.”
He laughed. “We shall see, cara.” He slipped under the cover beside her to find her rigid as a board.
“Surely I, a simple man, do not frighten you?”
“You are not a simple man, Adam Welles, you are simply too much.”
“And you are small and beautiful, and I will fill you, Rayna, but not with pain.”
“Do you promise?” His eyes were nearly black in the shadowy light.
“I promise.” As he possessed her mouth, his body reminded him he had not enjoyed a woman since he met Rayna at the palace, long weeks before. Touching her, feeling her respond to him, made him shudder with need. He forced himself to think of her, to make her forget any pain he would bring her.
He threw off the cover and let his hands touch her breasts.
“I love for you to kiss me,” she said, her fingers stroking his face. “And I love your beard. It tickles.”
“You are so lovely, Rayna,” he said, and as he kissed her, his fingers stroked down her belly to find her.
“I don’t understand,” she whispered.
“Soon, sweetheart, soon now.”
“Please stop,” she said suddenly. “I cannot bear it. Please, Adam.”
“You do not have to bear it, cara, you need only to enjoy it.”
“Adam,” she whispered, then her body convulsed, and she cried out his name again. He muffled her cries with a kiss and parted her legs.
“Rayna,” he said, “look at me.”
She raised vague eyes to his face.
“A moment of pain, love, just a moment.”
He entered her slowly, pausing a moment at her maidenhead.
“I love you, Rayna,” he said, and pushed into her.