Sweet heaven, she had to control herself. She couldn’t allow Kell to envelop her in emotional chaos. If she didn’t take care, she could find herself at his mercy, reaching for love and getting nothing in return but pain.
And yet when he lifted his head, gazing down into her eyes with such warmth, her resistance fled.
“I intend to spend the night in your bed,” he warned, his voice still hoarse with passion.
Raven nodded wordlessly, knowing she couldn’t deny him.
Several hours later, Kell lay with Raven in the dark, examining the strangeness of his feelings. They had retired to her bed after dinner and resumed the passionate exertions they’d unexpectedly begun in the drawing room. But only after she’d fallen asleep with her back curled spoon fashion in the curve of his body did he recognize the unfamiliar warmth that was flowing through him like a warm current.
Happiness. He was feeling happiness for the first time since his childhood. All because of Raven.
His loneliness had vanished, while his house had taken on new life in her enchanting presence. Her uniqueness was amazing, Kell thought, breathing in the fragrance of her midnight hair. Sparring with her was more exhilarating than making love to other women, and making love to her was…incredible.
He didn’t know how many lovers he’d had in his lifetime, but he knew that the way he’d felt with them was nothing compared to what he felt now. This sense of perfection. Of completeness. Raven made him feel joy, as if he would explode with it if she merely smiled at him.
He rubbed his knuckles softly against her bare arm, slowly savoring the silken texture of her skin. He hadn’t meant to make love to her this afternoon, at least not with such violence. But hot need had welled up in him the instant he’d touched her-and fierce male triumph had flooded him when she’d responded so eagerly. Her soft moans of arousal had nearly driven him mad. Even now, after a night of lusty passion, he wanted to take her again.
He was caught in the heat of his own desires, he knew…and something more. Is it love?
The thought startled him. When an accusing image of Sean rose up to taunt him, he pushed the damning thought away. His loyalty to his brother had nothing to do with his feelings for Raven.
So what did he feel for her?
He wanted more than just a taste of Raven. He wanted to consume her, totally, absolutely, utterly. Desire for her burned like a fever. She was beautiful, tantalizing, everything he wanted in this world. But just as strong as physical desire was the need to be with her, to laugh and fight with her, to cradle her in his arms, to protect her, to make her happy, to know happiness with her…
The want that rose up in him was so intense he had to shut his eyes.
Love. Was that the name for the overpowering feeling that was swamping him? The emotion he hadn’t thought he needed?
Kell sucked in a ragged breath, recognizing the truth. He loved her. The realization was frightening, exhilarating, unreal. He had lost the battle with himself.
Yet Raven was still fighting the battle. Even clasped against his heart, she still kept herself apart. She was too afraid of him. Afraid of giving herself, of losing herself, of loving.
Just then she stirred in her sleep, making him excruciatingly aware of her nakedness, of her ripe buttocks pressing against his loins. His longing was so sharp he had to clench his teeth. How could he still be this aroused after thoroughly sating himself?
Even as he swore a low oath, he gave in to his hunger. Shaping his palm to her feminine curves, he stroked her hip, then slid his hand around to her flat belly and lower…finding the warm, dewy cleft of her womanhood, plying her till he felt the sleek moisture that proclaimed her desire.
She still slept as, from behind, he slipped his arousal between her thighs; yet when he pushed himself into the yielding softness of her body, she stirred awake with a moan and pressed back against him eagerly.
Kell gave a rough sigh of pleasure and slid himself deeper into the hot, wet, incredibly tight clasp of her, his rhythm slow and tender, sheathing and drawing away until it became sweet, ecstatic torture for them both.
In only moments, though, the pleasure became too fierce to be borne. Kell shuddered, his tenderness giving way to savage demand. Rocking his hips, he drove her to a trembling climax before he found his own release, convulsing as his seed spurted from his body, filling her.
Holding her shaking body in the aftermath, he buried his face in her hair. He had met his match; he knew it without a doubt. But it remained to convince Raven of that.
Thus far their relationship had been purely carnal, based only on satisfying their mutual sexual needs. He had stirred her heart’s hidden passion, he suspected, but if they were to have a true marriage, he would have to overcome Raven’s fear of love. He would have to show her that loving him didn’t mean losing herself.
As the final ripples of passion faded, she eased away and turned over in his arms, sleepily lifting her face to his. Her mouth was warm and soft, pliant and willing-and there was such sweetness in her kiss, it sent shock waves all the way to his heart. Gathering her close, Kell returned her kiss with tender fervor, treasuring Raven’s gentle sigh of repletion when she curled her arm around his neck and nestled her head on his shoulder.
And as he lay there with her, wrapped in the night shadows of her hair, he made a silent vow. Someday they would be husband and wife in truth. If it took to the end of his days, he would convince Raven to let herself love him.
A welcome thaw put an end to the Frost Fair shortly after their visit, but that day proved to be a pivotal turning point in her marriage. To Raven’s dismay, Kell began spending his nights in her bedchamber. He would come home late from his club and join her in bed, rousing her from sleep and stirring her to new heights of passionate abandon.
He shared her company during the days as well. She often found Kell still at the breakfast table, reading the morning papers, when she returned from her rides in the park. He provided her escort to the various social events she chose to attend. And occasionally he even invited her to join him at the club.
Raven found herself struggling desperately against her own awakened desires. Kell filled her with ecstasy and impossible longings, ruling her thoughts, waking or sleeping. She wanted to touch him a hundred times a da
y.