"I do not. . . . I despise you!"
"You didn't despise me two nights ago. You enjoyed everything I did to you."
"Two nights ago I didn't know what a cad you are—"
Her retort ended in a sharp inhalation as he ripped the final buttons of her camisole, baring her corset and the chemise beneath.
"I'm going to prove you wrong, lady. You're going to eat your words before I'm done." He said it coldly, calculatingly, and with the supreme assurance of a man determined to win. "I can, you know."
"Realizing he was right, she pushed against his chest frantically. "Please, stop it. . . ."
"Stop undressing you, sweet?" He shoved aside the folds of the camisole, exposing the shadowy prelude to a luxurious cleavage. "We can leave your clothes on if you want. I'd rather have you naked, I'd rather see your beautiful body, but I can satisfy you just as well like this. I can take you right here, standing up."
Giving her no chance to respond, he tightened his grip on the veil of her hair and pulled her head back, exposing her bare throat to his mouth. His breath seared her skin as his lips found the vulnerable hollow at her throat where her pulse hammered wildly. Jess felt her head spinning, felt herself growing warm at his words, at his feather-light kisses.
"You want me, Jess." His husky voice vibrated against her throat and sent hot shivers of pleasure rippling over her.
"No . . ." She only wanted to demand that he leave her alone. She wanted to tell him to go to the devil and not come back. Trouble was, she couldn't find the strength to fight him. Her legs suddenly had gone weak. She reached for something to hold on to and found his upper arms, feeling the heavy cords of muscles beneath his tailored coat.
His mouth was hot and hungry on her throat. The scent of him surrounded her, the odor of soap and sandlewood and aroused male. He pressed hot kisses down the slender column, and lower, over her bosom, above the neckline of the corset-covered chemise which hid her creamy rose-pointed breasts. His hand joined his lips in the assault then, dipping beneath the soft cotton and rigid buckram to find an aching nipple.
Jess made a gasping sound, her body jerking convulsively. Refusing to release her, Devlin slid one hard arm around her waist, holding her prisoner, while the thumb of his other hand rubbed her nipple into a rigid peak. An involuntary moan escaped Jess as the buds of her breasts tightened unbearably. She couldn't believe this was happening. She had never imagined the brutal rush of feeling his rough caresses would kindle in her. His hard stroking fingers felt like fire on the sensitive, swollen tips of her breasts, echoed in the moist aching weakness that pulsed between her thighs.
As if he knew what effect his ministrations were having, he lifted his gaze, and his eyes held hers, hot and silver. "You want me, Jess."
Her lips parted to answer him, but no sound came out. His arm still held her tightly, and she could feel the pressure of his obvious arousal against her skirts, the suggestive movement of his hips thrusting against hers.
Then his hand left her aching breasts and he reached down, raising the layers of skirts and petticoats that enveloped her legs.
Realizing that he really meant to carry out his threat, Jess cast a frantic glance at the closed door. "Devlin, stop . . . we can't . . . my father . . ."
"Is up at the mine. We're all alone, honey."
"Devlin, please. . . ."
"That's right, beg me."
"No . . . I didn't mean—"
"No? You don't want my hands on you . . . my mouth on you?"
His hand moved up the shivering surface of her inner thigh, his probing fingers finding the opening in the soft cotton of her drawers. When he raked the tight curls between her legs, Jess jerked, gasping. "You don't want me to touch you here? You don't like this?" One finger eased into the slit of her soft folds, dredging a ragged whimper from her.
Helplessly Jess clung to him. She did want him to touch her there, God help her. Her damp trembling thighs opened wider for him.
Watching the quivering reaction in her startled eyes, Devlin pressed against the moist cleft. Jess's entire body clenched from the exquisite pleasure of it.
"Devlin, don't ..
"Shhh, I'm not going to hurt you." Raw desire darkened his husky voice. His lean fingers stroked her, gliding through the hot dew seeping like honey from between her legs. "Do you know how wet you are?" Devlin whispered roughly.
Jess closed her eyes and arched against his hand. She didn't think she could bear what he was doing to her. "You want me, Jess."
She did want him, Jess realized helplessly. She'd had no notion how much until this moment. The fiery craving inside her was so insistent and sharp it frightened her.
Then his finger entered her. Slowly thrusting.
"Ohhhh . . ." She almost sobbed.