The Passion of Darius (Somerset Historicals 1)

She took a quick step back, her eyes flashing wildly now.

He froze at the sight of her panting.

She is afraid.

Realizing he’d frightened her sent a bolt of pain into his heart. Desire for her notwithstanding, Darius hated to scare her. He knew he had to tread carefully. He wasn’t going to chase her around the room, for God’s sake. Things just weren’t going to be like that between them.

“Are you afraid of me, Marianne?”

She shook her head, but he wasn’t convinced.

“Are you frightened of what will pass between us?”

A little gasp escaped, and then she turned her face away.

“You were so beautiful sitting there on the bed waiting for me. I’ve longed for this moment with you for what feels like forever.”

She grew very still, and he could tell she was listening to his words.

“You’re my wife now, and I want to be with you. This is as it should be. Come to me, Marianne.”

She snapped her eyes back to his.

“Walk to me, Marianne, to your husband. I want to hold you and kiss you. I’ve done that before, and it gave you pleasure. Remember? Don’t you want to feel that pleasure again?”

“Yes,” she whispered, barely audible.

“Then come here.” He held out his arms, but didn’t take a step. The victory would be in getting her to come to him. He thought he was close to his goal. She was wavering. “Come to me, bella.” He waggled his fingers.

She took a step toward him.

He smiled at her. “You are so good, Marianne. You always do that which you are supposed to do, don’t you?” He kept his arms out and his voice gentle as she took another tentative step.

She came forward.

“That’s it, my beauty. Come into my arms.”

He relished the view of her as she took slow steps toward him. The sway of her breasts brushing against the silk of her gown made his cock lurch. He wanted his mouth on her breasts. He wanted to see the perfection of them, feel the weight against his palm, to suck and lick and kiss them as he buried himself deep inside her.

When she got within the circle of his arms he drew her in. Her soft curves aligned along his body. Pure heaven. He breathed in the violet scent and held it.

She leaned her head into his chest and exhaled shakily.

Speaking softly, he said, “See how easy that was? And now here you are, in my arms, where you’re supposed to be.” He brought his hands around to cradle her face. “Look up at me. You want to. You’ll see just how much I need you, my Marianne.”

She lifted her face up to him. Seeing the blue of her eyes was an exhilarating sight—the perfect surrender to his command. Raw desire rolled off Darius like a crashing wave. He wondered if she could feel it emanating from every part of him. It was finally happening. She belonged to him now, and he could act on all of those things he’d dreamed of doing with her. No holding back. Not anymore.

Dipping his head to meet her lips, his hand moved to the back of her head, pulling her into him. The fire ignited the instant their lips touched, shaking Darius to the bone. The need to enter her screamed in his brain. Get inside her body in some way. In any way. His tongue pushed through her lips, mimicking the stroking his cock would soon be doing.

He ached for her terribly, ached to fill her up, to get in her deep and close. He’d told her what would happen before, and now he knew she waited for it. She’d become nervous and wary while she waited, and that was no good. He kissed her slowly and reverently, his tongue moving between her lips, urging her to flower open for him. Darius longed for Marianne, and the intensity of his desire nearly overpowered him. But he forced control of his raging lust. He needed to keep himself in check so as not to frighten her again. He was determined to initiate her carefully.

“Come here. Sit.” He drew her to the bed and onto his lap, kissing deeply as he settled her into position. Her sweet, trembling warmth was intoxicating pressed against him. His cock was hard before, but now throbbed painfully under his robe. It was a challenge to hold back, but he forced himself to take it slow.

“Do you feel how hard I am? You do it to me,” he breathed, rocking his cock up underneath her.

She whimpered in response, quivering in his arms.

“Shhh, you’re all right. You feel so good on me.” Gripping low on her back, he stroked through the silk nightgown. He felt her breaths increase to panting, matching her shaking.