Angel (Bartered Hearts 1)

He finally turned away from the river and met her eyes. “That’s not why I came today.”

“I know. That’s why I’m asking.”

His forehead crumpled as if he felt a sudden pain. “I should say no.”

“Why? I’m asking honestly.”

“Are you?” He studied her face until she became so nervous she had to smile and look away.

“You shouldn’t be alone on Christmas,” she said. “Come to my room for a while.”

He finally nodded and stood to help her up. They stayed close together as they walked, though they didn’t speak again.

She brought him in through the kitchen door. The maids were up and about now, but they barely glanced up. There was nothing scandalous about a strange man in this house.

Big as he was, he had a soft step on the stairs, and she was relieved that he seemed to want to keep as quiet as she did as they stole down the hallway.

He knew her room well, but he still stood uncertainly in the doorway as she locked her door behind them and hung her shawl on a hook. One of the maids had left clean sheets on the dresser just like any other morning.

Melisande stripped off last night’s sheets and remade the bed, aware of Bill quietly watching. She unlaced her boots and placed them carefully under the chair in the corner, then unbuttoned her dress.

When she went to hang it, she caught sight of herself in the mirror on her door and stopped to look at the necklace nestled at the base of her throat. It was so delicate. Pink and lustrous against her skin. She touched it and tipped her head up to let the shell catch more light. She slipped her chemise down her shoulders so all she could see was her skin and the ribbon around her neck and the pendant.

Turning back to him, she removed the rest of her clothing and stood naked before him. He took her in with a hot, hungry look, but he didn’t grab for her. His hands stayed loose at his sides.

She approached him slowly, easing his coat from his broad shoulders with flattened hands so she could feel the man beneath the cloth. His coat dropped to the floor and she reached for the buttons of his shirt. Before she could open half of them, he stilled her hands with his, then tipped her chin up.

“You’re so beautiful,” he whispered just before his mouth met hers. Plenty of men had kissed her in the course of her work, but no one had ever kissed her like this. Gently, carefully, his lips brushing over hers with no teeth or tongue or spit. He kissed her like she was precious instead of cheap. Priceless instead of easily bought.

She was already naked. He could just open his trousers and push himself into her. He didn’t have to kiss her. But he did.

And when his tongue finally touched hers, she whimpered, actually whimpered as if it weren’t the thousandth tongue she’d ever tasted. He was sweet and spicy from the treat they’d shared, and Melisande found herself pushing up on her toes for more of his mouth.

His big hands moved to her back to cup her ass and when his mouth left hers, she gasped for air. The gasp melted into a sigh as he leaned down to kiss her neck, his teeth nipping a little at the skin beneath her ear. Arching her neck for more, she let him lay her back on the bed.

She spread her legs and waited for him to stand and unbutton the front of his pants, but his mouth never left her. He kissed his way down her neck and chest until he drew one of her nipples into his mouth.

“Ah,” she moaned as his tongue teased her. She twisted her fingers into his soft hair and pulled him closer. He was so careful and she wanted more. Bill groaned against her breast and sucked until her back arched off the bed. “Yes,” she urged him, opening her knees wider, wanting him to touch her there.

She took his hand in hers and slid it down her belly. When his fingers found her, they both gasped. Even she was surprised by how wet she was, how sensitive. Bill lifted his head and looked down at her body as his fingers slid along her seam.

When he went to his knees next to the be

d, Melisande’s eyes widened.

“I’ve always wanted to do this,” he murmured as his hands stroked up her thighs and spread her wide.

She knew what he meant to do, but when his tongue touched her pussy, Melisande cried out in shock at the pleasure. Every muscle in her body tightened in surprise.

Men had done this to her before. For some, it was all they wanted. To lick at her as they jerked their cocks. She’d hated it. It had felt too close. Too intimate, their tongues inside her, noses snuffling, eyes devouring parts of her she’d never even seen herself. She’d always just clenched her hands into fists and stared at the ceiling to wait for the inevitable grunting and groaning when they came. Still, that wasn’t enough for some of them, who’d leer afterward, demanding, “Did you like it? Did you love it, girl?”

She’d hated it every time…but this time she didn’t. Bill teased her with little licks that made her strain closer to him. His tongue swept up over and over, dragging along that spot of pleasure that only a few men had bothered even touching before.

Before Bill, she’d enjoyed sex with a few previous customers. It had been fine. Not awful. But this wasn’t fine…this was wonderful. Beautiful. Wild. She spread her knees further and lifted her head to watch him. His eyes were closed. His face relaxed. His big hand spread over her belly as the other gripped her thigh.

She panted hard, straining toward the pleasure of his mouth.

“Bill,” she gasped. “Yes. Yes.”