Page 34 of Dare to Risk it All

“Yes,” he ground out, and it sounded as though he spoke through clenched teeth. “You are, if you think I’ve not considered it.”

“You’re a good man, Raphe. An honourable one and I—”

He moved before she could finish the sentence, and suddenly he surrounded her, possessed her just as she’d wanted to be possessed. His mouth found hers in the darkness, his weight pressing her down upon the chaise as his body covered hers. Greer gasped, shocked and excited at once, wanting him with a ferocity she could not contain. His kiss was hot and domineering, and he took her mouth as if he was starving for the taste of her, as if it could never be enough.

Greer sank her hands into his thick hair, holding on, and he groaned against her lips, his hands moving over her.

“Darling, darling, I’ll run mad,” he murmured, scalding her flesh with kisses that marked her very soul as his.

“Yes,” she whimpered beneath him.

Giddy with longing, she ran her hands over his chest, his back, enraptured by his large frame and wanting to be even closer. Though her own proportions were ample, he made her feel fine and delicate, his hands at once reverent and demanding.

His mouth coasted down her neck, licking and nipping a path to her breasts. His hot breath fanned over the generous curves where they swelled above the neckline of her bodice.

“Mercy,” he muttered feverishly, licking her like a cat lapping cream as she shivered beneath him. His hands went to the neckline of the bodice, and he tugged and pulled until the edge of her nipples became visible. Raphe let out an uneven breath and slid his thumb beneath the fabric, teasing the flesh into a taut little nub. Greer could hardly breathe, electrified by the feel of his hands upon her and the ability left her entirely as he eased her breast free of the confines of corset and bodice and she felt the touch of cool air upon her.

“Oh God,” he moaned, shaking his head. “Oh God, I’m going to hell, and I don’t give a damn. You’re so lovely, Greer. I must—just a taste. Only a—”

He lowered his head and took the little bud in his mouth, sucking gently, and Greer cried out in surprise, arching into him. Raphe made a feral sound of approval and sucked harder, circling her breast with his tongue, and nipping with his teeth before sucking again.

“Oh—oh my,” Greer panted, her hands in his hair, holding him to her, demanding he continue. He did, but not before releasing her other breast and lavishing that with equal attention.

I’m wicked, Greer thought dazedly. I must be, but I don’t care. This is splendid.

She was so entranced by this new, sinful delight that she barely noticed him tugging at her skirts, at least not until his warm hand slid between her legs, tickling the soft curls in her most private place. Greer jolted in shock, and he lifted his head, looking for all the world like a big, sleepy cat, his eyes heavy lidded with lust. A great, hungry predator. She shivered with anticipation.

“Tell me to stop, Greer,” he warned her. “Make me stop.”

Greer shook her head, a jerky motion but clear enough.

He groaned, his fingers sliding into the damp heat of her as she gasped in surprise. How strange it was, and yet when he circled a particular little spot, pleasure rolled over her in a delicious wave, making her lift her hips, seeking more.

“Yes, darling,” he murmured, nuzzling her neck. “I know you like that. I know every immoral desire simmering beneath your skin. Shall I show you? You’ll like them all, I swear.”

Oh, she did. She liked that far more than was good for her. Greer swallowed, trying to find words to demand he do it again, but she had no need. His clever fingers slid and caressed, circling and dipping inside her wet heat to circle again until she was writhing beneath him, maddened by the inciting pleasure that only made her want more and more and more. It was never enough.

“Shall I show you something truly wicked?” he murmured, nipping at her ear.

“Oh, yes. Yes, please,” she whimpered, wondering what on earth could be more wicked than this.

Raphe moved down her body, pushing her skirts and petticoats higher, until she felt cool air against her oversensitive flesh.

“Oh, love. I have wanted this so badly,” he moaned, before lowering his head and licking that delicate place.

Greer cried out, the feel of his hot, silky tongue upon her unbearably good. He chuckled, probably the most lascivious sound she’d ever heard in her life as he gripped her hips, holding her in place, and settled to feast upon her. He was utterly shameless, glorying in her, murmuring against her skin, telling her how sweet she was, how good she tasted, how he wanted to lap up every last drop of her desire. His outrageous words, as much as the sensation of his tongue and mouth working her tender flesh, had her clutching at the chaise beneath her. She wailed with a sensation so overwhelmingly wonderful it was almost too much as it grew and grew, taking her over until she was nothing but a mass of oversensitive nerve endings.

The climax shook her to her bones, taking her so hard and fast she could do nothing to muffle her cry, to modify her reaction. She was undone, given over to his sinful mouth and everything he’d made her feel and even when it was over, when he had coaxed the last tremor of delight from her boneless frame, he continued, toying with her, teasing with his wicked tongue and questing fingers. Impossibly, the pleasure rose again, sweeping over her in an urgent wave and she curled her fingers in his hair, holding him there as the desperate joy took control of her body, so shattering it was almost painful as she cried out.

Raphe rose over her, his eyes glinting as he stared at her beneath him. His expression was uncompromising, fierce, and resigned as he braced on one hand, undoing his trousers with swift, practised motions. Greer watched him in something of a daze. She was drowsy, her entire body fizzing like champagne, pliant and open to him. In some far-off part of her mind, she wondered if this was really what she wanted, but she was drunk on him, too caught up in his dark spell to consider clearly. So she reached up, coiling her arms about his neck.

“Raphe,” she whispered.

“I told you I was no good. I warned you,” he growled, but she heard something else in his voice, the aching loneliness, the desperate need to be close to her.

“So you did,” she said, smiling up at him. She knew then, knew that whatever happened, he would not abandon her.

“Greer,” he said, the sound of her name like a plea as he lowered his forehead to hers. “Greer, I—”