“I thought you might want to do it in the bed for a change.”
Her stomach flipped. Fuck! Why was he being so nice? “No, this is good.”
“Oh—kay,” he said slowly, giving her another curious look. He stepped behind her and ran his hand tenderly over her bare ass.
Cecily twitched back and forth. She didn’t want him to be tender. “Come on Lucian,” she complained.
“Is this what you want?” he whispered huskily against her ear, inserting his finger just inside her opening. Leaning forward, he playfully nipped her shoulder.
“Yes,” she said, tears clouding her eyes as he sweetly kissed her neck and shoulder. “Lucian…now,” she begged, fighting back more tears, trying to keep her face hidden from his view.
He sighed, and tried to turn her around but she wouldn’t turn. “Baby, what’s wrong?”
“Nothing,” she assured him. “You are taking too long. That’s all,” she said, the words choking in her throat even as she said them.
“You want me fast or slow?” he asked, sliding his hand down between her thighs once more, his fingers brushing against the sensitive flesh, circling, teasing, barely inserting two fingers and then retreating once more.
“Fast,” she panted, clenching.
Leaning forward, he slid his hands over the swell of her breasts, holding them in both of his hands, his long hair falling forward tickling her. “Bend over more sweetheart and hold on,” he instructed softly, circling her nipples with his thumbs and squeezing gently.
She did as he instructed. Bending over, she reached out and held onto the edge of the table.
“Now spread your legs.” He released her breasts and stepped back so he could look at her. The way her sweet ass pushed up in the air made him throb. “Spread them wider, baby,” he instructed, and then walked up behind her. “You holding on?” he asked, sliding his hand over the soft curve of her ass again.
Guilt was getting the best of her. Tears streamed steadily down her face, wetting the already damp spot where her soup had spilled earlier. “Yes.” She reached down between, sliding her fingers over the velvety skin of his rigid erection, then underneath. She cupped him in her hand.
“Babe,” he gritted, clenching his buttocks. “That feels so good.” Letting the sensations flow over him, he pushed forward as she cupped him once again. “Oh yeah,” he gasped, closing his eyes, kneading the soft flesh of her ass with the palms of his hands. It wasn’t enough though. He slipped his hands around her front and placed them over her breasts, squeezing the delicate flesh of her nipples roughly—spurring her to tighten her grip on him. “OH, Fuck Yeah!” he gritted, bucking against her. She kept it up, cupping, stroking, his rigid erection pressing under her ass, until he was the one begging. “Oh baby, I got to get inside of you!” His body jerked, when she tightened around him again.
“Damn baby,” he rasped. “I’m gonna cum.”
‘Do it,” she said, fighting back another rush of tears.
“No, I want to be inside you.”
“Just do it Lucian!” she demanded.
Holding on to her hips, he positioned himself behind her. With one forceful thrust, he was buried deep inside. “Hmm,” he let out a low moan, throwing his head back, gripping her hips tightly.
At first, he moved slowly, sliding out of her, going to the edge and then easing back inside, making it last.
Cecily moaned in ecstasy, clenching tightly around his length.
“Oh, God, baby…what you do to me,” he breathed, squeezing her hips harder, his thrusts more powerful, urgent.
Her breasts jostled against the table as he pumped even faster, his hips slamming her forward from each thrust—the sensations tantalizing, dizzying, making her throb against him.
“That feels so fucking good, baby,” he gritted, trying not to cum, and reached around to rub her sensitive flesh. He wanted them to cum together. His hands moved down between her thighs and back to her breast, making her moan in pleasure with each pass.
“That’s it baby,” he urged, his deep voice shaking with emotion as he continued to push her to her release, moving her hips back and forth faster with his hands.
She reached back and slid her hand over his wet length, cupping his balls again.
“Oh yeah, baby,” he gritted out through clenched teeth. “That feels so damn good,” he groaned, throwing his head back while slamming into her from behind. “Don’t stop,” he begged, pumping faster. Her fingers toyed with him while he rubbed the sweet curve of her ass and then reached back around to her breasts, squeezing her nipples hard, making her gasp and buck against him.
Her body writhed, clenching around his length until he finally pushed her over the edge and she shattered in a million amazing directions. “Oh …Lucian…” she cried, convulsing around him as the last spasms of her orgasm ripped her apart.
He sucked in his breath from the action. “Oh yeah, baby,” he groaned, rocking his hips and sliding his hands back over her ass, gripping her hips. He pumped faster, his hips meeting her soft ass, pushing him closer and closer until he buried himself one last time and completely lost control.
“I love you,” he breathed. Shaking with the last spasms of his release, and fell against her, gathering her into his arms.
Wake up and smell the coffee
THE PRESENTRAVENHURST
STRETCHING languidly, Raven rolled over on the bed, and ran her hand over the empty space beside her. Reed was no longer in bed with her but the heat from his body still lingered on the sheets. Opening her eyes, she blinked against the bright morning light. Someone had opened the velvet drapes.
Flipping over on her back, she stared up at the expanse of fabric hanging above on the canopy and lifted her hand in the air. The diamond in her ring sparkled brilliantly in the early morning light. With a sigh, she closed her eyes, remembering very clearly what happened with Reed and what didn’t happen.
That is when she heard it. At first, she wasn’t sure if she was still dreaming. It seemed like it should be a dream. Someone was singing, “Give me everything tonight…” and it was not just any voice, it was a male voice. It was a very pleasant … deep… sexy…voice.
Raven sat up abruptly. Pushing her hair off her face, and looked across the room.
The bathroom door was ajar.
Inside she could see glimpses of a fluffy white towel moving back and forth and brief flashes of bare skin.
Rolling off the bed, she tiptoed over to the door and peeked inside. Her mouth dropped open. Reed had an iPod shuffle clipped to the top of a towel wrapped around his taut waist, with buds shoved in his ears…and he was dancing. Well, maybe not exactly dancing but he was definitely singing and moving his hips fluidly to an unheard beat, while he shaved. She pulled back.
Wait… was that her iPod?
She ducked her head back around the corner to look. It sure looked like her iPod. When did he get that?
Reed leaned forward, splashing water over his face. Lifting a towel off the sink, he wiped the excess lather off. The sight of him doing something so simple made her stomach flutter. Damn, he was sexy.
He reached forward and turned off the water.
Raven quickly ducked back out around the door and ran across the room, launching her body into the bed. She jerked the blankets up.
The door creaked open and she quickly closed her eyes, feigning sleep. She could hear a rustling sound and cracked one eye open.
Reed was shaking his slim hips and muscular behind all the way over to the bureau across the room. He stopped and pulled open a drawer. Doing a two-step move, he reached inside, grabbed hold of something black, and then bumped it shut with his hip. A warm fuzzy feeling spread through her and she had to bite her lip to stop from laughing. Not because it was funny though, not that. It was because he was so darn cute. In that moment, she fell undoubtedly, unequivocally, head over heels in love.
Seriously, who would have thought, Reed of all people, would be dancing around the room
, to Pitbull no less.
Not her.
Not ever.
But there he was, plain as day, dancing around the room, clearly wrapped up in the moment. Then he released his towel and all her laughter evaporated.
He. Was. Perfect.
And he is your husband, her mind chided.
If Raven thought she was hot and bothered before, now, she was about to spontaneously combust. She nearly groaned aloud in aggravation. How did I mess up sleeping with that? She squeezed her eyes tightly shut and answered her own question.
The answer was obvious.
She was apparently an idiot.
Twisted cycle
THE PASTRAVENHURST
MORRIGAN ran through the keep, looking in every room. They were all empty, save for a few maids and a boy cleaning out the hearth in the great hall.
“Boy!” she yelled, storming over to his side.
The startled boy dropped the brush he was holding. A billow of ash floated up in the air. Blinking soot from his eyes, he turned around. “You speaking to me my lady,” he squeaked, pointing a dirty finger to his chest.
“Yes, I am speaking to you,” Morrigan snapped in irritation. “Where is your Master?”
“I do not know my lady.”
Morrigan narrowed her eyes. “Are you sure?”
“I am sure my lady,” the boy assured her, giving her a wary look.
“Argh!” she groaned and fisted her hands in her hair, pulling at it. “Where is Milford?”
The boy kept his gaze on the floor, his thin shoulders tensing. “I have not seen him either, my lady.”
“What good are you!” Morrigan stomped her foot on the stone floor, kicking up another cloud of ash. In a huff, she turned on her heel and strode quickly out of the hall.
The boy watched her leave. His thin shoulders relaxed a bit, and he let out a pent up breath. He turned and started cleaning the hearth again.
Gaitland stepped out of the shadows. “Langston?”
Exhaling loudly, the boy stopped and turned. “Yes, my lord,” he said in a small voice, holding the brush in his hand. His face covered in soot.
“What did Morrigan want?” Gaitland asked.
“She wanted to know where our Master went.”
“What did you tell her?”
“I told her what you told me to tell her, that I did not know.”
Gaitland reached forward, ruffled the boy’s dark hair, and used his tunic sleeve to remove some of the soot from his face.
“Did I do good then my lord?”
“Yes, you did.” Reaching into his tunic, he pulled out a single coin and handed it out to the lad.
Langston’s eyes widened at the sight. “I cannot take that my lord. My Ma says that when you do a good deed you should not look to be rewarded. The deed itself is the reward.”
Gaitland smiled and crouched down on his haunches so he was eye level with the boy. “Your Mother sounds like a wise woman.”
“I suppose she is.” He shrugged. “Besides, she says she will tan my hide if I ask for a reward for doing a good deed.”
Gaitland laughed. “Did she now?”
Langston made a face, and scratched his cheek, leaving another black smug on the side. “Yes my lord.”
Gaitland held out the coin. “Take it.”
The boy shook his head. “I cannot.”
“Of course you can,” Gaitland insisted. “You did me a favor. And now I am merely showing you my gratitude.”
Tentatively, the boy reached out and took the coin with his small dirty hand. “Thank you.” He smiled, revealing two missing front teeth and quickly stuffed the coin into the top of his boot.
“Now remember, if she comes back, make sure you tell her the same thing,” he said, standing back up.
“Ma say’s I shouldn’t lie.”
Gaitland lifted his brow. “Do you know where your Master is?”
“Well no.”
“See you are not telling a lie then, are you?
“I suppose not.”
“Keep me informed.” He gave the boy a wink.
“Will you be giving me another coin?”
Gaitland laughed again. “What of the deed itself being all the payment needed?”
“You said yourself that it was not payment for my good deed but a show of gratitude for doing my good deed.”
“You are right.” Gaitland smiled. “And yes there will be another coin, if you do as I ask.”
“So I am doing you a service then.”
“Yes, I suppose you are.”
“Am I still doing a good deed?”
Gaitland reached out, placed his hand on the boy’s thin shoulder, and squeezed it affectionately. “More than you know.”
Langston’s small face grew serious. “I will endeavor not to disappoint you then, my lord.”
“See that you don’t.” Gaitland gave him another conspiratorial wink, then turned from the boy and strode out of the great hall.
Langston smiled broadly, patted his boot, and gave his departing form a wink in return.
Decisions to be made
THE PRESENTTHE LIBRARY RAVENHURST
“SO what do you know of the treasure?” Raven asked, looking pointedly at Reed who was now sitting behind his desk in the library. The lights had still not come back on but the waning afternoon sunlight slanted through the window filling the room with at least a bit of light.
A small candle perched on a nearby table flickered when Reed reached behind his desk and grabbed another book off the pile he had taken down from the numerous shelves that lined an entire south facing wall. Ravenhurst was set up to face the north, so even when the sun was able to penetrate the fog that clung to the place like a shroud, the house itself stayed mostly in shadows until midday.
“There is not much written on the subject.” Reed opened the book on the desk in front of him. It made a protesting creak and a musty unused odor permeated the air. He stared stupidly down at the page. Not believing what he was seeing.
“Then how do you know about it?” Raven asked, completely oblivious to his distress.
He pulled his gaze away from what was inside the book. “I told you, my father is … for lack of a better name…a treasure hunter. He often told stories to Lucian and I when we were younger about a good noble knight that somehow lost his way and became,” he lifted his hands making quotation marks in the air, “the Dark Knight.” That didn’t last long however. He became so obsessed with finding the treasure that he no longer confided in us about any of it. It was as though he thought we would steal the information from him or something.” He shook his head. “I think he may have lost sight of what was real and what was not.”
“Was he insane?”
“Certifiably so.” I think. He waved his hand. “But that is not important now.” Again, he looked down at the book in front of him, still not believing what he was seeing.
Raven rubbed her arms, feeling a distinct chill. She wasn’t sure if it was from the story or from it merely being cold in the room. Either way it made her feel unsettled. “How long has he been gone?”
“About ten years now.”
Raven felt terrible. “I am sorry.”
He waved off her words. “We still don’t know what really happened.” He shook his head and let out a bitter laugh. “When I walk down the stairs in the morning I still half expect to see him sitting behind this very desk.”
“How sad for you,” she said, feeling the hot sting of tears behind her lids.
“Why?” He gave her a questioning look.
She widened her eyes, biting back a sob. “Because you think you will see your father …that’s why.”
“Don’t be. My father is an unpredictable man, always has been.”
Is? Raven didn’t know what to think. He was talking as though his father was alive. The stress from his loss must really be messing with him. Something about what he said niggled at her. “Your father is dead…right?” She had to ask, even thoug
h she didn’t want to.
Reed laughed suddenly and shook his head. “No. I don’t think so.”
“I don’t understand,” Raven said, and she didn’t. What the hell was he talking about?
Reed exhaled and ran his hands over his face. “I guess you wouldn’t. Sorry. I am not making much sense am I?”
NO! She wanted to yell but instead mutely shook her head.
“His body has never been found you see, so he is officially a missing person and has been for years.”
“Wow.” She reached up rubbed her forehead and then dropped her hand. “What did the police say? Surely they looked for him.”
Reed shook his head from side to side. “They said he took a walk.”
“Took a walk?” she asked completely confused. “What does that mean exactly?”
“They think he just up and left one day on one of his expeditions and decided not to come back.”
“Is that what you think?”
“No.”
“Well if you don’t think he is dead and you don’t think he took a walk…where do you think he is?”
Reed let out a self-deprecating laugh. “You will think I am crazy.”
“Come on …” She gave him a look like he was crazy but not from what he said about his father.
Reed merely shook his head. “I don’t think I can.” The thought of actually saying out loud what he thought scared him shitless.
“Well…” She picked up a throw pillow that tumbled to the floor and put it back on her lap. “Let me just say that if you are worried I will judge you, don’t be. I don’t think I have much room to throw stones, if you get what I am saying.”
Reed gave her a questioning look. “Care to explain?”
She took a breath. “If you will recall, I did marry you.”
“Yes, I am aware.” He lifted his brow giving her another one of his looks that made her heart race.
Ignoring the look, she continued. “I married you to help send a girl…one, I might add that looked like she fell out of the pages of a medieval story, who also appeared out of thin air in my room, so we…” She pointed her finger at him then back to herself, “Yes, you and me,” she said for clarification. “ We married each other to send the girl back to the very person this legend is about in the first place…we did it to send her back in time.” She widened her eyes and leaned forward. “Remember?”
Now and Forever:: A NEW ADULT TIME TRAVEL ROMANCE NOVEL (RAVENHURST SERIES Book 5) Page 15
