For Your Arms Only by Linden, Caroline (best fiction books to read .TXT) 📗

him to her. Already warmth was spreading through her as he licked her nipple, then caught it between his teeth lightly.

He rose up on his knees and sat back. For a moment he paused, surveying her spread before him with unmistakable male appreciation. Of course they had already made love and his hands had been all over her—even inside her—but it had been dark then; Cressida blushed and squirmed, self-conscious at being so bare before him.

“Don’t,” he said, catching her hand when she made a motion to cover herself. “I want to see you.”

“I’m not much of a beauty,” she said, then wished she had kept her mouth closed. Why would she want to point that out to him now?

He raised his eyebrows. His hands were running down the insides of her thighs in a very distracting manner. “I beg to disagree. No—that is insufficient. You are absolutely, utterly wrong to say that when I find every inch of you beautiful.”

“Every inch?” She couldn’t help laughing.

“Indeed.” He took hold of her ankle. “Lovely ankles, trim and neat.” He stroked her calf. “Slim, strong legs, well-turned with exercise.” She laughed as he palmed her hips in his hands. “Lovely hips,” he said fervently. “A perfect waist.” She tried to push his hand away, and he brought her fingers to his lips. “Elegant hands, but strong and capable. Also very steady, which is helpful when aiming a pistol.” Cressida cringed, and he grinned. “Arms, the perfect length and diameter. Beautiful breasts…” He cupped one lightly. “More than beautiful, now that I consider the point.” Still fondling her, he cocked his head. “Stunningly beautiful.”

Cressida smiled, knowing her face must be four shades of red. She was not used to being admired, let alone so brazenly. It was arousing and awkward at the same time, but he stole another piece of her heart with his playfulness.

“And I could look at your face for the rest of my life and never grow tired of it.” She gaped at him, and he leaned down to press a kiss on her mouth. “Even if you will persist in looking at me as if I’ve just gone mad.”

“Perhaps you have,” she exclaimed.

“Ah.” His eyes twinkled at her. “If this is madness, there is method in it.” Now he lowered himself until they were face to face, her breasts pressed into his chest, his arms tucking around her shoulders to hold her snugly under him. She felt cocooned in his strength, and the warmth in his eyes made her heart stutter. “But the most beautiful part of you,” he murmured, “is here.” He laid one finger on her lips.

“My mouth?”

“Your spirit.” He kissed her. “Your wit.” He kissed her again. “And yes, your mouth, which drives me to distraction daily.” This kiss was deep and long, and fairly melted her bones. She ran her hands over him, exploring his body with no less enthusiasm than he explored hers until they were both short of breath.

He grabbed a pillow and pushed it under her hips. Cressida started to sit up, not knowing what he intended, but Alec pressed her back into the mattress, his face harsh. He sat back on his heels and caught her knee in one hand, taking a quick, nibbling kiss of the soft skin at the inside before hooking it over his elbow and dragging her closer to him.

Cressida watched, hardly daring to breathe, tensed in anticipation as he licked his thumb and then brought it to that tender, throbbing place between her legs. At the first touch, her hips jerked up and she gasped. Alec held her knee in an iron grip, refusing to let her wiggle away from his maddeningly soft touch. Cressida whimpered in ecstasy, trying to push against him, but he held her still.

Heat began to course through her. She tossed her head from side to side and writhed on the sheets, clutching at them since she couldn’t reach him. And every time she looked at him his electric blue eyes were trained on her, fierce with want.

Then he moved, sliding forward and slowly entering her. She was almost sobbing now, waiting for him to plunge into her and ease the ache, but he didn’t. He rocked in and out, slow and hard, and the whole while his fingers stoked the fire in her blood until she felt herself coming apart. He must have felt it, too, for he drove deep inside her then, holding himself tightly against her as her climax broke.

He released her knee, and she curled her trembling legs around his waist as he lowered himself to ride her with deep, powerful thrusts. He sucked in his breath and she felt him surge and swell within her, sparking a few lingering contractions of her own release. The tension went out of his back, but he moved once, twice, three times more before settling on top of her with a drained, sated sigh.

“Pure beauty,” he mumbled, nuzzling her neck.

Cressida smiled, stretching like the well-satisfied woman she was. “Pure madness.”

His chuckle was a rumble in his chest. “Perhaps, but I said there was a method in it.”

“Oh?”

“Yes, indeed.” She waited, but he said no more. Some of the blissful daze cleared from her mind. What did he mean?

But she was afraid to ask. And when she opened her eyes, she realized the sun was rising. It would be day soon, and she was still lying naked and wanton in his bed.

“I—I had better go,” she whispered. “My sister will wake soon.”

He raised his head and squinted at the window. “Ah.”

In silence he moved, letting her get up. She had to hunt for her nightdress, finally locating it under his boots. Alec said nothing as she pulled it on; he lay back on the pillows and watched her with that stare that had once so unnerved her. Now she just smiled at him and pulled on her dressing gown as she went to the door.

But it was locked, and the key was