A Devil's Touch (The Devil DeVere #4.5)(18)

He cupped her breast, teasing her nipple with his thumb. His mouth broke away from hers to ply hot open kisses to her throat that left her gasping. Of their own volition, her hands engaged in a tactile exploration of his body, reveling in the erotic abrasiveness of his coarse hair against her own smooth skin. She roamed his hard chest, the rigid plain of his stomach, the powerful thigh muscles that now encased her hips, pulling her closer, tighter, and anchoring her against him until she could feel the hot pulse of his jutting manhood against her most private place.

He took her hand in his, guiding her to his rigid staff and enclosing her fingers about it. It was thick and hard and hot and pulsing. "I make no secret of how much I want you," he said low and hoarse. "Tell me you do too, Diana. Say you want to take me into your body."

"But I'm here," she whispered. "Is that not proof enough?"

"No." He released her hand but his probing gaze kept her captive. Though I would worship you with my body, only you are in control of your pleasure. You must tell me you want this." She licked her lips, her breathing coming in ragged puffs. "You have only to say yes, Diana, and I will lay paradise at your feet."

At last a raspy reply sounded from her throat. "Yes." He caught the whispered exhalation with his mouth. His hands slid down her back to palm and squeeze her buttocks. He lowered his head to her breast, kissing, gently biting, his tongue rasping her nipple, sending racking rivulet of pleasure to her womb. Her arousal escalating to a blinding need to feel the hot hard length of him in her passage, she writhed and ground against him with a fierce cry.

Diana awoke with a sob, her body fevered, her sheets discarded, and her nightrail tangled about her waist. She lay in this heightened state of arousal, panting, disoriented, and aching to her very core, until at last she sought her own release.





Excerpt: THE DEVIL'S MATCH



DeVere House, Bloomsbury-1783



"What the devil is it, Winchester?" Viscount DeVere snapped at the appearance of his majordomo. "I thought I clearly communicated that we were not to be disturbed."

The flushing servant diverted his gaze to the ceiling in an obvious effort to ignore the ongoing orgy. "But there is a lady to see you, my lord. She is most insistent."

"Another one?" Lord Malden chortled. "By all means, have him send the baggage in. Damn me, DeVere, but you are well-supplied."

"I am, indeed," DeVere answered. "It is a most amicable arrangement with Madam Hayes, but I had not requested another." DeVere gave another long, lazy pull on the stem of the hookah proffered by his scantily-clad companion, and cast a sadly indifferent gaze at the temptress who enthusiastically sucked his cock.

The servant flushed. "You misapprehend, my lord. This lady—"

"Will not be turned away." Diana stepped boldly into the room and Ludovic felt his pulse jump at his first glimpse of her in over four years.

Although a black veil obscured her face, Ludovic could have identified her proud carriage and sultry voice amongst a hundred similar women. He was careful to maintain his air of careless indifference, commanding the woman kneeling between his legs, "Put your playthings away, my pet for we have an unexpected guest."

"So this is what you have reduced your life to, my lord?" Diana asked with icy hauteur.

He gave her a taunting smile. "It is fortunate that I don't give a damn for your opinion, madam." In defiance, he caressed the bare breast of his would-be odalisque and took another pull on the hookah, blowing purple-cast smoke rings into the air. "Now, to what do I owe the privilege of your queenly condescension?" He could almost see her hackles rise, a reaction that gave him a peculiar twinge of pleasure.

"How dare you ignore my messages and compel me to come to this…this…den of iniquity!"

He couldn't suppress his chuckle. "It was your choice to invade my domain. Thus, it is not for me to concern myself with your injured sensibilities. I already conveyed to you that the girl is safe. There was nothing further to be said." He gave her a bland lift of his brow, inwardly enjoying the hell out of her reaction.

"Nothing further! Where is she?" Diana demanded. "She was last in your charge and has not returned! I found her maid locked in her room! If anything has happened to her—"

"I assure you she is perfectly safe in my brother's keeping."

"Hew is involved in this? I don't believe it. He would never—"

DeVere's mouth kicked up in the corner. "Perhaps I misspoke. It would be vastly more correct to say he is in hers." The girl was a tiny virago. He almost felt pity for his brother.

Diana looked befuddled. "What on earth are you talking about?"

"When Vesta revealed to me that she was determined to have Hew, I agreed to lend some small assistance in the matter."

"That's ludicrous! Vesta hasn't even had her come-out. It is far too soon for her to be thinking of anyone!"

"Nevertheless." He shrugged.

"Is that all you have to say?"

"For the nonce. Conversation is not my chief pursuit at the moment, but should you be inclined to join me…" He surveyed her with a slow and deliberate appraisal, a look meant both to insult and to incite. He was pleased to note the rapid rise and fall of her breasts, proof that his power to inspire her lust had not waned in the least.