The Solemn Bell(67)

He began to undress, instead.

This, she understood. Lovemaking. Copulation. When the rest of their life was at sea, they could always come together sexually. He was her ballast, and she, his safe harbor. To Angelica, at least, these were familiar waters. A welcome distraction.

She peeled out of her underthings. Captain Neill had never seen her unclothed. She wondered what he thought of her naked body. Did it please him? Excite him? Angelica had no real idea what anybody else looked like, but her other lover had found her attractive, so she must look all right.

She stood awkwardly by the bed. Couldn’t he say something?

He came to her then, snaking his arms around her waist. He too was naked. She felt his heated skin collide with hers. “God, Angelica…”

Their lips met. Her heart thundered, and her mouth opened for him. She touched her tongue to his, sending sparks down her spine. When his hand cupped her breast, Angelica nearly crumbled. No man’s touch had ever knocked her to her knees before. She gripped his arms to keep from falling. In answer, Captain Neill picked her up and lay her back against the bed. Her head touched the pillow. She felt the mattress dip.

He was beside her, touching her, kissing her. He nipped her neck, and suckled her earlobe until her back arched.

She gasped, and bit her lip to silence herself. It was too much. Yet not enough. She wanted him inside her. She couldn’t wait. Angelica spread her legs. She begged for him to touch her there. If he wouldn’t, she would do it herself.

“Be patient,” he said, pressing his lips to her chest. “No need to rush tonight.”

Her useless eyes searched the darkness of her world. “But I want—”

“I want, too. But you deserve to be made love to, Angelica, for the first time in your life.”

She nodded. Yes, she did deserve that. After everything they’d been through together, she was no longer just his mistress. She was his lover. His beloved. She wanted—if only this once—to know what that felt like.

He kissed all around her breasts, finally drawing one nipple into his mouth. He tugged on it with his teeth and tongue until the other ached. She pressed her own hand to her chest, rolling the neglected nipple between her fingertips. Seeing this, Captain Neill switched sides, alternating between breasts until Angelica grew dizzy. All the while, the one place he should be giving all of his attention went untouched.

She didn’t understand.

When she’d lain with her lover, or offered herself up to Captain Neill, both men had rushed to push inside her. That was sex, a man’s member thrusting into her. Why was he taking his sweet time? Didn’t he want to come?

Groaning in frustration, Angelica dragged his hand from her bosom and pressed it between her thighs. She had never needed to be made love to so badly. Her body trembled with wanting.

Captain Neill laughed softly as he stroked her. He knew she was impatient. He was making her wait…for what?

He pressed one long finger inside her, then two. He stroked upward, rocking against her. Angelica felt her hips lift up from the mattress. His tender touch was torture. She burned hot, and felt cold. Her breasts ached, so she squeezed them. Perspiration pooled at the base of her spine.

She whimpered, and he asked, “Is that it—right there?”

He stroked once more, just to be sure. His fingertips flexed and pressed against a place that made her tremble all over. When he asked a second time, Angelica nodded. She couldn’t find her words.

Captain Neill eased himself between her slackened thighs. He slid into her with none of the usual resistance. There was no bite of pain as he found his mark. How odd. She was suddenly so very slick and wet.

He moved with her, seeming to reach the perfect rhythm right away. Her hips rose to meet him, thrust for thrust. She pulled up her knees, resting her heels on his pumping backside. He inched deeper, again finding that strange, inner spot she liked, and she cried out.

She clamped her hand over her mouth. She’d moaned like a whore. The sound of her own pleasure was vulgar and wanting. Captain Neill eased her hand from her face. “Scream it, if you like. They’ll never hear you over the music.”

As he plunged into her, keeping the same slow, pointed rhythm, Captain Neill took her palm, and placed it against his own face. He wanted her to see what she was doing to him. For the first time, he wanted her to see him.

Angelica’s thumb traced his bottom lip. His mouth was open, panting. Her fingers caressed his strong nose, and firm jaw. The dimple on his chin. The tiny, puckered scar near his temple, and his sweat-dampened brow, where his hair flopped over to feather her knuckles.

“Sweet Angelica.” He nuzzled her hand.

She felt love in her heart, and warmth between her legs. She sensed her own pleasure building. Knowingly, Captain Neill rocked right where she needed him the most. As his hips purposefully ground against hers, Angelica felt something unfurl within. She knew it—she’d driven herself there before—but never like this.

She felt no shame. No desperation. This time, when she called his name out into the blackness, he was there.

Angelica let orgasm wash over her. Captain Neill followed a moment later, sobbing into her palm.

She’d never dreamed it would be like this. That, after all the mistakes, the betrayals, she could still feel wholesome. What they had done tonight did not feel naughty. It did not feel cheap or sordid. Despite the fact that she’d just come hard against the man inside her, Angelica felt pure.