Stranger in My Arms(62)

Lara winced as his hand tightened in her hair. “I thought I was doing you a kindness.”

“Like hell. You thought you were getting rid of me and my unwanted attentions.”

“Where is Lady Carlysle?”

“She decided to leave after I explained that I have no interest in her.

And now the only question left is what to do with you.” “We should return to the ball,” Lara managed to say. “People will wonder where we are.

“You weren’t so concerned about appearances when you arranged for my reunion with Lady Carlysle in front of everyone.”

“P-perhaps I could have been more discreet-” “Perhaps you could have minded your own bloody business. Perhaps you could have believed me when I told you I didn’t want her.”

“I’m sorry,” she said in an effort to placate him. “I apologize. It was very wrong of me. Now if we could return to the-” “I don’t want an apology.” He forced her head back and glared at her, his eyes glowing like hot coals in the shadows. “By God, I could wring your neck,” he muttered. “But I have another way to punish you-something I’ll enjoy a hell of a lot more.”

More than a little alarmed, Lara gasped as he gathered her closer.

The hard, swollen ridge of his erection pressed against her, while the solid wall of his chest nearly flattened her br**sts. “Not here,” she said urgently, panicked by the thought that a servant or guest would pass by. “Please, someone will see. “Do you think I give a damn?” he growled.

“You’re my wife, mine, and I’ll do as I want with you.” He bent his head and sealed his mouth over hers, kissing her hard, sending his tongue deep. Lara struggled only for a moment, until the fear of being caught under the stairs disappeared in a sudden shock of pleasure.

Hunter kissed her as if he would devour her, his mouth hungry and searching, while his hands cupped the back of her head and held her steady.

The kiss tasted of brandy and the spicy essence that was uniquely him. Lara’s gloved hands knotted into fists as she struggled to keep from responding, but her defenses crumbled as he possessed her mouth with deep, delicious kisses. Moaning, she clung to his broad shoulders and arched her body against his.

Just one more minute, and then she would push him away. One more kiss, one more touch…

Tearing his mouth from hers, Hunter tugged off his right glove with his teeth and dropped it to the floor. He spread his fingers over her throat, savoring the delicate skin, and dipped inside the edge of her neckline. He pulled at the fabric of her bodice so roughly that she feared it would tear, until her breast slid free of the shallow covering, her nipple hardening in the open air. He cupped her breast and captured the sensitive peak between his fingertips, pulling and stroking until she smothered a cry against his coat. “Not here… not now,” she gasped.

He didn’t listen to her, only bent and took her nipple into his mouth, while his hand lifted her gossamer skirts and delved beneath them. A grunt of satisfaction escaped him as he discovered that she wasn’t wearing drawers, and his large hand clasped the curve of her bare bottom. Lara jumped in shock.

The music and voices from the ball were audible, reminding her of the imminent danger of being discovered. She began to struggle in earnest, succeeding only in disarranging her clothes further.

He crushed her mouth in another ravenous kiss and slid his hand between her thighs, his fingers combing through the triangle of protective curls. She choked and writhed and moaned in protest, until he parted the soft thatch and stroked the delicate line of closed lips. Lara shuddered and went still, her nerves shattering at the intirnate touch. She couldn’t breathe, couldn’t speak as he stroked deeper, finding a humiliating trace of moisture. Hunter lifted his mouth from hers and whispered thickly near her ear.

“I’m going to kiss you there tonight.”

The image shocked her, made her flush all over, and she leaned hard against him as her legs threatened to collapse.

He opened the feminine folds and explored her with just one fingertip, sliding through the moisture, circling the entrance to her body, then caressing a tiny place of intense, burning sensation.

Her arms wrapped around his neck, one hand gripping the opposite wrist until her nails bit into her own skin. She had never imagined he would touch her this way, the movement of his fingertip delicate and sure, using the moisture of her own body as lubrication. He stroked and teased until she began to move against his hand with small, urgent nudges of her hips.

Hunter kissed her throat, working his way to the fragile hollow at the base . “~o you want more?” he asked, his rasping voice barely penetrating the roar of her heartbeat.

“I . . . don’t know what you mean.”

“Do you?”

“Yes, yes.” She was beyond shame or reason, not caring what he did to her, as long as he didn’t stop.

Her body moved in a voluptuous quiver as she felt his finger nudge inside her. “Oh…”

He stroked the slippery silk of her body, at first advancing an inch or two, then sliding the entire length of his finger inside. Lara’s head fell back, eyes closed, while the pleasure threatened to uncoil in a way that would surely make her faint. Or worse, scream. Struggling to suppress the moans that kept rising in her throat, she clamped her teeth on her lower lip. His finger moved in a delicious pattern of advance and retreat, and Lara realized that he was mimicking the movements of lovemaking. Her h*ps thrust in helpless response, delighting in each slow penetration, her inner muscles grasping at him hungrily.