Ruby Shadows (Born to Darkness #3)(117)

Lifting my chin, I stepped back into the main part of the tent and saw Laish waiting for me. He was lying on his side on the bed, still wearing his suit. Well—the trousers and shirt, anyway. He had taken off the jacket and the red tie that went with it. The crisp, white shirt was unbuttoned, showing his muscular chest. Somehow seeing him still clothed while I wore almost nothing made me feel even more naked beneath the robe.


“Mon ange,” he murmured, sitting up on the side of the bed and motioning to me to come stand by him. “You look positively radiant.”

“Thanks.” The word came out as a nervous croak and I had to try again. “Um, thank you, I mean,” I said and came to stand between his spread thighs. He put his hands on my hips.

“So lovely,” he murmured. “I knew that color would suit you. It makes your eyes look like the purest jade.”

I could feel my cheeks getting hot with his compliments and the way he was looking at me. Oh Goddess, was I really going to do this? Was I finally going to give it up? How many years had I waited for the right man?

“I am here, now,” Laish murmured, clearly answering my thought.

I gave a broken little laugh.

“I wish that was true. But I’m afraid I meant a man with a soul. If you had one, we could form a soul bond.”

“Would you want to form a bond with me? Do you feel that strongly for me, mon ange?” He looked at me intently.

“I…don’t know. I’m sorry, Laish.” I found I couldn’t meet his eyes and had to look away.

“Never apologize for your true feelings,” he said gently. “It is I who am sorry. If we could bond, your power would be doubled or even trebled instead of being halved.”

I sighed. “Yes, but unfortunately…”

“I have no soul. Which puts a crimp in our relationship right from the start.” He seemed to hesitate for a moment. “What if I could acquire a soul somehow? Or even a piece of one?”

“Are you thinking of stealing one from some hapless, unsuspecting person?” I asked, raising an eyebrow. “Because I wouldn’t want that, Laish—it wouldn’t be right.”

“Yes, well…it was just a thought.” He shook his head. “Forget I said it.”

“Look, can we just get on with this?” I asked, shifting from foot to foot. “I mean, before I lose my nerve?”

“Not very romantic of you but completely understandable.” He pulled me down to sit beside him on the bed. Yes, we can ‘get on with it,’ as you so poetically put it, mon ange.”

“I’m just a little nervous is all,” I admitted in a low voice. “I’d sort of given up on the idea of ever doing this. Of ever…”

“Giving yourself sexually?” His eyes were suddenly half-lidded again, glowing like hot coals.

“Well…yes.” I looked down at my fingers, twisting in my lap. “I guess so.”

“Gwendolyn…” He raised my chin with one hand, making me meet his eyes. I saw lust burning in those ruby red depths but also tenderness and caring. “I swear, my darling,” he murmured, “That I will be gentle with you. I want your first experience to be completely pleasurable with no fear to mar it.”

“Thank you. I know you do. I…I trust you.” It occurred to me that even a few days ago I never would have said those words to him, let alone meant them. But they came naturally to me now and they were the absolute truth. I knew Laish well enough at this point to know that he wanted my pleasure more than his own and that he would always put my comfort first.

“Always, mon ange,” he murmured, stroking my cheek. “So let us begin.”

“All right.” Taking a deep breath, I stood up again and untied the sash of the robe. Then I let it fall to the ground, baring my body for him completely. If we were going to do this, then I was going for it. No half measures.

Laish sucked in a breath.

“So beautiful… You take my breath away, Gwendolyn,” he said in a low voice. “Truly you do.”

“Thank you,” I said. I could feel my cheeks getting hot but I lifted my chin. “Now you—it’s not fair if I’m the only one naked.”

“True.” He chuckled softly.

“What’s so funny?” I demanded as he stood and began stripping off his clothes.

“It occurs to me that not so long ago you insisted that one of us must always be at least partially clothed. You said that both of us being naked at the same time was ‘dangerous.’”

“Well, that was before,” I pointed out. “When we were trying not to…to do what we’re about to do. Now we’re going for it no matter what, so all the rules are out the window.”

“Maybe not,” he said. “Let us take things slowly and see where the situation leads us.”

“How do you want to start?” I asked. The old fashioned oil lamp was turned low and the soft golden light it shed gave the little tent bedroom a magical glow.

“Like this.” Laish pulled me down to sit on the edge of the bed and kissed me. The kiss started off soft but then it grew in intensity and hunger until I found I was carried away with it and kissing him back eagerly. His mouth tasted like cinnamon and some rich spice I’d never had before and the warm, masculine scent of his skin seemed to envelope me completely.