Ruby Shadows (Born to Darkness #3)(46)

Stooping, he lifted me into his arms again and carried me out of the bathroom. Then, despite my half-hearted protests, he laid me right in the middle of the bed.



Chapter Fifteen

Laish





My little witch truly had no idea of her own beauty. She lay there on the bed blushing and trying to cover herself with her small hands which weren’t quite up to the job. Her full breasts spilled over one arm and though she tried to hide the smooth triangle between her legs, I could see just a hint of her sex peeping out from between her fingers. Her green eyes were wide and uncertain and she was biting her lip in agitation.

“Gwendolyn,” I murmured, climbing onto the bed with her to hold her. “What is it, mon ange? What do you fear?” I asked, taking her in my arms.

“You know what I’m afraid of.” She shifted against me, clearly still not at ease. I wished she could relax as she had when I held her in the tub. Of course then her body had been fighting the aftershock of the devilkin venom and she’d been too preoccupied with feeling ill to worry about my motivations for holding her. Now she was well again and worried—worried that I wouldn’t stop though I had promised her I would. Worried I would demand too much of her.

“You’re afraid I will take more than you are willing to give,” I said, stroking a strand of hair way from her face. “Don’t be, Gwendolyn. I give you my word you will not lose your virginity tonight. In fact, if it would make you feel better, I will promise to keep my sleep trousers on all night.”

That seemed to help her feel a little more relaxed.

“You promise?” she asked, looking at me hopefully.

“I do.” I kissed her cheek gently, savoring the softness of her skin…the warmth of her body…her delicate, feminine aroma. I allowed one hand to cup her shoulder and then move slowly down her side and back, stroking her as I might stroke a cat to make it purr.

Gwendolyn’s heart rate doubled and her breathing became short as I caressed the rounded curve of her luscious ass, but she didn’t exactly purr. Instead she tightened up, shifting away from me some.

“I’m cold,” she announced. “We should get under the covers.”

I shook my head.

“And miss seeing all your lovely brown skin contrasted with the white fur? No, I don’t think so. Besides, I don’t believe you are cold. We just came out of a very warm bath which heated you quite thoroughly.”

“Still, though,” she said stubbornly and shifted against me again. I could see she was nervous—extremely so. I had promised her that I wouldn’t take her virginity tonight so what could still be troubling her?

“Mon ange,” I murmured, cupping her cheek and looking into her lovely green eyes. “What is it? Why are you still so afraid? You know I would never hurt you, do you not?”


“I know.” Her eyes flickered away. “It’s not that.”

“What then?” I asked, stroking her soft skin. “What has you as nervous as a rabbit when the fox is at the door?”

She gave a soft, bubbling laugh.

“Grams would say ‘as nervous as a long tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs’ but I guess it’s the same thing.”

“I suppose.” I lifted her chin and took her sweet, luscious mouth in a slow, lingering kiss. She tasted warm and perfect and her lips trembled under mine. I wanted to show her that I would be gentle with her tonight—that I would bring her only pleasure and no pain. Then I looked at her seriously. “But however you phrase it, I need to know why you’re still so worried. Do you fear letting me touch you?”

“Not…exactly.” She looked away evasively, biting her lip.

“Then what is it?” I coaxed. “Come, Gwendolyn tell me. I swear nothing you say could upset or surprise me.”

“Well…it’s just…”

* * * * *

Gwendolyn





I looked up at him uncertainly. For a demon of lust, he was certainly being very sweet and gentle and kind. But could I honestly tell him the real reason I was so embarrassed about him touching me? Well, other than it being a sin and incredibly dangerous territory if I didn’t want to lose half my power, I mean.

“Just tell me,” he murmured again, stroking my cheek with those long, gentle fingers. His ruby eyes burned into mine. “Tell me, mon ange.”

Abruptly, I decided to just let it go—my biggest secret, my hidden shame. It made me feel weird and wrong and different but what the Hell—he wasn’t going to let up until I spilled the beans.

I took a deep breath.

“Remember how you said you had to…wanted to…make me come tonight?”

“Of course.” His eyes were half-lidded with desire. “It will be my very great pleasure to bring you to the peak.”

“Well, it might not be as easy as you think.” I looked down at my hands, suddenly ashamed. “Because, well…I can’t come. Can’t have an orgasm, I mean. At least…at least I never have before and it’s not for lack of trying, either. I just…can’t.”

“Hmm…So you’ve never had an orgasm?” His tone was intrigued, as though I had posed an interesting problem. Well, at least he didn’t sound weirded out or non-plussed as the few—the very few—other people I’d admitted my problem to had.