"The Passion" - читать интересную книгу автора (Jordan Nicole)

Chapter Nine

His hands on my flesh were magical, caressing and claiming, arousing a fierce desire deep within me.

If this was a dream, she never wanted to wake. The sensual pleasure was so very real… Nicholas at her back, her buttocks nestled in the cradle of his thighs… his heat and hardness searing her through the thin cambric of her nightdress. His hand had delved inside her bodice to fondle her naked breasts, and she could feel her pouting flesh tightening, swelling, thrusting out to seek his touch.

Aurora moaned, yet he relentlessly continued caressing her, kneading softly, his palm rubbing over the sensitive peaks. When she arched instinctively, pressing with wanton eagerness against his stroking palm, his fingers deliberately closed over one nipple, plucking the taut bud. Her throbbing breasts tightened in an aching rush, while a flaming spark of pleasure flared between her thighs.

The shivery desire inside her built higher as he tormented the swollen crest, and she moved restlessly against him, yearning for release from the mounting tension.

As if knowing what she needed, he withdrew his hand from her bodice and swept it lower, over her rib cage, stroking her belly, his breath hot and moist against her cheek as he whispered soft encouragements in her ear. Drawing up the hem of her nightdress then, he slid his hard, warm palm along her thigh, tantalizing on her bare skin.

When his fingers slid into the tangled curls between her legs, Aurora gasped, incredibly aroused by his erotic caresses. His fingertips moved over her with shocking intimacy, parting the feminine folds. Her body grew moist as his expert touch rasped over her most sensitive flesh, finding the exquisite pressure points, stroking her slick bud of pleasure with tantalizing skill. The fever inside her intensified, and the ragged sound she made was one of savage excitement.

Desperately wanting him to assuage the throbbing ache, she thrust her hips back helplessly against his muscular loins, grinding into him.

She heard his rough whisper in her ear, coaxing her to release. "Yes, siren… surrender to the pleasure."

On the verge of ecstasy, she began to writhe, straining toward a mounting, burning frenzy. When his fingers slowly thrust inside her, her deep inner muscles clutched around them. He only increased the rhythm. Frantic with need, she surged against his hand, shuddering and crying out with the powerful, pulsating climax.

Her own sobs woke her. Awash in trembling sensation, Aurora lay dazed and unmoving, her breathing harsh and shallow. For a bewildering moment she was unable to gain her bearings. This was her bedchamber, she could tell in the gray morning light coming through the open curtains. The heat at her back was also very real… and very male, as were the warm lips nuzzling her nape…

Nicholas. She went rigid. His hard, muscular forearm was draped across her body, his hand nestled erotically between her thighs, his rigid arousal still throbbing against her buttocks.

Dear heaven, she hadn't dreamed him. He was in her bed, as if he had every right to be there. He had stolen into her room while she slept, brazenly aroused her to ecstasy…

Her cheeks flamed with mortification as she tried to gather her scattered senses. Almost leaping from the bed, Aurora spun around to face him, totally flustered.

Nicholas was lying on top of the sheet, wearing breeches but nothing else. His cloak and shirt and saber were piled on a chair, she realized, his boots on the floor. His ebony hair was tousled from sleep, while the shadow of stubble on his strong jaw made him look very much a disreputable pirate. More discomfiting, his dark gaze was fixed on the swell of her breasts, partially exposed by the open bodice of her nightdress.

With a muttered oath, Aurora straightened her disheveled bodice and began fastening the buttons, appalled not only by the forbidden liberties Nicholas had taken with her, but by her own unwitting, sensual response.

"How did you get in here?" she demanded, not knowing whether she was angrier at him for his devious seduction or at herself for succumbing to it. She had planned to remain coolly indifferent when they next met, maintaining a strict control over her responses. Yet once again he had thrown her equilibrium totally off balance, casting her emotions into chaos.

Casually Nicholas propped himself up on one elbow and nodded toward the open window. "I apprenticed on my father's ships from the time I was ten and learned to negotiate a rigging. I can certainly climb a tree."

Aurora glanced briefly at the window, then shook her head, unnerved. "Well, you can just leave the same way you came."

When he made no move to go, she snatched up the robe lying on the foot of her bed and put it on, buttoning up the high collar.

"I cannot believe your temerity, coming here and…" She faltered, unwilling to contemplate how he'd kindled her to passion in her sleep, entirely against her will. It was deceitful, taking advantage of her vulnerability when she was helpless to defend herself. She hated being so vulnerable…

Lifting her chin, Aurora made a supreme effort to regain her composure. "You are making," she said, "quite an annoying habit of startling me to death, appearing suddenly and uninvited."

In response, Nicholas sat up and propped the pillows against the headboard, relaxing back among them. "You left your mask in the carriage when you ran away, so I thought I would return it to you. Like Cinderella's slipper."

Aurora couldn't help but stare at him, unwillingly admiring his bronzed skin and naked, muscled shoulders. She clenched her teeth, vexed at the way his physical attributes made her breathless. His knowing gaze irked her even more. He understood quite well the effect his near nudity had on her.

It was all she could do to keep her tone cool. "That hardly excuses your gall in sneaking into my room like a thief. You seem determined to cause a scandal – "

"I'm only determined to talk to you, love. We never finished our discussion about our future relationship."

"Well, my bedchamber is not the place to do it!"

"I'm not sure I agree with that," he murmured in a velvet undervoice laced with humor. "I can think of few places more enjoyable."

"Nicholas, you have to leave. Now, at once! Before I have you thrown out."

His expression turned thoughtful. "I must confess, I expected a more cordial reception than this from my wife. On our wedding night you were much warmer."

"On our wedding night, I thought you were about to die. We both thought so."

"You can't deny the fire we both felt that night."

"I can!" Aurora drew a measured breath, striving for control. "If we felt anything at all between us then, it was only an illusion… brought on by the despair of the moment."

"No," Nicholas said slowly. "It was very real, sweetheart. I didn't imagine it. And you are the same sensual, responsive woman I remember from that night. I know that now for a certainty."

Heat flushed her cheeks as she recalled just how wantonly she had responded to his erotic caresses moments ago.

She might have argued with him further but for the soft rap on the door. Aurora froze, watching in horror as her bedchamber door started to open.

In three strides she was across the room, pushing the door shut again.

"My lady," a female voice called through the oak paneling. "I've brought your morning chocolate."

"One moment," Aurora replied, almost frantic as she tried to think what to do. If the maid were to find Nicholas here, she would have no shred of reputation left.

Spinning, Aurora moved quickly over to the bed and yanked the bed curtains closed, concealing Nicholas behind the ivory brocade. She heard his soft chuckle as she returned to open the door, and had to grit her teeth at his misplaced humor. How could he put her in such a vulnerable position and laugh about it?

Stepping back, she allowed the maid to enter the room. Her heart hammering, Aurora tried not to glance at the bed curtains as the girl set the breakfast tray down on the bedside table.

"Thank you, Molly. You may go now."

"Yes, my lady."

With a curtsey, the maid left the room, and Aurora firmly bolted the door behind her.

"Is it safe yet?" Nicholas asked, his tone husky with laughter.

"Keep your voice down," she demanded in a fierce whisper. "The servants will hear you." She pulled open the curtains to find him lounging negligently on the bed, his dark eyes dancing. His audacity riled her to no end.

"There is no need for panic, Aurora."

"That is easy for you to say. It isn't your reputation that will be in shreds if a strange man is found in your bed."

"If a man were found in my bed, I expect my reputation would suffer no small amount. But there is little chance of that happening, since I am inordinately fond of women."

"Nicholas, this is not in the least amusing!"

"Oh, I think it is. I find it fascinating to see you in a passion. It requires work to make you lose that cool, regal air of yours."

Aurora raised her eyes to the ceiling, struggling for patience. "Will you put your clothes on and go away?"

"Where do you expect me to go?"

She controlled her vexation long enough to give him a quizzical look. "Don't you have somewhere to stay?"

"And if I said no? Would you take pity on me and invite me to live here with you?"

"I would have my butler help you to find lodgings," Aurora said repressively.

"You needn't trouble yourself, love."

"Seriously, where are you staying?"

"Aboard ship at the moment. But the docks are too far away for convenience, so I mean to take rooms at a hotel. I thought of staying with Wycliff – Brand claims a slight acquaintance with him – but Lucian is out of town, and the coincidence would only invite suspicion."

"I should think so," Aurora said in a tart undervoice. "You are mad even to be in this country. You are going to get yourself killed."

Ignoring her prediction, Nicholas glanced around the room. "This is a handsome bedchamber – I imagine the entire house is. You said you purchased it with your marriage settlement?"

"Yes." She gave him a questioning look. "You don't mean to go back on your word and nullify the settlement, do you?"

"Not at all. You earned it with your services to my sister."

"Yet you seem intent on destroying all my efforts on her behalf – and on giving me heart failure in the process."

"No, sweeting. I only want to talk. There is still the minor matter of our marriage to be resolved." He patted the mattress beside him. "Sit here beside me."

Aurora eyed him warily. "Surely you don't expect me to trust you after what you just did?"

"I thought you didn't wish the servants to hear. They will, you know, if I have to shout at you across the room."

His amused look suggested a reckless disregard for the consequences of discovery, but she didn't care to put his rashness to the test. With extreme reluctance, Aurora perched on the edge of the bed and crossed her arms over her chest defensively. "Very well, you may talk."

He contemplated her for a moment. "You seem eager to forget that you still have a husband."

"I am eager. I never expected this complication in our relationship, you must realize that."

"I do."

"I fulfilled my side of our bargain, Nicholas. You know quite well that lifetime commitment was no part of it. Our agreement was for one night only."

"So it was."

"Ours was to be a marriage of convenience, merely that."

"And it is no longer convenient for you."

"Or for you, either, I'm sure. You never wanted me for your wife."

"I think I could be persuaded to change my mind."

She gave him a startled look.

"We never had the chance to know each other," Nicholas said slowly. "To see if we would suit."

"The answer to that is quite obvious. You know very well we would never suit. You would never be happy with me – nor I with you. I could never fit into your world, among pirates and adventurers, on board a fighting ship. I would never feel comfortable with that kind of existence."

"I was considering settling down after the war ends."

"In America?"

"Yes. My home is in Virginia. My mother and sisters live there."

"What are you saying? That you want me to give up my life and return there as your wife?"

"I expect you would have to, since I obviously cannot remain in England."

Her gaze turned troubled. "This is my home, Nicholas. I have no desire to leave the only life I've known, to live in America among strangers. The war between our countries could last for years, and who knows when I could ever return here, or even see my family and friends."

"I didn't think you were overly fond of your family."

"I am not. But that is not really the issue. What frightens me most is the violent life you lead, the dangerous risks you take. I couldn't bear waiting for you to come home from some far off land, not knowing if I would ever see you again, or if you had been killed. Look at the peril you are in now. You are a condemned man. You could be arrested and executed at any moment." She shook her head. "I have already mourned you once. I won't go through that again."

He remained silent, his dark eyes searching hers.

"There must be another solution," Aurora said finally. "One that doesn't entail us living together as man and wife."

"The only way I know of to dissolve our union is through divorce."

Aurora felt the color fade from her face. Divorce, even if one could be secured – which would be extremely difficult – would ruin her. "A divorce would be disastrous for me. It would brand me a pariah in society. I could never show my face in polite company again."

"Perhaps," he said musingly, "I could try to have an American court declare the marriage invalid. I might have a case, since I was compelled to wed under duress."

"Couldn't we simply go on as if you had never returned?" she asked earnestly. "What would be the harm in leading separate lives?"

He studied her for a moment. "You realize that as long as we're wed, neither of us can ever marry again?"

"I have no desire ever to marry. Once was enough." She saw his eyebrow lift and bit her lip. "I didn't mean that the way it sounded. It's only that I suffered a great despair when I thought you dead, and I don't wish ever to endure that again. I vowed I would forget my loss and make a new life for myself. And I have thus far."

"I have a question," Nicholas said slowly. "Suppose we do remain legally bound. What happens if either of us should fall in love with someone else? You would certainly want to be free of the marriage then."

"There is little chance of my falling in love again. I loved Geoffrey for most of my life, and I don't believe I could ever love any man but him. But even if I could, I am determined I will never give my heart again. It is too painful to lose someone I care for."

Nicholas clenched his jaw for an instant, but then his mouth relaxed in a faint smile. "Have you considered my perspective? What if I come to love someone else?"

That possibility gave her an unaccountable jolt, but she dismissed it with a skeptical look. A rake like Nicholas Sabine was not likely to fall in love. "I doubt that will happen, but I will make you a promise. If you ever do find someone else to love, I will free you from our marriage. I'll agree to an annulment or a divorce – whatever it takes to end our union."

"So for now we do nothing?"

"Yes," she said, relieved that he intended to be reasonable. "In public we can pretend the other doesn't exist – "

"I am supposed to be your cousin by marriage. It would look odd if we failed to at least speak when we meet in public."

"Well, perhaps we could acknowledge the acquaintance in public."

"What about in private?"

"There is no reason for us to have any private contact." She gave him a stern look. "Or any contact at all. Indeed, I don't know why you are even considering remaining in England. You would do better to leave at once. If you remain, you will only get yourself killed. I couldn't bear that, Nicholas."

"Thank you for your concern, sweetheart, but I don't intend to die any time soon."

"You didn't intend to be imprisoned or sentenced to hang four months ago, either."

Nicholas cocked his head as he regarded her. "There is one other aspect we haven't considered. Carnal relations. If you and I are still wed, we cannot take other lovers without committing adultery."

Aurora felt her cheeks color. He wanted other lovers? Why that should bother her, she couldn't fathom. It would be unnatural for a man of Nicholas's lusty nature to give up carnal pleasures. And she would have no right to demand fidelity from him in any case, not if she asked to be free of their vows.

She forced a smile, attempting to sound worldly. "I understand many married men have affairs. I would have no objection to you seeking out other women or keeping a mistress if you wish."

"And what of you?" His intent gaze held hers.

"You needn't concern yourself with me on that score. I don't intend to take any lovers."

"A lifetime is a long time to remain celibate, especially for a woman as passionate as I know you to be."

She stood up abruptly, uncomfortable with the intimate turn of the conversation. "That reminds me. You entrusted me with another mission…"

She went to her dressing table and drew out the jewel-encrusted journal, which was carefully wrapped in oilcloth. "Raven's mother left this for you. It is the book your father gave her."

When she handed the package to Nicholas, he opened it curiously. "An expensive gift, obviously," he murmured.

"So it would seem – and rather old."

"What is it about?"

"It is a journal, written by a Frenchwoman who was enslaved in a Turkish pasha's harem."

After reading the title, Nicholas thumbed through a few pages, then shot Aurora a glance. "You've read this?"

"Yes." She felt herself blushing again. "I wanted to see if it was appropriate for Raven. It most certainly is not."

"I would say not," he observed, giving her a long, vaguely amused look. "I doubt your upbringing prepared you for anything this erotic, either."

"Of course it didn't," Aurora replied. She had been shocked by the explicitness and sensual detail of the journal… and yet captivated at the same time. Against her better judgement, her breeding, even her will, she had found herself drawn into the beautiful, erotic recounting of the Frenchwoman's love affair with her master, a tale of smoldering passion, so vividly told. She had actually read the journal more than once. She knew some passages by heart, although she had no intention of admitting it to Nicholas.

"Now that you are here," she told him, "I can turn it over to you. You can be the one to decide when Raven is old enough to have it."

"I look forward to reading it with great anticipation. Now, where were we in our discussion?"

"We had concluded our discussion."

"Not quite," Nicholas said. "Before you changed the subject, I was remarking on your passionate nature, you will recollect. I was saying that I don't imagine you'll be happy remaining celibate your entire life."

Her discomfort returned in full measure, as did her vexation with Nicholas. A discussion of such private issues was wholly out of bounds, despite his apparent belief that he had a right to such intimacy.

Aurora gave him her coolest glance. "I believe that is entirely my concern, Nicholas. I also believe that I have discharged my promise to you, and that we have said all there is to say. It is time now for you to go."

"Not yet."

She tensed. "What do you mean, not yet?"

"Before you take a vow of celibacy, you should consider what you are rejecting. Come here, Aurora."

Her look turned wary. "Why?"

"Because I want to kiss you."

"You must be jesting."

"Not at all. We started off on the wrong foot last night, with my reproaching you for forgetting your widowhood. I would like to make up for it."

Nervously Aurora backed up a step. "There is no need for you to do anything but leave, Nicholas. Immediately. You have no right to be here – "

"Actually, I do. I am your husband. The law gives a husband the right to share his wife's bed."

"You are not my husband. In the eyes of the world, I was widowed four months ago."

"Need I remind you how curious your servants would be to find me here?" His half smile irked her almost as much as his veiled threat. "I have only to call out and they will come running."

"You wouldn't dare. You would never risk exposing your identity."

His eyebrow lifted, as if to ask whether she wanted to test her theory.

Resolving to call his bluff, Aurora put her hands on her hips in defiance. "Now that I think of it, I could report you to any number of governmental authorities. I expect the navy would be eager to recapture an escaped pirate."

A gleam lit his dark eyes. "I don't think you will turn me in. You don't want to see my neck stretched on the gallows."

Her frustration reached the boiling point. What she wanted was to wipe that knowing look off Nicholas's handsome face. It was utterly underhanded to use her concern for him as leverage to force her to do as he wished.

She couldn't possibly expose him, though. Not only because she was desperate to avoid the scandal that would ensue if he was found in her bedchamber, but because she couldn't bear to see any harm come to Nicholas. She nearly stamped her foot in vexation.

"You know very well I cannot denounce you," she finally muttered. "I don't want your death on my conscience."

"I knew you were a compassionate woman."

"Well, I thought you were a gentleman," Aurora retorted, infuriated by his reckless, irresistible charm.

"I am a gentleman."

"You most certainly are not. A gentleman would honor his promise."

"Which promise was that?" Nicholas asked, a lazy fire in his eyes. "The one regarding our union, where I pledged to love and cherish my bride?"

"The one where we agreed to one night of marriage."

"One night wasn't enough," he said softly.

"It will have to be. I don't intend to play the wanton with you."

Nicholas held out his hand. "Come here and kiss me, Aurora, before I decide to raise my voice."

She glared at him. "This is blackmail!"

"So it is."

"You are despicable."

"And you are as beautiful as I remember… more so, since the sadness in your eyes is gone. Come here. I won't claim my marital rights. I only want a kiss."

The velvet edge in his voice didn't reassure her in the least. Yet he might very well reveal his presence to her servants unless she did as he wanted. "One kiss, and then you will go?"

"If you insist."

"You swear it?"

"Unequivocally."

Every muscle in her body stiff, Aurora unwillingly complied. When she moved to stand beside the bed, however, Nicholas made no attempt to kiss her. Instead he took her hand.

Gazing up at her, he drew her forefinger completely into his mouth and suckled. A treacherous heat radiated suddenly from the pit of Aurora's stomach, and she had to stifle a gasp.

"You said one kiss," she said through clenched teeth.

"You can't deny the pleasure you feel," he murmured. "Your heart is beating much too rapidly for you to claim disinterest."

"Will you please just get on with it?"

"So impatient," Nicholas replied lightly.

He drew her down and pressed her back upon the bed, then eased his body over hers. She could feel the strength of him against her – the powerful granite of his thighs, the flat, hard belly, the muscles rippling in his chest and shoulders.

He remained that way for a long moment, gazing down into her eyes, his fingers cradling her cheek.

"Well?" Aurora demanded breathlessly, trying to ignore the temptation of his beautiful mouth.

"Sheathe your claws, siren. I only want to remind you of what you would be missing… the pleasure to be found in my arms," he whispered before his lips lowered to cover hers.