When the door shut behind them, Madeleine swallowed but said nothing.
'You know what I want, and you know better than to question me,' he said as he neared her, removing his jacket. 'I like that.'
'I won't question you, even though I wonder if you'll appease your lust whenever you feel like it.'
'Aye, with you I will. And it's no' onlymy lust that I plan to appease.' He ran a hand into one of the high slits, then slipped his finger between her legs. When he felt her sex, a harsh sound broke from his chest. She was wet for him, slick and lush. 'Seems you might needappeasement more than I do.'
At that she shoved her legs closed, twisting out of his grasp.
'Doona close your legs to me,' he growled.
'Then stop trying to embarrass me!'
'I was only stating fact.'
Through gritted teeth, she said, 'Make an effort not to.'
'As your husband, I'll no' be denied, Madeleine.'
'You're not my husband yet.'
'If I were, would you let me take you in this room?'
'Yes, if that was what you desired.' She'd surprised him, but she clearly meant it.
'I will be soon, so what's the difference? I want to be inside you. Now.'
She shook her head firmly. 'Not until we're wed.'
'Then perhaps I should no' be buying you a new wardrobe as befits a wife, if I'm no' yet a husband?'
She stiffened, crossing her arms in front of her chest. 'I'm not a whore. Buy me the clothes or not, but don't expect sex in return. And don't confuse my desire for you—and for self-preservation—with desperation.'
'And do you desire me?'
She put her chin up. 'Yes. But I can still walk away.'
'Ah,aingeal , it's too late for that….'
Chapter Twenty-four
MacCarrick stalked around her, as if deciding what he wanted to touch or do first.
'You already know you need me for more than just money or clothes, do you no'?' He seemed angry with her, but she couldn't understand what she'd done to make him so. Finally he stopped in front of her, leaning in to press his mouth to her neck. As he brushed the straps from her shoulders, his rough palms made a delicious contrast to the silk. 'Answer me.'
'Yes,' Maddy admitted. The garment whispered to the floor, leaving her in nothing but stockings and garters.
He nodded slowly. 'Good lass,' he said, then bent his dark head over her pale breasts. She watched in the mirror, glorying in the way this man seemed to crave kissing her there. His hands were huge, the palms callused, yet the manner in which he worked them over her body was adoring.
Her thoughts grew dim when he took her nipple into his mouth, his tongue circling it. After suckling both tips until they were hard, swollen points, he stood fully and walked behind her. Cupping her leg behind her knee, he lifted her foot onto the low stool, spreading her legs in front of the mirror.
When she glanced away, he said, 'Stay like this. I want to see you.' Then he coaxed her to face the mirror as his jet eyes flickered over the reflection—possessively lingering on her breasts and between her thighs. Most wouldn't find his visage beautiful, but at that instant, he was the most irresistible man she'd ever beheld.
Just when she was about to beg him to put his hands on her, he cupped her between her legs. Though she'd wanted his touch, she still jerked in shock.
'Relax, I just want to pet you here,' he said as he spread her legs more. 'Look at my finger stroking you,' he rumbled at her ear. 'You doona want me to stop?'
'No…'
'Then tell me you desire me again.'
'I do…you know I do.'
With a triumphant gleam in his eyes, he pressed her up against the mirror, delving his finger inside her wetness from behind. Her damp nipples met the cool glass and she moaned, lost.
Her sheath hugged his finger, shockingly tight as Ethan lazily thrust it inside her. With his other hand, he wrapped her hair around his fist, tugging her head back so he could watch her reactions in the mirror. How had he ever thought her experienced? Her responses were ungoverned, bare. She was so passionate—and his possession to do with as he would.
She wore nothing but his ring on that ribbon dangling between her breasts, and her garters and stockings. The red silk of her garters stood out against the pale skin of her thighs.
'So lovely,' he heard himself say. Her skin was sleek and soft, her nipples dark pink, like the bow of her lips.
She hissed in a breath when he tried to fit a second finger into her, and her hand shot behind her to his wrist, her arm straight to push him away.
'Shh, I'll stop.' He withdrew it. Again that heavy feeling arose when he was reminded of how badly he'd hurt her that night—he hadn't prepared her. He vowed to himself that when he did decide to take her, he would frig her for a damned hour till she begged him for it. 'Here, put your arms back around my neck.' She hesitated. 'Just trust me.'
Once she tentatively grasped his neck, he began to tease her nipples, lightly pinching the tips. When she moaned, he ran one hand from her breast to her flat belly then to her sex, but she tensed. 'Trust me. Let me make you come….'
She gasped at his words but allowed his touch. With one hand, he spread the flesh around her clitoris wide and smoothed the pad of his other forefinger side to side over her swollen little bud. 'Do you like that?'
'Oh, my God, yes,' she said, panting. Soon she was trembling, her hands gripping his neck tightly. Keeping her open, rubbing her clitoris over and over, he watched as she grew wetter, her flesh glistening. When she began to undulate her hips to his fingers, he thought he'd spill in his trousers.
With her brows drawn, clearly aching for her climax, she met his eyes in the mirror. 'Ethan,' she whispered, saying his name for the first time.
And it sounded like a benediction.
In a flash, he understood that she hungered for this passion and pleasure, but that wasn't all she was longing for at that moment. There was yearning in her eyes, so raw and furious he was staggered by it. Then her lids slid shut, which was good, because he was shaken.
'Let yourself go,' he grated at her ear, barely recognizing his own strained voice. 'Come for me, Madeleine.'
When she did with a strangled cry, he knew she was his.
He leered at her reflection as her back arched, her breasts quivering. He felt a savage thrill as she rolled against his finger, tensing and shivering to his touch. 'That's it,' he murmured. 'You like that.'
He slowed his strokes as the tension began to leave her body. Though he had a fierce need to come, he decided he'd further demonstrate to her that he was no horrible lover. He dipped his finger into her wetness, spreading it all around. Without warning, he sped up the rhythm once more.
'What…?' she cried, lowering her arms, trying to wriggle away from him, but he looped an arm around her waist to hold her firm. 'Oh, God. It's too much!'
But he was merciless, rubbing her, kissing and licking her neck, until she'd stopped struggling. When he sucked her earlobe, she began meeting his fingers again. 'Do you find me a horrible lover now?'
'N-no—'
'Tell me when you're goin' tae come again.'
'Now,now ,' she said, the word breaking on a moan. As she climaxed, he slipped the forefinger of his free hand into her sheath, thrusting it fast. 'Oh, yes, Ethan! Feels…so…good,' she cried.
His head fell back, and he groaned to the ceiling, feeling her sex squeezing his finger so tightly, in a rush of
