Bedazzled

'I will not hurt you,' he promised her, 'and if you become afraid, you will tell me. There is no shame in a virgin being suddenly reluctant, or apprehensive, India. Lovemaking is a joyous pastime, and I would have you gain pleasure from our endeavors.'

She nodded again, aware all of a sudden that he was gently stroking her, his big hand smoothing down her back with a delicate touch. She looked up at him questioningly, and without another word, his mouth covered hers, his lips easing her nervousness, proffering a sweetness such as she had never known. To her surprise she found herself kissing him back, offering herself to him as she certainly never had to Adrian Leigh, and realizing even as she did that she did so willingly. I want him, she thought, and I don V even really know what it is I want of him.

He took her face between his hands, raining kisses upon it until she truly believed that there wasn't an inch of skin he had missed. 'You are so beautiful,' he murmured against her lips, alighting upon them again as a bee returning to a flower. He nibbled upon them teasingly, then pressed passionately against her mouth, gently but firmly and wordlessly cajoling her to part her lips. When she did so, he ran the tip of his tongue along the moist flesh, then unexpectedly thrust into her mouth to touch her tongue with his.

India gasped, totally surprised by his action. She wanted to draw back, but the writhing tongue encircling hers was frankly the most sensual feeling she had ever experienced. Hesitantly at first, then more boldly, she fenced with his tongue, feeling her body begin to entertain a strange and sultry heat that, while unfamiliar, was, she decided, in the overall most pleasant. She slipped her arms about his neck, drawing him closer until their bodies were pressed tightly against each other.

For a moment his breath caught in his throat as he felt her breasts pushing against him. She had absolutely no idea the havoc she was wreaking. Had she been any other woman, he would have thrown her to the floor and taken her then and there. Instead, he slowly ended the kiss, loosening her embrace, his hands going to her waist to turn her about so he might reach about, taking her breasts in his two hands. They nestled like two white doves within his cupped palms. He brushed his thumbs lightly across her nipples, smiling to himself as the delicate flesh puckered with her arousal.

India closed her eyes as he fondled her. She sighed, and leaned her head back against his shoulder. She had never felt so cared for in her entire life. She was at ease with this man as she had never been at ease with Adrian Leigh. How could this be? She had loved Adrian. Loved? Aye, it was past, she realized, and as she did, she knew that her father had been right. It had just been an infatuation that she had, in her inexperience, stubbornly insisted was more. But it hadn't been more. Yet what was this that she felt for Caynan Reis? And did she feel anything other than curiosity or budding lust? If she didn't feel some emotion toward him, then how could she allow him the liberties he was now taking? And she had indeed allowed him. He had not taken advantage of her. Oh, she could not hide behind that old excuse of wanton maidens!

'What is it, India?' His voice sounded softly in her ear, and he then nibbled upon her lobe. 'You are distressed. I sense it.' His big hands continued to caress her breasts.

'I wonder what sort of creature I am that I enjoy your attentions,' she said candidly. 'I have been taught that the license I now grant you is an intimacy allowed only between husband and wife, yet I permit you to kiss and touch me in a familiar manner… and I feel no guilt. How can that be, unless the high moral character that I have always attributed to myself does not exist and I am little better than a lewd trollop offering her favors in the High Gate.'

His hands fell away from her breasts, and, taking her by the shoulders, he turned her about. 'Look at me,' he said sternly, and, when she raised her eyes to his, he continued. 'This is not your England, India. Your parents have raised you well that you hold such a high moral standard up for yourself, but even in England, such standards are not ordinary despite what king and church may proclaim. You must know that, India. Here we do not count it a sin that a man desires a woman. That is why we are allowed up to four wives at one time, and many concubines to please us.' He touched her cheek tenderly. 'Did it ever occur to you, India, that perhaps you are beginning to care for me, and this is why you feel no shame at our behavior?' His mouth brushed over hers lightly, and his deep blue eyes questioned her gently.

India blushed, and a tremor ran through her slender frame. 'I… I… Oh! I hate this feeling of confusion!' she suddenly cried.

'I told you nothing would be between us unless you wanted it as much as I do,' he reminded her, praying silently that she would not elude his passions once again. He was struggling to remain patient.

'But I do want… I do!' India said softly, and then she hid her head against his chest Why in God's name was she behaving like such a complete ninny? What was the matter with her? Did she care for him?

Allah! he thought. Were all virgins like this? Damn the little witch! She had given her consent, and he would wait no longer. Without a word he swept her up into his arms, gaining his bed, his arms still tightly about her as he collapsed against the pillows.

'Oh!' Her eyes were suddenly wide, and she knew instinctively that there was now no going back. As he slipped her from the comfort of his embrace upon the boldly striped mattress, his look was a look of undisguised passion that even she could recognize, and India thought suddenly of her mother. Had not Jasmine willingly shared herself with Prince Henry Stuart? A liaison that had resulted in her half-brother, Charles Frederick Stuart? And that had been in England!

'What are you thinking?' he demanded.

'That your gaze burns me, my lord,' she dissembled.

He laughed, and once more kissed her mouth lightly. 'If you but knew my thoughts, little virgin, you would burst into flame,' he told her. 'I cannot ever remember desiring a woman as I desire you, my precious India.' He caressed her face with the back of his hand.

'I am not yet a woman, my lord,' she half whispered back.

'We will shortly remedy that,' he told her, his kisses becoming more ardent as they moved over her face and down the graceful column of her throat, across her chest, and finally to her breasts.

His lips were warm, and seemed to burn her delicate skin wherever they touched. She was acutely aware of everything, her senses suddenly sharpened to every nuance of his passion, even of her own body. Her breasts seemed to be swollen. They almost hurt, and when his mouth closed over a nipple and suckled upon it, a small cry escaped her. 'Ahhh, God!' She felt his tongue swirling about the nipple teasingly, and then his teeth gently, very gently, nipped at the sensitive tip. 'Ohhhh!' His tongue swiftly laved over the nipple, soothing it, but he hadn't really hurt her at all. When he lifted his dark head, she eagerly guided it to her other nipple so it, too, might know such pleasure.

Then she felt his other hand caressing her belly, moving in teasing little circles over the silky skin. She ached with both pleasure and anticipation for whatever was to come. The hand slipped lower to cover her Venus mound, and India felt her breath catch in her throat. Brushing his fingers over the smooth mound, he ran a single digit down the moist crease separating the fleshy folds. She couldn't breathe, and then the finger pressed itself between the tempting furrow, touching her in a place she hadn't even known existed. India gasped sharply, and the finger began to caress that place. Reaching out, she dug her fingers into his shoulder.

'This is your pleasure place,' he murmured, his finger rotating itself about the sensitive nub of flesh. 'You can feel it, my precious, can't you? The joy is beginning to stir within you, isn't it?'

'Yes!' Dear heaven, this was sweet. She would die with delight, she thought, pressing herself up to meet his hand. She felt as if she were going to burst there, and then indeed she did, the pleasure permeated her entire body like slow, warm wine, oozing through her veins until the delight was as suddenly gone as it had come. 'No!'