frightening, yet it was magnificent. Their?bodies seemed to have been created expressly for one another.
That Geoffrey had wanted more than a one-night affair with her?had been obvious from the first. He said he loved her, and she was?beginning to believe it. Too, Skye was not foolish. She knew she?was a stranger in a country foreign to all she had known in Algiers.?And when Robbie left, as he soon would, she would be without a? man’s protection. Her business had to be run here, not from Devon.?If she intended staying in London then she must have a protector.
She should marry again, but after Khalid el Bey, who would suit?her? She was too exotic and, she believed, too well-born, to wed?with a mere London merchant. On the other hand, she was not?sufficiently high bom for a lord. Since Geoffrey was married, there?seemed only one course open to her. Though she shrank from it,?she knew she must take it. To cap the argument, there was also?Willow to think of.
It would not be so awful. Geoffrey was handsome, and in love?with her. He would treat her well, and since she need not rely on?him for financial support she would retain a great measure of in-?dependence. This would set her above other men’s mistresses. And?as his acknowledged mistress she would be safe from other men,?for no man in his right mind would dare approach the Earl of Lyn-?mouth’s woman!
Geoffrey’s breathing had become quite regular. How handsome?he was in sleep, very much the Angel Earl of his nickname once?sleep took the cynical and faintly arrogant look from his face. There?was an almost vulnerable look, though he was indeed a strong personality. She let her eyes wander from his face to his wide shoulders?and broad chest, down to his narrow waist and slim hips. His legs?were long, shapely, and covered with a fine pale golden down. His?feet were slender, high-arched, the nails neatly pared. Her eyes?wandered upward again to his sex, limp now and settled cozily in?its nest of soft blond hair. It looked so sweet and harmless now, yet a short while ago it had been a great, blue-veined beast driving her?to pleasures she hadn’t known existed. She wanted to reach out and?touch him.
“I trust it all meets with your approval, sweetheart.”
She started and color flooded her face. She gasped.
He chuckled, then opened his lime-colored eyes and, reaching?up, pulled her down into his arms. “So, witch, you were taking?inventory of me. I ask, does it meet with your approval?” Kissing?her ear, he ran his tongue around it, then thrust in and tickled her.
She squirmed, shivering deliciously. “Stop it, Geoffrey! Yes!?Yes! Your assets certainly do meet with my approval.”
He cupped a breast in his hand, rubbing the nipple. “The Queen?will be resting for the next few days, so I am free. I want to take?you away somewhere and spend all my time making love to you.”
“Yes!” she replied, slightly surprised at herself.
He chuckled again. “How flattering you are, and how honest. I?approve, sweetheart. I know of an inn about half a day’s ride up the?river. It’s small and elegant, and the food is excellent. I am well?known to the landlord.”
“Do you take all your mistresses there?” she said more sharply?than she would have wished.
‘i have never taken any woman there,” he said softly, understanding her. “It is my own special place when I wish to escape the?trials of being who I am. I thought we would go there and see if,?after spending several days with me, you would like to become my?mistress. That way, if you decide against it, our liaison will remain?our secret. Though it would please me to shout our love to the world,?I would not embarrass you publicly.”
“Geoffrey. I am so sorry I spoke in haste. And I thank you for?being so considerate.”
“Sweetheart. I have had several mistresses in my day, but you’ve?been a wife. It’s hard for you, I know, to reconcile yourself to this?position.” He took her face in one hand and kissed her tenderly.?”God, you’ve got the sweetest mouth!”
She felt herself growing languid again and she leaned back. Sigh-?ing happily, her deep blue eyes warm, she said, “Damn you, Geof-?frey. What is it you do to me that one kiss renders me weak-and?wanton besides.”
“What do you do to me, Skye, that renders me insatiable?”
Quickly they were in each other’s arms again, their mouths and?tongues and hands devouring each other. Bodies entwined, they?kissed until their mouths were bruised and both were breathless.?Already aroused, his manhood beat against her thigh. Reaching?down, she caressed him with teasing fingers, reaching out to cup the soft pouch beneath his shaft, running a sure finger firmly beneath?it, hearing his gasp of surprised pleasure.
There was no excruciating waiting this time. She parted her thighs?easily and he slid into her warmth. Confident now, she tightened?her vaginal muscles about him as Yasmin had taught her. “Jesus!”?he cried out softly as the wave of pleasure overpowered him. He?drew back to thrust deeper yet, and again she tightened around him.?”Stop, witch!” he begged. “It’s the most delightful torture I’ve en-?dured, but stop before I die. I want to pleasure you, too!”
Her arms were tight about him and as she loosened her grip on?him he began to murmur softly to her, “Little witch, I knew that?beneath the ladylike demeanor there was a passionate wanton, Open?yourself to me, my darling. God, how warm and sweet you are!?How your little honey oven burns for me-pleasures me-loves me!”?He moved rhythmically with long, smooth strokes, each thrust seem-?ing to go deeper than the one before. She could feel herself opening?wide to receive him, taking him all, wanting even more. Oh, God,?she wanted more! Sobbing, she felt her climax bearing down on her?like a great wind, slamming into her with such force that she fainted,? hearing as she slid away into the dark warmth his cry of pleasure.
Her first awareness was the kisses he was covering her face with.?Dear God, she thought, that he can rouse me to such heights! She?opened her eyes and smiled tremulously at him, her eyes brilliant?with tears. He smiled back and ran a slim finger tenderly down her?nose. “You’ve bewitched me, my blue-eyed love. Tomorrow after-? noon we shall ride upriver to the Ducks and Drake. For several days?we shall do nothing other, than make love in a beautiful room that?overlooks the river, and eat and drink sweet wine. I shall bind you?to me so you’ll never want to leave me, sweetheart. Never!” His?mouth closed over hers again, kissing her deeply. Then he loosed?her and rose from the bed. He drew on his clothing quickly and?smiled down at her. “We had best keep our liaison a secret for now,?sweetheart.” His green eyes glittered. “Though you’ve probably not?made up your mind about me yet, I’ve made up my mind about you.?I mean to have you, sweetheart!” He bent again and placed a firm,?light kiss on her forehead. “Sleep well, my darling. I’ve no doubt?I’ve fair worn you out.” He walked across the room, lifted a tapestry?hanging on the wall, and pressed a panel. A door swung open.
Skye gasped. “Where,” she demanded, “does that passage lead?”
‘To my house,” he replied, a hint of laughter in his voice. “Re-?member-my grandfather built this house for his mistress.”
“Then there was no need to climb up to my window?”
“No, sweetheart, but I did think it was most romantic, didn’t?you?”
She began to laugh. “Geoffrey. I’m not so sure you’re not a?madman!”
He grinned. Then, blowing her a kiss, he disappeared through?the passage and the door swung shut behind him.
“What manner of man have I involved myself with?” she said?softly aloud. A damned interesting one, the voice in her head an-?swered, and she laughed into the darkness.
Chapter 16
The following morning, Skye sent Daisy to find Robert Small.?The little captain had rolled in, a good hour past dawn, much?the worse for wear. When he finally made an appearance,?rumpled and red-eyed, Skye winced. “Oh, Robbie, how many?pints did you drink?”
He gave her a weak grin, “It wasn’t the pints so much as the?wenches. They were twins, and just sixteen. Ah, youth!”
“Did your friend de Grenville survive?”
“Barely. Thank God we had your carriage. I left him in the care?of his majordomo. For a Devon sailor, though, he has a mighty?weak stomach.”
Skye bit back the laughter bubbling in her throat. It would have?been unkind. “I’m going away for a few days,” she said quietly.?Though this is a secret, I will be upriver at an inn called the Ducks?and Drake. Should there be an
