"Never mind," his voice dropped a notch.
"You can't just start it and... say never mind" Elis suddenly stood up, hands on her hips, daring him to continue talking. Royce's head visibly swayed at her abrupt movement.
"Are you alright, Royce?" Elis demanded, her hands suddenly at his shoulders, her face a breath away from his. Through half-open eyes, he noticed the concern in her tone and manner. But by that point, he was already swimming in the sensations her nearness brought. As she brought her face even closer to his to regard his eyes, he did the unthinkable. He leaned in and captured her lips.
She will push me away, he meagerly thought. Just one taste, to serve me for the rest of my life. He closed his eyes and savored the feel of her soft lips under his. It wasn't long before he released her, almost immediately forming an apology. Yet he didn't expect seeing Elis so stunned, her eyes wide. She brought her hands to her lips, tracing them.
"I...uhm... Elis," Royce started mumbling half coherently. It was the next moment that he didn't expect either. Elis, his marvelous Elis, of her own volition, kissed him again. In his alcohol-induced haze, that was all it took to lose control.
CHAPTER 11
Elis was enjoying herself too much in Royce's company. She didn't even realize how quickly one glass was emptied after another. The champagne was making her bubbly and a little more daring than usual. It was also messing with her head when she reached out to Royce to see if he felt all right. The fact that she was so close to him was doing something to her tummy. She didn't know exactly what it was, but it felt warm and good. Staring into his eyes, she finally took a moment to admit to herself that he was quite handsome. Well... he was very handsome. She perused his slightly tanned skin, with his mahogany eyes that always crinkled with warmth, and then there were his lips. She wet her own in reaction. How was it that she had never realized just how plump and nicely formed his lips were? Ladies weren't supposed to notice this about men, she reminded herself. She had certainly never focused on Francis's lips. She was almost in a trance, so the moment Royce put his lips on hers, she could do nothing but let herself feel the slight pressure. It was only a chaste kiss, and yet she felt her heart burst. What was this, she asked herself. Kissing Francis had never felt quite like this. Certainly, that long-ago peck Royce had given her either. She didn't have time to muse further because the contact was cut short as Royce drew back and seemed about to say something. She didn't let him form his words and kissed him again. The feeling was there, she realized, but she wanted more. What more, she had no idea.
As she struggled to find what was missing, Royce's lips opened slightly, his tongue sliding across her mouth. Elis opened her own, and when his tongue sought entrance, she slightly met it with hers. The feeling was to weep for, she thought, as her body's strength left her, and she collapsed on Royce, never breaking contact. Her hands went to his neck of their own accord, and she let him deepen the kiss. She was vaguely aware of his hands coming up and tracing the contours of her body through her nightgown. His right hand held her steady to his chest while his left hand started for the hem of her gown, brushing her bare skin. The touch was so electrifying that Elis could do nothing but gasp and mold herself more to him. He was so strong, she realized as she was feeling her way down his chest. She wanted to feel his bare skin too. With hurried movements, she went for the opening of his shirt and brushed her hand over the exposed skin. Royce jolted and raised his eyes to hers. She wanted to protest; there were just too many feelings accumulating in her body. She just knew she had to get closer to him.
Royce took the hand resting on his chest and brought it to his lips.
"Elis, we shouldn't do this." He whispered, but his eyes were betraying his words. Elis took that as encouragement and went for his lips again, only to be stopped by him.
"Stop, Elis. You should go to your room," Royce said and tried to move her off him. But Elis couldn't listen to what he was saying. It felt like she was thirsty for something, she didn't know what, but it was something only Royce could offer. She didn't know if she was drunk on alcohol or...something else.
Royce rose up from the chair and brought Elis to her feet. Elis, however, was past caring. She didn't want him to stop, didn't want him to send her to her room. She did the very first thing that came to her mind. She jumped Royce and wrapped her legs around him.
"No..." she whispered, and she kept placing small kisses across his face.
"Oh, Good Grace," Royce muttered and found her lips once more.
Elis felt something hard touching her center, and every time she rocked slightly, tiny bits of fire would rush through her veins. She vaguely felt Royce placing her on the bed, moving on top of her. She didn't even know when her gown together with Royce's clothes disappeared. She just felt the slightly chilly air brushing her skin, and Royce's hot flesh surrounding her. Suddenly he was kissing her everywhere, her neck, her breast, and even lower. Her breath felt ragged as he did something to her that she could never imagine. It didn't take long for heaven to envelop her. Oh Lord, she thought to herself, this is marvelous. And she
