Sybille's Lord Page 10

  “So be it. Eat this wafer as you sip your wine, and let me…” He paused. How could he say to set the scene without sounding oily and villainous?

  “Prepare,” he said finally. He opened the wicker basket and handed Sybille a wafer and a pastry.

  She took them and had a hefty bite out of the pastry. Thom followed suit as he removed soft jewel colored pillows from out of a cupboard and placed them along the head of the bed.

  “This is magnificent.” Sybille mumbled the words through a mouthful of pastry. “Just enough so my tummy doesn’t interrupt us. Whoever made this is a gem, keep hold of her.”

  “I intend to. Tate and Mrs. Tate are the cornerstones of this estate. It may be small, but it is important to me. Perhaps after today, it will hold an even closer space in my heart.”

  She blushed. Thom laughed and stroked her cheek. Sybille swallowed the rest of her pastry, took a drink of wine and handed him her glass. “Almost ready, er except…” She circled one hand in the air.

  “Ah.” Thom was never more thankful that Mrs. Tate had proudly shown him the discreet outhouse. It seemed the Lady of the Manor had been born well before her time.

  “Outside, to the left.”

  Sybille’s cheeks were as red as the cushions he‘d just placed nearby. She thrust her glass at him, stood up and brushed her dress down, and hurried from the gazebo.

  Thom put both glasses on the table and took himself outside, via a window—not the one with a death drop beyond it—to a convenient bush. Well away from where she headed.

  Chapter Sixteen

  Sybille wondered how on earth she’d got out of the gazebo without stumbling. Of course he knew all about the need to relieve oneself. It wasn’t purely a woman’s necessity. But neither was it something generally discussed. She washed her hands in the ewer of water provided and gave thanks to the unknown Mrs. Tate once more, before she made her way back inside.

  As she entered the gazebo, Thom stood next to the door and kicked it shut behind her. He moved behind her and pulled her back to rest on against him.

  “Mine.” His arms circled her loosely, his hands warm on her tummy.

  Just one word, but spoken in such a way as to send shivers down her spine and dampen the curls at the apex of her thighs. His fingers splayed over her, and his breath was warm on her neck.

  “Yours.”

  “Let me show you how you are mine.” Thom didn’t wait for her to answer but undid the tiny buttons that caressed her spine. His fingers stroked her skin as he maneuvered the fastenings and bared her back to the warm afternoon.

  Outside a bird tweeted, and the hum of bees on the flower-clad walls was loud in the somnambulant air. It was, Sybille decided romantic—and almost designed especially for them.

  She dropped her head forward to allow Thom easier access as he pressed soft kisses to every place his fingers touched. As he inched her gown over her shoulders, his kisses followed that movement as well.

  Her skin was on fire and she had a semi hysterical thought that once he freed her arms from her gown only her rock hard nipples would hold it in place. Could she command them to let it go?

  “Such soft skin, but I need to see and feast on even more.” Thom slid the sleeves of her dress to her wrists and over her hands.

  The softly scalloped neckline rested on the swell of her breasts one eighth of an inch the correct side of decency.

  “Shake your head.” Thom plucked the pins from her hair as he spoke.

  Eh? However she did as he demanded. As her hair tumbled to her shoulders, the bodice of her dress left her breasts and ended in a crumpled heap around her waist. Within seconds her chemise followed it.

  He bent his head and for the first time in her life someone other than herself touched her breasts. It was no innocent brush of his lips. Thom took one nipple in between his thumb and forefinger and rubbed and teased it. The other he pulled into his mouth and suckled. Not like a babe, but like a man in need of a feast. Someone who worshipped her body and gloried in it.

  His mouth was hot and demanding. Her body pleaded to do as he wished. All Sybille wanted was whatever was next, and more of the same. When he moved his hand from her breast, she sobbed.

  “Shhh,” Thom lifted his mouth just enough to soothe her. “I need to take off your dress. Stay as you are.” He stroked her hair. “Now, sweet Sybille will you help me in another way?”

  “Ye…sss, oh …” She sighed and waited.

  “So good. Touch yourself. Keep yourself warm for me.”

  What? How? As if I’m alone? Ah I cannot.

  Thom gently lifted her hand to cover her breast. It was almost as if he could read her mind. “You can,” he said gently. “You are doing. Sweet Sybille, it is perfect. There, your hand warms you there, as I will warm you elsewhere.” He rolled her gown and chemise further downward. Over her hips, across her mound and down her thighs. The materials were cool on her fevered skin, the slight friction they created added to her already heightened senses. Her skin prickled and she caught her breath. It was difficult even to breathe; every fiber of her being was concentrated on Thom. On his actions, his words and his strength.

  Even her fingers seemed to have a mind of their own, as she fondled her breast. Yes, it was something she had done before. Something to discover how her body responded to thoughts and touch. But never in her wildest dreams did she expect to do something so outrageous in front of a man. Especially the man who declared he wanted her to give herself to him.

  “Step out of your clothes.” Thom steadied her as she did as he asked. “Perfect. You are perfection, my lady.” He kissed the nape of her neck. “I ache to make you mine.”

  Sybille swayed at the tone in his voice. He sounded in awe. Surely not? She blinked and turned around to look at him. Apart from his jacket, he was fully clothed. “You’re dressed.” She winced as she stated the obvious.

  “Remedy it.”

  Me? Oh my.

  Where to start? The glint in his eyes goaded her. Sybille was never one to turn down a challenge. She looked at him steadily, and was rewarded by a wash of color that flowed over his face.

  “Oh I will.” Could humans purr? She wanted to. “Lift your arms.” Was that husky feline voice really hers?

  A faint smile flickered across his lips as he complied and Sybille slowly untied the laces at his throat and parted the neckline. Hairs showed in the gap and she itched to curl them around her fingers and test their wiry strength.

  Later.

  With more haste than finesse, she un-tucked his shirt from his pantaloons, lifted the hem and pulled the soft, fine, linen garment over his head.

  Even without those rivulets of water that drew your eyes downwards, his chest was magnificent. Without an inch of fat on him, Thom was muscular, well-proportioned and made her mouth dry. Sybille gave into temptation and pressed a soft kiss to his chest. He smelled of man, earthy, but not unpleasant.

  “You know, a man’s body is as receptive as a woman’s.”

  “Pardon?”

  “Sensitive, needy, wanting. My body. Think of where you like to be touched, I’m the same.”

  “On your ear?” She giggled as his eyes widened.

  “Like this?” He pinched her lobe. “Why not? However, I have other places to touch and taste, and hope you’ll return the favor. Later.”

  “Then,” Sybille looked at his feet, “take your boots off. Oh lord, can you? Without help?”

  Thom laughed. “I’m not such a pathetic case, of course I can. Although, I do have a confession to make.” He waited for two of her heartbeats. “There is a boot jack in the corner.”

  “Maybe you best use it.”

  He inclined his head, and did as she asked. As he bent over to use the jack, his rear in her direction, Sybille feasted on the sight. Was it wrong to lust after a man, when all you were looking at was a cloth-covered bottom?

  Boots discarded Thom turned toward her. “You’re shivering. Slide under the cover on the bed.”

>   “Only if you join me?” He was correct. She shook but not from cold. From anticipation, excitement, and the knowledge that soon, very soon she would be his.

  “Oh there’s no doubt about it.”

  She could sense him watching her as she got under the cover and propped herself on the pillows he’d put there not long before. Once she was settled, Thom nodded.

  “Good girl. I’ll join you in a trice.” He lifted the spindly-legged table that held the wicker basket, and the wine nearer. “Now where were we? Ah yes you were undressing me. However, I think I’ll do the next bit. Otherwise your education might push ahead faster than either of us anticipated.” He gestured to the bulge in his pantaloons. “My pego is so desirous of making your acquaintance, I might spill before he gets the chance.”

  Sybille nodded, although she wasn’t really sure what he meant.

  Thom grinned, as he hooked his fingers into the waistband of his pantaloons and inched them over his cock. “When a man is as excited as I am, sometimes he can spill his seed even before he enters a woman. Now we all know it is preferable to withdraw from her so…” He stopped. “Ah, do you understand what I mean?”

  “Well, of course. If you don’t want a child on the wrong side of the blanket you don’t sow your seed in fertile ground.” Thank goodness for those pamphlets. “So you withdraw.”

  Thom finished taking off his clothes. “Exactly.” He collected a ewer of water and a towel, and put them next to the wine. As he moved, his pego bobbed and swayed.

  Almost as if it is introducing itself. Sybille mentally scoffed at herself. Giving a man’s staff a mind of its own. What next? Imagining it was about to speak?

  Thom lifted the covers and crawled onto the bed next to her. “Let me warm you up.”

  “I’m not… ah well ohhh my…” She spluttered to a halt as he took her nipple into his mouth and tugged. A hot flame of awareness streaked through her. She moved her legs restlessly, searching for a way to relieve the ache in between her thighs.

  “Wait, my love.” Thom moved his ministrations to her other breast. He stroked her belly in soft soothing circles and edged his fingers lower, to ruffle the curls that covered her mound. “So beautiful.”

  Sybille moaned. The soft voice teased her senses once more as she arched up into his hand.

  “Slowly, love.”

  It was as if she sat beside the bed, watching them. Thom kicked the covers to the bottom of the bed, and parted her legs with his thigh. Then she not only saw in her mind, but also felt one long, elegant finger enter her. She gasped. It was oh so different from anything she had sought to do to herself.

  He paused. “All right? Tell me if not.”

  “Oh so very right. I want more.”

  “Impatient.” He kissed her nose. “All things come to…”

  “Those who wait. I have waited.”

  “So you have.” He added another finger, and then, as she clenched and relaxed her muscles around him, touched her nub with his thumb.

  Tremors rushed through her and she writhed and arched off the bed. Thom held her down and increased the pressure. “Fly for me, my love.” He nipped her nipple with his teeth.

  That connection from breast to where his fingers teased and pushed, increased tenfold.

  Lights flashed before her eyes, stars danced in front of her, and her body was on fire. She was falling over the edge and into that place where nothing mattered except them.

  With a keening cry, Sybille fell into the abyss.

  Chapter Seventeen

  Could there be anything better than watching your lover go through the petit mort for the first time? Thom rejoiced in every tremble, sigh, scream and incoherent mutter Sybille made as he held her tight. She shook as tears coursed down her cheeks.

  He held her securely with one arm until she stopped shaking, his fingers still deep inside her channel. Soon, he promised himself. Very soon he’d replace his fingers with his cock.

  Sybille took a deep breath as she relaxed, and slowly, so as not to startle or hurt her he withdrew his fingers. She whimpered. “Nooo.”

  “Shh, it’s all right. Just draw breath, relax for a moment.”

  “I don’t want to.”

  He chuckled at the petulant note in her still passion-filled, husky voice.

  “I want you. Now.” She poked him in the chest. “Please, my lord. Surely you won’t make me wait? Not now.”

  “Only until you’re back with me enough to perceive every little thing that occurs.” He lifted the finger, which still rested on his chest and sucked the end.

  “My turn.” Sybille rolled onto her side, tugged his hand out and copied his action. She nibbled the end of his finger, moaned around the digit, and ran her tongue around it.

  Did she know what that did to him? Probably not. Even though she might imagine she was book—or gossip—wise, that was no comparison to the real thing.

  “Enough.” He pushed her onto her back again. “Let me love you.”

  “Oh yes, I thought you’d never ask.” Sybille stretched her arms out and wriggled her shoulders. “What shall I do?”

  He smiled. “Nothing, except enjoy.”

  “Oh I will.” She purred the words.

  Thom nudged her legs apart and knelt in between them. It had to be perfect. He was conscious that his mouth was dry and his heartbeat erratic. Had anything ever mattered so much? It seemed as if the whole purpose of his life ahead hung on the next few minutes. He bent his head and laved each rosy nipple in turn. She writhed under his touch and he blew on the hot skin, before he pressed a row of nibbling kisses down her body until he reached her navel, and swirled his tongue into the tiny indentation.

  “Tho…m!” His name came out as a muted shriek. He chuckled and Sybille squirmed.

  “T…tickles.”

  He lifted his head an inch. “This won’t.” He moved his mouth lower, until he came to her hard nub and teased it with his tongue.

  Her moans and squeaks increased as she thrashed from side to side on the bed. Was it fair to tease her so much? He didn’t want her to climax until he was buried deep inside her, and she wasn’t experienced to understand how to hold back. He drew back.

  The tug on his hair stung.

  “Do not stop,” Sybille said fiercely. “I want you now.”

  “My intention.”

  Her hold lessened and he took the opportunity to move. “Drape your legs over my shoulders. Yes like that.” As Sybille lifted her legs to hook her ankles on his shoulder blades, he shuffled nearer on his knees, and settled her legs to the best position.

  She looked from his face to his staff, which nudged the entrance to her channel and back again to his face. “Are you sure you’ll fit?”

  “Very sure, love. Wait and see.” He edged into her and she tensed. “No don’t freeze, for if you do it will hurt. Think of how good this will be. How as I fill you and make you mine, I’m promising myself to you, and only you. This will be us, forever. Two hearts beating as one. Two bodies together. You and me as one unit.”

  Thom reached and stroked her cheek. He would never tire of touching her, wanting her, needing her. “I love you, you know. I hadn’t intended to say so, not now. I don’t want you to think I’m saying it because of what we’re about to do. I’m not. But…” He smiled. “I couldn’t not. Sybille, I do love you, I do want to marry you.” Her smile and the expression of delight on her face reassured him. He watched as she visibly relaxed. And I’m going to make you mine.” He pushed his staff a further inch into her.

  This time she didn’t stiffen. She clenched and relaxed her muscles in a totally different way to the way she had a few moments before. This time it was an enticement. A hint, a demand.

  “More.”

  “Yours.” He surged forward and filled her. She screamed as he thrust past her maidenhood, and Thom paused to let her adjust to the sensation of a man within her. Sweat beaded her brow, and he reckoned his was no better. His arms shook as he rested on them to keep his
weight off her. Several seconds passed and then she sighed.

  “Surely that’s not all?”

  “No.”

  “Thank goodness. Please show me more.” She lifted her rear up to press her body closer to him.

  It was all he could have hoped for.

  ****

  The corded veins in his arms stood out as he held himself above her. In her mind, Sybille examined every inch of her body. The sensations that bombarded her made her ache to discover everything he had to show her. The fleeting pain she had experienced was followed by a sense of expectation, as she memorized every expression on his face, every nuance and each tiny movement he made.

  “Good?” he asked softly.

  She nodded. “More than good.” She clenched her inner muscles again and was rewarded by his breath hissing out of him.

  “Sybille, take care, I’m on a knife edge here.”

  “I thought you were in me?”

  “I am, and ready to spill.”

  “Then you better do something about it.” She licked her lips in the way she knew he admired. If he intended to drive her crazy, it was surely her role to reciprocate?

  He responded with a chuckle and began to move inside her.

  “Sweet Sybille.” The words were ground out of him. “I can’t last long.” The steady rhythm he had built increased and she matched him thrust for thrust. “I need to withdraw… now….”

  Without hesitation, Sybille held him deep inside her. She‘d committed herself this far, she had no intention of reneging, or of not experiencing every last moment of what would happen. He was not going to spill outside her. If he wanted her, he would give her everything. She’d accept nothing less.

  “Sybille, I cannot hold back.” His voice was harsh and gravelly, almost tortured.

  “Good. Then do not. I am giving you everything of me, I want the same from you.”

  “So. Be. It.” He thrust hard once, twice, and then his heat filled her.

  Yet again her word tilted on its axis and she flew.

  Someone screamed, a high keening noise that was full of exaltation and sated happiness. Dimly in the back of her mind, Sybille realized it was her voice. She was showing Thom how he affected her.