Chapter 8

• The reality was he wanted her so badly that his normally rigid control was in jeopardy of deserting him. Only the earlier interruption of that laugh had stopped him from enticing her into the trees with him and making love to her right then and there.
• This immediacy was totally out of character for Leo.
• There had been many women in his life over the last twenty years, and some of them had become a mistress for several months, but with none of them had he felt this driving need to know, to touch, to make love until they were both weak and satiated. And then start all over again.
• Fiona's conservatory was in darkness as Leo opened the door and allowed the woman at his side to enter first, before closing and locking the door firmly behind them, shutting out the noise of the other partygoers and all but the muted strains of the small orchestra.
• Astoria's hand moved to cover his as he would have switched on one of the lamps. 'It's more—in keeping with the evening this way,' she whispered, inwardly knowing that if he switched on a light the magic of this encounter would be broken and she would run away—probably screaming.
• Philip's uncontrollable and unwarranted jealousy had made Astoria not just wary, but actually fearful of physical relationships, and she was sure that the only thing that was giving her courage now was the mask each of them was wearing and the anonymity the darkness afforded.
• In fact, the veritable forest of exotic plants and trees that Fiona nurtured in her conservatory effected such a feeling of privacy, of heightened expectancy, that it seemed to Astoria as if the two of them were alone on some lush desert island. Which was very fitting, considering he was dressed as a pirate!
• 'You've been here before?' he asked, as Astoria confidently made her way to where the sofa and chairs were situated.
• 'Once or twice,' she replied, not wanting to give away even that much of herself.
• Behaving with uncharacteristic recklessness was one thing, having this man discover her identity as Fiona's best friend was something else entirely!
• She turned to face him, stepping closer to let her hands slide slowly up his silk-covered chest. 'We aren't supposed to be asking personal questions, remember?'
• 'I remember,' he murmured, as his arms moved about her waist to draw her close against him and his head lowered so that his lips could claim hers.
• Heaven.
• There was absolutely no other way for Astoria to describe the pleasure that surged through her as the kiss deepened, as her lips parted to the silky caress of his tongue before it slowly entered her mouth.
• Oh God!
• Astoria's legs went weak at this slow, sensuous plundering, her arms tightening on his shoulders as she clung. He moulded her against him from breast to thigh, their legs entwined.
• It had been too long, she acknowledged achingly. Far too long. And it had never been like this before. Ever.
• Astoria's head swam, her body feeling completely, totally alive as the man she knew only as Morgan continued to kiss her. His hands moved restlessly across her back before cupping her bottom and pulling her even tighter against him, allowing her once again to feel the heat of his arousal as her own thighs melted into liquid fire.
• That heat intensified, became almost unbearable, as one of his hands caressed the bare tops of her breasts, igniting her so that she longed to have him caress her more fully, and her nipples were hard and aching for his touch as she pressed closer in silent appeal.
• But the magic stopped, abruptly ceased, the moment she felt his hand move up to the ties at the back of her mask.
• 'No!' She broke the kiss to protest, breathing hard as she backed away slightly, cheeks burning, eyes feverish. 'No,' she repeated more calmly, as she sensed him looking at her questioningly. 'It's more—exciting this way , don't you think?'
• More exciting? Leo mused wryly. If things became any more exciting the two of them were going to go up in flames! But perhaps she was right—perhaps it was the fact that they were both masked, their identities secret, that made this whole experience so uniquely erotic.
• She moved her body enticingly against him, the elusive perfume of her skin, the way her breasts swelled above her low-cut gown, once again holding him in thrall.
• Leo drew in a sharp breath as his body pulsed, throbbed in answer to all that she was offering. 'I—' He broke off as she pressed her fingertips against his mouth and played them lightly over his bottom lip before one dipped provocatively inside in silent invitation.
• An invitation Leo was powerless to resist.
• He held her against him and his tongue moved moistly across her finger, licking, enticing, making it hot and wet. The same way Leo wanted her as she lay beneath him. Or on top of him. He didn't care which…
• Astoria quivered with excitement, with anticipation, as she turned in silent invitation and allowed him to slide the zip of her gown down the length of her spine, groaning low in her throat as his lips followed the same path before he straightened once again to turn her to face him.
• She breathed shallowly as she lowered her arms to allow the gown to fall shimmering to the floor. She slipped her feet out of the gold slippers and dispensed with the cumbersome hoops to stand before him wearing only the tight corset with matching cream silk French knickers.
• ‘No, leave it,’ he growled throatily as Astoria would have reached up to undo the twenty or so hooks down the front of the corset. His gaze was intent on her masked face as he threw off his waistcoat and the black sash before moving to stand in front of her. ‘I have always wondered what it would be like to remove one of these,’ he admitted. ‘I am going to very much enjoy finding out.’ His accent had thickened in his deepening desire.
• Astoria hoped that it felt as sensually arousing to him as it did to her as he slowly undid the hooks, one by one, as he savoured the moment her breasts were free and he could brush his fingers lightly over their pouting tips. Astoria’s breath caught in her throat as he lightly caressed the taut and swollen nipples.
• She felt her knees go weak as he lowered his head and his lips claimed one temptingly pert bud, his tongue licking slowly, rhythmically, making her skin wet. Her nipple swelled in arousal inside his mouth as his teeth gently rasped against that sensitivity and he continued to taste and suckle.
• Her hands moved up instinctively to cradle the back of his head and she held him to her, her back arched, her breathing ragged as pleasure surged hotly between her thighs and dampened her until she was hot and aching.
• He moved the attentions of his lips and tongue to her other breast, licking, gently biting, while his hand captured its twin and caressed that hardened nub in the same pleasurable rhythm.
• God, she was so excited, so aroused, Astoria realised in trembling wonder. She was going to explode into a million pieces right here and now while this man was still fully dressed and she was wearing only her panties!
• Her fingers clenched in the dark thickness of his hair as she held him against her. He increased the rhythm of his caressing tongue and his other hand moved from her breast to seek lower, cupping between her thighs. The pad of his palm pressed subtly, rhythmically, against the hardened nub nestling there. Pressing, caressing, until Astoria felt an aching pleasure all centred there, before it spread out to every part of her body, hot and fierce, totally encompassing, and she arched against his caressing hand in a climax that seemed never ending.
• Her knees buckled slightly and her head dropped forward to rest against the broadness of his shoulder as those spasms of pleasure finally began to lessen, her breathing ragged and sporadic.
• ‘I don’t—I’ve never—That was so—’
• ‘You are beautiful!’ Leo assured her with husky force even as his arms moved about her and he lifted her up to carry her to the sofa. He laid her down on its length, his gaze once again holding hers captive as he straightened to begin unbuttoning his shirt.