Page 56 of Eight for Losing, One for Loving

Finally, the meal was done, and Leo went away to have a quiet drink in the taproom to give her some privacy to prepare herself. Without Jenny to help it was a little difficult, but the new gown and corset unfastened in the front which made a great difference. In the corner of the room, Vi had made a little nest for Mau, who had thankfully curled up and gone to sleep after finishing much of the dinner to which the two of them had not been able to do justice. The soft sound of his snoring reassured her, for the idea of having an audience for the coming night, even if it was only a cat, was most disconcerting.

Vi poured warm water from the jug she had ordered and washed herself, pleased with the delicately scented soap she had found at the apothecary’s shop. It smelled of vanilla, sweet and enticing, and she hoped the scent would linger on her skin. Choosing what to wear was difficult, as the little slips of nothing Leo had chosen were all lovely. Mrs Fanshaw had confided that they were French, sent over from Paris. Vi could well believe it, for she had seen nothing of the sort in any of the shops in London she’d visited before.

Whilst the nightgown fell to the floor, it was made of a delicate silk that clung lovingly to her body, almost sheer, revealing more than it covered, the fabric cools against her skin. Around the bust, which seemed moulded to her breasts, it was embellished with lace that curved over her décolletage. Vi unpinned her long blonde hair and brushed it out, letting it fall in a sleek cascade down her back. She stood, looking at herself in the small hand mirror, holding it up and angling it this way and that.

Colour rose to her cheeks as she saw the dark shadows of her nipples pressing against the silk and her breath caught as she imagined Leo looking upon her. What would he do? Her imagination provided the answer as she gazed at her reflection, feeling wicked and desirable in a way she had never known before, making her heart thud in her chest so hard she did not hear his soft knock, nor the opening of the door. It was only as she allowed the mirror to travel back up her body that she saw him, her breath catching at his expression, which was everything she had imagined and more. Raw desire burned there, his blue eyes dark with need.

Violetta turned, the mirror still in her hand as Leo’s gaze raked over her.

“You like it?” she ventured, knowing very well that he did. The answer was so obvious that a smug smile played at her lips.

Leo let out an uneven huff of laughter. “God, Vi. If this is what I’m going to be treated to every night, I’m going to be putty in your hands. You can have anything you want, do anything you want, I don’t care. I’ll give you anything, only for heaven’s sake, come here.”

She laughed, setting the mirror down and running into his embrace, throwing her arms about his neck as he kissed her, hard and deep and with no reservations. This time he did not hold back, his hands sliding down her back to her waist, pulling her firmly against him. Vi’s breath hitched as she felt the press of his arousal against her belly and then his hands fell lower still, grasping her bottom. She gasped, but he stole her breath, deepening the kiss and taking more. Vi could do nothing but hold on, tangling her hands in his hair and following where he led.

Finally, he broke the kiss and Vi let out an unsteady breath, her chest rising and falling rapidly. “H-Heavens,” she managed.

Leo flashed her a wicked grin that made her heart feel light and insubstantial, as though happiness weighed less than air and it would simply float off into the sky.

“So beautiful,” he whispered, nipping at her ear. “If you only knew how I have longed for this, dreamed of it, you would realise how much power you have always had over me. I ought not tell you, I think, for you might abuse it.”

“I never would,” she replied reproachfully, though the idea that she could was tantalising. Did he really desire her so very much? It seemed unlikely and yet here was the proof of it, visible in the dark hunger burning in his eyes, in the proud jut of his arousal that seemed to beg for her attention.

Too curious to pretend maidenly shyness, Vi’s hand covered the rigid line visible beneath his impeccably tailored trousers and Leo sucked in a sharp breath. She snatched her hand away, startled by his reaction before she realised he had not wanted her to stop. Of course, Kitty had given her some rather indelicate advice in the past and now it came back to her, and she felt eager to put it into practise. Cautiously, she returned her hand and gently squeezed.

Leo groaned, resting his head atop hers, his eyes closed.

“You like that,” she said, feeling rather pleased with herself.

He snorted and nodded his head. Biting her lip, Vi dared to unbutton the fall of his trousers and slide her hand inside, searching for entry beneath his smallclothes. Leo’s hands fell to help her, but she batted them aside.

“Hurry,” he said urgently, the rough edge to his voice giving her a little thrill of excitement.

Finally, she found the access she needed, and her hand touched his flesh, blazing hot and so very hard, the skin finer than anything she had ever known. He made a strangled sound as she closed her hand around him and stroked.

“I’ve died,” he murmured. “Died and gone to heaven.”

Violetta smothered a laugh against his chest, uncertain it was the moment for laughter but then she glanced up and saw the mischievous glint in his passion-dark eyes and she laughed out loud, delighted by him, and by this, which was not at all what she had expected.

“I love you,” he told her. “I love to hear you laugh, even if you are laughing at me, and I want to make love to you so much I feel I shall run mad.”

“I’m not stopping you,” she pointed out, firming her grip on the hard length of his arousal. His breath caught, and he bent his head, kissing her ferociously, devouring her like a man starved. Leo’s arms pulled her hard against him until she was aware of every button on his clothing, every curve of muscle and line of bone, and then, just as suddenly, he released her.

“Take it off,” he commanded, the need in his voice making her react at once.

She let go her hold on him, her hands flying to the tiny pearl buttons at the lowest point of her neckline. Somehow her shaking fingers got them undone and she shimmied the silken nightgown down to her hips, but he could not wait, tugging at the fine fabric, yanking it down her body until he could gaze upon her nakedness.

Vi shivered under the heat of his gaze, her skin prickling, nipples tightening into hard little buds as his eyes took in every detail.

“Perfection,” he whispered, before his head lowered, his mouth closing over her nipple and sending darts of pure delight charging through her body. The tugging of his mouth seemed to tug at another, secret part of her that had never before experienced such a tumult of sensation.

“Oh, L-Leo,” she stammered.

He raised his head in enquiry but Vi caught hold of his hair and guided him back, not wanting him to stop. A soft huff of laughter fluttered over her skin, but he did as she asked of him, lavishing attention on her breasts until her entire body was alive and tingling with anticipation. Finally, he raised his head, gazing at her as though he would eat her in one bite.

Finding it suddenly hard to stand, Vi took a few shaky steps backwards and felt the mattress behind her. Bracing herself against it, she leaned back, her breath catching as Leo fell to his knees before her.

“This is how you ought to be viewed,” he told her, staring up the length of her body, his eyes vivid with desire, the black of his pupils swamping all but an electric flash of blue around the edges as his gaze settled upon the place between her thighs. “A goddess, ready to be worshipped.”

Vi gave an unsteady laugh. “Don’t be s-silly,” she scolded him, but her words died as she registered the look in his eyes.

“A goddess,” he told her firmly, a tone to his voice that would brook no argument. “And I your willing supplicant, come to worship at your altar.”

He pressed his mouth against the darker gold triangle of curls between her thighs, pressing a kiss there, their eyes still locked.

Vi felt the blush rush from her toes, up her body, her cheeks scarlet, and yet there was power in it too, despite her embarrassment. He really meant it, she realised, meant to worship her, to hold her above all others and love her as he loved no one else.

Her breath hitched as his mouth drifted lower, the kiss pressing in a place that made a soft exclamation escape her lips. His tongue darted out, licking softly, and Vi melted into a puddle, her legs giving out as she collapsed back onto the mattress.

“Like that, do you?” he asked, getting to his feet and sounding very pleased with himself.

“It’s the wickedest thing I ever… ever… good heavens, Leo.”

Leo stood over her, grinning now. It seemed positively indecent that he should stand there fully dressed, gazing down on her nakedness, yet Vi realised in that moment that she liked it. She liked the way Leo looked at her, liked to see the desire in his eyes, relished the fact that he wanted her badly, so very badly.

“Answer the question, love,” he pressed her, amusement lurking in his dark gaze.

“Yes, Leo,” she whispered, smiling up at him. “I like it, I like it all, and I love you very, very much.”