Page 15 of A Raven Realized (The Raven’s Den #5)

She tipped her head back as he drew her other nipple into his mouth. Desire like she’d never known was possible burned in her belly and between her thighs.

“I need more too, Simon.”

He pulled himself back and nodded. “Get those off.” He gestured to indicate her drawers as he started on the buttons of his own remaining clothes.

Soon, they were both completely naked. She couldn’t tear her eyes away from his manhood.

She’d only ever seen the male anatomy in pictures of nude statues, and they certainly didn’t look like that.

He laid his underwear over the chair and sat on top of it. “Come here.” He held out a hand to her. She didn’t hesitate to take it, but wasn’t sure what he wanted.

“Straddle me.”

She stared at him, still unsure exactly what he was asking of her.

“Do you remember what you did with my fingers last night?”

She nodded, her stomach fluttering at the memory. She would never forget that.

“Tonight, you’ll do the same thing but here.” He pointed to himself. “Unless you don’t want to do that, of course.”

She’d never wanted anything more in her life. It was a bit awkward to get into position, but when she lowered herself down, his hard length slid along her desperate flesh sending a flash of pleasure through her. Slowly, she began to rock herself against him, groaning with each repetition.

The heat of Simon’s mouth against her neck made goosebumps rise on her arms. “That’s it.” He settled his hands on her hips, encouraging her movements, a deep purring sound rumbling in his chest.

As her need grew, she increased her tempo. The adoration in his eyes as he watched her bolstered her confidence.

“My God, Madelene, you are incredible.” He leaned down and drew her nipple into his mouth. Pleasure burst through her body and her hands gripped his shoulders.

“Oh, Simon.” Panting breaths rushed through her lips as she quickly neared the peak she knew was coming.

“That’s it. Embrace the pleasure, Madelene.” He leaned back, watching her.

She moved herself frenziedly over him, desperate for release. “Simon!” she called out as pleasure ripped through her in an explosion.

“Don’t stop,” he said urgently, gripping her hips to keep her moving. With a deep, guttural moan, his body tensed. He threw his head back and bursts of warmth covered her sex, somehow dragging out her own pleasure even more.

After a moment, he pulled her in gently and pressed a brief kiss against her lips. “What am I going to do with you?”

“Well, hopefully more of this.”

He barked a laugh before nodding. “I doubt I could say no.” He let out a long sigh.

They sat for a moment, catching their breath. “We should probably go upstairs and get cleaned up for bed.”

She nodded and climbed off him. “I…”

“What is it?”

“I have questions.” She felt a bit shy, but there was a lot she still didn’t understand. She trusted Simon to be kind, and not tease her for her naivety.

“Why don’t we go get cleaned up, and when we’re no longer naked we can talk?”

When she was dressed in a nightgown, Madelene went to Simon’s room. He wore pajama bottoms, but was still enticingly bare on top. He took a sip of whisky and gestured toward the chair that sat near the fireplace.

“If I sit there, where will you sit?”

“On the floor so I can rub your feet.”

She stopped. “R-rub my feet?”

His smile was tender and sweet as he tilted his head. “Surely it’s the least I can do after what you’ve just done for me.”

“For you?”

He shrugged. “Sit,” he said, gesturing with his chin.

She settled herself into the chair and he sat on the floor, crossing his legs in front of him and lifting her feet to rest on top. Why did this feel even more intimate to her than what they’d done down in the kitchen? He pulled off one of her slippers and held her foot between his warm hands.

His eyes were somehow less intense now, almost lighter. As if the storm had passed.

“Ask anything you wish. I promise to answer to the best of my ability.”

For some reason, she wasn’t ready to ask the intimate questions she had. Perhaps she could lead up to those eventually.

“Will you tell me more about your work?”

“I can’t tell you much more. You’re one of only a few people who even know who I work for.” He massaged the arch of her foot with his thumbs, and it was absolutely divine. “But the truth is, I don’t want to do it anymore.” He breathed a listless sigh.

“Then why do you?”

“There’s something I have to finish before I can leave.”

He didn’t seem very keen to discuss whatever it was, so she moved on to her original questions, instead. “It feels silly that I don’t know this, but… I assume I’m no longer a virgin?”

His thumbs paused against the sole of her foot. “Well, technically, you are still a virgin.” He massaged her heel. “I won’t be taking that from you.”

“I thought we had this discussion already. You needn’t protect my virtue.”

His laughter was filled with cynicism. “Now you are being silly. If I was trying to protect your virtue, I’d be doing an awfully lousy job of it.”

“Why then? Is it because you’re afraid of getting me with child? Is that not a possibility from what we did tonight?”

He shook his head. “No, on both counts. There are means of preventing pregnancy, and what we did tonight will not result in it.”

“Will you tell me how it is done, at least? I feel like a fool not knowing these things.”

“You’re not a fool. In order to impregnate you, a man’s body needs to be inside your body. Not outside, like mine was tonight. That is also how he will take your virginity.”

“Well you still haven’t told me why you won't do that.”

“The most obvious reason is that I am not worthy of that gift from you, as I am not your husband.” He replaced her slipper and pulled off the other one.

“I thought we had decided it was mine to give or not give.”

“You decided that.”

She rolled her eyes. “What’s the less obvious reason then?”

He shrugged. “I promised to never hurt you, and that act will likely be painful for you the first time.”

“So you’d rather someone else hurt me?”

He stilled and closed his eyes before letting out a long sigh. “What other questions do you have?”

“I’m sorry, Simon. I shouldn’t have pressed you.” She wasn’t his responsibility, or at least she wasn’t supposed be, and that wasn’t a fair question to ask.

He replaced her slipper and got up from the floor. “It’s late.”

With a nod she pushed herself out of the chair. She raised onto her toes and pressed a kiss to his cheek. “Goodnight, Simon.”