Page 25 of The Rogue’s Embrace

All this talk of plotting and schemes had Maria thinking Lisandro would want her to leave. To let him get sleep and be ready for the fateful day ahead.

He slipped a hand around her waist and pulled her to him. Maria gasped as the firmness of his erection pressed against her stomach.

"Last chance. You can leave this room right now and we can wait until we are married to make love."

Maria had been sure of her decision before they had talked; now, she was adamant. Lisandro was not leaving Castle Tolosa without having claimed her as his woman.

She brushed a hand against the bulge in his trousers, then took a hold and gently squeezed. "I hear that this is what I am supposed to do. Is it alright?"

He drew in a deep breath and whispered, "Maria, yes."

A long, warm kiss was her reward for giving him pleasure. She groaned as their lips and tongues worked over one another. For a strong, powerful man, he was surprisingly tender when it came to be kissing her.

His hands worked their way up to the bodice of her gown, then around to the back where the laces were tied. He tugged on one of them and she waited for it to come loose. With a hum of disappointment, he tried again.

"These things are wickedly tied," he said.

"Sorry I didn't think to loosen them."

It was hard to think of much else other than her nerves and rapidly beating heart.

She pulled back and turned around, placing her hands on the edge of the bed. "Does this help?"

There was a moment of unexpected silence. She glanced over her shoulder to see him staring at her ass. When their gazes met, he grinned. "I was just recalling the night we rescued you and I had to carry you out of the house slung over my shoulder. In all the mayhem, I didn't get time to appreciate just how magnificent your trasero is, so forgive me if I indulge for a moment."

Maria giggled; his indelicate remark was exactly what she needed. Her nerves were on edge, humor the perfect antidote.

Strong arms came around her, lifting her away from the bed. Lisandro blazed a trail of warm, tender kisses down her neck. She shivered at the heady sensation that thrummed through her body as he touched her skin.

"Don't be afraid. I will keep you safe in all things," he said.

"Even this?"

"Yes, especially this."

From the first day they had been together in London, Lisandro's honest nature had overcome both Maria's hatred and mistrust of him. Within days, she had willingly placed her faith, and indeed her life, in his hands.

Giving herself to him tonight was the ultimate act of trust.

Reaching behind her, she searched for the laces of her gown. Her fingers gripped the shortest tie and she tugged it free. Lisandro quickly stepped into the role of lady's maid and deftly loosened the rest of them.

The cool night air kissed her back as he pulled the gown open and pushed the top of it down. Instinctively she held onto the fabric, keeping her breasts covered as she turned to face him.

"Let it go; I want to see you. All of you,"

he whispered.

Maria sucked in a shaky breath as Lisandro took hold of her hands and drew them away from the bodice. When he gave a hard tug and the gown pooled at her feet she didn't protest. She was bare; only her shoes remained.

Her nipples hardened. The thought of being naked before Lisandro had her pulse racing. Maria lowered her gaze, too shy to look at him. With his hands placed on her waist, Lisandro knelt.

Cupping a breast lightly in his fingers, he leaned forward and drew one tight bud into his mouth. Pleasure tore straight to her core. When he sucked, she closed her eyes and let out a ragged breath. "Oh, Lisandro,"

she panted.

Her mind barely had time to register the sensation of his firm lips on her nipple when he slipped a finger into her wet heat and began to stroke. Maria's world swayed on its axis. It was all too much to take.

Please don't stop. I need your touch.

He worked her slowly up to a state of sobbing, aching need. Her fingers dug into his shoulders, gripping tight. The man was a master at knowing every place to touch on a woman's body.

Lisandro released his lips from her breast with a pop. Rising up on his knees, he continued to stroke her sex.

"That's it. I want you to come this way, Maria. It will make things easier for when I claim you,"

he whispered.

She was in no state to argue. All her mind and body could think of was reaching the earth-shattering climax which she sensed was just a stroke or two of his fingers away.

He rolled his thumb over her sensitive nib and she crashed into a blinding orgasm, collapsing against him. To her relief, he didn't stop. Instead, he slowed the pace while continuing to stroke her as she slowly came down.

Maria's mind was still in a post-orgasmic haze when Lisandro lifted her onto the bed and, with almost godlike speed, quickly shed his clothes. As he turned back to her, she got her first glimpse of his fully naked body. Her mouth dropped open at the sight of his engorged manhood.

She had seen the horses in the fields near her house, knew the basics of what happened when a stallion found a mare in heat. But they were animals, and her mother had never allowed her to linger and see what actually happened when the well-hung male horse finally got his way.

Lisandro gave her an encouraging grin. "Don't be afraid. I will make this good for you."

She wasn't so sure, given the size of what was pointing large and long at her.

You are not the first woman to share her body with a man. Just try and relax.

He crawled onto the bed and rose over her. Taking her hand in his, he placed it on his cock and held it there. Maria wrapped her fingers around the shaft.

"Now, move your hand up and down. Stroke me like I did with you. Slowly at first. Listen to my breathing and take your cues as to how fast you should go," he said.

"Alright but let me know if I am not doing it right,"

she replied.

To her surprise, she quickly established a steady rhythm and soon had Lisandro quietly swearing under his breath. When he groaned and whispered, "Maria,"

she sensed he was nearing his peak.

He stilled her hand and brushed it away. As he positioned himself at her entrance, she closed her eyes.

The sensation of him entering her body was odd. There was a moment of pressure, then it was gone. He withdrew and then pushed in deeper. By the time Maria realized he was fully seated within her, Lisandro was already increasing the pace of their coupling.

Every time he thrust into her, she wanted him to go deeper. The ripples of pleasure began to build once more, and Maria gripped the sides of his hips, urging him on. All she could think of was the need for him to take her harder.

"Lisandro, oh God, that feels so good,"

she sobbed.

He slipped a hand between them and ran his thumb around her bud. Faster, he worked her with his fingers and his cock. Her growing desperation for release had her clawing at his ass.

Maria lay her head back on the pillow, screaming as she came in a soul-defining climax. Lisandro pounded into her in one final frenzy before he let out a shout and collapsed on top of her.

"Oh, Maria. I will never get enough of you. I love you."

She held him close. "I love you, and this is forever."