His hand moved down between her legs, seeking and caressing. When he found the wetness there, his fingers stroked her, his touch part solace, part sensual, all magic. But she didn’t need arousing. She was already hot and aching for him. His voice was soothing, but she didn’t need him to whisper gentle, calming words. She needed him. Desperately.
“Now Quinn…please…”
He required no further encouragement. With her plea, he shed his stern control entirely.
His face rigid with desire, he eased between her thighs and buried his hands in her hair. She saw his eyes, fierce with tenderness and intent as slowly he thrust until he was seated deep inside her. The raw need in his eyes was unmistakable. His gaze burning with blue fire, he lowered his head while beginning to move inside her.
The gentle rhythmic movement of his hips was different from his urgent kisses, though. He covered her face and mouth in fiercely loving caresses while whispering beautiful, golden words of love. Her heart soaring, Venetia held on tightly, her fingers feverishly digging into his buttocks, urging him on.
Ultimately he increased his rhythm, sinking into her swiftly, heavy and hard and deep, then withdrawing, only to plunge again. With a moan of pleasure, she responded with equal fervor, trying to melt into him as he surged with her.
Their climax came in moments. She arched in ecstasy, and as the searing sweetness burst upon her senses in a rush of bright light, she felt his body explode inside her, felt his arms tighten fervently around her before he finally collapsed upon her, his chest heaving.
His passion was soul-shattering, as were the pulses of life flowing between them.
After another few heartbeats, he shifted his weight to avoid crushing her and eased to one side with a hoarse sigh.
“You drive me wild, Venetia,” he whispered.
She gave a faint smile of contentment. It seemed that Quinn was as shattered as she by what had happened.
In response to her silence, his mouth found hers again. The ripples of passion faded eventually, but the soft mating of their breath continued as his lips lingered on hers.
They lay there kissing and touching for a long time, the moment indescribably tender and pleasure-hazed. Finally Quinn left off and drew back a space, but only far enough to hold her in a protective grasp.
Venetia opened her eyes to find him watching her earnestly, his face concerned.
“I tell you I am fine,” she murmured, longing to reassure him.
His face relaxed a measure, and she was gratified to think that she was consoling him. Yet she needed reassuring as well.
“I need to hear you say it again, Quinn…how you feel about me.”
“I love you dearly, sweet Venetia.”
Searching his beloved face, she drank him in. He was so beautiful with his tawny hair glazed by candlelight, his gaze so blue and intent. He was so vital, so dear to her.
“I promise we will discuss our future in the morning,” Quinn said quietly. “Tomorrow I intend to convince you to believe my vow of fidelity. But for now you should sleep.”
“I don’t want to sleep,” Venetia replied. “I want to stay awake to be certain I am not dreaming.”
Perhaps he understood her direst need, for his serious expression turned ardent and tender. “I wouldn’t have let you go, you know. If you had left me, I would have followed you to France and somehow persuaded you to love me. Even if it took the rest of my life.”
She had no doubt he would have succeeded, either. If she weren’t already madly in love with him, he would have worn down her resistance with his relentless charm.
A hint of that provocative charm entered his eyes now when he added, “I am afraid you are stuck with me, sweeting. It’s not merely legend that Wildes marry for life. It is an undisputed fact.”
“Is it, now?”
Amusement and affection glimmered in the blue depths of his eyes. “Yes, indeed. As Kate says, you and I were meant to be together.”
Venetia answered in kind. “I suppose we could rub along quite tolerably.”
“Our union will be vastly better than tolerable if I have any say in t
he matter. I intend to spend the rest of my days striving to make you happy and earning your trust.”
Venetia reached up to touch Quinn’s mouth with her fingertips. She already was blissfully happy. As for fidelity, she believed him when he vowed he would be faithful.