She didn't know what she wanted; she was sure he did. Holding tight to him, to their anchoring kiss, she tilted her hips, opening herself to his hand, begging… she knew not for what.
He cupped her, fingers sliding slick in a soothing caress; then, very slowly, he entered her.
So slowly she felt the intrusion keenly-no force, no pressure, just the yielding of her body to his penetration. He reached deep, then stroked.
The heat within her tightened, coalesced, then contracted even more. He stroked again, finger within her, thumb upon her-she would have gasped, cried out, but he drank the sound. And stroked again.
Her heat fractured, imploded, then erupted. Hot glory and pleasure spilled down every vein. Fierce delight, tangible in its sharpness, ran across her skin, through her body, scattered her wits and left her senses sighing.
Clinging tightly, she gave herself up-to him, to the splendor of desire.
Lucifer watched her face as the pleasure rolled through her, his awareness centered within her, savoring the rippling caresses as she eased. Every demon he possessed was slavering, expecting its customary reward; he didn't know how he was going to hold them back, only that he would.
Somewhere, a line had been crossed, some Rubicon beyond which there was no turning back. He didn't know where or when, but there was no longer any point pretending he hadn't, at least partly deliberately, taken the fatal step. Whether it had been fifteen minutes ago, when the realization that he'd already nearly lost her had hit, whether Horatio's garden was to blame, or the inheritance as a whole-or if he'd decided in that instant when first he'd laid eyes on her face-didn't matter. She was his. So the only matter he had to concentrate on right now was not giving in to his demons.
Not easing her breeches farther down, lifting her, and taking her here, now, against the hedge.
Studying her face, eyes closed, her expression beatifically serene, helped-so did easing his fingers from her, gently drawing them from between her thighs.
Her musky scent rose, teasing, taunting his demons. He slammed a mental door on them, shut his ears to the howls.
He'd have her-he'd decided that days ago, even if he hadn't let himself think of it-but not here, not tonight. For all that she'd insisted, she deserved better than a shrubbery hedge. And he seriously doubted, when the time came, that once would be enough-not now. He'd known from the first that abstinence was not a good idea.
A whole night. If he exercised appropriate caution and skill…
Leaning into the hedge beside her shoulder, he was still watching her, her breeches done up, his hand resting on her hip on top of her loose shirt, when she drew in a deeper breath and opened her eyes.
She blinked. Her gaze flew to his face.
Even in the dimness, he saw awareness bloom; through his hand on her hip he felt tension reinvest her spine. She stared into his eyes, then swiftly scanned his face before once more meeting his gaze.
His lips curved, not so much a smile as a gesture of intent. He leaned into her. "That was just the appetizer."
He brushed a kiss across her swollen
lips, then captured her wide-eyed gaze. "Next time, I'll have you naked, on a bed, and I won't let you go until I've had you. Multiple times."
At eleven the next morning, Phyllida closed the side door of the church and started down the path. The vases were done for the services tomorrow-one item she could cross off her list.
Jem, the Grange's youngest groom, was lounging in the lych-gate; he straightened as she neared. She'd requested his presence on her errand to protect her from the murderer or to protect her from Lucifer-she wasn't sure which. If the latter, then she'd failed. A pair of blacks pranced before the lych-gate; she had not the slightest doubt who would be holding their reins.
Jem opened the gate and she stepped into the lane. Lucifer was listening to Thompson, standing beside the curricle, but his blue gaze was all for her.
Thompson saw her and broke off to nod.
Lucifer seized the opportunity. "Good morning, Miss Tallent. Would you prefer to drive back to the Grange?"
No one would believe her if she said she wouldn't; in truth, she was perfectly amenable to meeting him again. In public. "Thank you." She sent Jem home, then strolled to the curricle's side. Although still engaged with Thompson, Lucifer held out a hand as she neared. She considered it, then calmly put her hand in it and allowed him to help her up. In public, she'd be safe.
Settling beside him, she shamelessly eavesdropped.
"So you want new locks on all the doors and windows, the kind that can't easily be slipped."
Lucifer nodded. "I haven't any idea how many will be needed, but I want every window secured."
"Aye, well-no point otherwise." Thompson straightened. "I'll be along this afternoon to count up. I knows just the sort you want, but it'll take a week or more to get 'em in. Come from Bristol, they do."
Lucifer nodded. "Get the job done as fast as you can."