Free The Sweet Caress by Roberta Latow

and hardly a man who doesn’t.’
    Jessica smiled knowingly but kept silent. Mai Liu leaned forward and talked across Tom Salinger to Jessica. The three were deep in conversation about a poem that Tomwas going to translate when Jessica realised they had caught the attention of everyone at the table. Jessica switched at once to English. She had no real anxiety about revealing she could speak the language, in fact it only added to the fun of the evening, but she did not want to make herself too conspicuous. She excused herself from the table and went into the library where she stood by the fire and watched the flames leaping. That was where Luke found her.
    ‘Are you all right?’ he asked as he stepped up close to her and took her hand.
    ‘Just fine.’
    ‘Good,’ was his only comment.
    ‘Luke, I’m having a lovely evening. I like your friends and the food was delicious, I’m looking forward to the concert and I’m very happy you seduced me into coming out with you.’
    He leaned forward and whispered in her ear, ‘Can you come for me now, while we’re alone, so I can revel in your pleasure?’ he asked, a mischievous twinkle in his eye.
    She held his hands together in hers and pressed them to her lips. Jessica closed her eyes and relived the exquisite pleasure of being riven by him. She took a deep breath and sighed, opening her eyes as she came. That telltale flush of pink appeared on her cheeks and Luke was overcome with desire to take her then and there. Several minutes later they came together lying on a chaise covered with the guests coats’ in a large downstairs cloakroom. Then they joined the others who had by now gathered in the library for a musical experience they would never forget.
    Luke saw her naked for the first time that night, in his bed, in his house. She was more perfect, more sensual than he had imagined any woman could be. Her body seemed to beckon a man to come and fulfil his dreams of sexual bliss. Yet there was something innocent in the youthful firmnessof flesh, the translucent skin as smooth as silk. She was like a work of art, with her mysteriously exotic face, her graceful neck, her smooth, gently sloping shoulders, and her full breasts that invited and tantalised. The firm torso and triangle of blonde hair between long, slender legs were a joy to behold. And shimmering from her superb nakedness was the erotic excitement of her total being, the intriguing and secretive sexual nature that was Jessica Johnson. Luke memorised every inch of her body, etched it in his mind so he could conjure it up at will to savour, to excite his love and lust for her before he lay down on the bed next to her and kissed her breasts, took her in his arms. After draping one of her legs over his hip in one slow and deliberate thrust, he took total possession of the woman he would love as no other ever again.
    Luke listened to her whimpers as she achieved ecstasy with his every thrust, his every withdrawal. Sex and love came together for them several times through the night before they drifted off to sleep in each other’s arms. And the next day they walked through the woods, and ate and slept in front of the fire. When it was time for Jessica to go home, she dressed as best she could be in his clothes and boots. As he dropped her off, she told him, ‘Luke, I need time and I need to be free. I want to see you, often, but with no strings attached. I know you understand that because you made it clear to me that you did. But do you really mean it? I hope so, for both our sakes.’
    ‘I’m only going to repeat this one more time. When you are ready to marry me, you come and tell me. I’ll not ask you again. But that doesn’t mean I won’t be there for you and courting you with all my heart and soul.’
    ‘And if you see me with other men?’ she asked.
    ‘I’ll do no more than you will when you see me with other women.’
    ‘And if I were to tell you that I think I’m falling in love with you?’
    ‘I