Free Secret Fire by Johanna Lindsey

household sorely lacking in men.”
    “Mmmm.”
    Dimitri laughed. She wasn’t listening anymore, but was availing herself of the hard shaft embedded deep within her, undulating provocatively, drawing him in even more—exquisite. He groaned, gritting his teeth, letting her have her way as long as possible, but it didn’t take long before she soared over the edge. And although he would have prolonged his own pleasure, the throbbing pulsations he felt within her were his undoing. He joined in her climax, grinding his hips fiercely against her and hearing her cry out as she exploded yet again.
    With his heart still pounding erratically, Dimitri moved to sit on the side of the bed and poured himself a brandy. He offered one to Katherine, but she shook her head without looking at him. He would have to wash the stains of her virginity from her, but he would wait until she would better appreciate it. He smiled, contemplating that. Already he was anticipating bringing her to another climax.
    He moved back, sitting sideways, resting one arm on the other side of her hip. She still wouldn’t look at him until he brought the cool, round base of the brandy goblet to play across one pointed nipple. He chuckled, delighting in the way her eyes flared.
    “You will have to appease me, Katya. I like to play with my women.”
    “I’m not one of your women.”
    The rancor in her tone made it a pleasure to insist. “But you are—for tonight.”
    He bent forward and flicked her other nipple with the tip of his tongue. Katherine jerked in response and then groaned when he took her breast fully into his mouth. Instinctively her hands moved into his hair to pull him away. He responded to this resistance by closing his teeth gently on her nipple until she gave in and allowed him his way. But soon she was ready for him again.
    Dimitri left the bed to retrieve the washcloth from her bath, dipping it in the cold water. When he returned to her, he applied it to her body first, waiting until her inner heat was near raging, then he doused the cloth with ice water from the pitcher and pressed it between her legs.
    Katherine went wild with the combined pleasure of icy cold to quench the heat and stimulation where she most needed it. She came almost instantly and continued on and on until he was finally done cleaning her.
    He left her once again to wash himself and when he came back, he settled himself between her legs to suckle at her breasts. She didn’t have the will to protest. She needed him. That had been proved beyond a doubt. If he insisted on “playing” with her between each crisis, that was her cross to bear. But she actually derived pleasure from that too, so how could she complain?
    Katherine reached another peak by grinding herself against his pelvis while he continued to caress her breasts. And then he used his fingersagain, while his tongue explored every inch of her mouth. The double stimulation each time added to her pleasure, magnifying the intensity to an almost unbearable pitch. Yet nothing was as completely satisfying as when he finally used his body, the deep penetration fulfilling a baser need, leaving a blessed contentment.
    And so it went throughout the night. What he said proved true. She didn’t suffer again. As long as she obeyed his every command, he was there to soothe and relieve and give her hour after hour of the most incredible ecstasy, with his hands, his mouth, his body. All he asked in return was that she allow him to play with her, to caress her as he would. She was sure that he now knew every inch of her body intimately. But she didn’t care. This night wasn’t real. It had no basis in reality. It would dissolve like the drug, to be forgotten come morning.

Chapter Seven
    “ V ladimir, wake up. Vladimir!” Marusia shook his shoulder roughly until he finally opened one bleary eye. “It’s time. Lida heard him moving about in his room. You had best see about sending the poor girl on her way.”
    “Poor