Free The Blue Diamond (The Razor's Edge Book 1) by P.S. Bartlett Page A

mouth.
    Ivory was finally silent.
Despite her reputation for using and tossing men at will, she could count on
one hand the true number of men she’d allowed past her waist, and less than
that whose advances she’d actually welcomed.   Now, surrounded by the glowing amber of candlelight and the sound of
hammering waves from the beach beneath the bedroom window, her heart pounded
and her breath was stolen away before his lips ever reached the ache between
her thighs. “What men do this glorious thing you’ve done, and do not find
themselves with some lovelorn woman on her knees, waiting for him every time he
leaves her bed?” Ivory spoke breathlessly.
    “I know nothing of what
other men do, nor do I care.” He breathed into her stomach.
    “Other men…I must be losing
my mind, for there is no other alive worthy of the title,” she sighed, running
her fingers through his thick hair, pulling at him at last to enter her.
    Their lovemaking was equal
parts lust and generous pleasure, and as much as he gave to her, in return she
cared only for his gratification. She surrendered herself to his every touch
and whim, as he responded in turn to each muscle that moved beneath her skin
with either a rough caress or tender kiss, whichever he felt was desired in the
moment. Ivory was in awe of his ability to know from second to second what she
wanted, and more importantly, what she needed. All the while, he held onto the
restraint which left him weaker with every twist and turn he took to pleasure
her again and again, leaving his own satisfaction to the wind, until he felt
her body fall completely still.
    Maddox rolled off of her and
lay there, trying to catch his breath.   Once on his back, he lifted her as if she were no more than a feather
and sat her upon his stomach. He stroked her thighs as they curled around him,
and she lay down against him. “What are you weaving, Ivory Shepard? What black
magic is this you are spinning?”
    “I was about to ask you the
same, Maddox Carbonale,” she whispered, as her eyes strayed to the shiny blade
lying next to the bed on the rug; the very blade that was her namesake. Ivory
lay pasted on top of him, rising and falling with his every breath. His hands
slid up and over her back and held her there against him, until his breathing
returned to normal. Suddenly, his head rose from the bed, and when he reached
for his pistol on the side table, he realized he didn’t have it with him,
causing Ivory to stir.
    “What is it?”
    “I thought I heard something
on the balcony.”
    “We’re alone here, aren’t
we?”
    “It may have just been Zara
picking up.   But, just in case…” he slid
from beneath her, crept from the bed, and stepped to the open balcony doors.
The curtains swayed in the ocean breeze as he lifted the dagger he’d used to cut
her from her dress from the floor and listened quietly. Ivory leaned up on one
elbow and began to rise when he waved at her to stay put. “It was just Master
Green making a sweep of the house. He’s probably gone to find Sandy to take the
night watch.”
    “How do you know it was
Green?”
    “His silhouette is
unmistakable. I saw him headed towards the beach. Forget about it. Now, where
were we?” he asked, tossing the dagger on the side table by the doors before
walking back to the bed.
    Ivory pressed her hand against
his chest as he leaned over her. “I want you to know that I have no
expectations. The attraction between a man and woman is natural, regardless of
how unnatural the situation may be.”
    “Unnatural? My, such a word
to use as we are in our most natural state at the moment,” Maddox chuckled.
    “Although I’d find it
difficult to understand if, in fact, you still intend to throw me to the wolves
tomorrow, tonight something happened between us that probably shouldn’t have.
Let’s not pretend it’s anything more than it is.”
    Maddox stopped and fell down
next to her on the bed and stared blankly at the ceiling. “Far