Free Just Another Lady (Xcite Romance) by Penelope Friday Page A

kneeling at her feet was shocking. She tumbled off the bed to fling herself down beside him. ‘Don’t you – did you not know? Know I was in love with you, just as I always have been. I tried to hide it, but I knew you were not convinced. Every time I came near you, you shied away.’
    ‘I didn’t trust myself.’ Lucius’s voice was full of shame. ‘I dared not get close to you in case I could not resist the temptation of your body. God, so many nights I went out so that I would not break down and beg you to hold me.’
    ‘My love,’ she whispered, the words trembling as she spoke them for the first time. ‘My love.’
    ‘And then tonight. You would never have found yourself in the position you did today were it not for what I’ve done,’ Lucius said, lost in his own memories and guilt. ‘Can you forgive me for that, Elinor? I swear that I will do anything to win your forgiveness.’
    My dear, there is nothing to forgive. I …’ Her voice trembled as she remembered the afternoon’s experiences. ‘I am glad you assisted another woman to get away from Sir Hugo. I cannot bear the thought of anyone being forced–’ She was unable to finish the sentence.
    ‘I have done bad things, Elinor,’ Lucius said heavily. ‘I am no paragon.’
    She smiled at him through her tears. ‘I never thought you were.’
    ‘I promise I would do anything to prevent you going through an experience like today’s. Sir Hugo will have told you things about me. I can’t claim that none of them are true. But I assure you that I have never, would never, hurt any lady – any woman.’
    ‘Do you think I don’t know that?’ she asked, leaning her head on his shoulder.
    ‘You still trust me? After everything?’
    ‘I love you,’ she said simply. ‘Of course I trust you.’ Elinor stood up and moved back onto the bed, holding her arms out to Lucius. ‘Come here,’ she said, ‘and let me show you how much.’
    ‘Elinor. Oh Elinor.’
    Lucius lay beside her on the bed, kissing her over and over again. Every time he did, Elinor felt a jolt run through her, as if she had been caught by a gentle flash of lightning. She ran her fingers through his hair, then over his shoulders and back, pulling him closer still to her.
    ‘My Lucius,’ she murmured.
    ‘All yours. Always yours,’ he agreed between kisses.
    ‘Show me,’ she murmured, her fingers busy with the buttons on his shirt, even as her mouth sought his once more. ‘Show me,’ she said again, running fingers over his pale skin; stroking the muscular chest with new amazement. This, this, was all hers. Lucius was no one’s but hers. How could an evening which had started in such fear and angst have ended here, in bed with the one man she had always loved? ‘People say miracles don’t happen,’ she mumbled against his neck.
    ‘I beg your pardon?’
    She smiled. ‘Nothing.’
    She ran the tip of her tongue up his neck to his ear, and nibbled gently on the soft flesh of his lobe. He laughed, and squirmed against her; she could feel his hard erection pushing against her, and knew that she was desired.
    ‘More,’ she said; and Lucius laughed.
    ‘That was what you said last time,’ he reminded her.
    ‘How you could think I did not enjoy it!’ she replied, holding him as close as she could to her, revelling in the feeling of their bodies pressed together.
    ‘Too many clothes,’ Lucius complained. ‘I want to feel your skin against mine.’
    The very words set up an aching throb in Elinor. ‘Yes. Oh yes.’
    He moved away, and she made a small noise of complaint in her throat.
    ‘I can’t undress with you that close to me,’ he teased.
    His reminder about the last and only time they had made love came back to Elinor, and she sat up. ‘Let me do it,’ she urged.
    ‘You?’
    ‘Please?’
    ‘The pleasure will be mine,’ Lucius assured her. Then, more doubtfully, ‘You are sure?’
    ‘Surer than anything,’ she said, helping him out of his jacket, and then