His Wicked Embrace novel Chapter 23

Zehra's heart hammered as Lawrence removed his trousers. The man was beautiful, every muscle defined far more than she'd ever expected; every part of him was toned. His skin was paler than hers, and she couldn't help but imagine how it would look to see the two of them pressed together, skin to skin.

She had decided to seduce him, afraid he would never make the move if she did not, yet she hadn't realized just how excited and afraid she would be. Fear now hummed at the edges of her consciousness, but it was overpowered by the intense excitement that rippled through her as her desire climbed higher and higher.

He climbed up on the bed, fully exposed now, and she couldn't help but fixate on his erect shaft. No book she'd ever read had prepared her for this. A wave of panic subsided as he lay beside her, rather than on top of her. He cupped her face in his hand and kissed her, making her worries fade into nothing. He was a master of kisses-no two were the same. Each one sent her pulse skittering and her mind spinning in delicious circles.

"Feeling better?" he asked.

"Yes... How did you know?"

Lawrence chuckled. "You had the look of a skittish horse just now. We can take this as slow as you like. I promise." His hazel eyes twinkled as he brushed his knuckles over her cheek before he began to kiss her throat.

"You know just what to say to make a lady feel comforted," she confessed with a shy smile. "I wanted to be bold for you. But having never done this before, I am also afraid to make a mistake."

He chuckled. "A lady never makes mistakes in bed-only men can do that. All I want is for you to be yourself. There is only you and me in this bed tonight."

Zehra nodded, her heart filling with warmth. "Only us," she echoed. This man was perfect-a perfect gentleman, a perfect rogue, a perfect lover.

He nuzzled her cheek and left another lingering kiss upon her lips that sent her body and heart soaring. "Yes, only us."

She sucked in a breath as he reached her breasts, taking one nipple and sucking on it until it was a hardened nub. Zehra arched her back, moaning as he cupped her other breast, rubbing his thumb over her nipple before gently pinching it between his fingers.

"Lawrence!" she gasped. Zehra gripped his hair, tugging on the strands. His warm laughter made a dark, wonderful heat build inside her, and her thighs quivered.

"Close your eyes and just feel," he murmured as he began to kiss his way down her body.

His powerful hands were surprisingly gentle as he pushed her thighs apart. She tensed, but he didn't yet take her. She relaxed, closing her eyes. A second later, his mouth was on her mound, his tongue licking her folds. Zehra jolted and cried out as exquisite pleasure suddenly roared through her. Everything seemed to explode in waves of fire before she came down from the height of ecstasy.

"Was that it?" she asked.

He chuckled. "Merely the beginning." Zehra opened her eyes to see him grinning wickedly at her from between her thighs. Lawrence pushed one finger into her, and she watched in amazement as he played with her, stroking, thrusting, swirling. The sensations his touch evoked were beyond words. The intensity, the rippling frissons beneath her skin, like a thousand tiny bolts of lightning, left her weak and trembling. His intense eyes burned into hers as he seemed to seek out those spots that made her tremble and burn even hotter.

"Lord, you are beautiful," he whispered, his tone reverent.

"Wonderful, truly wonderful. And you?" She held her breath, afraid to hope he might feel the same way.

"Simply wonderful." He lifted his head to smile at her.

They lay cocooned together, their bodies entwined. Lawrence traced a fingertip along the faint scar that ran just above her collarbone. The scar that Al-Zahrani had left her, a reminder of who she belonged to. She shivered.

I am not his. I will die before I suffer him ever again.

"How did you get this?" he asked.

Her lashes lowered. "When my parents were killed, I fled, as you know, but..." She paused, drawing in a deep breath. "The man who betrayed my father, who cut him down, was an Arabian named Samir Al-Zahrani. He took me captive as I fled. I thought he was helping me, but I soon learned the truth. Another shah wanted to take over our lands, and I was Al-Zahrani's payment in exchange for betraying my father. I was to become part of his harem."

"He hurt you?" Lawrence's voice was quiet, but there was an edge to it that would have scared her had he been directing his tone at her.

"Yes, more than once, but he never took me. He thought he had the rest of my life to torture me with the promise of sharing his bed. Instead, he spent a week punishing me for what he called my 'insolence.' Striking me with his hand at first, then later the sting of a whip, and finally he cut me with a small blade. All I did was argue for my freedom."