His For The Taking (7 page)

Melting against him, her hands came
to rest on his chest, the beating of his heart rhythmic beneath her trembling
touch. He wrapped his arms around her waist and held her to him as he slid his
tongue between her teeth.

She opened wide to receive him, her
reward, his soft groan of pleasure that enveloped her in heated passion. He
pulled away, his eyes alive with his own desire.

"I want you, Julianna,"
he said, his breath coming in heavy pants. "I need you."

"Oh Jonathan." Tears
slipped from her eyes. "I have waited so long for you to say such things
to me."

At her admission, he crushed his
mouth to hers with such force that it stole the breath from her lungs. Her
hands slid up his chest, her arms coiled around his neck. Was this truly
happening? If it were, she welcomed it. More then welcomed it.

As if reading her thoughts, he
lifted her into his arms. "I want to make you mine, precious. Marry me. Be
my wife."

She didn't answer, just claimed his
lips in another searing kiss. He carried her to the corner of the room and
deposited her on the cool comfort of her downy bed.

Reclined on the bed she stared up
at him, her body yearning to be satisfied. The need in her so strong that she
fought the urge to beg him to take her.

Instead, she spoke no words and
lifting her hand, reached for him.

Stripping out of his coat and
waistcoat, he lowered his body atop hers and gazed down upon her. "If you
want me, you'll have me."

She nodded. "I want you, more
than anything."

A small smile touched his lips and
he buried his face in her neck. He gently nibbled the soft flesh, the sensation
sending hot flames surging through her body. Moisture seeped from deep within
her and she arched against him, encouraging his seduction.

"You drive mad," he
mumbled, cupping her breast, kneading the flesh with greedy fingers. Pulling
the shift low, he freed a hardened nipple from its linen confines. His breath
fanned across the aroused bead before he took it deep into his mouth.

"Jonathan," she moaned,
her inexperienced body voracious for his practiced hand.

Flicking his tongue, he toyed with
the pebble as soft currents moved down her body. The sensation finally settling
low in her abdomen.

His hands trembled as he reached
for the hem of her skirt. Rising from his carnal feast, he pushed up the layer
of fabric until the cool spring air touched her naked legs.

"Jonathan," she
whimpered. Never had she been touched in such a manner. What was he doing to
her? It was as if she had lost control of every aspect of her being.

"It's all right," he
said, his voice gravelly as he ran his fingers across the tender skin of her
inner thigh. She inhaled a sharp breath as butterflies wings tickled her belly.

Still, he didn't stop his
passionate onslaught. No, she closed her eyes and allowed him to have his way
with her. Allowed her body to react to his arduous lovemaking.

Everywhere he touched became
engulfed in a wicked heat. She squelched the voice of reason that demanded
matrimony. This was what she had yearned to experience for so long. There was
no turning back.

His fingers slid along the slick
lips of her sex and she cried out for more. Slowly, deliberately, he parted the
folds and gently pressed his finger inside her honeyed walls.

Her mouth popped open, her lower
jaw trembling as she fought the urge to cry out. He moved his hand unhurried in
and out of her body.

"Do you like that?" he
asked, forcing his fingers deep within the tight confines of her sheath.

Did she like it? Lifting her hips,
she ground against him. Yes she liked it. She never wanted him to stop. Never.

She gazed up at him, his lids
hooded, his lower lip between his teeth as he skillfully made her his. Catching
site of her gaze, he withdrew his fingers and leaned forward, kissing her, but
this time the passion was tempered with calculated precision.

He worked her into a frenzy, using
her senses to rear her senseless. He tasted of whiskey and masculinity, smelled
of spice, and his touch seemed to coat every inch of her skin with a fresh
craving that had her writhing.

She entwined her fingers in the
curls of his silky hair, pulling him down atop her, her tongue toying with his
as it darted in and out of her mouth. He lay with his knee between hers, his
hard cock pressing against her hip.

"Jonathan," she groaned,
needing him to make haste. Her hands slid down the length his broad back,
exploring the sinewy muscle that met her touch. She pulled the shirt from the
waistband of his trousers, wanting to feel his skin against her palm. His
fevered flesh was moist with perspiration.

Rising to his knees, he unfastened
his pants, and lowering them, freed his staff. The plum sized head glistened in
the pale sunlight. Without a word, he kissed her one last time before spreading
her legs apart and slowly setting his cock at the opening of her sheath.

"Are you ready, my love?"
he asked.

"Yes." She nodded. She
was beyond ready, for her body pulsed with wanton fervor.

He pushed himself into her, the
pleasure of foreplay momentarily erased by a sharp pain as he ended her
virginity. He stilled. His large erection filled her and she prayed that the
pain would subside.

"I'm sorry," he said,
brushing a kiss across her forehead.

Yet soon the ache eased and with
caution, he began to move within her. Bliss overtook pain and with each thrust,
she found herself more and more enthralled.

She reached for him, clutching
tight to his shirt. She arched to meet him as he pounded against her. All
modesty was lost and she bucked beneath him, urging his thrusts deeper and
deeper into her flesh.

He lowered his face, and claimed
her lips in a devastating kiss. Her moans mingled with his as he sent her body
climbing toward ultimate satisfaction.

He threw his head back, his eyes
closed, his teeth clenched tight together. He appeared so beautifully savage
that she called out his name. Her muscles grew taut around his cock, tighter
and tighter until they gave way. Leaving in their wake the most exquisite
release.

As she slowly descended from carnal
heaven, he shuddered, the spasm of his orgasm so powerful she could feel as his
seed emptied into her womb.

He buried his face between her
breasts. "You have to marry me now."

She chuckled. "Did you ever
doubt I would?"

He pushed up, his gaze caressing
her face. The tenderness in the depths of his beautiful eyes touched her heart.
"When you said goodbye to me at the ball, I wasn't sure."

She sat up, her fingers trembling
as she tried to right the wrong done to her shift. "What would you have
had me do? You were very mean to me and very direct with Grandmother."

He ran long fingers through tousled
hair. "Forgive me. I was fool. I had no clue how very much I loved you
until you were stolen away from me. And if there was ever any doubt, I saw you
with that Nesbitt fellow in the garden and…"

Surprised heat shot to her cheeks.
"You were spying on me?"

"No." He shook his head.
"Well, yes, but not intentionally. I was coming to see you. Lady
Chesterfield told me where you were and I came. Just as soon as I knew."

"Grandmother?" She
smiled, realization settling over her like a gauzy cloud. "She put all
this in motion?"

He shrugged his shoulders. "If
she did, having Constance Whitcomb soiling Oak Park
was a rather drastic measure."

Satisfied that she had covered her
breasts, she reached up and touched her hair. Repairing that damage would take
considerably more time. "No one asked you to entertain her."

He chuckled and cocked a brow.
"Were
you
spying on me?"

"No," she assured him.
"But Grandmother was and the news of teas and dinners with Miss Whitcomb
very nearly had me accepting Bennett's marriage proposal."

Jonathan leaned in close, their
lips but inches apart. "What stopped you?"

"My heart."

"Good, and now you must
realize our connections have increased once again. And before the month ends, I
want to add wife to that list."

"All right," she said,
setting her lips to his. He moaned and pressed her back against the pillows but
she pushed at his chest. "But first, we have to tell Grandmother all her
plotting and scheming has worked."

"Yes," he agreed.
"And we must thank her for it, right after the Duchess of Manchester tells
her that she sent no missive."

"That was you?" Julianna
asked, her mouth dropping open with surprise.

"That it was but I’m certain
Lady Chesterfield will forgive me the moment you tell her we are to wed as soon
as earthly possible." He kissed her and the sweetness of his mouth had her
wanting to experience more of what he had to offer. "For she can take
pleasure in her victory," he mumbled against her lips. "She is a
brilliant woman."

"Why do you say that?"
she asked, wrapping her arms around his neck.

"Simple, she knew I loved you
before I did."

THE END

####

About
the author:

An
Army brat, Harris Channing traveled around the Southern US
and Europe as a child before settling in Tennessee
as an adult. Married with two children, she enjoys her family, reading,
writing, and gardening.

To discover
more about Harris Channing please visit:

www.harrischanning.com

Other
Titles:

The
Demon is in the Details (Mainstream Paranormal Romance)

An
Unwilling Baroness (Regency Romance)

Yesterday's
Indiscretion (Erotic Romance)

Goldie
and the Three Behrs (Erotic Romance)

Curses
and Kisses (Erotic Romance)

Speed
Trap (Erotic Romance)

THANK
YOU!