Merlyn's Magic by Carole Mortimer Read Free Book Online

sharp pain and then, if your lover was
considerate enough, the pleasure began. She didn't remember any of them
saying it was like this.
    Desperation had replaced passion as she once again lowered
herself on to Rand, frustration making her sob as the barrier once
again stopped his full entry. She wanted this man, needed him inside
her as much as he needed to be there, and yet—She bit into
her lip until she tasted her own blood in her mouth as Rand lost
patience with what he thought was her game and took matters into his
own hands, grasping her hips to guide her down on to him, filling her,
engorging her.
    After the pain came the most incredible feelings, as if
Rand filled every space inside her. She felt overwhelmed, as if she
belonged to this man, as if she would always be a part of him now. The
tears that ran down her cheeks now were of happiness.
    And then the pleasure began, Rand showing her how to move
above him to give them both the maximum fulfilment, his eyes gleaming
their satisfaction as she gasped weakly at this assault on her aroused
senses.
    The pressure building within her made her feel like crying
and laughing simultaneously, the tumult rising inside her thrilling and
frightening her at the same time. What was it going to be like, this
physical satisfaction singing along her veins and clamouring for
release?
    And then she knew. It was like nothing she had ever
experienced before.
    Warmth, and aching, and fire burst free from the core of
their joined bodies, Rand's teeth rough against her breast as he lost
control in the river of her convulsions, his hands clenched into her
buttocks as he quivered again and again inside her in his own spasmodic
release.
    They had reached their pleasure in unison, and even in her
ignorance Merlyn knew how unique that was in a relationship of
familiarity let alone during a first encounter.
    Her lips were moistly open, her breathing ragged, as she
languorously kissed every inch of his face, from the dampness of his
forehead, the tautness of his cheeks, to the pliancy of his mouth. They
had shared something so beautiful Merlyn never wanted this moment of
closeness to end.
    And then she realised that Rand no longer seemed aware of
her at all, that he wasn't even looking at her any more but at the
fireplace—at the half-burnt photograph of his dead wife.
There was a dull, lifeless expression in his eyes that told Merlyn none
of his thoughts.
    But she didn't need to know them, had known when she
offered herself that she had just been fulfilling a need for him. It
wasn't his fault that she had broken the rules and felt as if she never
wanted to be parted from him again!
    He turned back to her with darkened eyes, frowning
heavily. 'Did I do that to you?' He gently touched the swollen
tenderness of her bottom lip where she had bitten into it at the moment
of his possession.
    She ran her tongue along the jagged soreness. The bleeding
seemed to have stopped now, most of the blood having fallen on Rand's
shoulder. 'No, I did,' she dismissed, wondering how on earth she was
supposed to untangle their bodies without embarrassing both of them.
    Compassion softened the harshness of his face. 'I never
meant for that to happen, you know.'
    Of course she knew! 'Neither did I,' she said huskily.
'But it's done now.'
    'Yes,' he rasped.
    She swallowed hard. 'I think I'd better go back to my
room.'
    'Yes.'
    Tears filled her eyes as he made no effort to release her.
'Now,' Merlyn urged desperately.
    His gaze held hers as he slowly turned her on her side
away from the fire so that she lay beside him, darkness enfolding her
as his broad shoulders blocked out most of the glow given off by the
flames. 'I'm sorry,' he said suddenly.
    She drew in a ragged breath, feeling bereft now that his
body was no longer joined to hers. '
I
came to
you,' she reminded him.
    'Because you pitied me—'
    'No!'
    He swung away from her to stand up and cross the room to
once again stare broodingly into the fire. 'It's the usual