Before the Dawn (26 page)

He had her answer.

Picking her up, he carried her into the house. The musicians hired for the evening were entertaining the guests out back. As Ryder bore her through the shadow-filled darkness of Sunrise's interior and up the stairs to his room,
Leah could hear the sweet sensual strains of a seductive guitar.

He laid her down gently on his big bed, then left her for a moment to close the windows and pull the black-velvet drapes. He didn't want anyone to hear their passion. Once Sam and Mable married and Sam moved into his own place, Ryder planned to make her scream his name in every room in the house.

After lighting one lamp and turning the wick down to just a flicker, he sat on the bed beside her and slid a slow knuckle over the breast he'd freed outside. He watched her shadow-shrouded body softly purr in response. The sensuous sight made him bend and suckle one dark tip until it was damp and jewel-hard again. “I'd have taken more care last time had I known…this time, we'll do it right…”

As he boldly freed the other breast and used his fingers to prepare it for feasting, she arched in vibrant response. His play left the nipple as rigid with wanting as its twin. Only then did he lower his lips to her. She groaned in response to the dazzling lights that flared across her senses. His mouth was hot, knowing, experienced; she was yearning, sighing, and filled with a humid fever. He slid his hands up and down her legs, making the billowing silk of her gown rise and fall.

“Had I known,” Ryder told her quietly. “I'd have spent more time…here.”

He slid a hand beneath her dress and boldly explored her through her thin drawers. “I'd have touched you more…”

Leah's hip rose in silent invitation.

“Made sure you were ready…”

Sliding her dress higher, he undid the tapes of her drawers and eased them away. As he ran a lazy finger over her hair she didn't know if she should tighten her thighs to keep
in the throbbing heat or spread them shamelessly so he could mine more.

He solved her dilemma by whispering softly, “Open your legs,
Morenita
…”

Her breath ragged, Leah complied. The touches he gave her then were more than she could bear. A blazing, few moments later, orgasm claimed her; rushing over her like a buffeting wave, and she twisted and groaned under his watching, glowing eyes.

When she quieted, he bent down and gave her a soft kiss, her reward for being so beautiful and passionate.

Leah had no idea a woman's body could react so powerfully to just a few well-placed touches. He hadn't stroked her very long at all, yet—

She looked up and met his eyes. Rising slowly to a sitting position, she ran a finger over his lips. He covered her hand with his own and kissed the tips. He turned the palm and placed a soft kiss in the center. “Let's start again…”

Leah's senses leapt. She ran a caressing hand down his strong jaw, then leaned in so she could kiss him as deeply as he'd kissed her. Without breaking contact with her lips, he dragged her onto his lap. His hands roamed possessively over territory just recently explored, but for both him and Leah, each touch felt thrillingly new.

Her nipples hardened all over again; her lips parted passionately. When he laid her back on the bed and lazily pushed her voluminous skirts to the tops of her thighs, she began to shudder. His magic touches circled the damp swollen part of herself, filling her with such carnal bliss her dark legs slid wider. He smiled, then bent to place a soft kiss on the inside of each wantonly spread thigh. When he straightened, his fingers renewed their sweet dawdling, and Leah groaned low in her throat.

Looking down at her, he whispered thickly, “Had I known, I'd have prepared you…this way…”

He bent again, and this time, his kisses brushed against her hair. Leah stiffened and drew back. “What are you doing?” she asked uncertainly.

The sight of her wide eyes made him smile. “What I should've done the first time we were together.”

He straightened and slid a finger over her mouth. “I thought you wanted to learn to ride a Cheyenne brave…?”

His voice was hot.

She was hotter.

“Then lie back and let me give you your lessons…” Ryder told her. He leaned in and kissed her mouth until her mind turned to pudding.

“Lie back,
Morenita
…”

So she did; she had no will to do anything else. His thickly spoken promise to give her “lessons,” echoed through her erotically.

Ryder slid the emerald silk aside to expose a darker, more arousing silk. He first circled her with a flame-filled finger, then flicked his tongue against the citadel of her pleasure. She groaned, her hips arching and rising. He dallied brazenly, teasing, conquering, paying her the ultimate tribute while she gasped, cried out, and crooned. Her release didn't take long; it was swift, powerful, and searing.

When she came back to earth, he was beaming down like a brave very much pleased with himself. She passed a caressing hand over his cheek. “Did I pass my examination?”

He nodded. “You did an excellent job, but the second part may be harder…” Taking her hand he brought it against his swollen need. “See…?” he whispered.

Leah had never touched a man in her life, but found the feel fascinating, stimulating. Uninhibited because of what they'd just shared, she ran her hand over him slowly, all the while wondering if her lessons would include how to give him as much pleasure as he'd been giving her. “Will you
teach me how to please you?” she asked without shame. She was finding with him she hadn't any.

Ryder could feel his desire stacking up like heat lightning. Her hot little hand was well on its way to learning without his help. As she continued to explore the shape and length of him, he asked himself: who knew she'd take to passion like a fish to a stream? “You're doing fine….”

But he had to pull away after another few moments. In the shadowy silence he removed his trousers. There was just enough light for Leah to see. Nude, he was magnificently made—powerful shoulders, arm, thighs. Her eyes lingered over the proof of his desire. “This night has been quite educational.”

In response to his quiet chuckle she reached out and closed her hand around his bare length. She watched his eyes close and his head drop back. Pleased with herself she continued to offer him her novice caresses, and wondered how something so hard could also feel so soft and alive. It was like holding iron encased in velvet.

Ryder could feel the tremors in his legs and the straining of his manhood. In a few more moments he'd have nothing to continue her lessons with, so vowing to teach her all she needed to know about this particular portion of the examination at a later date, he backed away, pulsing and breathing harshly.

“Did I do something wrong?”

“No,
carinita
…not at all. You're just a bit more experienced at this than you know.”

Leah dropped her head to hide her pleased eyes.

He joined her on the bed and to her surprise pulled her atop him. Still in her rucked-down dress, she held his eyes in the half dark. He slid his hands beneath the silk and slowly roamed them over her bare hips. “
Seda
…” he whispered softly.

She leaned up to kiss him, asking, “And that means?”

“Silk,” he husked back against her lips. “You have skin like dark silk.”

His passion-thickened voice, and bold, seeking hands set her aflame once again. “This dress is ruined, Ryder.”

He kissed her deeply. “I'll buy you another.”

“I should take it off…”

“After we're done. Right now, you've lessons to take, and I want them to be in this fancy gown.”

His words made her smolder. Was this the way of lovers? All her thoughts dissolved as her final tutoring began.

He took her back to the heights of passion, slowly, majestically. Each pass of his hand, each kiss from his lips sent her soaring. He taught her things she would never forget, magical things, vibrant things, soul-shaking things, and when he felt her ready to receive all he had to give he brought her down onto him slowly, guiding her hips with his big hands.

Leah knew she'd die from the pleasure. In this position she could take in as much as she wanted as often as she wanted. He could tease her nipples or slide the silk of her dress lazily over her sensitive hips. It was one of their most thrilling encounters yet.

Beneath her, Ryder let her set the pace. Even though her virginal tightness threatened to send him plunging over the edge, he kept himself reined in until she felt comfortable. She was still new at this, and he wanted her to enjoy their lovemaking to the fullest.

But soon, he lost the reins. The sights and feel of her riding him so sweetly, made him grip her hips tightly and increase the pace. He rocked her, raised her, and brought her down again. Moments later she stiffened with the rictus of release. Ryder knew he should withdraw from her, but he wanted just a bit more, and by then, it was too late. His or
gasm shot through him, increasing his thrusts and ripping a growl from his throat.

In the silence that followed, Leah could hear his heartbeat pounding beneath her ear. Their bodies were dewed with the moisture of their activity, and she was so sated she couldn't move.

Ryder held her atop him with an arm across her back. Having her so near felt right, natural. He couldn't move either.

“So,” he asked softly, tracing a finger over the damp skin of her neck, “think you've learned enough for one night?”

Leah lifted her head so she could see into his dark eyes. She smiled. “I don't know, professor, is there homework?”

He reached down and lovingly squeezed a soft hip. “You are something.”

She placed her head back on his chest, content. “As I said before, it's all your fault.”

Her dress, now twisted and crushed, clung damply to her hips and limbs. “We should get you out of this dress,” he offered quietly.

“Good idea.”

She eased her body from his and rose on her knees so she could reach the hooks at the back. In a moment it slid from her, showing him her dark nudity. After all they'd shared, Leah knew it was too late to be modest now, but being naked with a man was not something she did every day.

“Surely you're not shy?” he questioned as he toyed with a taut nipple.

Leah lowered her eyes. “A bit.”

“You have no reason to be. Your body's as beautiful as are you.”

He leaned up and kissed her. “How about we get cleaned up?”

She kissed him in return. “I'd like that.”

He took her by the hand, and they padded over to a door
that connected his room to the bathing room. He lit a few lamps to banish the shadows while Leah couldn't help but marvel over the ingenuity he'd employed in building such a novel space.

“I've seen a few places back East that had indoor plumbing, but none was as extensive as this.”

“Well, soon, every home in the nation will be equipped this way.”

He turned on the spigot for the shower. The sound of hot water pouring into the wood-and-glass stall filled the air. “Shall we?” he asked gesturing.

Leah's eyes widened around her smile. “Together?”

“Sure. Consider it another one of your lessons.”

Not certain how she was supposed to handle such a man, Leah shook her head and walked over.

“Go on in,” he told her. “I want to get us a couple of towels and some soap.”

Inside, the water was hot and steamy. Leah basked in the feel, wondering playfully how she could slip all the pipes and spigots into a carpetbag and take them home. She'd never imagined such luxury.

When he stepped into the steamy space, she moved aside so he could enjoy the full force of the water for a moment. Leah watched the shower turn him into a sleek, gleaming god. The sight of the muscles rippling in his arms and powerful legs were enough to make arousal lick at her thighs. When he'd rinsed himself off sufficiently, he beckoned and she came willingly. Using a clean cloth he soaped her from neck to hips, then up and down and in between. The feel of his slick hands and the hot water contributed to her already burgeoning arousal, and she knew it wouldn't be much longer before she was once again in full bloom.

Ryder took a moment to wash himself, all the while watching the passion lighting her eyes. The realization that
she appeared ripe for another lesson made his manhood harden. He had the strong urge to take her right there, but feeling the water begin to cool, he hurriedly finished his task. They had the rest of the night to enjoy themselves.

Once outside the stall, he dried her with the bathing sheet, caressing her, warming her, teasing those parts of her body he knew would make her croon. Leah stood there pulsing, rippling, wondering if she'd ever become accustomed to his fervent touch. Truth be told, she hoped not.

They were soon back in his room. Their reentry into the sweet storm of love commenced with humid kisses, wandering hands, and his heat-filled whispers of how he planned to have her next. Leah felt treasured and then bliss as he eased his hard, thick promise into the place they both wanted him to be. He rode her slowly, carnally. He made her arch to his thrusts, and she didn't care how scandalously she responded. He made her climb peaks and discover valleys that were previously unknown. When the dam broke, he growled; she cried out hoarsely, and together they were flung to paradise.

“You know,” she told him a few moments after they'd regained calm, “everyone's going to be wondering where we are.”

“Let them.”

She rolled her head in the direction where he lay on his back beside her and held his eyes. “That's easy to say if you're you, but I'm not.”

He asked, “I thought you've been fighting gossips all your life?”

“I have, but I never caused any.”

“Just because someone names you something, doesn't mean you must wear it.”