After seeing to the fields and his laborers, Dorian returned inside, eager to wash the grime from his back. As he reached the top of the stairs, he paused to stare down at the end of the hall.

            Every fiber in his being urged him to go to her room and take what his body demanded. Curling his hands into fists at his side, he turned and stalked to his room. His eyes settled on the massive bed against the center wall and he felt a fierce groan of frustration surface to his throat. Vivid images of her lying in his bed rushed to taunt him, tease the struggling urges just beneath the surface of his feeble control.

            Mumbling a stream of curses beneath his breath, he tore off his tunic and cast it aside. He moved to his bed and flopped down onto the mattress and sank into a restless slumber.

            When he next awoke, there was a light tapping at his door. He stirred against the heavy grogginess and sat up; throwing his legs to the floor he cast an angry glare at the door.

             His heart jumped against his chest as the tapping continued. He thought for a moment Ginelle had come to him and he found himself at the door, opening it with an urgency that startled the woman on the other side.

            Immediate disappointment crossed his darkened face for the feminine body standing on the other side revealed voluptuous curves and striking red hair.

            “What are you doing here?” he growled as he stalked away from the door.

            Victoria’s blue eyes narrowed as she sauntered into the room, her wounded pride clear on her regal face. “Expecting someone else, mon amour?”

            She moved to discard her cloak and placed it across the sofa. She had specifically donned a gown of sparkling blue with a flattering neckline that accentuated her curves but she was keen to notice that Dorian did not appreciate or notice her efforts.

            Struggling to contain her fury, she moved to pour herself a glass of brandy. She held the glass between her fingers and studied Dorian’s muscular frame with a rapidly growing lust.       

            “You have not called upon me for some time.” Her voice purred as she took another long drag of brandy. “This wouldn’t be because of that blond nymph, would it?”

            Dorian leaned against the bed post, crossing his arms against his chest; he turned his head to study Victoria. At one point, he would have gladly accepted her charms but her voluptuous curves seemed to have no strong pull on his arousal. He wanted a female but it wasn’t the one standing across from him.

            He arched a black brow as he said with a little amusement in his tone, “Afraid of a little competition, Victoria?”

            He had considered her beautiful at one point but her jealousy and rage altered her face completely. “You think I find a spit of a girl challenging?” she slammed her glass down and moved towards him, swaying her hips with a clear indication that she wanted him.

            She splayed her hands across his bare chest, trailing her fingers over the hard contours of his muscles as she pressed her heaving bosom flat against him. “I have never disappointed you before, mon amant.” Her hand dipped low to grasp his shaft and he hardened in her palm. Her triumphant smile confirmed that he still desired her.

             “She is nothing but a girl.” Victoria spat, squeezing him in her hand and tugging lightly as she added, “Let a woman appease your desires.”

            Releasing a deep growl, he reached up and seized her arms. He spun her around and pushed her back against the bed. She fell upon the mattress with a delighted laugh and opened her arms to him as he fell over her.

            She squirmed beneath him as she laid her hands flat against his chest, marveling at the bulging muscles in his arms and torso as his hand roamed over her ample breasts.

            A fire licked at his insides and his shaft bulged against his breeches. Seized with an insatiable desire, he captured her mouth and tugged lightly at her lower lip but the mouth beneath his own responded not with shyness, but with a boldness that startled him out of his heated haze.

            Dorian jolted backwards and released Victoria all at once. He leapt to his feet and crossed the room to grab the brandy bottle. He had wanted to rid himself of the drunkenness but tonight he needed something strong to douse the fire burning in his groin.

            Victoria sat up, her eyes darting daggers at his broad back as she reached up and righted her dress. “Are you daft?” she spat harshly, moving to stand to meet his icy glare. “I am no fool, Dorian Ashford; I know this girl has your cock in an uproar. What is it about her that you find so appealing?”

            Chugging his glass of brandy, he set the glass down and crossed the room to snatch up Victoria’s cloak. He tossed it at her and she caught it with a gasp. “Get out.” He growled.

            Appalled, she froze as she bundled her cloak against her chest. “You want me gone?”

             “Your charms are no longer needed, Victoria.”

            Her eyes narrowed viciously as she crossed the room to glare at him. Her eyes widened with a revelation and her mouth parted on a gasp. “You’re in love with her.”

            When he didn’t answer, this only confirmed her suspicion. “What do you know about this little bitch, Dorian? Do you know that she owes a man?”

            Dorian stiffened. “How do you know this?”

            Victoria straightened her shoulders, a small smile curving her lips. “I know many things, Dorian and I also know that a girl like that is not worthy of your love.” Placing her cloak back around her shoulders she stalked towards the door and paused, “When the girl continues to deny you, you may seek me out.” With that said, she closed the door quietly behind her, leaving Dorian quaking with fury.

**********

            Ginelle had just stripped away her gown when her door burst open, yielding a large formidable frame. She yelped as she clutched the dress to her chest, shielding her body from the icy eyes glaring angrily back at her.

            “Are you indebted to him?” his harsh tone made her flinch as she stepped back from Dorian, confused as to his meaning. “Pierino.” He growled, “Are you indebted to him?”

            Her eyes widened and her face paled considerably with fear. Why would he ask such a question unless he had spoken with Pierino himself?

            He reached out and gripped her arms, “Answer me, Ginelle.” He said more calmly. “Did you give yourself to that man?”

            She gasped; appalled that he would ask such a horrific question. She struggled against tears as she wrenched away from him.

            Dorian turned to study her back, realizing she stood only in her chemise. Instantly, his body responded with hot desire. “Do you refuse me, because another man has had you?”

            Ginelle spun around, suddenly furious. “What?” she stiffened as he crossed the room and stood over her. “I have been with no man.”

            He gritted his teeth and said, “Do not lie to me.”

            Ginelle was livid. How dare he barge into her room and make such blatant accusations and than accuse her of lying. “Get out of my room!”

            It happened so abruptly she couldn’t respond automatically. She found herself dangling over his shoulder and half-way down the hall towards his room before she could react. She pummeled his back with her fists and struggled but his arm around the back of her knees prevented any damage.

            He slammed his door shut and locked the latch before settling her on her feet. “Now, you will tell me the truth.” He demanded.

            Breathless, she backed away from him and lifted her chin. “I have told you the truth, imbecile!”

            He leapt towards her and she squealed as his hand snaked around her wrist and jerked her towards him. She stumbled forward but he easily caught her, swinging her high against his chest.         

            He released her and she flopped onto the bed. She moved to escape him but his arm lashed out and grasped her around the waist.

            The moment her hands contacted bare flesh, she felt her heart accelerate tenfold and the passion brewing in his eyes was her undoing. She wanted to be angry with him for accusing her so harshly but the moment his mouth crashed upon hers, she was lost in a haze of heated bliss.

             A low moan arose deep from his throat as he kissed her deeply, plunging his fingers through her hair to loosen the silken strands. His arm settled at her back, crushing her against him. She cried out as he reached up and ripped the chemise from her shoulders, baring her lovely skin to his ravenous gaze.

            Her head fell back as his mouth left a hot trail of kisses along her skin, along the delicate bone of her collarbone to the hollowness between her breasts.

            He carried them both down to lay flat on the mattress as he jerked the sheer material further down to her waist, baring her lovely breasts and flat stomach. For a moment, he spanned his hand over the smooth flesh of her abdomen, and pictured her belly growing with his child.

            His hand skimmed over her narrow ribcage and he reached to cup a milky breast in his palm. She arched against him, her head tilting back onto the pillows as a nipple hardened beneath his thumb as he lightly brushed the delicate nub.

            Ginelle felt herself blossoming beneath his caresses. She had never experienced such pleasures of the body or the wild fire soaring throughout her limbs. She welcomed his kisses with an eagerness that startled her.

            She arched into his hands, her body yearning for his touch and than gasped as his mouth replaced his hand as he lightly teased and suckled her breast. She felt her face turn crimson red as she squirmed against him as an intense wave of desire washed over her. His hands grasped her waist, pulling her down against him so that he could do the same to her other breast.

            She reached up and threaded her hands through his hair, teasing the raven strands as they settled on his broad shoulders. Her hands trailed softly over his flesh, amazed at the hard lines of muscles that protruded beneath the bronze skin.

            A shudder trembled through her body as his tongue traced her budding nipple and she gasped as his hand reached beneath her chemise, seeking that intimate place between her thighs. She opened to him as a pool of heat spiraled low in her belly, tingling through her thighs and that delicate spot where his fingers entered.

            He splayed her legs apart and fitted his body above her. Immediately she was aware of something large pressing against her thigh and a slight fear scuttled through her.

            Sensing her anxiety, Dorian kissed the corners of her mouth. “I would never hurt you, ma petite.”

            The tension slightly eased from her limbs but her heart erupted in her breast as he reached down and released his swollen shaft.

            Her eyes widened for she couldn’t imagine how something so big could not do harm to someone her size.

            Her thoughts fled when his lips feathered across her own. He captured her face with his hand and kissed her with an intensity that made her heart soar within her chest.

            He entered her gently and she gasped.

            The pain came unexpectedly as he thrust through her maidenhead, startling them both as he captured her cry with a kiss. Her nails dug into the flesh at his shoulders as he allowed a moment for her body to adjust to his size.

            He kissed the tears from her face and gently began to rock his hips. Slowly the pain began to fade and her pleasure amounted to an exhilarating peak. Moans of pleasure escaped her throat as she arched her hips to meet his every thrust; the more he moved within her, the more her body became alive, the more she aware of his body adjoined with her own.

            Dorian kissed her passionately, cradling her head between his hands as his tongue caressed her lip and his hands explored the small curves of her body, marveling at how fire spread beneath his fingertips along her sensitive skin.

            His thrusts grew more intense and with the intensity, a fire that threatened to consume them both. Until she thought they both would be devoured by their passions, they fell back onto the bed, breathless and spent.

            His arm curved around her waist and he pulled her flush against him, realizing he had rid himself of his breeches and now lay completely naked.

            She almost reached for the blanket to hide her nakedness but paused for Dorian had already seen every inch of her. Fleeting thoughts of shame and what would come of her now that she was no longer an innocent brushed her mind. She quickly blocked them out, not wanting to ruin this moment of happiness shared in Dorian’s arms.

            She felt his fingers in her hair and slowly drifted to sleep, a small smile curving the corners of her mouth.

**********