Her own breath turned uneven as her nerves tingled under the surface of her skin. Quickly withdrawing her hand, Eleanor stepped back, away from his evocative touch. Casually, she sat in one of the chairs, eager to maintain a minimum distance from Damon.
To her relief, he settled in the wing chair adjacent to hers. Yet his gaze remained fixed on her. And when she took a drink of wine, she realized he was watching her mouth.
“Wine tastes better sipped from a lover's lips, did you know?”
At his suggestive intimation, Eleanor swallowed hard, wondering if by coming here to Damon's bedchamber, she might have taken on more than she could handle. “No, I didn't know.”
“Seeing that wine on your lips makes me want to kiss you.”
She manufactured a light laugh. “I am afraid you are destined for disappointment, my lord. There won't be any kissing between us just now. I don't want you touching me, either.”
“That pains me greatly, sweeting, for I sure as the devil want to touch you. You look wildly desirable, lounging there in your dressing gown.”
So do you, Eleanor thought, casting him a sideways glance. The firelight played in his midnight eyes, revealing a tender, teasing glint that caused havoc with her determination to keep the upper hand with Damon.
The boldness of his regard, too, was stirring wanton sensations in her body. Her nipples had tightened against the chill and were so keenly sensitive, she felt the mere brush of his gaze on her breasts.
Eleanor mentally shook herself. Damon could tempt a woman to sin with just a look-and admittedly she was incredibly tempted. But sinning with him would defeat her purpose entirely.
“Pray, will you stop looking at me that way?” she finally requested.
One eyebrow lifted innocently. “How am I looking at you?”
“As if you mean to undress me with your eyes.”
“I would much rather undress you with my hands.”
His claim was delivered in a soft, throaty drawl that stroked Eleanor's nerve-endings.
She kept her own tone light and amused, however, when she chastised him. “Damon, behave yourself, or I will return to my own rooms.”
He gave a heavy sigh. “That's a fine way to depress a man's carnal fantasies.”
Recalling the role she was supposed to be playing, Eleanor sent him a slow, flirtatious smile. “You are allowed to have fantasies, just not act on them.”
“Very well, I shall endeavor to keep myself under control, although it will be difficult.”
Clasping his hands over his abdomen, Damon leaned back in his chair and stretched his long, bare legs out in front of him, which had the result of parting the folds of his dressing gown to reveal a length of powerful thighs. Eleanor was very certain now that he was naked except for his robe.
She inhaled a ragged breath and drank more wine.
But Damon had seen the focus of her gaze and smiled. “Surely you can't fault me for taking off my wet clothing.”
“You could have donned some dry breeches.”
“Whatever for? You are my wife now. It's permitted for us to see each other unclothed.” He paused. “Regrettably, I have yet to see you fully undressed. But I have thought about nothing else since you walked into the room. What are you wearing beneath your robe, Elle? Are you naked?”
A heated tremor eddied deep inside her. Eleanor took another sip of wine for fortitude before replying indirectly, “I know what you are doing, Damon.”
“Just what am I doing, love?”
“You are trying to draw me under your spell.”
“And you are doing your best to tease me, just as you have during our entire time here. I wonder why?
If I were to guess, I would say you have been employing your advice manual on me.”
It seemed foolish to deny the charge, so Eleanor responded with a careless shrug. “Actually I am.”
“Why? You no longer need help in capturing a husband. You have already captured me.”
She gave him a considering look, debating how honest she should be. “But I have not really captured you, Damon. Our marriage lines are little more than a legal contract.”
He seemed to give that some thought. “Then what is your objective? To drive me mad with frustrated desire so that I will be eager to do your bidding?”
“In part.”
The corner of Damon's mouth twisted. “Perhaps I should read that manual of yours to better understand your methods of seduction.”
Eleanor flashed him a genuine smile. “You most certainly don't need an instruction manual to learn about seduction. You are a renowned expert on the subject.”
“I will take that as a compliment, love. And I will point out that you don't need a fire to warm you when you have me. I could make you hotter than any fire.”
His voice had become a husky murmur, which seriously began to worry Eleanor.
“I expect you could,” she said with a shivery little laugh. “But if this is your attempt to lure me to your bed, I must warn you, you won't succeed.”
His own smile turned lazy. “You would enjoy my bed, Elle, I promise you. Our lovemaking from now on will be far more pleasurable than your first time.”
She had no doubt whatsoever that he could pleasure her. The crackling fire, the potent wine, the sensual sound of rain, had all combined to chase away her chill, but it was Damon himself who had the most profound impact on her. His eyes looked seductive and drowsy in the firelight, which sent a warm ache surging through her body.
With effort, Eleanor tore her gaze away from him and stared into the flickering flames. Damon had awakened her sexuality, had led her to experience her first feelings of power as a woman, and he was rousing those same intense, lustful feelings now. But that was the trouble. Their lust was purely physical. She wanted more from him. Much, much more.
He leaned closer, drawing her attention back to him. “Trust me, Elle. All I care about right now is giving you pleasure.”
Eleanor felt her mouth go dry. She was the one who was supposed to do the seducing, but Damon was taking over her role completely. His smile tantalized, while his voice dropped another octave.
“You have the most glorious eyes. That vivid shade of blue is entrancing.”
His own eyes were dark and wicked, she thought distractedly.
“You have the most luscious body. I would very much like to feel it against me.”
“Damon… that won't happen.”
“No matter,” he said easily. “I can imagine how it would be. I can picture making love to you in every exquisite detail. Would you like to know what I would do, sweetheart? How I would pleasure you?”