By Request Collection Part 3. Robyn Donald

Tighter than was surely possible. Raul felt her tremble around him, her raised thighs quaking against his hips.

      Stunned, he made to draw back but Luisa fastened her hands in his hair and kissed him with a desperation that made his head swim. Or was that from the relief of finally being sheathed in her body?

      She wrapped her legs around him and he sank deeper, lodging fully in exquisite pleasure. He braced himself as the trembling spread from her body to his, making his nape prickle and every muscle quake with tension.

      It was no good. Stillness was impossible. Clamping his hands on her hips, he slid back, seeing stars behind closed eyelids as sensation rushed through him.

      Another second and he thrust again, harder, longer, as he gave in to the force of a desire that had ridden him ever since that night in Paris.

      ‘I’m sorry. I can’t …’ His words were swallowed by the roar of blood pounding in his ears.

      Dimly he heard a cry rend the air. Luisa convulsed around him, tearing at his strength and his consciousness as he lost himself in delight.

      Frantically his body pumped, driven by a force so strong only Luisa’s gasps anchored him to reality. His movements crescendoed, wringing out every last vestige of white-hot pleasure, till, with lungs bursting and the world spinning away, Raul sank into oblivion.

      Despite his weight on her, Luisa felt as if she were floating. Echoes of incredible pleasure shimmered through limbs taut with the aftershock of tension.

      Finally she gathered the strength to move a fraction and let her legs, impossibly heavy, sink to the cushioned mattress. She felt the hint of an ache in untried muscles but even that felt satisfying. Her arms clasped Raul tight. She could barely breathe but the feel of him blanketing her was … comforting.

      Stunned, she thought about opening her eyes, but the notion of reality intruding on the single most remarkable experience of her life stopped her.

      Even now she couldn’t put a name to the feelings that had burst out of nowhere when she’d confronted Raul at their wedding reception. Or when he’d dared her to make love with him. No … have sex with him.

      She swallowed, trying to ignore the strange winded sensation in the region of her heart.

       If that was having sex, what would making love be like?

      How could something so glorious have come out of such turbulent emotions?

      Luisa waited for shame to engulf her. For regret that she’d given herself to a man who, though her husband, didn’t truly care for her, didn’t love her.

      Yes, there was regret. Sadness that she’d never know what it was like to be with a man she loved and who loved her.

      Yet she couldn’t hide from the fact that with Raul she’d felt … different, glorious, powerful. The words didn’t do justice to the sensation of soaring, of life and excitement and pleasure bubbling through her veins when they’d come together. Even when they argued it was there, a hidden promise that egged her on to defy him.

      What did it mean? Luisa’s brow knotted as she tried to work through her feelings. But she was too dazed by the enormity of what had just happened. Thinking was too hard when simply lying here with Raul was so wonderful.

      A knuckle gently grazed her brow. ‘Don’t frown. It’s not the end of the world.’

      Luisa’s eyes snapped open and she found herself staring into Raul’s face. He looked as perplexed as she felt. A lock of dark hair tumbled over his brow, making him seem younger, more approachable. Her hand itched to brush it from his forehead but, despite what they’d just shared, the act seemed too intimate.

      He moved, easing his weight onto his elbow, and she flushed, realising they were still joined intimately. She looked away but he turned her head towards him.

      ‘You didn’t tell me.’

      ‘Tell you what?’ The lovely lax feeling of contentment vanished and her muscles tensed.

      ‘That you hadn’t done this before.’ His beautiful mouth twisted.

      Had it been that obvious? While the passion lasted it hadn’t mattered to Luisa. All that counted was her need and the fact that Raul reciprocated with equal urgency. Had he been disappointed? Her stomach dived.

      ‘Does it matter?’ She kept her gaze fixed on his mouth rather than his knowing eyes.

      His lips thinned. ‘Of course it mattered. I would have made sure it was better for you.’

      Her gaze flew up, colliding with an intense green stare. It was on the tip of her tongue to ask how it could possibly be better, but she managed to stop herself.

      At the memory of what they’d done Luisa breathed deep, internal muscles clenching. To her shock she felt an answering throb inside as Raul stirred. His mouth tipped into a smile that was rueful and devastatingly glorious and Luisa’s heartbeat picked up speed.

      ‘I could do that now,’ he offered. To her amazement, Luisa felt her body hum with answering desire. So soon!

      It frightened her how easily he’d made her need him. How readily she responded. Despite his occasional devastating tenderness, to him she was a convenience.

      If she tried she’d convince herself what they’d just done meant as little to her as it must to him.

      She just had to try harder.

      ‘I need to get up. This dress will be a mess.’

      Abruptly he withdrew, his smile fading. Luisa bit her tongue rather than cry out for him not to move. Without his weight pressing on her she felt lost.

      How could she miss his touch so soon?

      Shakily she drew her crumpled skirts down over her nakedness while he stood and adjusted his trousers. She had to remember he was used to dealing with desire. With sex. For him it was nothing special.

      ‘Here, let me.’ He took her arm and drew her up to a sitting position.

      Avoiding his eyes, Luisa looked down at her creased and rumpled silk. Her throat clogged. ‘It’s ruined.’

      ‘Nonsense. It just needs a little attention. Don’t worry, the palace has expert launderers.’

      Shakily Luisa stroked the fabric, noticing a tear in the fine lace, feeling dampness at her bodice where Raul had suckled. What had seemed magnificent just minutes ago now seemed anything but. ‘They’ll know what we’ve done.’

      ‘No one expects us to be celibate.’ Once more he tilted her chin up. ‘You shouldn’t be ashamed of what we did.’ He paused and she sensed he hesitated. ‘Are you?’

      Something passed between them, a surge of heat, a sense memory of passion. Luisa felt fire flicker in her belly. So, it wasn’t over after all. It was still there, this … craving for his touch.

      That was when she faced the truth. ‘No, I’m not ashamed.’ She wanted her husband still, again.

      She shouldn’t crave intimacy with the man who’d treated her so. Yet the feelings he unleashed subverted her pride.

      ‘Good. Because I intend for it to happen often.’ His hand slipped up to caress her cheek and she caught her breath at the gleaming promise in his look. ‘Turn around and I’ll help you out of that dress. You’ll feel better after a bath.’

      Luisa twisted sideways, telling herself she wasn’t disappointed at his prosaic request.

      It was only natural she’d enjoy sex with her virile, handsome husband. They were young and healthy. These … urges were to be expected. Yet she couldn’t shake the feeling that nothing was quite that simple.

      Luisa didn’t understand her feelings. One minute he outraged her. The next he intrigued. He wasn’t the sort of man she told herself she wanted, yet there were times when she liked him too much.

      Perhaps