Christmas Wishes Part 1. Elizabeth Rolls

the tip of his index finger, he traced a line from her collarbone to the swell of her breast. She shivered under the feather-light touch. But still she hesitated.

      ‘But what if my aunt—?’

      ‘Let’s not speak of her right now,’ Andrey told her, his hands tangling in her hair.

      ‘But she—’

      Andrey swept her objections away by pulling her into a deep kiss, his lips rough on hers.

      Ekaterina melted into his embrace, letting him plunder her mouth and relishing the warm ache that was building between her thighs. Her thoughts grew hazy with pleasure as his tongue delved deeply into her mouth, pushing past the wall of her teeth and sweeping her into a delicious dance.

      She was barely aware of the workings of his skilful hands until she felt her bodice drop to the floor. She had no time to be surprised, however, as he continued his onslaught. The cotton of her underdress seemed rough against her skin as he moulded his hands to her ample chest, rubbing in an arousing circular motion. Her breathing hitched, and she cried out in delight as he gently pinched the erect peaks.

      Fingers twisting in the fabric of his loose shirt, she pulled herself closer to his heat, breaking off their kiss to rest her chin over his shoulder.

      * * *

      Andrey was merciless in courting Ekaterina’s passion, his hands sliding down her back to cup her bottom. As he elicited another moan from his willing partner he planned his method of attack.

      He would rip away her skirts and push her gently to the lush carpets below. Then, while holding her gaze, he would slowly enter her. He would watch her face change, and then he would bring her to such heights of pleasure that she would come, screaming his name to the ceiling.

      Burning in anticipation, he sank down to his knees before her, smiling as she tangled her fingers in his thick hair. She seemed confused at the sudden loss of contact, but it was soon forgotten as he glanced up to meet her curious blue eyes.

      * * *

      Puzzled, Ekaterina stared down at his chiselled features. But then his fingers found the lacings of her skirt and her heart jumped. Andrey was so tall that even on his knees he was at eye level with her bosom—a fact that suddenly made her flush. It had not gone unnoticed. Andrey smiled devilishly and slowly pressed his nose between her two pert breasts. His fingers worked the closures of her skirts as he began to suckle her through her thin undershirt. Ekaterina threw her head back, her mouth opening to cry out.

      Then a familiar voice suddenly cut all activity short.

      ‘Andrey, my darling!’ her aunt called out from down the hall, her booming voice adopting a playful, singsong quality. ‘I’ve come for a visit!’

      The lovers jumped apart and stared at each other in near panic. The Empress was only moments away from Andrey’s suite.

      ‘What are we to do?’ Ekaterina asked in fright. ‘She will kill you if she finds me here.’ Her hands fluttered wildly over her chest. ‘And my family! What will she do to them?’

      * * *

      Andrey took a split second to savour the sight of a noblewoman worrying for others before herself. Ekaterina was indeed exceedingly rare and precious. He felt himself fall just a little bit further under her spell. But now was not the time to dawdle in admiration—not when the monster was about to pound on his door.

      ‘Quick,’ he told her in a calm whisper, ‘follow me.’

      He grabbed Ekaterina’s discarded bodice in one hand and took her by the arm with the other. He guided her to the fireplace and knelt beside it. Letting go of Ekaterina’s hand, he placed his open palms on one of the gilded wall panels, his fingers slowly roving over the raised decorations.

      ‘What are you doing?’ Ekaterina demanded in an angry whisper.

      She looked over her shoulder as her aunt began to pound on the door.

      ‘Are you decent, my darling?’ the Empress called. ‘I’m coming in!’

      ‘I’ll show you things that only architects realise,’ Andrey said, flashing her a confident grin.

      His nimble fingers found what they were looking for. He pressed one raised circle with his thumb and the panel sprang open with a click, revealing a small secret passageway. He pulled Ekaterina down and helped her crawl into the space before getting in himself and pulling the panel closed. It was not a moment too soon as they heard the Empress barrel into the suite a second later.

      They didn’t stay to hear her swearing.

      Instead, they forged on. The space gradually widened, revealing a very narrow hall. There was barely space for the two of them, so they had to walk in single file. There was hardly any light, and they carefully felt their way along.

      ‘Where does it go?’ Ekaterina asked in a whisper.

      ‘If I had to guess,’ Andrey murmured speculatively, ‘I’d bet this widens even farther and joins up with other secret passages. We could probably go anywhere from here. Where do you want to exit?’

      ‘The kitchens,’ Ekaterina replied immediately. ‘The servants there would never betray me.’

      ‘Let me lead,’ Andrey suggested, catching her wrist.

      Ekaterina nodded in agreement and paused, turning to the side and flattening her back against the wall to make room for him to pass. Andrey began to slide by, but stopped suddenly. They were sandwiched between two walls, their chests nearly touching.

      ‘Now, this is familiar,’ Andrey murmured, amused.

      ‘Oh?’ Ekaterina arched a brow. ‘I don’t recall being stuck in a secret passageway before.’

      Andrey smirked. Danger was both behind and in front of them, and yet this fierce young woman had the audacity to joke. He felt desire spike down his thighs. The fact that they were skating on the very edge of disaster only fuelled his need to touch her. He slid his palms down her hips and cupped the undersides of her thighs. He pulled her up so her legs were tight around his waist and her back pressed against the wall.

      ‘Not the place,’ he said in a low growl. ‘The position.’

      ‘Ah, yes,’ Ekaterina answered with a small smile. ‘I remember now. What were we doing again?’

      ‘Let me remind you.’

      * * *

      Andrey kissed her slowly, his lips moving lazily against hers. But his fingers were quick, deftly pulling at the laces keeping her skirt tight around her waist. Ekaterina experimentally rolled her hips against his, smiling when she elicited a low grunt of approval. It was a dangerous game they were playing, and the tension only heightened her senses.

      It seemed an eternity before Andrey took a minuscule step back, letting her slide down his chest before offering her a cheeky smile.

      ‘Ready now?’

      He stepped forward along the passageway, but as soon as she began to follow, her overskirt dropped in a heap to the ground. Andrey glanced over his shoulder, a wicked gleam in his eye. Ekaterina grinned, accepting the unspoken challenge. They made their way slowly though the maze of passages, breathing more easily when it widened into a narrow corridor with skylights above to light the way. It truly was an intricate system, and Ekaterina could almost see Andrey mapping it out in his head.

       That simply would not do.

      They rounded a bend in the passage and Ekaterina suddenly shoved Andrey into the wall, her eyes shining. She grabbed him by the lapels of his shirt and pulled him down for a searing kiss. He responded in kind, grabbing at her plain shift. But Ekaterina would not be outdone; her small hands worked furiously at the buttons of his shirt. She pulled the offending material away, exposing his sculpted abdomen. Her hands wandered over his chest and then over his shoulders and down his arms. The shirt fell to the floor.