Her Awakening
(A working title - Novel in progress)
© H. Cooper

 

Chapter Four

 

Beauty.

That was the first word that Raven thought when his glance lifted to her standing at the top of that staircase. She was a fairy creature. Strawberries and cream, lush curves and valleys that his palms instantly ached to slide against. She looked so confident. He watched with a slow curve of mouth that little tilt of chin, the way her gloved fingers traced lightly the railing as she moved down. She was the picture of controlled elegance. But he knew, though no one else would catch it, he knew she was nervous.

He caught it in the tiny flare of her nostrils, the faint touch of rose laying just
beneath creamy flesh. He would know because he controlled his own emotions
better than anyone and his thoughts about her shifted just slightly, to admiration.
The little lamb was facing with real strength, her first offering to the wolves. He
could not, however, control that blast of heat in his belly when her gaze found his
and that pretty little smile faltered. And froze. Images of her before him, that hot
little ocean eyed gaze gliding down his bare chest, pupils dilating as she had seen
Corrine naked and bound.

He saw in that short moment when their eyes met, that same soft parting of mouth
as when he had stood close behind her and touched her throat and knew without a
doubt, he could have this girl.

"Raven...." Christine's voice in his ear, low and questioning.

"Yes, our little lamb needs a hand and so she shall have it" **************************************************************

He was coming to her and she was frozen. Her heart beat frantically in her chest,
her mind screamed to her to move, but all she could hear was the roar of silence as three hundred pairs of eyes focused on her. There was a low murmur from person to person that became like the rushing song of a million honeybee's.

"Your escort at service"

He stood at the bottom step, a large darkly fleshed hand extended outwards to her, and it was as if in a dream state that her own responded quite naturally.

Her fingers trembled against his own, and he smiled to himself. She was little morethan child playing grownup in her beautiful gown and diamonds. He battled down a sudden urge to reach up and use his thumb to smear the bit of rouge from her mouth, that soft rose mouth he remembered well parted and gasping in ..what? Fright, shock..arousal. She was frightened now, that much was unmistakable. Oceanic eyes were huge, the ebony pupils dilated wide, small nostrils flared as she drew in breath. He soothed her with small circles of fingertips through the silk of her gloved hand.

"Just walk with me and smile" He murmured, a tiny squeeze of slender hand to
urge her down. ** At least he did not seem so mocking up close now.

She shifted and stepped down the remaining few steps, settling at his side as he
turned to make room for her. She glanced up into his eyes. Lost momentarily in
the jade depths that met her gaze.

"Thank you" she whispered, her fingers releasing a tight hold around his hand to
slide back into the crook of his arm.

He was more stunning than she remembered. She thought, in fact, that he became inexplicably more beautiful with each glimpse. He wore only black, the suit fitted tohim like it were poured upon him and allowed to dry, jet hair pulled back with that ever present leather thong. He stood out amid that pomp and circumstance of
colorful outfits worn by the vast majority of all the other guests present. She
marveled for a moment on the cut of his jaw, noting the tiniest twitch towards his
ear before taking in the line of aristocratic nose, the shape of full mouth that fit
together now in a firm line.

He thought to himself, if she continued to look at him this way, one he would take
her outside and take exactly what that beautiful gaze was hungering for and two
that the Ton would have it posted by noon tomorrow that they were already Lovers. He leaned down just enough to whisper into the small shell of her ear. "I would think by the look in your gaze, you are quite hungry, shall we move to the
refreshment table, or would you perhaps like to greet your aunt and some of your
guests?"

She felt the flush of heat into her cheeks before he ever finished speaking. His
voice lit with amusement, deep and rumbling in her ear. She stiffened and broke
her gaze, swallowing softly as she began to look up and meet the gazes of those
gathered most closely to her, nodding and smiling as naturally as she could as she frantically searched the sea of faces for her Aunt. But just as she caught the
twinkling blue eyed gaze of her Aunt Christine, the large man near her shifted, and closed his opposite hand over her fingers where they curled around his arm.

"No, a dance..first.. I think" He murmured, and before she could protest, she was
swept past the gaggle of onlookers into a deep throng of dancers, waltzed with slow expertise around the floor.

"Is it not rude of me to simply ignore my Aunt and guests to dance around the
floor?" She asked, forcing a cool tone, though her hear beat savagely against her
chest, so aware was she of his hand at the small of her back. He splayed his fingers and they rode the swell of her bottom, pressing her close, until it seemed her belly burned against his through their clothes.

Raven chuckled, watching the bloom of heat over creamy fair cheeks. He realized
she was battling both indignation and uncertainty, and he knew she was enjoying
just as much as he, their bodies brushing together. She was rich. Rich colors and
heady scents. Lush, a lavish treasure he suddenly wanted badly to plunder.

"You are with me and so, no one will hold it against your sterling reputation" He
smiled laconically and pulled her tighter yet, catching the flare in ocean bright eyes. He drew his thumb in small circles against the small center of her gloved palm. "And you do not mind at all.......do you."

It wasn't a question. Her gaze fell sharply until she stared straight ahead into the
inky black of his evening clothes. Deep in her belly, a knot wound itself tighter.
She did not know how to respond and she did not understand why this man had suchan effect on her. She wanted to wind her arms around his neck, she wanted to feel that mouth, his mouth hard on hers, to know the taste of him inside the heat of her mouth. She wanted him against her, stretched.

She dared a glance up to catch what she considered a faintly mocking smile. "Please.................." She gritted out the word, suddenly as restless a butterfly
trapped in large confining hands. Desperate for escape, dizzied by the shameless
slant of her own thoughts.

He smiled, enjoyed that plea in her voice, the pulse wild there in throat, wondered
idly if he lowered his head and placed his mouth atop its hammering beat, what
reaction would come from it.

"Please?" He lowered his face just enough that his cheek hovered near her own,
he could feel her breath rushing against his flesh and slowed for a moment his steps, intrigued by the jolt of heat from that small touch. "If you ask me for what you want, little girl, I just might give it to you."

His voice and words were so dark, so insinuating, that she froze and moved only
because he moved her. "I think it is time for me to greet my Aunt and guests, Sir" She whispered, the sound of her voice husky and foreign and became angered at herself then.

She was no schoolgirl! She had been around handsome men before, men who had
danced with her, men who had kissed her, men who had touched her until she was
flush. No one had ever had this effect without much more than a simple touch and
words. It was his voice that had the most wicked effect on her, his voice and that
dangerous glint she found lurking in emerald depths when she raised her eyes to
his. He was dangerous, this man, dangerous to her very sanity. She gasped at it
and her voice when she spoke was higher, filtered with girlish nervousness.

"I want to go now." She flushed brightly as he chuckled, aware of the many eyes
that were watching closely the exchange taking place.

"By all means, little girl, lets get you back to safety" He smiled and ceased his
steps, bowing low to her before sweeping her back through the crowds to deposit
her safely before her Aunt.

She hated the feeling of disappointment and confusion whirling throughout her as
she darted a glance up at him, stifling a sigh when he extricated her slender fingers from his hold. She didn't have time to say a word to him as it turned out, her aunt stepped up and tucked a little hand through her arm.

"You look absolutely like an angel my darling, I do so approve of everything" She beamed, before laughing softly at something he bent low to whisper into her ear.

A sudden shaft of something very unknown to Bella slammed into her stomach. She resisted a strong urge to push between the two, noticing how well her aunts blonde beauty complimented the darkness of him.

Who was he? As if by some unspoken magic, her aunt gave her arm a squeeze,
gathering her attention back.

"Darling, I don't believe you have formally been introduced to Raven, he is a long time friend of our family."

Raven. How utterly.........fitting. She knew nothing else to do to but bob a little
curtsey, immediately feeling foolish at the act.

"A pleasure Sir" she managed, cheeks heated to flame as her gaze lifted and
collided with emerald.

He reached for her hand, enclosing it fully into the large strength of his own.
Bending low over her hand, his gaze lifted, rejoining hers, the mocking glint there unmistakable.

"A pleasure chere to at last make fully..your acquaintance." He murmured,
straightening and allowing his hold on her to linger far longer than necessary, so
long that even her aunt noticed and broke in with a little push at Bella.

"Now now Raven, you know I have plans for this girl, people to meet and all of
that. Go on now and find yourself some little morsel to scandalize." She used the
folded fan she carried to rap it lightly against his upper arm.

His gaze never faltered from Bella's as he spoke. "Mm....I do find I am rather..hungry."

She blushed. She could feel it begin deep in cheeks and spread to engulf her entire body, infuriated by the overt suggestion of his tone and gaze. She dropped her eyes and took a fleeing step, forcing a bright smile to her aunt.

"Come now, begin this introduction before I lose my nerve and go dance barefoot
in the fountains." Her aunt gave her a very disapproving look though blue eyes
danced with amusement, and with a nod and smile to Raven, she spirited her lovely niece into the crowd.

One hour later, after Bella had met upwards of seventy-five of her guests, she
sagged into an out of the way corner in need of a moment's respite. There was
every title of royalty in Bale tonight save for the King and she was finding a dull
throb beginning to build in temples at having to act so very proper. She was happy
to see that her Aunt and Maddy had not steered her on the wrong course as far asfashion. Although her dress was a little less fluffy and not dripping with ornate
flowers other ladies seem to favor, it was perfectly draped, stitched, and fitted. The cleavage she showed was no more than any other woman in attendance was
showing, and some were showing far more.

She held a small cup of punch in between small gloved palms, her thoughts moving to the one she had not had a glimpse of since leaving over an hour ago. Raven.What dark images that name conjured up. She wasn't even sure of his age, though he seemed to be closer to thirty. Young but well lived. Experienced. She
remembered quite vividly the heat of their bodies as they danced, the sure way he
held her, that feel of his breath feathering her flesh

"You look very intense for a someone enjoying her first foray into society"

Bella startled from her reverie and turned to see a very petite blonde standing to
her right. The girl had gleaming golden blonde hair and eyes a mix of twinkling
blues and greens. She wore a darker rose gown and Bella thought she looked like confection. Sweet and dainty but for the twinkle in those eyes, that twinkle was
altogether impish.

"I was just...taking a moment to gather a breath. If all society social events are
like this one I shall have to start taking long naps two days before." She confided,
half leaning so her voice would not breath the air past the girl and fill the ears of
other would be eavesdroppers.

The girl grinned at Bella and nodded. "Always darling, always. Quite simply
nothing interesting happens at any of these gatherings until after midnight."

There was such a conspiratorial tone and telling glint in this girls eyes that Bella
could not miss the meaning or help herself from laughing softly. "Dare I ask? I
can't imagine most anyone here getting into anything faintly resembling high
adventure."

"You'd be surprised." The girl answered enigmatically, extending her own small
gloved hand out before Bella with a smile. "I am Catherine, but my friends call me Catty"

"Catty?" Bella echoed as she slipped her hand into the girls and grinned. There
was something infectious about the little blonde and for the first time tonight, her
smile was genuine. "A pleasure I am most assured, I am Bella."

"Oh I know, a stunning entrance you made earlier, not sure I would have made it
down that staircase under all these eyes with such grace!" Catty laughed.

"Stunning? Surely everyone was quite aware I was about to fall over into a
nervous heap.." Bella laughed, feeling a flush rise on her cheeks.

Catty grinned and laid her hand over Bella's forearm and leaned up to speak with
friendly tease in her voice. "Darling as long as it looked like you were poised as a princess, it really doesn't matter what was going on inside."

Bella was about to respond when she saw Raven stepping out the wide open doors
that lead to the huge patio and gardens to the back of Bale. In front of him was a
girl of average height and proportions, though Bella could not help but notice the
girls larger than average cleavage or her unusual laughter as it carried back in
high pitch to the hall.

"Mm, I saw of course Raven escort you down and lead you to dance, he is a rather dark devil is he not?" Catty's tone held that little purr of admiration Bella thought any woman must have when speaking of "the devil".

"He is something, what I am still holding judgement on. Who is that woman who
went with him outside?" Catty smiled faintly, amused at the nonchalant way Bella
tried to pose the question, not letting on that she heard the higher pitch of jealous
curiosity.

"That is Petrina Roumont, Wife of Harvey Roumont, Fifth Duke of Lakeshire.
She and Raven are mm..friends" Catty's lips twitched as she ended the answer.
"I am just sure they are........very close...friends."

Bella nodded slowly as the words drew out from suddenly tighter lips. "Do you
want to go have a peek at them? I can just bet they are headed into the maze, as I
am sure many have already" Catty's eyes lit with glee at the prospect of adventureand she wrapped fingers around Bella's. "Come on now ..before some portly old Viscount demands a dance!"

Bella went helplessly along, or so she told herself that Catty was literally draggingher outside and it would cause such a stir if she were to protest to loudly and.. Thelater summer night was beautiful, for once not a cloud lingered in the English sky and the heavens were dotted with pinpoints of stellar shine as far as the eye could see. The patio was huge, holding easily a capacity of one hundred or more, huge carefully tended shrubs lined it with dottings of huge vases filled to overflowing with gardenias and lily's.

Heavy steps lead down into the huge gardens and directly to the maze which was
some two hundred yards from the last step. Bella had a sense of trepidation about
their adventure suddenly, remembering the last time she had gone wandering when Raven was near and how that had ended. She shuddered in the cool breeze and faltered in step.

"Ohhh no, you are not backing out now, I have been so long without a partner in
crime and I see so well you are going to fit the application very nicely! Don't bother pretending innocence because I see it sparkling in those incredible eyes!"

"Arrgh, you are going to get me in trouble, this I can see." Bella groaned, and the
a soft laugh muffled behind orchid hued glove burst into the air. Bella had never
been in the maze though she had often looked down upon it from her bedroom
many times, fascinated by the intricate structure and the time and effort that had
been into the design and construction. She has wondered what was hidden in those
eight foot high walls of greenery, having heard from Maddy that there were all
kinds of surprises within and that at night, the maze was often sought out by the
servants for romantic liaisons.

"How are we going to know where to look?" She hissed quietly into Catty's ear,
tugging at her hand.

They were just entering now and Catty whipped around holding her finger to her
lips and then to her ears to indicate to Bella that they would rely on their hearing.
Bella did not know how far they had even traveled in some ten minutes later, when Catty gripped her hand and jerked her close, motioning wildly for her to bend close to the shrub and listen. Bella did and for a moment all she could hear was the rush and pound of blood in her ears as her heart hammered, but as she should there shebegan to make out new sounds, the sounds of moans, a gasp of unmistakable meaning and suddenly a man's voice.

"Oh yes little tramp, ride it, ride it hard!"

Bella's felt her eyes grown absolutely huge as she turned to Catty, covering her
mouth with hand to keep from giggling loudly. Catty stifled a snicker and tugged
her on. Bella felt absolutely nefarious down in the dark in her orchid gown, hunting around like a common thief for him and that woman. Part of her demanded she turn and run back quickly to the ball, and the other whispered to her that there was nothing wrong with a bit of innocent investigation. No, this was insane, this was not going to lead to anything good!

"Catty! Let's turn back" She begged, knowing suddenly in her belly that this
would lead to absolute chaos.

"Bella.....are you sure...we are...oh......" The blonde stilled and she jerked Bella
close to her side. "Listen" She whispered.

Bella cut off a whimper and leaned close to the shrubbery once more, feeling
smooth green leaves rub gently at the softness of her cheek, tickle against the
curve of her neck and shoulder as she strained to hear. It was him. There was just
no mistaking that voice. Low and rumbling, a male purr. And that laugh, it was
definitely her.

"And do you not think Harvey will be missing you?"

"Harvey is no doubt holed up in some room with a cigar, brandy and going on
endlessly about trade or some such......come now chere, it has been so long" The
woman's voice was pleading and Bella could hear the faint rustle of her dress and
scrape of heels as the woman moved around.

Was she touching him? His chuckle was her answer as well the lower cast of his
voice. "It has been some time since I have marked your body trina, tell me, what itis you have been missing hm?"

Bella bit into her lip at his words. So he marked this woman? As he had the girl on
the train? Women actually sought out this ...torture? She glanced at Catty who
gave her that wide eyed stare that begged her not to turn and run, but Bella
couldn't have even if the shrubs had grown up in flames. Instead she inserted
gloved fingers into the shrubbery and oh so very carefully began to part the
nestles of heavy branches. She felt Catty jerk wildly on her dress to try and stop
her but she tightened her lips and shook her head. She leaned into the small dent
she had made and could make out just the faint outline of Petrina's yellow gown
and the dark figure that was Raven, and it took all she could manage not to make
a noise as she saw his hand reach out and tangle in butter yellow skirt and jerk thewoman between his thighs where he sat low on a stone bench.

"You know what I have missed." The woman's voice was raspy. "I have missed
your marks on my breasts and your fingers teasing me to madness among....other..things you use so well to drive me insane."

"Poor trina, stuck with her less than pleasing husband, in such need, and what of
Robert Kincaid? Jonathan Brummell? Hmm? Do they not satisfy?"

Bella bit savagely into her lip to control her breath, watched with something akin
to nausea in her belly as his hand controlled the woman, turned her between widely sprawled thighs.

"Bend and lift your skirts."

She felt Catty's hand become painfully tight around her own, but that was nothing
close to what she felt raging inside her body. She didn't even understand the
feelings that were sinking like heavy bricks into the center of her being.

"Of course they don't" The woman laughed huskily while bending over, giving
Bella a large glimpse of heaving breasts as they threatened to spill from her gown. She pulled and pulled the voluminous folds of skirts up over her back until Bella knew she was bared to Raven.

She could not make out his face but she watched as his hand slid up the woman's
thigh and disappear and the heavy moan that broke from the woman's lips made
Bella draw blood against the bit of flesh she held in her teeth. Where, where was
he touching her? What..was he doing? Her mind screamed to run! But she could
not, she was glued to that small place, hearing and seeing nothing else. She
watched him reach to the side and tear a branch from the shrubs around him,
carefully peeling the leaves from it until he sliced it through the air and even Bella could hear the whistle of sound it made as it cut the air and she shivered.

"Please Raven" The woman begged, her hips swaying side to side, her head
falling farther down as she lifted her bottom and Bella could make out the curve of cheek flesh.

"Already begging? You are in need. " He was amused by it, that much Bella couldhear. "If you stay very very quiet trina, I may let you have a taste of what you really want.............after."

The woman moaned over and over and Bella could see her body shook, and that
his hand was once more sliding up her thigh, over the curve of her bottom, sliding
out of view, but what he did made the woman writhe and whimper and the sound
was so blatantly intimate Bella felt the hottest flood of color enter her cheeks.
His other hand lifted and the branch again whistled and Bella heard that whip of
branch cracking against flesh and she jerked with the woman who shoved fingers
into her mouth, her scream becoming a ragged cry caught in throat.

"Yesssssss....it burns doesn't it trina, but my fingers make it feel so good inside,
yes?" He was purring the words and Bella could see his other the elbow of his
other arm bending and straightening as his fingers drove up plunged through the
woman's legs and that is when she knew what he was doing. Doing it even as his
other hand drew back and she went blind with something red for a moment.

"I don't want to see anymore!"

Her voice was a whisper, dark and low, rough with whatever emotions were raging
within as she turned to Catty, allowing the shrub to snap back into place. She was a fool, she thought as she ran nearly blindly, not sure even where she was going as Catty tried desperately to keep up, finally grabbing her by the wrist and jerking her towards the right direction, leading her away. Far away from him.

********************

 

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