The day was a good day and went its course until the night and all turned in for bed. The slow sound of bad weather rolled in late in the night. She lay awake listening to the clap of thunder and the rain that pelted on the window. It was the worst she had ever heard. The room was dark with only but a few lightning strikes that lit it up. Hunkering down further into the pillows didn't help the pounding of her heart, she was terribly frightened and she was not going to sleep with this noise. Nervously she sat up, her fear took the best of her. The loud rumble ended with a clap that had her bolting out of the room through the hall to Dominic's room.

She quickly walked through the dark room to his bed. Her heart clamored in her chest so hard she felt faint. Frantically, she shook him.

A low moan came from him.

"Dominic please, wake up, " she begged.

"I am scared." She whispered.

He moaned and opened his eyes.

"Emilia!" he drowsily moaned her name.

Scooting over he pulled aside the covers and she climbed in. Shaking as she curled up next to him. He pulled her closer and buried his face into her hair.

Wanting his warmth, she snuggled closer.

She felt so safe, she let her body drift away to sleep.

She came to him in his dreams. He pulled her into his bed and hugged her close. The feel of her body close to his sent him spiraling into a pleasurable abyss. He nuzzled his head into her neck. Her sweet smell wafted his senses and he kissed her neck, then her cheek...Then her lips. He pulled her closer and she gasped. His lips tasted hers and the kiss deepened. She stiffened as his tongue slipped between her parted lips and she quivered beneath him.

She lay still in shock as he moaned her name and deepened the kiss. The taste and smell of whisky on his lips lingered with each kiss that was so sweet. He pulled her closer to his warm body. His chest was bare, his arms muscular. She kissed him with the same intensity and it shook her to the core. Her hands trailed his muscular arms and broad shoulders. This was something unknown to her and her heart raced with this new feeling growing inside of her. The place between her thighs began to twitch and she gasped. His head dipped low and he kissed down her chest.

He pulled her chemise open and exposed her breasts. He squeezed, kissed and sucked them. His hand squeezed and caressed her thigh. She felt his warm hot hands caress and squeeze her buttocks. His hands warm and determined went between her legs and touched her where no one ever had. She quivered beneath his strokes, squeezing her eyes shut to the intense fire growing in her body. This, she thought, was a dream. A dream cruelly playing with her senses, if it was she did not want to wake up. The warmth of his lips caressed her cheek and slid to her ears. His hot breathe whispered things he wanted to do to her and her insides tightened.

She was wet for him as he stroked and circled the soft bud between her thighs her hips bucked. She whimpered with his fingertips stroking her. She could feel the hardness of his manhood on her thighs. Gently he rolled above her and continued to kiss her. She was lost in the heated passion of it all that the danger flag never raised. In the throes of this sexual exploration, she didn't know of, she instinctively opened her legs. He cradled himself between her legs, the bulk of his cock throbbed as he pressed it to her wetness. The barrier between them was driving her crazy. She writhed beneath him as he undid his breeches and positioned his self to enter her. The frenzied feeling of it all caught her breath when he pressed his warm thick shaft harder.

She pulled away frightened with a gasp his name on her breath.

"Dominic!" she whimpered.

He stopped.

Something in this dream of his was a little more real than anything. The panting and heavy breathing came to his ear. Opening his eyes, he blinked repeatedly trying to clear his dazed mind.

The vision before him made his heart skit to halt. He looked into eyes glazed with passion.

Leaning back on his knees, he looked at Emilia.

Her breasts in full view and chemise hitched up to her waist, exposing her lower body.

Her chest rose and fell quickly his cock jumped at how her breasts quivered with each breath.

"Emilia?" He croaked in disbelief.

Sitting bolt upright, she looked at him still breathless and dazed .

Her hair billowed around her face. She looked every bit of a girl properly kissed and nearly fucked.

With a moan, he neared the edge of the bed and buried his face in his hands.

What the bloody hell did he do?

He was so close. He nearly did the unthinkable and it felt so right.

He sat silent with his back to her; of their own free will, her hands caressed his shoulders. Trembling, she came closer to him. She wanted to feel him close to her again. She caressed him from behind. Her lips gently kissed his shoulder, then his neck. He immediately lost his train of thought. She wanted him so much she could not control her need for him. Soft, delicate fingers caressed his chest while lips trailed the saltiness of his neck.

He reached up to caress her head and turned to meet the sweetness of her lips. The enticing feel of her muddled his mind and good judgment, which at the moment was of no use to either of them. Like liquid warmth to his skin, he pulled her around into his lap. They continued their kisses with wild abandonment; his hand caressed and grazed every inch of her. The warmth of her skin beneath his hands made him crave more of her.

With a fierce possession of her lips, he kissed her hard. Her whimpers only made his cock harder. With a growl in his throat, he swung with her in his arms and laid her back on the bed. He looked at her, her eyes were gorgeous because the passion she felt for him was clear in them. He claimed her lips again crushing her petite lush body with his. Her warmth, smell and softness where driving him mad. He dropped back to reality with a heavy breath, he pulled for self-control. Any other scoundrel would have jumped at this opportunity. But, she was a virgin, a child at best and inexperienced. He could not do this to her.

He stood quickly with his back to her.

She slowly slid from the bed.

Still on shaky legs, breathing heavily, dizzy, and still tingling between her legs she stood silently behind him

She inched closer to touch him, but he pulled away.

Raking his fingers thru his hair, he turned to look at her, she looked tousled as if just recently bedded, her lips dewy and red from their kisses.

"It's best if you go to your room." His voice trembled.

"Dominic." Her voice was barely audible.

Closing his eyes to the sound of her voice just rolled off his skin like decadent silk and he moaned.

Confused, she stood not moving.

"Just go,...... please." His voice harshly rose.

"But, I don't understand" She cried.

"What don't you understand out of all of this Emilia? Other than that I nearly had sex with you." His voice was harsh.

"You're only 16, you're only a child an inexperienced, naive child," his voice harshly rose.

She flinched. Shaking her head not wanting to hear him, she turned and ran out of his room.

His words hurt more than anything did. She lay there in a daze as if she received the hardest slap across her face. He thought she was a child. She hated herself for what she did. She should have never done this, she felt dirty and ashamed. She turned her face into her pillow and just cried until her heart could not take anymore.

He stood there by her door wanting to go to her. Her cries were the worst that tugged at his heart. He didn't mean to hurt her. Before he could stop himself, the words were said. He felt like such an idiot, how could he have said it. Couldn't you have been gentler you fool? He berated himself.

He battled with the decision that they had to return. If he did not she would be in his bed by nightfall. He could not do this to her. Early that morning he sent for the carriage and gave Helmsley strict instructions on what he must do. He gave her the news that they were leaving the next morning and she didn't protest. Her face was void of any expression.