Everything and the Moon Read Online Free PDF Page A

his tongue drew a lazy circle around her nipple, she found out. “Oh, my God!” she burst out, barely able to believe what he was doing. “Oh, Robert!”
    â€œI need you, Torie.” He buried his face between her breasts. “You don't understand how I need you.”
    â€œI-I think we must stop,” she said. “I can't do this…My reputation…” She had no idea how to put her thoughts into words. Her father's warning rang ceaselessly in her ears. He will use you and discard you .
    She saw Robert's head at her breast. “Robert, no!”
    Robert inhaled raggedly and pulled her gaping bodice together. He tried to redo the buttons, but his hands were trembling.
    â€œI'll do it,” Victoria said quickly, turning so that he would not see the red shame on her face. Her fingers were shaking, too, but they proved more nimble than his, and eventually she managed to right her appearance.
    But he saw her pink cheeks, and it nearly killed him to think that she was ashamed of her behavior. “Torie,” he said softly. When she didn't turn around he used two fingers to gently prod her chin until she faced him.
    Her eyes were bright with unshed tears.
    â€œOh, Torie,” he said, wanting desperately to haul her into his arms, but settling for touching her cheek. “Please don't berate yourself.”
    â€œI shouldn't have let you.”
    He smiled gently. “No, you probably shouldn't have. And I probably shouldn't have tried. But I'm in love. It's no excuse, but I couldn't help myself.”
    â€œI know,” she whispered. “But I shouldn't have enjoyed it so much.”
    At that Robert let out a bark of laughter so loud that Victoria was sure Ellie would come crashing through the woods to investigate. “Oh, Torie,” he said, gasping for air. “Don't ever apologize for enjoying my touch. Please.”
    Victoria tried to shoot him an admonishing glance, but her eyes were far too warm. She allowed her good humor to rise back to the surface. “Just so long as you don't apologize for enjoying mine.”
    He grabbed her hand and pulled her to him in the breadth of an instant. He smiled seductively, looking rather like the rake Victoria had once accused him of being. “That, my darling, has never been a danger.”
    She laughed softly, feeling her earlier tension slip from her body. She shifted position, settling her back against his chest. He was absently toying with her hair, and it felt like sheer heaven.
    â€œWe'll be married soon,” he whispered, his words coming with an urgency she hadn't expected. “We'll be married soon, and then I will show you everything. I'll show you how much I love you.”
    Victoria shivered with anticipation. He was speaking against her skin, and she could feel his breath near her ear.
    â€œWe'll be married,” he repeated. “Just as soon as we can. But until then I don't want you to feel ashamed of anything we have done. We love each other, and there is nothing more beautiful than two people expressing their love.” He turned her around until their eyes met. “I didn't know that before I met you. I—” He swallowed. “I had been with women, but I didn't know that.”
    Deeply moved, Victoria touched his cheek.
    â€œNo one will strike us down for loving before we are married,” he continued.
    Victoria wasn't certain whether “loving” referred to the spiritual or the physical, and all she could think to say was, “No one except my father.”
    Robert closed his eyes. “What has he said to you?”
    â€œHe said I must not see you anymore.”
    Robert swore softly under his breath and opened his eyes. “Why?” he asked, his voice coming out a bit harsher than intended.
    Victoria considered several replies but finally opted for honesty. “He said you won't marry me.”
    â€œAnd how would he know that?” Robert