She looked so exquisitely delicious.
Nor did she appear shy about shedding her clothes and remaining in nothing but her chemise, even though she was shy by nature. However, he knew she already felt immeasurably bonded to him.
He liked that she trusted him so completely.
Did he not feel the same about her?
Was he not happiest whenever she was with him?
“We do not have to do anything other than sleep tonight, Julius. I do not understand how you can possibly be feeling up to–”
“I am fine.”
“You always say this, but you are clearly not in any position to–”
He cut her off again. “That is entirely the point.”
She looked up at him in confusion, her expression adorable as she stared at him with big, bright eyes and a tumble of curls framing her sweet face. “What exactly is the point?”
“Our positioning.” He cleared his throat, for he wasn’t certain Gory was adventurous enough yet to go along with his suggestion. “I want to claim you. You wish to be claimed, do you not?”
She nodded. “Very much.”
“Good,” he said, trying not to grin because she looked so earnest. “There is a way to accomplish it.”
“How? You winced the entire time I helped you off with your shirt. You’ll rip your stitches if you put any weight on your arms.”
“Precisely why I am not going to do that.” He took the small wooden chair beside the bed and carried it closer to the hearth. If they were both going to strip naked, they might as well be warmed by the fire blazing nicely now that he had tossed several more pieces of wood into the flames.
Gory watched him as he strove to position the chair properly. “What are you doing?”
“I do not have to claim you in a bed,” he explained, motioning to the chair.
“Are you suggesting you can do this in…that?” Her eyes widened as she walked a slow circle around the chair. “A little, wooden thing? How?”
He settled onto it and held out his arms to her. “You need to sit on my lap.”
But he stopped her when she was about to simply sit down. “Um, not quite like that. You need to face me and straddle me, as a man does when on a saddle.”
She coughed. “Are you serious?”
He cast her a wicked grin. “Yes, Gory. Do you trust me?”
“You know I do.” She smiled and tentatively complied. “This feels quite naughty.”
His blood immediately heated as she straddled him.
Sweet heaven.
“It is naughty.” His grin widened. “Are you willing, love?”
She wrapped her arms around his neck and pressed her body to his. “Eager and willing with you.”
“Good,” he said in a raspy murmur, “because I think you’re going to like this.”
He certainly planned to enjoy himself.
It was not long before they had shed the last of their clothing.
