He looked at her hungrily, tracing his bottom lip with his forefinger. She remembered what it felt like to suck on his plump flesh. Winnie wanted to do it again and again until she couldn’t breathe, until she couldn’t remember her own name.
“Do you have to break the rules tonight?” Throwing his long legs over the side of the bed, he stood, walking over to her.
He reached her in quick strides, forcing Winnie to peer up at him, her neck straining from how tall he was. The sheer size of him was larger than any man she had known. It thrilled her knowing that she was so small and delicate against this giant of a man who was staring down at her like she was his last morsel on earth.
“No. I want to break them.” It was the truth.
When Winnie first arrived at Pleasure House, her only thought was to save her mother and aunt from being evicted from Brown Manor, but after meeting him, she wanted to be with him. He had awakened her soul, and she could not leave without experiencing him fully.
He leaned down, his hot breath fanning over her. “Good, because you are mine for the night, and I plan to enjoy you thoroughly.”
“What will you do now that I am yours?” Her voice shook slightly, revealing her nervousness. In the ballroom she had not allowed her nerves to assault her.
Winnie was exhilarated that she could stand her ground with this strange beast of a man who was absolutely glorious.
“Are you afraid?” His hands trailing down her arm caused little embers of sparks to tickle her skin.
“Should I be?” Winnie asked her own question, not feeling fear at all. Since the moment he had approached her, all she felt was peace.
She hadn’t felt such a feeling since her father was alive.
His gaze trailed the length of her body from head to toe as he walked behind her. His deft fingers began unlacing her gown. “Never. You have nothing to fear with me.” He bent down and placed a kiss to her neck. “I promise you that, my goddess.”
Winnie was amazed at how docile he was to be such a large man. He carried himself as someone highly ranked among society. She surmised he was a man accustomed to having his own way just from their brief but passionate encounter.
“What’s your name, goddess?” he whispered as he continued to untie her dress until it loosened around her.
“I thought the purpose was to have anonymity.” She peered over one shoulder, catching those bright-gray eyes that had captured her from across the room.
“In some ways, it is. However”—the dress slid down her arms as he pulled it down her body, revealing her undergarments— “I prefer you call my name when I’m inside you.”
She stood quivering, the heat of his body radiating through her, moistness pooled in the apex of her thighs at his wicked words.
“What is your name?” she couldn’t help but to ask.
The practical part of her needed to know. Even if her plan never worked—and to be honest, Winnie wasn’t sure it was the best idea she’s ever had—after meeting this stranger, she wanted to be with him just because of who he appeared to be. This man was powerful, confident, and dominating yet kind. It was rare and beautiful to behold. No, she would not seduce him for a child to save her family. She would find another way, but tonight, just for one night, she would know what it was like to be worshiped.
“Richard. My name is Richard.” His voice was deep and raw. She loved the timber of it.
Richard.It suited him. It was a potent name, regal and refined. She did not know the first name of any gentleman of her acquaintance except the Earl of Hendershot, a childhood friend she hadn’t spoken to in many years.
Her stays were loose and removed before Winnie knew what he was doing. She now stood in nothing but her chemise. She suddenly felt modest, folding her arms across herself trying to maintain a semblance of decorum.
Turning her around, her stranger—Richard—took her hands, placing them on his waistcoat. Winnie knew what he wanted before a single word was out of his mouth.
“Undress me,” he commanded her in a strong but gentle voice.
It was strange how obeying him made her feel. She felt empowered, like doing exactly what he asked made her the one in charge.
Without hesitation, Winnie began unbuttoning his blue silk waistcoat that shaped his enormous body. The fabric was stretched so tight that the buttons looked as if they would pop any moment. Winnie’s breath came out in shallow pants as she undid each one slowly. Her fingers trembled as she tried to fit the small buttons into the tiny slits to release them. Once he was finally free, the waistcoat joined his tailcoat as he tossed it across the room. He stood in front of her wearing nothing but his shirt, cravat, and breeches. Wanting desperately to see his neck, Winnie began undoing the well-starched white cravat.
The small piece of fabric joined her discarded gown on the floor. She could feel his gaze on her. Every single piece of skin his gaze touched was on fire.
Pulling his shirt tail free from the confines of his breeches, Winnie raised the fabric up his long torso, revealing each sinewy slope of his abdomen to her ravenous gaze.
Bending down he ripped the material over his head, throwing it aside. Wrapping his arms around her much smaller body, he crashed his mouth to hers. The kiss was greedy and sloppy, and it was everything that she wanted. Unlike their kiss in the ballroom where other people were looking, this kiss was wild.
Winnie stood on her toes, stretching herself to reach him. It was impossible; he was so much taller than her, much broader, and she loved it.
