His inward smile grew. She was the worst liar he’d ever encountered. “Well, I like to touch a woman’s face. Glide my finger along her chin and up to her temples, and smooth my thumb across her eyelids. Sometimes I put my hand around her neck and move it down to her throat and then over her shoulder. I also like to push my fingers into her hair. And while one hand is doing those things, I have my other hand curled around her waist. Gradually, I bring her closer to me, so close she can feel the effect she’s having on me. You know what I mean, don’t you, Miss Worth?”
She remembered the afternoon in Dr. Wallaby’s house, when he’d pulled her tightly next to his body. She had indeed felt the proof of his desire. “Yes,” she whispered. Hearing her own throaty whisper, she looked away from his sky blue eyes and glanced down at the book.
At her action, Roman reminded himself to go slowly. Casually, he toyed with the dainty gold chains that hung from the bottom of her heart-shaped ruby brooch, then turned a page in the book and began to read aloud. “‘Before the removal of the clothes, much time must be taken by the man to ready the woman for the sight of his nakedness. A virgin is likely to be frightened by her first encounter with a man’s arousal and will resist his advances if her fear is not quickly put to rest. To soothe a maiden’s worry and incite her sweet passions, a man must take the greatest care to kiss her in an unhurried manner.’”
He stared into space, as if in deep contemplation. “True,” he announced, “but not before touching her face, throat, and shoulder, like I just explained. And once a man’s kissing a woman, he should do everything he can to get her to open her mouth. Kissing pursed lips is like pressing your mouth against a juicy peach but not being able to bite into it. You know that if you could only sink into it, you’d get a taste of heaven. You know what I mean by that, too, don’t you?”
So mesmerized was she by what he was saying to her, she didn’t realize she’d leaned into him. Nor was she aware that he had lifted his arm over her shoulder so she could rest against the side of his bare chest.
All she could think about was her growing desire to feel his mouth upon hers.
Roman read her every thought within the depths of her smoldering brown eyes, but his intentions included much more than kissing her. “‘Once a woman parts her lips for a man, he must use his tongue to imitate the movements of lovemaking,’” he continued to read. “‘He should use slow and shallow strokes at first and eventually employ full and deep thrusts. If he is successful in his endeavors, the woman should reciprocate at this point and use her own tongue to mate with his. While engaged in the kiss, the man must then begin to fondle the woman’s breasts. He should not grab such succulent treasures, but handle them with the utmost reverence. While caressing the breasts with one hand, a man must then place his other against the woman’s belly and gradually lower it until he is cupping the soft mound between her legs. The feel of his touch upon the dwelling place of her womanly passion will cause her to breathe heavily, and perhaps she will follow each breath by a low moan that will be a lovely sound to his ears. When she does these things, the man will know she is prepared to accept and enjoy the more intense preparations for lovemaking.’”
As he finished reading the passage and Theodosia pushed her hips into his side, Roman’s need heightened. He didn’t know who was more excited by the sensual instructions, Theodosia or himself.
Knowing she would follow his actions, he moved his body downward until he was no longer sitting but fully reclined on the bed. His own breathing became labored when Theodosia lay down beside him and rested her head on his shoulder.
Her face was only inches away from his. He glided his finger along her chin and up to her temple, finally smoothing it across her eyelids.
When she didn’t resist, he pushed his fingers into her hair. It filled his hand with golden softness, bringing every nerve in his palm to life. Liking the way the delicate locks shimmered next to his dark skin, he played with them for a while before gently curling his hand around her neck and feeling her pulse throb against his fingers.
“Theodosia,” he said softly.
She’d never heard him address her thus. The sound of her name on his lips and the desire she heard in his husky voice increased her yearning for his kiss.
When she tilted her face higher, Roman gently took hold of her chin and caressed her bottom lip with his thumb. Gazing into her eyes, he gave her a slow and easy grin.
She couldn’t resist his charm and smiled back.
He kissed her smile, surprised but delighted when she parted her lips. And when she tentatively touched her tongue to his, his desire escalated so quickly, he thought his loins had been turned to stone by the wave of some magic wand.
He could wait no longer to see the whole of her beauty.
Reaching around her, he started the task of unfastening the buttons at the back of her gown. To keep her mind off what his hand was doing, he held her gaze and moved his hips toward hers in a slow and steady rhythm he knew would beckon to the virgin inside her.
His fiery intent closing over her, Theodosia felt heat melt through her. Finding the strength to battle his power over her seemed as impossible as subduing a dragon with a needle. Surrendering, she matched the movements of his hips, meeting each of his gentle thrusts with a timid one of her own.
In a few more moments, Roman had the buttons unfastened. Continuing the slight motions of his hips, he slid one shoulder of her gown down and off her arm. The tiny ribbons closing her sleeveless chemise presented little trouble, and in the next moment he bared her breast.
“The man might try this, Theodosia,” he warned quietly. “Be on your guard.”
When she felt his big warm hand close over her breast, she quickly pulled it away.
Roman felt the sting of defeat until she pushed her upper torso into his chest. He understood then that she wanted to feel his bare skin next to hers. Swiftly, he turned her slightly to the side and pulled down the other side of her dress and her chemise. When both her breasts were freed, he gathered her into his arms and held her close.
Theodosia sighed. The feel of Roman’s skin and muscles next to her softness overwhelmed her with a sense of wonder. She closed her eyes and savored the incredible feelings.
Roman didn’t have to guess to understand how she felt. Theodosia trembled in his arms, her contentment so real, he imagined he could smell its sweet scent.
Pressing warm airy kisses to her cheek, he untied the drawstring of her embroidered petticoat, then tugged her gown, chemise, and slip down to her knees. With his arm beneath her thighs, he lifted her legs until her dress and underthings fell past her calves and off her feet. That accomplished, he then removed her stockings.
Theodosia moved restlessly against him, sensual hunger making her ache with the need for fulfillment. “I am powerless to understand this hold you have on me,” she said softly, staring into the blue pools of his eyes. “Vitally aware though I am of what you are doing, I—I cannot find the will to deny myself the pleasure of your touch.”
Her honesty made his throat tighten with emotion. He’d never known a woman like her, a woman who trusted him enough to tell him the truth about her feelings.
“Theodosia,” he began, caressing her breasts and the smooth skin of her belly, “the pleasure has only just started.”
She raised her hand and pressed her fingers into the hard muscle beneath his nipple. Fascinated by his strength, she moved her hand upward, over his massive shoulder, through his long raven hair, and down his bulging arm.
