“No,” she whispered, and he knew then that it was the samefor her.
He pulled away the strings of her bustle and helped Maggieto shuck her corset cover. “Turn,” he told her, wanting to undo the laces ofher corset.
She spun as he commanded, giving him her back. Her curlssagged under the weight of the rain, but her hair was still impossibly vibrantand beautiful. Even her shoulders were sheer perfection. He pressed a kiss toher neck as he settled his hands on her nipped waist. So tiny, such a deliciouscontrast to the lush curves of her bosom. When she tilted her head to the side,allowing him greater access, he kissed a path to her ear. His fingersunerringly found the knot her indefatigable lady’s maid had tied in her corsetand began undoing it. With great care, willing himself to go slowly, he kissedher ear. When she shivered again, he took her earlobe between his teeth andgently tugged, earning a soft moan from her.
Ah, hell. Just the sound was enough to make him thrust intoher, pressing his cock into the ample curves of her bottom. She arched backinto him, making him groan as he met with her softness. He kissed the patch ofskin just beneath her ear, tasting her, licking the rain from her.
“Oh,” she cried out, turning her head to nuzzle his. “OhSimon.”
His fingers at last met with success, opening the knot onher corset ties. He moved between the crisscrossing laces, pulling them apart,intent on his quest to have her gloriously nude.
“Darling,” he murmured, nipping at her skin enough to makeher shiver but not to create a mark. “I can’t wait to have your beautifulbreasts in my hands, to take your nipples in my mouth and suck them untilthey’re hard.”
“Yes.” She turned her head and kissed him, open-mouthed andhungry. “Please.”
Enough. He couldn’t wait a moment longer. He pulled away andspun her to face him. If this was what she’d had in mind from the start, he’ddance in the rain with her every bloody day. He was ravenous for her. Heremoved her corset cover and then pulled her corset open and flung it away,intent on revealing her gorgeous body. Only a chemise separated him from whathe wanted.
His breath caught as he gazed down at her. She was soaked,her skin glistening with moisture, the linen of her shift clinging to herbreasts so that her sweetly pink nipples were visible through the fabric. Theywere already stiff, calling to him. He pulled her against him, cupping her facein his hands and kissing her again, unable to help himself.
She kissed him back, and when he felt her fingers on thebuttons of his shirt, he groaned. She was a wanton, his Maggie, and he couldn’tbe more pleased. He nipped at her lower lip, wringing an answering moan fromher. She liked when he was a little wild, a little rough. The knowledge onlyheightened his desire.
Simon shrugged out of his jacket, allowing it to fallunheeded to the floor. The last button on his shirt popped open, aided byMaggie, and he tossed that garment away as well. Then, her hands were on hischest, caressing a path of fire that led straight to his cock. When she cuppedhim through his trousers, he couldn’t keep himself from surging into her,wanting her touch, wanting to be inside her. Christ, she was making him madwith wanting her. He had to have her. Right bloody now.
He tossed a look around the library, having second thoughtsabout the wool of the carpets on her delicate skin. His eyes landed upon anoversize settee and a wicked idea began forming in his debauched mind.
“Come, my love.” He led her to the settee, their embracenever breaking. He backed her to the cushioned edge before stopping to draw herfinal garment up over her head. She was nude before him, her breasts a roundand full temptation, her curves lush. His gaze dipped lower, to her cunny.
He knew what he wanted. “Sit,” he commanded her.
“What in heaven’s name?” Maggie blinked at him, dredged fromthe depths of her passion by his request. Of course she would question him.“Why?”
“Hush.” He pressed a finger to her rose-pink lips that wereswollen with his kisses. “No more talking.”
“But,” she began, attempting to speak past his finger untilhe interrupted her.
“Do you trust me, Maggie?”
Her violet eyes were huge, piercing through to his verysoul. She pressed a kiss to his finger before tipping her head back so that shecould speak. “Yes.”
Something inside him shifted, sending a warmth through himthat had little to do with desire and everything to do with the emotions shestirred within him. She trusted him. She trusted the man who had left her whilehe spent an entire year with his mistress. He could admit it now, for if hehadn’t a conscience before, he bloody well did now. Maggie had done that forhim. She’d changed everything.
He gently guided her into a sitting position, needing toshow her with his actions what he could not reveal in words. She was his. Hewas hers. And he wanted to make her scream. He sank to his knees.
She watched him, holding her hands over her breasts as shesat awkwardly. She looked dreadfully uncomfortable. He placed his palms on eachof her bare knees, hungering to go higher and sweep over her luscious thighsbut restraining himself.
“Have you ever sat naked on a settee before?” he asked her.
“You know I haven’t,” she whispered.
“Another day of firsts for us. I danced in the rain foryou.” He bowed his head and pressed a kiss to first her left knee, then herright. Something occurred to him then. “You weren’t wearing drawers.”
A rosy flush crept over her cheeks. “It often seems I don’trequire them when you’re about.”
“A lady who plans ahead.” He winked at her, showing her thelightness of heart she’d accused him of not possessing. He had it, by God.There merely hadn’t been need of it before. No woman had every inquired afterhis happiness, had longed to hear his laughter. “I am once again in awe ofyou.”
“What are you doing?” she asked again, her voice breathy.Not precisely concerned, but nevertheless a trifle on edge.
“Making love to my wife,” he answered, relishing the word onhis tongue for the first time ever. He skimmed his hands up her thighs ever soslowly, kissing the insides of her knees as he did so. “My turn for a question.Why are you hiding your lovely breasts from me?”
