He was so intent upon kissing her that he had not realized he had already moved them across the chamber until he could not move her any farther. They lost their balance as one and fell to the bed.
Chapter Seventeen
NELL FELL ONher back, Jack landing atop her on the pliant softness of her mattress. He caught the bulk of his frame on his forearms to keep from crushing her with his big body. But in that moment, she did not care if he pinned her down with his weight. She did not want gentlemanly concern or consideration. She wanted raw, unrestrained.
She wanted him to shag her senseless.
“Have I hurt you?” he asked breathlessly, looking down at her with such tenderness in his expression, her heart gave a pang. “Forgive me, love. I was so lost in you, I had not realized we were approaching the bed until it was too late.”
She had been every bit as lost in him, but she dared not admit it aloud. She had once more found herself unable to resist him though she knew she should. Her heart had never been more confused. Her body, however, was quite certain of what it wanted.
Jack.
Always, onlyJack.
“You did not hurt me,” she reassured him at last. “Not this time.”
“Nor ever again.” He kissed her swiftly. “I promise you.”
He had promised her before, and look what had happened.
She did not dare believe him. But it was not his tenderness or his promise she wanted now. It was his body. Her resistance had fled the moment he had kissed her. Perhaps even before that.
She looped her arms around his neck and kissed him back. His lips were softer than velvet, hot and firm. Commanding and coaxing and owning. She gave herself up to the meeting of lips and tongue and teeth. Her senses were abuzz. The heavy ridge of his cock nestled in the apex of her thighs. He was every bit as ready for her as she was for him.
She was already soaked and throbbing. She rolled her hips beneath his, seeking friction to alleviate her ache. But there was only one solution for what ailed her, and she knew what it was.
Nell slid her fingers into his hair and grasped it, tugging until he lifted his head, breaking the kiss. “Take off your clothes.”
On a growl, he did as she commanded, tearing at all the layers of his garments. He had been dressed for breakfast. Handsome and debonair. And now he was wild and savage. His eyes were dark with stormy passion. She helped him with his waistcoat and shirt. Together, they made short work of his trousers and smalls until he was naked at last.
His body was a wonder. So masculine, so magnificent. She caressed his chest, pressed kisses to the walls of muscle. Flicked her tongue over his skin to taste him.
“I want you naked,” he said, tugging at the belt on her dressing gown.
She wanted to be naked, too.
“Yes,” she agreed, taking her hands from him only to aid in freeing herself of the silken robe and its line of buttons.
They were both completely nude, their bodies intertwined in the way of old lovers. Her body knew his so well. His mouth feathered over hers in light, teasing kisses as his hands cupped her breasts. He plucked at her nipples, then rolled them between his thumbs and forefingers.
With a frustrated growl, she tried to deepen the kiss. But Jack was once more in control when she had already lost all hope of restraint. He drew back, looking down at her.
“So impatient and greedy,” he said, licking his lips as if he relished the taste of her. “Slowly, Nellie. I want to enjoy this.”
How like him to stoke the fires and then take his time.
But when he lowered his head to suck a nipple into his mouth, she forgot to care. White-hot desire shot to her core. The sight of his handsome face nestled against her breast was at once heart-rending and erotic. She could not bear to watch him pleasure her, and yet neither could she look away.
He sucked harder, then gently bit, catching the peek between his teeth and tugging.Dear God, she was going to melt before he even slid inside her. She reached between their bodies, her fingers unerringly finding his cock. She grasped him, stroking from root to tip, gratified when he made a low hum of approval and flicked his tongue over her nipple.
She wanted him inside her so badly.
It was wrong, and she knew it. All wrong. She had told herself she would not succumb to her desires again. What a liar she was, to herself, to everyone around her. How could she ever resist this man? She could not, and that was the problem.
Resisting him had been easy when he had been halfway across the world, out of reach. Now that he returned, she was as desperate as she had ever been. Except, if anything, the time and distance had made her more desperate for him. Hungrier.
Jack turned his attention to her other breast, cupping the one he had just tortured in the hot palm of his hand while he suckled the other. She stroked him hard, undulating against him, seeking to get him where she wanted him most.
