Everywhere he could, but he kept that bit to himself, lest he alarm her further.
Her kiss-stung lips parted. “You do?”
“Can you doubt it?” Torrie kissed the corner of her mouth, then her ear, speaking softly. “Do you not feel the effect you have on me, Bess?”
He swept his hand down the delicate tracery of her spine, stopping at her rump to grab another delicious handful. Slowly, he pressed into her, allowing her to feel how hungry he was for her, his hardness burrowing into her softness with agonizing intent. A pale imitation of what he intended to do.
“Oh my,” she murmured, swallowing hard. “All that is…you?”
He grinned. She was adorable.
“All me,” he confirmed. “We’ll go slowly, love. We’ll take all the time you need.”
She nodded, his words appearing to reassure her. “Yes, slowly.”
He was going to have to seduce her out of that bloody shapeless night rail. Never mind. More excuses to touch and kiss her. No hardship there.
Releasing his grip on her bottom, he lightly trailed his forefinger down the line of prim buttons on her high-necked nightgown. “One at a time. Tell me if I should stop, and I’ll stop.”
She exhaled, her hot breath fanning over his hand, giving him a nod of acquiescence. She was nervous, and understandably so. Lovemaking was new to her. But oh how he would enjoy showing her the pleasures of the marriage bed.
His fingers found the first button and slid it from its mooring with ease. A small swath of creamy skin was exposed, and he set his lips there, kissing her reverently. Her skin was smooth and soft and sweetly scented from the bath she had taken. The effect it had on him was instant and thunderous, but he reined in his desire and reached for the second button with a trembling hand. This button slid open as easily as the first. One by one, just as he had promised, he continued, kissing each new patch of skin he bared.
Until he reached the valley between her breasts. Stopping there, he couldn’t resist cupping the heavy globes in his palms, weighing their fullness. They were larger than he had imagined, hidden away in the dreadful, ill-fitting garments she wore—this nightgown included. Thank Christ Harriet had offered to take her shopping. He would spend every last ha’penny he possessed to see Bess properly clothed, her lush figure lovingly outlined by the fashionable gowns she deserved.
Her nipples were hard buds tempting him to take them into his mouth and suck. Reverently, he pressed a kiss between her breasts. “Beautiful.” He kissed each mound, nuzzled the peaks through the thin impediment of her night rail. “More beautiful than I could have guessed.”
“I am no beauty,” she whispered, sounding fretful.
“Blasphemy,” he countered, showing her how lovely she was by kissing her again and not stopping until she was once again soft and pliant in his arms, her body melting into his as all fears and worries fled her.
A few more buttons to go, and he undid them with ease as his tongue played with hers, until he had finally reached the last in the daunting row, and there was nothing save a knotted belt securing her modesty. He made short work of it as well, prolonging the kiss for a few moments more before lifting his head.
Her simple white linen gown billowed around her, the swells of her breasts visible through the fabric he had opened. And Torrie couldn’t stop himself from reaching inside, parting the gown to reveal the fullness of one pink-tipped breast. Nor could he stop himself from sucking on her nipple.
She moaned softly, body bowing as he flicked his tongue over the turgid bud.
“Perfection,” he murmured, then gave her nipple another hard, lusty suck. “My God, Bess, you make me ravenous for you.”
The admission was torn from him.
“You make me feel the same,” she said, her voice so low he almost couldn’t make out her words.
“How do I make you feel? Tell me.” He slid the other half of her nightgown to the side, leaving both her breasts exposed.
“I ache.”
He blew a stream of air over her nipple. “Where, Bess? Tell me where you ache.”
He gently nipped her, tugging the beaded tip of her breast with his teeth and earning another moan from her.
“Tell me,” he pressed when she didn’t answer.
“In my belly, and…lower,” she said, gasping when he sucked again, tormenting them both.
“Here?” he asked, daring to cup her through the cloth of her nightgown, the heat of her sex searing his palm.
Her hips pumped against him, seeking more.
