“You can open them now,” she said. Her voice sounded strange to her, almost as if it were coming from another woman. What did it matter if he saw her without clothes? Now that they were married, it was an intimacy that a husband should enjoy. She had to overcome her anxiety and trust that he would not take more than she could give.
He studied her face for a moment, noting the chemise and petticoat on the chair. “You honor me,” he said quietly. “And while I’m wanting to hold you now, to feel your skin against mine, I’ll wait until you’re ready.” He remained leaning upon his side, his eyes dark with desire.
I’m not ready. I might never be ready,her heart quaked.
But that was what a coward would say. She couldn’t hide from her worst fears, not if she wanted to start again.
Let him hold you,her mind coaxed.He’ll stop if you ask him to.
She rolled away from him and drew his arm around her waist. Though she kept a distance between them, Paul brought his mouth to her shoulder. The moment he kissed her, a thousand shivers took hold over her skin.
“I’m wanting you closer. Skin to skin,” he warned.
She forced herself to say nothing, to remain absolutely still. But when she felt the heat of his body pressing against her backside, she went motionless. Against him, she felt so small, his warmth enveloping her.
“Are you all right?” he murmured.
“I think so.” She adjusted to the feeling of his body and the hard length of his erection pressed to her spine.
“Don’t be worrying yourself, lass. I’ll keep my word. But tell me if you’re wanting more,” he said against her skin. His breath sent a fevered shiver over her body, and she felt the aching wetness between her legs.
All over, she was growing hotter with need. She took his hands and brought his arms around her, so that his forearms crossed her breasts. Her nipples tightened, and she bit her lip against the sensation. For a moment, his hands remained in place. Then he turned her to her back, still keeping his arm over the top of her shoulders. His mouth moved over her throat, descending lower.
“Tell me if I should stop,” he murmured.
His mouth drifted lower, over the top of her breasts. She could feel the warmth of his breath pulling at the strings of her inhibitions. He slowly lowered the edge of the sheet. Juliette closed her eyes, unwilling to see his reaction when he bared her breasts.
“You’re perfect,” he said, reaching up to cup them in his hands. The warmth of his palms against her sensitive skin was a jolt of awareness. And suddenly, it was too much, too soon.
His thumbs caressed the tips of her breasts, while his mouth moved against the curve of her throat. The touch of his hands was arousing a response that overwhelmed her, and she struggled to breathe.
She took his hands and drew them away from her breasts. “Paul, stop.”
He did, though his eyes were searing with hunger. Beneath her hips, she could feel his erection, and the look on his face resembled pain.
He didn’t move, nor did he speak. Juliette calmed her heartbeat, struggling to gather her composure. She watched him for a moment, thankful that he’d obeyed her without question.
“It was… too much,” she explained, flushing. Her body was on fire, every part of her sensitive to his touch. She didn’t know how far she could let him go before both of them lost their senses.
“Will you let me kiss you again?” he asked.
That, she could allow. She leaned in, wrapping her arms around his neck while he kissed her thoroughly. His tongue slid within her mouth, and she met it with a thrust of her own, trying to tell him without words that she did care. She did want him, no matter that it was dangerous. He pulled her against him, her bare breasts against his chest. His manhood was pressed against her stomach, but although it was erect, she was no longer quite as bothered by it.
As Paul devoured her mouth, she grew aware that he was rocking against her in a slow rhythm. Warmth blossomed between her legs, and she instinctively pressed herself to him, meeting him as his hips met hers.
She could feel him against her most intimate center, and the restlessness only grew. Though he didn’t do anything except kiss her, the rhythmic motion evoked a delicious ache. She ought to tell him to stop.
But she was startled to realize that she didn’t want him to.
“Juliette,” he whispered in a husky voice. There was raw need in him, as if he were fighting for control. His mouth moved against her throat and above her breasts, drawing lower.
But he stopped at the curve above her breast. His tongue and lips tempted her, though she was afraid of her own response.
As she strained against him, he murmured against her skin, “Shall I stop again?”
She was trembling with every motion, feeling as if she were about to fall into an abyss. His heated breath warmed her skin, and without knowing why, she found herself grinding against him… seeking something. Her body was so hot, her lips swollen. “Not yet. I think… I want more.”
Her hands gripped his hair, pulling him lower. She was lost in sensation, unable to pull together any clear thoughts—only that she needed him. She guided him down, until at last his mouth fastened upon her nipple.
