Her heart thumped. When she lowered her face, he gave her a knowing smile. But he didn’t say anything. Instead, he swept up his breeches and stepped into them. Once he tugged his waistband up, he sank to the ground and patted the sand next to him.
Lovers. She chewed on the word for a minute. What did it mean? And more importantly, for how long?
With a sigh, she sat and Christian slid behind her. His hands were gentle when he pulled down the back of the blanket and began wrapping the muslin around her chest.
At first, she tried to keep the blanket up, but after lots of tangling of arms, she dropped it around her waist and covered herself with her hands. As the bandage got higher, his knuckles grazed hers and her blood pounded. If she dropped her hands, would he touch her again?
Her fingers tightened and she sucked in a little breath at the contact. Of course, she’d touched herself before. In front of the mirror, wondering why men loved bosoms so much. But never had she had a reaction. Not like this.
Was it because his arms were twined around her, tying the bandage off at her side? Perhaps because she imagined him touching her, closing his hands over her?
His hands lingered beneath the bandage, stroking up and down her sides, and gooseflesh spread over her flushed skin.
“I was selfish.” His breath slid across her nape before his lips pressed a soft kiss there.
Her mouth went dry. “What do you mean?”
He began to nibble and she squirmed as little bolts of fire shot straight to her core.
“I took my pleasure without giving you yours.” His fingers brushed the top of her thigh and her eyes fluttered at the muted contact through the blanket.
“I assure you...” She trailed off as he slid them closer to where she burned, hooking them under the fabric. “It was pleasurable.”
“Mmm...” He inched closer. “I want you unable to find words for what you feel. Pleasurable should not even touch the surface.”
She laughed, the sound throaty and foreign to her. “I don’t understand.”
Her body still thrummed from their joining in the sea and heat crept up her chest as she gazed over the waves. She’d never be able to look at the water the same again.
Christian spread his legs to either side of her and gave a gentle tug. “Lean back.”
She relaxed and a moment later, nestled against his chest. The bandage pressed between them, an unwanted intrusion, and she angled farther, resting the back of her head on his shoulder.
“That’s better.” He leaned down and kissed her exposed throat.
Her eyes drifted shut. The velvet contact of his lips moving down to her shoulder sent pleasure coiling around her core. When his tongue flicked out, hot and wet, a little moan formed in the back of her mouth.
His hand slipped beneath the blanket and the searing contact of flesh against flesh made her quiver.
“Shh,” He kissed back up to her ear. “This is about you, Red. Open for me. Let me give you your release.”
The carnal promise in his whispered words slackened her muscles and her thighs parted. Christian made an approving noise and dipped his fingers into her curls.
With expert precision, he used two fingers to spread her open. She gasped at the brush of night air against her most private place.
His other hand slid down and one long finger delved into her heat. He slid it into her and when he pulled free, she blushed at the wet noise.
He closed his teeth over her earlobe and slipped his finger up,stopping on the sensitive nub he’d exposed. She jerked, but he held her in place until she relaxed against him. He stroked and swirled his fingertip across that spot until her legs trembled. A throbbing ache settled beneath his touch and she whimpered, arching away from him. Too much.
He pulled his hands up and she cried out at the loss of contact. Not enough.
His lips curved at her neck and he slid his hands up and out from under the blanket.
“Christian.” She panted his name and tilted her face toward him. He caught her mouth, bit her lower lip, and sucked it into his mouth.
“I know, love.”
He eased out from behind her and spread the blanket out, lowering her to her back a moment later. All the time, his lips never left hers, his tongue dancing against hers.
