Into the woman he loved.
She broke away, panting hard. Hugging him around his legs, she rested her cheek on his thigh and tried to catch her breath.
Max could only stand, legs locked and quivering, and hope that feeling would return to his feet before he collapsed onto Colleen.
“Goddamn,” he said when his voice returned.
Colleen looked up at him and scratched a nail down his stomach. “You liked that, I see.”
Max snorted. An answer wasn’t necessary.
“Then you’re going to like this even more.” Placing a hand on the seat cushion, Colleen pushed to her feet. Max grabbed her waist to help her up. Resting her hands on his shoulders, she took a deep breath. “I want to be with you tonight, the way you want. I want you to show me how you play with fire.”
Max’s heart stuttered, came to a complete stop, before bursting into motion. He’d wanted this from the first moment he’d seen her. But she had to be certain. There was no room for indecision when it came to fire. “I need you to think carefully about this. It’s all right if you’re not ready. I’ll—”
She laid a finger across his lips. “I’m certain.”
His cock was still out of commission, but every other inch of skin buzzed. Excitement raced through his veins, but he forced calm. Calm would keep Colleen safe. Safe and satisfied. “All right. Go get on the bed. I’ll get the supplies.”
Striding to the side of the room, he rang the bell for a servant. Colleen yelped and ducked under the covers when someone scratched at the door. Pulling the door open just wide enough to speak through it, Max made his request and closed it. He gathered his washing bowl, a pitcher of water, and a towel. Opening the chest at the foot of his bed, he pulled out a decanter of brandy and a small torch. He set them on the table next to his bed. Picking up a candelabra near the door, he lit the candles and set it next to the bed.
Colleen held the covers up to her nose. “What did you ask the servant for?”
“You’ll find out.” He found a thin leather strip and crooked his finger. “Now, sit up.”
With an eye on the door, she swung her legs around, and Max crawled behind her. He gathered her fiery hair into one hand and combed it out with his fingers. He separated her hair into three sections and braided it down her back, fixing it with the leather band.
Another scratch sounded at the door, and Max kissed her shoulder. “Don’t worry. I won’t let him see you.” Hopping off the bed, he took the cloth-covered bowl from his footman and shut the door with his foot. The servant couldn’t miss that Max was naked. And Max was under no illusions that installing Colleen in the room next door to his wouldn’t lead to gossip amongst his servants. But Colleen was a widow; such things were more accepted.
But he shouldn’t wait too long before making the situation right.
“What’s in the bowl?”
Max pulled it out of her reach, the bowl chilling his hands, and set it on the far side of the bureau next to his bed. “Later. First, I want to prepare your body. Lie back.”
She did so, staring at him steadily, her eyes fathomless pools of trust.
Her dusky nipples pointed to the ceiling, and Maxstarted there, his mouth and hands tasting and teasing every inch of flesh. Fire dancing along the body created a surge of pleasure. But dancing over already aching and sensitized skin increased the pleasure three-fold.
He nibbled along the soft flesh on the underside of her breasts. Kneaded and chafed the skin over her ribs. He worked his way down her body, down each leg, not forgetting even the littlest toe.
Her thighs fell open, an invitation. The hair along her lower lips was damp with her desire, and Max’s mouth watered. But he didn’t want her sated. Not yet. “Roll over.” He tapped her thigh, nudging her along.
She grumbled, shooting him a pointed look, but turned to her belly. He worked his way up this time. His fingers skimmed up her inner thighs, slipping close to where she needed him, but never quite making contact.
“Max!” Part angry taskmaster. Part entreaty. All delightful.
Blood pooled in Max’s groin, and he bent down and bit her round arse. Her neediness, her wet and inviting sex, none of it would distract him. Not when he’d finally received an invitation to really play.
He chafed and rubbed every inch of her back and bottom until they turned pink. He dug his fingers under her shoulder blades and scraped down her back. The pressure left fleeting streaks of white skin before pinking back up.
Rocking her pelvis into the mattress, Colleen closed her eyes, breathing heavily. Max licked a trail up her spine, and she arched into his caress. Leaning over, he picked up the decanter and drizzled brandy along the path his tongue had taken. A small pool of liquid gathered in the hollow of her back.
He lapped at the brandy. “When I set the liquor aflame, you should feel heat. Your skin should tingle, some even say it tickles. And just when the sensation starts to deepen, just before it becomes too intense, I’ll put it out.”
Colleen clenched the pillow beneath her head. “All right.” She glanced over her shoulder and smiled. “I won’t lie and say I’m not apprehensive, but I’m ready. I trust you.” She sank into the pillow, her eyelids fluttering shut.
Gripping his cock, Max eyed the woman laid out beneath him and stroked. The absolute faith. The vulnerability his partner had to lay bare in order to allow him this privilege. Those were the things that made his blood burn. That made him throb with want.
