Predictably, she stiffened in face of teasing. “Do you think I won’t?”
What Ian thought was that she would go with whatever part of her conscience won the war that raged within her since the moment he touched her thigh. The inexperienced part of her would argue for a retreat while the portion of her that had emerged so briefly in the music room and in the dungeons when her passions were roused would want to continue from where they’d left off. But instead of voicing any of that, he offered only the earnest truth. “My God, Hero, I hope ye will.”
Her hand trembled against his abdomen, her fingers curling against him before she drew away and stood. He inwardly cursed. Knowing she wanted him, knowing he could have easily kindled her passions into an undeniable fire, he should have simply kissed her into submission. He should have, but he wanted her to come to him freely. Wanted the decision to be hers without influence.
His body raged, begging him to pull her back down to him. Ian lifted himself onto one elbow. “Hero…”
He stiffened as she unbuttoned one of the quartet of buttons that held her dressing gown closed at her waist. When her hands moved to the next one, he held his breath. Leisurely, she worked the third and fourth before she parted the gown. It fell from her shoulders, dragging at the low gathered neckline of her nightgown as it went until it was pulled along with the robe, baring one shoulder to his hungry eyes as his breath was drawn from him just as gradually.
The white, gossamer thin gown fell in folds from the gathered top but couldn’t hide the silhouette of her body beneath. Shadows deepened beneath her breasts and lower between her thighs. It was a gown made for seduction. He clenched the sheet to restrain himself from reaching for her. “Ye came in here for more than conversation, my love. Didn’t ye?”
“No, that’s what I went to the pagoda last night for,” she countered. “I wanted to see if you would keep your promise but you weren’t there.”
The thought of her walking the grounds alone diverted his attention. He must make certain it didn’t happen again until his assailant was caught. “My apologies, my love, I was late. You must have left before I got there. I was so looking forward to meeting you. Are you sorry to have missed it?”
“Where were you?” She tugged at the ribbon that held the gown together at the top and it slid apart, spilling over the other shoulder as well. She paused and waited expectantly.
Drinking in the smooth ivory skin of her bared shoulders and the shadowy hint of her breasts, Ian almost couldn’t recall the subject at all. His focus was again on her and her alone. “Business. Hero, my love…”
She shifted almost imperceptibly and the gown slid lower, catching at the peak of her breasts. “What kind of business?”
His breath caught along with the gown. “Later. I promise.”
Her eyes lit and with a soft whoosh, the entire garment slid to the floor, leaving Hero clad in nothing more than shadow and moonlight.
A low moan escaped him at the sight of her. She was pure perfection, more lovely even than he’d imagined. Her breasts full above an impossibly tiny waist, yet her hips flared in a wide, rounded curve. One long lock of her hair lay against her breast, curling beneath it like a lover’s hand. Arousal become instantaneous erection, and the heat spread.
He had to touch her. “Come to me, my love.”
Hero took his outstretched hand without hesitation and lifted a knee to the edge of the mattress. Any bashfulness and uncertainty she’d been feeling fled at the need in his eyes. The heat there transferred to her, stoking her confidence, and she knew the time had come. She wanted it to. Wanted it for days before Ian confessed his love. She would’ve gladly had him without it, but knowing he loved her, knowing he wanted so much more than a just a body to warm his bed, fueled her own desire to a feverish pitch.
He was right. Shehadcome for more than conversation and explanation. She’d come to collect on the promises he made. To find out where the extraordinary passion he roused in her could take her. The sight of his bare chest and the play of his muscles beneath his hot, smooth flesh only strengthened her resolve to finish what they’d begun.
She slid her palm over his rippled abdomen, marveling at the rippling muscles, and moved her hand up his chest more boldly to his shoulder as she leaned over him and kissed him. His lips parted beneath hers, encouraging her to explore more fully, and she did. She traced his lips with her tongue before dipping inward to meet his. A shiver of excitement shook her from head to toe as his hands met her bare skin. His thumbs slid up her breasts before he cupped them in his palms. Squeezing gently, he rubbed the pad of his thumbs across her sensitive nipples, and it was Hero’s turn to moan helplessly.
“Ian, I…”
“Please dinnae tell me ye dinnae ken what to do, my love,” he growled huskily. “If ye knew any better, I’d be a dead man.”
A breathless giggle escaped her and she lowered herself against him until her breasts pressed against his chest. Propping herself on an elbow on his pillow, she brushed her long hair aside only to have his hands join hers in the effort before those roughened palms slid down her back and over her bottom. He grasped her thigh, urging it across his hips until she was astride him, before he slid both hands up to cup her bottom. He held her firmly, arching against her, and she inhaled sharply at the feel of his hard length pressing against her through the thin barrier of the sheet.
“Can ye feel what ye do to me with just a touch, lass?” he asked in an almost unintelligible brogue. “Good Lord save me if I were to want ye any more than I already do.”
Still she wavered indecisively, wondering what to do next. This wasn’t a position she’d ever shared with Robert. Years of occasional interludes consisting of quick, no-nonsense intercourse hadn’t provided much insight on how to please a man, and Hero did so want to please Ian.
As if he could see into her mind, he smoothed a tendril of hair back from her forehead and whispered, “Do as ye like, my love. Whatever it is will please me, I swear it.”
Releasing a shaky breath, Hero pushed herself up and looked down at his broad chest once more. The sight of it bared to her when she came to his bedside had drawn her eyes again and again. Those hard planes called to her, and her hands itched to caress the raw masculine beauty before her. “I-I want to touch you.”
“Then do.” He released her and relaxed back against the pillows in open invitation.
Hero fanned her fingers outward across his hard abdomen until they just reached the curve of his sides. Slowly, she slid them upward, tantalizing muscle flexed and tensed as she went; her eyes followed intently. He was so hot and smooth beneath her fingers. Her palms slid over his rib cage, up and over his shoulders, as they had moments before. Downward then, retracing the path down to his navel and lower, where hair roughened his skin.
His firm erection jerked between her thighs and she wiggled against the hard length, drawing a low moan from him. She looked up curiously. Ian’s eyes were closed, his face tight. She undulated against him once more and his body bowed beneath her. Her heart, already pounding against her ribs, raced with exhilaration.
With a groan, he clasped his hands about her waist and lifted her, toeing the sheets down before setting her upon him once more. Hero barely had a moment to gasp as his naked heat was pressed against her core before Ian sat up, wrapping one arm around her and pulling her against him. His other hand dove into her hair, fisting and pulling her forward to meet his kiss.
His mouth was open and hot as it met hers. He angled his head to the side, exploring her more fervently. His tongue stroked hers, and Hero moaned against his lips, sliding her arms up and over his shoulders to clutch him tightly to her. Ian's whisker-roughened chin lightly abraded hers, and his calloused hands chafed against her back and neck, the differences between them only heightening the intensity of the contact. Her head swam dizzily, delightfully. Blood surged hot, setting her body abuzz with raging hunger.
