“More than anything, love,” Bradford replied, his eyes locked onto hers, revealing the depths of his own vulnerability. “But only if it is what you want as well.”
“Bradford, I—” she hesitated, suddenly overcome by the enormity of their decision. What they were contemplating went against everything that was proper. And yet, as she gazed into his eyes, Skye could not imagine sending him away.
“Skye,” he whispered, his voice gentle yet insistent. “I would never force you into something you do not desire. But if you wish to take this path together, I promise you I will protect you with every fiber of my being.”
“That is a bold promise,” she replied, her decision made, her heart swelling with newfound courage. She was a widow, after all. Her innocents had long been surrendered, and it had been far too long since she had experienced the joys of lovemaking. “Make love to me.”
“I shall,” he vowed, “and I will not stop until you are weak and sated in my arms.”
At a loss for words, she pulled his lips back to hers.
Their kiss was a gateway into a world of wild abandon. In his arms, she felt safe, as if no harm could befall her, as this was where she was meant to be. No longer the proper widow who had lost her beloved, she was now the woman who had found true passion—a passion that would, regardless of the consequences, live on in her heart forever.
Bradford carefully undid her dressing gown, his devil-may-care demeanor momentarily replaced by a tenderness that belied his rakish reputation. As the garment loosed its hold, a tantalizing glimpse of her alabaster skin was revealed, sending shivers of anticipation through both of them.
“You are stunning,” he whispered, his blue eyes, usually so vibrant and confident, now held a depth of emotion she had never seen. “Tell me you want this. You want me.”
“More than ever, Bradford,” she replied, her voice steady despite the tremors coursing through her body. “I wish to be with you—to share this part of myself with you.”
“As do I,” he murmured, resuming his work with renewed purpose.
Her chemise slid from her shoulders and pooled at her feet, leaving her vulnerable and exposed before him. But rather than feeling embarrassment or shame, Skye reveled in the sensation, emboldened by the passion that ignited within her like a blazing fire.
“Beautiful,” Bradford breathed, his hands hesitating for a moment before gently tracing the contours of her body, each touch igniting sparks that danced across her skin. “So very beautiful.”
“Bradford,” she gasped as his fingertips grazed along her collarbone, down the valley between her breasts, and further still. The sensation of his hands exploring her, the warmth of his touch, was unlike anything she had ever experienced—a heady combination of excitement and desire that left her breathless.
“Tell me what you like,” he whispered against her ear, the huskiness of his voice sending shivers down her spine. “I wish to bring you pleasure.”
“Your touch is everything I’ve ever wanted,” she admitted, her heart pounding in time with the rhythm of their newfound intimacy. “Please, do not stop.”
“Have no fear, love,” he murmured, his lips brushing her temple as he carried her to the bed. Joining her, his hands resumed their exploration, each caress stoking the flames of their passion ever higher.
A sliver of moonlight cast a silvery glow upon them entwined within the bed as the wind gusted against the window. He gently cupped her face in his hands, then he sought her lips once more in a passionate embrace. Their breaths mingled as their bodies moved in unison, each touch and caress drawing them closer together, until the boundaries between where one ended and the other began blurred.
Bradford trailed his fingers over her. Traced intricate patterns on her skin, igniting a fire within her that begged to be quenched. He lowered his lips to her neck, marking the path down to her collarbone with soft nips and kisses that left her gasping for air.
“Bradford, please,” she breathed, her body writhing beneath him with a primal need that could no longer be denied.
“Are you certain?” he asked, the concern in his voice barely masking the desire that threatened to consume them both.
“More than anything,” she whispered, her eyes shining with an unspoken plea.
All reservations vanished, their passion growing hotter by the moment. He reached down to pull off her silk stockings one by one, massaging her calves with deft fingers before trailing kisses up her legs. She gasped at the sensation, her toes curling in anticipation.
Her breath hitched as he moved lower still, kissing his way along her inner thigh, inching closer to where she ached for him most. She clutched at his hair, urging him onward, moaning softly when he brushed his tongue against her sensitive folds. The sensation was delightfully wicked, and she knew she should push him away, but desire forbid her to refuse either of them, no matter how scandalous his action might be.
His fingers found their way inside her, stroking and teasing until she was panting his name. He delved deeper, seeking her sweet spot, sending waves of pleasure coursing through her body. She cried out, arching into him, her fingernails digging into his shoulders as all thoughts of propriety fled.
She felt him hard against her opening, and with a slow thrust, he filled her. A shudder ran through her body as their eyes met. They smiled together, their hearts beating in perfect rhythm as they moved together in a dance of desire that would last long into the night.
His lips found hers once again, their kisses growing more urgent as they moved together in a frenzy of passion. Skye clung to him, her nails leaving their mark on his back, digging into his skin as he pushed her higher and higher.
As they reached their climax, their bodies locked together, and they cried out each other’s names. The world around them disappeared, and all that mattered was the heat and passion that consumed them both.
“Bradford,” she said, her voice laced with passion as her body trembled beneath his expert touch. “I never knew...”
“Nor did I,” he admitted, his own gaze clouded with wonder and awe at the intensity of their connection. “We have found something truly remarkable.”
