She awoke to morning light and Nicholas, smiling, tugging on the ribbon that caught back her hair.She returned his smile spontaneously, simply pleased to have him back in her life.
“What are you doing?”she asked.
“Investigating.The question is, if I try very carefully, can I cover the whole of your pillow with your hair?”
He was like a child playing a game as his fingers worked through her hair to spread it.Eleanor lay still and watched him.She took simple delight in the clean line of his jaw am the smooth muscles down his neck, the brackets of the laugh lines by his mouth and the slight creases at the corners of his eyes.Daring, she let her eyes travel lower to the perfect molding of his chest, smooth and brown.Her fingers tingled with the desire to explore those satiny contours, but she was not so bold.
Eventually he said, “There.Don’t move.”
“But how do I know whether you’ve really done it?”she asked, striving for a playful tone to match his.Her heart was pounding and she felt short of breath.
His eyes were warm with humor.“Honor of a Delaney.Ii you move a muscle, though, you’ll spoil it.”
Then he lowered his lips to kiss her, and she knew what was to come.Oh, let me do this right, she prayed.
Since he wished it, she did her best to stay still as his lips worked velvety magic around hers and as his hands began to explore her body.It was hard.She felt as if her rapid heart must be shaking her body, and her hands were frustrated for the feel of his skin.
His body obligingly moved so that she could rest a hand on his silky, warm ribcage.She made small circles with her fingertips for the sheer pleasure it gave her.
When his lips released hers and moved to her ear, she tried to think of something to say that would show her encouragement.
“Do you approve of my new nightgown?”she asked.Her voice came out breathily and faint.
The garment was of fine silk, trimmed with lace and green satin ribbon.
“Much better,” he approved softly and slid a finger into the low neckline to play on the swell of her breast.
She swallowed but kept her head still.
Emboldened by the warmth in his eyes, she dared to slide her hand across his chest and let her fingers explore him.She sighed with the satisfaction of it.How strange that such a simple thing could feel so wonderful.
He smiled into her eyes as his hand slid the silk off her shoulder to expose a breast entirely.Eleanor’s exploring hand stopped and she looked at him.His fingers traced round and round her breast, drawing closer and closer to her nipple.With conscious effort she relaxed and moved her fingers again.
He smiled again and lowered his head to her breast.At the gentle touch of his teeth she gasped, and an involuntary shudder went through her.
“I’m sorry,” she said quickly.He would think she was repulsed.
He looked up.“What for?”
She couldn’t think what to say.“I … I don’t dislike what you were doing.”
His eyes filled with laughter.“Could it be, sweet wanton, that maybe you liked it?”
She started to nod and then remembered her hair.“Yes … yes, I think I did.”
“Hmm.If we work on it a bit, perhaps you’ll be sure.”He began the magic again with lips and teeth and wandering hands.
Soon Eleanor found it impossible to be still beneath his skillful ministrations.She moved to let her own hands and mouth explore without conscious skill or control, but only with need.Reality, memories, all everyday concerns fled before feelings and desires of the most inexplicable kind.She allowed instinct to drive her to stroke and mouth and lick at his warm skin while something built inside her.Something of terrible power.
Swept into a storm, she sank her teeth into his shoulder.He caught his breath and a remnant of sanity returned.
“Oh, I’m sorry!”she cried.
He laughed and swung her up so she was held high above him, her hair draped around them like a tent.
“Are you hungry?”he asked, his eyes dark with passion.
“I don’t know,” she replied.
