The tenderness in his voice made her heart swell. This powerful man who commanded respect wherever he went was looking at her as though she were the most precious thing in his world. His fingers traced the curve of her cheek, sending a cascade of shivers down her spine. The heat of his body so close to her made her heart race faster.
“Will it hurt?” she whispered, unable to keep the question from escaping.
“There may be some discomfort,” he admitted, his thumb tracing her lower lip. “But I promise to make it as pleasurable as possible.”
“Thank you.”
“May I?” he asked, fingers hovering near the ribbon that secured her nightgown.
Lilli nodded, not trusting her voice. His fingers brushed against her collarbone as he slowly untied the ribbon, each touch deliberate, reverent. The silk parted, revealing the curve of her breasts to the cool night air. She resisted the urge to cover herself, instead watching his face as his eyes darkened with desire.
“So beautiful,” he murmured, tracing a finger along her shoulder, down to the well of her breast. Her skin pebbled under his touch, a flush of warmth spreading throughout her body despite the chill. Her breath stuttered. “I have dreamt of this,”Oliver whispered, his voice husky with desire. “Of unwrapping you like the precious gift you are.” His fingers traced along her jaw. He kissed her shoulder. “You are perfection, Lilliana.” His fingers walked up her neck. “My little Lilli,” he whispered, his voice husky with need. “My darling duchess.”
He leaned forward, replacing his fingers with his lips, trailing kisses along her shoulder, the hollow of her throat, the curve of her neck. Each touch sent sparks of pleasure cascading through her body, building a heat low in her belly that made her tremble.
His hands slipped beneath the fabric of her nightgown, caressing the soft skin of her waist. With gentle pressure, he guided her back against the pillows, his body following hers. The weight of him above her made Lilli’s breath catch, not with fear but with anticipation.
“Tell me if anything is too much,” Oliver murmured against her skin, his breath hot against her neck. “Tonight is about pleasure, not pain.”
Lilli gasped at the sensation, her head falling back to give him better access.
His mouth moved lower, tracing the path his fingers had taken, his breath hot against her skin. When his lips closed around her nipple, a jolt of pleasure shot through her core, making her arch against him.
“Oliver!” she gasped, her fingers threading through his hair.
He looked up at her, eyes dark with desire. “I would love if you called me Daddy tonight.”
“D-Daddy,” she whispered, the word sending a thrill through her that she couldn’t explain. Intimate and yet forbidden.
His hands moved with deliberate slowness, pushing the fabric higher until it bunched around her waist. Lilli felt the cool air against her exposed skin, a delicious contrast to the heat of Oliver’s touch. Her thighs trembled as his fingers traced patternsalong her legs, each caress moving higher, teasing her with the promise of more intimate touches.
“So perfect for Daddy,” he murmured against her breast, his tongue circling her nipple before drawing it into his mouth again.
The words sent a shiver of forbidden pleasure through her body. She arched against him, seeking more of the exquisite sensation.
Oliver’s hand finally reached the apex of her thighs, his fingers brushing against her most intimate place. She gasped at the contact, her hips jerking involuntarily.
“That’s it, my darling,” he encouraged, his voice a low rumble against her skin. “Let go for Daddy.”
Lilli’s body trembled as Oliver’s fingers found that sensitive place he had first helped her discover, circling with just enough pressure to make her gasp. The sensation was familiar now. He had brought her to this precipice before with his skilled touch but tonight promised so much more.
“Oliver,” she breathed, her hips rising to meet his hand. “Daddy.” The ache between her thighs had become almost unbearable. Her need took over.
Oliver’s mouth claimed hers again, swallowing her gasps as his fingers continued their torturous exploration. His tongue mimicked the movements of his hand, creating a harmony of sensation that had her clutching at his shoulders. She was gasping for breath, and he held her to him as his touch continued forcing her to burst into a kaleidoscope of brilliance.
“Daddy,” she gasped as she relaxed again.
“Yes, my love?” His mouth traveled up her neck, his teeth grazing her earlobe in a way that made her shudder as she felt herself become aware of her surroundings again.
“I want... I need... more.” The words wouldn’t come, but her body spoke for her, arching against his hand.
Oliver chuckled, the sound vibrating through her. “I know exactly what you need. I need it too.” He shifted, removing his dressing gown with one fluid motion. “You need me to join with you.”
“Please make me yours.”
The intensity of his gaze made her feel both vulnerable and cherished as he positioned himself above her, settling between her trembling thighs.
His powerful body, now fully revealed to her, was everything she had imagined in her most secret thoughts—broad shoulders tapering to narrow hips, skin like sun-warmed bronze stretched over hard muscle. Lilli’s breath caught in her throat.
