He stared into her eyes, no less intently, but then rubbed his thumb at the corner of her mouth. “Trust me?”
He’d never given her any reason not to trust him. He’d spanked her in public but that had been her own fault, and then he’d apologized profusely, married her, and done everything in his power to restore her reputation.
She nodded; her mouth too dry to speak.
“Good girl.” His voice was approving. “Hold on tightly.” He checked her hand on the post and then dropped to his knees.
His position placed his face level with the intimate triangle of hair between her legs. She tilted her head back, staring up at the ceiling with closed eyes.
“Can you hear that?” she managed.
“Hear what?”
“My heart. It’s pounding.” She tried to make light of her sudden onslaught of anxiety.
His hands settled on the fabric of her corset, and he squeezed her waist. She liked his hands on her. She liked being at his mercy.
Bethany’s knees nearly buckled again when his mouth landed on the bared skin of her thigh, just above the garter bow.
“Do you want me to stop?” The heat of his mouth trailed closer to her center, and she gripped the poster tightly.
“No.” Every fiber of her being trembled… her anticipation spiking. “Keep going.”
Chase forcedhimself to go slowly with her, aware that her bravado could flee at any moment.
He drew in a deep breath. His needs were secondary.Careful. Not too much. Not too soon.
He ignored his own urgency, despite the raging erection in his trousers and despite knowing she already glistened for him.
She’s a virgin!
A virgin who invited me to spank her earlier today, a devilish voice reminded him.
He reprimanded the voice because Bethany was a people pleaser—she had no idea what she’d been talking about.
Tonight he would exercise patience and the utmost care. He’d never bedded a virgin before, and although he wasn’t the rogue society believed, he sure as hell knew his way around the female form.
The topography changed up from woman to woman, but they essentially all had the same landmarks.
Some more scenic than others but all beautiful in their own way.
But tonight, the blood in his veins flowed like lava. Because…
This was Bethany. This woman was his wife.
He lifted his gaze and relished every inch of her exposed creamy skin. He soothed his hands around her hips, appreciating her ripe curves.
By God, she was a revelation of womanhood. She’d been right before his eyes for much of his life, and he’d had no idea who she was.
Until she became my wife!
Chase leaned forward and inhaled her scent.
Wife. He turned the word over in his mind, grazing his hands down the backs of her thighs, kneading the muscles beneath soft, feminine flesh.
“This has served its purpose well.” He plucked at a fringed ribbon holding her stocking up. As pretty as they were, he wanted access to her skin.
Shadows flickered over the trimming as it fluttered to the floor. Aroused as hell but cherishing this gift, he eased the stocking down her leg, inch by inch. Her knees trembled, and he steadied her.
