And then a wiggle on her part provided all the encouragement he needed.
Chapter 21
Not How Mother Described It
“Ouch!” Bethany arched her back, jolted into wakefulness by the stinging sensation on her bottom.
She ought to have been prepared... In all fairness, she had told him she wouldn’t be opposed to it. Before she could utter a word, she was smashed into the mattress beneath him. The weight and friction of his body pressing down on hers ought to have been an unpleasant one, but it wasn’t.
It was tantalizing.
“Perhaps we ought not to do that after all.” Doubts collided with her inexplicable longings. Lady Starling had been a mistress. Such a thing wasn’t somethingwiveswere supposed to allow.
She wriggled beneath him.
“Not do what, after all?” His voice lilted, giving her the distinct impression that he was smiling behind her.
“You know.” She should not encourage him.
“I’m not a mind reader.”
“The spanking thing. I’ve changed my mind.”
This time he shook silently. Yes, he was laughing. “You’ve changed your mind, eh?”
How was it that she was fully awake again, when two minutes ago, she would have dreamily fallen right to sleep?
Warm hands smoothed along her sides and that, too, ought to have been soothing. Until one arm looped around her abdomen.
“What are you—?”
He’d slid a pillow beneath her. “That should be high enough.” He was sitting up behind her now, straddling the back of her calves and rubbing those same hands over her bum. The position ought to have been embarrassing and felt ridiculous, but in the soft light of the glowing candles, Bethany could only sigh.
Warm fingers kneading her flesh stoked the sensation of delicious decadence.
“Apparently, I’m an arse man.” He wasn’t laughing now. She supposed she could twist around to try to get a look at his expression, but the hitch in his voice incentivized her to remain precisely where he’d put her: bum in the air and the side of her face smashed into the pillows.
“Did I hear you correctly?” She couldn’t help herself. A-r-s-e-m-a-n. She’d never heard of such a thing.
“I’ve always been partial to legs. And then I was thinking breasts. But upon further inspection...”
Eyes closed, she felt his hands draw a symmetrical circle from the small of her back around her bottom where he halted at the apex of her thighs. Up again, and then back down and around. “Yours makes a perfect heart.”
“Ridiculous.” But it wasn’t. Although unexpected, and positively shocking, the compliment sent warmth spreading through her chest.
It was oddly empowering.
“Stay put.” He swatted her lightly. This time the stinging was mild.
The mattress lifted.
Although she was again tempted to turn and see what he was doing now, he had told her not to move and she wanted to please him. So far, he’d done all of the pleasing.
Sounds of rustling heightened her excitement. He was shedding his clothing now. She imagined him wrestling out of his jacket, unbuttoning his waistcoat and the fasteners at his trousers. Curious to see him nude, she squeezed her eyes together instead.
The mattress groaned when he joined her on the bed again.
Oh, yes. He was naked now. He gripped her hips and tugged them higher. Muscled thighs lined up alongside hers. Soft hairs brushed her sensitive skin.
