“No.” She was already shaking her head. “I just want… you.”
A glimpse of unimaginable possibilities opened up.
“I didn’t know…” Leopold said, feeling an odd sort of wonder… Not even sure of what he was talking about. But it was true. He hadn’t known. He hadn’t known he could experience feelings like this. For a woman like her.
“I didn’t either,” she answered.
After a beat of silence, he dropped to his knees. The floor, a collection of uneven stones, dug into him, but he didn’t mind. In fact, that discomfort might just get him through this without embarrassing himself.
Staring up and into her eyes, he trailed his hands up her calves, under her pretty blue skirt, and over her knees. Was he holding his breath?
When he’d touched her like this before, she’d needed a pause.
But she wasn’t skittish today. She licked her lips, which were already shiny and swollen from his kiss. When he urged her knees apart, he watched her swallow.
“Yes?” He needed to be sure.
“Yes.” She gazed at him almost fiercely.
Mine.
The word all but branded his soul.
Leopold was almost dizzy from wanting her, but he had to go slow. This wasn’t about him. It was about her. But then she tested all his good intentions.
“I won’t break,” she said.
He shook his head. “I’ve wanted you for so long.”
When she gave him a look of disbelief, he added, “Before we even met.”
Those eyes. They danced. “And to think I imagined you a gentleman…”
“I’m no gentleman,” he answered, sliding his hands further up her skirts.
“For which I shall be eternally grateful.” She breathed out a teasing laugh, staring at him from beneath heavy lids.
Kneeling at her feet, Leopold drew imaginary flowers on skin that was softer than a butterfly’s wings. Her gaze was unwavering, and with each lazy circle he drew on her inner thigh, the air between them thickened.
And thrummed.
It was a sensual weight. Heavy and warm, like that first few seconds after a shot of whiskey hits his system. Only better. Hotter.
It wasn’t simple lust or even desire, but something he couldn’t name.
Watching the pulse in her neck flutter, he skated his fingers higher and higher until…
She gasped and let her head fall back again.
What had he done to deserve this? To deserve her? Nothing. He’d done absolutely nothing. Leopold swallowed hard, and hidden in her skirts, his hand traced the flesh around her opening.
Wet. Plump. Sweet. His member strained, and he had to blink before he could see straight.
“Oh.” She gasped, but then this proper lady,this woman, opened her knees a little wider.Amelia.
Leopold teased the length of her seam, at the same time he used his other hand to gather her skirts around her waist. She looked so damned decadent. And a little wicked.
Perfect in every way.
