She frowned. “You got foxed because of me?”
“Not talking about being foxed—which I’m not,” he said with an edge of belligerence. “Talking about this.”
Her gaze followed the sweep of his hand. Her breath jammed when she saw what he was gesturing at. The thick, straining ridge in the front of his trousers was unmistakable.
Goodness, he was…aroused?
A wave of heat swamped her, making her feel light-headed. Yet she couldn’t let him distract her, not when they were engaged in this important conversation.
Despite the flare of heat in her cheeks and elsewhere, she forged on. “I’ve never seen you in your cups before. What has happened, Adam? Tell me, please.”
He sat up, pulling her to stand between his splayed thighs. “I love it when you blush. It spreads like a sunrise over your cheeks, your throat.” His knuckles followed the trail of his words, a hot graze against the side of her face and neck, above the lacy ruffle of her high-necked nightgown. “I’d wager that beneath those layers your tits are a pretty pink, too.”
When he casually cupped one of her breasts, wetness trickled between her thighs. Her head spun…with an uneasy mix of desire and misgiving. Who was this man?HerAdam had never been one to display his affection so boldly; their intimacy was always scheduled and carried out within the confines of their marital bed.
Yet here he wasfondlingher in his study. Her breaths came fitfully as he continued to stroke her breast. His other hand slid behind her back, holding her steady against his torturously pleasurable touch. Her nipple poked out rudely, the taut outline visible through the layers of her nightclothes.
“Ripe as a cherry,” he said in a guttural voice. “You make my mouth water, love.”
Hanging onto the last vestiges of her sanity, she choked out, “Adam, you must answer my question. Why did you drink so much this eve?”
His fingers paused upon her breast, although he didn’t release her.
“If I answer your question,”—his glazed, hungry gaze made her heart bounce against her ribs—“will you be a good wife and let me have my way with you?”
After an instant, she nodded.
“Someone important died today. In a workplace fire.”
“Dear heavens,” she exclaimed. “Who?”
“No one you need concern yourself with,” he muttered. “The past is over and done with. None of it matters—nothing matters but this…”
His hand pressed between her shoulder blades, drawing her closer. A gasp left her as his lips closed around the bud he’d teased into stiffness. He suckled her through the layers of silk and lawn, unleashing a wave of molten heat. She knew she ought to question him further about his startling revelation: who had died in the fire? And why was he so agitated over the loss that he’d gotten inebriated? Yet her willpower lessened with each decadent drag of his mouth.
Goodness, what Adam was doing, with his lips and tongue…
When he withdrew his mouth, she whimpered. Standing between his spread knees, she felt like a harem girl showing off her wares to an all-powerful sultan, and her intimate muscles fluttered at the naughty fantasy. If only she had the charms and wiles of Scheherazade…if only she had the power to win her husband’s love…
“Take off your robe,” he said thickly.
The very idea was wicked. And rather…titillating. Could she be so wanton as to disrobe here, in this public place where her husband conducted his business?
The burning demand in his gaze made up her mind. Her trembling fingers went to the sash of her robe. Her efforts at harem-girl-like grace were foiled when she couldn’t unknot her belt, which she’d tied rather hastily. She tugged and tugged until finally the silk noose loosened. Grateful to be free, she forgot to be alluring and shrugged off the garment.
Adam’s dark gaze roved over her. “The nightgown as well.”
She stared down at the battalion of pearl buttons standing guard along the front of her voluminous nightgown.Good Lord.Without her lady’s maid to help her, the act of getting undressed could very well take a thousand and one dashed nights. So much for captivating her husband. With an inward sigh, she reached for the top button; wedged tightly in its hole, the pearl refused to budge.
“Allow me.”
Adam’s long fingers wrapped around hers, her belly quivering as he took over. Even soused, he was dexterous, his fingers deftly undoing her. He whipped the garment over her head, tossing it to the floor. A heartbeat later, she found herself lifted and sitting astride him. The position was novel, astonishing…and utterly depraved.
She was naked, he fully dressed. Her knees braced his trouser-clad thighs, his manhood an iron bar pressing into her belly. His hand cupped her nape, bringing her face down to his, their noses almost touching. She was mesmerized by the flames of unbridled lust in his eyes. While she’d undoubtedly seen—and felt—his arousal before, it had never been quite like this.Hehad never let his desire for her show in so raw and primal a manner.
It had never occurred to her that she might get past his wall of control. That she had the ability to stir him up was as shocking as it was…thrilling.
“Kiss me, Gabriella,” he demanded.
