“Why? I am an adult of twenty-seven years. I know what I want, Leo, and surprisingly that is you.” She smiled again. “I really want to be close to you, and that is a joy to me, after the years of fearing I would never feel this. I will likely never get such an opportunity again.”
“But we cannot do that.” His words finished on a groan as she moved closer, so he could feel her body pressed to his. “Christ!”
As if realizing she was inciting him further, she inched closer still.
“You’re innocent,” he tried again. “I have no wish to frighten you.”
Her hands pushed his jacket aside, and she started on his buttons, opening his waistcoat. Beth then worked on the buttons of his shirt, and he let her, because the thought of her hands on his body was an experience he wanted, and he would surely go to hell for it.
“I do not touch people, usually.”
Leo watched as she focused on his chest, and then the tips of her fingers were on his skin, and he could do nothing to stop the shudder that rocked through him.
“But I want to touch you, Leo, so very much.”
“You are emotional.” He tried to reason with her... and himself. “What we have discussed, and what you have suffered—”
“Yes, I know I should feel like that, but here with you, right now, I feel neither fear or regret. I want you, Leo.”
She placed her palms on his chest, and ran both hands up his body. Leo lost all rational thought.
“So be it.” Cupping the back of her head, he took her lips in a deep, hungry kiss. He lowered her bodice again. Cupping a breast, he ran his thumb over the nipple. She shivered in response.
He opened his breeches, and took one of her hands in his. “Feel me, Beth.”
She did as he asked, and he bit back a moan as she traced a finger up and down the length of him, then wrapped them around him.
“So warm,” she whispered. “So hard.”
“I don’t want to hurt you,” he gritted out.
“You won’t.”
He touched her again, stroking the bud between her thighs until her breathing was faster, like his.
“Take me inside you, sweetheart. Get on your knees, and lower yourself onto me. The control is yours.” Leo held himself still as she did as he asked. He watched her face as she rose, her lip clamped between her teeth in concentration.
“I-I will need your help, Leo.”
Gripping her hips, he helped her down, felt her body slowly take his. She was tight, as he’d expected, but he did not feel her stiffen, although he was prepared to end this if she did. The first sign of fear, and he would stop, even if the action would cost him a great deal.
“Easy, Beth. There is no hurry, take time to adjust.”
He cupped her face, forcing her to look at him, watching every expression as it came and went. The small flinch, then wonder as he slid deeper inside her. He closed the last few inches by raising his hips to meet her.
“Do you feel all right, Beth?”
Leo wanted to move, wanted to grip her hips and take her hard; the need was great, but he fought it.
“I feel no fear.” She whispered the words against his lips. “You are not holding me down, I am in control as you said. Oh, Leo, it is quite wonderful.”
“Quite,” he managed to grit out. He then took control, and eased her up and back down his body. She took over the rhythm, and he made himself take every slow slide of her silken flesh as the tension inside him rose. He felt the tremors of her release start. Gripping her hips, he took control of the last few thrusts, and was rewarded with her shriek as the wave of pleasure consumed her. Leo followed a heartbeat later.
