“I’ve only ever wanted you,” she whispered. “When I thought that man may do that to me, be the first, all I could think was that I wanted it to be you.”
He loomed over her.
“It will be me as it was always meant to be, sweetheart. Just not now. Not today, with your body bruised and battered.”
“Make me forget, Nathan.”
“I don’t want to cause you more pain, love.” She heard the conflict in his words. He wanted her as she did him. Damn his noble side. He didn’t want to hurt her, so he was determined not to make love to her. But she was equally determined he would.
She could have died tonight and never known what it felt like to lie with him. She would not go another day without it. Before she could stop him, he’d rolled and was off the bed. She followed, careful not to groan as pain shot through her abused body.
“What are you doing? Get back to bed,” he said as she walked toward him.
“I’m no longer that sweet innocent you once knew, Nathan. I won’t follow your every edict anymore.”
“I’ve worked that out for myself.” He took a step back as she stepped closer, his eyes running over her body in the thin chemise that she knew hid nothing. The drapes were drawn, but there was light from the fire.
Beth swallowed her smile. She then reached down and grabbed the hem.
“Stop,” he hissed. “What are you doing?”
She didn’t speak, simply lifted it up and off her body.
“Christ.” The word exploded from him. “Beth,” he sounded tortured.
“Nathan,” she replied, moving closer. So close that she was soon pressed to his fully clothed body.
“I want you now, Nathan.”
“I—we can’t.”
Easing back, Beth reached for his shirt and slowly opened the buttons and then eased it up and over his head.
“We can.” Her fingers shook as they trailed down the skin she’d exposed. His body was warm and hard. Muscles clenching as she touched. Leaning forward she pressed a kiss to his chest, he twitched.
“I need to meet this Bess,” he said, his voice sounding tight.
“You will not meet her,” Beth said in a heavily accented voice.
He snorted. “Had I known that was you, I would have thrown you over my shoulder and taken you to a room with a sturdy lock. Dear god,” he moaned as she licked him.
He cupped the back of her head, as she continued to stroke his chest. Instinct told her what to do, and the need to touch and taste this man she loved.
He lifted her into his arms when her fingers reached his waistband.
“Nathan, I want this.”
“I know.” He took several strides away from the bed to the fire, then dropped to his knees with her. Lowering her slowly to the floor, he regained his feet.
His eyes trailed over her as he pushed off his breeches, exposing his need for her. She wasn’t frightened; after tonight, she doubted anything would scare her again.
“I’ve never seen a naked man before.”
“I should hope not.”
“You are beautiful,” she whispered. Long, lean legs, and a flat torso sculpted with muscle. His chest was sprinkled with hair, she saw the strength in his broad shoulders. Burnished as he was by the firelight, her fingers itched to touch all that warm flesh.
“If you continue to look at me like that, there will be no fun in this for you. And it is you who are beautiful, even bruised.” His voice was deep as he dropped to his knees again before her. “Do you understand how much I want you, Beth? How long I’ve waited for this?”
