“Theo.”
“Get back to bed, Iris. I know the way to your front door.” The words were strained.
“Theo, look at me.”
“Please go back to bed,” he gritted out.
“Now, Theo.”
The clothes fell from his hands as he turned. Jaw clenched, he was looking over her head, not making eye contact. Iris had never understood why any woman would seek a man’s attention deliberately, and yet suddenly she did. To have this man’s attention focused solely on her was a wonderful thing, and she thought perhaps she would want more.
Was she brave enough to touch him again? Touch him intimately. Memories emerged of dark nights when her husband had told her to raise her nightdress and lie still—no, she would not think about that. There was no place for him in her life anymore.
“I need to go, Iris.” His words were no longer gentle but harsh.
“Soon,” she replied. Her hand went to his chest, and he flinched, but she didn’t stop. Instead, she ran it slowly over his skin. She traced a circle around his nipples, wondering if he would feel as she had when he’d touched hers. The nail she scraped over one tip had him shuddering, and she had her answer.
“You don’t have to do this.” He spaced each word.
“I know that, Theo. I have control.”
He nodded and then closed his eyes as she moved down his body. Her finger traced the line of his waistband while she plucked up the courage to move lower.
“But I want to touch you.” She stroked a hand over the hard ridge of his arousal, and he moaned, long and loud. “I want to lie with you,” she whispered.
“Be very sure, Iris.” His eyes were deep pools of desire. “I can promise you nothing more than this.”
“I want nothing more than this.” She told herself those words were the truth. There was no room in her life for more than now, tonight.
“Will you take off your clothes, Theo?”
He stumbled back from her. Bending, he wrenched off his boots with so much force, he nearly fell on his bottom. He hopped to right himself, which had her giggling.
“You think that’s funny, do you?” His smile was strained.
“A bit.” Her smile fell away as he stripped off his trousers. The jut of his erection, so big and hard, drew her eyes. He didn’t move as she looked at him. Just stood there like a bloody Roman statue, hard slopes and planes of skin over muscle. So strong, she thought. But also gentle, Iris knew that too now.
She made herself close the distance between them again, and she touched him with the tip of her finger. The head of his arousal was smooth. His breathing was heavy now as Iris moved her fingers up and down his length. Learning, feeling the shape and size of him. When she wrapped her fingers around him, he shuddered.
“God, Iris. Your touch is beyond anything I have felt.”
“As your touch was for me.”
Her husband had done this to himself, telling her it was the only way he could make love to her. But this was different. This was Theo, and she had the control.
As she stroked him, Iris rose to her toes and kissed him. His hands went to her hair, grabbing handfuls as his mouth devoured her. She felt no fear, only wonder that this man wanted her in such a way. Needed her in this moment as she needed him.
“I cannot take much more, Iris.”
She took his hand and walked back to the bed. Looking at the mattress, she remembered what her husband had done to her.
Theo turned her, and it was he who sat on the bed.
“No lying down. Straddle me, Iris. Take me inside you.”
She did as he asked, her knees on either side of his thighs.
“Look at me now. You have the control, remember?”
