“Of course,” he replied in a guttural tone. He dipped his head and replaced one of his thumbs with his mouth and sucked gently on the nipple.
Isabella groaned and clutched the counterpane on either side of her.A rush of sensation swiftly traveled over her body as he continued his careful ministrations. His mouth traveled to her other breast, and then along her collarbone to the side of her neck.
She closed her eyes in abandon as he whispered wicked things in her ear. “I want to taste you, Isabella.”
“Yes,” she sighed, thinking that he would kiss her again, butinsteadhe traveled down her body, his tongue laving atraildown her sternum and along her belly, and lower still,around the flare of her hips. He paused to kiss the top of her bandage and then he nipped at her inner thigh. She jerked in surprise, but whenuntil he stopped andinhaledher womanly scent, shewaited in breathless anticipation.
And then he licked her.
Shegroaned as he began to pleasureher with his tongue. Sparks of heat, like fireworks,began shootingbeneath her skin. It wasn’t until he slid a finger into her passage and began an enticing rhythm, her hips following of their own accord, that she felt something break.Acool wave of shudders wracked her body and even though she might have been cognizant of what was happening, her consciousness soared toward the heavens.
She cried out his name,and when the thrill died down to a pleasant buzz, she was aware of him climbing back up her body, his stiff manhood nudging at her entrance. He took her lips in a delightful kiss as he slid inside her body. He hissed as she accepted each enticing inch of him. She clutched his shoulders as the familiar sensation of fullness registered, but this time there was no pain or discomfort, no feelings of shame or being unwanted.
This time it was just as she’d always imagined.
As he began to move,easing backwardand then pushing forward, his rhythm steadily increased, along with their breathing. A light sheen of sweat coated Ridge’s back as she ran her hands down his smooth pectorals, where a slight patch of hair graced the middle.
She looked at him, the strong column of his throat, his Adam’s apple bobbing as he tried to contain himself.It was such a sensual sight, that shesoonbegan to feel another burst of wanton desire.
As she raised to meet every one of his thrusts, he took her lips andmurmuredagainstthem, “Come with me, Isabella.”
His dark command had her falling back into euphoria, at the same time he clenched his jaw and pulled out of her, spilling hisseed over the coverlet.
Afterward, as her body was humming with glorious release, Ridge collapsed on her, and she relished his weight, his chest as it flattened her breasts, his legs entwined with hers.
She wrapped her arms around his strong, upper arms and smiled when they flexed in response. He lifted his head and gave her a rather crooked grin, although his dark eyes were solemn. “I hope I didn’t hurt your leg.”
She sighed. “What leg?”
He laughed and the husky sound sent shivers of delight down her spine.
Ridge gave her a light kiss on the nose, and then he rolled over onto his side, bringing her with him so that they faced one another. His armlaydraped across her hip,and it didn’t even faze her. She wasn’t embarrassedoverher nakedness, or the fact that they had just shared something so amazingly intimate.While she’d beenintimidatedby Ridge when they’d first met at the inn in London, she’d come torealize that looks were often times deceiving.
Simon had been raised as a gentleman, with anything he could have ever wanted, and yet, he’d turned against the countrythathad providedhimall of those comforts. Ridge, on the other hand, was a common bastard, brought up in a brothel and forced to fight his way out frombelowthe dregsof society. Between the two men, she realized now how shallow her adoration for Simon had been.
And when it came tolosingRidge, therewas an ache so deep in her chest that had never been there with Simon.Butshe refused to think on anything beyond this moment. They had tonight.
Tomorrow could wait.
The single lit candle by her bed sputtered,and Isabella realized that it had grown dark. But even though parts of Ridge’s face were bathed in shadow, she had already memorized his handsome visage.
Although she didn’t dare reveal what was in her heart, she did whisper, “Stay with me?”
Ridge leaned forward and kissed her softly. When he pulled back, his dark eyes searched her face. “What about your maid? Won’t she want to come check on you?” He winked. “I should hate to give her a fright.”
She shrugged. “You already locked the door. Besides, I told Claudia that I didn’t need her services for the rest of the evening when I retired.” Her gaze roamed over his chest. “The only services I need areyours.”
She was rewarded with a deeppurr. “You’re going to be the death of me, woman.” But as he drew her up against him, sheknewthat she’d convinced him. “What shall we do first?” he asked.
“Well, I was thinking about that.” She boldly reached between them and found his cock. As she began stroking his length, she glanced at him through her lashesas it began to lengthenand harden. “Does it work the same way with a man as it does a woman?”
“What…do you mean?” he hesitated, as if he was having trouble concentrating.
Her smile grew. “Will you enjoy it if I pleasure you with my mouth?”
Hehauledin a breath. “God,yes.”
“Good.” With that, sheurged him to lie flat on his back as shecrawled down the length of his body. She wrapped her hand around his length and licked the tip of his pulsing erection.
