“Oh.” She hadn’t expected that, but as she now found herself eye level with him for a change, she took advantage of it and released a few buttons on his shirt.
He held completely still so she released a few more, marveling at the hard planes of his chest and stomach as she spread the material wide. It made her want to touch more of him. Knowing what a man looked like beneath his clothes and what hefeltlike were two entirely different experiences. She ran her hand over his shoulder, pushing the white fabric aside as she stroked the corded muscle beneath. She hadn’t expected to want to touch him or that he would feel so good. Not happy that the shirt wouldn’t move farther, she started to tug it from his pantaloons.
“Wait.” His fingers wrapped around her wrist.
She snapped her gaze back to his. “Why? I want to touch you.”
“I know.” He paused as if searching for words. “I need you to be patient and allow me to touch you first.”
Though disappointed, the heat that rose deep in her center distracted her. Images of the scenes fromthe bookflashed in her mind. “I think I would like that.”
His lips quirked up on one side. “You will definitely like it.”
She was about to protest his arrogance when his finger trailed along the neckline of her dress leaving tendrils of sensitive skin behind. Maybe she should wait to argue and see what he would do first. Again, images from the book crowded her mind so that when the back of her dress loosened, she shivered.
James lowered his head and kissed her shoulder before moving to her neck. She let her head fall back, allowing him access, fascinated by the desire beginning to fill her. Not only did her limbs feel weak, but her body flushed.
She held onto his bare shoulder with one hand as he dipped her lower, his lips following the descent of her dress. Even as he found the top of her breast just above her stays, she wished to be out of them. She should be shocked at such a feeling, but she knew what he sought, and she wanted to feel his lips there.
Though she hadn’t felt him loosen her dress and petticoat, she noticed the second her stays were released. Instinctually, she arched upward, wanting to be free of the layers of cloth covering her. James pulled her stays down, effectively revealing her to his gaze.
She sucked in a breath as her hot flesh felt the cool air of the room.
“You are so beautiful.” His words came out of him on a breath, barely audible before he kissed her breast.
She’d thought having his touch there would satisfy the need to be naked, but it seemed to fuel her desire. When his tongue darted out and licked her, she gasped.
He pulled away, and she grabbed his head, grasping the hair at the back of his neck. “Don’t stop. Please.”
He chuckled. “As you wish.”
For the next minutes, she wasn’t sure where she was, all she knew was James’ mouth and the titillating movements he made as he paid homage to her breasts. Strong, sharp pangs of need started deep inside her. The juncture of her thighs felt like the entrance to Dante’s inferno, blazing, craving whatthe bookhad alluded to, but never described. This was beyond her, taking her to something else. “James.” She panted, barely able to fill her lungs enough to speak. “I want so desperately.”
He lifted his head from her and gazed into her eyes, his so dark they appeared black. “What do you want? Tell me.”
She searched her mind for the words, not sure what it was. “I don’t know.” Frustrated by her inability to think, she welled up.
He stroked her cheek gently. “You don’t have to know. This is when you need to let yourself experience the wonder and stop thinking.”
She frowned, not sure that was possible, but trusting him, she gave a hesitant nod. How could anyone stop thinking?
“My intelligent Jo. Let me take you beyond thought.”
For some odd reason, his words made more sense when phrased that way. “Yes.”
His gaze filled with love as he gave her a soft smile. “For you.”
She wasn’t sure what he meant by that, but when his mouth returned to her breast, her focus shifted. The spikes of wanting returned immediately and then he sucked. She moved one leg off his lap and pushed her hips upward, craving even more.
As he moved to her other breast, his hand began to move up the leg still on his lap beneath her dress, petticoat, and shift. An image fromthe booktook away any question as to what he was about. Now she understood why a woman would want a man to touch her there. But she was far beyond simply wanting. When his hand passed her stocking and found her warm flesh, he hesitated.
No! She tried to speak, but her throat was tight. Instead, she moved her free leg further away, inviting him in. When his hand continued upward, her anxiousness abated but her need increased, everything inside her growing tight.
He released her breast, and she almost cried out, but he lifted her head to his lips at the same time his fingers found the juncture of her thighs.Yes! Yes!She wanted to yell, but his tongue dominated her mouth, demanding she surrender.
Then his fingers found her intimate folds and the spot she’d only seen drawings of. Her hands turned to claws as she held onto him while he pillaged her mouth and played lightly with her sex. Her body seemed to spin in a spiral, higher and higher, the feelings escalating beyond comprehension until suddenly, without warning, a wave of ecstasy engulfed her, pulling her along exquisiteness so joyful as to be beyond human existence.
As the wave released her slowly, pure satisfaction enveloped her, floating her safely back into James’ arms. She found her head resting against his bare chest. At some point, she must have broken from his kiss. To not know one’s own actions was disconcerting, yet she understood why now.
