His breath against her ear sent excited shivers down her spine. “Yes.” She let her head fall back, giving herself to him.
His kisses started then, on her neck, her collarbone. Her shift loosened and his kisses moved lower.
Heat built between her thighs as she anticipated his next kiss. Then his mouth found her breast and she grabbed his hair, arching into him. “Yes.” He lowered her back on the settee, his mouth only leaving her to pay attention to her other breast. She couldn’t breathe deeply, and she didn’t care. She felt like Ruebens’ painting of Leda and the Swan, honored to be worshipped and pleasured by a god.
She moved her hands from his hair to his back, his muscles moving beneath her fingers as she stroked the strength of him. When his teeth nibbled at her sensitive peak, she moaned, pressing her pelvis against the bulge in his pantaloons. A fire raged inside her and only he could quench it. “Andrew.”
His mouth left her and he looked into her eyes. “Yes. What can I do?”
She didn’t know. “I just want…I need.” She searched her mind, not sure how to explain the deep urge in the core of her. Then a word fromThe Illustrated Pleasures of Seductionflashed through her mind. “Satisfaction.”
His nostrils flared and his body stiffened as if made of marble. “And you shall have it.”
A shrill pang of desire zigzagged from her core to her chest at his words, but she had little time to worry as his mouth returned to her breast and his hand burrowed beneath her shift.
Instinctively, she moved her leg off the settee, giving him the access he needed. Images from the book flashed through her mind. Knowing he would penetrate her had her heart jumping.
“You don’t need to search for it. Just let it happen.” His breath against her taught peak built the tension between her legs, yet she lowered her hips, trusting him.
His hand soothed as he moved up her leg and through the curls at the apex of her thighs.
She stopped breathing at the anticipation of his next touch.
He raised his head. “Breathe, Amelia. Breathe.”
She forced a breath inward even as he moved himself above her. As his mouth descended onto hers, his fingers touched her.
Hot need spiked where he touched, and she sucked on his tongue in response as he played about her, sending spikes of pleasure shooting through her, spiraling her higher toward an unknown feeling.
Just when she thought she’d leave her very plane of existence, his fingers delved inside her and she burst with joy. She cried out in pleasure, his mouth taking he sound, even as she bucked against his fingers, her world exploding into tiny pieces. The happiness coursed through her, shattering her thoughts, and taking her into bliss.
At some point, she must have closed her eyes because as her world righted itself, she opened them to see him smiling down at her. There was an emotion in his eyes she’d never seen before on him, but in the back of her mind she was sure she’d seen it before, somewhere.
“Are you happy?”
His question made her think. She wanted to stretch like a cat, walk about without clothes, run her hands over all of him. “Yes, I’m happy.” Another thought interrupted her contentment. “Am I ruined?”
His lips twitched. “Perhaps your innocence, but no, you are not ruined. I will not take you until we are wed. I value you too much.”
The sentiment filled her heart even as his word “take” sent a thrill to her core. Now that she knew how it would feel, she found herself anxious for the wedding. How odd, that she, who had no time to think of marriage, suddenly wanted it with the same eagerness as painting her masterpiece. She touched his face. “I’ll look forward to that.”
His smile turned to a grimace and his body stiffened against her.
“What is it?”
“It is nothing.” He pulled himself off her.
She missed having him against her, but she sat up, concerned, pulling her shift up onto her shoulders and tying it. “No, it’s something.” She stepped up behind him and wrapped her arms about his waist, pressing her face to his bare back. “Tell me.” His chuckle reverberated against her cheek, and she lifted her head.
He unclasped her arms and faced her, taking her hands in his. “That satisfaction I gave you, I did not participate in, and so it is…” he looked away. “I cannot explain it right now.”
Not satisfied? There was something in her sister’s book about a man who does not find his release. It obviously made Andrew uncomfortable, so she’d look it up when he wasn’t present. Instead of asking more, she squeezed his hands. “Are you able to help me with my dress?”
He nodded, letting go of her hands to fetch it for her.
Her gaze fell to his backside, the memory of what it looked like bare causing the tingles she’d felt earlier to resurface. She had to admit, she enjoyed looking at him. To be honest, she also enjoyed touching him.
He brought her clothing. After tying her stays, he lifted her dress. “Arms up.”
