“You little minx.” He grabbed her to him. “I was but a means to an end.”
She cocked her head, amusement playing at the corners of her very fine lips. “As was I to you, correct?”
How had he ever thought her topics unusual and unimportant? But he’d been right on the mark to think of her as an imp. “I must agree. It would appear that whatever our motivations were, they led us in the right direction.”
“Right into each other’s arms.”
He tightened his hold around her. “My wife.” Lowering his head, he showed her with his kiss all the feelings he couldn’t seem to put into words.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Amelia wrapped herarms around her husband, wanting him to know how happy she was, but not sure how to explain it. She could feel his love in their kiss. Did he feel hers?
She broke away, wanting to say something but not sure what. How did a person tell their spouse how they truly felt?
“You look puzzled.”
At his observation, she gave him a nod. “I am.” Though she felt she could tell him almost anything, it didn’t feel very complimentary to explain that she didn’t know how to show him what she felt. She looked away to think and her gaze fell upon the book. Of course,The Illustrated Pleasures of Seduction! There was a page,thepage that had fascinated her and had her wanting to touch Andrew so much. She really could show him how she felt. “I think I need you to undress.”
His eyes widened before a slow smile moved his lips and a golden shine sparkled in his eyes. “I was thinking the same thing. Would you like to return to your bedroom?”
She stepped out of his embrace. “No. I would like very much if you would undress in here.”
His Adam’s apple moved as he swallowed hard, his smile freezing on his face. “You want me to pose again?”
Not willing for him to know her true purpose, she stepped back toward the easel with the book. “Well, I never did get to paint your backside.”
“Don’t you think we could do that another time? After all, we can come in here any day we want with no fear of others thinking ill of us.” He held his hands out, palms up as if hoping to move her.
She bit the inside of her cheek to keep from laughing aloud, thrilled that he had the same thing on his mind as she did. “Oh, I plan to take full advantage of that fact, starting right now.”
His quizzical look had her turning toward the easel to avoid letting him see her grin. Lifting the book, she turned to the page she remembered, the one where the man sat upon a chair. Not only did the position appeal to her on some instinctual level, but somehow, sheknewAndrew would like it.
His hands on her shoulders startled her. “What are you looking at?”
She set the book on the easel. “That.” She glanced at him over her shoulder. “I want to do that.”
His fingers tightened and his breath whooshed by her ear. The tension in his body where it touched hers communicated his agreement before he even spoke. “Are you sure?”
Why wouldn’t she be sure? She turned to face him, dislodging his hands. “I’m not sure of anything but my painting.” She pulled on the white cravat he sported that made his skin look so tanned despite the season. Untying it, she tugged it from around his neck and draped it around hers. She couldn’t resist touching his chest where the opening of his ruffled shirt revealed his skin. Leaning in, she set a light kiss there. Inhaling, she breathed in his clean scent that just made her wish to touch him more.
Without hesitation, she undid the buttons on his tailcoat, pushing it off his shoulders and throwing it on the table next to them.
“My turn.” His voice seemed deeper as he turned her around and untied her blue dress.
She faced the sketch, which made her all the more anxious to disrobe and feel Andrew’s hands upon her again. As he lifted her dress over her head, she pulled her arms down, happy to have the suddenly heavy gown gone. Spinning around, she quickly unbuttoned his waistcoat, allowing him to shrug it off before tugging at his shirt tucked into his pantaloons.
His hands grabbed hers. “Wait. Slow down. I promise it will be just as good if we take it slower. Maybe even better.”
He just didn’t understand her need to be touched and to touch. “Then, could you help me with my stays?”
“That will no doubt become one of my favorite things to do.” Grinning, he had her turn around and untied the lacing in the back.
As soon as they were undone, she pulled them from her throwing them on the table.
“Is that better?”
She faced him. “Very much so. Now would you not feel better without these on?” She’d unbuttoned the top buttons of the fall of his pantaloons before he once again stopped her. Did he not see how frustrating he was being?
