She put her hands on her hips and narrowed her gaze. “And how, pray tell, did you achieve such skill?”
“That is not a question any gentleman will answer. However, since it is you who asks it, I will tell you that what I learned, I learned before I met you.”
“But you were barely two score and two?”
He gave her a cocky smile. “And well experienced at that.”
She turned her back on him in a huff. Not truly upset, but more amazed that he would know so much of what was in Joanna’s book at such a young age when she had been ignorant until now.
His arms wrapped around her waist and his lips found the side of her neck. “Do not be cross with me.” He kissed upward toward her ear. “My practice was all for you.”
She loved the feel of his lips on her and let her head fall back against him, her eyes closing. “I suppose I must forgive you then?”
His kisses moved to the top of her shoulder. “If it is your wish.” He spoke against her skin. “I throw myself upon your tender mercy.”
She shivered with delight when suddenly her left breast was lifted. She stiffened, her eyes opening.
“Shh, I promise this will be pleasant.”
Despite his words and Joanna’s book, she remained still, afraid that what he thought would please her would feel no different from her late husband.
“The devil take him.” The harsh curse whispered across her skin.
She lifted her head and pulled away, turning to face him, now worried. “It’s not good luck to curse the dead.”
Shaking his head, he didn’t reply, but his hands had fisted at his sides.
What was she doing? She crossed her arms over her shift. She didn’t even like procreating. What had made her think it would be different with Marcus? Maybe she was deformed and what was supposed to be pleasant, wasn’t.
“Mariel, I am only angry with your husband. As you put it, he did not procreate correctly and that hurt you, so now you fear touch. I understand.”
“How can you understand so much?”
His hand moved to his thigh where he seemed to rub, his knuckles pushing into his muscle. “I have seen atrocities, the worst that humans can do to others, and have had to overcome them. Some I have not. I am no longer the person I was before I left for the battle on the continent. I will never be the same.”
While she didn’t want to know what he’d witnessed, she did understand being different from when they first fell in love. “But who you’ve become makes me love you more. While I’m now less of a woman.”
“No.” He stepped forward and cupped her face in his hands, so gently, it belied his sudden movement. “You are more. You have grown into a woman who is witty, adventurous, and passionate.”
She wanted to believe him as she stared into his penetrating silver-gray eyes and recognized the truth of his words. She needed to trust him. He’d never hurt her.
“If you wish to continue, I suggest telling me when you feel uncomfortable. Or we can stop now and I can bring you home.”
The thought of going back to Craymore Hall knowing no more than when she’d left, when it had been her plan to seduce him at the first opportunity was too unbearable. “I want you to show me ecstasy.” She wasn’t sure she pronounced it right, but when his nostrils flared, her body heated in response.
“It would be my honor to show you a pleasure like no other.” Gently, he moved his hands to her arms and tugged until she let go. Then he placed her hands on his shoulders. “Touch me.”
“I am.”
His mouth quirked up. “Yes, but caress me, wherever you wish to.” He raised his brows. “Unless you don’t want to.”
Ah, she understood what he was about. She could touch him and then he could touch her. Having never touched a man’s bare chest, she was happy to explore. She trailed her fingers over the upper section of the mounds that were his chest. They were so very large.
His chest vibrated beneath her finger tips as he chuckled. “I will not break.”
Laying her hands flat, she ran them over the muscles just as he had moved his hands up her legs. She was not unaware that he had nipples like hers, and smoothed her hands over them. They seemed harder, so she moved her hands back. There was nothing in the book that showed a woman touching a man’s nipple, but it had shown what a man could do with a woman. Deciding to experiment, she took them between her thumbs and forefingers and rolled them.
Marcus’ chest rose and he sucked in air.
