All awareness blurred as he lavished her with kisses and caresses, soothing the yearning ache of loneliness that had been part of her for so long.
His mouth lavished attention on her breasts, while he caressed her in the dark, moist place between her thighs.His cunning fingers drove her mindless, teasing, soothing, drawing ripples, waves, shudders from her body and she cried out and writhed in response as bolts of pleasure-pain-heat speared through her, the sensations building, pushing her to...where?
Her knees fell apart and he moved over her, his thighs pushing hers wider as he rubbed and rocked against her in a rhythm that her body tried to match.
“All right?”he murmured, but she had no words to answer.
“Mmm.”She writhed restlessly against him, pulling him closer, not knowing what she craved, exceptmore, more, more.
She felt him, hot and heavy and blunt at her entrance, and her body clenched with longing.She must have made a sound for she felt him hesitate.Without thought, without hesitation she pushed herself against him and with a groan, and one long smooth movement he was inside her.
He drew back, as if to leave her so she tightened her legs around him, pulling him closer, taking him deeper.
And then he was moving inside her, slow at first, then faster, plunging...thrusting...
Lost to everything, she shuddered and thrashed around him as the pressure built and built.He gave a final, deep husky groan, and she felt a gush of warmth deep within her.For a long moment she trembled on the pinnacle of...something...and thenhe stroked her—there—again and she ...shattered.
#
THE ROOM WAS ALMOSTdark when Tessa finally opened her eyes again.The candles had guttered.The fire had burned down to ashy, barely alive coals.
He slipped out of bed, naked, and built up the fire again.Sparks danced up the chimney.His strong, beautiful body was limned in firelight.She watched him coaxing the fire back to light, feeding the flames.
He’d done that to her, too.Set her body alight in a way that had never happened to her before.A way she’d no idea was even possible.
She stretched.How much time had passed?She had no idea, but even now she felt the echo of small tremors deep inside her.Her whole body hummed with ...satisfaction?Delight?
The fire crackling merrily, he turned and saw her watching him.
“How are y—I mean are you—?”
She smiled and stretched again.“I feel wonderful.”
“Oh good.I was worried that—I lost control at the end.I’m sorry.”
“There is nothing to be sorry for.It was ...amazing.I’d never...um.”And it was her turn to break awkwardly off.She had no idea how to explain.
But he was smiling now.“I’m glad.It will get better.”
“Better?”she repeated incredulously.
“As we learn more about each other.”
It was hard to believe.She would have to take his word for it.A yawn surprised her.
“It’s been a long day.You’re tired.Would you like me to leave you now?”he asked.
Both her previous husband had left her bed immediately after intercourse—or what passed for it with them—was over.And she’d been glad to have her bed to herself.
But tonight she didn’t want Marcus to leave.She was tired, that was true, but she didn’t want the night to end yet.“I don’t mind—” she began, then stopped herself.He’d told her to do or say whatever she wanted.Well, this is what she wanted.“I would like you to stay,” she told him.And then added, “But only if you want to, that is.”
He gave her a slow smile.“Oh, I want to, believe me.”He slipped back into bed with her and pulled the bedclothes up.“Good night, Lady Alverleigh,” he murmured and kissed her, a sweet and simple kiss, tender and quiet.It was a sharing of feeling, an act of communion...and it stole Tessa's heart right out of her body.
He wrapped his arm around her and pulled her close, spooning his big warm body around her.“Mmm, I love the scent of you,” he murmured.“It’s addictive.”
“But I’m not wearing any perfume.”
She felt the smile in his voice.“I’m not talking about perfume.It’s the scent ofyou,” he said with a slight emphasis on the last word.“Intoxicating.”
