Slowly her eyes came up and rested on his broad shoulders—naked shoulders.
His voice washed over her, barely a whisper, yet she heard every word. “Have you ever lain awake at night, longing for a man’s touch...yearning for something that makes you complete?”
Wordlessly she nodded, too entranced to break the mood by speaking. Then she looked down, realizing that her dress must come next.
“Would you like me to help?” he asked, his husky voice catching just a bit on the last word.
Trembling, she rose and turned around, inviting him by her action to unfasten the buttons down her back. She flinched and closed her eyes when his fingers made contact with the back of her neck. A tiny gasp escaped her lips and chill bumps dotted every inch of her body.
As he pulled the dress down her back with agonizing slowness, his fingers sent tiny shocks whenever they brushed against the thin material of her shift. Finally the gown fell to the floor in a heap around her feet, and he moved away from her.
She glanced down, mortified to see the dark imprint of her straining nipples through the transparent silk. She couldn’t turn around and face him.
“Jenna...”
The one-word command sent shivers over her neck, and she didn’t give thought to disobeying. Slowly, she inched around, making sure her arms were crossed over her bosom. When she met his eyes, the raw need she saw made her take a step back.
“Sit,” he said quietly. “It’s your turn to ask a question.”
She slid gratefully into the chair, hugging herself tightly. “If I ask a question, will you be completely honest with me?”
“Yes, of course.” He bent over and began kicking off his boots.
“Wait! I haven’t asked my question yet.”
He sat back up with a sly smile. “Oh, but you did. You asked if I would be honest in my answer, and I said yes. So, now, I must forfeit clothing, and your turn is over.”
She growled in exasperation. “That wasn’t my question, and you know it.”
He cast her an innocent look. “The rules were simple, my lady. A question and an answer. Now I believe it is my turn once more.”
She sat back with a harrumph.
“Have you ever kissed a man? Besides myself, of course.”
Her cheeks flamed and she nodded. He quirked an eyebrow in open curiosity, but she ignored him, too entranced in the dilemma of what she must do next. It was either her drawers or her shift. The horror of exposing such delicate unmentionables asdrawersin a gentleman’s presence was too awful to contemplate, yet taking her shift off would expose her breasts and a good deal more flesh than was proper.
Deciding taking the drawers off would buy her more time before she was completely exposed before him, she stood up and reached behind her to pull up her chemise. The silk slid luxuriously up her back, and she grasped the waistband of her drawers and began working them down her backside.
Gray’s eyes never left her and moved down her body with the progress of the drawers. As soon as she was free of them, she hastily kicked them under the table so they didn’t come into his view. She stood before him, every curve of her body visible beneath the shimmering material, and yet she didn’t sit down, nor did she try to shield her body from view.
“Do you find me beautiful?” she whispered.
His gaze still fixed on her, he stood and moved around the table to stop right in front of her. His bare chest was a scant breath away from her, and she longed to reach out and touch him. Instead, he extended his hand and took down the few pins that held her hair in place.
It tumbled down her back in a wave, and he cupped her cheek tenderly. His voice reached out and caressed her. “Indeed, my lady. I don’t believe I’ve ever met a woman more beautiful.”
She stared silently at him, wanting him to touch her again and again...
He took back his hand, and she nearly protested. He reached down and began loosening his pants with slow, methodical movements. She stared in fascination, never having seen any part of the male anatomy beyond the hands and face. When he shoved his trousers downward, his manhood sprang free and stood shamelessly erect. She gasped aloud and stepped back.
Words could not accurately express her dismay... excitement... wonder... amazement...fear. Sweet Jesu, were all men equipped thus? Surely not. Why on earth would women seek out the attentions of a lover if they had to contend with such...such...she couldn’t even bring herself to think it.
Suddenly remembering that no matter her outrageous actions, shewasa well bred young lady. She squeezed her eyes shut and turned rapidly away. Her breath was coming in torturous spurts, and she feared she would soon faint dead away if she didn’t regain control over her raging senses.
“Jenna, I have one more question to ask.”
She peeked back at him and quickly shut her eyes once again. Warm hands framed her face, and her eyes flew open. He gently caressed her cheeks and brushed back the tendrils of hair that fell over her ears. “Do you want me, Jenna? Do you want me as badly as I want you?”
