“Very. The blood is all cleaned off?”
“Completely. You look beautiful as always, in spite of the bruising.” After a brief hesitation, he asked, “You do remember saying you would marry me, don’t you?”
“Of course. I wouldn’t be lying in bed with you if I hadn’t.”
He grinned. “And you wouldn’t let me do this either, I suppose.” He tugged her shift off her shoulder until one of her breasts was fully exposed. “Or this.” He cupped it and brushed his thumb over the nipple until it peaked. “Beautiful,” he murmured.
Shocked, she couldn’t speak for the wild sensations coursing through her. She hoped there was more to follow. In fact, she could assist by removing the garment if he would—
His mouth latched onto her nipple, and she sucked in a startled breath, pressing her head into the pillows and closing her eyes. As his tongue flicked over the pebbled nub, the rest of her body turned molten—intently so at the apex of her thighs.
His other hand took hold of her still-covered breast, gently squeezing it before brushing his thumb across the tip until it, too, pearled.
“Too hot,” she murmured at last, realizing her hands were now in his hair, holding his mouth to her skin. She wanted to take off the covers as well as her shift. More than that, she wanted to see Owen fully unclothed.
“Can we undress?” she asked.
He made a choking sound, then lifted his head, his gaze fixing on hers.
“It will be very hard not to make you mine entirely if we do.”
“Yes,” she agreed. Thatwaswhat she wanted.
“Yes?” he echoed. “Are you saying—?”
“Yes,” she interrupted. “Four Seasons!” she reminded him. Each year, thinking she would never find a man who sparked her interest, nor her passion, a man whom she could imagine undressing in front of and who wanted her as much as she wanted him. Adelia didn’t want to wait another second to indulge in the exciting act of making love.
Apparently, her words didn’t explain her longing and frustration, for he cocked his head, raised an eyebrow, and waited.
She tried again. “I’m not eighteen.” She started to kick the covers off. “My parents are gone.” She reached down and found the hem, dragging it up her heated body. “My life nearly ended last night.” She whipped it over her head and tossed it to the floor. “I’ve kept myself removed from everyone and everything for so long.”
Next, she reached for his robe, pushing it down his shoulders until he took over and shrugged it off, sitting bare-chested in front of her.
“Plainly, clearly, without doubt, I want you, Owen Burnley. Right now. So, yes!”
He leaped from the bed and hurriedly removed his pants. When he climbed onto the mattress again, he did so right between her legs, kissing his way up her bare ankles, her calves, brushing his lips on first one of her knees, then the other, up her trembling thighs toward her.Blazes!
At last, his hands slid under her bare bottom, kneading her soft flesh and angling her hips toward him. When his masterful mouth lowered to her core, she gasped.
His tongue gently skimmed her most sensitive spot, making her writhe under him. Tension engulfed her at once, deliciously building. When his wicked mouth latched onto her bud, she arched her neck, feeling both wanton and cherished at the same time.
Unable to keep from grinding against him, in a twinkling, Adelia felt her world exploding behind her closed eyelids, muscles coiling and relaxing, her lungs filling and expanding. Finally, she drifted softly as if returning from some extraordinary journey.
“Dear God!” she muttered and opened her eyes. “Is it always so fast?”
Owen crawled up the bed and, leaning on his elbows, looked down at her, his expression smug. He waggled his eyebrows.
She desperately wanted to laugh again but wasn’t sure it was appropriate. Nevertheless, she felt light as a feather and even a little sleepy again.
“Good?” he asked, though she believed he understood how very good she felt.
“Extraordinary, actually.”
He grinned again, and she couldn’t help brushing her fingertips over his mouth. His wonderfully warm mouth that had just been on her…
“Now what?” she asked.
“What do you mean? You can have a hot bath if you wish. Or eat breakfast. Or you can eat breakfastinthe bath.”
