She stared at his manly parts. “You areimpressive, my lord, if I had to choose a word.”
“That’s a good word,” he said. “I like it. I’ll be quick in the bath.”
True to his word, James proclaimed his muscles soothed after five minutes, scrubbed himself clean, and rose from the water.
“You still look like a Greek god,” she told him, appreciating every hard plane and firm muscle.
“Mars was a Roman one. But I appreciate the compliment.”
Soaking wet, he stalked toward her and gathered her in his arms.
“Why did you cover yourself with this dressing gown?” He plucked at the neckline as if it were distasteful, but Glynnis simply scooted backward across the counterpane.
“Ruin me,” she said, unable to keep from smiling.
“Gladly.” James unbelted her gown, opening it to reveal her nakedness, before sliding it down her shoulders. The caress of cool air against her damp skin made her shiver.
They spoke no more as he pushed her slowly back onto the coverlet. Glynnis willingly parted her thighs to allow him room to settle between them, his hips against hers.
“Kiss me,” she whispered, pulling him down by his shoulders before closing her eyes when he lowered his mouth to hers.
All her senses magnified so she could hear her own heartbeat while her body tingled with anticipation. On his tongue that slid between her lips, Glynnis tasted the wine they’d shared while waiting for the bath. Gasping when his chest touched her breasts, her lungs filled with the scent of him — not his familiar cologne but the inn’s Pear’s soap.
With her fingers pressing into his smooth bare shoulders, she dared to stroke his tongue in return with the tip of her own.
He groaned, and she felt his shaft twitch against her thigh.
“Hargrove?” she queried at the unfamiliar movement.
He was busy kissing his way down her neck to her breasts. With his mouth on her nipple, he spoke.
“My body is ready to ruin you.”
Opening her eyes, she shivered again.
“But let me play a little first,” he said, then flicked his tongue over her nipple.
She couldn’t help how her hips bucked under him. Threading her fingers into his damp hair, she held his head close until he’d nearly driven her mad with licking and sucking and ... biting! And then he moved to her other nipple.
“A little longer,” he pleaded, “until your body is ready, too.”
Glynnis was beyond ready to do what she’d seen in Lord Dodd’s drawing room. Not only had a pulsing heat branded her body between her legs, but she could feel the dampness of her desire.
“I am ready,” she promised, tugging at his hair.
“Ouch,” he exclaimed.
But she’d got his attention. Lifting his head, he looked down at her, his lovely blue eyes dark with passion.
“I’m ready,” she insisted.
“I don’t want to hurt you,” James murmured quietly. “And it can pain you briefly.”
“How briefly?” she began, then shook her head. “Never mind.” Lifting her hips against him, she confessed, “I have read about the pain. Let’s hurry and get past it.”
His expression softened. “No, we’ll take it slowly, and I promise it will be good.”
True to his word, James guided the tip of his shaft to her opening, but before he penetrated, he settled onto his forearms, staring into her eyes.
