—Book of Mars
He was touching her.Holding her.
Clarissa had begun to regret her high-minded “terms.”
Kisses were what she wanted. Kisses, this man, and everything about him.
She had been standing in her dressing room when she’d realized her doubts about him had been silly. Of course, he was arrogant and entitled. He was also generous, protective, and rather fun.
Clarissa had enjoyed this evening. At one point, Kate had been teasing her husband and Clarissa had looked over at Mars. Their gazes met, and she’d known exactly what was going through his mind, a quip he dared not speak aloud. He’d lifted his brow as if asking if she agreed and she’d had to stifle her laugh.
Clarissa was also tired of always being cautious. She’d married him. For better or for worse, she’d tossed her lot in with Mars. So why deny all he had to offer?
Besides, she was tired of eyeing his naked buttocks and not being able to let herself touch him.
So, she’d left her “nun’s habit” hanging in the dressing room. She hadn’t bothered with stacking pillows because she wanted him beside her.
She wantedhim.
Still, it had taken courage to tell him that she had changed her mind, and now she was glad she had spoken up. He took her in his arms, her skin against his, warm and vibrant, and kissed her in a way that robbed her of reason.
“Rissa,” he whispered into her ear before nibbling the line of her jaw. She adored hearing him use that name. No one else could call her that, just him.
Her hip bumped against his. He ran a hand over the skin, pulling her leg over his.
And she was free to kiss him. To let her hand move across the hard planes of his body, including those buttocks she’d admired.
Yes, he was taller and broader than she was, but it didn’t make any difference in bed.
The heat of his mouth over her breast almost sent her through the ceiling. When he traced the inside of her thigh, his fingers reaching the most intimate places, she would have panicked if not for her trust in him. He was an accomplished lover, which was a handy skill at this moment.
As for herself, Clarissa was acting on instinct and, for once, she wasn’t being shy about being greedy.
She didn’t hesitate to pull his lips to her mouth. The taste of him excited her. She was a starving woman at a feast and she wasn’t going to stop until she had her fill.
He rolled her onto her back, showing her how to cradle him with her thighs. She felt the hard length of him and curved her hips to nestle him
Mars looked down at her. He balanced most of his weight on his arms. “This might hurt, Rissa.”
She nodded. She’d heard the whispers. Her life had allowed her to move in many circles and country women did not hold back their opinions and teasing about what happened between men and women. Some said that they had screamed. Others that it had been a mere pinprick.
Clarissa didn’t care. In this moment, her body ached to have him inside her. And she knew losing her virginity would be a momentary discomfort. Then there would be, as one lusty wife had declared to her,just the fun of the rolling around. She wished to reach that point.
He pressed against her. The worry did go through her mind that she might be too petite for him there, and yet women smaller than her had birthed babies.
His lips took hers. His arm slid under her hips, raising her. She felt his tongue. She liked kisses this deep and she rose as if to swallow him whole—just as he thrust forward.
It was shocking, that thrust.
For a white-hot moment, she felt as if she was being torn asunder. She cried out in shock, a sound swallowed by their kiss.
Mars went very still. Her arms were wrapped around him and she held him tight, while she cataloged the pain, the tightness, all the feelings.
Almost as swiftly as the pain had come, it ebbed. Tight muscles relaxed. She liked the sensation of him inside... and then he began moving.
There was pure pleasure in his movement. She wrapped herself around him. He whispered in her ear that she was lovely, that no one could compare to her, that she was “his life.”
And all the time, a need built inside her. A yearning for release that she didn’t understand, but he did.
