The endearment thrilled her. “I want to seeyouundressed.”
“Right.” He grinned wickedly at her. “I remember.”
Her cheeks flamed as she thought of all the naughty things she’d said the last time they were together, but it didn’t stop her from wanting to act on them. She pulled at his coat, and he slid out of it. His waistcoat and cravat quickly followed, giving her a glimpse of his tanned throat before he tore off his shirt, revealing far more skin.
She gulped.Thatwas interesting. His chest seemed sculpted from marble, with muscles that clearly came from his being a soldier. And he had dark blond curls on his chest! She hadn’t expected hair in such a place, having never seen a man half-dressed, in art or otherwise.
She lifted her hand, then paused with it midair. “Can I touch you?”
“Oh, God, yes,” Heywood rasped.
As she swept her hands over his chest, she felt his muscles clench. His jaw tautened, too, and the very thought that she could affect him so profoundly made a surge of wanton heat rise in her belly and lower.
But when she ran her thumbs over his nipples the way he’d done hers, he growled, “Enough, you teasing wench. It’syourturn.”
“That’s hardly fair,” she said lightly. “If I take off my nightdress, I’ll be naked. And you’re still partly clothed.”
“I can easily remedy that.” He unbuttoned and stripped off his breeches and stockings, then kicked off his shoes, leaving him in only his drawers.
His prominently bulging drawers. He reached for the buttons, then grinned at her. “Shall we disrobe together?”
The sight of his mostly naked legs, so sinewy and hairy andmale, already overwhelmed her, but if she undressed and he backed away in disappointment, then havinghisbody to look at might keep her from dwelling on that too much. “Yes,” she breathed. “Together.”
He unfastened his drawers; she unfastened the buttons on her nightdress. Then together they stripped their undergarments off.
Unfortunately, she didn’t at first notice whathelooked like down there because she was so focused on watching his reaction. It was most gratifying. He scoured her with a look that flamed every part it touched.
“God help me, Cass, you’re a soldier’s dream come true.” With a purely wondering expression, he skimmed his hand from her shoulder to her breast to her belly and then to the curls between her legs. “So soft, so delicate . . . and all mine.” When he cupped her, sending her heart into a pounding rhythm, she started.
“Wait!” she cried.
He groaned. “Dearling, please don’t make me stop.”
“That’s not what I mean.” She backed up a few steps. “I-I forgot to look atyou! Let me see.”
His frown cleared, and his smile turned cocky. “Ah, now that’s different.”
“Different” was the word, all right. He looked nothing like her down there. He had a reddened rod of flesh between his legs, a bold fellow that thrust itself out from its nest of curls with outrageous impudence.
Her mouth went dry. What was she supposed to do with that . . . thatthing?
But he gave her no time to worry over it before he took her in his arms, kissing her deeply as he backed her toward the bed. Then he tumbled her down upon it before kneeling beside her. “I’ll do my best to make this pleasant for you, Cass, but you’ll have to tell me what you like.”
“I don’t know what I like.”
He chuckled. “Not yet. But you will. Indeed, it might take a lifetime of practicing together to determine the many things you like. But we can start with this.”
Lying down next to her, he leaned over to suck her breast.
“Ohhh, I likethat,” she said. “Very much.”
“I like it, too.” He sucked the other breast, and she thought she might die of pleasure.
Her breath seemed to have stuck down deep in her throat, and she couldn’t help arching up for more of his attentions. He obligingly gave them to her, caressing both breasts in turn with mouth and tongue and teeth. Just as she wondered if she could take much more of the thrilling sensations coursing through her, he slipped his hand down between her thighs to stroke her where he’d briefly stroked before.
My oh my. That feltmagnificent. The man was a magician at rousing her need and then satisfying it, in an ever-heightening circle. He slid one finger inside her, then another, while with his thumb he rubbed the spot that ached for him. A jolt of desire lofted her even higher. Who could have imagined that mere fingers could offer such delicious ecstasy?
“How about that?” he asked raggedly. “Doesthatfeel good?”
