Nellie watched the expression play over his face, a deep sadness, he quickly shrugged away. She placed a hand on his arm. “Oh, Charles. Your brother, Michael. I am clumsy.”
“No, sweetheart. That’s one thing you’re not.”
“I was saddened to hear of his death. He was far too young.”
“Thank you. But Michael would disapprove of me talking about him on my wedding night.”
Her gaze moved from the heated expression in his eyes to his mouth. Recalling their passionate kiss on the terrace, a throb settled low in her stomach. She put down her knife and fork, suddenly unable to take another bite. She picked up the wine glass and took a good swallow.
Charles leaned forward and took her glass from her hand. He put it down. “Nellie? Shall we retire?”
Her pulse skittered. “Yes, Charles.”
He opened the door to a bedchamber and took her hand to lead her inside. She was barely aware of where she was when he lowered his head and covered her mouth with his own. His kisses became insistent, deliberate. Nellie trembled as need and longing filled her. How she had wanted this.
“Charles,” she murmured, holding onto his shoulders, her voice wavered, sounding husky and low.
“Let’s take this slow, Nellie.”
She felt the tension in his hands as they slid down her arms to grasp her wrists, but how in control he was.
Nellie nodded, swallowing as desire and nerves pulled at her. She wished she could be cool like him. But he was experienced, he must have had many women, apart from…her. She pushed the thought away hurriedly. She was hanging on by a thread as it was, her knees threatening to give way.
*
“Hold still, sweetheart.”Charles struggled to undo the row of tiny buttons down the back of her gown. “Was this dress a wise choice?”
“I didn’t think…” Nellie gave a breathy giggle. “You are teasing me.”
“Never.” He drew in a breath and slipped a hand inside the silk fabric to stroke the velvety-soft skin of her shoulder and the delicate bones of her spine. Her tender nape revealed to him, he had to press a kiss there, and below her ear, as he breathed in her perfume and the underlying scent of her skin, while his passion raged hot through his veins.Take it slow.
“Mm.” She leaned back against him.
Charles eased the dress down over the curve of her hips. The silk puddled on the floor, and Nellie stepped out of it. She untied the strings of her petticoat, and when that, too, went the way of the gown, she turned to face him. In her thin chemise and corset, with blue garters gracing the silk stockings on her lissome legs, he lost his ability to breathe.
Aware of an already burgeoning erection, he turned his attention to her corset laces.
“Charles?
“Yes, Nellie?”
“I have been advised about what happens between men and women, but it wasn’t particularly helpful.”
“It wasn’t?” Intrigued, a smile played on his lips.
“No. What Mama and Marian told me differed greatly. But I don’t want to be boring in bed. You must teach me.”
“Oh, sweetheart, that is my heartfelt intention.” Her corset fell away to reveal the thrusting curve of her lush breasts through the thin chemise. He paused to thumb and kiss each firm nipple jutting through the fabric as she clutched onto him and moaned.
He hefted her up into his arms. With his free hand, Charles pulled the latch on his bedroom door, then kicked it open and strode over to the bed. He deposited her gently and stepped back to divest himself of his clothes. Once stripped, he tossed them onto a chair and turned.
But for her stockings and the blue garters, Nellie was naked, having removed the last of her clothing.
“Nellie.” He suspected his wife might prove to have the same instincts for seduction as the best courtesans in London.
Her sultry, blue-gray eyes wandered over his body as he crossed to the bed.
At the shrill bark somewhere nearby, Charles halted mid-stride.
