“And you have had rather a lot of champagne, Lady Grainger.” He kissed her throat, just below the ear. “But I still adore you.”
“Mm. Lady Grainger. I like that.”
“Me, too.”
They stood before the countess’s suite. Ash opened the door, swept Thea up again, and strode inside. The cream and gold bedchamber was alight with candelabra, and vases of spring flowers perfumed the air. A filmy pale green nightgown and negligee lay at the base of the bed along with Thea’s dainty slippers.
They would be uninterrupted. Thea’s maid, Sarah, attended a party in the basement with the other servants.
Ash kicked the door closed with his foot, crossed the dense pale carpet, and laid Thea on the high bed.
Thea wrapped her fingers around the carved oak bedpost and smiled at him. “Shall I undress for you?”
It was so outrageous a suggestion from an innocent he had to fight not to laugh. Instead, he shook his head, a smile tugging at his lips as he shed his coat and tossed it onto a chair. “No. Allow me that pleasure.”
He’d never made love to a virgin. He promised himself to take Thea up on that invitation another time. It was so incredibly erotic, the vision in his head of her stripping before him made him instantly hard. He intended to take things slowly, to treat Thea like a fine piece of porcelain, but he suspected she wouldn’t let him. She tugged at his cravat, her lovely lips slightly parted as if in invitation. He was only human, and he wanted her so much his lungs had run out of air.
Ash joined her on the bed. He couldn’t get his fill of her. Her sparkling, beautiful green eyes and full mouth, he took in a kiss that lengthened and grew more passionate.
He turned her shoulders to undo the row of small buttons on her back. Then eased the beautiful gown off her shoulders, bending as he did so to kiss her soft perfumed skin between her shoulder blades.
Thea stood and stepped out of her dress and placed it carefully over the back of the chair. “My daughter will wear that one day,” she said, smiling at him.
“I’d like a daughter. One who looks just like you.”
Blushing slightly, she undid his waistcoat buttons, and when he removed it, she swept her hands over the white linen shirt. The touch of her fingers on his nipples sent hot desire thrumming through him. Determined to take control before it all became deplorably rushed, Ash eased off her petticoat. She stood, wide-eyed and a little uncertain in her chemise and stays. She clutched onto his shoulder as he bent down to remove her shoes.
Ash eased up her chemise, his hand smoothing over her soft, curvy thigh. The warmth of her womanly arousal lingered, taunting him as he slid down each blue satin garter. Her stockings followed, baring her beautiful legs to his gaze. A faint whisper as the silk stockings unraveled beneath his sure touch. Thea fell silent when he sat her down on the bed and removed the stockings from her small feet.
He fought rampant desire but also a sense of wonder as he studied her. She was an angel but an incredibly enticing one.
She nervously ran her pink tongue along her bottom lip.
“Thea.” Ash groaned and pushed her gently back onto the bed. He pulled her body against his, his erection pressing into the base of her stomach, firm and insistent.
“Oh.” Thea trembled a little and widened her eyes.
He shaped her breasts in his hands, still encased in the thin lawn chemise. Then giving in to his need to see them, he swiftly removed the impediments.
She lay naked before him. Ash’s appreciative gaze roamed over her while his hands stroked the soft, creamy skin of her shoulder. He cupped her pert, pink-tipped breasts, then moved down over the gentle swell of her belly to press lightly over the vee of blonde hair at the juncture of her thighs.
She flushed and put her hands there.
“Let me look at you,” he said, aware she was a little embarrassed. “You are beautiful, Thea.”
“Shall I take down my hair?”
“Please,” he said, his voice sounding hoarse to his ears.
She sat up, scattering pins, a cascade of blond tresses fell over her shoulders. A perfect angel, Ash decided, as he left the bed to pull off the rest of his clothes.
When his erection burst free, Thea gasped and tucked her hands between her legs. Then she removed them and leaned back on her hands, her open lips inviting his kisses.
Thea would be no angel in bed. What a lucky fellow he was. Ash struggled with the urgent need to enter her and make her truly his. Once this night was over, and he’d been told a woman’s first time could be uncomfortable, they would have all the time in the world to learn more about what pleased each other.
“Darling, how I want you,” he murmured and joined her on the bed.
Ash’s firm skinstretched over strong bones and muscles warm and smooth. So different from hers.Husband. How wonderful that sounded. He was hers. His hands framed each side of her face, and he kissed her passionately. His breath sweet with champagne. Her nervousness edged away. When his tongue toyed at the seam of her lips, she opened to him, and he slipped inside to move against hers, sending a bolt of electricity to that sensitive part of her. She moved restlessly, barely aware she’d widened her thighs as if in invitation.
