She laughed too. “You cannot blame me. I happen to have a bit of experience with you and I know how good it’s going to be.”
His grin was downright arrogant. “Well, in that case.” His fingers worked at the back of her gown. As soon as it was unbuttoned, she turned back to face him and he helped her pull the gown completely over her head.
Rhys carefully made his way over to the tufted stool that ran the length of the end of the bed. He sat and shucked his boots.
Julianna joined him and helped him remove his coat, cravat, and shirt. Her hands splayed across his broad chest. “You don’t know how tempting you were all those times I saw you in the stables without your shirt.”
“And you don’t know how temptingyouwere. Especially that day you rode astride.” He shook his head.
“Really?” She blinked at him.
“Those breeches? Torture,” he replied. “Absolute torture.”
“Come to bed,” Julianna said, a coquettish smile on her lips. She helped him around the edge of the bed, and he hoisted himself up on the mattress and watched as she pulled her night rail over her head and threw it to the end of the bed.
She stood in front of him, entirely, gloriously naked.
Rhys’s gaze devoured her. “You’re magnificent.”
She glanced at him, tentatively biting her lip. “Your injury isn’t going to keep you from–”
“Not a chance,” he shot back, shaking his head vigorously.
She laughed and climbed up on the bed next to him. “I suppose you’ll need assistance removing your breeches, however.”
His eyes sparkled. “Yes, my lady. I’m entirely at your mercy.”
She pushed him back onto the pillows and he laid there with his hands beneath his head, while her fingers moved to the buttons of his breeches. She painstakingly popped each one open, one after the other, while Rhys struggled to keep his raging cockstand under control.
When the buttons were all undone, Julianna motioned for him to lift his hips, then she tugged on his breeches with both hands, pulling them down over his hips until they were inside out, and pulled them off over his ankles.
She tossed the garment to the floor and let her gaze travel over his long, lean body. “You’re gorgeous, Rhys.”
“I believe that’s what I’m supposed to say to you.” He sat up and pulled her toward him. Then, he slid down the mattress. She was on her knees in front of him and he lined his face up with her sex. He cupped his hands over her buttocks to keep her in place. Then he licked deep and long in between her folds.
Julianna’s eyes went wide. “I didn’t know we could…” Her voice trailed off in what sounded like embarrassment.
She was referring to their positions. “Oh, sweetheart, there are so many ways we can love each other. I can’t wait to teach you each and every one of them.”
She braced her hands on his shoulders, holding onto him while he continued to lick her again and again. Wet warmth pooled between her legs and when he let go of one of her hips, he trailed a finger down between her legs and slowly slid it inside of her.
“Rhys,” she called, her knees a bit wobbly. She held on to his shoulders as he slid his finger in and out.
“Let me touch you, Julianna,” he said between licks.
“Yes,” she called, tossing her head back, her long blond hair trailing down to her buttocks.
Rhys continued to lick her again and again, while his finger kept up its gentle assault until he touched a spot inside her that made her cry out.
She stared down at him in wonder. “What was that?” she breathed.
“Shh,” he whispered against her thigh. “Just let me touch you.” He slid his finger in again, pressing against the tender spot once more. Julianna’s knees buckled and he sucked her as she cried out and collapsed in a heap against him.
Then he turned her over and laid her against the pillows, his body trailing back down between her legs.
His mouth reached the apex between her thighs again.
Her body trembled, and her breathing came in short pants. “Rhys, I don’t think I can—”
