“I wouldn’t have liked that,” she said, shaking her head. “This was my mother’s favorite.”
“Then it’s precious to you.”
“It’s my favorite, too.”
“As it should be. And you wore it tonight for me, didn’t you?” he asked, not knowing if she’d admit it.
“Yes.”
His lower body tightened, reminding him it didn’t want to go this slow. “Does the scratch hurt?” he asked.
“There was a little burn at first. It’s fine now. I forgot it was there until you mentioned it.”
Silence fell between them while he contemplated doing what felt natural. “You know what I’m thinking?” he asked.
She shook her head.
“If there’s going to be any nibbling on you or your clothing,” he said, running his forefinger ever so lightly along her jawline, “it will be by me.” He dipped his head and lightly kissed the red line.
She gasped softly.
“And it will be gentle.” He kissed the same place a second time and smiled to himself. Her skin had pebbled with tiny goose bumps, just as he’d hoped.
“And wherever I touch you, it will leave no marks on you,” he murmured against her skin, letting his lips touch the scratch thrice.
Hawk heard her breaths change from even and slow to fast. Her chest softly heaved. It was gratifying to know he disturbed the rhythm of her heart and breathing as much as she disturbed his. He moved away from the scrape, but he wasn’t moving away from her. Taking his time, he kissed the soft pillow of her breasts that swelled gently along the neckline of her gown. Moving from one side to the other and back again, he couldn’t resist tasting her skin along the way.
She stood quietly, but not stiffly, and allowed him to gently caress her with his lips while tension and passion started a low rumble of anticipation in both of them. He didn’t want to frighten her. Now that he had her alone, he wanted to enjoy her, savor her for as long as possible.
Hawk lifted his head and looked down into her beautiful, trusting eyes as he slid his hands up to her arms, to that small area of exposed skin between her short sleeves and the top of her gloves. It soothed him to touch her. Somehow, it helped ease his eagerness, and yet stimulated his hunger for her at the same time.
“Your arms are cold,” he murmured softly.
“That’s surprising since I feel unusually warm.”
Her honest answer made him move closer to her. “So do I.”
Slowly, he placed his hands on each side of her face, bent his head, and briefly brushed his lips lightly across hers. His thumbs lightly caressed her earlobes, his fingers the back of her neck and the tops of her bare shoulders. He then kissed her eyelids, her nose, across first one cheek and then the other. There wasn’t a place on her beautiful face he wanted to miss touching or tasting.
“Oh, yes,” he whispered on a moan of pleasure. “So sweet. I needed to touch you. Kiss you.”
Not waiting any longer, he took her lips beneath his. The contact was warm, inviting, and instantly arousing. A rush of need bolted through him. Pleasure and impatience tightened his thighs and lower body. He kissed her softly, lingeringly. He took his time pressing, nibbling, and seeking the silent response she finally gave him when she lifted her arms then slid them inside his coat and around his waist, to pull him closer to the warmth of her body. Now he was certain. She’d been waiting for this, too. They had no soft bed, no sheets to tangle in, but those things weren’t needed. They had all they needed growing and bursting between them.
Hawk was going to make their coming together for the first time glorious for both of them.
Fighting with himself to keep his manner slow and unhurried, he plundered her mouth, her lips, her cheeks, and her neck over and over again, making her familiar with his touch. Wanting her to enjoy every sensation he created inside her.
With eager but tender movements, he eased his hands down to her breasts and caressed them reverently, lovingthe feel of them even though they were hidden from him beneath the fabrics of her clothing. She accepted his caresses and explored his back and shoulders, past his waist to his hips. Her hands roved over the contours of his body. Her gentle caresses soothed yet tortured him, making him want to beg for more of her touch. He wanted her to slip her hands past his waist to the center of his desire for her.
He lifted his lips from hers, looked into her eyes, and with a smile said, “Don’t be afraid to give your hands the freedom to go wherever they wish.”
“I don’t have much control left, and I’d best keep what I have,” she answered with a shy lowering of her lashes.
Hawk chuckled softly as his hands molded her breasts ever so softly. “I thought you were bolder than that, my beautiful Loretta.”
“I am brave but wary to go where I’ve not been before.”
“You are not one to back away from a challenge.”
