It was too much for Ciaran. His cock twitched, and a drop of hot moisture rose to the tip. His knees went weak, and a tortured moan fell from his lips.
“Oh.” Lucy darted a quick look at his face, taking in his flushed cheeks and parted lips.
And then…
Then, dear God, she touched him.
Ciaran’s hips jerked forward as her soft fingers stroked over him, her touch too gentle to satisfy, but just enough to torment.
He groaned again, and she snatched her hand away. “Ciaran?”
“Like this, sweetheart.” He took her hand in his, pressed it against himself and showed her how he liked to be stroked. When his hand dropped away she kept up his rhythm, her mouth opening in wonder as he grew hotter and harder against her palm.
“You, ah…you seem to enjoy this.” Lucy’s gaze darted between his face and her hand moving over him.
Ciaran let out a shaky laugh. “I do.” He reached down and covered her hand with his again, but instead of drawing her away, his fingers tightened over hers. “Harder. Yes, just like…ah, God.Lucy.”
She was staring down at her hand as it moved over him, her breaths quick. He helped her stroke him once, then again, broken sounds tearing from his chest. Another stroke and he was going to release, spill into her hand—
“Stop, Lucy.” He jerked away, shuddering. He tore his breeches down his legs, then caught her up into his arms, crossed to the bed, and lay her gently down in the center of it.
“Ciaran?” She levered herself up on her elbows, her anxious gaze finding his. “Did I hurt you?”
Was that what she thought? Ciaran drew in a deep breath. He only had one first time with Lucy, and he was rushing it, letting his desire for her turn him savage.
She deserved better than that. She deserved everything.
“No, sweetheart.” He reached down to stroke her cheek. “I’m just…I want you so much I’m being greedy with you, trying to have everything at once.”
“Oh.” She gave him a hesitant smile. “I don’t mind.”
He let out a quiet laugh, then climbed onto the bed. He stretched onto his side, facing her. “Are you nervous, Lucy?”
She bit her lip. “Maybe a little.”
Ciaran settled his hand on her hip, but he kept it still, though a part of him wanted to explore every one of her tempting curves. He lay quietly with her, stroking his hand over her shoulders and neck, down the center of her body to rest on her stomach. He touched her this way for a long time, easy and unhurried, until he felt her relax, her limbs going heavy against the coverlet.
Then, he kissed her. Her lips, her neck, the pulse fluttering at the base of her throat. He was gentle with her, careful, building her passion slowly with light strokes of his tongue over her satiny skin. Lucy lay quietly at first, but as he continued to tease her, her body grew restless.
She wrapped her arms around his neck, squirming closer, pressing her hips to his.
“Not yet, sweetheart.” Ciaran stilled her with gentle hands, keeping her pinned to the bed as he nuzzled his face into the soft skin between her breasts. Lucy let out a quiet whimper when his tongue darted out to taste her. He cupped one of her breasts in his palm and teased his thumb over her hard nipple.
“Ciaran.” Lucy’s body jerked a little at the caress, and she slid her fingers into his hair.
Ciaran dragged his thumb over her sensitive nipple again, and then again, his breath held. He waited until she was writhing against him, pushing herself harder against his hand.
Then…then he did what he’d been aching to do.
He closed his mouth over the tip of her breast and sucked.
“Oh.” Lucy’s body arched sharply, her fingers pulling hard at his hair as he licked and teased, abrading the tender peak before he moved to her other breast, sucking and nipping until the straining tip was wet under his tongue.
When he finally drew back his heart was pounding in his chest, each of his breaths strangled and desperate. He stared down at her with heavy-lidded eyes.
She dragged her fingernails across the sensitive skin of his belly, her dark eyes burning. “More, Ciaran.”
He couldn’t deny that sensual command. “What do you want, sweetheart?” He traced lazy circles over her lower belly, drawing ever closer to the sweet tuft of soft red hair between her thighs with every stroke.
