“Mmmm.” He brought the lock of hair to his mouth, desire flooding his belly at the tickle of those soft strands against his lips, the faint scent of honeysuckle. “I think you’d be surprised at what I’ve imagined, Your Grace.”
“Oh.” The pale skin of her throat moved in a swallow.
“Come with me.” He took her hand and led her to the bed, easing her down with a gentle hand on her shoulder. “Lie down.”
He paused beside the bed and slid the banyan over his shoulders, then dragged his shirt over his head. Her cheeks went scarlet at the sight of his bare chest, and he followed the enchanting blush as it drifted down her throat and vanished under the narrow ribbon that trimmed the neckline of her night rail.
Just how far did that delightful blush go? He wanted nothing more than to find out, to lay all that perfect pale skin bare and follow that enticing wash of color with his hands and lips, but she was trembling already, and he’d promised he’d take care of her.
All in good time. “May I join you?”
She nodded, catching her lower lip between her teeth as her gaze roved over his chest, and he smothered another groan as he joined her on the bed, propping his head on his hand to take in the sight of her laid out on the bed beside him. She was watching him from under half-lidded eyes, her skin flushed and her hair scattered across the pillow, gleaming in the firelight.
Good Lord, what had he ever done to deserve such a beautiful wife? Something stirred to life inside his chest at the sight of her, the ache of it both painful and sweet at once. “I want to touch you. Will you let me?”
She gave him a hesitant nod, but still she stiffened a little when he reached for her, her eyes flying open, but he only laid a hand on the sweet curve of her abdomen. Her skin was warm underneath the thin muslin of her night rail, her chest moving up and down with her quickened breaths.
She gazed up at him as he brushed a few stray strands of hair from her forehead, her eyes dark and mysterious under their fluttering lids, her enlarged pupils crowding out her irises so only a sliver of hazel remained.
“I’m going to kiss you now.” He lowered his head and let his lips hover over hers, giving her a chance to pull away, but she didn’t, and the magical moment before their lips touched went on and on until the tension between them drew as thin as a thread of silk.
A groan tore from his chest as their lips met, hers parting so sweetly under his, it sent a wave of heat roaring through him. How strange, that kissing her should be so familiar, as if he already knew the shape of her lips, had memorized her sweet taste, had spent a lifetime, his entire lifetime kissingher. . .
“Prue,” he whispered against her lips. God, but he wanted to take that trembling mouth hard with his until neither of them could think of anything but each other’s taste, but his control was already slipping, his skin on fire and his cock straining between his thighs.
He wanted more—all of her—but it was too soon, too much at once, so he held back, brushing his mouth over hers again and again, desperate for the taste of her. She arched into him, the hardened tips of her breasts pressing into his bare chest, her fingers sinking into his hair to urge him closer, her tongue creeping out to touch his.
He groaned, his head swimming, lost to the desire pounding through him, his mouth hot against hers. “God, yes, sweetheart, so good.” He slipped his leg between hers, tangling their limbs together, the warm, tempting hollow between her legs pressing against his thigh. She was so sweet, so close, and he was getting lost in her, his cock aching to sink into that tempting heat.
Need to be careful with her . . . go slowly . . . a proper gentleman, not a ravening animal . . .
But he was losing the battle, his control slipping, his chest heaving with his panting breaths as he toyed with the loose neckline of her night rail. His hands shook as he dragged it lower, trailing his lips over her neck, then burying his mouth in the warm, fragrant hollow of her throat, tasting the pulse that fluttered wildly under the soft skin there.
“Jasper.” She caught a handful of his hair, tugging him closer, a murmured plea on her lips. She wanted him, was straining against him and opening her legs to make room for him in the warm cradle of her body, her thighs moving restlessly against his hips.
He slid her night rail up to her knees, caressing the bare skin of her calf before sliding his hands up to her waist, squeezing her there, his fingertips brushing her hip as he reached to cup her backside, and press her closer to him. There was no way she couldn’t feel how much he wanted her, his cock hard and his hips moving gently against her, but instead of pushing him away she wrapped her legs around his waist to pull him closer, a strangled cry on her lips. “I want . . . Jasper, please.”
“So eager.” He thumbed one of her nipples, his lips parting as it hardened, the dark blush pink of it visible through the thin muslin of her night rail. “Shall I kiss you here?”
“Yes.” She sank her fingers into his hair, dragging his head lower, a sharp cry falling from her lips when his mouth closed over her nipple. He suckled the rigid peak and caressed it with the tip of his tongue until she was clutching at him, and he was ready to explode just from the sight of her, her mouth slack with pleasure, whimpers and pleas falling from her lips.
“So passionate, Prue. I love watching you.” He trailed his fingers over her belly, pausing to press a kiss there before he slid his hand underneath the hem of her night rail, easing it up, up, up, then over her head with one quick tug, his breath catching when every pale, quivering inch of her bare skin was revealed to him. “You’re so beautiful, sweetheart.”
He struggled out of his breeches and pressed a lingering kiss to her lips as he slipped his hand between her trembling thighs.
“Oh, oh.” She moaned, her neck arching, and he stroked her gently, coaxing her with soft murmurs until she grew damp, her honey coating his fingers and her hips rising and falling with the movement of his hand.
He was desperate for her, desire pounding through him. He shifted to kneel between her legs, spreading her wider with a gentle nudge of his hips. He pressed the tip of his swollen cock to her entrance, an agonized groan tearing from his lips at the silky wet heat of her.
He allowed himself one restrained thrust, then froze when she sucked in a breath.
“Oh!” Her gaze flew to his, her eyes wide.
She was slick with arousal, but so small, so tight.
Too tight. “Shhh. It’s alright. I’ve got you.” He stilled his hips, pausing to stroke her again, rubbing and circling her tiny bud with his thumb until she was slick and open, and she began pushing back on his hand.
“Yes, that’s it.” God, it was so good, so good. He slid the tip of his cock inside and she gasped again, her thighs tightening around him, her big hazel eyes locked on his face with an expression of pain and pleasure at once, her jaw tight, but her lips soft and open still, her eyelids fluttering over dark, liquid eyes.
