His lips twitched as he escorted her inside. “Yes, indeed. I find myselfquite…dot-dot-dot-hungry. I’ve been dot-dot-dot-hungrysince I met you, Athena.”
Athena. Not Miss Oliphant. Not ma’am. Not evenmilady. She was able to be herself around this man, and she loved that.
But not him. She couldn’t love him,becauseof who she was.
Still, with a grin, she winked up at him, even knowing he likely couldn’t see it under the veil she was wearing. “Then shall we find someplace private we could possibly dot-dot-dot-eat?”
He was already leading her toward the steps. “I agree entirely, my dear. I’ve had the liberty of ordering our luncheon delivered to my private room. I hope you don’t mind?”
It was indeed a liberty, and if Athena were here for anything other than a thorough ravishing, she’d be shocked, positively shocked, to her core.
But instead, her grin turned impish. “I thought ye would never ask. Lead the way, Cash.”
So he did. She’d expected a private sitting room with a dining table, but instead, he led her to a bedchamber, likely the best in the inn. She stood in the doorway and lifted her veil to look around.
There was a dining table in front of the window, with a light repast already set up on it, but it was eclipsed by the large four-poster bed, with a number of fringed pillows, which took up most of the room.
Athena went breathless as soon as her eyes landed on it.
Behind her, she heard the door close, then the lock engage, but she didn’t turn. She didn’t turn when she felt, morethan heard, him step up behind her, and she didn’t turn when his breath tickled the sensitive skin under her ear.
“Athena,” he whispered, “I’ve been waiting to have you for weeks. Are you certain?”
She closed her eyes on a quiet moan. “Cash, please?—”
She couldn’t manage anything else because her throat had suddenly gone dry.
Then he was in front of her, reaching for her hands. He took his time removing her gloves, pulling each fingertip gently to release them, and she shivered at the exquisite torture.
Intent on his task, he spoke without looking up. “I had planned to feed you first, Athena. Oysters and asparagus and chocolate, and all the other foods a menu might employ to help a man intent on seduction.”
The first glove slipped from her hand, and he tossed it aside as he moved to the other.
“That sounds delicious,” she managed.
“I’m sure it will be. But I’ve discovered I’m too impatient. Please, Athena…” The second glove joined the first, and he twined his fingers through hers and finally met her eyes. “Let me make love to you. Here. Now.”
She grinned. “And save luncheon for later?”
“We’ll need to recuperate our energy, I’m sure.”
Pulling her hands from his, she reached for her buttons, pleased she’d worn a simple gown. “I find your proposition acceptable.”
His grin flashed, and he shrugged out of his jacket.
Their clothing flew in various directions, along with barks of laughter as they realized how ridiculous they were being. But if anything, that only served to fuel their desire. After all, forgetoysters…knowing he wanted her as much as she wanted him was a much more powerful aphrodisiac.
They fell into bed together, already tangled in one another’s limbs, and Athena realized she was nearly frantic. Over the last weeks, she’d seen and felt his body—not necessarily naked, although yesterday’s adventure in the river, wearing only their underclothing, had been close enough.
There would be time later to explore his body, to marvel at the smooth muscles and taut skin and that glorious vee which led downward from his abdomen, but for now, there was only one thing she wanted to explore.
When her hand closed around his stiff shaft, Cash sucked in a breath, then exhaled on a groan.
“Lord in Heaven, Athena,” he murmured as he dropped his head back against the pillows. “You’re going to kill me.”
“No’ yet,” she whispered, lowering her head so she could brush a kiss against his chest, then lower across his navel.
His hand, holding her hair, curled into a fist.
