Page 186 of A Very Bellamy Christmas

She laughed. “Yes. It sounded like it.” She swallowed, her amusement dwindling, and then added, “She said there would be a little pain. She also said that you were probably the sort of man who would, er, make sure that discomfort did not signify.”

God bless Lady Needham.

“I will make it good for you, Stacia.”

“I know you will.”

He caressed her face, unable to resist touching her. “I don’t usually sleep in most of my clothing as I did those nights we spent together.”

She snorted softly. “I did not think you did.”

“I don’t even sleep in a nightshirt.”

“Oh. Is that—is that something you would like for me to do?”

He grinned. “You mean sleep naked?”

She gave him an exasperated look. “You just like making me blush.”

“Yes. I do. And yes to your first question. I want you to sleep naked. And when I say sleep, I mean any time we share a bed. Which will be every night.”

“You don’t wish to have your own room?”

“We will have our own rooms, but we will share one bed—yours, mine, I do not care which.” He took her chin between his fingers and tilted her up for a kiss. “But I want to sleep tangled up together. I like it almost as much as I like sex, Stacia. I want both with you, as often as possible.”

She caught her lower lip with her teeth and then nodded.

“Who shall I undress first?” he asked.

“You first,” she blurted, making him laugh.

“As my lady commands.”

There was a pair of candles on one of the nightstands and he wondered if she would ask to have them snuffed. But her eyes and attention were riveted to his hands as he unbuttoned his dark green tailcoat and the pale gold waistcoat beneath it.

“Will you valet me?” he asked once the coats were both unbuttoned.

She leapt to her feet with an enthusiasm that made him chuckle.

A moment later, after much pulling and tugging, she managed to peel off the tight sleeves.

He caught her arm before she could return to the bed and pulled her close, kissing her soundly. “You are such an excellent valet that I almost regret engaging Thomas.”

“You cannot change your mind now—Dora would not allow it,” Stacia said.

He laughed. “No, I daresay she would not.”

The young lovers had approached Andrew when they’d learned he was engaging a valet and personal maid, offering their services. Thomas had waited on Andrew several times during his stay and Stacia seemed fond of Dora, but he had needed to talk to Needham before poaching his servants. Naturally, the viscount—one of the most generous men Andrew had met—was as gracious about losing two excellent servants as he had been about everything else.

Andrew released her and then sat down on the bed. He was tempted to ask for help with his hessians—his cock throbbed just imagining the sight of her straddling his leg—but something told him he needed to save his more playful impulses for a later date.

Once he’d shed his boots and stockings he stood and tugged off his cravat, holding it out to her. “Will I need this?”

Her hand twitched and he thought she might reach for it, but she just shook her head.

Andrew tossed it aside, pulled off his shirt, and then pushed down his tight pantaloons and drawers in one motion.

When he stood, her eyes arrowed directly to his cock, which was delighted to be on display and already standing at attention and slick with need.