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As she shut them again, the air between them seemed to sizzle with anticipation. Every feature on her face was so perfectly formed that Reid almost reached up to touch her. But restraint won the day.

When she finally stopped moving, anticipating, Reid moved in. He slid his hands up between them, his palms facing her. He allowed them to hang in the air for a moment before he reached for the neckline of her gown.

What if she has a particular penchant for the garment and its shift underneath?

Reid decided to take a chance. And despite the heaviness of the gown, with one swift motion, he tore the material in two and pushed it open, revealing the prize beneath. Two perfectly formed creamy orbs tipped with dark nipples begging for his mouth.

Cupping both breasts at once, he used his thumb to ensure her nipples were hard and ready for him. Then he sucked and nipped at one of them until she groaned. When he looked up to ensure he’d not been too rough, his love’s face was filled with wonderment and pleasure. He did it again, this time using his other hand to give the breast the attention it deserved.

By the time Reid stood up straight, his cock stood up with him, hard and begging for relief. He could see from Allie’s expression he’d only accomplished part of his goal. She would remember him tomorrow, and every day they were apart, but she wanted more. Reid wanted her to think of nothing beyond the pleasure he’d given her. So when he saw an opening in her partially torn dress, he took it.

Reaching below her undergarments, Reid didn’t stop until he felt the soft curls that stood guardian to her very core.

“Look at me.”

She’d already been doing so, but he didn’t want her to look away. Reid wanted her to know that pleasing her gave him as much enjoyment as it did her.

He needed her to know how she affected him.

Reid didn’t glide his fingers in as slowly and smoothly as he’d done in the tub. This time, once ensuring she was wet and ready for him, he plunged inside, fitting his palm against her. He circled and thrusted, relentless, watching as her lips parted and her eyes opened wide.

When she was close, Reid backed them both up against the wall as her soft moans became louder, a flush creeping from her neck to her face.

“Oh yes,” she panted. Still, he did not relent. When she finally cried out, he cupped her curls and waited patiently for her breathing to slow back down to normal. Only then did he pull away.

Her gown was torn in two, her hair completely tousled.

She looked down in something like shock. “’Tis torn.”

He chuckled. “Aye, lass, very much so. Though I cannot apologize.”

“Why?”

“I will never lie to you.” He looked directly at her. “I am not sorry for wanting to be with you so much that the thought of removing that obstacle by any other means never entered my mind.”

Allie reached down and pulled the torn pieces together.

“It was an old gown anyway,” she said with a sly smile. “Though I will need another, or perhaps two, to replace it.”

Reid took her hands in his. “Gowns, family, love . . . I will give it all to you, Allie. I wish to do so right now.”

And in that moment, when she looked at him with such reverence, every argument he’d given his brothers fell away. She loved him. Believed in him. And since he valued her judgment, just maybe—

“Soon.” She smiled. “In the meantime, I do believe you are correct . . .”

“About?”

“Tomorrow.” She glanced down at where her hands held the gown in place. “This shall be quite difficult to forget.”

“Well then,” he said with a formal bow. “My job here is done.”

“But you—”

“Must leave,” he said. “If I stay here much longer, we will begin our lives together at a disadvantage, for I will have earned your sister’s ire and broken a promise to my new brother-in-law.”

At her confused expression, he clarified. “Another moment longer and that dress will lie in two at your feet and you will be my wife in all but formality.”

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