Page 26 of Marrying the Wrong Earl (Lords and Ladies in Love 2)

“No. Don’t do that.” He walked toward her and extended his hand. Looking up at him with a combination of curiosity and determination, she placed her small, delicate hand in his. He drew her to her feet and moved her forward until she was almost flush against him.

“You are a beautiful woman, Arabella.” He ran his fingers through her hair, dragging the locks over her shoulder to rest on her breasts. His palm slid down her arm to her hand, where he entwined their fingers together. Slowly, he bent his head and took her lips in a soft, gentle kiss.

Their first kiss of substance.

She was all honey, lemon, and woman. The scent from her bath and hair drifted over him as he cupped the back of her head and nudged her lips with his tongue. After some hesitation, probably not sure what he wanted, she slowly opened her lips, and he delved in. Now he tasted mint that mingled with her other scents, offering a bouquet of fragrances uniquely Arabella.

He pulled away from her and held her shoulders. “Are you feeling well?”

“Yes.”

“Frightened?”

“No. Should I be?”

“If you trust me not to hurt you, now or ever, it will go much smoother. I want to make this as pleasurable for you as it will be for me.” He scooped her up and carried her to the bed. Laying her down gently, he joined her, resting his head on his left hand as he studied her.

“Do you realize your eyes almost match your hair in color?”

Arabella nodded. “I’ve been told that. I fail to see it myself, however.” She startled and inhaled deeply when his finger began to trace the soft skin on her cheek.

“Relax, Wife. We’ve spent many a night in this bed together.”

“I am not nervous.” She glanced sideways at him. “Perhaps curious.”

For days now he’d ached—literally—to introduce her to the pleasures that awaited them. And truth be told, he was becoming a little frantic himself to take her as a husband takes his wife.

He smiled slowly and bent to capture her lips in another gentle kiss. This time she willingly opened her mouth before he asked. She was a fast learner, his wife. No surprise there. He placed his arm around her waist and pulled her the slight distance between them until her body rested flush against his. He held in a moan at the feeling of her soft breasts pressed against his chest. The warmth and lushness of her body set his heart to thumping.

Her breathing seemed to increase, and she slowly moved her hand up his chest.

“Yes. Touch me.” He nibbled on her earlobe then sucked lightly.

Of course, he’d had his share of courtesans and opera dancers, but making love to the unschooled woman to whom he’d pledged his life was a heady experience. Her innocent touch, her soft breaths, her sweet lips on his chest, all reminded him of the precious gift she gave of her body.

With deft fingers born of undressing many females in his time, he kept her lips busy while he slowly moved his hand up, underneath her gown, until it rested at her waist. He caressed her plump bottom, bringing a slight, but definite, sigh from her lips. “Let’s take this off. You’ll be more comfortable,” he murmured in her ear.

She shifted and allowed him to pull the garment over her head. He tossed the gown away while she covered her breasts again. He took both of her hands in his and remo

ved them, placing them on his shoulders, then bent to take one pouting nipple into his mouth. He swirled his tongue over the bead, taking light nips that he soothed with his lips.

Her hands moved to tangle her fingers in his hair, pulling him closer. “That feels good.”

“Sweetheart,” he murmured against her breast, “it only gets better from here.”

…

Arabella shivered, but not from the cold. Even though her nightgown had been deftly removed by her husband, the warmth of what he was doing with his wicked mouth was slowly raising her temperature. She rubbed her foot alongside his leg, and the coarse hair felt strange against her skin.

With a final lick, Nash released her breast and moved to the other one. Slowly, his hand made its way down her body until it rested on her hip, kneading it gently. Everywhere he touched brought shivers and gooseflesh to her skin. The ministrations to her breasts caused strange, tingling feelings to the area between her legs. Where his hand now rested.

When had he moved it?

She tried not to think about this man, who only a little more than a week ago she’d barely known, touching her so intimately. But oh, how wonderful was his touch!

Thinking he would enjoy her caresses as much as she was enjoying his, she returned her hand to his chest since he seemed to like that when she did it before. The soft hair was in contrast to his sinewy muscles. She skimmed her fingernail over his flat nipple, and he jumped, but smiled as he said against her mouth, “Don’t stop.”

With his fingers, he nudged her thighs, which she took to mean he wanted her to open her legs. “That’s it, honey.” He sucked in a breath. “You’re already wet for me.”