Page 60 of Captivating the Earl (Lords and Ladies in Love 5)

A few more buttons and then her gown drifted down to pool at her feet, leaving her in her stays, chemise, and two petticoats.

“Why do you women wear so many blasted layers of clothes?” Hawk’s warm breath bathed her skin as he scattered small kisses across her shoulder blades, then down her spine as he released each loop.

“To make rakes like you work hard,” Lizzie crooned.

“Ah, but I don’t mind the work.” He grinned. “The reward is so very worthwhile.” He unlaced her stays in record time. That also dropped to join her gown. No lady’s maid had ever finished so quickly. With one quick movement, Hawk spun her until she was back in his arms again, his large hands on her back.

My husband.

Up until a few weeks ago, that was something she’d never thought to possess. In fact, she hadn’t even wanted one. The idea of her own home, husband, and children had always been in her plans, but once her life had shattered, any sort of security had been heaven sent. And she was quite proud of the security she’d built for herself at Wycliff Manor.

“What are you thinking so hard about?” His deep voice rolled over her skin, raising gooseflesh.

“Nothing.”

“That is exactly what you should be thinking about, wife. Nothing. Nothing at all. Right now you should only be feeling.” With those words, he undid her petticoats and bent to remove her slippers, leaving her in nothing more than her stockings.

Hawk stood and regarded her. His eyes darkened, and he touched her forehead with his lips so gently, she wasn’t even sure he made contact with her skin. Any embarrassment at her nakedness faded at the look of appreciation in his eyes.

“You are so beautiful, you take my breath away.” She closed her eyes as he moved his hand behind her head and undid her hairpins. Her heavy locks cascaded around her shoulders, tickling her bare skin. She shook her head, her hair swirling around her body. She had become a wanton woman. And loved it.

“Yes, so beautiful.” One arm wrapped around her shoulders, the other around her waist, his hand resting on her lower back. His palm cradled her buttocks, caressing lightly at first, then with more pressure as he pulled her to him and dipped his head to take her breast into his mouth.

Her head fell back, and her hands clung to his powerful forearms. She sighed, enjoying the roughness of his clothes against her sensitive skin. His hardened manhood pressed into her stomach, evidence of his desire for her. His mouth moved from one breast to the next, suckling, nipping, teasing, soothing. Her knees grew weak, and she held on tighter, afraid her legs would buckle and she would collapse at his feet.

Naked on her knees. Now that was an intriguing image, one she’d seen in that naughty book she and her friends had perused at boarding school years ago.

As if sensing her thoughts, Hawk picked her up and moved to the bed. He dropped her none too gently on the mattress, and she bounced. She laughed and shifted to her side and leaned her head on her propped-up hand, studying his every move.

The only time they’d been intimate, it had been dark, and she had not gotten a good look at his body. Now, in full daylight, was her chance to admire him as he had admired her.

Each article of clothing he removed increased her desire to see more. When he tugged his linen shirt over his head, her mouth watered. His golden skin and rippling muscles, with dark curly hair running down the center of his chest, disappearing into the edge of his pantaloons, stirred her further. She licked her lips.

“Darling, if you keep looking at me like that, the decision I made to be gentle with my wife on her wedding night will vanish as swiftly as a beggar’s breakfast.”

“Why do you think I want gentle?” she purred.

He groaned, and Lizzie had no need to apologize since she was enjoying the show far too much. She didn’t want him to be kind and gentle. Certainly not with the burning in her body now.

Once every item of clothing had been removed, Hawk climbed onto the bed next to her. He stretched his long body beside hers.

“I still have my stockings on.”

He leaned over her, pulling her close. “Leave them on.”

…

Hawk began at Lizzie’s throat and kissed his way down to her breasts, using his tongue to circle her nipple before taking it between his teeth. A slight moan from Lizzie encouraged him to move on to her other breast.

His senses had never been so engaged in a sexual encounter. He was not making love to a woman’s body, as he generally did, but to the woman herself. Her quirks, personality, scent, smile, laughter. In all ways she was perfection, soft and sweet, her skin scented like summer air and flowers. He had to hold onto his control to not shove himself into her silky sheath and thrust until he spent his seed. She’d only had sex once before, and despite her teasing, he should be gentle.

Her small hand slid down his side, edging slowly toward his cock. “Yes, sweetheart, touch me.” He sucked in a deep breath when her fingers wrapped around him, squeezing slightly. Heaven.

He walked his fingers down her body, lifting her knee to caress the skin on the back of her leg. She moaned softly, and her knees fell open. The sight of her splayed legs, the golden brown curly hair at her center, and the stockings, tied with two pale yellow ribbons, would be forever burned in his mind.

He looked forward to introducing her to various ways they could make love, the things they could do to each other. Yes. He had a definitive list of ways to pleasure his new wife. With her natural bravado, there were even some darker things he might introduce her to in the future.

Lizzie continued to hold him, stroke him. Then she made her way down his body, inserted her tongue into his navel, then glanced up at him with a devilish grin and blew gently. He almost came off the bed. Where had she learned that? Maybe it was not too soon to introduce the more interesting aspects of intimacy to his adept pupil.