“What else?” he prompted.
“Um…I know…er, I know…I know you’re making this terribly difficult.”
He didn’t stop.
“I know that…that you and I are…different.”
He snaked one arm around her waist to hold her in place, while the other hand came up to fondle a breast.
“We have different parts,” she said on a gasp.
“Thank God for that. What else, Sophie?”
What else? Sophie couldn’t think of what else. She couldn’t seem to think at all. She wrapped her arms around his shoulders.
Alex stilled suddenly, and then let out a long breath against the damp skin of her neck. “That’s it, isn’t it?” he asked.
Sophie tensed. He didn’t have to sound so put out about it. And that wasn’t it, thank you very much.
“I’ve seen cats do it,” she blurted out quickly, then clamped her eyes shut in mortification.
Cats?
Cats?
She felt the muscles in his arms tighten and shake and forced her eyelids open. He straightened and looked down at her, his own eyes dancing with merriment.
“Cats,” he repeated in an amused and slightly patronizing tone that prompted an explanation from her.
“Yes, cats.” In for a penny, in for a pound. “I was very young, and I thought they were fighting. Mrs. Summers told me to look away, but I only pretended to, of course, and…well, she tried to pull them apart but only got scratched for her troubles. She still has the scar on her hand,” Sophie rambled nervously, simultaneously wondering if it was possible to bite off one’s own tongue, and how much it might hurt if one tried.
“I’ll wager that scar makes for some interesting dinner conversations,” Alex said, grinning—in Sophie’s opinion—like an idiot.
“I’ve quite ruined the moment, haven’t I?” she grumbled.
“On the contrary, this is the most delightful moment I’ve had in years. I shall remember it always.”
Sophie cringed, very much afraid he would.
“Any other animal husbandry lessons you—?”
“No.” Several actually, but at this particular moment, no force on heaven or earth could force her to admit to that.
“I do understand the basics, Alex,” she said instead. “I’ve heard enough talk when people didn’t know I was listening. Some of the cultures we visited were very open about…”
She flipped her hand about helplessly. Just because he was comfortable talking about it, didn’t mean she ever would be.
“Making love?” he offered.
“Yes, thank you. I’m aware of the, er…mechanics involved. I know you…that is, we…”
More hand waving followed until she finally said, in a much smaller voice than she would have preferred, “er…join.”
That was good enough for Alex. He reached for her.
“I’ll show you the rest.”
He pulled off her chemise and laid her back down against the blankets.
He took his first look at a fully unclothed Sophie and sucked in a tortured breath.
“Lovely,” he whispered dropping down to lightly kiss one nipple. “Beautiful.”
Sophie moaned and drew his head up to kiss him until they were both panting. He used the distraction to disrobe completely, thinking it best to do it while her eyes were closed and thereby accustom her to his body in stages.
Finally, finally, when they were both naked, he gave himself over to the task of pleasuring the both of them. His hands and lips wandered over her restlessly until she was writhing beneath him.
One hand slid down between them to tease the curls at the apex of her legs.
Sophie tensed immediately.
“Shhhh,” he crooned. “Let me, sweeting. Trust me.”
She did, relaxing as his hand continued down to tease at the hidden folds. Slowly, he slid one finger deep inside her. Watched her face as her breath hitched and her mouth opened in a silent moan.
“So wet. So perfect,” he murmured, leaning down to feast on one breast. If he kept watching her, he would be finished before they even started.
Patiently he moved his finger in and out, listening as the sounds of her desire grew higher in pitch. He wanted to take her right then. He wanted to bury himself to the hilt in one solid stroke and never leave. But even more than that, he wanted to make this good for her.
“Alex, I can’t….”
“You can. Let it happen, sweet.”
She arched her back and cried out, her muscles tensing around his finger.
Alex would have grinned in triumph if his own desire hadn’t swallowed up every other thought. He settled between her thighs and groaned when she instinctively brought her legs up to wrap around his own and caress his calves with her feet.
“Perfect,” he whispered again, pushing persistently deeper into her with each slow stroke. “You’re perfect.”
Again and again he pressed into her, until he reached the proof of her innocence.
Alex grimaced and kissed her lightly. “This will hurt, Sophie.”
“I know,” she replied with quiet understanding. “It’s all right.”