“I am going to make love to you.” He stepped forward, slowly approaching until their bodies touched.
That didn’t sound so bad. Ian’s lips claimed hers, and he gripped her shoulders as he whispered between kisses, “I feel as if I have been waiting an eternity to have you, Angel.”
His hands crept down to the bodice of her gown and he began to untie the laces. She gasped at the feel of his hands on such an intimate part of her body. She struggled and tried to shove him away. “What are you doing?”
He stepped back and blinked. “What exactly did your mother tell you about what goes on between married couples behind closed doors?”
She shuddered and pulled the fabric of the gown tight around her bodice. “She said you would hurt me very badly and that I would bleed.” Her eyes narrowed and her tone grew laced with hostility at such a horrific concept. “She said I must submit to you without complaint.”
He cursed and Angelica flinched. “I suppose that explains why you’re an only child. Damn, I hate some of the traditions of this century. To keep a young woman in ignorance of one of the most important facts of life is… is a goddamned outrage!” He ran a hand through his hair and sat on the bed. “Sit down with me, Angel. You’re shaking so hard that I am afraid you will topple over to the floor.”
Angelica felt a small measure of comfort in the gentleness in his voice and only cringed a bit when she sat beside him.
He took her chin in his hand, coaxing her to meet his gaze as he stroked her cheek with his thumb. “What we are going to do, couples have been doing joyfully since the beginning of time. The act of love is about giving and receiving pleasure. I implore you to wipe the word ‘submit’ from your mind. I do not intend for you to feel like you’re doing anything of the sort.”
“Then you won’t hurt me?” she asked, still feeling an edge of doubt. Her mother had been so adamant that the consummation of her marriage would be awful. But Ian had never lied to her before.
He sighed again and took her hand, softly stroking her wrist with his thumb. “I am sorry, Angel, but there will most likely be pain the first time, but only the first time, and only for a moment. I will be as gentle as I am able.”
She nodded, believing him. “Will you kiss me?” she asked shyly.
He smiled in a way that warmed her to her toes. “Oh, yes. Many times… all over.” This time she didn’t pull back when he took her lips in a slow, drugging kiss.
His kisses seemed to last for an eternity. Ian slowly ran his hands through her hair and stroked her back in soothing motions. Emboldened, she threaded her fingers through the thick black locks of his hair, sighing at its texture. Slowly, they sank down onto the bed, lying in each other’s arms.
Angelica’s eyes widened as he sat up and removed his shirt. His chest was broad and sculpted like that of a Greek god. His abdomen was flat with ridged muscles that made her stomach flutter at the sight of him. A thin line of hair ran below his belly and disappeared into his trousers, invoking unholy curiosity.
He smiled at her stunned expression. “I, ah, take it that you have never seen a man’s bare chest before?”
“Aside from a glimpse of yours the first time I came here, only pictures and statues,” she whispered, longing to touch him, to see if he was smooth and hard as he looked. “Were things so different back in… your time?”
He nodded. “Oh, yes.” He looked down at her trembling hands. “You may touch me if you like.”
Her cheeks heated. “Would you mind?”
“I would like it very much,” he whispered roughly.
Cautiously, she placed one hand on his chest, noting his quick intake of breath as his nipples hardened. She grew braver, running both hands across the planes and ridges of his muscles, her pulse rising in excitement at her explorations. His skin felt like rough satin over steel and the urge to get closer to him was overpowering.
Angelica was mesmerized. Surely her mother was cracked. This was better than chocolate. “Am I ‘giving you pleasure,’ Your Grace?”
“Yes.” His voice was a low growl and his eyes glowed faintly in the candlelight.
An age-old feeling of feminine power rushed over her at his response. “Do you want to touch me as well?”
He nodded and gently unlaced her nightgown. As he slid the garment down to expose her breasts, she resisted the urge to cover herself, knowing he must enjoy the sight of her body as much as she enjoyed his. For a long time, he merely stared at her as if she were a priceless treasure. “You are so beautiful,” he whispered.
His hands slowly ran along the undersides of her breasts as if she were delicate as glass. Her nipples hardened under his featherlight caresses. When his fingers lightly squeezed her nipples, she cried out in surprised pleasure as muscles low in her body tightened and flickered with heat. “Am I giving you pleasure, my lady?”