His touch was gentle and yet so firm, caressing the base of her neck. She didn’t even realize that he was undoing her buttons down her back until she felt the cool air against her skin. But he didn’t stop kissing her, and gradually she felt her whole body coming to life.
He lifted his head for one second—just long enough to slide her gown off her shoulders. She felt the fabric pool at her feet. And then he stepped close to her once more. But instead of kissing her mouth, he bent his head to kiss her shoulder. His fingers tangled in the corset laces she’d tied in front, deftly undoing them, loosening them…and then pulling away the boning and heavy fabric.
When he took her nipple in his mouth through her shift, she tilted her head back. Her breath came shorter and shorter. And yet…
She opened her eyes. He was intent on her, his hands gentle on her skin. But she hadn’t wanted to simply give herself to him. She’d wanted to be brave and maybe a little outrageous. And so slowly, she reached out and put her hands on the placket of his trousers. His eyes shut; she could feel the hard length of his erection through the fabric.
“God, Rose.”
This was what she needed to do—not just to give herself to him, but to take him in return. Her hands were not so practiced as his had been on her buttons, but he didn’t seem to care. He pressed his hips against her hand, urged her as she peeled back his trousers. His smallclothes came next, revealing a long, pale shaft, already swelling under her attentions. She ran a finger over the tip; he gave a little growl.
And then she looked up at him.
“There we are,” Rose said, feeling her lips curl into a smile. “Stephen Shaughnessy, Actual Man.”
He let out a laugh—but before he could say anything else, before she could lose her nerve—she took him entirely in her hand, caressing him from tip to stem. It was the most amazing thing, the male organ—responsive, moving ever so slightly with her every touch. His breath grew uneven; his shaft pulsed in her hands, growing harder and longer.
“Rose.” He set his hand on her shoulder. “Let me have a turn at you, love.”
She looked up at him. And then, ever so gently, he pushed her down to the bed. Her heart was beating wildly; she couldn’t quite believe she was about to do this.
But then he came over her. He let his weight settle into her, slowly, ever so slowly, until their hips fit together, until her br**sts brushed his chest through her last under layer. He kissed her first on the shoulder, then on the chin, and then, tilting her head up, on the lips. That kiss on the lips didn’t stop. She let herself sink into it as his body settled against hers. They were hip to hip, separated only by the sheer fabric of her chemise. It was both too much and not enough. Their bodies found a rhythm together, a push and pull like heartbeats, like the tide of gravity between them.
He pulled away from her—only long enough to sweep her chemise up her body, to bare her to the cool air. He took off his shirt, revealing wiry muscles. And then he looked in her eyes. “Four months,” he said with a shake of his head. “Truly, we’re going to have a four month engagement?”
“It will have to be long enough to forestall all gossip.”
“Four months.” He made a noise, but he was smiling at her. “Then I’ll fetch a French letter and we’ll be very careful.”
She wasn’t sure what to say to that.
He turned from her momentarily, and found something in his dresser. He fitted this to his erection, and then turned to her. “Now it’s my turn to prepare you.”
He advanced on her. But instead of getting atop her once more, he spread her legs and then very slowly, slid his fingers between them.
“God,” he said, “you’re beautiful. Beautiful and wet for me. And I can’t wait to taste you.”
And then he did. He set his mouth to her, and she felt the sure sweep of his tongue. It was the most shockingly intimate thing she’d ever experienced—entirely beyond her imagination—to have him doing this, tasting her, finding that nub there. He slid a finger inside her. Her breath caught. Between his hand and his tongue, she couldn’t think, could only experience a sweet pleasure, growing. Her body felt restless. She pushed against him, wanting…
He pulled back ever so slightly. And then, while her body was still desperate for more, he kissed his way up her hips, her navel. His mouth left a warm imprint against her belly, rising up her body rib by rib until he found the rounding edge of her breast.
He took her nipple in his mouth again just as he began to move his finger inside her. Those two points—so deliciously, utterly warm—drove her into a frenzy. She was close to something, so close, and if only he would…
But he didn’t. He took his hand away. She almost protested, but he came over her again. This time, he set his erection to her cleft.
“Rose, darling.”
She looked up at him.
“I love you,” he said.