What was wrong with her? This was dangerous territory and was most certainly not what she'd had in mind when she'd jumped on his bed. What had she had in mind? To seduce him—or pretend to seduce him—not the other way around. But how did she go about seducing him? The thought was cut off when he kissed her. As she remembered, his mouth was soft and warm, but now there was an insistence that caused her limbs to go weak. His tongue flicked at her lips and she opened without hesitation. He plunged inside, soft, sweet, and so warm that Phoebe wondered how such a large man could be so gentle.
Think, she commanded her failing wits. If she wasn't careful, he would have an inescapable reason to force her to marry him. A memory flashed of happening upon Heddy and one of her paramours in an erotic embrace while closeted away in a private room at a party. Phoebe twirled her tongue around Kiernan's while reaching with one hand to cup his groin. He stilled and heat raced through her at the unexpected feel of the long, hard length beneath her fingers. She hadn't looked, hadn't realized that he was fully erect. Fully erect? That part of him seemed ready to break free of his trousers. How was that possible in the few minutes since he'd sat down?
He broke the kiss and lifted his face a bare inch from hers. Her throat went dry, but there was no turning back now. She massaged him.
"Phoebe."
The rasp in his voice startled her, but she immediately understood the advantage and gently raked her nails along his rigid length.
"By God, Phoebe, if you keep that up—"
She raked her nails harder, and he covered her hand with his, flattening her palm over him. The steel rod pulsed. Yes, she had the advantage. This, according to Heddy, would bring a man to quick climax—and without any resistance on his part.
His gaze shifted from her face and he grasped both straps and eased them down to uncover her breasts. Cool air washed over her flesh, tightening her nipples. He drew a sharp breath and bent toward her. In the haze of confusion she was aware of the tickle of his hair on her cheek, then the flick of his tongue against—by heavens—her nipple. His hand still covered hers over the hard part of him, urging her to knead him. She complied and couldn't resist the desire to attempt to wrap her fingers around his shaft.
He shoved her hand aside and embarrassment washed over her. He had detected her inexperience. But Phoebe realized he was unfastening his trousers and, when he grasped her hand and brought it back to him, her fingers closed around his bare flesh. For an instant, she wondered if she would faint, but he sucked her nipple into his mouth and the pleasure caused her fingers to convulse around his rod. He groaned and she squeezed tighter.
He released her nipple and pressed his lips to her ear. "Hold me tight, love, as tight as you want. Then move like this."
To her shock, he guided her hand up and down in a slow pistoning motion. Down until his flesh pulled so tight she feared she would hurt him, then up until his penis nearly slipped from her grasp.
"Tighter, Phoebe," he urged.
"I-I don't want to hurt you, my lord."
He gave a husky chuckle that made her feel warm all over.
"You can't hurt me," he said. "In fact, you may abuse me all you like."
She squeezed tighter and continued the up and down motion. He slowly thrust into her hand as his teeth closed over her ear lobe. An unexpected picture rose of him thrusting inside her. She heard a whimper, then realized the sound emanated from her. His hand cupped the juncture between her legs.
"Sir."
"Turnabout is fair play, Phoebe. I would be no gentleman if I let you pleasure me while I did not return the favor. Now you keep on as you are and we'll both benefit, I promise."
Panic flooded her. Heddy had said men went insane when a woman touched them in this manner. Kiernan gently massaged her mound. Faster, she realized, she had to stroke him faster. That would bring him to a frenzy, and once he'd reached his pleasure they would be finished. She increased her speed on his erection.
"Slow down," he ordered.
Moisture on the tip of his shaft slicked her fingers. He ceased his attentions on her sex and she breathed a sigh of relief only to find he'd yanked her skirt to her thigh.
"Doesn't this please you?" she asked, and squeezed his erection on the up motion.
"It pleases me too much," he growled.
Then how was he able to think of touching her?
He slipped a hand beneath her skirt, and his warm fingers on the sensitive flesh of her inner thigh caused her to jump. The feather light tickle across the curls covering her sex startled her and her rhythm faltered. Good Lord, she had to take back the advantage. She grabbed him with her other hand, covering his member from tip to root.
"You vixen," he murmured.
In the next instant he had her skirt up around her waist.
"My lord," she cried.
"Hush," he commanded. "The maids have the hearing of gods."
He pushed her legs apart and shock immobilized her when his head descended and his mouth closed over the most intimate part of her where her drawers were open at the crotch. She squirmed in surprise, then drew a sharp breath at the pleasure that rippled through her. He wasn't—he couldn't be—he was. He was sucking and, dear God in heaven, she couldn't think. Pleasure shot through her. The sucking stopped, then his tongue thrust inside her.
"Dear Lord!"