He intermittently broke the kiss only to renew it with a delicious intent. With each brush of his lips and lick of his tongue, she felt rewarded for this brazen decision she’d made. She had absolutely no regrets.
Not even when he started to shrug out of his coat. In fact, she helped him, pushing the garment from his shoulders. He let it fall to the floor, and she considered whether she ought to pick it up.
“Leave it,” he whispered, seeming to read her mind. “The floor will soon be littered with our cast-off clothing. It will make us smile later.” A smile teased his lips now, and his eyes—so bright with desire—flashed with humor.
She was amazed at his ability to find lightness in almost any situation. Perhaps she’d ask him about that sometime.
As if they had more than just tonight.
“Should I undress, then?” she asked tentatively.
“May I do it?”
She couldn’t help the blush that rose in her face. “If you want to.”
“I do. Very much.”
“Should I undress you too?” She felt woefully naïve, but knew she couldn’t pretend her way through this.
“If you’d like. I don’t want you to do anything you don’t wish to. At any moment, you must feel free to stop me or what’s happening.”
She nodded. “I’m not going to change my mind, if that’s what you mean.”
“I believe that. However, if you’re ever uncomfortable, I hope you’ll tell me. I want you to.”
“Is ravishment uncomfortable?”
He laughed softly. “It’s not supposed to be. There can be discomfort or pain during the first time for a woman. I’ll do my best to minimize that, but I don’t think it’s entirely up to me.”
“What can I do?”
“Just relax and enjoy yourself? I think. I’m not a woman, so I can’t say. I will promise to ensure you enjoy yourself—to the very best of my ability.”
“I enjoyed your kisses.” She narrowed her eyes slightly, wishing they’d just get back to that. As much as she appreciated his telling her what to expect, she was eager to get on with things.
“I’m pleased to hear that.” He ducked his head and kissed her again. “I fear I won’t be able to get enough of you, Pru.”
Hearing him call her that between kisses only intensified her desire. She stood on her toes and pressed into him as he stroked his hand down her neck, trailing his fingers to the hollow of her throat.
“My dress comes down in the front,” she said.
“How fortunately easy.” He kissed her jaw, then moved down her neck, awakening a whole new range of sensations.
She thrust her fingers into his hair, shocked by her boldness. But she wanted him and this, and she meant to take full advantage.
Deftly, he released the clasps holding her dress up. The front of her bodice fell to her waist, and she felt a moment’s alarm. Only a moment, because his lips moved toward her breast, thoroughly distracting her.
“Hmmm, why are we standing here? Because I was too eager.” He swept her into his arms and carried her to the bed.
“Wait,” she said. “My boots.” He sat her on the bed, then bent to remove them from her feet.
“Such dainty ankles. But then you are entirely dainty. If I didn’t know your personality, I would say you could have been a fairy from the forest.”
“What about my personality indicates I can’t?”
“I don’t know. I suppose I think of a fairy being delicate and sweet. Not that you aren’t sweet. I would describe you as forthright and strong.”
“I would argue that a fairy can be whatever she wants.”
He slid his hands up her calf, his fingertips caressing her through the cotton of her stockings. “That is a very fine argument. I would agree that you, my lovely fairy, can definitely be whatever you want.”
He found the top of her stocking and untied the ribbon before pulling it from her leg. She nearly moaned with the need for him to put his hands back on her. Thankfully, he only transferred them to the other leg, performing the same arousing ministrations he had on the first one.
Prudence slid from the bed as he stood before her.
“Where are you going?” he asked.
“Taking the dress off.” She untied it, loosening the fabric around her middle and pushed it to the floor.
He bent and slid it toward the post at the foot of the bed. “I’ll just move it aside. Don’t want to step on it.”
“How considerate of you.” She looked at all the clothes he was wearing compared to her standing before him in her underthings. Reaching for the buttons of his waistcoat, she hesitated.
“You can unfasten this. In fact, you can do whatever you like to me.”
She wished she knew what that could be.
“Just follow your instincts,” he said, again seeming to be inside her head.
“Are you somehow able to see my thoughts?”
He laughed. “You are typically rather difficult to read, but now, in this, you are not. I’m rather enjoying it, to be honest.”
She didn’t like that she was so transparent, but it was helpful in this situation. Furthermore, she didn’t want to hide from him—or from herself—tonight. “I shall have to work on maintaining an aura of mystery.” She unbuttoned his waistcoat.
Bennet slipped the garment off and, as with his coat, let it slide to the floor.
Next, Prudence pulled at his simply knotted cravat. “Thank goodness this isn’t some elaborate knot, although it’s still rather elegant.”
“Thank you. I work hard to achieve just that—simple elegance. I’m afraid my lack of a valet doesn’t allow for much else.”
“Which is why I nearly always wear gowns that fasten in the front. My lack of a maid doesn’t permit anything more complicated. Honestly, I would hate to have to wait for assistance to dress or undress.” She slid the silk from his neck.
His eyes briefly closed. “It’s astonishing how something so simple can feel so deliriously naughty.”
Prudence thought she knew what he meant. When he’d unfastened her gown, something had happened to her—a frisson of awareness that danced across her flesh, that had teased her breasts into a state of arousal. She’d never experienced such a thing. Would he touch them? She longed for him to do so, but wasn’t sure she possessed enough courage to ask.
Of course she did. She was a bold fairy, wasn’t she?
He continued, “I confess that having someone dress you, particularly for an important event that requires complexity and an excess of style, is rather intoxicating.”
“I’ll have to take your word for it since it’s an extravagance I shall never experience.”
“Never say never.” He leaned down to kiss her, his hands settling on her shoulders before his fingers slid beneath the straps of her petticoat.
Yes, this undressing business was incredibly enticing. He gently pushed the straps from her shoulders, then worked the garment down her hips as she wriggled to help him.
He groaned, surprising her.
“What’s wrong?” she asked.
“Nothing at all. Promise me you’ll move just like that shortly.” His hands moved to her backside, bringing her flush against him.