He cocked his head, as if trying to understand what she meant. She thought she saw some comprehension enter his eyes. “I think you are wrong about that. However, if you don’t enjoy it, we will stop.”
They just stood there for what felt was forever. He waited for her to decide. She remained incapable of thinking clearly enough to do so. Where had all those sensible conclusions from the last hour gone? She didn’t even try to remember them.
“Perhaps,” she said. “If you were to kiss me, maybe . . .”
“It sounds like you want me to seduce you. It would be better if the choice were yours without persuasion, Minerva. I want to kiss you. I want you to the point of madness right now, but only if you want me too.”
Lies. Just his eyes were persuasive. And his lean form and handsome face. Without a touch or a word, he had established sensual bonds with her, that he seemed to pull. “I only thought that a small reminder . . .”
“I will gladly remind you of the afternoon, but I would like you to come here to me, so I know you are sure.”
She wasn’t sure. Not really. Even her arousal could not obscure her mind and memories so thoroughly as to make her certain. Yet she wanted this. Very much wanted it. Right now, with his power reaching out to her, she believed that maybe this would be a wonderful thing, so wonderful that nothing could ruin it.
Nervous, she took one step. She took another and, oddly, much of her trepidation disappeared. Resolve took its place. He had asked her to make her choice explicit. Had he guessed that doing this would exhilarate her? More secure with each step she walked to him.
With one long stride he intercepted her before she finished, and pulled her into an embrace. The first kiss was careful and sweet. The next one less so. Excitement spun through her and she was glad when their embrace tightened and their passion brought more kisses, dozens of them, shared and separate, while they released some of the madness descending. Somehow, while still holding her and kissing her, he shed his shirt. The sensation of his warmth, of his skin under her hands and lips fascinated her so much she had to press kisses on his chest, just to experience it again. While she did he kissed her neck and brought one hand to caress her breast.
One note of reality plucked in her. One instant of hesitation followed. He must have sensed it. He moved his hand away. Furious with herself, she moved his hand back where it had been and kissed him hard.
His slow smile formed against her lips. He caressed her breast. The sensation had her rising on her toes. The most subtle touch, yet her whole body responded. Titillating pleasure trickled down her core, more compelling than an overwhelming onslaught. It increased slowly, absorbing all of her attention. She wanted to moan from how good it felt.
“It is better if stays, petticoats, and dresses are not in the way,” he said in her ear while he nibbled and kissed it.
“We will have to stop. I don’t want to stop.” She dared not stop.
“We won’t stop. I’ll do it.”
“I hope you know how to—oh, I see you do.” Her dress loosened. She had not noticed his hand at work back there. A few minutes later she stepped out of it.
Good to his word, they did not stop. Even the stays caused little delay, considering she found it hard to stand now. One touch on her bare breast and she did moan in an exhale of wonder.
She did not remember actually moving to the bed, but then they were there, his caresses moving down her body, his mouth finding her naked chest and breasts and stomach. Nothing could enter the small place she existed in. Nothing in her head or her past. Only he and she and astonishing sensations lived there. And joy. Each new pleasure brought a smile to her spirit.
“Come here.” He rolled onto his back and brought her with him, so she was above him. She straddled his hips, feeling his phallus between her thighs. She gazed down at his face, then bent to kiss him. He took her breasts in his hands, then moved her forward and used his mouth. She was relieved that she would not have to worry about the moment he covered her, and imprisoned her with his body. It entered her besotted mind that sparing her that might have been his intention.
Their position caused his phallus to prod at her suggestively. “Do people ever . . . like this, the way we are . . .”
“Yes.”
“Perhaps . . .”
“If you want. When you want.”
She bent her head and looked down between their bodies. “I don’t know how I . . .”
“I will help, but you will control it. You can stop if you want. If you find that you don’t enjoy it.” When she nodded, he lifted her, and positioned her body so he began entering.
The sensation intrigued her. She had never welcomed that fullness before. Her body ached to absorb more of him and bind him to her. She slowly lowered herself more, then more yet. He exhaled deeply when finally they were joined.
“That was too slow for you, wasn’t it?”
“Tonight is not about me. The rest is up to you too.”
She nestled down, so he was deeper yet. She pulsed where he stretched her, making her squirm. His expression tightened. Her movements created profoundly deep pleasure that kept increasing. Her sense of herself narrowed only to that demanding sensation. Soon she was rising and falling in an effort to take him deeper yet. Her whole body ached for more even though surely there could never be more. Her mind stretched toward something just out of reach. Something frightening in its power.
He grasped her hips and helped her rise and fall. The fury engulfed them both. Time and place disappeared until she tasted a rare moment of bliss before her spirit gave up the quest.
* * *
He pulled her into his arms and held her while her deep breaths feathered his ear. They lay entwined while he became aware of time again. He luxuriated in the press of her body on his, and the silken strands of her hair on his shoulder.
Her head moved. He opened his eyes a slit and realized she was looking down at herself. She shifted slightly.
“Are you uncomfortable?” he asked.
“Not uncomfortable. Just very . . . naked.”
He moved her aside, sat up, and rearranged the bedclothes so she would be covered. For good measure he got up and grabbed her chemise, in case she wanted that too. He turned back to the bed with the garment in his hands to find her wide eyes examining him.
He returned to her side and tucked the covers around her. “You have never seen a man undressed before, have you?”
“Not totally.”
“And yourself?”
“Not totally.”
“If you had not wanted—”
“I rather enjoyed your undressing me, and being like this. I liked feeling you against me. It seemed a bit wicked, and since I am being naughty I thought I might as well get full benefit of it.”
“That was your thinking, was it?”
“When I was thinking at all.” She rose up on one arm so she could see his face. “Of course I am thinking now, quite a bit. Your restraint on my behalf was heroic. I did not even know men could hold back like that. I just assumed their need required quick resolution.”
He did not know what to say to her. Not what his mind cursed out, that was certain. It sounded as if nothing more than quick resolutions occurred in her past. He had suspected as much. Her claims of not being normal when it came to sensuality had made no sense, since the evidence showed she was very normal. She had merely not known pleasure because no man had given her the time or made the effort.