Ivy whimpered with longing for more of his touch, the passionate need in the core of her body pulsating, pounding. He moved to her other breast, exposing it to his hungry, smouldering gaze and placing his mouth on the upper curve, then trailing his tongue over and around her nipple, taking it into his mouth and gently sucking on it. The nerves in her tender flesh rioted with ecstasy, triggering even more flutters and flickers and flames in her lower body.
Louis lifted his head to look at her with eyes dark and glittering with lust. ‘Dinner can wait. I want you.’ His voice was low and deep and gravelly, sending a shiver whispering down her spine.
‘I want you too, so, so much,’ Ivy said. ‘I’ve never experienced anything like this before. It’s like my body hasn’t been alive until now.’
He framed her face in his hands, his expression serious. ‘I won’t do anything you’re not comfortable doing.’
Ivy stroked his stubbled jaw and gazed into his eyes. ‘I know you won’t. That’s why you’re the only person I could ask to help me. I trust you.’
A fleeting shadow went through his gaze before it lowered to her mouth once more. He drew in a ragged breath and took one of her hands, his fingers warm and strong around hers. His eyes met hers and he smiled a slow smile that made her heart slip sideways. ‘Let’s go upstairs.’
Ivy went with him up the grand staircase and he led her to his master suite at the other end of the wide corridor from her bedroom. Her skin was tight all over, her heart rate picking up, her senses on high alert. She was attuned to his every movement, not out of fear but out of excitement. The twilight was still filtering into the room, giving it a muted and intimate glow, and when Louis didn’t reach for the light switch she wondered if he’d remembered her confession about not being comfortable undressing unless the lights were out. It touched her that he was being so patient and understanding with her.
He stood with her next to the king-sized bed, his hands loosely holding hers. His gaze roved over her face, lingering on her mouth and then coming back to her eyes. ‘Remember, you’re the one in control here. I want this to be perfect for you.’
‘Everything’s been perfect so far.’ Ivy slipped her hands out of his and began to unbutton his shirt. ‘I want to feel your skin on mine.’ Her heart was fluttering, but with excitement rather than nerves. It was empowering to know he would be patient with her, not rushing or pushing her to do things she wasn’t ready to do. Somehow it made her feel more emboldened than she had ever felt before, the needs of her body overtaking the paralysing fears in her mind. Funny how those fears were retreating further and further into the background, every magical touch of his melting them away.
Louis shrugged himself out of his shirt and then reached to undo the clip holding her hair on top of her head. It cascaded down around her shoulders. He swept her hair to one side and lowered his mouth to the soft skin just below her ear, and she shivered as his lips and tongue subjected her to feather-light caresses.
‘You smell beautiful—like flowers and summer—and I can’t wait to taste you all over.’ His tone had a roughened edge, as if he was fighting to keep his control in check.
Her own control was facing a similar battle. The shy part of her nature wanted to put the brakes on before he could act on his erotic promise but the sensually awakened part of her relished the thought of him caressing her in such an intimate way. ‘I want to taste you too.’
She brought her mouth to his neck in the shallow dish between his clavicles and pressed her lips to the saltiness of his skin. He shuddered under her touch and brought her closer to the jutting hardness of his body. Ivy grew emboldened by the impact she was having on him and kissed his neck again, this time using her tongue in kitten-like licks.
He made a sound at the back of his throat and, with one hand pressed to the small of her back, brought the other to cup her breast. ‘I want to see you. All of you. Do you want me to undress you or would you feel more comfortable doing it yourself?’
Ivy was touched that he’d asked rather than assumed he could go ahead. ‘I want you to do it.’ She could hardly believe she was saying it, but it was true. She felt totally comfortable with him peeling the clothes from her body. Besides, the room was even darker now, so she didn’t feel as exposed as she might have done.
Louis slowly slid her dress down her body, his eyes glinting in the low light as her breasts were finally uncovered. Ivy resisted the urge to cover herself and watched as his gaze lingered on her curves. Her dress went to a puddle at her feet and she stepped out of it, standing in nothing but a tiny pair of knickers.
‘You are every bit as beautiful as I imagined...’ His voice had a raw, earthy quality to it that made her desire for him go up another notch. His hands cradled both her breasts and he bent his head to caress them with his lips and tongue. Ivy shivered as she watched his dark head lower to her naked flesh, the sheer eroticism of his action making her inner core contract with want. He knelt down in front of her and kissed his way down her body—below her breasts, over her ribcage, her abdomen, and then to the top of her lacy underwear. Ivy stiffened, suddenly shy at revealing the most intimate part of her body.
Louis steadied her with his hands on her hips, his eyes meeting hers. ‘Don’t be shy, ma chérie.’
She bit her lip and stepped out of his hold, covering her breasts with her hands. ‘I’m sorry. I don’t think I can go any further.’ Her feverish body screamed, No! Don’t stop now! But she couldn’t overcome the fear he might find her repulsive.
He straightened and came over to her, resting his hands on the top of her shoulders. ‘Look at me, Ivy.’
Ivy slowly brought her gaze up to his, her cheeks so hot they felt like they were going to explode. ‘See? I told you. I’m an uptight prude.’
He gave her shoulders a gentle squeeze. ‘Tell me what’s worrying you. Did that jerk say something to you about this part of you too?’
She looked at his chin rather than meet his gaze. ‘No, but I’m... I’m worried you won’t like the way I look down there. You sleep with so many women. What if I’m a freak compared to them?’
He placed a finger beneath her chin and brought her gaze back to his. ‘Women’s bodies come in all shapes and sizes. You’re perfect just the way you are. You don’t need to be ashamed of any part of your body.’
‘I know, but I am, and I can’t seem to help it.’
Louis stroked his finger over her bottom lip, his eyes shining. ‘I love everything I’ve seen so far.’
‘Really?’ Ivy lowered her hands from covering her breasts, aching to feel them pressed up against the naked skin of his muscular chest.
‘Really.’ He devoured her breasts with his gaze and a hot spurt of longing shot to her core.