“Go on,” she whispered, realizing he was waiting for permission.
The stays did not stay around long, ending up in a corner of the room. Next, he untied the ribbon of her shift, and pulled the top of it down past her shoulders and then lower, revealing her breasts. Heather ducked her head, uncertain how to act when she was literally bared to him like this. He lifted one hand to her cheek, and tilted her head up to catch her gaze.
“What is it?” he asked.
“Just that…I’ll be naked soon. I’ve never been naked with a man, and I’ve never seen a man naked… How does a personbehavein this situation?”
He bit back a laugh. “Why behave at all?”
Niall ran his hands over her chest, teasing her relentlessly. Then he bent down and licked the left nipple until it hardened into a pink nub and Heather’s eyes slid closed and she moaned softly. She didn’t realize he was continuing to pull her shift and gown all the way off until he lifted her from the bed to get the fabric out from under her, and by then she was just happy the tangled clothes were gone.
He stood up and moved away from the bed just long enough to shed his own clothing. Heather stared at the man revealed, her throat going dry. She’d seen part of him unclothed before, but never all of him. And he was by all measures a big man. And her whole body was reacting to the sight of him, clamoring to have him next to her, skin to skin.
“Come here,” she said, and was startled by the huskiness in her voice.
Niall’s eyes flickered at the command, and a slow smile started at the corner of his mouth. “Say please.”
“Please.”
He climbed back onto the bed, moving to cover her, bracing himself on elbows and knees so as not to crush her under his weight. Heather touched him, hesitantly at first, running her fingers over his chest and arms, then, with his encouragement, explored more. He guided her downward to his cock, telling her that he wanted her to be familiar with him.
She encircled him with her hand and squeezed lightly, earning a deep moan of pleasure from him.
“That feels good?” she asked.
“Hell, yes,” he growled, even as he pulled her hand away. “More of that later, if you decide to indulge me.”
“No one ever said this was part of…the consummation process.”
“It’s a very flexible process.” His voice was rich with suppressed laughter.
“Are you making fun of me?”
“Not at all, love. You’re so bold at every other time that it’s just sweet to see you shy. But there’s no shame in not knowing something. I’d love to teach you.”
“Then teach me,” she begged. “Touch me. I want you to feel all of me.”
“I’ve been waiting for that.” He kissed his way across her chest, his hands cupping her breasts until she was pressing herself against him, eager for more. She rubbed one leg against his thigh, and he grabbed it, holding her in place.
He kissed her neck, biting down gently. The bite sent a wave of heat though her, down to her fingers and toes.
“We can be as rough or gentle as you want,” he told her. “You’ll learn what pleases you, and I’ll do whatever you ask.”
Heather inhaled, thinking that was a very generous offer.
He kissed her again, deeply. The flat of his hand slipped down to her stomach, and then lower into the curls between her legs, and then into the folds of her body, the fingers delving into the heat that was building and building.
Heather went wild at the contact, both shocked and tantalized by it. Her body was inflamed, and she unconsciously moved her hips in time with his strokes. Why did no one tell her about how marvelous it was to be touched like this?
Niall brought her to a state of distraction with his mouth on hers, and his fingers wreaking havoc between her legs. Heather’s breathing quickened to little pants.
“Never run away again,” he told her in a low voice.
“Never,” she said, arching her back in reaction to his strokes.
He deepened the pressure. “Promise me.”
“Oh, oh, Niall. I promise!” Heather whimpered, panting. “Don’t keep teasing me, not when I need you so much.”
