CHAPTER 21
HE SAW ABIGAIL’S EYESwiden in surprise at his unexpected move. Usually, he asked her beforehand if it was convenient for him to visit. It was the first time that he invited himself to her rooms without a previous arrangement.
But she didn’t look upset. He didn’t see dismay or unwillingness in her expression. If he had, he would have turned and left. Instead, she looked... expectant.
Her maid stood up bleary-eyed from a chair by the fire, where she no doubt had been asleep while waiting for her mistress.
“You may go to bed, Chandlers,” he said to the maid.
The woman didn’t need to be told twice. Understanding at once, she bobbed a curtsy and left with alacrity.
“I’m sorry for coming to your room uninvited, and dismissing your lady’s maid. I hope it is not inconvenient.” His voice sounded gravelly to his own ears.
She shook her head slowly. “No inconvenience. But you will have to help me unbutton the gown. I can’t take this off by myself.”
So polite. So understanding. Like she was inviting him to bloody tea.
“With pleasure, my lady. If you’ll allow me.” He said, going to stand behind her. He started on the row of buttons down the length of her back. The low line of her dress and her upswept hair exposed her lovely neck and her shoulders. It was a temptation he couldn’t resist.
While working on the row of buttons, he leaned down and placed an open-mouthed kiss on the sensitive place where her neck and her shoulder met. This was no sedate kiss, this was seduction and all emotion.
She inhaled sharply; the sound spurring him on. He finished undoing the buttons, and the bodice fell down to her waist. It wouldn’t go any further because of the wide crinolines. Gathering the yards of skirt in his fists, he lifted the mass of fabric over her head and tossed it aside. She had raised her arms to help him discard the dress, and before she could lower them, he grabbed them and curled them around his neck. The position bringing her back against his front and raising her breasts as she arched her back. His delicate touch trailed down her arms.
He sank his fingers into her silky mass of dark curls piled high on her head, plucking each pin delicately. He was entranced by the way her heavy locks fell one by one to curl around her shoulders and breasts. When the last pin had been removed and her glorious mane flowed freely, he buried his face in it, inhaling the soft lavender fragrance that rose from her hair. Slowly, he ran his fingers through her scalp, softly massaging as she leaned into his hands. He felt a vibration, as if she were a cat purring while being petted. He smiled, pleased.
The many layers of her petticoats, chemise, corset, drawers, crinolines and who knows how many more items of clothing still stood between them. Good God, why must a lady wear so many damn things? The previous times he had come to her, she had been waiting for him. Already in dishabille. And of course, his previous lovers had not been ladies at all. Their attire, when they wore one in his presence, was easily chucked to facilitate their activities.
He didn’t have the patience now to deal with all these garments. But a better idea floated up to his consciousness. Watching her undress would be a real treat.
Stepping back from her, he went to sit on the stuffed chair by the fireplace. She looked back at him, a little frown of confusion marring her brow.
“Finish undressing.” It was a command, but uttered in a soft voice.
“My lord?” She still seemed bemused.
“I want to watch you remove your clothing. I want to see each layer being peeled away and your body revealed. Slowly. Can you do that for me?”
She swallowed, but then her chin lifted a fraction and she nodded. “As you wish.”
Ah, his courageous little wife. She never backed down. Never refused a challenge. All except for allowing herself to feel pleasure in his arms. He pushed that thought aside.
She had undone the laces of her petticoat and crinoline, letting them fall to the floor. Stepping aside, she kicked them delicately out of the way. Then she started unhooking her corset and now it gaped at the front, the pliant orbs of her breasts spilling free of their confinement.
He could see the dark areolas through the fine fabric of her chemise. His cock throbbed in his pants and he pushed at it through his clothes, trying to ease the ache. Her gaze immediately dropped there and stayed, as if mesmerized.
