Oh.
Her lust-filled imagination had already played that particular scene over and over again in her mind. The notion that Francis was thinking the same thing had her sucking in an unsteady breath.
Poppy drew apart the openings of her jacket and slipped her arms out. The garment fell to the floor. Her light stays followed in quick time.
When Francis lifted an amused eyebrow, she smiled up at him. “The sea requires many skills of the sailor; the fast handling of clothing is but one of them. Should I keep going, or do you wish to assist?”
“Please do continue. I am enjoying this show immensely,” he replied.
Gripping both sides of her blouse, Poppy lifted it over her head. All that remained between her and being naked to the night air was her light muslin shift.
Francis brushed his fingers over her right nipple, and it immediately peaked. Poppy bit gently on her bottom lip as he rolled his thumb and forefinger around the hardened bud and applied the perfect amount of exquisite pressure.
He bent his head and took her nipple into his mouth, sucking through the light fabric as he did. The fact that she wasn’t bare somehow made the sensation headier. A warm hand settled on Poppy’s waist, holding her in place. It wasn’t necessary; she had no intention of moving away.
His fingers at the top of her skirts were not idle long. A gentle tug and the material fell with a whoosh to the floor. Francis released her nipple from his attentions and stood upright. Taking her hand, he helped Poppy to step clear of her clothing.
When their gazes locked, he gave her a hopeful smile. “Are you still comfortable with how things are proceeding?” His voice was ragged, desperate. It was good to know he was as affected by this as Poppy.
“Yes.”
Francis gripped the sides of Poppy’s shift and lifted it over her head. She resisted the urge to cover any part of her naked body from his view. This was not the time for her to act coy.
His eyes raked hungrily over her body, and he licked his bottom lip. “Even better than I had imagined. Poppy, you are stunning. So beautiful.” The desire in Francis’s voice was unmistakable.
She forced away all thoughts of the lumps on her hips and her soft rounded belly. Of her dimpled thighs. If he thought she was beautiful, that was good enough for her.
He knelt before her. “I am going to kiss you with my tongue. Stoke and tease until you cannot bear it any longer. Let me taste your sweet essence. Then you will come for me, Poppy. I will take nothing less than your complete surrender.”
The first touch of his mouth on her sex had Poppy spearing her fingers into his pale hair. She shuddered as he dragged the tip of his tongue up her length, finishing with a flurry around her pleasure bud as he reached the top. And then he did it again. Over and over. Her knees were ready to buckle from under her.
He licked, sucked, and delightfully nipped at her, taking her to the point where her whole body felt ready to explode. When he slipped his thumb deep into her wet heat and stroked her hard, it was all over. Poppy shattered with a cry. “Oh, Francis. Oh, god.”
His skilled ministrations continued as she slowly came down from the high of her orgasm. It was several heady minutes before her lust-hazed mind finally cleared.
She released his hair from her grip and brushed a soft kiss over his forehead, murmuring, “Thank you. That was magnificent.”
He placed a warm kiss over her curls, then got to his feet. Wrapping his arms around her, he bent and captured Poppy’s lips. His embrace was warm and reassuring.
“Hearing you climax was wonderful. I hope you will offer me the opportunity to experience it again,” he said.
When Poppy reached for the front of his trousers, Francis placed his hand over hers. “I thought we had agreed not to go any further tonight. I don’t want you to feel any sort of obligation. It was my pleasure to pleasure you, I was honored that you finally let me touch you. Your cry when you climaxed brought me to the verge of tears.”
Poppy brushed his hand away and popped open the first of the buttons on the placket of Francis’s trousers. There was more than one way to bring a man to his knees. Not all roads led to full sexual intercourse. “I want to pleasure you. Let me show you the sort of education I have at my disposal.”
Her hand ran along the length of him. Teasing. When Francis gave a groan of approval, Poppy offered him her mouth. Her kiss was slow and deep. When she finally drew back, she smiled up at him. “I am going to give you another type of kiss now. One I think you will enjoy.”
She dropped to her knees, grinning as a strained “Poppy, you wicked girl,” reached her ears.
The final button of his trousers released his erection. It was as hard and long as Poppy had imagined. Francis was a big man in every regard.
You are a beautiful, impressive beast.
Wrapping her fingers firmly around the base of his shaft, she brushed her tongue over the head of his cock. From far above her head came a strained whisper. “Oh, Poppy. You will be the death of me. Don’t stop.”
He shuddered as she ran her tongue along the length of him. His fingers gripped the top of her hair as she laid a flurry of little kisses on the underside of his cock just below the head. They didn’t call that spot the Cape of Good Pleasure for nothing. Rounding it always had a man sending a prayer of thanks to the heavens.
Stroke by lick by deep suck, Poppy slowly took Francis to pieces. He let out a cry when she drew back on him, and it was all over. She had reduced him to a quivering, grateful, and thoroughly sated mess.
