She was in control and she knew it.
Julian had never relinquished the upper hand before. Never suspected it could be so erotic.
She slowly kissed her way up his torso. Hecouldreach for her. Could toss her onto her back and bury his face between her thighs and show her exactly what he was capable of.
By doing as she asked, by restraining himself, they weresharingcontrol.
It was almost as terrifying as being in love.
When at last her lips finally reached his mouth, he kissed her with unrestrained hunger. It was one thing to admit to himself he was in love, despite all his attempts to protect his heart from the vulnerability of such an emotion.
It was another thing tofightfor love. To prove what was in one’s heart to someone else. Through the means oftheirchoice. Even if the effort might not work. Even if the uncertainty was killing him.
“May I touch you?” he asked hoarsely.
“Not yet.” She lifted her torso.
This time as she straddled him, his breeches were no longer a hindrance, and his cock was free to nudge against the apex of her thighs.
No—he wasn’t doing it. She was.
Unity slowly pulled her gown up over her hips, her breasts, her hair, until she wore only her thin chemise. She rocked her hips back and forth against him, rubbing the length of his shaft against her slick heat. Not only pleasuring him, but pleasuring herself.
His fingers gripped the pillows on either side of his head to prevent his arms from reaching for her.
She dropped the gown over the side of the bed with a smile. “Wasn’t that easy? Theatre costumes are made to be easily donned and doffed.”
What? He didn’t care about the costume. He cared about his cock rubbing so deliciously against the place it longed to enter. He cared about the ample hips he yearned to feel beneath his palms. He cared about the dark nipples poking enticingly against her thin chemise. He cared about her soft, delicious mouth too far away to taste.
“May I touch you now?” he begged.
Him, begging. He had never pleaded for anything. But he would beg every night for the rest of eternity if it led to making love to Unity.
“Not yet.” She rubbed herself against him, slowly, deliberately, torturously. “Patience.”
He had no patience. He was drowning.
As she rolled her hips, teasing them both with the sensual contact, she pulled her chemise up over her thighs, up over her hips—
Oh god, now he couldseewhere their bodies stroked against each other. His shaft pulsed and he squeezed his eyes shut against the erotic sight, only to reopen them immediately thereafter because that fluttery chemise was traveling up over her breasts and falling to the floor beside the bed.
He’d never wanted anything more in his life than to feel those plump breasts in his palms, to suck those gorgeous brown nipples into his mouth.
“May Ipleasetouch you?” He no longer recognized his voice. It was raw, desperation and desire wrapped together.
She cupped her breasts with her hands. His groin tightened. After a moment, she reached down with both hands, pulled his fingers free from where they gripped each pillow, and placed his hands on her breasts.
He could barely breathe from the sensation of finally feeling that soft weight in his palms, those hard nipples rolling between his fingers.
“See?” she teased breathlessly. “Relinquishing control does not relinquish your power or your self. You still get what you want in the end. We both do.”
“I...” But whatever he was going to say was lost.
Unity was lowering herself onto Julian’s shaft. He completely forgot how to speak or breathe or do anything but surge up with his hips in an attempt to penetrate her faster.
She smacked him just above his thigh. “Iwill set the pace.”
His cock pulsed in rebellion and delight.
