His hand went immediately to the swell of her breast. The wet fabric of her gown clung to her. He could feel everything, and so could she.
Her eyes widened. “I see.”
“Of course, both parties would ha’ to be entirely willing.”
He ran his lips down her throat to the place his fingers had already caressed. She stiffened in his arms—but not with outrage.
Definitely not with outrage, for she burrowed her fingers farther into his hair and urged him closer.
“And then what?” She had gone breathless.
“Would ye, my lady, wish for me to tell ye, or show ye?”
“Show.Show.”
She helped him unfasten the front of her kirtle and the gown beneath. Her breasts were—
Aye, well, the woman had a fine pair of breasts. He’d been able to tell that much last night when she wore only her night rail. Freeing them now to his touch and his mouth—
He fair lost his head.
He supposed he should have asked permission. Instead, he covered those sweet mounds, one after the other, with kisses. And, utterly unable to help himself, latched on.
She did not protest and she did not stop him. Instead she murmured and shifted closer, straddling his knees and shifting her body to give him better purchase.
The room went from dank and chilly to very warm indeed.
He lavished her bosom with attention, circled the taut nipples with his tongue and licked them appreciatively before sucking harder. She cradled him to her, and for those few moments naught else existed in all the world.
“So,” she whispered then, very shakily indeed, “this is lust?”
He nodded, not willing to waste his tongue on speech.
Her breath hitched when she asked, “Wha’ else? Wha’ more?”
That did make him raise his head from her bosom and regard her. She appeared—enflamed. Damp hair wild. Face flushed. Eyes overbright.
“D’ye truly wish to know?”
“Aye. Show me.”
He hesitated. “Wha’ d’ye ken o’ wha’ men and women do together?”
“Enough. And I can feel ye. Ready for me.”
That sent him breathless in his turn. He managed to say, “A hell o’ a place for a wedding night.”
“Is that wha’ it will be?”
“Will it no’?”
“Well…” She fell back from him a titch, easing her grip on him. “Mayhap not, then.”
Alan tried to contain his disappointment and curb his passion. To be sure, not here. Not like this.
“Wha’ is that?” she cocked her head. “I thought I heard—”
The door burst open. Two soaking figures stood there, tall against the rain.
