At long last, he’d managed to strip her down to her chemise, and he broke away for just a moment to hurriedly shed his clothes. When he was down to his small clothes, he took her hand and pulled her toward the large bed, realizing he needed to slow this down a bit. He’d waited too long to rush it. Instead, he wanted to savor every moment.
“Come here, darling,” he murmured, stretching out across the counterpane and pulling her into his arms. Pushing up on one elbow, he stared down at her, brushing a few strands of silky white-blond hair from her beautiful blue eyes. “Are you real?” he whispered, with a half-smile. “I keep expecting that this is a dream and I’ll wake up.”
She just reached out in turn, cupping his cheek in a gesture of unbearable tenderness. “I’m here. I’m finally here.”
Groaning, he lowered his mouth to hers again, gentler this time, incredibly aware that this was the woman he’d once thought he loved. Hell, he probably still loved her. Nothing else could explain the incredible happiness that filled him, deeper than lust, stronger than anything he’d ever known with anyone else.
She was free. And the first thing she’d done was invite him here. How could he not believe that she felt just as strongly as he did? In the past, there had been too many things working against them, and they’d been too young to really know how precious their relationship had been or how to fight for it. But nothing stood in their way now.
Nothing but one last layer of clothes...
When kisses no longer sufficed, he nudged the hem of her chemise up her body until he could, at last, pull it all the way off. He gazed down at her, stunned by the pale skin and sumptuous curves he’d revealed.
“So lovely,” he breathed, meeting her gaze. “You’re just as beautiful as I’ve always imagined.”
A deep blush stained her cheeks, but she did nothing to cover herself, just let him look his fill. Tentatively, he lifted his hand and drew it down her collarbone, rounding one pale pink nipple before trailing down her soft stomach and dipping one fingertip into her cute little belly button.
How often had he dreamed of this moment? Half his life, it seemed.
Though he’d been with dozens of women, he felt a strange embarrassment, a fear of somehow disappointing her. This wasn’t just any woman. It was Clarice, and that made all the difference. He wanted her pleasure more than he’d ever wanted anything.
“What do you like?” he whispered, moving his hand back up to her breasts and delicately tracing each one.
She frowned a bit, seeming confused. “What do you mean?”
He lifted his gaze back to hers. “I want to please you, darling. Tell me what you like.”
Her frown deepened. “I... I suppose I don’t know.” She bit her lip and shook her head. “I like it when you kiss me, but the rest of it... I’ve never liked any of it, quite frankly.” Her blush deepened. “But I’m certain it won’t be terrible with you.”
He sighed, wishing the duke were still alive so he could thrash him for his ignorance. How could any man have a woman like Clarice and not do whatever he could to make certain that she enjoyed the act of lovemaking?
“Let’s start slow then,” he suggested. “I’ll try a few things I think you’ll like, but if you don’t, just let me know, all right? I want us both to enjoy this.”
She nodded, her eyes wide, and he couldn’t help but kiss her again. She relaxed into his kiss, wrapping her arms around his neck and kissing him with breathtaking passion.
At last, he broke away, trembling slightly and praying for the strength to take his time when all he wanted was to bury himself deep inside her and thrust to completion.
“Let’s see where else you like to be kissed,” he murmured, lowering his mouth to the tender pink tip of her breast. When he closed his lips around her, she gasped
He smiled and lavished all his attention on the sweet, soft mounds. She threaded her fingers through his hair and gave herself up to him completely, every bit as responsive as he’d always dreamed she’d be.
“I think you like this,” he murmured. “Yes?”
“Yes,” she replied breathlessly. “I like it very much.”
He kissed her again, then pulled a bit apart. “Shall we see what else you like?”
She nodded, her eyes sapphire pools of desire. “Yes, please.”
Lowering his head, he trailed kisses down her smooth belly, loving the way she shivered and shifted beneath him. Her elderly husband had obviously done nothing to pleasure her. What a terrible waste. He intended to do everything he could to make it up to her.
CLARICE GAZED DOWN her own naked body as Roman kissed and caressed his way steadily down, leaving a trail of fire in his wake. She’d never known that lovemaking could be so intimate. The duke had never even undressed her, let alone taken the time to prepare her for his attack. He’d simply tossed her skirt up and thrust painfully against her, grunting and cursing, bruising her pelvic bone before leaving her cold and alone.
But Roman....
Roman cared what she liked. He wanted to make her feel good, and he was certainly succeeding.
She gasped when he gently parted her legs with his hand, his face only inches away from the most intimate part of her. Heat flooded her entire body, and she tried to shut her thighs, too embarrassed to let him see that part of her.
