He brushed a curl of hair from her face, his gaze lighting with awe. He didn’t need to say anything because his love warmed her chest. But, if she was going to be honest, the tingle in her body demanded more than a simple, warm touch. Much more.
She turned around. “Would you unbutton me, please?”
His sharp intake of air sent another shiver down her back. He trailed his fingers from her cheek to her neck and down to her back. He repeated the caress until a sigh escaped her. Goodness, his touch was heaven and hell rolled up together. Heaven because it felt blissful, and hell because it made her want to do wicked things.
He swept her hair aside, and she closed her eyes for a moment. The room was so quiet only the crackling of the fire in the stove and the loud pounding of her heart filled it. He undid the first buttons slowly as if savouring each moment. As the gown sagged down her body in a swish of silk, he paused to run a finger over her spine. He stopped where her corset started before resuming unbuttoning her. Between her chemise and corset, not much of her skin was exposed, but his heated touch seemed everywhere, reaching parts of her she’d thought dead. He stroked her shoulders, pushing the muslin sleeves of her gown down her arms. Cool air hit her skin when he didn’t touchher. When the last button was undone, her bodice gathered to her waist.
“Done. I’ve done my part,” he said in a husky voice.
Oh, she understood what he meant. It was her choice now. She could keep playing this game of longing and touching, or she could hide behind the screen and pretend nothing had happened. She touched the front of her corset, pondering what she had to lose. Not much. Whatever virtue she might have had, according to society, was long gone amidst sleeping under a bridge with other people and stealing a wallet. But that wasn’t the only argument in favour of yielding to Keith’s passion. She wanted it, too. She wanted him. She wanted everything.
He waited, silent and still behind her. She had the feeling she could sit there forever, and he wouldn’t prompt her. He would wait for her. But she didn’t want to wait.
With trembling fingers, she undid the first hooks of her corset. The hesitation from a moment ago was gone. The more hooks she unfastened, the more determined she became and the faster she went. He stroked the back of her neck lightly. His warmth reached her skin as the corset dropped to her hips. He pulled it away and tossed it somewhere, leaving her in the flimsy chemise. Her breathing quickened as he lowered the satin straps holding the chemise up and kissed her shoulder. It was a light, almost shy kiss, but it set a fire in her veins. The stubble on his chin scratched her skin in the most delicious fashion. She wondered how it’d feel on her breasts or between her thighs. She couldn’t stop a moan.
He moved closer until his chest touched her back. His lips trailed a scorching path along the curve of her neck. He put a hand on her waist, and the heat of his skin reached her through the single layer of fabric separating them. A combination of anticipation and eagerness tormented her as he slipped a handunder her chemise. No barrier now. It was skin against skin. Heat against heat.
He drew small circles on her belly with his thumb while his warm breath feathered her neck. A sweet tension coiled in her stomach and exploded when he inched his hand up. Her nipples tightened painfully, chafed by the chemise. She and Keith both groaned when he cupped her breast and fondled it.
Heavens. The feeling of his thumb stroking her nipple ignited a throb between her thighs. He tweaked and pinched her nipple gently until it hardened and puckered. She arched her back, pushing her breast deeper into his palm. He kept scattering butterfly kisses on her neck and shoulders. She sagged in his arms and wasn’t ashamed of that. After all those years of deprivation and hunger, his touch chased away all the horrible memories and triggered another type of hunger.
He slid his other hand under her chemise, tearing a gasp out of her when he cupped her other breast. The calluses on the pads of his fingers only added pleasure to his strokes. He untied her chemise and gave it a quick yank, baring herself to him. The sharp breath he sucked in thrust his chest further towards her back. He watched her from above her shoulder, caressing her breasts with devotion. The longing overwhelmed her. She was one breath away from begging him to do more, anything to stop the ache in her core.
He showed no mercy, tugging, pinching, and rubbing her nipples until she moaned shamelessly, moving her hips back and forth on the bedcover. The ache between her legs was an inferno spreading throughout her body. She had to squeeze her thighs together to ease the throb. But it was no good. Between his soft lips on her neck and his fingers tormenting her nipples, she burned from the inside out.
“I can help with the ache,” he whispered, biting the curve of her jaw. Goodness, he knew.
“Please.”
He pushed her legs apart with one hand, the other still fondling her breast. She’d seen many a couple having a tumble. There was no privacy among the people who lived on the streets. Sometimes she’d come close to having a tumble herself, but she’d always changed her mind. The fear of catching a disease or being with child had always stopped her. Now she wanted whatever Keith had to offer because she trusted him with her life and vulnerability. She closed her fists when he ran his finger over the slit of her drawers. She had to watch, see what he was doing. As his big fingers brushed her tender flesh, he hissed a breath.
“You’re so wet.” He pinched her nipple harder, sending a shot of pleasure to her aching nub.
Yes, wetness pooled between her legs, driving her mad with need.
He explored her folds and sank a finger inside her. Her inner muscles reacted, squeezing around the welcome intruder. The ache was no better though. She was going mad with it as it kept growing and burning, and the more it burned, the wetter she became.
“Please.” She widened her legs, desperate for more.
He rubbed her nub with his thumb while sliding his finger in and out of her. She wanted to scream. His touch felt so good. It looked so arousing. The more she looked, the more energy built within her. Where would that energy go? How couldn’t she burst with it?
She was on the cusp of something monumental. He kept a steady pace, rubbing her and pinching her nipple until the release shuddered through her with shocking power. She cried out, bunching the quilt with her clenching fingers. How could she have imagined something like that? He didn’t stop but let her enjoy every ounce of pleasure.
Finally, she understood the reason for the screams, groans, and shouts. She sagged against him, wheezing, as if she had run for miles. She wanted to do it all over again, but at the same time, a sweet exhaustion took over her.
He slowly removed his fingers before holding her. He didn’t say anything, just held her and kissed her neck. She had no idea a release could be that good and devastating at the same time. She closed her eyes, panting, happy to be in his arms. He whispered something she didn’t catch. She understood only, “You’re safe with me.”
She couldn’t agree more.
