twenty-two
KEITH COULDN’T STOP smiling as he woke up with Violante lying next to him.
Last night, she’d fallen asleep in his arms and hadn’t woken up when he’d tucked her under the covers. Surely, the tiredness was a good sign, wasn’t it?
One hand rested next to her pretty, pouty mouth, and her long eyelashes fanned over her cheeks. Her chest rose and fell slowly. One might say she was ruined now that he’d touched her, but he disagreed. It was he who was ruined. Utterly, completely ruined forever. Because now that he’d touched her and heard her moan, he didn’t want to let her go. Ever. She bewitched him, and he was more than happy to be enthralled by her.
He held her closer, inhaling her sweet scent. His shaft twitched, eager for some action since last night, but he shushed it. It wasn’t the time. She wasn’t experienced. He could tell by the way she’d behaved and by her tightness. She was whole and easily hurt. If she came to him again, he would welcome her, but they would go at her pace.
She fluttered her eyes open, and a flush coloured her cheeks the moment she stared at him. But there was no need to blush, no room for shame.
“Good morning.” He sounded husky to his own ears. “Did you sleep well?”
The blush intensified so much even her lips reddened. “I…” She inched the cover up, hiding her face.
He kissed her forehead. “Why are you embarrassed?”
“Because I fell asleep. Because of what happened.”
“Do you regret it?” He already eased his hold on her.
“No, no.” She put her hand on his cheek. “You were so kind to me, but I didn’t think of you. I mean, you didn’t enjoy yourself.”
“Don’t worry about me.” He kissed her inner wrist. “I’m happy you liked it.”
“So I did,” she whispered, caressing his chest. Her lips parted, but she didn’t say anything.
“Tell me.” Hell, that blush would be the death of him.
She inched his nightshirt aside, and he let her do it. Whatever she had in mind, he’d follow. She explored his chest and abdomen with a focus that made him smile.
“So many muscles.” She rubbed his nipple, and his body tensed in a moment. “I like touching you.”
Bugger him. He cleared his throat. “I like touching you, too.”
“But it’s my turn now.” She followed the path of her fingers down to his waist.
He found he couldn’t breathe properly as she pushed up his nightshirt. She gasped at the sight of him fully erect.
“Er…” He scrubbed the back of his neck, not sure if she was shocked or pleased.
“I felt it last night touching my back.”
“Did you—bloody hell!” He suppressed another curse as she closed her curious fingers around him.
Her small hand didn’t cover him completely, but she applied the right amount of pressure to his aching flesh. It didn’t matter that her movements were tentative. He shivered with pleasure.
She stuck out her tongue as she watched her hand wrap around him. She rubbed the blunt tip with her thumb, and he couldn’t keep his hips still.
“It’s so thick,” she said. “How can it fit?”
“With a little practice,” he said among quick pants.
“It hurts, doesn’t it?” She worked her hand up and down, exploring and killing him.
“At first it does, but if the partner is careful, the pain is nothing but a sting.” Talking was difficult.
“I know you’ll be careful.” She gave him a delicate squeeze that didn’t distract him from what she said. Did she just say she wanted him to take her properly? Because he looked forward to being with her.
