Page 102 of A Rogues & Gentlemen Christmas

She did as he asked, her expression a little shy but undaunted as she met his gaze.

Ned’s breath left him in a slow exhalation. His body had been on the brink of arousal all day, anticipation of the night to come driving him slowly out of his mind whilst worry for all that might go wrong held him in check. Now, though, now she was his wife and he could show her what that meant to him.

The shift was fine and the firelight at her back did little to hide the curve of her tiny waist, nor the generous flare of her hips. The darker triangle of her sex was a shadowy place between her legs and her nipples were taut, pressing against the shift and making his mouth water.

“A goddess,” he said in wonder as he stared at her. “That’s what ye are.”

She laughed at that, a breathless sound of amusement that made his aching cock leap with eagerness.

“It’s true,” he insisted, falling to his knees before her. “A goddess stands before me, and I intend to worship her, though I’m unworthy to kiss her feet.”

His breath was hard to find as he reached for her, his hands sliding around the stocking encasing one elegant calf with care, afraid his coarse hands would snag the delicate material. His hands slid higher, over the back of her knee, over her thigh, until he found the garter tying it in place. She reached for the edge of her shift, raising it higher so he could see the garter was a bright cherry red.

His breath hitched in throat.

“Red?” he said in surprise, smiling up at her in delight.

“I had a choice,” she said, and he saw a glint of something mischievous in her eyes that made his heart race faster. “Green or yellow, or blue—to match the dress—or… red. I thought you would like these best.”

“Aye,” he said. “Ye thought right and I thank ye for it.”

He tugged the first one free, burning with the knowledge that Grace was nothing like Sarah. She enjoyed his desire for her and would encourage it. There was an earthy quality to her that he recognised, and which had survived her cold upbringing. She found no shame in her body, or in his, or the way they could find their pleasure together.

His heart soared.

Ned eased the stocking from her shapely leg and then bent to kiss her toes, smiling at the breath of laughter that escaped her as he did so.

“My own goddess,” he murmured as he kissed her feet as he’d promised to do.

Returning his attention to the remaining stocking, he discarded this one a little faster, and sat back to look up at her. Her hands still held the hem of her shift, exposing her thighs.

“Higher,” he said, swallowing as she understood at once and raised the shift to expose the dark gold curls that nestled between her thighs.

He was breathing hard now and wondering how long he could last before his body exploded with lust and wanting.

“If ye are wanting to have that bath, ye had best make haste,” he warned her, feeling something hot and primal melting the tenuous grip of his control, like wax over an open flame. “I’m not sure how much longer I can wait.”

Happiness bubbled up inside him as she flashed him an impish grin, tugged the chemise over her head and clutched her arms about her breasts to hide them from him as she turned, laughing and stepped into the steaming tub of water.

She could not hide her lovely backside, though, and Ned looked his fill at the way her sleek back tapered to the curve of waist and hips and the lush swell of her bottom. He had to clench his fists to stop himself from reaching out and grasping hold of the fullness revealed to him, but then she’d never get her bath, and she’d been cold all day. He’d not deny her the pleasure of a soak in hot water, no matter his impatience.

Ned forced himself to allow her a few moments privacy and took the time to strip off his own coat and waistcoat and remove his boots. When he turned back, clad in only his shirtsleeves and trousers, it was to find Grace watching him intently.

His cock, already hard, seemed to swell further under her scrutiny and the obvious interest he saw there. Her gaze was heated and it felt as if her hands were already on him, a touch he felt right to the marrow of his bones. He smiled helplessly at her. He was hers, heart and body and soul at her mercy, to do with as she pleased.

He loved her.

Ned wasn’t certain when it had happened, though he’d known from the first moment he’d seen her it was inevitable. What man could resist such a combination of sweetness and beauty? Not he. Not that he’d even tried to resist. He’d seen his fate and run towards it full tilt, caring for nothing else. There had been no point in guarding his heart. The poor thing had been living in the dark for so long that even the most fleeting glimpse of the brightness Grace brought to the world would have blinded it and left it dazed and overwhelmed.

He knelt by the tub and reached for the scented soap, lathering it between his palms before reaching for her hand. He washed her, increasingly breathless as his hands slid over her slick skin, up her arms and over her shoulders, her neck. She moved, leaning forward so he could wash her back and his hands swept down, following the elegant curve of her spine.

She sat back, anticipation in her eyes and he knew his hands trembled as he moved behind the tub and reached forward to run his soapy palms over her breasts. His breathing was ragged now as he cupped the full swells that filled his hands and felt the nipples harden beneath his thumbs.

Ned smothered a groan as he gently squeezed, and he heard her gasp. Grace closed her eyes, her head falling back against the edge of the tub as she arched into his touch.

“So beautiful,” he murmured, wishing he were more eloquent, wishing he were a gentleman with a fancy education who could recite poetry, or give her words worthy of everything he felt in this moment.

As it was, he worshipped her, hoping everything he felt could be expressed without words, for he had none to give her. He could barely breathe, let alone speak as his hand slid down beneath the water and sought the secret place between her legs, cupping her sex against his palm.