Page 76 of This Marquess of Mine

And then, of course, there was the bulge at the front of his breeches, stark evidence of his arousal, though he seemed in no hurry to satisfy it.

Excitement pulsed through her. Free rein. He’d given her leave to explore his body and her own curiosity, and she intended to take full advantage.

She scooted forward on the chaise until she was perched beside him, her hip pressed against his thigh. Heart pounding, she laid her hands on his naked chest, and smoothed her palms along the ridge of his pectorals, enjoying the way his dark, springy hair tickled her skin.

“You’re hairier than I thought you would be,” she murmured as she traced a finger down the slender trail of hair bisecting his firm, flat stomach, watching his muscles leap beneath her touch. “I like it.”

“Good.”

His voice was rough, his eyes like smoke, and she held his gaze as her hand hovered just above his erection. Finally, she touched him, running her palm down his hard length, stroking him through his breeches.

He sucked in a breath and his hips jerked, thrusting into her hand as if of their own accord. She liked that, a reaction beyond his control. A reaction drawn from her touch.

She undid the fastening of his falls, and his manhood jutted out, thick and hard. She took him in hand, wrapping her fingers around his length and stroking upward in one smooth motion until she reached the head.

He was hot, hotter than she remembered, and she loved that she could see him this time, his nakedness, his shaft in her hand, the pleasure etched on his handsome face.

“I’ve never done this before,” she whispered as she slid to her knees on the rug. “You’ll tell me if I do something wrong?”

“There is no–Christ above, Olivia.”

She smiled and licked the tip of his shaft again, slower this time, circling the whole of it with her tongue before taking him in her mouth. He groaned and she could feel his gaze on her, watching her every move, but instead of making her feel shy, his attention emboldened her.

His fingers wove through her hair, his hips undulating in short thrusts as she sucked him harder, drawing him deeper into her mouth, one fist holding him captive.

“I can’t…last any longer like this,” he said through gritted teeth and then he swept her up onto the chaise and covered her with his body.

“This mouth of yours is dangerous, petal,” he murmured before taking her lips in a long, intoxicating kiss.

“I liked tasting you,” she admitted when they separated to breathe. “I liked making you moan.”

He kissed her again, his hands wandering over her body, every touch setting her ablaze and making her ache anew. He eased his lips from hers to kiss her cheek, her jaw, working his way down the column of her throat until she was writhing against him, her hands gripping his biceps.

“How is it that you are still dressed?” he asked as he skimmed his teeth along the slopes of her breasts. “I want to see you naked, Olivia. Sit up.”

The low command sent a shiver of heat straight to her core, and she obeyed, lifting so he could access the buttons at her back.

He made fast work of them, his large hands more nimble than they had a right to be, and in a matter of moments he’d divested her of her clothing until she lay before him in only her stockings and stays.

“You’re beautiful,” he whispered, and the look in his eyes, the frank desire there, brought a flush of pleasure to her cheeks.

“Thank you,” she whispered back.

And then she drew his mouth to hers and kissed him, running her hands over his naked back as he settled between her thighs. The feel of his rigid length, hot and smooth against her wetness made her groan and she rubbed herself against him, whimpering into his mouth.

“Are you certain, Olivia?” Griffin pulled back to meet her gaze, his body unnaturally still as he awaited her answer. “I need you to be certain. There is no undoing this.”

She raised a hand to his face and stroked his jaw with trembling fingers. “I’m certain,” she said. “I want this, Griffin. I will not regret it.”

What was there to regret? She was giving herself to the man she loved, the man she would always love. She would never want to undo this night.

He nodded, his eyes fierce as he leaned in to kiss her again, his mouth taking hers in a hard kiss that left no doubt that he wanted this, too.

He skimmed a palm down her belly and eased his fingers into her heat, teasing with strokes so gentle, so not enough, he had her arching into his hand, practically panting with need.

“Griffin…please…”

He drew back, balancing on his forearm, his gaze trained on hers, dark and intense.