Page 111 of Aurelia

Well, that was true.

His sexual history was hardly a subject he wanted to discuss now—or ever—so he released the catches on his fall, yanked open the five buttons, pulled on the tape holding up his drawers, and shoved down both garments in a single, practiced motion.

Aurelia’s jaw dropped, her eyes going as wide as an owl’s. “Oh, my.”

***

Aurelia had not lied. She had seen at least a dozen naked male bodies, but most of those had been deceased. The few who’d still been alive had bodies that had been wasted by illness or injury.

And not a single one had been aroused.

Nor had any of them been anywhere as magnificently proportioned as the man across from her. Not just his… membrum virile, but the rest of him, as well. He towered over her, his tall, tightly muscled body like that of some scarred god of war.

A big hand slid down his flat belly and closed around the object of her fascination.

Aurelia wrenched her gaze upward. “I am sorry for staring,” she blurted.

“Don’t be. Your interest is charming.” He stroked himself, his shoulder, biceps, and forearm flexing in a way that was mesmerizing on several levels. Not only was he sensually devastating, but his body was so hard and defined that she could actually recognize muscles moving beneath his taut skin. He was like a living, breathing, and, er, stroking, anatomy text.

He dropped his hand suddenly, allowing her to see all of him. But it was difficult to look at just one thing—no matter how impressive that thing was—because the body it was attached to was… exquisite. Even the scars, of which there were many, added to his appeal.

“If you keep looking at me like that, I shall get a big head,” he said.

“A bigger head, you mean.”

He chuckled and yet again more muscles flexed, the ridges on his abdomen tightening until she could see the distinct line between his external obliques and rectus abdominus. Who would have believed those muscles could look so glorious?

Aurelia reached out and caressed the linea alba with one finger.

He hissed and his erection jumped, a bead of clear liquid sliding down the shaft.

Aurelia laughed.

“You think my condition humorous, do you?”

He moved swiftly, easily lifting her by her waist and putting her down on the settee, so that she was staring up at him, his erection at eye level.

“Am I naked enough for you now, Aurelia?”

“Yes… Roland,” she murmured, distracted by the slick, red crown.

“How lovely my name sounds on your tongue.”

Aurelia watched, fascinated, as a glistening drop oozed from the tiny slit. She swallowed and moistened her lips, which were suddenly dry, and then reached for him.

“Bloody hell!” he gasped, and then stepped back when her fingers barely grazed him.

Her head jerked up at his harsh expletive and she blinked up at him, confused.

He gave her an oddly strained smile. “You can touch it later, darling. If you put your hand on me right now all our enjoyment will be over.” He stepped closer again. “Let’s get this off,” he muttered, taking the hem of her chemise. “Bottom and arms up,” he said, and then carefully teased the garment over her shoulders and head and let it drop to the floor.

And then he stared, shaking his head, as if in disbelief. “God, you are fucking beautiful.”

Her jaw dropped at the word—one she only knew because her sister Hy had taught it to her, along with every other dirty word and phrase she knew.

He sank to his knees in front of her and cupped her breasts, leaning close to suckle them, alternating until he’d made each nipple erect and Aurelia was squirming. He released them with a last tweak and then dragged his fingertips lightly down her quivering belly until he reached her sex. He nudged her thighs open and then spread her lower lips with his thumbs, casting a quick glance up at her before he leaned closer and lowered his mouth over her.

She shuddered and her lids drooped, but she never took her gaze from him.