Page 69 of Almost a Countess

She stared at him and swallowed hard.The chemise fit him tightly across the shoulders and chest,displaying every muscle. A dark shadow in the center ran straightdown his stomach, until the material dropped away. Only it didn’t.Something was poking the fabric out. She didn’t have to guess whatthat was. Dora dragged her gaze back up to Finn’s face to find himgrinning widely.

“Ye can look yer fill,lass. I dinna mind at all.” He reached for the line of hooks andeyes where she’d stopped, too entranced by him to continue. “ButI’d like tae dae the same.”

Dora nodded, and let him finish thejob until her bodice lay open, revealing her cream corset.Shrugging, she worked her arms out of the sleeves and the garmentwent tumbling to the floor. She then started at the top of thecorset, unlacing in long hand-over-hand strokes, as she’d done athousand times before. This time, however, wasdifferent.

Finn slipped his hands around herwaist and turned her. Her lower clothing loosened then fell next toFinn’s until she stood in her chemise, all but naked before a man.Then his lips grazed the nape of her neck. Dora gasped then archedin invitation. He continued kissing all the way down the side ofher neck, and her knees would have buckled had Finn not still hadhis hands fastened to her waist. Chills shot down her spine eachtime his lips touched her flesh.

Her corset hit the floor and herchemise swung free, the thinnest of barriers between theirbodies.

Finn pulled her against him, her backpressed to his chest, and she reveled in the heat that seared herall over. The prodding presence had made itself known again, aninsistent force that fit all too neatly into the contours of herbody.

“Relax and lean intaeme.”

Closing her eyes, she did as he bidher, and Finn began to rock them gently, his member sliding upbetween them. A strange and wonderful sensation started building ather core. She leaned her head against his shoulder, allowingherself to enjoy the sensation of his closeness.

Then his hands slid up to cup herbreasts, and Dora cried out at the surge of heat that shot straightto her nether regions.

“Easy, love. Just enjoyit.” He stroked around her flesh, not skin to skin, though theycould have been, her gown was so sheer. Next, he encircled hernipples with his fingers, drawing them into hard points that achedwith the need for his touch, with the need for somethingelse.

Dora moaned and ground her head intohis shoulder. She wanted something, needed… “I need something,Finn. I…I don’t know what, but I need it now.”

“Shh, all right. ’Twill beall right.” He scooped her up, carried her to the bed, and laid herdown on the cool sheets that had been turned down. “Let’s get rido’ this, shall we?” In one fluid motion, he pulled his shirt overhis head, revealing his splendid naked body.

Trying to look everywhere at once,Dora panted as though she’d been running a race. Her imaginings ofwhat lay beneath his shirt had not done him justice. She’d seendrawings of Greek statues in books at home, but Finn put them allto shame.

“And noo yers.”

Dora’s face must have turned everycolor of red, and she clutched the shift to her.

“Dinna be afraid, love.”He kissed her, and the embarrassment lessened a little. “Trust me.Ye dinna need tae hide yer beauty from me. I sae want tae see yerglorious body, feel yer softness all over.” Raising the gown to herhips, he then skimmed his hands along her sides, dragging the clothupward until it was suddenly pooled around her neck. Her arms hadcome out of the garment of their own accord and the cool air of theroom kissed her all over. “Lift yer head noo.”

She complied, and her body wasfree.

At some point, she had no idea when,Finn had joined her on the bed. Now he sat back and gazed at her,the love and tenderness in his face melting her heart. “Ye are themost beautiful woman, Dora.” He grasped her ankles then slipped hispalms gradually up to her knees, subtly pushing her legs open as hewent. “Yer hair, yer face, yer breasts….” Leaning over her, hekissed first one breast then the other, making her whimper asstreaks of fire shot straight to her core. “Such sweet nipples yehave, lass.” He grazed one with his teeth, and she gasped, almostcoming up off the bed.

“Finn. DearGod.”

“Shhh.” His lips nibbledat her pebbling flesh, making her hips move upward, seekingsomething only he could give her. “Almost, love.”

He lay fully on top of her now, theirskin touching everywhere in the most sensual moment of her life.Even his weight upon her aroused her like nothing she’d ever known.He continued kissing her breasts, laving them then sucking on hernipples until she thought she’d go mad with the pleasure of it.Still, she knew there was more, and she wanted it more thananything. “Finn?”

“Aye, my love.” He roseover her and peered down into her face. “Ye know what I will daenoo, dinna ye?”

Embarrassed, she looked away, butnodded. She’d had talks with Judith when she was supposed to marryTris. Her sister-in-law had been more forthcoming about whathappened in the marriage bed than her mother had been but knowingwhat would happen was a far cry from experiencing it firsthand.Despite the fear, however, she was ready. Dora gazed into his darkeyes. “I know, and I want you too, Finn. I want you.”

“And I ye, sweetheart.” Heraised his hips and settled them between her thighs. “I’ll be quickin the beginning, tae get the pain over with.”

She nodded and braced herself as hepositioned himself at the apex of her thighs. For a moment, therewas the sensation of something large and hot prodding her openingthen Finn thrust himself forward. Dora stifled a cry as a sharppain filled her. A burning sensation spread inside her but wasquickly consumed by the strange feeling of fullness. She let outthe breath she’d been holding, hoping the dull ache would soonsubside.

“Did that hurt badly, mylove?” Finn’s brows were furrowed, his gaze riveted toher.

Although she wanted to nod—the painwas still making itself known—Dora shook her head. “Not toobadly.”

“Let’s see if I can makeit feel better.” He eased himself out of her, another peculiarfeeling, to be sure, then slowly filled her again.

The second time hurt less, and whenFinn kissed her on the next thrust, there was no pain atall.

“See if ye can wrap yerlegs around me, sweetheart.” Finn kept the rhythm of his strokesslow as she complied. “That’s right, now raise yer bottom when Icome intae ye.”