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When she asked.

“Haydn?” His wife pulled back long enough to look at him. The question was one of the first from her he could easily answer.

“That is a kiss, my lady. And the longing you feel. . .” He allowed one hand to slip over her hips, along her thigh. “One tug and this shift could be easily removed.”

“And then?”

“And then I will explore you first with my hands. Then with my mouth.”

Still breathing heavily from their kiss, she swallowed.

“And then?”

“You will be a virgin no longer, Phillipa.”

Returning to his own bedchamber now would be more difficult than saddling his horse to journey to London to take this woman as his wife. He could not trust her. Had not asked for her.

But in this moment, he’d never wanted anything more than to consummate his marriage to Lady Phillipa of Sherfield. When she nodded, Haydn didn’t hesitate for a second. Gripping the hem of her shift with both hands, he pulled it off with the deftness of a lady’s maid. Unsurprisingly, she wore nothing under it. Rarely did one wear anything to sleep.

On full display before him, Phillipa attempted to cover her breasts with her hands. Instead, he encircled both wrists, held them by her side, and lowered his mouth to her breast. He let go of one wrist long enough to cup her breast just as his mouth covered her and Phillipa gasped. Haydn’s goal. . . to make her forget she was nervous.

To that end, he circled her nipple with his tongue, closing his eyes as his wife’s hands entangled themselves in his hair. After giving both breasts the same attention, he reached between her legs, not allowing her time to be embarrassed. She did jolt away from his touch, not surprisingly.

What did surprise him was how wet his wife was already. And how quickly Phillipa apparently overcame her shyness as her hand covered his, encouraging him. As his finger moved, slowly at first, his mouth moved upward, to her neck, and finally, claimed her lips once more.

His tongue and fingers in perfect sync.

He almost felt bad for the onslaught, knowing she’d not last long. And she didn’t. Now gripping his shoulders once again, she squeezed and moaned against his lips. But Haydn didn’t stop there. He knew how to give a woman pleasure, and he’d use those skills now to ensure Phillipa never again wondered if the marital act was something to dread or desire.

You will hardly see her after this journey.

Shoving away the thought, he cupped her with his palm, and it was enough. Clenching around his fingers, Phillipa broke their kiss to breathe. To relish in her very first release, one he was oddly pleased to have given her. He pulled away, watching his wife.

He disrobed as she stared at him, confused and curious. As she began to breathe normally again, Haydn slipped off his boots.

She was perfect.

“There are many ways,” Haydn said, his voice surprisingly unsteady, “for you to find release.” Tossing his tunic onto the floor, he paused. And then dropped the woolen hose as well.

“Haydn.” She stared at him as he sprang free. “What do you think to do with that?”

Chapter Sixteen

She’d never seen a male nude before.

Despite the brief kisses at court, Phillipa had never had the occasion to be alone with one for any length of time. First, the revelation that she’d not truly ever been kissed. And then, what her husband had just done to her. And now this?

“’Tis not the reaction most men would hope for, Phillipa.”

His tone was light. Teasing. But she was not. “I know enough to understand that is supposed to go inside me, but certainly such a thing is not possible.” Nor did she wish it to be.

“Did you enjoy what we just shared?”

Her eyes flew from Haydn’s groin to his mouth. The one that had covered hers just moments ago. Still she could not reconcile the feeling he wrought in her, so different than those other kisses, if, indeed, they could be called such.

Phillipa wanted him to kiss her again. She wanted him to touch her again. She wanted him to continue to stare at her body as if she were the goddess Venus, as he’d done since the moment her shift was removed.

“Aye. Very much,” she admitted, not feeling particularly coy.