Page 57

He held her gaze and she thought he might object to this haphazard plan, but then he dipped his head to press a kiss against the heated skin at her neck and collarbone.

“Yes, it was,” he murmured.

Her head fell back and her fingers bunched his shirt. Gavin scooped her into his arms, rose to take her chair, and lifted her onto his lap. She ground her hips down into him, wanting to feel the thickening hardness of his erection, but her efforts were frustrated by the bulk of her clothes.

Less clothing. That’s what they needed.

Her fingers went to his neckcloth, blindly pulling the knot loose. It fell free in her hands, and she swiftly undid the button at the top of his shirt.

Skin. At last she could press skin against heated skin. She pushed at the V of his shirt, grateful that he’d divested himself of his jacket as soon as they sat down to their picnic.

His hands ran up the sculpted lines of her waist while she flicked open the buttons of his waistcoat. “I want this off.”

He let her ease the garment down his arms, and he threw it aside, not looking to see where it landed.

“And your shirt,” she said, feeling a little surge of power that she could make her husband acquiesce to her wishes with a few short words.

“I’ll need to stand.”

She nodded, and they rose together. Her fingers lingered on the edge of his trousers as he untucked his shirt and pulled it off over his head in one smooth motion. Then, without her asking, he shed boots and trousers and stood before her naked.

He was beautiful. As sculpted as one of her statues but pulsing with a vitality stone could never match.

Her hand traced up the center of his chest, following the ridges of his muscles through a patch of blond hair. He shook under her touch, his hands clenching into fists at his sides as he attempted to restrain himself. She took her time tracing over his clavicle and up to his neck. Her fingers brushed the edge of his hair, but he caught her wrist before they could twine in the strands and pull him into another kiss.

She stilled, holding her breath as she waited for what it was he wanted.

“Now you,” he said, pressing a kiss into the palm of her hand. “I want to see you.”

He turned her to undo the hooks and buttons at the back of her bodice. When the loosened garment gaped forward, she caught it in her hands as he made quick work of the closures on her skirt. He pressed up against her back as he smoothed his hands down the length of her arms, setting her skin on fire before he removed the bodice entirely.

Gavin helped her step out of her skirt. Then came her crinoline, corset cover, corset, and stockings. The time it took to undress her should’ve been awkward, but he moved with reverence, unwrapping her until her whole body ached.

Finally he placed his hands on her shoulders and turned her back to face him. His lips caught hers in a kiss, and his hands played over her loose shift, seeking out the curves of her body.

He groaned when he cupped the soft swell of her breasts. She pushed into his hands shamelessly, and his thumbs flicked over her nipples. Desire shot straight to the spot between her legs. Again, his thumbs stroked over her, dragging the soft fabric over the sensitive buds, and then he whipped the shift off and undid the strings holding her drawers around her waist.

Gavin sank into the chair again, dragging her down so that she straddled him. He leaned forward and his mouth closed over one of her nipples. He sucked, firing her blood, and then roughed it gently with his teeth.

“Gavin,” she managed between pants.

His fingers brushed the curls between her legs. Her head fell back and her hips canted up and forward, inviting him to give her more.

He let go of her breast while he spread her legs wider with one hand. The other gently pinched and rolled her clit between his fingers.

Her whole body shuddered.

“Again.” She was nearly begging, but she no longer cared. All that mattered was that Gavin do that very same thing again. And again. And again, until she fell to pieces.

“Eager?” She could almost hear the smug smile in his voice.

Her hand slipped between them to wrap around his cock. When she squeezed, he dropped his forehead to her shoulder with a groan. “Aren’t you?” she asked.

Again his fingers rolled and stroked at her until her inner muscles clenched and a little desperate noise escaped her throat.

“Like that?” he asked, rolling his fingers over her now to bring another wave of pleasure.

“Yes.” She moved her hand up and down the length of him. “Like this?”