AllFreeNovel
Share Us
The featherlight caress was exquisite. Theo’s legs widened in slow inches, her hips brushing up against his fingertips, begging him silently for more. “I feel nothing,” she whimpered.
“Oh, my dear wife. Now who isn’t being honest?” Haven placed his free hand possessively around her neck, squeezing gently, warning her not to move. “I fear there is no escape from the horrible, fortune-hunting marquess you were forced to marry.” His fingers moved leisurely against her in the water in light, teasing waves.
“No, I don’t suppose there is.” Her hips rotated against his hand, wanting more of the bliss radiating from the spot between her thighs. The tips of her breasts breached the water of the tub, the tiny buds taut and sensitive.
A low purr lingered over her neck. “The miniature, while a work of art, did not do your bosom justice. But I’m not sure you got the color of your nipples correct.”
A tremble went through her as one of his fingers sunk deep and slow, curling gently inside her, before retreating to glide around the delicate nub, aching for his touch. Pausing, he pinched the sensitive flesh between his fingers, oh so gently, before resuming his teasing path to her core.
Theo gave into everything, the decadent pleasure coiling within her, Haven’s scent filling her nostrils, the feel of his teeth grazing her neck.
“Who are you thinking of now, Theodosia?” he growled. “Don’t you dare lie.”
“You.” The word broke across her lips. Haven’s fingers drew out the most exquisite sensations. She was close to begging, wanting desperately to reach the summit he dangled before her. Something Theo knew would be marvelous.
He pressed a kiss to her lips before speaking again, his voice thick. “I told you I wanted you from the moment you spilled ratafia on my coat. I adore your spectacles. I often imagine you wearing them and little else. Your talent with a brush leaves me awestruck.”
“And my dowry,” she whispered.
A wrinkle marred his brow. “I will be honest and admit it. But my want of you, Theodosia,” he paused to press a kiss to the tip of one breast, “which is bloody considerable, has absolutely nothing to do with your dowry. One does not preclude the other. I liken it to finding out that the ripe berries I’ve been eyeing—”
A tremor rippled over Theo’s skin, sinking deep into her bones.
“—come with a large helping of fresh cream.”
A hoarse whimper came from her. “Please, Haven.”
“I have never,” wickedness imbued his words, “wanted anything so much as you, Theodosia Barrington.” The heat of an open-mouthed kiss pressed against her throat. “Never question it. Anything but that. Promise me.”
Theo would have agreed to anything if Haven allowed the pleasure curling tightly between her legs to uncoil. “I promise.”
His mouth fell on hers, hard and possessive, taking what little breath was left in her body as his thumb pressed against her, releasing a wave of sensation.
The water splashed out of the tub, covering the floor as she arched, eyes closing as her hips pushed upward. His mouth trapped her cry of pleasure, his fingers never once halting in their torture, pulling every bit of sensation out of her body and leaving her gasping for breath.
With a predatory growl, Haven dragged her from the tub, hefting her to his side like a large, dripping wet bag of grain. He pressed her down on the bed, his hands running possessively over the freckles spraying up toward her collarbone, then between her breasts to her stomach, his fingers tangling in the soft hair of her mound.
“Jesus,you’re beautiful.” The words were filled with reverence.
“So are you,” she answered.
“You can’t see at all, can you?” One side of his mouth lifted. He didn’t look away from her as he shrugged out of his shirt, tossing it to the chair. His thumbs hooked into his trousers and pulled them off, watching her carefully.
Theo’s pulse beat faster as she inspected him beneath her lashes. Haven was so big and male and...naked. Her gaze traveled over the sculpted pectoral muscles, the brief outline of his ribs, the curvature of all that lovely sinew lurking just beneath supple skin. The sharp indentation of his hipbones drew her eye which led to—
Theo bit her lip. The man at Elysium, Lady St. Martin’s lover, hadn’t been nearly so well endowed. But she didn’t look away. Lifting her eyes to his, Theo allowed a small smile to grace her lips, one she hoped would convey that she wouldn’t collapse into a fit of tears or something equally unwelcome. She stifled the urge to cover herself, reasoning she’d been naked for some time. First the bath and nowthe bed. It seemed pointless to pretend modesty.
A small, barely noticeable frown tugged at his lips as he looked down at her, but it was gone in an instant, replaced by a predatory look which was mildly frightening. Haven appeared as if he were about to devour her.
Theo gripped the quilt atop the bed.
His hand slid down his stomach until his fingers wrapped around the hardness jutting from between his thighs. “Can you see anything?” The low growl lit against her skin. “Or is my cock indistinct as well?”
“No, I see perfectly fine when the object is closer.” She’d heard the word from her brothers, not directly, mind you, and it failed to shock her. But now that she was looking at Haven’scocka bit of nervousness settled in her stomach. Her tongue flicked out to wet her lips while she considered something clever to say.
Haven cursed under his breath.
He came to the edge of the bed, stroking himself, eyes never leaving her. For only a moment, the sense that she had earlier, that he was not angry exactly butdisappointed in her, returned, but it vanished in an instant.
