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‘We’re leaving first thing in the morning to spend a few days alone in the Alpujarra.’
‘I wasn’t expecting a honeymoon,’ she told him. ‘And I never thanked you for offering me these beautiful pieces to wear today.’
‘I inherited my mother’s jewellery and, as my bride, you’re entitled to wear the pieces,’ Raif countered. ‘Do you need some help?’
‘I’m afraid you’re likely to have to unwrap me like a parcel tonight,’ Claire muttered shyly as she struggled to undo the necklace.
‘Let me...’ Cool fingers brushed her nape as he opened the clasp and laid the necklace down on the dresser.
Claire removed the earrings and turned back to him, colour in her cheeks at the silence spreading round them.
Raif extended a wrapped gift box to her. ‘It’s a wedding present from me.’
‘I didn’t get you anything!’ Claire wailed in immediate dismay.
‘Claire,’ Raif murmured with a smouldering smile. ‘My gift today wasyou!’
Claire was busy reddening and ripping open the packaging to discover the diamond-studded watch within. ‘Wow, triple wow!’ She gasped, suddenly short of breath as she had not been at the loan of his mother’s jewellery because the watch was a personal gift for her alone. Without hesitation, she undid the serviceable chrome watch she wore to attach the new one. ‘It’s beautiful, Raif. Thank you very much.’
Gazing down into her smiling face, he bent down and captured her lips hungrily with his own. ‘It was nothing,’ he started to say, intending to say more but too drawn by the taste of her to linger on speech.
A little quiver of vibrant response ran through Claire, and she leant into that kiss like a drowning swimmer reaching for a life ring, hands closing over his shoulders, slender body sealing to the hard muscular contours of his.
CHAPTER SIX
‘INEEDYOURhelp to get out of this dress,’ Claire mumbled against the allure of his mouth.
With effort, Raif took a step back from her, one hand already engaged in wrenching loose his cravat and cummerbund. ‘We’re both wearing far too many clothes.’
‘Like you on the beach,’ she reminded him with a smile, no lingering hurt now in the memory of him walking away the next morning. She understood him better even if she wished things weren’t the way they were with him being in love with another woman. Only the conception of their child had given Raif the framework to fit her into his life as well and just at that moment she didn’t resent that prosaic truth, even though she suspected that there might come a time in the future when she would be more sensitive and might well long for more.
As he doffed his jacket, she turned round to present him with the hooks and ties at the back of her gown.
‘I like the subtle little opening...here,’ he confided huskily as he traced the keyhole shape with a fingertip. ‘In fact, I love the dress. It’s sexy without showing anything much.’
He unhooked the bodice, unlaced the ties and she began to pull her arms out of the sleeves. ‘The lingerie isn’t quite so subtle,’ she warned him carefully.
‘WhatonlyI see can be as daring as you like,’ Raif told her with a slashing grin. ‘I may have chosen not to engage in casual flings, but I am not a prude.’
Face colouring and fully aware of his intense interest, Claire let the gown drop to her ankles to expose her thigh-high stockings and garter, matched to a white filmy silk bra and knickers adorned with blue ribbons.
‘That word you use...wow, just about covers my appreciation,’ Raif confided, colour flaring along his high cheekbones as he looked his fill at his bride, her luscious curves cupped in fine silk and lace. He embarked on his shirt buttons with alacrity.
‘No, I open those,’ Claire announced, stepping forward, empowered by his appreciation and still wearing her heels, to undo those buttons for him because she wasn’t about to mention itagain, but she loved the look and shape of him as well. The shirt parted on a sliver of bronzed chest and his taut, indented abdomen. He was on gym equipment every day and it showed.
As Claire tipped his shirt off his shoulders and let her hands drop to slide up over his muscular torso, Raif was mesmerised by her touch and the hunger for him in her bright blue eyes. Being desired to that extent struck him as a blessing to be savoured. The shirt dropped, he toed off his shoes and peeled off his socks without removing his attention from her for even a second.
Claire reached round to unclip her bra and his hands came up to hold hers. ‘I want to do that,’ he admitted. ‘I want to strip you naked and live out every fantasy I’ve had about you over the past two months.’
Her eyes widened, she swallowed and stilled. His husky words made her even more aware of the pool of urgent heat forming in her pelvis and the tightness of her nipples. He undid her bra and let it fall, pulling her back against him, letting his hands glide up to cup the firm curves and his thumbs catch her swollen nipples. ‘I have dreamt of this,’ he groaned, tugging her back against him, making her awesomely conscious of his erection.
‘Can’t deny having the odd recollection of that night myself,’ she admitted.
‘It was amazing,’ Raif told her. ‘But tonight will be even better.’
She spun round and unzipped his trousers, fingers delving beneath the fine weave to stroke his hard length. He shuddered against her and kissed her with unleashed hunger before dropping down on his knees in front of her and gently tugging down her knickers.
‘We will take this slow tonight,’ he asserted.
