Page 23 of Regency in Color

Juliana crushed herself against him, devouring his lips in a carnal kiss that set his blood on fire and made the wonder of the universe flash before his eyes. Colin locked his arms under her thighs and lifted her up his body. Her hands dug into his hair, pulling, and inciting the wild erotic yearning only she’d ever had the power to create in him.

He carried her to the bed, holding on to his waning control. He needed to be inside her. Connected in the most intimate way possible. Hearing her scream his name. Watching her give herself to him, confirming she was his forever.

“More,” she said in a breathy purr. “I need more.”

Colin made quick work of removing their clothing, gravitating back to her lips to steal kisses between each piece. His body pulsed with the need to touch and be touched by her. He needed more. As if reading his mind, or maybe needing the same thing, Juliana grabbed his hips, drawing his body against hers.

Everything about her felt so good. He gently lay her onto the bed. She slid across the mattress, never taking her sultry gaze off him. Her hips swayed in slow, tantalizing, graceful movements as she crawled to the center. She was trying to stop his heart.

Colin took in every detail of her tempting body. His throat constricted, his heart stopping, then thrumming in an uneven rhythm as a thought came to mind. “You’re perfect. Everything I’ve ever wanted. I can’t think of a single thing about you I’d change.”

To his surprise, her seductive expression faltered. He hadn’t expected her to preen under his praise, but he hadn’t expected to see… fear? No, he must be mistaken.

As if to prove the idiocy of that thought, she folded her arms around his neck and drew him close.

Lips inches apart, she issued a command, completely erasing his doubt. “Kiss me.”

Colin happily obliged her request. Their lips melded together, sucking, nipping, and giving everything the other offered. He pushed her back on the mattress, cherishing the warmth of her soft skin against his. With one long, tortuously slow stroke, he pushed himself inside her.

He stopped when sunk all the way in. Juliana moaned beneath him. Her warm exhale caressed his face, making it hard to hold back from spilling inside her right then and there. Perfect. He’d been a fool to think he could ever live without her. His world wasn’t complete without her.

“Colin.”

The low, husky way his name rolled off her lips set his blood on fire. He lifted his head to look into her dark brown eyes. “Yes, love?”

“I don’t know what, but I think something else is supposed to be happening right now.”

His chest rumbled with his laughter. “Yes, love. I should move my hips.”

Putting them both out of their misery, and plunging them into a sensual bliss, he rocked his hips back, then slowly forward again. He moved slowly at first, to keep the night from ending too soon, then increased his speed until he thrust into her with a powerful, almost animalistic desire. This is what she did to him. She made him want to give up control. To worship her. To follow her wherever she led him. To give her the world and make every one of her dreams come true.

Juliana purred beneath him, not holding back her pleasure. He continued rocking his hips, watching the ecstasy flicker across her alluring face. Her body tensed, the pleasure building inside her, pushing her closer and closer to the edge.

“Colin!” she moaned. “Oh, Colin. This feels so good.”

“That’s it,” he coaxed. “Let go for me, love. Show me how good I make you feel.”

Her face twisted with desire, her skin flush from the heat surrounding them. Colin held on to the waning fragments of his restraint, refusing to give in until she did.

“Oh. Colin. Colin!” She screamed her release, her body shuddering with euphoric bliss.

Colin finally let go, spilling himself into the heaven between her thighs. Spent, he rolled to the side, careful not to fall on top of her. Four years. He’d kept himself from this bliss for four years.

Damn fool.

He gathered Juliana into his arms, hugging her against his chest. She snuggled close and tucked her head under his chin. He held her, stroking a hand up and down her back until her breathing became even and shallow as she fell asleep.

Everything about the moment felt right. Juliana might not be perfect, but she was perfect for him.

“I love you,” he whispered into her hair before closing his eyes and following her into sleep.

***

Through the fog of sleep, Juliana swatted the air in front of her face, trying to get rid of the nuisance tickling her nose. It vanished for a moment, then returned. She whined, wishing the bothersome cretin would leave her to sleep in peace. She swatted it away again, only to have it return seconds later.

She reluctantly peeled open an eye and found her overly cheerful-for-so-early-in-the-morning, husband perched on the edge of the bed, with a feather in his hand.

“Oh good. You’re awake.”