Page 75 of The Earl and the Reluctant Lady
Chapter Twenty-Four
Agnes couldn’t get enough of his mouth on her mouth, his hands on her skin. She wanted more. Wanted to be even closer. His skin on hers. She started tugging at his shirt, attempting to yank it off from his body.
Eventually he pulled his mouth from hers, leaned up enough to release the buttons, then slipped from the confines of the shirt. His athleticism was more than apparent in the muscled sheet of his chest.
Brown hair curled across the wide expanse and then tapered to a thin line that traversed his rippled abdomen only to disappear beneath his trousers. Above his hips, his muscles formed an enticing V. He was a perfect specimen of male beauty.
She reached out and ran her hand down the length of his torso and watched as the muscles tensed beneath her touch. Which only fueled her desire to touch him more. She allowed her fingertips to linger at the waistband of his trousers, then looked up to meet his eyes.
She didn’t want to ask for this, she’d already asked for too much. But she did want him to take. Take her body and make it his own. She leaned up and captured his mouth with hers, all the while continuing to run her hands across his abdomen.
He reached behind her and began unclasping her buttons, trying to liberate her from her dress. She allowed her mouth free rein over his warm skin, loving the contrasting feel of the crisp hair and sinewy planes. It was an exploration unlike any she’d ever known.
She felt her dress give way, then warm hands were smoothing across her shoulders.
“Stand up,” he said.
She did as he said and stepped out of the dress as it pooled at her feet. He then unfastened and unlaced each layer of her clothing until she stood before him in nothing more than her pantaloons.
He ran his hand down the center of her torso, gently brushing each breast as he did. Her already hardened nipples puckered even more.
“You are exquisite,” he said. “Take down your hair.”
She reached up and began unpinning her hair. Curls fell one by one and brushed against her shoulders and neck, shooting chills across her sensitive flesh. When she was done, she bent and placed the pins inside one of her slippers, then stood again to face him.
He took one step and was pressed against her, kissing her fervently. His tongue slid against hers and desire coiled through her body so rapidly she nearly fell to her knees. She knew her hands were everywhere, trying to touch him all over, but she could not help it.
She closed her eyes to listen, not wanting to miss one single sound around them. He made a low groan as he pressed his erection against her and she heard herself moan in return. Their breath mingled in hot pants. She inhaled deeply to absorb their scents. He smelled of sandalwood and brandy.
One by one, she involved her senses to commit to memory every detail about this night. The way his hand felt as it grazed across her nipple. The sweet taste of him and the brandy against her tongue. His hard arousal pulsating against the thin fabric of her pantaloons.
He gave her one last passionate kiss, then he kissed his way down her face, onto her neck, across her collarbone to both breasts, onward to her belly, until he presented himself before her on his knees. With one swift movement, he brought her pantaloons to her ankles, then slowly rolled down each stocking.
She heard him suck in his breath, and for a moment, he knelt before her, hands on her legs, eyes closed, simply breathing. Perhaps he, too, wanted to memorize their experience. Did he think tonight would be their only chance?
He stood and went and locked the door, then stoked the fire until a warm, golden blaze filled the room. He turned the other lights down so that only the flames lit their surroundings. The plush red carpet was warm around her toes and she wiggled them to dig in farther.
She had said nothing for a long while. She found she did not want to ruin the moment with the sound of her own voice, but she wanted to tell him how beautiful he was. How there never had been a man in more magnificent shape than he. Her mouth would not move, though, so she hoped that her deep admiration would shine through her eyes as she let them gaze at him freely.
He came back to her, took her by the hand, then led her to the center of the room so that they were closer to the hearth. Warmth radiated to her body. She pulled him to her and kissed him, while allowing her hand to trail down his chest to the fastenings of his trousers.
She must have been working too slow for him, because he swiped her hand away and finished it himself. He removed the rest of his clothes, then pressed his body against hers so that they were skin to skin. His gaze caught her eyes and held them, the golden of his swimming with desire.
Her heart beat so rapidly, as if she’d run a thousand miles. With one hand, he grabbed her bottom and pressed her hard against him.
“I want you,” he said.
She swallowed. “I want you,” she managed in a hushed whisper.
He brought her down on the floor next to him and continued his exploration of her body. His hands and mouth were everywhere, and sensations were firing so rapidly she was certain her body would combust. She writhed and moved against his touch, fighting for release.
He inserted one finger inside her and she bucked off the rug. Slowly he moved his finger, in and out and around, finding new sensations with every movement. With another finger, perhaps his thumb, he found that sensitive nub. The two at once created a contrast of pleasure that pulsated through her, building and building until she wanted to cry out.
She bit down on his shoulder and he moaned in response. And his hand kept up its delicious torture until she was certain she could take no more, then her body froze as her climax shook through her. Her eyes closed, and she let out a cry and then it subsided.
Then he positioned himself above her and she could feel the tip of him pressing against her.
She slid her legs up until they wrapped around him.
