He drew away, his gaze wide as he perused her night rail. “What are you wearing?”
“I was asleep,” she said by way of excuse.
“God’s teeth, it’s so flimsy.” His voice held a note of accusation.
“I’ll put my wrap back on.” She turned to look about the floor where he’d dropped it.
“No, you won’t.” He drew her close again, his hands on the sides of her ribs, just under her breasts. “I can deal with temptation.” He backed her against the desk until her bottom hit the edge, and she slid onto it. Then his mouth was on her again, his tongue teasing her as his thumbs brushed the underside of her breasts through the linen of her night rail. He moved between her legs so that the skirts hiked up to her knees. But she pulled him close. He was warm now, even if the evening air wafting through the still-open window was cool. She welcomed it, as she was quite overheated.
He explored her neck, kissing her with a gentleness that both charmed and aroused. When his lips dipped to the ties of her bodice, he raised his head. “May I?” As though to illustrate, he took one of the strings between his teeth and pulled. Katie bit her lip and nodded her head. He pulled again, loosening the bodice until it slid off her shoulders. He caught it with one hand, guiding it down until the material fell away from her breasts, revealing them.
Carlisle took a breath in and swallowed audibly. He stared at her for a long moment, and she began to feel self-conscious. “What about your shirt?” she asked.
His gaze met hers. “You want me to take my shirt off?”
She nodded. In an instant, he fumbled with his neckcloth and tore it away. Next followed the buttons and fastenings, with at least one rattling on the wood when it hit the floor. He pulled the tails out of his trousers and the garment over his chest.
Now Katie was the one whose mouth had gone dry, and she swallowed. She lifted a hand, then looked at him. “May I?”
“Touch me? God, yes.”
She laid her hand on the center of his chest, where she imagined his heart must be. Then she slid upward to trace his broad shoulders and the muscles that defined them. She wanted to ask him to turn around so she might glimpse what she imagined to be a spectacular back. Instead, she slid a hand down to his abdomen and watched the muscles there ripple as he reacted to her touch. He obviously liked it. She wanted to touch him more and gauge his reaction, and so dipped to his waistband. Immediately, one of his hands covered hers. “My turn,” he said.
His other hand came up, and he began as she had, with a hand in the center of her chest. Her nipples contracted at his closeness, but he caressed upward, skating his fingers over her shoulders before sliding down again. His movement slowed as he slid over the slope of her breast, down past the nipple, then along the underside. He lifted the breast as though testing its weight. He made a growl in the back of his throat, then extended his thumb to roll over her nipple, which was very hard now.
Katie moaned as the touch on her nipple sent a shock of sensation straight to her core. He moved to the other breast, repeating his movements, except this time instead of only extending his thumb, he dipped his head and took her hard point into his mouth. Katie arched back, gasping with the pleasure of the heat of his mouth and the long suck of his lips. She closed her legs around his hips, bringing him closer. His hard length pressed against her center as his mouth teased her with wicked licks and sucks that made her gasp and mewl.
He shoved the ink blotter away and laid her down on the desk, kissing her breasts, followed by her belly. Next he disentangled her legs from his hips and slid her night rail downand off. Katie knew she should feel embarrassed and exposed, lying naked on the desk before him, but she loved the way he looked at her. His eyes were quite green now as they roved over her body, and his tongue touched his upper lip as though he were at a feast and not sure where to begin.
Katie knew where she wanted him to begin. She opened her legs slightly, and his gaze followed the movement. He made a sound of appreciation and slid a hand down over her belly to cup her. “Do you remember the first time we met?” he asked.
Katie couldn’t remember anything at the moment. His hand was warm, and he pressed it against her, causing delicious sensations. “No.”
“You yelled at me and scolded me. I rather liked it.”
She raised her brows. “You want me to scold you?”
His eyes met hers. “No. I want you to take control. Tell me what to do to you.”
Katie swallowed. If she’d felt like an inexperienced virgin before, she felt even more so now. How to tell him what to do? She didn’t even know what things theycoulddo.
Except one thing. “I like the worshipping,” she said.
He gave her a slow, seductive smile, indicating he knew exactly what she meant. “Tell me more.”
Katie took a breath, half wondering if she was indeed brave enough to say it. Then his hand flexed, putting pressure just where she wanted it, and she spoke without thinking. “Put your mouth where your hand is.”
“Yes, my lady.” He leaned down, but she shook her head.
“Kneel.”
He gave her a hard look, and she thought he might refuse. But he got to his knees. His hands came up and he spread her legs, opening her to him.
Katie gasped as his lips made a trail up her inner thigh. The stubble there tickled and tortured her sensitive skin just asshe’d imagined it would. But the feeling wasbetterthan she’d imagined.
“Put your mouth on me,” she said. And then his hot mouth was on her, and she thought she might die from ecstasy. His fingers were there too, opening her so that his tongue could find the place that had given her so much pleasure.
“Like this?” he asked, his breath hot against her.
