He lifted her into his arms and dragged her back into his chamber across from hers, kicking the door shut behind him. The moment Mason set her on her feet again, her lips broke away from his.
“Is this your way of saying you will become my wife, love?” He had to know. “Is that why you kissed me?”
She gave him a dazed nod. “I want you, so I’m taking you.”
Mason grinned down at her, pulling her flush against him. “You can take me every damn day if you want.”
A dazzling grin broke out on her face, knocking the breath from Mason’s lungs.
She leaped into his embrace, her arms circling his neck, and slanted her lips over his again, cutting off all thoughts and questions. This time, he did not take over the kiss, but allowed her to explore on her own, wanting to see what she would do, to experience her exploration.
She did not disappoint.
Her tongue darted out and connected with his lower lip. Mason groaned inwardly. Pure bloody torture. But he wanted her to continue on her path of initiative. He wanted her to know that when he took her, she had been the one to start the seduction.
He angled his head to give her easier access, his hands slipping down her waist to cup her derriere. He smiled at her gasp. He almost regretted his decision when she mimicked his movement—her hands sliding from his jacket to his waist, pausing only for a second before they slid to his buttocks.
“Caro.” A plea. A curse. “You are driving me bloody insane.”
“Serves you right,” she breathed. “You have turned my world upside down with your roguish behaviour.”
Mason laughed. “Have you been dreaming of me, love? I’ve been dreaming of you.” He lifted her into his arms and strode to the bed. He sat himself in a reclining position with her on his lap. “Inmydreams we are always in bed together.”
Her grin came slowly. “You have thoroughly corrupted my reasoning.”
“Bloody finally,” he breathed against the soft column of her neck. “Kiss me, love or I might perish from hunger.”
She hesitated only a moment before she pressed her lips against his again. This time, she didn’t hold back as he expected. She gave him everything. Her tongue pushed against his lips and he allowed her to enter, to play with him, to seek pleasure in their kiss.
Mason’s hands roamed her body, his crafty fingers finding all the laces and clasps and stealthily undoing them. Her dress was no match for a man with a deep, aching need. He needed to feel her skin against his like he needed air to survive. Christ, shewashis air. Without her, he could not breathe.
“I need to feel your hands on me,” Mason said roughly as he moved to remove his jacket and shirt. “Touch me.”
The gentleman inside him had long since left. The rogue inside wanted Caroline naked and panting beneath him. However, he hadn’t realized the torture that awaited him. When her hands at long last settled on his chest, Mason couldn’t help but let out a sound of pure torment. She utterly disarmed him.
He pushed her dress off her shoulders, unveiling her pale twin breasts to his view. Mason lowered his head and took one breast in his mouth, this tongue swirling around the tiny, erect bud, causing the woman in his arms to gasp.
Mason circled her waist and rolled them over, positioning himself above her, marveling at her bold caress over his back, digging into his flesh. She trembled beneath his fingers as he stripped away each layer of her clothing one by one until only her stockings were left.
“Christ, you are unbelievably beautiful, love.”
She slid her hands up his back and into his hair. “Why are you still dressed?”
He nipped at her chin. “That can, and will, be rectified immediately, love. Would you like to do the honors?”
Her eyes widened before lowering to his breeches.
Mason thought she’d shake her head, but surprise and exquisite rapture engulfed him when she reached out to undo his trousers. God save him. Mason wanted to explode. Her hands so near his cock nearly bloody undid him.
Snatching her hand back—before he completely embarrassed himself—he said hoarsely, “I’ll do it.”
Mason shrugged out of his boots and then his breeches, nearly toppling from the bed in his impatience to get back to her touch. He’d just lowered himself over her again when he felt her fingers circle his cock in a gentle grip. All the breath in his body left through a heart-felt breath of pleasure.
I’m not going to survive this night.
Chapter 9
Caroline had never been so bold in her life. She did not rightly know where her bravery came from, but she embraced the courage inside that drove her to explore this man she had wholeheartedly fallen in love with in such a short time.
