He sucked in a raw breath. “Is that so?”
“Most definitely.”
He caught her hand in his, if only to still the progress of her fingers roving over his body. “What is it that ye want, Amelia?”
“You.”
“Ah, darling lass,” he murmured, gathering her in his arms, claiming her with a kiss that betrayed the need in his soul.
He caressed her lips, as if drinking in her essence. His lean, powerful body pressed against her. Instinctively, she canted her hips, cradling the undeniable evidence of his need against her softness.
“Ah, Amelia, I could never get enough of ye.” He whispered the words against her ear, nipping playfully at her lobe, a heartbeat before his delicious mouth trailed kisses along the curve of her throat, the only area below her chin not draped in sturdy flannel and soft cotton.
With unhurried motions, he untied her dressing gown, slipping it over her shoulders until it pooled upon the floor. “I need to see ye, darling lass.” Taking a step back, his brows hiked as he surveyed her from neck to toe.
Curling a lock of her hair around his fingers, he settled his gaze on the lace-trimmed collar of her modest gown. “Ye’re sure of this, Amelia?” he asked. “Dressed as ye are, it’s clear ye do not come to me tonight with seduction on yer mind.”
“You do not find flannel alluring?” she countered playfully.
“I think I’ve already convinced ye that even draped in a flour sack, yer delectable body could tempt a man beyond all reason.” His teasing half-smile warmed her heart. “I don’t give a damn what ye’re wearing. Since the moment I first laid eyes on ye, Amelia, I’ve seen how how beautiful ye are. In every way.”
The undisguised longing in his words sent her knees to wobbling. “You do know how to make a woman feel pretty.”
“I only speak the truth.” He tipped up her chin with one finger and brushed a kiss over her lips. “Oh, sweetheart, I want to see ye.” Desire warmed his eyes. “All of ye.”
She gazed up at him. Suddenly, she no longer felt vulnerable.
She felt beautiful.
And oh-so-thoroughly adored.
Her breath caught, and she stilled. “I’d like that.”
Her words sounded throaty to her own ears, tinged with yearning. A delicious smile curved his mouth, and his clever hands went to the tiny buttons at her neck. One by one, he slowly unfastened each in turn, then pressed a kiss to the skin he’d bared to his gaze.
Still, the buttons had only exposed a few precious inches, scarcely to the curve of her breasts.
“Still too bloody much fabric,” he mused. “And not enough of ye, Amelia.”
Sliding his hands lower, he skimmed the length of her from her waist, along the length of her legs until he reached the hem. Ever so slowly, he slid the nightdress upward, his eyes intent upon her as he bared inch by inch of her body.
“So beautiful,” he whispered.
And then, he tugged the dress gently over her head and let it drift from his hands to the floor.
Cool air prickled against Amelia’s skin. She pulled in a breath to calm her rampaging pulse. Not so much as a linen chemise stood between her and his hungry eyes. She stood bared before him.
Without shame.
Without regret.
With only longing for this man who had swept into her life like a storm she’d never seen coming.
“My God, Amelia,” he breathed the words, his raw emotion passionate as a caress. “Ye’re more beautiful than I’d envisioned in my most decadent dreams.”
A sudden boldness filled her. More daring than she’d ever felt in her life, she reached for him. Savoring the contact of skin to skin, her fingers slowly swept over the expanse of his uninjured shoulder. Muscle and tendon and bone, melded into a perfection of strength. Of male power. Of male beauty.
Shoring up her courage, Amelia glided her hand lower, feathering through the crisp, dark hair on his chest, drinking in the feel of hard muscle and bone beneath her touch. She smiled to herself. When she was with Logan, she felt a delicious sense of freedom. Free to express her desires. Free to savor the texture of his skin beneath her fingertips. Free to stir his need, just as he kindled the hunger deep within her. The feelings were delightfully new, an experience of pleasure she’d never dreamed would be hers.
