Page 99 of The Trouble with Anna

She lowered her mouth, licked him just above the collarbone, and tasted salt. The groan he made pulsed low in her belly.

“Again?” he asked.

She pressed slow, openmouthed kisses along his neck and felt his body tremble. His hands shot out, one wrapping itself around her waist and one open-palmed and firm against her back. He tilted her down, until her head fell back and her neck was bare to him.

“My turn.”

Fireflies danced in her belly. He found it every time, the exact spot where the curve of her neck met her collarbone. She inhaled, wanting more of his scent, his warmth, the way his muscles curved up to meet her, like a cat leaning into her hand.

He laid her back gently against the bed, his big hand broad against her back. His mouth came down to hover over her nipple, his breath hot through the fabric of her dress.

“Please!” she gasped.

He bared his teeth and raked them slowly closed around the ache. Her hands fisted into the scarlet coverlet and she arched higher into his mouth.

He reached for the ribbons at her spine that laced her bodice, and tugged gently, just as his teeth tugged. His mouth was hot against her breast. “I want to see you.”

“Your shirt first.” She swallowed, amazed at her own daring, and pulled it from his trousers.

His eyes were burnt, his hands returning to make short work of the ribbons at her back. They gave, and he pulled one shoulder of her dress loose as she reached up and drew the thin linen of his shirt over his head.

Oh god.

Thick slabs of muscle, a furnace of heat, smooth planes, and rough hair that arrowed down into his breeches. Anna wanted to throw back her head and howl.

He pulled the other shoulder of her gown off, slipping the bodice down over her chest. The fabric dragged over her nipples and they pouted up at him.

Julian growled and came down on his elbows, hovering just above her so she could feel him against her bareness. She made a little noise, and his eyes flared in response. He dipped his body to slide roughly against her, the gorgeous naked length of his chest against hers. She was greedy for his skin.

He pulled back, his forehead against hers, his breathing ragged. “We’ve got to stop.”

“Stop? No! Why?” She wrapped herself around him, dragged him back to her.

“Damn it, Anna.” He looked agonized. “You said not tonight.”

“I was wrong! I changed my mind! Tonight, please. Right now.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes, for god’s sake, I’m sure!”

Anna didn’t realize how tightly Julian had held himself until the tension fell away, like a fist unclenching. As if he had opened his hands to reveal what he wanted most in all the world.

As if what he wanted most was her.

“Thank Christ,” he said.

He grinned again and pressed a quick, hot kiss against her lips. It wasn’t enough, so he kissed her everywhere, a rain of grateful kisses over her face, her forehead, her hair, her shoulders, until Anna collapsed with laughter.

He tugged at her gown, and it came shimmying down over her stomach, down over her thighs, which caused him to pause and mutter something like a filthy prayer. Down over her toes and then off, tossed over his shoulder and onto the floor. He lifted one of her feet to plant a kiss on the dip of her ankle, and rolled down to settle between her legs.

Anna’s eyes went wide and she gasped. He gave a growl of satisfaction.

“You’re so heavy.” She rocked against him.

That wiped the smirk right off his face.

“You’re so perfect,” he said, and it was her turn to smirk.

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