Page 66 of The Earl's Scarred Bride

Cecil laughed against her throat. "Impatient, are we?" His teeth grazed her pulse point, making her gasp. "And here I thought you enjoyed our little games of anticipation."

"Not tonight," she breathed, finally freeing him from his cravat. "Tonight I want..."

"Yes?" He pulled back to study her face, his eyes dark with desire. "Tell me what you want, my love. You know how I adore hearing you voice your desires."

Elizabeth's cheeks flushed beautifully. "I want to see you. All of you."

"As my lady commands." Cecil straightened, making quick work of his waistcoat and shirt. "Though I expect equal cooperation from you, darling. These gowns of yours are becoming increasingly complicated."

"That's because you keep destroying them," she pointed out, sitting up to help him with her laces. "Mrs. Winters was quite scandalized by the state of my blue silk last week."

His grin was unrepentant. "Worth every moment of her disapproval." His hands replaced hers on the laces, working with practiced ease. "Though I must say, you make it exceptionally difficult to maintain my control when you wear things like this."

"Do I?" Elizabeth's innocent tone was belied by the mischief in her eyes. "How fascinating. And here I thought you preferred me in simpler attire."

"Minx." He pressed a kiss to her newly exposed shoulder. "I prefer you in nothing at all, as you well know. These gowns are merely pretty wrapping paper to be carefully...or not so carefully...removed."

She shivered as more of her skin was revealed to the cool night air. "Cecil..."

"Yes, my love?" His fingers traced the line of her spine. "Something troubling you?"

"You're doing this deliberately," she accused, though there was no real anger in her voice. "Drawing it out to torment me."

"Torment?" He feigned offense. "I am simply being thorough in my appreciation of my beautiful wife." His lips followed the path of his fingers. "Would you deny me that pleasure?"

Elizabeth's laugh turned into a gasp as he found a particularly sensitive spot. "I would deny you nothing, as you well know. But I might expire from frustration if you continue at this pace."

"We can't have that." Cecil's voice held a wicked promise as he finally slid her gown from her shoulders. "What kind of husband would I be if I let my beloved wife expire from such a treatable condition?"

"An absolutely wretched one," she agreed, helping him push the heavy fabric away. "Though I must say, you seem to delight in bringing me to the brink of madness."

"Only because you're so enchanting when you're desperate for my touch." His hands skimmed over her stays. "The way your breath catches, how your skin flushes..." He pressed an open-mouthed kiss to her collarbone. "How you tremble when I do this..."

"Cecil!" She arched into his touch as his clever fingers found the laces of her stays.

"Yes, exactly like that." His smile was pure sin. "Tell me, my love...what would you have me do next? Would you like me to unlace you slowly, drawing out every moment? Or should I simply tear these bothersome garments away and have done with it?"

"Don't you dare," Elizabeth managed, though her voice was breathless. "I actually like these stays."

"More than you like what I plan to do once they're removed?" He nipped at her earlobe.

"You are impossible," she declared, but her hands were already helping him with the laces. "Absolutely impossible."

"And yet you love me." It wasn't a question, but his voice held a note of wonder that made her heart ache.

Elizabeth caught his face between her hands, forcing him to meet her eyes. "I do," she said softly. "More than I ever thought possible."

Something vulnerable flickered in Cecil's expression before he captured her mouth in a searing kiss. This wasn't like his earlier teasing kisses—this was deep and desperate, full of emotion neither of them quite dared to voice.

When they finally broke apart, both breathing heavily, Cecil rested his forehead against hers. "You undo me completely," he murmured. "Every time I think I have control of myself, you say something that makes me want to forget every careful plan."

"Then forget them," Elizabeth whispered, her fingers threading through his hair. "We don't need plans or games tonight. Just us."

His eyes darkened at her words. "You don't know what you're asking for."

"Don't I?" She smiled up at him, all traces of shyness gone. "I'm asking my husband to make love to me. To stop thinking so much and simply feel."

"Elizabeth..." There was a warning in his voice.

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