He drew fragile lines on her skin. A tingle flowed everywhere he touched.
“We... are wrong for each other.” Her voice was a ragged wisp.
Declarations of her scandalous reputation and his moral uprightness melted when Alexander lifted her hair off her neck and kissed her nape. Tender, magical lightness tripped down her spine.
“I see nothing wrong here.” He rained sweet kisses on her shoulder. “No dragoness scales. Only the soft flesh of a woman.”
Skin pebbled wherever his mouth touched. The feel of his lips was light and delicious. She stretched like a cat, grabbing handfuls of her shift.
“I didn’t know dragonesses existed.”
“Of course they do. Otherwise we wouldn’t have little dragons.”
She smiled despite her wish to stay vexed with him.
“What a colorful mind you have.”
“Oh, you have no idea.” His voice was rife with innuendo.
Pleasure flowed wherever his mouth touched.Tender kisses and sultry words, both felt good on her skin.
“It’s possible you’re the dragon,” she murmured.
A dreamy sensual haze infused her bones. A cascade of seduction and awareness. Of cool brass buttons pressing her shoulder and strong hands on her stays. His palms massaged her ribs, the sound of it whisper-soft.
“Only one way to be sure,” he said.
“You’ll undress for me?”
His laugh was wicked and low. “Strip me and see for yourself.” His persuasive hands rose to her shoulders. “Arms up.”
She complied, twining her arms above her head. Alexander slid loosened silk stays up her body and over her head. Hair fell over her face, the curling tips feathering her skin. She rested her cheek against the cool wall as gentle hands worked the panniers’ tapes behind her.
“Panniers. A medieval contraption if I’ve ever seen one. Puts women at a distance from the men who want under their petticoats.” His grumble was velvet against her ear. “You’re knotted.”
“The hazard of dressing oneself.”
“Where did you go last night?”
“To my friend Mary.”
He kissed the knobs of her spine. “You could’ve stayed with me.”
Eyelids drooping, she gave in to the luxury of his attention. Him undressing her was a delight. His warm smell, his sleeves brushing her skin. Panniers creaked and the undergarment dropped. Firm hands cupped the indent of her waist before traveling downher shift-covered hips and thighs like a sculptor adding artful finishing touches. He raised her hem discreet inches, untied her garters, and nudged her stockings lower.
Warm breath teased her thigh, and he kissed the back of her knee.
“Definitely no dragoness scales here.”
She whimpered. His sweet seduction would be her undoing.
Alexander was on his knees. She’d soon be on hers. Expert hands skimmed her legs and his thumb drew a line in the crease where her bottom and thigh met.
“No scales here either.” Lust grained his words.
“You are quite thorough.”
Her body was swimming in a pool of delight. He caressed her ankle, a mute command to step free of her pannier. She glimpsed what a future with Alexander would look like. He would be a thoughtful, loving companion, a man to show gentle care—with her or any child he fathered.