Page 49 of Marigold and the Marquess
“Are you sure, Leo?”
“Gad, you’re a gentle thing, aren’t you? Marigold, I won’t ever force you to do something you are not willing to do. But I promise, you will enjoy everything we do tonight and you are incapable of hurting me…even if you claw at me like a cat in heat.”
Her blush returned.
She felt it spread up her neck and into her face. Even the tips of her ears burned. “What do you have in mind for us to do next?”
“Something quite wicked that I think you are going to enjoy immensely.”
He spoke with such certainty, she was intrigued. “Are you sure, Leo?”
“Yes, love. Trust me.”
“I do.” She nestled against his chest, her cheek resting against the light dusting of hair along his finely sculpted torso.
She was soothed by the steady beat of his heart and the warmth of his deep, resonant voice. “Ah, I see I have worried you now.”
She nodded. “Only a little.”
“There is nothing to worry about, love.” He cast her an affectionate, but entirely wicked grin. “Are you still in heartache over my scars? I’ve told you they do not hurt me, but you needn’t clutch my back if this troubles you.”
“What shall I hold onto?”
He laughed. “Hold onto the headboard once we get started because I am going to send you to the stars.”
“You’ve sent me there already,” she admitted, blushing again.
“Ah, love. That pleases me greatly. But there’s more for you to experience.” He rolled her onto her back and leaned over her, propping on his elbows to keep from crushing her with his big body. Their gazes met, his tender and devouring. “We can stop if you do not feel ready.”
Not ready?
Her insides were already enveloped in fire and her heart was beating too rapidly. She would expire if she did not have more of him. “I am ready.”
Judging by his sensual grin, this next round of ‘pleasuring’ was going to be something naughty.
Dear heaven.
How could it be better than her first time?
Oh, that wicked smile of his.
“Leo, what are you going to do to me?”
“Trust me, my pet,” he said, settling himself between her legs. “You are going to like this immensely.”
She wasn’t sure.
He had positioned his shoulders between her legs and was still smiling like a conquering hero. “Are you holding onto the headboard, Marigold?”
“No. You are jesting, aren’t you? Why should I–”
He lowered his mouth to her intimate core and gave a soft lick.
If her bed had a canopy, she would have exploded like fireworks straight through the overhanging fabric. “Leeeooo!”
She tried to hold out, but it was an impossible feat. She shattered soon after, unable to control those soaring waves that swept over her body and engulfed her in a rippling, quivering mass of liquid fire. She cried his name over and over, and gripped his shoulders when he rose to cover her and gather her in his arms. “Hush, my beautiful love. I have you.”
She needed to hold onto him for fear of disappearing into sea foam, something so light and ephemeral that he could no longer see or touch her.
