Page 72 of The Lady’s Guide to Deception and Desire
Taking one half in each hand at the very top, Benedict did just that. There was an immediate ripping sound and several pearls went flying, rolling off the quilt and onto the floor.
Rosamund squealed, then laughed. “Keep going!”
It took only two more such efforts and the thing was open.
Heavens only knew how long it would take to find all the pearls again.
Hurriedly, she tugged the sleeves down her arms and threw the bodice the way of the boots.
“Corset now.” She rested her hands on her hips while he jerked the strings.
As it came away from her body, she breathed deeply, then that, too, was flung away, tossed over her head.
Now, there was only a chemise and petticoats. He supposed she’d sleep in those.
She looked just as pretty in the cotton things as she had in her lavish silk. Prettier, even. With all the yanking and tugging, most of her hair pins seemed to have come loose, sending her curls tumbling.
“There’s one more thing you can help me with.” She rested her chin upon her shoulder, glancing at him skittishly.
Drawing up the petticoats, she presented one stockinged leg.
His member hadshrunk during all the palaver with those silly buttons. However, somewhere between throwing off that cursed corset and pulling up her petticoats, that manly part of him had thickened again.
It had been inside her!
She still couldn’t quite believe it.
Meanwhile, her own body wasn’t immune to the sight of his. Despite some tenderness, there was a distinct throbbing that had more to do with what she wanted next than what she’d already had.
Benedict was looking terribly serious. Moving to the other end of the bed, he pushed up her petticoats again and rested his hands upon her knees.
Was he surveying her…down there?
She followed his gaze, and saw that he was!
Her instinct was to close her legs but his expression was so rapt.
And he was her husband now.
All of her belonged to him.
Gently, he stroked down her leg, beyond the top of her stocking to the softness of her inner thigh, then bent and kissed her there.
Rosamund felt herself quiver. His breath, so warm, moved higher, until his lips brushed her curls.
Suddenly, his tongue dipped where she was wet.
“Oh!” Her hands flew to his head, wanting to push him away.
“You don’t want me to?” He looked uncertain.
“I’m not sure.” Her heart was beating madly, as if this were more frightening than letting him take her virginity.
“It’s alright.” He moved back a little. “I don’t know what made me do it. You just look so lovely, and your scent… It’s too much all at once. I understand. You need more time.”
Did she?
Yes, perhaps.
