Page 75 of Beauty and the Thief

Chapter Fifteen

She did. He could see it in the way her eyes glittered, and her tongue darted out to lick her lips. She wanted to touch him. It might have been curiosity, but he could live with curiosity.

No one had been home to light the fire, and the room was cold, but he didn’t feel the chill. Her gaze on him was hot and steady. He was still shaky inside, his body craving the rush of a card game and the excitement of a gamble, but he didn’t want to look away from her.

She moved her hands to his coat and stripped the layers off until he was in shirtsleeves. Then she went to work on his neck cloth. She had trouble with the knot and moved to straddle him so she could conquer it straightforward. She worked the knot, and he caught her about the waist, painfully aware of her body pressing against his growing erection. She finally loosened the knot and smiled at him in triumph. He took her victorious mouth with his, kissing her deeply until she squirmed against him. She pulled back, leaving him breathless.

His mind was no longer on cards. There was nowhere else he wanted to be.

“May I take your shirt off?”

He reached for the tails before she’d even finished the question. While he unfastened the cuffs, she dragged it over his head. Then her hands were on his bare chest, exploring, trailing through the smattering of hair, and making his muscles bunch and tense. Her hand cupped his bicep. “You’re so strong.”

“The weak don’t survive on the streets of London.”

Her hand slid over his chest and down his abdomen. He shivered.

She looked up at him. “Are you cold?”

“Not even a little, lass.”

Her hand slid further, and she reached the waistband of his trousers. He was hard now, and her hand traced the outline through the fabric. “I’m not a complete innocent, you know,” she said.

“Aren’t you?” His voice sounded strained and tight as her hand learned his shape.

“I’ve seen a man naked before. I know the mechanics of copulation.”

If her hand hadn’t been so busy, he might have done more than smile at her terms. Any woman who used phrases like the mechanics of copulation was an innocent. “I daresay if you continue as you are, you’ll know a wee bit more.”

She slid off him slowly, sinking to her knees at the side of the bed. His legs were still spread, and she settled between them as though making herself comfortable.

“Can I touch you? Without the clothing?”

“Christ Jaysus, Bridget. Are you sure you want this?”

She blinked at him. “Don’t you?”

“More than you know.”

She unfastened his trousers. Her eyes widened slightly as he sprang free, then she moved back. She’d changed her mind. He had known it might happen, and he didn’t feel a surge of disappointment as he’d expected. In fact, he looked forward to the rest of the night. Perhaps she would allow him to kiss her again or hold her until the room warmed enough so they weren’t both shivering.

“Do you want me to take them off?” she asked, as though wondering why he hadn’t done so already.

He stared at her.

“Your trousers.” She indicated them, even as he reached to fasten them again. “Take them off.”

Cal’s breath whooshed out in a surprised huff. She hadn’t sat back to get away from him. She still wanted him. Still wanted to touch him. He stood, slightly worried that he might alarm her when she looked up at him from her knees. And her eyes did widen when he slid the trousers over his hips and allowed them to pool on the floor. He was naked now, and her gaze devoured him, making him even harder.

“Do you want to sit or...” She trailed off, clearly not certain what she should say or suggest.

“Why don’t we lie down?” He took her hand and pulled her on the bed beside him. She was still clothed, and he was glad of it. He turned to face her, kissing her gently. She responded, kissing him back with more passion. Her hand slid down his back, caressed his buttocks, then rested on his hip. Finally, she pushed him to his back, and still kissing him, stroked his cock.

He closed his eyes as her small hand touched him tentatively at first then with more confidence. She slid up and down, over the head and then cupped the root. He’d never had any interest in prim English ladies. How wrong he had been.

“Do you like this?” she asked.

“You’re perfect, lass.” He kissed her again, but she pulled back.

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